VOCM news has been recognized by the Canadian Mental Health Association with their Media Award for 2020.

The award recognizes a person group, or organization that has shown outstanding quality promotion and awareness of mental health issues in the province.

The CMHA-NL calls a “great corporate and community citizen using its platform to raise awareness of mental health issues, promote available supports, and reduce stigma.

Board Member, Ronalda Walsh says the award is a way to recognize those efforts.

The award was presented yesterday at the CMHA-NL’s Annual General Meeting.

Courtesy VOCM news and Congratulations!

The Youth Cohort will be having the third year with SmartICE.

Rex Holwell Jr is the Northern Production Lead with SmartICE.

He says that he now has all the four participants to get the Employment Readiness and Technology Development Program going.

These four participants are youth ages between 18 years to 30 years.

They will be starting this Monday, September 21st and will be going for five weeks until October 22nd.

They will learn about how to produce the SmartBUOYS.

The Illusuak Take out is open daily for the public.

Nancy Winters is the Manager for the Café.

They are open for the public from 8:30-12 and 1-4:15, and are open for soup, sandwiches, tea, coffee or juice on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12-1:30pm.

She says it’s going good, they has people coming and going; some days they has more people coming in than others, some days are slow, and some days has a good amount of people.

And if all goes well, they will start opening for soup and sandwiches daily.

There are 3 full time workers at the café; Nancy Winters, their cook, Charlotte Nochasak, their full time call in, Amber Kohlmeister, and Susan Maggo who is the casual call in.

The cook, Nochasak does baking every day and bakes bread, pies, cakes, cookies and cupcakes.

She would like to remind everyone that anyone entering the café is asked to wear a mask, and when get to your table; you can take remove your mask.

Once you leave your table, you’re asked to put your mask back on along with social distancing.

Winters adds that she hope that everybody can come by and enjoy the view with a cup of cup of tea or coffee and something sweet to eat.

Health Officials Urge Public to Get Flu Shot When Clinics Open in October.

The province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is urging Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to get a flu shot this fall when clinics open in late October.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says now that schools are open, another illness with symptoms similar to COVID-19 and the common cold is now circulating in schools.

Entero-virus is now making the rounds through schools in some parts of the province. She urges concerned parents to contact 811 if your child has two or more symptoms or complete the online self-assessment tool.

She says getting a flu shot will help to keep influenza from spreading through schools and in the community.

There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in the province today, with one active case remaining.

Health Minister John Haggie says ahead of the public flu clinics, the province will be going into long-term care facilities and schools to offer flu shots and is hoping they will become “family events.”

Details will be issued in the coming days, including measures to ensure physician distancing.

He urges families to keep their “eyes open” for more information.

Yesterday, Thursday, September 17th, NL continues with no new confirmed cases and haves one active case.

267 people have recovered

To date: 36’596 people have been tested.

In Alert Level 2, individuals should continue to practice good infection prevention and control practices.

Daily preventative actions can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.

There is a break at the pumps this morning.

The regulated price of gas is down by nearly 3 cents a litre.

Diesel has decreased by a cent and a half, while furnace and stove oils are down by 1.38 cents a litre.

Propane is down by less than a cent.

The Nain Fish Plant will be closing tomorrow, September 18, at 5pm.

It was a good fishery for the fishermen and including landings at the plant.

Deidi Kohlmeister is the Office Supervisor for the fish plant in Nain.

She says a total 33,458 lbs of char was landed.

A total of 40,633 green scallops, 1,596 lbs of meat was landed and smoked 4,900 lbs of char.

Kohlmeister says there are only 6 employees left and 3 of them are cleaning up.

It is the last day to buy fish tomorrow, and there are 2 packs fresh char fillets, 2 packs smoked char pieces and 3 whole char left.

Yesterday, Wednesday, September 16, Newfoundland and Labrador had no new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The province has one active case.

267 people have recovered from the virus and to date, 36,115 people have been tested.

In Alert Level 2, individuals should continue to practice good infection prevention and control practices.

Daily preventative actions can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.

The Nunatsiavut Presidential elections will be held on October 6th, 2020.

There are two candidates nominated for President.

Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement will choose from either incumbent Johannes Lampe of Nain or Andrea Webb/Tuglavina of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

The election will take place in the five Inuit communities, as well as North West River and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. (Residents of Mud Lake can vote in Happy Valley-Goose Bay).

Beneficiaries residing in the Constituency of Canada will vote by mail-in ballot.

The advance poll will take place on September 29, 2020.

Click here to find out more about the Presidential Elections.

OK Radio contacted the communities of Nain, Makkovik and Rigolet for the annual Take Back the Night event.

Nicole Dicker is the Executive Director for the Nain Safe House.

She says the Nain Safe House will not be holding a Take Back the Night march this year, but will be handing out information packages with some goodies to the community once their supplies have been received.

The expected delivery date is September 24th; however, she feels that it may be a bit later.

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please give Dicker a call at 922-1230.

Desiree Wolfrey is the Executive Director for Kirkina House in Rigolet.

She says that their march will be going ahead this Monday, September 21st.

They will be meeting at the Kirkina House and will be going around the block.

She says they will be giving out snacks and special face masks are ordered from Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

They will also be doing a prize draw with a chance to win gas and everyone is asked to practice social distancing.

Gemma Andersen is the Acting Team Leader with the Makkovik Department of Health and Social Development.

She says that they will have their walk next Friday, September 25th.

They will be meeting by the DHSD building and will be going around the block.

After the walk, there will be a fire pit lit and treats and supplies will be given out to each bubble.

Everyone is also encouraged to bring their own roasting stick and face masks.