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GBHStrong 560

With an aim of keeping people across the region connected and informed, Bruce Power and its partners at the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII) and NPX have created the Grey Bruce Huron Strong app.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to remain physically apart from our friends and neighbours," read an April 15 joint media release. "But physical separation does not have to mean complete social isolation."

The free app, along with the accompanying website www.gbhstrong.com, offers trusted information for people and businesses in our region. They provide a way to find:

• the latest local, authoritative health information;
• resources for people and businesses in need;
• a way for citizens to offer help to others; and
• some of the things still to do in our communities

“There is a lot of information in a lot of different places, and we wanted to have a trusted source for people in our counties to find the health and other information relevant to them,” said Christopher Mercanti, Manager of Community and Indigenous Relations at Bruce Power. “We need a regional perspective on how this crisis is affecting us.”

The free app is available on the Apple App Store (search for “GBH strong”), and is also expected to be released on the Google Play Store this week. All information can be accessed directly at www.gbhstrong.com right away.

“The current health crisis has created unease in widely dispersed communities across the region,” said Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau. “People have an essential need to receive trustworthy, up-to-date medical information including where to get help when they’re sick or how to find social assistance when they need it. This app gives them a good way to do that.”

Grey Bruce Huron Strong was an initiative of Bruce Power in cooperation with Grey, Bruce and Huron counties. The app and website were built by NPX Innovation in Kincardine and the Nuclear Innovation Institute.

“The app provides direct benefit to everyone by curating and aggregating trusted information sources, especially local ones, for a population that has been forced into social isolation,” said NPX President Bharath Nangia.

“People need to know what local businesses are open, where food banks can be found, how to get social assistance under new or existing government programs, and who to call if they need mental health support,” said NII President Bruce Wallace. “Because in times like this, we need to stay together more than ever.”