Archives 2021

What’s going on here? New optometry clinic proposed on Centre Street in Alliston

All eyes are on a vacant piece of land that could soon be home to a new optometry clinic in Alliston.

Just the facts:

• A minor variance application has been approved to adjust the maximum lot coverage to permit a new building to be constructed at the Centre Street, just south of the Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot.

• The application was submitted to increase the maximum lot coverage from 70 per cent to 81 per cent to allow for the construction of new building for the New Tecumseth Optometry Clinic.

• The purpose of the increase was to better accommodate and serve the clients and patients.

• The town’s lot coverage standard of 70 per cent is meant to “maintain an appropriate balance of open space and buildings on the property” while also allowing natural areas to provide storm water run-off. However, the town’s planning department considers the increase “minor in nature” and didn’t object to the application.

• The property is designated downtown core commercial and clinics/health care facilities are permitted uses.

• It is zoned urban commercial core and a health service facility is permitted within that designation

• Normally the town requires clinics to provide six parking spaces, but the applicant will provide two and compensate the town for the remaining spaces in cash-in-lieu of parking. Clients will be able to use the municipal parking lot across the street.

• The applicant has yet to submit a site plan application, which will address various engineering matters.

For more information visit

Joel Plaskett, Hollerado, Ron Hawkins headlining Barrie’s Troubadour Festival

Some big names from the music world will play downtown Barrie next month.

Joel Plaskett Emergency, Hollerado, and Ron Hawkins and the Do Good Assassins are among the notables performing in venues throughout the core during the Troubadour Festival Sept. 21 to 23. The concerts will be held at Donaleigh’s, Homestead Bakery, St. Andrew’s Church, Flying Monkeys and Meridian Place.

In total, nearly 30 musical acts will perform, including Born Ruffians, Zeus, the Weather Station, Land of Talk and Basia Bulat. A songwriters workshop will also be hosted by Mitch Rossell and Dave Turnbull.

The event is produced in partnership with the City of Barrie and Ontario government.

Tickets go on sale Aug. 17 at noon. For more information, including a full list of performers, visit .

Police seek two suspects in Innisfil razor theft

South Simcoe police have released photos of two men wanted in connection to a theft of razors at an Innisfil store.

Officers said the men went into the Innisfil Beach Road store Aug. 1 and went straight to the aisle with the razors. A large quantity was taken, without either man paying for the items.

They got into a van and drove west.

The first suspect is white approximately 30-40 years old, tall with an average build. His head was shaved bald and he had a clean shaven face. He was wearing a blue golf shirt and brown khaki pants.

The second suspect is white, an average height with a thin build. He was also clean shaven and wore a black Nike ball cap, a white Canada T-shirt and dark shorts.

Their van is a white commercial panel van with black tinted windows and a ladder on the roof.

Anyone with tips can call 705-436-2141, 905-775-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).

Many unknowns on the horizon as Canada prepares to legalize pot

On Oct. 17, Canada will become one of the first Western nations to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

And it’s only fair that we go first, since we were one of the first countries to ban it. A Liberal government under William Lyon Mackenzie King added marijuana to the list of substances banned by the Opium Act almost 20 years before the Americans outlawed pot.

Then, when the United States banned weed in 1938, Canada banned it again. It was such a non-problem that the King government forgot they’d already made it illegal.

We can expect some serious issues to arise next fall. For one thing, the sale of marijuana in Ontario is still up in the air. The previous provincial government planned to open a chain of marijuana stores similar to the LCBO. The new Progressive Conservative government appears to be leaning toward free enterprise. A decision needs to be made soon: decriminalization is only three months away.

The new law has other traps. Growing pot will be legalized, but only for four plants for personal use. Commercial growing and selling will be just as illegal under the new law as they are now. In fact, some penalties for growing and dealing will be harsher.

Some advocates of a wide-open market are, for now, simply ignoring the law. Marijuana “dispensaries” are open in most cities and towns, selling marijuana, hashish and edibles. In at least one Eastern Ontario First Nation, Tyendenaga, dozens of new marijuana outlets have opened in defiance of the old and new laws.

It will be interesting to see how the government reacts to these outlets. Until recently, pot growers were simply ignoring the federal narcotics law. The RCMP and local police forces went after growers, especially in the fall, but more than enough pot was grown illegally to supply the Canadian market. Now, it’s not just a matter of breaking the law. Unlicensed commercial pot growers and dealers will be competing against well-connected licensed growers and government retailers.

It’s one thing for pot growers and dealers to compete against each other. It may be quite another for them to compete with governments that have become desperate for new revenue streams.

And no one is sure what will happen about impaired driving. It has always been illegal to drive under the influence of drugs. Now, the challenge for the police will be to find a way to convince judges that people who drive stoned are “impaired”. No one has come up with a quick test similar to a breathalyzer.

People who want to smoke pot will need to be careful not to break several new rules. While the regulations of the decriminalization law haven’t been published, it’s clear that it will be rather easy to break the new law.

Under the new law, you can possess up to 30 grams of legal cannabis, dried or equivalent in non-dried form in public. And you can share up to 30 grams of legal cannabis with other adults. But you’d better make sure they are adults: give or sell pot to someone under 18 and you’re looking at up to 14 years in jail.

You can only buy dried or fresh cannabis and cannabis oil from a provincially-licensed retailer or online from the federal government. The law says nothing about hashish. Edibles are excluded, as are marijuana vapes. And, while you can “share” your marijuana, but you can’t sell it. That’s illegal dealing.

And you’ll have to buy seeds, seedlings or clones from a licensed dealer. Presumably, the new regulations will make it illegal to sell seeds and clones.

You can make cannabis products, such as food and drinks, at home as long as organic solvents are not used to create concentrated products. But the law is not clear about the legality of baking with cannabis and transporting the stuff to a friend’s place. Will there be a rule like Ontario’s law against transporting an open bottle of wine or case of beer?

I think the government has made things far too complicated. People will still be charged, either under provincial laws, which do not carry a criminal record, or federal laws, which do. It will be up to the police to decide which charges will be laid.

As well, the people convicted of simple possession will not have their criminal records erased. In several of the U.S. states where marijuana was legalized, criminal records were destroyed. That should be done here; people who have done something now recognized as relatively harmless should not be stuck with records that affect their ability to get a job or travel.

There will likely be a class action lawsuit filed in the next few months to try to force the government into suspending the criminal records of people convicted of offences for things that will be legal under the new law, things like simple possession and cultivation of four or fewer plants. If I had a marijuana record, I probably wouldn’t wait for this lawsuit to grind through the courts. I’d get the forms and apply now.

(To get them, simply google “Official PBC Record Suspension Application Guide and Forms” and the material you need will show up on the National Parole Board website. Ignore the ads for companies that offer help. This is something you probably can handle yourself.)

Mark Bourrie

Mark Bourrie is a lawyer practicing in Lanark County and Ottawa. He is also a part-time professor of History and Canadian Studies and an author. You can reach him at [email protected] or 613-255-2158.

Jodi Lloyd — SCDSB trustee Orillia-Ramara-Severn

When asked why I want to be a trustee: it is my passion. 

I have a long history of volunteerism whether it be with the Community Foundation, sports, YMCA, Cancer Society or hospital.  I strongly believe in giving back and enhancing the lives of others, especially children. Building a strong education system builds a strong society.

I am married, with three children with strong connections with our youth, their parents and our community. As an insurance adjuster, whose territory includes Orillia, Ramara and Severn and having lived in all three communities,  I understand the uniqueness and needs of each and the challenges of the current labour market.  

I am vice chair of the board and have been for three years, and during my three trustee terms have held various leadership positions including chair business facilities committee, audit committee and the transportation board for eight years, four years as vice chair. I have sat on our special education advisory committee and currently sit on the First Nations education advisory committee. During the last term I participated in a directors search and four supervisory officer selections.

 I am 100 per cent committed to my role. I am a strong voice at the board table and advocate on behalf of all students. I believe in strong fiscal accountability with a long-term vision for making informed decisions. My most important role is that of advocate for students. It Is my responsibility to hold administration responsible for student outcomes and ensure they hear and listen to local communities.

Moving forward we must immediately address under performance in math. We must build stronger transition planning for students grades 8 to 9 and high school to post-secondary to enable our youth to better understand and plan their pathways. We must enhance our guidance and counselling/mentorship services for our students. In this current climate of fiscal restraint, we must maximize our efficiencies, align resources to ensure we deliver programming that meets student needs equitably.  

I can be contacted at:  or

Website:      Twitter

Three-year prison term for Midland parking lot death

A London man was sentenced to prison last week (Aug. 7) for causing the death of a Wyevale man in a crowded Midland parking lot two years ago.

Jason Heffernan, 25, was sentenced to three years in prison with an eight-year driving prohibition after he pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing the death of Corby Stott, 29, a father of two young children who witnessed the incident.

Court heard how hundreds of drivers were trapped in an overcrowded parking lot at the Midland Walmart plaza during a heat wave on Canada Day weekend July 2, 2016 when the incident happened.

Several drivers tried to escape the mayhem by driving the wrong way in a one-way shipping lane, blocking up traffic even more. The victim, Stott, got out of his vehicle and stood in front of the wrong-way drivers and urged them to turn around. In some cases he was polite, in others he was hostile, court heard. Witnesses testified at a preliminary hearing that Stott stood in front of vehicles with his arms folded. He taunted  drivers, saying “hit me, hit,” court heard.

Stott ended up on the hood of Heffernan’s vehicle and then was thrown off as Heffernan drove at about 43 kilometres per hour. He landed face-down on the pavement and died of severe head trauma.

In court the judge stated she believed Heffernan did not “intend” to hurt anyone, however he should have known that driving with a man on his hood had potential to cause harm or death.

The Crown had asked for an eight-year sentence and 20-year driving prohibition, stating Heffernan used his vehicle as a weapon.

Heffernan, a licensed mechanic, dabbed at tears with a tissue and quietly nodded goodbye to his family as a police officer took him away. The judge recommended Heffernan be sent to a minimum-security prison, but he will first be sent to a maximum-security prison for about a two-month assessment period.

Outside of court the victim’s family members wept and said a three-year sentence was not enough.

“My son was just trying to get his life in gear for his two young boys,” said the victim’s mother, Paulett Stott, outside of court following the sentencing. “His life was taken away from him.” She broke into tears and could not comment further.

Rob Potter — Blue Mountains councillor

I am Rob Potter and I’m a candidate for councillor in The Blue Mountains. I serve on council now, having been appointed June 29, to fill a vacancy on council.

My background is primarily in the community newspaper business as editor of the Courier-Herald and its predecessor, the Valley Courier, for a total of about 28 years. I have also worked in municipal government, filling in as communications and economic development co-ordinator for The Blue Mountains in 2009-2010.

I have a long and varied history in community service including being founding president of the Marsh Street Centre, a member of the steering committee that brought the Craigleith Heritage Depot project to fruition, and serving on several municipal committees including the CAUSE program, the Sustainable Path steering committee and the attainable housing committee in its early years. I’ve also been involved in Thornbury Community Theatre, minor sports, Relay for Life and others.

My professional and volunteer works have taken me to every corner of The Blue Mountains and allowed me opportunities to engage with people in all sectors.

I am running for council because I believe my background and experience will serve the citizens of our community well as we move into a challenging term. There are lots of issues to deal with including:

• Improving communications so that the public receive information early in the process and have a full understanding of what the town is planning and how it will be carried out and funded.

• A new approach to economic development, that supports not only the existing agricultural and tourism sectors but encourages new opportunities.

• A major effort to diversify our housing stock with a view to making attainable housing available for young workers and young families at rents and prices they can afford.

• Protecting our shoreline from any effort to “urbanize” Highway 26 by widening it.

Contact me at PO Box 365, Thornbury, Ont., N0H 2P0, or , or at . My website is

Clearview Township councillors urged to close public access to this road

A road straddling the boundary between Clearview and Melancthon townships — that has been a bane to a neighbourhood — should be closed.

That’s the opinion of resident Allan Wargon, who has lived on the road for more than 50 years, though it’s not an opinion shared by the staff of both townships, as well as Simcoe County.

“It’s a nuisance to have the road open,” Wargon told Clearview Township councillors.

Councillors, at their July 30 meeting, deferred a recommendation from staff to stay status quo on a road that’s typically only accessible during the summer.

“To say that we would never need the road for utility or a trail … you could restrict traffic, and people would come to the edge of wherever it’s restricted and park there,” said chief administrative officer Steve Sage.

Wargon, along with other residents of the road — running from County Road 124 east to the municipal boundary of Mulmur and Melancthon, and Garden of Eden Road — have been asking both municipalities for measures to control parking. The road is used as a point to access nearby Lavender Falls, which is located on Wargon’s property.

Nearby residents have complained repeatedly of aggressive trespassers, vandalism and dumping.

In a report to council, the township’s general manager of transportation and drainage, Gerry LeMay, stated closing the road would not be in the best interest of the township.

“A road closure is a more permanent feature that is very difficult, if not impossible, to reverse in the future (if) the township and county decide they require this road open,” he wrote.

Councillors voted to defer the decision until municipal staff had further discussions with Wargon.

“It offers little benefit to the public,” said Ward 5 Coun. Thom Paterson.

Painting a sound stage to training the military: a look at Tundra Rescue in Stayner

When there is work to be done in a hard-to-reach place, Tundra Rescue offers a simple, cost-effective solution.

The Stayner-based business specializes in rope access maintenance, confined space standby, rescue operations, and developing safety plans for industrial organizations.

Their very niche service takes form in many ways and in many places.

When the Budweiser Stage in Toronto was being repainted, the wall facing the water proved a challenge to access. Tundra Rescue was called in and their rope access technicians were able finish the job within the contractor’s rigid timeline.

They could also be called to scale wind turbines or telecommunications towers. In the case of wind turbines, they are sometimes damaged by lighting or hail, and Tundra Rescue is able to access the turbines to perform repairs.

For those hard to reach jobs, organizations have a number of options. They could use scaffolding, which is time consuming, or they could bring in heavy equipment like a crane or scissor lift, which often proves costly.

Rope is easy to transport and much cheaper.

“Sometimes looking at the simple way to do it, the original way to do something, is the often the most cost effective,” said Brent Stockford, owner of Tundra Rescue. “It’s just another solution to your problem.”

Many manufacturers and industrial projects also rely on the company for their confined space expertise when work needs to be done underground or inside something like an industrial vat.

“The most recognizable Canadian manufacturers that would be out there, we’ve probably worked with them on some kind of industrial safety plan, confined space rescue plan, or rope access service,” Stockford said.

For example, Tundra Rescue has worked with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada.

“Quite often they have to go into storage vats to remove a liquid or a chemical that is used in the manufacturing process, so we provide the safe access in and out of those storage tanks,” Stockford explained.

They provide piece of mind for the cleaner, welder, electrician or whoever needs to access that space to complete a job.

In confined space situations, Tundra Rescue provides breathing apparatuses, a safety rescue plan, which is required by the Ministry of Labour, and a supervisor that is trained in advanced paramedicine.

Tundra Rescue, which was founded in 2011 by military veterans, also specializes in the training of other organizations in rope access.

“Today we do training with the OPP, we do it with the Canadian military, and we teach them how to use rope as a tool,” Stockford said. “From repairing airplanes, to jumping out of helicopters to repelling off of buildings, we teach that skill set.”

In 2017, Tundra Rescue was chosen through a public tender process to continue training the Canadian Armed Forces for another five years.

Stockford said he loves his work because of its variety.

“It’s the diversity in each day,” he said. “Every day brings us to a new community.”

Barrie Scouts, Sea Cadets volunteer awarded Canada’s Sovereign’s Medal

Elaine Abram is just trying to raise “good citizens of Canada.”

The Barrie resident has a long history of volunteering for youth-related causes. She’s led Beaver, Scout and Venturer troops, and was the commanding officer of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps 53 Barrie for several years.

Abram was recognized for her effort and given the Governor General’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers during a presentation at Barrie City Hall recently.

“I enjoy working with kids and mentoring,” she said, the medal in her hands. “It’s so overwhelming to see them grow from the little five-year-olds that I get in Beavers to the 18-year-olds in Venturers. It’s an amazing feeling to see them grow, mature and become leaders in the community.”

Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman presented the award to Abram.

“This is not a small honour,” he said, addressing Abram. “The medal pays tribute to the dedication and exemplary commitment of volunteers. It’s a delight to thank you for your commitment.”

Lehman said youngsters in these programs learn valuable lessons.

“If you’ve ever been out to see the skills the Sea Cadets learn, it’s tremendous,” he said. “It is well beyond learning to sail. They learn all sorts of things, in terms of communication skills and a little bit of discipline.”