Retired Teachers Support SALT in North and Central Frontenac

Jeff Green | Sep 19, 2024

Dennis Quinn, the President of District 20 (Frontenac, Lennox and Addington) of the Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTOERO) traveled to Sharbot Lake last Wednesday (September 11) to present a cheque for $4,000 to Rural Frontenac Community Services and the Frontenac Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police.

The money will be used to subsidise costs for Seniors and Law Enforcement together (SALT) talks over the next 10 months. The SALT program in North and Central Frontenac is presented by the Frontenac Detachment and Rural Frontenac Community Services (RFCS). They meet together to discuss priorities for the community, and the detachment then provides speakers and RFCS arranges and promotes the events as part of their seniors’ program.

One of the key factors in the success of the SALT program since its inception over 6 years ago, is that they take place over the lunch hour and a light lunch is provided. This is a stress to the budget for SALT, in addition to other costs, as SALT is not a funded service for RFCS or the Frontenac OPP.

Knowing this, RTOERO District 20 decided to step in again this year to provide four thousand dollars, $400 for each of the ten scheduled SALT talks in 2024-2025.

In a release about their granting policy, RTOERA said, “our mission is to improve the lives of our members and seniors. RT members also share a desire to give back. Each year, districts apply for grants to support community projects. For 2024, RTOERO funded 31 projects for a total of $122,252.”

And, as Dennis Quinn said, “for elderly residents in rural and remote areas, many of whom are quite isolated, SALT fosters community building, safety and improved quality of life.”

District 20 of RTOERO, which is a bilingual organisation, includes over 1500 members, stretching from Kingston to Napanee in the west, Gananoque in the east, and includes Sharbot Lake and Denbigh in the north.

The SALT schedule for the next 10 months includes a talk that already took place this week at the Sharbot Lake Legion on crisis support offered by the OPP, with constable Robert Martel and the OPP Mobile Crisis Team. The topic in October will be Wills and Power of Attorney, in November – Medication Management, December – no SALT Talk, January - Emergency Procedures, February – Exercises, March – Service Canada, April – Frauds and Scams, May – Marine Safety, and June – Ticks and Other Pests (presented by Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Public Health).

Details about locations and dates will be updated at RFCS.ca when they are finalised. For further information, call 613-279-3151