When Chief Paul Charbonneu came to Wolfe Island in July at the request of Frontenac Council to once again address the subject of Paramedic Services and issues that had arisen on Wolfe Island , he came well prepared. Issues included why there were times when only one paramedic was on duty or there was no ambulance on the island.

Although well prepared, he was not very well received by the public. They had attended the meeting expecting answers directed to them from him regarding a number of medical issues serious in nature causing them much anger, frustration and fear that the service was not there for them. But he was not there to address the public.

However at the close of his presentation council allowed time for Chief Charbonneau to answer questions from the public and the Chief left with a request to determine with the Paramedic Union the possibility of a member of the Wolfe Island’s Fire & Rescue Service driving the ambulance at such time when there is only one paramedic on duty, the ambulance is on the island, and a patient assessment requires that he/she needs to be transported to hospital immediately.
The public was advised that information would be forthcoming at the September meeting of Council.

What they were not made aware of at the time was that this discussion was already underway. Knowing that certainly could have eased some of the tension that was brewing in the community. (Thus far no person has been transported to hospital with a Fire & Recue person at the wheel of the ambulance.)

Since July however a number of issues arose where a Paramedic on Wolfe Island was attacked and the OPP was called. Also according to a news reports further instances of anger were directed at a Paramedic on duty. (It should be noted that instances of anger and violence against paramedics in other communities including Kingston have also been identified)

During this period as well, August 10th to be exact, MTO announced a new Wolfe Island ferry schedule (without public consultation), was to begin Sept. 1st during the Labour Day long weekend. A community meeting was quickly organized by WI resident Judy Greenwood Speers and held at the General Wolfe Inn bringing together a large group of concerned island residents who in equal numbers expressed some satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the schedule citing for instance, seniors keeping appointments, working mothers, shoppers and local churches as losers in the schedule. Speers received the concerns and sent a report to MTO with a request that the implementation of the new schedule be delayed until Thanksgiving. The schedule went ahead Sept. 1st as scheduled.

Prior to the Sept. 10th meeting of Frontenac Islands Council a notice was posted by island resident Maureen Lollar inviting islanders to the meeting to hear any answers that had come from Chief Charbonneau about the Paramedic Service since his presentation in July.

And so it was once again a frustrated audience attended the September council meeting on Wolfe Island. Frustrated that they were left to the end with very little time to hear and be heard. This of course led to outbursts from the public. Maureen Lollar had in hand a very positive response to written questions she had asked of Frontenac County CAO Kelly Pender about the Paramedic service.
However the council had received a copy of CAO Pender’s answers as well which were part of a handout at the meeting.

Judy Speers had information to bring forward concerning the possible impact of new MTO Wolfe Island-Kingston ferry schedule that began Sept.1st. and the information she had sent to MTO Regional Director Kathy Moore. Mayor Doyle acknowledged that the changed ferry schedule had come as a brief communication to both the township and the public. “MTO was asked to have a meeting with us and they declined,” he said.

Finally a concern was raised regarding when the WI ferry was moving to Dawson Point because of the road work undertaken by MTO to improve the road 7051 and Rd.#95 into Marysville (Sunday OCT.14th to be confirmed) first ferry leaves from Dawson Point at 5:30 am.) and whether MTO will provide buses from the village and back at the end of the day, as well as the rapid return of the ferry to Marysville. The Mayor indicated that a bus or buses were not part of the contract with MTO. A voice from the audience suggested maybe islanders could pay for buses themselves. The meeting was formally closed.

( PS - I couldn’t help thinking that in the spirit of community, particularly after a busy summer, anxiety over the ambulance service, a changed ferry schedule, and NO ELECTION CAMPAINING, rather than fitting residents in at the end of the council meeting, it might have been a good thing for the mayor to simply close the official Council meeting, open the floor to the public and ask, “What’s on your mind Folks?”)

As summer draws to a close it is time to bid the wonderful students hired by MTO to keep the ferry lines in good order in Kingston and Marysville (WI) good bye. What would we do without them?

Well, without them islanders outside of Marysville would be annoyed with village residents who park their vehicles in the lineup and leave them anywhere and empty. Islanders would be annoyed with cars coming from Horne’s ferry that drive around the corner to fill the crossed off spahces in front of the official lineup, frustration with those who leave space between cars rather than pulling up closer as indicated on the very visible signs in the village. And then there is frustration with the number of trucks, commercial vehicles, vehicles with priority and so on and so on. And of course there are always concerns with the waits caused by ambulance calls for whatever reason whether it be to bring an ambulance to the island or for the ambulance to come from a long distance holding up the ferry.. And so it goes.

Anyone traveling by or to the ferry dock in Kingston can’t help but be aware of the ever increasing number of walks ons /offs to and from the ferry trip after trip, and the number of vehicle of every sort and size relative to agriculture, business, service and pleasure as well as the increase in residential and cottage traffic.

But during the summer months MTO hires young adult students to deal with the complaints, bear the brunt of angry travellers, the constant questions of, ”When is the ferry coming (or going)” or, “What’s there to do here”, and “Where is the wash room?” as well as keeping the line up’s in order on Wolfe Island and in Kingston where they have added duties regarding the waiting room and washrooms.

Some would say these are ideal ideal summer jobs, and judging from the wonderful tans, great walking skills and patience they have developed, perhaps they are. But for islanders the arrival of the students is a “godsend.”

So to this year’s MTO summer students who worked so hard keeping us in order, Kayla Chartrand , Trent University (Ecological restoration 1st year); Jake Patterson, Western U (History 2nd yr.); Emilie Turner, Ottawa U (Criminology 2nd yr.); Lilly Low, Ottawa U ( Biochemistry 1st yr.); Mairead Corrigan (Queen’s U, Life Sciences 2nd yr.); Daniel White, Queen’s U (Political Science, 1st yr.), THANK YOU. Have a wonderful and rewarding school year.

Around Town:*Fiends of Ferals held a $1000 Labour Day Draw won by Teilhard Frost of Wolfe Island. All the tickets were sold. Stay tuned for their next draw.
Sad a lone paramedic was threatened last Tues. Also there were two previous incidents on Wolfe Island. What good will that do for us? Good to see the roadwork underway on #95 and #7051. *The new ferry schedule is in place. For some it makes for very long days. The kids have to get up earlier, the churches may have to change their Sunday Service times, while for others it is just fine and still the line ups keep getting longer and longer.*Today Sept.8th the WI Plowing Match is underway. *Check out coming events there are quite a few……