by Helen Nicolaou June has had many windy, cool days which have made working in the garden, pleasant. It’s been an unusual time, having perennials bloom weeks later than anticipated. The upside of the cool weather is, it gives us time to enjoy a longer bloom time. Driving around, you will find many u-pick strawberry farms which are open to the public. What a true delight, picking and tasting locally grown, in-season strawberries. There seems to be endless possibilities, of ho

MIKE PERRY Executive Director, City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team FENELON FALLS: Residents of Fenelon Falls and the surrounding area can once again access laboratory services in their community. The blood law is reopening its Fenelon Falls location at the Fenelon Medical Centre, 205 Francis Street East, offering walk-in service Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., while administrative systems are being finalized. Online and telephone appointments will be coming soon. Th

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: A new partnership, among local emergency services and community organizations, is set to provide peace of mind for families caring for loved ones living with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cognitive conditions. This summer, Project Lifesaver will be introduced in Kawartha Lakes, bringing with it a proven search-and-rescue program, designed to help quickly locate individuals who may w

by Lauren Walker A common misconception is, when a limb or joint is injured, you should stop moving it. Some may have chronic joint pain or an injured joint, brought on by daily activity. In this case, I encourage movement for healing but we must do so safely. Necessary for Healing Part of healing an injury is bringing blood and oxygen to the injury and surrounding area. Specific exercise helps an injury by increasing blood flow to deliver essential nutrients, rebuilding surr

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley I am not a genius, or even that smart; I am just an average or normal country girl who loves God and attempts to follow His word. I, like everyone else who is honest, fail daily. God knows this will happen and has accommodated for it as we grow. It needs to be understood that following God's word is different than receiving information: that is passive and/or just educational. It remains subjective, like when one is listening to their pastor's ser

by Lauren Walker Movement is important but what kind of exercise is beneficial? What kind exercise is hurtful? The answer is not a simple one and it all depends on the nature of your issue. An exercise program is not one size fits all. Walking/Running High impact cardio, such as running or walking, is not ideal when it causes further pain. Each time your foot strikes the ground, the force is eight times your body weight. If your gait (the way your foot strikes the ground) is

KIM COULTER RMH Foundation KAWARTHA LAKES: To everyone who bought a Smile Cookie, at a Tim Hortons restaurant, in Lindsay, between April 27th and May 3rd, thank you! The Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) Foundation and Kawartha Lakes Food Source (KLFS) think you’re one smart cookie! Through your purchase, you helped to fund advancements in patient care and food security in Kawartha Lakes. Both organizations are profoundly grateful to the owners of the six Tim Hortons restaurants i

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley More people are living longer, due to advances in medical science. Yet, we are still vulnerable to ailments, and increase chronic conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, ophthalmology and mental illness. Other risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure, ones family history, along with daily diet and physical inactivity. They are all interconnected. Your body is a complex network and an amazing design. For those who look

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Access to family doctors in the community is expected to improve, after the City of Kawartha Lakes council approved $300,000 in funding, to help recruit three new physicians to the area, during its May 19th meeting. The funding will go to the Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative (KLHCI) to support return-of-service agreements, signed by three family doctors who have committed to practising lo

by Helen Nicolaou The month of May has certainly been busy, with garden centres having gardeners choosing annuals to bring colour into their gardens. Sunny dandelions have brightened up our lawns, providing native pollinators with some of the first important food sources. The early spring perennials have bloomed, and now the landscapes are dotted with fruit tree blossoms and the scent of lilacs filling the air. Thanks to those hard-working members who came out on May 4th to t

RYAN YOUNG RMH KAWARTHA LAKES: Ross Memorial Hospital is looking forward to welcoming back Jennifer Burns-West as the hospital’s new Vice President Clinical and Chief Nursing Executive when she returns on April 13th, 2026. Jennifer has longstanding roots within Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH), having started at the hospital as a Registered Nurse in the early 1990s. Over the course of 30 years, she went on to serve as a Critical Care and Medical Program Educator, Emergency Depart

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Growing healthcare demands, across Durham Region; emergency department pressures; and major investments in mental health and hospital redevelopment were front and centre during a presentation to council members in Scugog, earlier this week. During the Township of Scugog’s General Purpose and Administration Committee meeting, on Monday, May 4th, Cynthia Davis, president and CEO of Lakeridge Health, and

BRANDON CLARK The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Residents of the City of Kawartha Lakes will have an opportunity to learn more about local wellness programs, community supports, and senior services during the upcoming Victoria Manor Wellness Fair on Wednesday, May 20th. The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Victoria Manor and is open to seniors, caregivers, families, and community members interested in healthy aging and wellness resources. Organizers say the fair is de

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley Appreciating life is about learning to see the value in what’s already in your hands. Family, friends, health, or the simple luxury of enjoying your morning tea. Those are the things which truly matter. Life is a collection of stories, moments, growth and flashes of wisdom. We spend so much time chasing more, thinking those things will make us happy. Yet, in the small ordinary moments, we often overlook, happiness can reside. There are days when y

by Lauren Walker Purpose and passion. How do you live your life? I'm turning forty this year and I feel like I'm finally coming into my own. I was vacuuming my house this morning and I realized, while I dislike doing it, I can be joyful doing it. Vacuuming gave me the idea for this article, so thank you! A Joyful Shift A shift happens when you get older. I spent my twenties wondering who I was and what I wanted to be. I wasn't experiencing very much joy at all. Going through

KIM COULTER RMH Foundation KAWARTHA LAKES: Standing atop the CN Tower, on July 31st, 2021, Sandra Jack celebrated surviving cancer for five years, post-surgery. More than that, she was paying forward the care she was receiving and fundraising, to help more people survive cancer. Helping others was her lifelong mission. Sandra touched lives through her career in education, her public service on municipal council, her advocacy on community committees, and her many passions. The

LAUREN WALKER Special to The Standard Let's take a closer look at how our emotions and physical health are connected and how we can improve that connection. Let's dive into some healthy habits. Whether it's taking a half hour to go for a walk, taking an art course or meditation. An activity that allows you to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with yourself. Exercise You knew I'd get here sooner or later. Movement is a natural high which releases happy hormones i

TINA Y. GERBER-MCCURLEY Special to The Standard I have said this many times, God didn't promise you a life without pain, struggle or hardships. He did, however, promise to give you strength to get through it. It is important to keep those parts working properly by remaining active. Keeping body parts active as you age is essential to maintaining your independence, helping to reduce pain, and preventing further injuries. Since my visit to the hospital, last December, I will ad

RYAN YOUNG, RMH KAWARTHA LAKES: Ross Memorial Hospital is inviting community members to help shape the future of healthcare in Kawartha Lakes. Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) is hosting four Community Town Halls, focused on Master Planning and what the future holds for our hospital and community. Whether it be physical infrastructure and the long-term space needs of the hospital, to clinical programs which will be needed over the next 10 – 20 years to serve our community, the To

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard For Jamie McTaggart, life changed dramatically at just 25 years old when unexplained numbness in her left leg and foot led to a diagnosis which would shape her future: multiple sclerosis (MS). “I couldn’t understand why it was happening,” Ms. McTaggart recalls. “It was scary, especially because my grandmother had MS and her condition worsened very quickly. I was terrified of what my future might look like.” Diagnosed in 2009, Ms. McTaggart began nav