In 2014, 7 year old Emily Trudeau died when she fell from a tractor on her family’s farm near Tweed Ontario. Her death was made all the more tragic by the fact that first responders could not locate the entrance to the field where the accident occurred right away.
The Emily Project began as an effort to make sense out of a tragedy, and ensure more people didn’t die in rural areas because of the inability of first responders to access an accident scene in a timely manner. Farm 911: The Emily Project, led by her father Scott Trudeau, aims to have all farm fields install signage with the civic addresses clearly displayed. The goal is to ultimately ensure that all farm fields bear their civic address. The goal is to develop a unified system for obtaining signage, and encourage both municipalities to offer signs as a service to their residents, and rural landowners to obtain and display the signs. Landowners and municipalities are urged to work together to ensure that every field and rural property has a usable entrance and signage with the property’s civic address. Local businesses are asked to help support the project wherever possible, and partnerships with local agricultural businesses encouraged. Resources are aimed at teaching rural residents how to efficiently and quickly contact emergency services. The ultimate and overarching goal is to “bring ideas, resources, and community partners together to improve emergency services in rural communities.”
The first sign of the project was installed in June of 2018 on a Northumberland County farm.
Allan Carruthers, who’s farm displayed the first sign, was also a volunteer firefighter in the community, so he knew how vital it is to accurately identify the exact site of a farm or rural accident quickly and clearly.
The first sign in North Dundas was installed on Shaw Road in Mountain in March 2020. The United Counties Stormont, Dundas and Glengary provided a $5000 grant to North Dundas to help fund the signs. The subsidized cost to the landowner came in at $37.50. After the grant runs out, the cost jumps to $75 per sign. The new signs in North Dundas are larger, measuring 8″ x 25″ rather than the smaller 5″ x 20″ ones. This new size will be used going forward for signage for both fields and rural properties, as well as residences. Quite simply, they are easier to see.
If you are interested in obtaining a sign with the civic address of your property, contact the offices of the Township of North Dundas at 613-774-2105. Applications can also be found on the Township’s website: northdundas.com