Farm 911

The Region of Durham has committed $300,000 in funding to be distributed to local-area municipalities to improve the identification of addresses on rural properties—making it easier to respond to emergencies when they occur.

The voluntary initiative will provide local municipalities with the financial resources needed to supply and install 911 signage for secondary entrances and vacant properties in rural areas.

“In an effort to improve emergency response times within our rural communities, we are proud to be working alongside our municipal partners and the Durham Region Federation of Agriculture to provide funding for the Farm 911 project. This initiative highlights the importance of having easily identifiable address signage in rural areas—to decrease response time when critical help is needed, and ultimately save lives.” – Regional Chair and CEO John Henry

For more information, please contact your local municipality.

“We were so taken/heartbroken with Emily’s story, it got us thinking. We have two children now grow but while they were young, we would go back to the ‘bush’ and there was always a concern about ‘what if’.

Sometimes my husband would go on his own to the bush and I always asked ‘Do you have your cellphone?’ Then that really made me think – if I was at work (or even at home) and any of us were in trouble, would first responders be able to find us without a LENGTHY description of where we were, and I doubted it. That’s why we approached the Township for their support.

We allow certain people we know to hunt on our farm in those fields past what is visible from our road.  They are to tell us when they go out, and when they are back. Some park in our driveway and walk back.  Our rule is ‘if you’re not back at dusk – we’re coming back to find you’.

Thankfully we have never had issue, but with the new ‘FARM 911’ signs first responders, at the very least, will have a better starting point if someone does get into trouble!  And that gives us small peace of mind.

We live near an area where a hiker got in trouble a few years ago.  He had fallen and thankfully he at least had his cell phone with him.  When the call came in one of our ‘locals’ knew exactly where he was, and that was ONLY the way he was found.

FARM 911: The Emily Project is such a simple, easy, wise way to help in community safety.  I sincerely hope those we have spoken to, and others we haven’t, will see the benefits.”

-Alison, Mallorytown ON

We’re thrilled to have a couple of municipalities in Niagara join The Emily Project. Farmers and landowners in the Town of Pelham and Township of Wainfleet can now order civic addresses for their vacant farm properties. Please click on the links below to access the forms. Once you have filled out the form, bring it to the Municipal Office for processing.

Town of Pelham Application Form

For more information, please contact:
Sylvia Zappitelli, Administrative Assistant
Fire Services, Town of Pelham
szappitelli@pelham.ca
(905) 892-2607 x201

Township of Wainfleet Application Form

Joyce Sonneveld is the first farmer in Pelham to have a FARM 911 sign installed. Beside her is Pelham Fire Prevention officer Jason Longhurst, Nadine Gill-Aarts, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Field Rep, Mayor Marvin Junkin and Murray Berin, Director for the Niagara South Federation of Agriculture.

Today marked the launch of FARM 911: The Emily Project in Prince Edward County! Vacant landowners can now apply for civic address markers for their farm fields in this municipality. All applicants requesting a sign must submit an application to the Development Services department.

You can find an application form here.

FARM 911 is incredibly fortunate to have such strong support from our community. This fall, we were ecstatic to receive two big donations from local businesses.

Performance Sales & Accessories held their inaugural Show & Shine in September with 50 trucks participating. They generously donated the proceeds from the event to our project.

Duffer’s Chip Wagon, owned by the Leroux family, served food at the Hastings County Plowing Match & Trade Show in August, and generously donated proceeds from sales at that event.

We are so proud to live in a community that supports agriculture, safety, and rural living. Thank you Performance Sales & Accessories and Duffer’s Chip Wagon!!

Once again, we’re reminded that this truly is a community project. We are thrilled that the Atom A Tweed Hawks hockey team generously donated the remainder of their club funds to our project. What an inspiring group!

Congratulations on a great season boys & thank you for your generosity!!

(photo submitted by team manager Catie Bilous)

Congratulations to the City of Quinte West on launching FARM 911 today! We are thrilled that land owners in this jurisdiction can now apply for signage for their vacant properties.

Thank you to the City of Quinte West for seeing the value in offering this program and to farmer Rod Goit for participating in such an important initiative for his farm.

(photo credit to Mari Hira from InQuinte.ca)

 

 

 

 

 

 

FARM 911 was thrilled to receive a very generous donation of $1600 from owner and operator of Trudeau Park Lodge, Casey Trudeau, for The Emily Project.

The staff from Oakley’s Pub at Trudeau Park Lodge ran a food booth at the Hastings County Plowing Match & Farm Show at the farm of Scott and Angela Trudeau in August of 2018 and raised money in honour of Emily Trudeau’s legacy.

FARM 911 wishes to thank Casey Trudeau and all the staff from Oakley’s Pub for your kindness and generosity to our project. The money will be used on continued efforts to raise awareness of the need for civic addresses at farm field entrances.

 

FARM 911 celebrated the 1-year anniversary of launching our project at the Hastings County Plowing Match. We were able to celebrate an incredible milestone at the farm of Scott and Angela Trudeau in Tweed. How fitting it was, to honour and celebrate Emily’s legacy, at her family’s farm! Thank you to the Hastings County Plowing Match & Farm Show for once again allowing us to use your venue, thank you to the Tweed Fire Department for supporting the project, and of course a big thank you to the Trudeau family for being the best ambassadors of this project.

On June 12^th, 2018, we celebrated the first FARM 911 sign installment in Northumberland County at the farm of Allan and Terry Carruthers. We want to thank Northumberland County for their support of this project and their efforts to have it implemented as quickly as possibly, across all 7 municipalities. Northumberland County chose to use yellow signs, as a way to let first responders know they are looking for a farming property, when responding to a call. This will help first responders find the scene of the accident, quickly and efficiently.