Latest news with #CentreWellington
CBC
5 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Centre Wellington sees 1st confirmed case of rabies in a bat this year
Social Sharing A bat in Centre Wellington has tested positive for rabies in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph's first confirmed case of the year. In a release sent out Wednesday, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) said the animal tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. A person has begun "precautionary treatment for potential exposure," the release said. "Although rabies is rare, it can be fatal when left untreated," said Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, WDGPH's associate medical officer of health. "Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by an animal should wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and seek immediate medical attention," he said. Tenenbaum couldn't comment directly about the person who was exposed, but he said when someone comes into contact with a bat and public health is contacted, an investigation is launched. "We find out exactly what this scenario was," he explained. "For example, was there direct contact with the bat? Was it a scenario where someone saw a bat outdoors, saw a bat indoors? We know oftentimes bats can fly into homes and be found in attics or found in bedrooms. So we gather information about this scenario and then we conduct a risk assessment." Depending on the results of the assessment, Tenenbaum says they will often recommend treatment. More bat-related investigations this year The number of investigations public health conducted last year related to bats was 47. So far for this year, that number is up to 61 bat-related investigations. "It wouldn't surprise me if more bats are tested [this year]. It's quite possible others could come back positive," Tenenbaum said. Tenenbaum attributes the rise in numbers partly with the heat the region has been experiencing this summer. "As people are at home trying to open their windows to get ventilation in, that provides opportunities for bats to enter homes. We know that the warmer weather also can prompt bats to seek cooler indoor spaces, which increases likelihood they'll come in contact with people," he said, adding he hopes the rise in calls also has to do with an increase in awareness about the issue. What you can do People can take precautions to avoid their pets or themselves being bitten, including: Don't touch sick or injured animals. Don't approach or touch wild or unfamiliar animals even if they seem friendly. Don't feed wild or stray animals. Keep bats out of your home. Assume any bat you see has rabies. Tell children to stay away from bats and tell them to tell you if they've had contact with a bat. Keep pets away from wild animals or other unfamiliar pets. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal or have any contact with a bat: If it's a pet, get the owner's contact information so public health can follow up with them. Immediately wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. People should also report bites and scratches with a bat to public health.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Bat in Centre Wellington tests positive for rabies, one person taking precautionary treatment
A big brown bat is seen in this file photo. (Getty Images) One person is receiving treatment after a bat in Centre Wellington tested positive for rabies. According to a news release from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, the bat test positive for the potentially deadly virus on Tuesday. It is the first confirmed case of a rabid bad in the health unit's jurisdiction this year. 'An individual has begun a precautionary treatment protocol for potential exposure,' the release stated. Rabies is spread through contact with the salvia of infected animals, most commonly through bites, scratches, open wounds or mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose or mouth. 'Although rabies is rare, it can be fatal when left untreated,' Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health's Associate Medical Officer of Health, said in the release. 'Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by an animal should wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and seek immediate medical attention.' Early symptoms of rabies include fever, tiredness, headaches, anxiety and irritability. As symptoms worsen, infected people may experience seizures, confusion, hyperactivity, hallucinations, a fear of water and a fear of fresh air or drafts. Treatment involves multiple injections of rabies post-exposure vaccine before symptoms begin. The latest confirmed case of a rabid bat comes after Huron Perth Public Health confirmed an animal in South Huron had tested positive for the virus and Grand Erie Public Health announced two cases of rabies in bats found in Brantford-Brant County. A child in the Grand Erie Public Health area also died last year after they encountered a rabid bat in the Timiskaming region.
CTV News
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Fergus Scottish Festival celebrates 80-year run
The Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games brought the sound of bagpipes and drums to the city. An annual festival in Fergus has been honouring Scotland's culture since 1946. The Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games brought the sound of bagpipes and drums to the city The Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games 80th anniversary The Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games celebrated its 80th anniversary, August 10, 2025 (Sidra Jafri/CTV News). The event is a tradition that's brought around 25,000 people to the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex every year, according to Elizabeth Bender, the festival's executive director. 'It's important to us and it has been for the last 79 years, leading up to this big weekend, that the festival started to celebrate local culture and the local community and our Scottish history and roots,' said Bender. 'And all of these years later, we're continuing to do the exact same thing.' Bender said the festival was full of 80th anniversary branded merchandise throughout the grounds, especially a custom made tartan kilt worn by some of the almost 400 volunteers. The Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games 80th anniversary The Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games celebrated its 80th anniversary, August 10, 2025 (Sidra Jafri/CTV News). According to the festival's website, the special tartan was made with a thread count that symbolizes August 17, 1946, the date the festival was founded. Bender said many attendees are regulars at the event, with some expressing to her how much the festival means to them. 'We have a lot of history within the festival with families and groups that have been coming for a really long time and there's very much a reunion feel to it,' she said. 'So, we're hearing a lot of stories of 'Our families are now connected because we met at the festival and we have a shared Scottish history,' so, that's really, really special for us and very exciting.' Attendees at the festival were able to enjoy pipe bands, live music, various heavy lifting competitions and line dancing workshops. Charles Vandervaart, an actor on the Outlander series, grew up north of Fergus in Orangeville. He said though he's mainly Dutch, the show has helped him embrace his Scottish side from his grandmother. 'I'm fully embracing it and I'm here at the festival and enjoying that beautiful culture,' he said. Vandervaart attended the three-day event on its last day, Sunday, participating in a workshop for Scottish line dancing called ceilidh. 'The nice thing about a ceilidh is, most of the time, the way it's run is you do this dance, they teach you how to do it. You dance with a partner, it's a great time,' he said. 'I don't even know the dances by heart. [You] just learn it as you go but that's kind of the fun part about it — messing up. I don't think you can be bad at ceilidh as long as you commit. That's the whole point, right? And it's about having fun. If you got two left feet, you can still ceilidh.' The Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games 80th anniversary The Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games celebrated its 80th anniversary, August 10, 2025 (Sidra Jafri/CTV News). Vandervaart said celebrating personal culture is important to understand history. 'I think it's important to understand why I'm Canadian and what the story was there and understanding myself,' he said. 'It kind of opened my eyes to the good and the bad of that history and the colonial past that my ancestors have and kind of respecting the land, respecting the people that were here before me and are the original custodians of what we call Canada now.' Attendees of the festival echoed Vandervaart's words. 'I think if you're not coming out to celebrate [the culture] and keeping it going for our age and younger, then it's going to die off eventually with the older family members and you're not going to learn about it or continue to know about where you came from,' said attendee Haylea Savoy. 'Keep the history going,' added her friend Nairn Major.
CTV News
08-07-2025
- CTV News
People from Ireland and United Kingdom charged during Centre Wellington Township traffic stop
An Ontario Provincial Police badge is shown on an officer. Two people from abroad are facing a combined total of five charges after police tried to pull them over in Centre Wellington Township. Ontario Provincial Police said officers saw a speeding vehicle on Wellington Road 26 around 7:30 p.m. Monday. When they tried to stop the driver, the vehicle sped away. Police did catch up to the vehicle and an 18-year-old from Ireland was charged with flight from an officer, dangerous operation, stunt driving and driving without a licence. A 23-year-old from the United Kingdom was also charged with obstructing a peace officer. The vehicle was impounded and both people were held for a bail hearing.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Centre Wellington Council removes Elora BIA board of management, citing 1992 bylaw
Despite pleas for collaboration, council for the Township of Centre Wellington Council rescinded the appointment of directors to the Elora Business Improvement Area (BIA) Board of Management. At a township meeting on June 16, councillors were told there had been an error when the latest BIA board was installed. In a report, township staff cited a bylaw from 1992 that states the BIA board can only have four members appointed by council, one of which must be a member of council. The most recent iteration of the board included six members and Councillor Kim Jefferson. In the past, other boards have also surpassed the membership permitted in the bylaw, but nothing was done to correct the issue. 'The record is clear, council has appointed more than three business members to the Elora BIA for well over a decade,' BIA member Catherine Daultrey said while delegating to council. 'This isn't an anomaly, it's custom and convention. These were formal appointments by council, signed by the mayor and clerk. This board was not self-installed, it was appointed, approved and operating in line with past practice.' The chair of the BIA, Erika Montero, said the oversized board was just one issue BIA members had uncovered, along with concerns about a previous lack of public meetings and general transparency. 'We did not create this situation, we inherited it,' Montero said. 'Now, having worked to correct it, we are being punished for it.' 'This is not just an administrative reset, it's a political move to silence a squeaky wheel and a board that believes in transparency, sustainability, a local voice and protecting the soul of this community,' Montero claimed. The BIA members also requested council update the current bylaw to allow the BIA board to consist of more members. Instead, council passed a bylaw to dissolve the board and appointed a new interim board consisting of Centre Wellington's CAO Dan Wilson, Managing Director of Corporate Services and Treasurer Adam McNabb, Municipal Clerk Kerri O'Kane and Mayor Shawn Watters. The newly passed bylaw stated the township will help the new interim board call an Annual General Meeting, potentially within the next few weeks, so a new board can be elected. Wilson said members of the former board can run for re-election. The township also said this is not an issue that is unique to the Elora BIA and staff will work with the Fergus BIA to bring them into compliance as well.
