Grand River kayaking event a fundraiser for hospital

Steve Kannon Observer Staff

PADDLERS TAKING

TO THE RIVER is not an unusual sight in West Montrose. Next weekend, they’ll be there for a cause.

For a third year, the Grand Kayak event will raise money for the Grand River Hospital Foundation. This year’s outing is set for May 7.

Event participants will kayak, canoe or paddle board down the Grand River, choosing either the 46-kilometre, eight-hour journey or a leisurely fourhour afternoon paddle.

The long course will begin from Wilson’s Flats located at #4-6285 8 Line W, West Montrose at 8 a.m., while the short course will begin at Kaufman Flats located 546 Woolwich Pl., Waterloo at 12 p.m. Both courses finish at Grand River Hospital’s Freeport Campus (Freeport Bridge).

The fundraiser was the brainchild of Dr. Neil Naik, an avid kayaker who was looking for a way to give back to the community that he’s called home for the past seven years.

“[I thought] let’s use the namesake of Grand River Hospital, the Grand River, and go for the entire region that the hospital serves – just south of Elora and going all the way down to Freeport. It was really nice to end up at Freeport campus, and bring awareness to what the foundation does.”

Even as a physician, he says he was surprised at how much of the hospitals’ equipment relies on donated money rather than government funding.

“So as we’re embarking on building a new hospital, let’s build awareness that we need the community to rally together,” he

ROUNDABOUTS: There’s still a learning curve for drivers

→ FROM 1 for the Region of Waterloo, says the two new roundabouts in Woolwich Township will be similar to the roundabout at Ament Line and Herrgott Road. Temporary signals were installed at these intersections in 2018 as interim measures.

Van de Keere says for these intersections, roundabouts were preferred over more permanent signalization by region staff because of construction costs and safety.

Staff assess every intersection in the region each year, he noted. They look at safety indicators like number and severity of accidents, effectiveness of the intersection, paying attention to the length of waiting times to see how the intersection is processing cars. They also investigate complaints or concerns about specific intersections. Ultimately, staff are looking for problem locations.

While he acknowledges that drivers are inconsistent at roundabouts, he notes “drivers are very inconsistent how they drive everywhere. The last time we checked, they weren’t doing such a great job of traffic signals either.”

He says the collisions tend to be much more serious at signalized intersections.

The correct way to drive, walk or cycle through a roundabout can be found at the region’s website under the “living here” tab. Pedestrians have the right of way, and drivers must yield to them when entering or exiting.

To turn right in a roundabout, drivers must use the outer, or right lane.

To go straight through a roundabout, drivers may use the left or right lanes, but must exit the roundabout in the lane they start in – they cannot pass in a roundabout. To turn left in a roundabout, drivers must enter into the left lane, travel this lane around the roundabout and exit directly from the lane.

Drivers must signal the direction they are intending to travel in a roundabout. That means, they signal left to go left, signal right to go right, and do not signal if they are going straight through. However, drivers must signal right whenever they are exiting a roundabout to show they are exiting. said of fundraiser efforts such as Grand Kayak.

Fu and van de Keere both say it is generally agreed in the industry that roundabouts reduce fatal and serious accidents by about 80 to 90 per cent, with van de Keere noting this is generally what has been experienced in the region.

Depending on size, a roundabout can process upwards of 50,000 vehicles in a day.

Fu notes that the bigger roundabouts are built, the more stressful they become for drivers, adding that the more lanes, the more complicated they become. However, if wait times become too big at a roundabouts, this is also an issue. Drivers start to take risks if they have to wait too long.

In van de Keere’s eyes, roundabouts are a tool in the region’s toolbox when it comes to managing traffic flow. He says region staff make decisions for each intersection based on its individual needs, adding that if people feel uncomfortable at roundabouts, it means they will be more cautious, which reduces accidents as well.

The event itself is starting to catch on: from just a couple of people taking part initially, there are already 10 teams registered this year, said Naik.

“We are thrilled that our community is supporting the hospital with

Grand Kayak again this year. The event is not only a lot of fun but also supports a great cause,” said Paul Amaral, director of community partnerships & entertainment with Grand River Hospital Foundation, in a release announcing the event. “Participants will have the opportunity to spend time being active outdoors while raising funds to support the vision of a world class health system for our community. It’s a win-win!”

The fundraiser is in support of the foundation’s ‘Care Never Stops Campaign,’ a six-year, $258-million comprehensive fundraising campaign launched three years ago. Those taking part in the event can choose to target the funds they raise to specific areas of the hospitals’ operations: cancer care, continuum of care, emergency & critical care, Grand River kids, kidney care, learning + innovation, mental health or patient experience. More information and registration details can be found online at www. GrandKayak.ca. For participants who do not have their own, canoe and kayak rentals are available from Canoeing The Grand and include an exclusive 50 per cent discount. Reservations can be made by contacting owner Shelly Jo Holmes at (519) 896-0290 or customerservice@canoethegrand. com.

Notice of Pesticide Use

Please be advised of the application of larvicide to the following locations for the control of West Nile Virus Vectors:

•Catch basins

•Sewage lagoons

•Ditches and standing water

Between June 1, 2023 and August 31, 2023, municipalities within the Region of Waterloo will be conducting a larviciding program under the authority of the Region of Waterloo Medical Officer of Health to prevent the development of mosquito larvae into vectors of West Nile Virus. Altosid Pellets (PCP #21809, pellet) or VectoLex WSP (PCP #28009, pouch) will be placed by hand into catch basins of storm drains within the Region. The larvicide VectoLex CG (PCP #28008, granular), may be applied to sewage lagoons, if larvae are present. The larvicides VectoBac 1200L (PCP #21062, liquid) or VectoBac 200G (PCP #18158, granular) may be applied to standing water throughout the Region, if larvae are present. All larvicide will be applied by licensed applicators or trained technicians employed by Pestalto Environmental Health Services following Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks guidelines.

For additional details on exact locations and dates of treatments, please call Region of Waterloo Public Health, Health Protection and Investigation at 519-575-4400 or Pestalto Environmental Health Services Inc. at 519-362-5185. For information about West Nile: www.regionofwaterloo.ca/fightthebite