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County school board disappointed with cancellation of indigenous sessions

Simcoe County District School Board trustee and vice-chairperson Jodi Lloyd says it was disappointing to see Indigenous curriculum writing sessions be cancelled by the provincial government, and worries it is a step in the wrong direction.

The sessions, set for early July, would’ve bolstered Indigenous education topics in Ontario’s school curriculum, but were cancelled last minute, reportedly due to a government ban on non-essential travel.

“These curriculum-writing sessions were very, very important and in all likelihood there were very little savings realized because most of the costs had already been incurred,” said Lloyd, adding people were notified of the cancellation the Friday before the sessions were set to start.

The SCDSB published a letter to Minister of Education Lisa Thompson outlining the importance of the sessions and a desire to see improvements to the Indigenous education curriculum continue.

“The cancellation of these specific writing sessions sends a negative message to the education system, the Indigenous community (including students), as well as the greater public,” the letter sent on behalf of the board reads. “In our opinion, it infers that there is a limited value placed on the curriculum revisions.”

Lloyd said the writing sessions would’ve provided further opportunity to improve on calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada for reconciliation-focused education.

Indigenous education topics such as residential schools, treaties, and aboriginal people’s historic and contemporary contributions to Canada are already taught at the SCDSB, but the writing sessions could’ve further established the topics across the province, Lloyd said.  

“We’re a very inclusive board and we are a leader in indigenous education in this province so we felt it was important for our board to speak out and express our disappointment,” she said.

According to a spokesperson for the minister of education, the TRC curriculum revisions will continue to move ahead with the help of experts, elders and indigenous communities in the “most cost-effective way possible.”

Still, Lloyd worries the cancellation sends the wrong message and was a step in the wrong direction, adding there has been no communication about a rescheduling.

To read the full letter from the board, visit

— With files from Torstar News Service


Need another way to beat the heat? Let Barrie firefighters cool you off this summer

Firefighters are about to give Barrie residents another way to cool down.

Barrie Fire and Emergency Service, in collaboration with Wendy’s restaurants, will kick off the annual Hot Summer Nights campaign this week. Residents are encouraged to bring their kids to meet firefighters, participate in safety activities and enjoy a cooling mist from the fire trucks.

“We want to promote fire safety, protection, prevention and escape,” Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Weber said. “This is just a chance for us to also give back to the community a little bit and share a night of family fun. Where else can you go for zero cost and have a little bit of fun?”

The first event runs at , near the Ardagh Road and Batteaux Street intersection, July 5. Similar events also run at the following parks: (231 Ashford Dr.) July 12, (at the Innisfil Street and Baldwin Lane intersection) July 19, (211 Johnson St.) July 26 and (227 Sunnidale Rd.) Aug. 2.

Each event runs from 6 p.m to 8 p.m.

Announcements of any cancellations due to inclement weather will take place by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the event, via Barrie Fire’s page and handle.

Application submitted to build gas station, car wash near Treetops subdivision

Residents of the Treetops subdivision in Alliston could soon have a new place to fuel up their cars.

The town has received a zoning bylaw amendment application to permit a gas station, tunnel car wash and convenience store with fast food service to be developed at the southwest corner of Highway 89 and 10 Sideroad.

The town received the application June 7 and the planning department deemed it complete June 21.

The parcel of land located across the street from the Treetops subdivision was recently purchased by the Biffis family.

• The 0.7 hectare property is the former road allowance of 10 Sideroad, which was shifted east last year to align with the 6th Line of Essa for the installation of a signalized intersection

• The eastern side is zoned urban highway commercial exception and the west side is zoned agricultural and recreational open space

• The application seeks to rezone the west side to urban highway commercial exception

• The applicant has also submitted a planning justification report, site plan and conceptual drawings, functional servicing report and traffic impact study

• The town will hold a public meeting about the application at a future date before the final report is presented to council for approval

• An Ultramar station is currently located just around the corner on Highway 89, between the intersection and the entrance to the Nottawasaga Resort

• Residents who have questions about the proposal can contact the town at or email

Editor’s note: Changes were made to this article July 24 to include the correct contact information for the town.

Collingwood’s gathering circle to honour Indigenous heritage

The first project of Collingwood’s Waterfront Master Plan will celebrate the Indigenous heritage of the region and the country.

At the July 9 council meeting, parks, recreation and culture staff unveiled the design for the gathering circle.

The project will be constructed on top of a two-metre berm at Harbourview Park.

Town consultant Cal Brook said his group worked with four Indigenous architects with guidance and vision coming from Dr. Duke Redbird, an elder with the Saugeen First Nation.

“I think it represents a real progressive vision that the town has chosen to start with this kind of project,” Brook said. “When we are working with our Indigenous partners, it’s critical that process is being led by our Indigenous partners.”

The design replicates a food forest and features tree like posts with canopies on top.

There are benches at the bottom with each one featuring the name of one of the seven grandfather teachings.

“Each canopy has a different pattern related to seven grandfather teachings,” said Brook. “I’m really proud to be part of this.”

Brook said Redbird, a lifelong educator, saw this as a place to bring school groups.

“The opportunity he saw with this project was not just a gathering place but a kind tool that someone like he could use to take people through a story and a journey that talked about Indigenous world views, history, culture,” he said.

Dean Collver, director of parks, recreation and culture, said the project is expected to be completed by September. The town will be receiving from the Steelworkers union who while in town for a conference, will be offering financial contribution but in-kind labour support for the project.

He said their contribution saved the project about $100,000.

However, Collver said the project will come in higher than the projected $600,000 budget and he plans to return to council to ask for the extra amount, which will come out of reserves.

The Waterfront Master Plan was introduced in 2016 and is a three phase, $50 million project that could be completed over the next 17 years.

 

 

Election or acclamation? Three of 11 council seats uncontested in Barrie

There are more uncontested seats in Barrie’s municipal election than days left to register to run.

With the deadline to file candidacy in the 2018 election set for Friday afternoon, three of 11 city council seats are headed toward acclamation. And only one candidate is registered for trustee seats in the Simcoe County District School Board wards 7 to 10, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board wards 1 to 5 and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir areas.

On Barrie council, incumbents Jeff Lehman (mayor), Sergio Morales (Ward 9) and Mike McCann (Ward 10) are currently running unopposed.

Ward 1 Coun. Bonnie Ainsworth, who is not vying for re-election, said a run for political office can cost thousands of dollars these days. Many candidates also run on a controversial issue or after a bad experience with government, but council has been relatively calm over the last four years.

“A lot of it is leadership and public opinion,” she said. “Often people run because they … strongly object to something. ‎Under Mayor Lehman’s lead, our council has not been controversial. I don’t think anyone running to unseat an incumbent is doing it because they think they can do better. I just think they want the job for any number of reasons which is absolutely their right. It also costs a lot of money to run now … and the thought of not winning could be off-putting.” 

In 2014, two seats — Michael Prowse in Ward 6 and Maria Hardie in Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board’s Area 2 — were acclaimed in the city. No candidates were handed seats in 2010.

The overall number of candidates is also down from previous elections. A total of 41 candidates are currently registered to run. But 62 council and trustee candidates signed up in 2014 and 66 ran in 2010.

It seems Barrie may be caught in a provincewide trend, city clerk Wendy Cooke said.

“We’re into the final week to register and so far we’ve not seen many candidates coming forward,” she said. “Other municipalities that I’ve spoken to are also reporting similar unusually low numbers. Last year, 22 candidates filed in the last two weeks, so we might get busy this week. There’s still time to register to run in the upcoming municipal election.”

Residents can sign-up to run for city mayoral and councillor positions, and nominations for trustee positions in the Simcoe County, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District, Viamonde and catholique MonAvenir school boards are also open.

The nomination period runs until 2 p.m. July 27. The municipal election is Oct. 22.

Candidates can submit a nomination form and applicable fee ($200 for mayor, $100 for all other positions) at city hall, 70 Collier St. They must also meet eligibility requirements. Candidates running for mayor and councillor positions need to submit an endorsement form signed by 25 people who can currently vote in the city.

More information is available at .

Costs to repair Collingwood’s iconic grain terminals could top $10 million

The Collingwood Grain Terminals is an iconic landmark in the community and has stood for 89 years.

However, it appears the 2019 council will have a decision to make on its future.

At its June 25 meeting, council received a report on the condition of the facility and was told repairs could be upwards of $10 million.

Will Teron of Tacoma Engineers was hired to assess the building and said while the foundation of the terminals is strong, the roof and “exterior coating” has failed and is “no longer providing that protection for the concrete.”

Teron said the windows and doors are generally in poor condition and said they couldn’t get into the marine tower because of the bird droppings, which he said are two inches thick.

He suggested four options for council going forward, the first being full remediation and repair over the next five years.

This would cost between $8 and $9.7 million and would include environmental abatement, roof replacement, concrete restoration, window and door repair, interior system repair and foundation waterproofing.

He said the work could be phased, but the cost would increase because of ongoing deterioration and inflation.

Coun. Kevin Lloyd asked, “What is the deterioration rate over the next five years, 10 years and what is that going to cost us?”

Teron said the building is likely deteriorating at a rate of about two to four per cent annually.

The third option would be to abandon the facility.

“None of the repairs would be implemented and the building would be completely vacated,” he said.

The final option would be demolition, which he estimates would cost about $5 million.

He said they approached three different companies on estimates to demolition the building.

The terminal was constructed in 1929 by Collingwood Terminals Limited and features 52 grain silos.

The building was declared surplus several years ago and there was a proposal by two local businessmen to grow mushrooms in the facility.

Council passed a motion to receive the report and refer it to the 2019 budget discussions.

Jay Fallis — Orillia Ward 3

There is a special kindness that exists in our town. I love running into a close friend at the grocery store or being surprised by the kindness of strangers. I am a candidate because I believe we have an opportunity to display that kindness in our politics.

As a young professional, I am energetic and hardworking. If you have a problem, I’ll be the person on your doorstep making sure it gets fixed. Additionally, I am very active in Orillia. I teach at Georgian College; I volunteer for both Helping Hands and the Lighthouse Shelter; and I wrote for the Packet & Times as a political columnist. Growing up, I was a student at Park Street.

I also have experience in politics and journalism. I have a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto. I have worked as a political aide at the Ontario Provincial Legislature and House of Commons. Additionally, I have been published in thirty newspapers across Canada including the Toronto Star.

Two major issues:

Poverty

Poverty has always been a concern for our council but we can build on that work. There are many Orillians sleeping on the streets, couch surfing, or just having difficulty getting by. We need to focus more resources on tackling this broad problem. We especially need to focus on impoverished youth and seniors.

Balancing responsible economic development with environmental protection and beautification

We are already seeing the effects of climate change. Extreme weather conditions are going to become increasingly more prominent and we need to do all we can to protect Orillia’s environment and ensure it’s a beautiful city for all. As our city grows, it will be important to balance responsible development with environmental protection.

I am eager to hear your ideas! If there is something you think I should know, please do not hesitate to reach out:

Email:  

Website:

Facebook: @jayfallisforthefuture

Innisfil firefighters credited for rescuing puppy

Alcona’s Nela Fernandes wasn’t expecting to call 911 after grabbing some coffee from her kitchen just after noon July 9.

But when her three-month old puppy became trapped under her heavy sofa, she didn’t know what else to do.

“I heard my puppy and she was under the couch,” Fernandes said. “I lifted the end of the couch, thinking she was just under it.”

The chihuahua/Jack Russell mix dog named Bela had crawled behind the couch and was whimpering.

Fernandes said she is normally a cat person, but after losing her job more than a year ago, she decided to get a dog as a companion.

Which is why she was distraught after opening the footrest to see Bela’s head trapped in the metal arm of the mechanism.

“I tried to move her head, but I was scared. I couldn’t get her out. I wanted her to keep breathing,” she said. “She likes to shove her face into everything. When my husband takes off his shoes, she tries to get in there.”

Home alone, Fernandes put one leg of the couch onto her coffee table and called for help.

“I was frantic when I called 911. I know (pets) aren’t human, but they are a part of the family.”

Thankfully, Innisfil Fire and Rescue Service agreed to help.

“We don’t normally do this,” acting fire Capt. Cody Summers said. “Our crew runs into animal calls often, usually about cattle on the road. Or donkeys or miniature horses.”

Summers has a soft spot for pets and brought his team to Fernandes’ home with hydraulic tools in case they needed to cut Bela free.

“We were afraid if we moved the chair, she would get hurt,” Summers said. “I held onto the dog while the two others moved the couch.”

Together, firefighters Blair Vigneux and Paul Klienstiber tilted the couch back and were able to move the foot rest so Bela’s head could be freed.

“We had the tools and cutters to get her out, and that’s what I thought we were here to do,” Summers said. “But we were also trying to save the couch.”

Shuttle scuttled between Barrie and Casino Rama

Casino Rama is cancelling a shuttle service from Barrie.

The free ride will end Aug. 31.

“While the shuttle service is no longer running to Casino Rama Resort, transportation services will continue to be provided to our sister property, Gateway Casinos Innisfil,” said spokesperson Natasha Borutski, adding the latter facility is “closer to home” for Barrie residents. “This service is complimentary and open to all members of the Players Plus Club and Casino Rama Resort’s Players Passport Club. Both memberships are free to join.”

Under an Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation modernization project, Gateway Casinos Innisfil  and Casino Rama were grouped together as the central gaming bundle.

On July 18, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment was awarded the central bundle and now operates  both facilities.

The impending cancellation of the shuttle service prompted a social media post from a Barrie-based patron who argued the casino was “keeping us stranded” and preventing players from visiting the casino and using their meal vouchers.

Asked if the Innisfil operation would honour vouchers issued for Casino Rama, Borutski said, “we are still exploring different options to best service all our customers” once the shuttle service to Rama ends.

The bus between Barrie and Casino Rama four times daily and averaged four riders per arrival.

Rob Sampson — Blue Mountains councillor

I am currently part owner and the managing director of Ceres BioSystems India Private Limited, a Canadian company investing in and operating facilities in India that convert organic waste material into a valuable fertilizer using a Canadian technology.

From June 1995 to September 2003 I was an elected member of the legislative assembly of Ontario and was a member of the Government of Ontario cabinet. I also served as the government caucus chair.

Prior to entering politics, I worked in commercial and corporate banking positions.

I have an MBA and a BA economics both from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.

I have decided to run for the position of councillor for The Blue Mountains because my community needs help and I believe that I have the skills to fill that need. The Blue Mountains is a rapidly growing and developing mix of agriculture, recreational/tourist and residential communities, with an overall “small town feel.” However, friction is developing between those communities and a fractured council during the last term has not manage that friction well. Council has also been distracted by issues that are not the voters’ main concern. New leadership is required on The Blue Mountains council.

Growth has brought a strong tax base to The Blue Mountains, but it has put pressure on the town’s infrastructure — roads, attainable housing, and transportation to name a few. Our current relationship with the County of Grey is outdated and no longer reflects our local service needs or our considerable share of the Grey County tax base. This needs to change in order for us to be able to fund the local infrastructure cost demands of the future.

If elected, I will work as a team player on the new council and will focus on the issues that are of critical importance to the town taxpayers. I will also work with the newly elected council to provide the leadership to the town staff that has been lacking.

Website:

Twitter: @RobSampson4TBM

Email: