All posts by SHLF

Midland’s Waypoint Chigamik Health Hub receives $615,000 from county

The County of Simcoe has provided $615,000 toward the new Chigamik Waypoint Community Health Hub being built on Lakeshore Drive in Midland.

“We don’t see that as a grant. We see it as an investment in our communities and an investment in our health care,” said Marshall. “I really do believe that if we don’t have proper health care, including mental health care, our communities suffer.”

The will house Waypoint outpatient services and all of what Chigamik currently offers at its 845 King St. location. It will also , which will offer walk-in access to a variety of mental health services for those aged 12 to 25.

“We are going to see and our patients and clients are going to see so many benefits from us being co-located in this building. There will be a multitude of services under one roof,” said Carol Lambie, Waypoint CEO.

The funding is part of a $45-million, 15-year commitment the county has made to funding area hospitals.

Lambie says officials are working through the approvals process with the Ministry of Health and hopes to move in to the new facility in the spring.

Penetanguishene flower shop donates bouquets to seniors

Jarlette Health Services and Arbour’s Flower Shoppe teamed up on Tuesday, July 24 to deliver 59 handmade Be Happy Bouquets to residents at the Villa Retirement Lodge, the Villa Care Centre and Bayfield House Retirement Lodge.

Working with Teleflora, an online floral purchasing network, Arbour’s Flower Shoppe was able to provide the arrangements as a heartfelt in-kind donation to all three Homes. 

As Diane Bald, owner of Arbour’s Flower Shoppe states, “This gives us the opportunity to give back to our community in a beautiful and thoughtful way. It’s a special opportunity to spread smiles, make people happy and share a memorable moment with individuals who may have never experienced the joy of receiving flowers.”

This is the first year Arbour’s Flower Shoppe has participated in one of Teleflora’s campaigns.

 



Doug Measures — Clearview mayor

Community service is in my nature. Having proudly served the citizens of Clearview Township as your Ward 1 councillor for 12 years, it has been an enriching time to see our community grow and flourish with many new businesses setting up shop and being successful. Helping small businesses, large employers and the agricultural community be successful in a globally competitive market has been a continued focus of my council work. I place great importance on finding balances within our community recreation facilities and its programming that help keep local residents active and involved.

Our township can continue to be successful if we rebuild a positive partnership with our community volunteers. The confidence in our leadership at council has been damaged this past term. It is evident in the lack of public participation in surveys or appearances at council meetings where there are opportunities to ask questions and get direct answers. I am offering a change in mindset and working environment which includes the way your council conducts your community business. It is my hope citizens will approach their mayor or councillors with ease and without hesitation to ask questions and share opinions knowing with certainty they will be heard and understood. Council makes decisions best when they are well-informed. As your mayor, I will insist that council remains engaged and informed before any direction is given to our staff.  We are well-staffed with dedicated professionals that go the extra mile for us every day. This renewed commitment to communication and improved partnerships must include you, our citizens, community volunteers, council and township staff.  

I have lived here in Clearview Township since 1977. I was in the room when Clearview was created at the first Clearview council meeting. My wife and I have two sons. I am recently retired from a 34-year career in community television production, having worked my entire time here in the South Georgian Bay Area. I have the experience, the honesty and the integrity to be your mayor and I have the passion and time needed to dedicate myself fully to serving Clearview every day. You can visit for more information or feel free to contact me directly ator . I can also be found on Facebook at

Five things happening at the Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce

1. Win $5,000 — Every registered player in its Sept. 14 golf tournament at Tangle Creek has a chance to win a prize valued at $5,000 from Turkish Airlines, regardless of their golfing abilities. The prize will be awarded at the tourney. To play or be a sponsor, call the BCC at 705-721-5000 or visit

2. Amazon Project — BCC members have access to an invite-only pilot project with one-on-one interactions with Amazon’s direct sales team, free of charge, to help you evaluate and use the right tools for your business. A webinar takes place Aug. 15; sign up here:

3. Know Your Power — Join the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Barrie Chamber for a free breakfast seminar on Thursday, Aug. 23 to learn about practical energy cost-saving programs that are available for businesses in Ontario. Register at

4. Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) — BCC is offering free access to the acclaimed Trade Accelerator Program to its members. TAP is designed to help you develop a market entry/export strategy to get the best global exposure for your business’s products or services. Session start as early as Aug. 28. For more information, visit: 

5.  Israel Consul General — BCC is hosting the Israel Consul General on Aug. 27 to brief its membership and community on the benefits of engaging in trade with the Israel. Sign up at or call the chamber at to find out more.

Proposed building fee harmonization would increase Midland rates

Building fees in Midland would increase significantly if the town aligns their rates with Penetanguishene.

The two municipalities have proposed an agreement, which would harmonize building permit fees and charges in both towns until 2021.

“We had the same staff enforcing the same code, to the same service level and to a great extent that should occur at the same fee level between the two municipalities,” said Wes Crown, director of planning and building services.

Midland’s rates have not increased since 2005, while Penetanguishene fees recently increased.

In Midland, the average building fees for a 1,500-square foot deck would increase from $1,808 to $2,371, while the average fees for 6,348-square-foot office building would increase from $3,652 to $6,425.

Crown says the proposed fees would still be lower than the majority of fees charged across Simcoe County.

Clearview council decides this flag can fly

Clearview Township will be flying the Rainbow Flag with pride.

Councillors approved raising the flag commonly associated with the LGBTQ community during Simcoe Pride at the end of July.

The flag will be flown on a pole at

The township currently has a policy that prohibits flag raisings for outside organizations, though Ward 6 Coun. Connie Leishman argued that in this case, “we should make an exception for this flag only.”

“Most of the other townships (in Simcoe County) do raise this flag, and we should be more progressive,” she said. “There are a lot of people (in the municipality) who feel disenfranchised.”

“I think we should really support this … one day it will be a moot point.”

The flag was hoisted on a pole outside of the municipal offices in 2014, in spite of the township’s rule. Township officials have since resisted raising a flag outside the municipal office on the basis there are only three poles: One for the Canadian flag, one for the Ontario flag, and one for the municipality’s banner.

Deputy Mayor Barry Burton said allowing one could open the floodgates to having to raise a flag for other causes.

“Once you start down the path, everyone else will want it.”

Bradford mourns loss of Connor Ramsay, 18, after Holland Marsh crash

A community is reeling and left mourning the loss of a young life after a tragic single-vehicle collision in the early morning of July 9 in the Holland Marsh.

Connor Ramsay, 18, of Bradford,  was the passenger in a grey Toyota Corolla that collided with a tree near the hamlet of Ansnorveldt on King Street, west of Dufferin Street, in King Township around 2:50 a.m. July 9, York Regional Police said in a release.

Ramsay was pronounced dead at the scene.

“It is with deep sadness that the Bradford Curling Club shares the news of the passing of not only one of it’s promising young curlers, but also a future prominent member of the community,” the club posted on its website late July 9.

“The thoughts and prayers of our entire membership go out to his Mother (Wendy) and Grandmother (Mary) and the rest of the Ramsay Family, as they mourn their loss.”

Connor is being remembered by a devastated curling community as a young man who took time not only to improve and play the game he loved, but also to pass along advice to others.

“Our community has lost a shining, bright, positive and gifted young man,” the Junior Slam Series posted on social media.

Team Cowan posted it will wearing Connor’s initials on its jerseys for the 2018-19 season, adding its deepest condolences from the Cowan Family.

The driver, a 17-year-old Bradford girl, was taken to hospital, where she remains in serious but non-life-threatening condition.

YRP Const. Laura Nicolle reiterated an appeal to the public for anyone who may have been in the remote area or who may have seen the vehicle prior to the crash to contact police.

“A young person losing their life is a heartbreaking situation for the families involved and the entire community,” she said. “We are asking our citizens to come forward with any information that might help us in this ongoing investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked contact the major collision investigation unit at , ext. 7704.

Betsy Gross – Orillia Ward 3

I am the founder, honorary Big Sister and past president of Orillia Big Sisters and Orillia Business Women’s Association and served as a director of the chamber of commerce for three years. 

I was a sports writer (Sports Fan Fare & The Games People Play) and columnist “Orillia My Town” for eight years.  I was executive assistant of the  OSMH Foundation and have been a volunteer at OSMH for eight years.  I was a member of the Order of Orillia Committee (three years) and have served as chair of Orillia Commemorative Awards Committee (five years).

I started and operated three successful businesses and managed Manpower Temporary Services (four years) putting hundreds of people to work, many of which resulted in full time employment.  

Working with Orillia Big Sisters allowed me spend time with young girls and match them with role models to try to make their lives better by example and exposure to a different situation than their own.  Watching them grow in confidence was very gratifying.  We had an annual fashion show that brought tears to my eyes as the shy, retiring young girls found the ability to interact in social situations.

Working with OBWA and the chamber allowed me to help small business to find their way with networking and resources available to make them succeed.  OBWA just celebrated their 30th anniversary and still welcome newcomers and business women to meet mentors and feel at home in their new city.  I have served on many city committees and enjoyed celebrating the many hard working volunteers that make Orillia the award winning community that it is.

As a full-time member of council, I look forward to continuing that commitment to the city that I love by working on issues involving youth, opiod abuse, homelessness and senior citizen issues.  Transit, infrastructure, downtown and waterfront improvements are key interests, as we all developing  more government jobs at the HRC property.

Cher Cunningham — Midland Ward 3

I moved to this ‘big city’ from Elmvale in 1992 as a young mom. I have been in ‘Sunnyside’ since 2001 — raising kids, raising grandchildren, commuting, teaching, growing a business — life in God’s Country.

In my careers from entrepreneurship, to faculty at Georgian College, I have been in a variety of leadership roles in which I have developed skills in communication, collaboration, facilitating dialogue, conflict resolution and negotiating agreement.

My experience as volunteer host of Politically Speaking on RogersTV helped shape my desire to be involved in the community.  This is where I first started my journey into municipal politics. I began engaging regularly, not only with the local political players, but also with the issues and processes involved. As I broadened my understanding and involvement, I came to realize that there is a real need for deeper, better informed, community engagement.

I am passionate about listening and ensuring that people’s ideas and concerns are heard. I also care deeply about responsive accountability — providing updates and progress reports in a transparent fashion and on a regular basis.

That’s why I am all about:

• Two-way communication that educates and listens

• Collaborative ‘Strategic Vision’

• Measurable outcomes in planning

• Proactive reporting of progress

My understanding of the responsibility of governance was formed at RogersTV and Toastmasters (where I have held roles at the local, area, division and district levels). Unlike running a business per se, governance is a position purely of public trust. It requires setting aside your own agenda and working with the existing structure of policies and bylaws to best serve the needs of community members. When members are engaged and heard they feel — and in fact they are — respected, and it’s in that way that relevant, community-focused change is effected.

Let’s work together to prepare Midland for the growth and opportunity ahead with a focus on solutions, results and accountability.

Cher Cunningham

1208 Everton Rd.

Midland, ON L4R 5J2

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Celebrating Canada Day in Innisfil

For more than 20 years, the Innisfil Lioness Club has hosted a community celebration for Canada Day.

And this year is no different.

“Back then there were no other events to give back to the community,” Lioness Tammy Marges said. “They wanted something free for families to do, and July 1 is also the Lioness’s birthday.”

The group was incorporated July 1, 1991, and continues to be active in the community.

This year, the same fun activities are planned, including kids’ games, a bouncy castle with slide, face-painting, crafts, free food and refreshments.

At noon, town dignitaries will be on hand for a flag-raising.

The event happens from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Lions Hall on Innisfil Beach Road.

A few other Innisfil groups are also celebrating Canada’s birthday this weekend, with a parade at the Lefroy/Belle Ewart Legion on June 30 at 1:30 p.m. Kids are invited to decorate their bikes and trikes and meet at 1:15 p.m. at Arnold and Ewart streets. The parade ends at the Legion,

And Sandy Cove Acres is celebrating with its own parade through the park, on July 1 at 10 a.m., with veterans getting a place of honour.