At the regular meeting of the Kamsack Business Association (KBA) on May 17, members dealt with the perception of an HIV epidemic in Kamsack and the negative impact on the community, as well as how to reverse that perception.
The meeting began with a presentation by Candace Nelson of SIGN (Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbors) outreach program, who gave up-to-date information of the status of HIV in the immediate community.
鈥淲hen the statistics were released in 2016 that there was an 800 per cent increase in HIV in this region, this area was given some bad press coverage about the 鈥渆pidemic鈥 in our community,鈥 she said. 鈥淲ith the strategies that have been implemented and put into action since the original diagnoses were made, the action plan has ensured that the levels of HIV have now come down, making this one of the safest communities to live in.
鈥淭esting and treatment plans are in place, and the risk of contracting HIV accidentally, through a needle poke or unintentional means, is highly unlikely.
鈥淭he HIV virus is not able to survive outside the host body for extended periods of time, and if one practices conscientiousness with transmissible bodily fluids, there is very little risk of contracting HIV.
鈥淲e recommend everyone get tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime, to rule out the possibility of having the virus, undetected, in one鈥檚 system, but also recommend that anyone born between the 1950s to 70s get tested for another concern, that 小蓝视频 Hepatitis C,鈥 she said.
鈥淎s the Kamsack Business Association, we need to come up with ideas to turn around the perception that Kamsack and district has somehow become an unpleasant place to live and do business because of an HIV epidemic,鈥 said Rob Ritchie, KBA president and meeting chair.
鈥淲e welcome new residents to the community and would like to see more new businesses open
耻辫.鈥
It was suggested that letters could be written to the editors of local newspapers to spread the word that this area is 鈥渁ctually one of the safest communities to be living in鈥 and with the announced reduction in the business tax mill rate factor for 2018, down to 1.20 per cent from 1.25 per cent, Kamsack is an attractive place in the province to do business, it was said.
The KBA congratulated Dixie Cups Ice Cream for opening a new business on the main street in Kamsack.
鈥淥ther good news is Dr. Sam Mazahreh will be opening a new dental practice here in July,鈥 said Ritchie.
鈥淭he KBA recognizes the efforts of SIGN for creating a community garden on the site of what used to be the Arrow Diner, just east of the Petro Canada, and extends congratulations to the newly-formed River Valley Archery Club. Contact Scott Green if you are interested in joining,鈥 he said.
Marketing for the KBA via the FB page is well-established thanks to the efforts of James Perry, and Ritchie encouraged the members to contact Perry with any additions they may wish to have posted on the page.
Information was circulated about the Madge Lake Walleye Cup to be held on September 15, and it was said that a Madge Lake Pike Derby was scheduled for September 16.
A motion was made and carried to authorize the KBA to run a 90-day advertisement with CMM Digital in Yorkton, which would have the ad show onscreen once every 6.5 minutes.
Mention was made of the approaching July 1 Canada Day parade, and those wishing to have a float included should contact Kev Sumner, rec director, at the town office.
The Town of Kamsack will no longer be participating in the Communities in Bloom program, and it was suggested that anyone having ideas about promoting the town through a new beautification program for business owners to contact Sumner.
Regarding the nomination challenge of the Garden of Saskatchewan Citizen Ring Nomination Committee, issued by Wendy Becenko, volunteer secretary, it was noted that the words of the awards鈥 founder and contributors, Stan and Betty Clark, 鈥淚t鈥檚 time to honour those who have dedicated their lives to our communities,鈥 were impactful and meaningful. Ritchie challenged the KBA to nominate a deserving individual.
It was decided that regular meetings would not be held throughout the 鈥渂usy鈥 summer months, and the next meeting was scheduled for September 20 in Room 204 of the Crowstand Centre.