It’s official: Wellington County has received its national Safe Community designation, joining some 28 communities in Ontario and 64 across the country.
The ceremony, held at the Sports complex in Mount Forest on June 20, saw about 300 spectators taking part, along with dignitaries and politicians. Singer and actress Dinah Christie was the master of ceremonies.
County councillor Gary Williamson, who is co-chair of the county safe communities committee along with OPP Staff Sergeant Jack Hunjan, said the committee will focus on injuries and deaths related to falls, on- and off-road vehicle accidents, and intentional self harm.
The three categories were chosen following a priority exercise in late 2012 to determine what areas the committee would concentrate on based on accident statistics provided by the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health unit in a number of areas. The group narrowed down its focus to the three main categories based on choices made by those attending the priority session.
The county committee is made up of representatives from the OPP, social services, Ministry of Labour, health care, students, school boards, municipal COPS committees, private business, and politicians from the county and municipal levels.
The designation was presented by Safe Communities Canada under the guidance of Parachute, an amalgamation of Canada’s leading injury prevention organizations.
“It’s a great day for the county,” Warden Chris White told those assembled. “The county has worked very hard to work towards this Safe Communities designation.”
He said the designation is for preventing accidents and deaths related to the three categories. White said the designation will also be a part of economic development activity at the county and municipal level.
OPP detachment commander Scott Lawson said work done by the committee will augment ongoing prevention work done by the OPP.
“It’s been a long time coming and a lot of work getting this designation,” Lawson said. “Wellington County is the 64th community in Canada to have this designation so we’re in some pretty good company.”
Inspector Lawson said working with other emergency groups in the county is something the “OPP has always been committed to – working with our partners.
“The women and men of Wellington County OPP have adopted that philosophy of safety,” to make the county a better place to “live, work, play.”
Hunjan said, “We are all very proud of this accomplishment.”
He also brought greetings from Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong.
Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece said the designation will assist county efforts to prevent “falls, road injuries and self harm.”
On a personal note, the MPP relayed stories about two incidents he experienced when he was young and working on the family farm that involved a power take-off (PTO) on the farm tractor.
In one incident he had a sock torn off and in the other his shirt. Fortunately, he pointed out, neither incident resulted in serious injury, but were important reminders of the hazards of working around machinery.
“Be careful what you do,” he told those at the presentation.
Barry King, head of the Ontario wing of Parachute’s Canadian Safe Communities designation program, has worked with the county committee for the past year as it went through the designation process. The intent of Parachute is to work toward reducing injuries by 25 per cent in the next few years.
“Injuries are predictable and when they’re predictable, they’re preventable,” King said.
He congratulated the groups who worked on creating the county committee and designation.
King said the county efforts will work together with safe community groups at the municipal level.
Lori Radke, Parachute’s vice president and corporate strategy, marketing and development representative, said she was encouraged by the large crowd attending the ceremony.
“I’m thrilled to see such a big crowd and so many kids,” she said of students from all the Mount Forest schools who attended. “I’m confident you’ll have great success as you address your injury priorities.”
Williamson said the county committee will work on its priorities with a $5,000 donation from Parachute to help it get started.
The group also received a ceremonial “key to safety” which was accepted by students from Wellington Heights Secondary School.
The key, according to Williamson, indicates work that will eventually be taken over by youth living in the county.
He added the committee will assist local committees with injury-related issues that apply to their communities.
“The goal of this designation is to provide a safe and healthier community to live, learn, work and play,” Williamson said. “It’s wonderful to receive this designation from Parachute, but now the real work begins. We all need to work together to keep Wellington County residents and visitors safe.”
Statistics from 2004 show Ontario lost about $6.8 billion in lost productivity due to accidents.
