Archive for category: Feature

Listuguj Community Health Services offers several programs at the Health Centre that aid in wellness and care to community members. One program is the Maternal and Child Care Program. The nurses who provide care and resources for this program are, Katrina Guitard (Registered Nurse), Caroline Jacques (Licensed Practical Nurse), and Avery Jacques (Licensed Practical Nurse).

There are two parts to the Maternal and Child Care Program. The first is Pregnancy and Prenatal appointments. Clients who are pregnant will come in for regular checkups and teachings every four weeks throughout their pregnancy. This will allow them to have access to prenatal, postnatal, and breastfeeding information and the occasional group activities for families in the community. If the client attends at least six prenatal appointments, they are eligible for incentives in the program. These incentives include monthly nutritional support such as monthly milk tokens – this will provide clients with six free 2L of milk each month, monthly grocery bags, a small baby gift at each appointment, and financial support incentives will be available after the baby is born.

 Once the baby is born, the nurses will do postnatal appointments for the mother and baby 24-48 hours after discharge from the hospital. These postnatal appointments will ensure that the mother and baby are healthy and if they require any additional resources, the nurses will arrange this.  The community of Listuguj also holds an annual Newborn Celebration, where families can celebrate expectant mothers and newborn babies in the community. It is a special event, with a catered meal, guest speakers, gifts, and new babies will be gifted a welcoming eagle feather.

The second part of the program is Childhood Vaccinations and Growth and Development. This part is all about providing the appropriate care for children in the early stages of their lives. It includes the administration of childhood vaccinations based on the Quebec Immunization Program. It also offers regular assessments of children’s growth and development and offers referrals as needed to maintain healthy development. The community of Listuguj strives for children’s well-being and this program assists families in the community to have access to all resources when it comes to their children’s health needs.

As of recently, the Listuguj Community Health Services now offers Midwifery Care for expectant mothers who are looking for a holistic approach to their pregnancy. This program is based out of the Gaspe region and is Indigenous and natural-based. If a pregnant client is interested in Midwifery Care, they will initially need to be assessed by the Maternal and Child Care staff to see if this is an option for them. If the client meets the criteria and has been permitted to take part in Midwifery Care, the client will be registered and assigned to a team of two or three midwives. Just like the Maternal and Child Care Program, the client will receive checkups every four weeks in Midwifery Care, eventually moving to every two weeks, and then every week. The midwives will offer personal and informative appointments with their clients to ensure the pregnancy is progressing in a typical fashion, midwives are available 24/7 via phone or text for their clients throughout their entire pregnancy. When the baby is ready to be born, two midwives will be present at the birth, as well as the client’s partner and/or support person. At this time, clients who are working with a midwife will have their babies at the Maria hospital. If health complications arise during the birth, the medical team at the hospital will take over, but the midwife will still assist the client as their “Doula” for support and coaching. If completed with the midwives, the client will be able to go home within three to four hours post-birth. After this, the midwives will provide care for six weeks post-partum, including checkups for the mother and baby. The midwives are also trained lactation consultants and will assist new mothers with breastfeeding.

“The benefit of this program is ensuring that our clients receive the best prenatal/delivery/and postnatal care possible. Having that care so accessible in the community alone is an opportunity for the community. In addition, the holistic and natural approach taken erases a lot of the medical-based technicalities to the care given. This brings out a more organic and spiritual experience to childbearing and birth based on your wants and needs,” said Katrina Guitard (RN).

Everyone has a different pregnancy and birth story, and the nurses at the Listuguj Health Centre work hard to make sure their clients are receiving proper care, have access to resources, and make their pregnancy and birthing experience positive and memorable. When asked if the staff have any advice to pass along to expectant or new mothers, Guitard said, “When they say it takes a village, it’s the truth. Be kind and patient with yourself. Being a parent is one of the hardest titles to hold, but one of the most rewarding.”

The Maternal and Child Care Program takes new clients as they receive requests. If a client becomes pregnant and would like to have regular prenatal appointments, they can contact the Health Centre at (418)-788-2155, and request to be transferred to the Maternal and Child Health Department.

By Ann Marie Jacques

A little over a year ago, Vera Isaac took on the role of By-law Enforcement Officer after several years with the Listuguj Police Department and the Listuguj Rangers.  This new position deals with all the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government laws/by-laws – such as cannabis control, fisheries, gaming, etc., but the one by-law that is most extensive would be the Dog Control By-law. You can find this by-law in its entirety, and other community by-laws at listuguj.ca.

Before the By-law Enforcement Officer position was put into effect, Animal Control complaints and concerns were often called into the Listuguj Police Department. During the time she was working with the police, she compiled a file over the years of all the Animal Control related complaints that were received. Isaac went to Chief and Council with these files and declared a public security issue in the community of Listuguj. This helped Animal Control Services become what it is today. Currently, two Animal Control officers (“dog catchers”) patrol the area, as well as Isaac herself.

At this time, there are no fines associated with the current Dog By-law in the community. There are impoundment fees available, but unfortunately, Listuguj does not have an animal shelter. “Right now, the only thing we’re doing is mediation and conflict resolution – giving out warnings that’s all we can do without a shelter,” said Isaac. The Animal Control officers’ main tasks are patrolling the area, picking up any roaming or lost dogs, and returning them to their homes. Lost or missing pet posts are often posted on social media by Animal Control officers as well.  Isaac is hoping that the Dog Control By-law will be amended and the staff will be able to issue fines soon. Possible grounds for fines include dogs at large or trespassing, excessive barking/howling, failure to pick up after a dog, having more than three dogs in a household, failure to have a dog on a leash, and of course, dog bites or attacks – which could result in criminal charges.

Another possibility for the future is for Listuguj to have its very own animal shelter. Right now, Capital and Infrastructure are in the early planning stages for the shelter. As is the case with many animal shelters, the Restigouche County SPCA in Dalhousie is often overcrowded with lost or surrendered animals and cannot make exceptions for pets in Listuguj. Unfortunately, there are no shelter or animal control options on the Quebec side either. Isaac created a proposal, which would include various indoor and outdoor enclosures for pets, Animal Control officers, animal care attendants, and a veterinarian housed in the shelter, as well as low-cost vaccination and spay/neutering clinics on-site. The plan is to have the shelter located in a more secluded area of the community to limit the barking in neighborhoods. “Once we have this in place, we can have a better grip on the dog situation,” said Isaac.

It’s no secret that roaming dogs are at times problematic and concerning. Isaac said this is the number one issue for Animal Control Services. “The biggest challenge is to get the community on board with taking responsibility for their pets, tying their dogs, and just taking care of them,” said Isaac. With so many dogs roaming, there is an increase in the number of packs. When dogs travel in packs, they become very territorial and dangerous. Even the friendliest, most well-behaved dog’s demeanor can completely change when it travels with a pack. Typically, these packs are formed during peak mating seasons. Over time, the Animal Control officers have learned which months they tend to see a rise in packs and will increase patrol. Preventing dogs from being at large is not the only thing that can stop packs from forming. “Spaying and neutering pets will eliminate the dog packs and aggression,” said Isaac.

Isaac stressed that pet owners are always responsible for their pets and need to take accountability. According to the Dog Control By-Law, if an individual does not have their dog properly secured on their property, and it bites or hurts a person or another animal, they are held responsible and could be charged with criminal negligence.

Even though it may not be as severe and as evident in the community, there is also a cat problem.  Isaac said there is a reproducing issue when it comes to cats, and this could result in more dog attacks in the community.

Animal Control encourages community members to register their dogs with the Listuguj Police Department. The annual fee is $25, and the dog will receive a license tag with the owner’s information, address, and the dog’s information including immunization records.

Even though the Listuguj Bylaw Enforcement and Public Security recognize the dogs at large issue, they are also aware there are a lot of responsible pet owners, who love and care for their pets in the community. Dogs and cats make great companions and when cared for responsibly, can enrich our lives.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Animal Control in the area, please contact Vera Isaac at 506-987-4524.

By Ann Marie Jacques

In the province of Quebec, Eastern Shores School Board is very prominent with 16 youth sector schools and five adult/vocational education centers. One of these adult/vocational education centers is right here in Listuguj, housed at LMDC.

Eastern Shores School Board offers a variety of training and courses for those interested in furthering their education, and as of 2023, the school board is now looking to offer part-time, interest-based learning courses. While these courses would not offer any transferrable credits, they will allow individuals to continue their education with hands-on learning and gain the knowledge and tools to use in everyday life.

As of right now, this is a call out to the community of Listuguj and surrounding areas, to see how many people would be interested in enrolling in these courses. The courses will only be offered based on the level of interest.

The courses will be done in a casual, part-time manner at LMDC, which may include evenings and weekends. There is no tuition or fees for applicants. Refreshments will also be provided to participants.

Here are the potential courses:

• DIY Repairs for Homeowners

This course will allow individuals to acquire the skills needed to remedy common household malfunctions.

Topics to cover: Drywall, Basic Plumbing and Troubleshooting, Installing Taps, and Toilet Repair 101.

Two nights per week for five weeks, beginning in mid-March.

• Outdoor Education

This course will educate individuals on basic survival skills and outdoor preparedness.

Topics to cover: Ethics, gear, headings and landmarks, Fire Making, Fundamentals of Food and Water, and shelter making.

March 18^th and 25^th, and April 1^st

• Personal Budgeting

This course will provide instruction and advice when it comes to budgeting and money management.

Topics to cover: Budgeting basics, Budgeting scenarios and Personal (Household) budgeting.

Two evenings in April.

If you’d like more information on these upcoming potential courses, or to declare your interest in enrolling, please reach out to Cheryl Kouri, Eastern Shores School Board at cheryl.kouri@essb.qc.ca or at 418-788-1347, Ext: 8804.

By Ann Marie Jacques