All posts by SHLF

Barrie police release damage description for hit-and-run vehicle

Barrie police investigators hope someone can identify an SUV involved in a hit-and-run now that there is more information about damages.

Police say the SUV that struck a 53-year-old Barrie man at about 12:30 p.m. March 2 on Huronia Road, near McKay Road, has front-end damage, a broken windshield and a dented hood.

The pedestrian, who suffered serious injuries, landed in the ditch after he was struck. The motorist failed to remain to assist the injured pedestrian and continued northbound on Huronia Road. 

The victim had been returning to his vehicle after assisting another motorist, when he was struck by a vehicle heading northbound on Huronia Road. The vehicle pulled over monetarily then left the scene.

Contact Const. Chris Allport at 705-725-7025 ext. 2913 or email [email protected] if you any information about the vehicle or the driver.

Any information can be provided anonymously to  at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave an anonymous tip online at .

Wasaga Lion receives club’s highest honour

A Wasaga Beach Lions Club member has received the organization’s highest honour.

The Melvin Jones Fellowship was presented to Genie Mathers on June 23. The award is named after Lions Clubs International founder Melvin Jones.

The award represents humanitarian qualities such as generosity, compassion and concern for the less fortunate.

The presentation to Mathers is in recognition of her hard work within the Wasaga Beach club — especially in working with the club’s health and welfare committee.

Mathers received a personalized wall plaque and a lapel pin in recognition of her commitment to helping others. The club’s incoming president, John Tindale, presented the award.


Orillia recreation site eyed for proposed skateboard park

Awe-inspiring tricks and gravity-defying feats are more than the stuff of dreams.

For members of Orillia’s skateboarding community, these are the moves that draw crowds eager to witness the thrills, and occasional spills, of this increasingly popular sport.

Their dream now includes a proposal for an all-concrete, professionally designed and built skate park — an open-air facility catering to all skill levels.

“You could start from a kid at four-years-old and, three years, four years later be one of the best skateboarders in the world because where you are skating is that good,” said Mark Watson, an advocate of the project.

The proposal is an initiative of the Skateparkers, a group of skateboarders, business owners and friends who came together to encourage active and safe participation in skateboarding and other recreation activities.

The Kiwanis Skateboard Park, built in 1999 at Veterans’ Memorial Park, is time-worn and lacks the features boarders are seeking, the group said.

“It has been a great park for everybody to use, but it is at the point now where we are losing skateboarders when they come to it,” Watson said.

The absence of a modern public facility in Orillia leads children and youth to seek out unsanctioned, and often dangerous, terrain such as local streets and parking lots, the group told council.

Unlike the existing skate park, the proposed facility would have “a lot more obstacles, more flow and roll to it,” Watson said.

A park of between 9,000- and 11,000-square feet would cost between $500,000 and $750,000.

The group plans to seek contributions from service clubs and foundations to fund the project, as well as the municipality.

“We want to go ahead with this as quick as possible, so if we have to raise all the money we are willing to do that,” Watson said.

Locations eyed by the group include Victoria Park and the recreation site on West Street South.

The project could also involve a redevelopment of the Kiwanis Skateboard Park.

“It is a perfect location,” Watson said.

Staff will consider the group’s request as part of the design plan for Foundry Park — the lands surrounding the recreation facility — or other location in the city.


Georgian Bay in danger of grass carp invasion, wetland destruction

A Midland-based foundation is worried about grass carp invading the Great Lakes and destroying Georgian Bay wetlands.

The Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation is calling for the United States Environmental Protection Agency to begin grass carp eradication measures immediately.

“Grass carp eat vegetation and they will eat up all of our wetlands,” said Mary Muter, Chair of the Foundation. “They will rip our wetlands apart and chop them all down.”

Muter believes the Great Lakes are in danger, as grass carp have invaded two Ohio rivers that flow into Lake Erie and nothing is being done to stop them from spawning downstream.

Grass carp have already been found in Lake Erie and Lake Huron. The largest grass carp discovered in Lake Erie was over 51 inches long and weighed 72 pounds.

Research by Pat Chow-Fraser, a professor at McMaster University, states that Georgian Bay contains the highest quality, most diverse and extensive wetlands found in the Great Lakes.

“We don’t want our wetlands destroyed by these very large invasive fish,” said Muter. “Our native fish and other species need that wetlands for spawning, nursing and feeding habitat.”

The Foundation is calling for increased co-operation between Ontario, Ohio and Michigan and would like to see a collaborative approach taken to eradicate grass carp.

“I think it is time for Canadians to speak up. We don’t need to be polite on this anymore,” said Muter. “We need our federal and provincial governments to tell Ohio and Michigan … that we want to see a plan for eradication begin.”

Muter is frustrated by the lack of appropriate response she has seen from United States on the matter and believes it is time for them to ask Canada for help.

“This is now a crisis,” said Muter. “Our Fisheries and Oceans Canada staff and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry staff stand ready to go down and assist in an eradication program.”

The Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation is hosting a fundraiser on Aug. 11 in Tiny Township which will feature the tribute band Classic Lightfoot. All proceeds will be directed toward ecologically responsible measures to eradicate grass carp.

For tickets go to the website


George Vadeboncoeur – Penetanguishene councillor

I’m George Vadeboncoeur and I’m running for councillor in Penetanguishene.

I have 35 years’ municipal experience, with the last 23 years as a chief administrative officer, 10 years with Penetanguishene and the last 13 years with the Town of Wasaga Beach.  I just retired from Wasaga Beach.

I have degree in urban planning from the University of Waterloo and a master’s degree in public administration, with a specialization in local government from the University of Western Ontario.

My community service includes serving on the PGH Board of Trustees for nine years, including two years as chair; four years as vice-chair of the Bar Committee for Penetanguishene Legion Branch 68; president of the Penetanguishene/Midland Basketball Association for over 15 years, and over 20 years as Rotarian.

I have an excellent understanding of how local government works and how to get things done. 

My whole career has been spent working with different councils, municipal employees, contractors and volunteers to improve the quality of life for residents and businesses.

I’ve had overall responsibility for all facets of Town operations, including budgets, public works, planning, events and recreation. Working with excellent staff, we were always focused on delivering great customer service.

My priority, if elected, is to work with council and staff to improve the town, using my background and experience.

Specifically, I would work toward allocating more funds to road and sidewalk repairs. I would work on bringing events to town for the benefit of residents and local businesses. I would support environmentally sensitive residential, commercial and industrial growth. I’d review the recommendations from the service delivery study to ensure we have the appropriate number of staff in the right places to deliver the services the public expects. I support effective policing to ensure a safe community, and I’d support the construction of affordable housing.

I live at 31 Dufferin St., Penetanguishene and can be reached at or at . I’m on Facebook.

Collingwood-area home sales rebound in July

Residential sales recorded through the MLS system for the Southern Georgian Bay region totalled 313 units in July 2018. This was little changed from July 2017, rising by just one sale. That said, it was still the first year-over-year increase since March 2017.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales totalled 1,784 units over the first seven months of the year. This was down 26.5 per cent from the same period in 2017.

The Southern Georgian Bay region comprises two distinctive markets.

Home sales in the western region, which includes Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township, Collingwood, The Blue Mountains, the municipality of Meaford, and Grey Highlands, numbered 159 units in July 2018. This was down 4.2 per cent (seven sales) from July 2017.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales in the western region numbered 1,078 units over the first seven months of the year. This was down 24.9 per cent from the same period in 2017.

Meanwhile, home sales in the eastern region, encompassing the towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, the townships of Tay and Tiny, Severn, and Georgian Bay townships, numbered 154 units in July 2018. This was up 5.5 per cent (eight sales) from July 2017.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales in the eastern region numbered 706 units over the first seven months of the year. This was down 28.8 per cent from the same period in 2017.

“The standout in the July housing data for the region was sales in the eastern district, which jumped 32 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis compared to June,” said Matthew Lidbetter, president of the Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS®. “After a slow start to 2018, it was the first real sign that things may be starting to turn the corner. It comes alongside improving sales activity in a number of other markets in and around the GTA.”

There were 514 new residential listings in July 2018. This was little changed on a year-over-year basis, down just 0.2 per cent or just one listing. Still, it was the lowest supply of new listings to hit the market in July since 2002.

Overall supply remains near record lows. Active residential listings numbered 1,190 units at the end of July. This was down 2.9 per cent from the end of July 2017.

Months of inventory numbered 3.8 at the end of July 2018, little changed from the 3.9 months recorded at the end of July 2017 and well below the long-run average of 8.1 months for this time of year. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.

The dollar value of all residential transactions in July 2018 was $141.5 million, up 6.7 per cent from this time in 2017.

Sales of all property types numbered 350 units in July 2018, down 1.4 per cent (five sales) from July 2017. The total value of all properties sold was $151.2 million, up 4.5 per cent from July 2017.

Rexall founder, former fighter pilot running for Collingwood mayor

Michael Blair believes his business and corporate administration background can be an asset for the Town of Collingwood.

It’s one of the reasons he has decides to run for mayor in the upcoming municipal election.

Blair was born in Moose Factory, Ontario and was a fighter pilot until 1974.

He joined General Electric and rose to senior vice president of corporate development before starting his own company, The Endfield Corporation.

“That company started with one factory in Cobourg that made plastic parts and through acquisition it grew to a billion dollars in assets and 10,000 employees,” he said.

He went on to operate a number of companies, including founding Rexall Drugs in 1991.

Blair has been in Collingwood part-time since 1988 and retired here in 2011. He believes taxes are too high and would be in favour of a tax freeze or a reduction.

He would also like to see the town investigate how to regulate short-term rentals such as Airbnb.

“I have time and I can make a contribution,” he said. “I see with my administrative background, the possibility that I can be of use by advancing the economics of the town.”

 

 

Harry Hughes — Oro-Medonte mayor

Albert Einstein’s words “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile” explains the desire to continue serving the residents of Oro-Medonte as their mayor.

The mayor’s role parallels that of a mechanic using all the tools at hand to find cost effective practical solutions.

I grew up on a farm where neighbours with limited resources, worked together. They overcame challenges through hard work and creative thinking.

These experiences established a solid foundation for the role of mayor.

Similar to having been a school principal, being mayor is mainly about assisting others.

Successes are celebrated as a collective family. This is achieved through active community participation and doing well beyond what is expected.

Extensive involvement in community building through sports resulted in being

recognized as Oro-Medonte Coach of the Year.

I was recognized with a National Award for Innovative Use of Technology.

This distinction resulted by applying the learning from a master’s degree in measurement and evaluation from the University of Toronto with actual experience.

While mayor, our councils have fulfilled every election promise.

Roads have been paved providing tremendous environmental and economic benefits. Our arena has been revitalized. A new school has been announced.

Quality and specialized health care is closer to home. Venturing outside the normal scope of a mayor’s duties by being the first municipality to utilize crowd funding was a novel approach for rescuing the historic African Church.

Yet, Oro-Medonte has retained its tax position in the lower third of all Simcoe County municipalities.

Being deputy warden of Simcoe County, chairing the audit and the governance committees for two multimillion dollar corporations has proven valuable.

The upcoming issues to champion include: more affordable and accessible internet services, even greater attention to road improvements, updating our Official Plan, enabling seniors to downsize and remain in Oro-Medonte, resolving the Airbnb challenges and ensuring community volunteers get more support.

Re-electing an experienced mayor with proven leadership will keep Oro-Medonte on the right course.

Home 705-487-2128, cell 705-229-8896.

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Michael Blair — Collingwood mayor

If elected mayor, Michael Blair will urge town council to take the following steps:

1.    Freeze property taxes for at least five years while studying ways to reduce property taxes. Collingwood enjoys a strong balance sheet and operates at a surplus. It does not make sense to burden Collingwood residents with property taxes beyond the taxes needed to support approved programs. Rising property values have seen a parallel increase in property taxes which risks forcing residents on a fixed income out of their homes needlessly.

2.    Improve cycling safety by providing paved shoulders and cycling lanes where practical as part of the town’s maintenance of its linear assets. Collingwood has an excellent trail system but exposes cyclists to dangerous cycling conditions on many roadways where the lack of a paved shoulder or cycling lane forces cyclists dangerously close to passing traffic.

3.    License and regulate short-terms rentals to alleviate the shortage of rental property facing the town while allowing residents the opportunity to earn additional income from their homes. Collingwood is a vacation destination and the availability of short term rentals such as Airbnb enhances the town as a destination.

4.    Ensure transparency of contracts with the town. Recent reports of potential conflicts of interest by members of the town council and the need for a judicial inquiry in respect of at least one such incident point to the need for greater transparency.  The town can require representations and warranties by all contracting parties that they are aware of no actual or potential conflict of interest and have made full disclosure of all relationships they have with persons involved in town management or town council and their relatives.

5.    Expand inventory of serviced industrial land. Long-term growth of industry in Collingwood is hampered by the limited availability of serviced lands and related infrastructure. Collingwood is an ideal location for knowledge-based industries but is uncompetitive in terms of the availability of serviced land.

Telephone number —

Colin Nelthorpe — Barrie Ward 6

I attended Georgian College for the Mechanical Technician program, and I got my first taste for politics when I ran successfully for vice-president of the Change-Maker’s space, a group that engages students to use technology to develop solutions for manufacturing and the environment.

In this role, I would meet with members of industry and college faculty members to ensure the program stayed relevant and up-to-date.

Currently, I am a CNC machinist at Maclean Engineering, a Barrie success story that builds advanced mining equipment and provides the quality jobs we need more of. When management listens to my feedback, I’m able to save the company thousands, producing better parts more efficiently. Barrie city hall may not be manufacturing mining equipment, but the need for efficient decision-makers who listen to the people doing the actual work is no different. Blue collar workers are the backbone of the city and are some of the hardest workers Barrie has to offer, and that kind of front-line mentality is needed at Barrie city hall.

People point to the Morrow Road re-construction delay and just accept it as “typical government,” but I don’t, and that is why I am running. It is time to elect a different kind of Ward 6 councillor, one who understands that a disconnect between corporate and front-line employees can lead to wasted time and money, like we see at Barrie city hall.

I will be door-knocking up until election day at your door to discuss my plan to achieve this, located on my website at

, and to earn your support.

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