Latest news with #MiddlesexLondonHealthUnit
CTV News
14 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
‘It's smoky out': Londoners cope with poor air quality
A haze is present in the air across much of southwestern Ontario as forest fire smoke from the west continues to affect air quality. 'It's been poor for the past few days, particularly earlier this morning,' said David Pavletic, Manager of Health Hazards at the Middlesex-London Health Unit. At 7 a.m. Friday, Environment Canada reported the air quality index had almost reached 10, the maximum score. That's when Pavletic states things get serious. 060625 - smoky air David Pavletic, Manager of Health Hazards, Middlesex-London Health Unit. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London) 'The recommendation at that point would be to the general population to reduce activities outdoors and strenuous activities, for sure.' But air quality fluctuates with wind patterns. The unpredictability led some Londoners to be proactive, including senior Pauline Salisbury, who opted to wear a mask on a visit to Cherryhill Village Mall. 'I have a cough, and it's smoky out,' she explained. Another not taking many chances was parent Kiki Charles. She took her son, Elijah, to a city playground while the index was low. 'I wanted to kind of beat the bad weather.' As the pair had fun, she was mindful of advisories warning that children, seniors and those with compromised health face the greatest risk from the smoky air. 'I pay attention to whether or not he's exhausted or dehydrated,' Charles said. Even while indoors, there are safety precautions health officials recommend. They include closing all windows and doors and considering the purchase of a good quality air filter for heating and cooling systems. Not everyone heeds the advice, including Sandy Kirby. 'I read it. I'm careful, but I don't get all frantic about it.' Still, health officials advise that the poor air is expected to linger through the weekend. 060625 - smoky air Pauline Salisbury, opted to wear a mask on Friday. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London) That's why Pauline plans to keep her mask on. 'Well, like, I know some friends of mine who have a chronic cough. So, if they see me wearing a mask, then hopefully they will too, and protect themselves.'
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
MLHU warns of possible exposure of blood-borne infections at London dermatology clinic over 13-year span
The Middlesex-London Health Unit is warning patients of a Hyde Park dermatology clinic of potential exposures to blood-borne infections. The Middlesex-London Health Unit is warning patients of a Hyde Park dermatology clinic of potential exposures to blood-borne infections. The Middlesex-London Health Unit is warning patients of a Hyde Park dermatology clinic of potential exposures to blood-borne infections over a span of 13 years. Health officials say current and past patients of DermEffects may have been exposed to blood-borne infections during specific medical procedures. The clinic is located at 1560 Hyde Park Rd. The warning covers punch biopsies, curettage, as well as cautery and excision performed between Jan. 3, 2012, and Jan. 13, 2025. Officials say anyone who received those services should contact their healthcare provider.
CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
MLHU warns of possible exposure of blood-borne infections at London dermatology clinic
The Middlesex-London Health Unit is warning patients of a Hyde Park dermatology clinic of potential exposures to blood-borne infections.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
From shoppers to taxpayers: Citi Plaza touted to become interim City Hall
Owners of Citi Plaza want it to become an interim London City Hall. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London) The owners of Citi Plaza want it to become an interim London City Hall. The mall is pegged as the perfect space to house city employees while the current city hall is renovated and redeveloped. In its early years, Citi Plaza, then Galleria Mall, was briefly a vibrant shopping centre. But that was three decades ago. Today, it is a mix of a few retail outlets, a health club and offices. The rest of the space, which spans some 300,000 square feet, remains vacant. The realtor representing the property concedes it will never be what it once was. 'We are transitioning from a retail facility to a large floor plate office campus. So that's their plan. And they've already got some success in parts of the building,' said George Kerhoulas, of Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Realty. Some of that success is office space occupied by the Middlesex-London Health Unit and the City of London. Now, Citi Plaza wants City Hall to expand its footprint. With the municipality in the earliest stages of planning the renovation and redevelopment of the current city hall, Citi Plaza proposes serving as an interim hub as construction takes place at 300 Dufferin. Kerhoulas said an architect has drawn up renderings of what the space could look like. 060405 - City hall Owners of Citi Plaza want it to become an interim London City Hall. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London) 'We figured it's going to take a lot longer than they think. And you're already in our building, so why don't we move everybody over to our building for a decade while you're doing everything you need to do on Dufferin & Wellington.' The proposal has been in the hands of City Hall since late last year. But as it was unsolicited, there has been no feedback from 300 Dufferin. On the streets outside Citi-Plaza, lifelong Londoner Materia Steele recalled more vibrant days. 'I spent a lot of time in the library and whatnot. It was always packed with people,' said Steele. 'But since then, and since COVID, obviously, just everything has completely collapsed, and it's been very disappointing to see.' This is why she would welcome the temporary move to City Hall. 'Having it in a more accessible location would be significantly better, especially near the library, it is a decent idea,' said Steele. 'I would prefer to see some retail in there, I don't think in-store shopping is necessarily dead yet,' said Richard Cliffen, before adding, 'I do think it is an acceptable solution for the time being.' As part of the enticement package, Kerhoulas said the package reminds the city of the ample parking, plans for a roof garden, and flexible design options offered at Citi Plaza. 'There are just a lot of things that we can do to make it attractive for, you know, ten years while the transition goes.'
CBC
18-02-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Extreme cold warning continues in London region
Extreme cold temperatures continue to bear down on the London region, forcing local health units to issue cold weather alerts and the city to open an emergency overnight shelters for Londoners without a warm place to sleep. The weather has also forced the closure of McGillivray Central Public School in Ailsa Craig and cancelled school buses for Middlesex and Oxford counties. "This wave of cold weather is expected to remain in our region until Thursday," the Middlesex London Health Unit wrote in a statement this weekend. "While temperatures are anticipated to warm up slightly Wednesday, cold weather is still forecasted throughout the week and conditions may still meet the cold weather alert threshold." School buses for Banting, Beal, Catholic Central, Dorchester, Laurier, Medway, John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Montcalm, Saunders, Westminster and St. Andre Bessette high schools are also cancelled. For a full list of cancellations, people can check Boyle Memorial Community Centre was transformed Sunday night into a warming centre for people who have nowhere warm to sleep and the city's homeless shelters are full.
