Residents voice concerns about townhome, condo proposals for Beeton

were met with major concerns from residents and council at a public meeting held July 11.

Many expressed worries about flooding and traffic.

The meeting was held to discuss three proposals: Oxnard Beeton’s plan to build 116 townhomes on the western boundary of Beeton, Willow Glen’s proposal to construct 59 townhomes south of Mill Street East between Proctor Gate and Turner Drive and the Beeton Station Condominiums, which calls for two, four-storey buildings containing 87 units to built on the west side of Dayfoot Street, south of Danielle Gate.

The Beeton Station project is also slated to include a two-storey club house and a 200-parking space underground parking garage.

Ryan Guetter, the consultant for Oxnard Beeton’s townhome project, said they are well aware of the flooding issues in the community.

He said they have taken steps to ensure the development wouldn’t cause further problems through the use of various controls, including storm water management ponds that release water in a controlled manner. Still,  many residents were skeptical this would be sufficient.

He also said the system is also being modelled for a 100-year-storm event, which occurred last summer.

Guetter was questioned about their plan to replace habitat that will be lost for endangered birds.

They were originally going to use a town-owned property that is already a habitat for the birds, but said they are reviewing this after a resident pointed out this doesn’t actually replace the land.

The owner of Borden Metals, which has operated for 63 years, also spoke to council to request a bigger buffer zone like a park be created between the homes and the business due to the noise the facility generates.

An additional public meeting will be held to allow the developer to respond to the concerns.

The top issue for the Willow Glen proposal was increased traffic on neighbouring side streets, with many residents calling on the developer to add an entrance from Mill Street in addition to the one from Sharpe Crescent.

The Beeton Station project was criticized for bringing too much density to the area, which many fear will cause traffic chaos on local roads, and for the shadows it will cast on neighbouring properties.

The town’s engineering department isn’t supporting the development until the owner can show it won’t adversely impact the infrastructure on Dayfoot Street. The town has also called it premature to begin construction until the street is rebuilt and urbanized.

But the developer argues that it has shown the infrastructure can handle the project, and that the traffic study was reviewed and accepted by the town’s consultant.

Flooding and storm water management was also questioned, but the developer noted the NVCA has confirmed a detailed flood hazard study is not required for the property.

Residents questioned why none of the proposed developments included affordable housing.

But it was noted by the presenters that townhomes are typically more affordable than other types of housing, and that the condo project is aiming to allow younger people and seniors to stay in the community by offering lower priced and smaller sized living spaces ranging between 900 to 1,200 square feet.

Correctional officers assaulted by ‘problematic inmate’ at Penetanguishene jail

Continuous assaults on correctional officers at the Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC) has union officials calling for increased safety measures.

Correctional officers at the Penetanguishene jail were assaulted during two incidents on June 18 and June 19, with one involving a problematic inmate.

“Three correctional officers and a sergeant were kicked and spat at as they were trying to deal with him,” said Richard Dionne, president of OPSEU Local 369.

The incident came days after the same inmate bit a correctional officer and a week after he tried to yank an officer into his cell through an open hatch causing injuries to his hand.

“There is just no end with this inmate,” said Dionne. “Unfortunately, he does have some mental-health issues, which seems to be one of our biggest problems at this point. Every time we are dealing with him he is combative and assaultive.”

There have been six incidents involving this inmate in which correctional officers have been assaulted, including the ones on June 11, 13 and 19.

While the one inmate has caused a lot of the recent problems at CNCC, he isn’t the only one assaulting correctional officers.

On June 18, a female officer was injured while dealing with another combative, non-compliant inmate.

“It didn’t escalate, but there was an issue that required extra response,” said Dionne. “It just seems to be never ending.”

Dionne believes part of the blame should be on the recent legislation changes introduced by the Liberals, which has limited the amount of time an inmate can be kept in segregation.

“Assaults on staff seems to have increased drastically since the Liberals introduced new legislative changes,” said Dionne.

He also believes that there needs to be more of a deterrent for assaulting correctional officers in Ontario, including stiffer minimum sentences.

“I have seen some assaults where charges are pursued by the officers and the inmates get time served or a sentence that is minimal,” said Dionne. “There needs to be more of a deterrent.”

Concerns around segregation limits and a lack of minimum sentences for assaulting a correctional officer are two items OPSEU officials plan to discuss with the new provincial Conservative government.

Southern Georgian Bay OPP opens new office in Port McNicoll

Southern Georgian Bay OPP has opened up a new extended-service office in Port McNicoll.

A small two-desk office has been created inside a large brick building at , just north of the Tay Community Rink.

“The new (office) provides greater efficiencies for the township and its citizens, along with maintaining community engagement through better visibility and increase contact with the community by OPP officers,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Burton.

This office is not a staffed police station and officers will not be there at all times. It will serve a convenient location for officers on patrol in Tay Township to complete reports, make calls and meet with members of the community.

Burton doesn’t want residents in the area to rely on the office always having an officer available. However, if a police cruiser is parked out front, residents are welcome to knock on the door and ask for assistance.

The OPP had been working out of another building in Port McNicoll, but it no longer met their needs. The township helped find them a new location.

“Tay Township is pleased to celebrate the grand opening of this newly relocated extended service office,” said Mayor Scott Warnock. “We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with the OPP.”

Chigamik launches Indigenous perinatal mental-health program in Midland

The Chigamik Community Health Centre has launched a new perinatal mental-health program to serve Indigenous communities in north Simcoe and Muskoka.

Through this program, expectant mothers and their families will have access to mental, emotional and spiritual support including a personalized care plan, counselling, health education and navigation to a number of Indigenous resources at Chigamik and externally.

“Mental illness doesn’t discriminate. It can happen to anyone at any time and it disrupts life not just for mothers, but for the entire family,” said Jodi Blue, Indigenous perinatal mental-health worker at Chigamik. “I look forward to working with local families to provide the support and resources needed for good emotional health of mom, baby and family.”

Unlike some mainstream North American treatment models, the goal of the Indigenous perinatal mental-health program is to promote good mental health based on the medicine wheel. The program encompasses the whole person in mind, body and spirit and focuses on being connected to family, community and nature.

The service will provide help navigating the system, housing support, baby/parenting supplies, counselling, access to a dietician and healthy food, traditional healing ceremonies, primary care, Indigenous doula and midwifery, and support groups.

“The Indigenous perinatal mental-health program is so important in our community because we know Ingenious families in remote areas don’t have access to perinatal services that are culturally relevant to customs and beliefs,” said David Jeffery, executive director of the Chigamik Community Health Centre. “This program will give parents and families across the region access to support when they need it most, which could prevent more serious mental-health issues.”

The Indigenous perinatal mental-health program is free and available to anyone who self-identifies as First nation, Métis or Inuit across north Simcoe Muskoka, on or off reserve.

Services will be offered at the main Chigamik Community Health Centre clinic at in Midland. They will then transition over to the new Chigamik/Waypoint Community Health Hub, which is currently being constructed on Bayshore Drive.

For more information and to book an appointment, please contact Jodi Blue at ,ext. 232.

Collingwood staff recommend tax increases to fund capital projects

Collingwood staff is recommending tax increases in order to fund capital projects over the next several years.

Treasurer Marjory Leonard presented the five-year capital plan at the July 9 Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting.

She recommended an annual one per cent tax increase to fund $309,000 in capital projects.

The plan also calls for a one per cent levy to fund the Waterfront Master Plan.

The town has several large projects it will have to pay for over the next several years, including repairing the terminals ($8 million) and the waterfront plan ($15.4 million).

Leonard said by 2022, water and wastewater reserves will be overdrawn by more than $13 million.

The report was received by council.


Ken Fowler – Innisfil Ward 5

Good day residents of Innisfil,

My name is Kenneth Fowler and I am running for Ward 5 on your council. 

Why do I say your council? Because it is the job and privilege of those elected to serve your needs — To build OUR town up and have all other townships look at what we have done as a benchmark for success.

For  years I have worked on multimillion dollar projects and organized scores of people toward a common goal, even if each had a different view of how to achieve it. It is the sparks created when ideas collide that birth new fires, forging our future.

I have a background in management and have been certified in Occupational health and safety.  I also have a provincial Red Seal.  Education that allows me to see alternative perspectives.  

I have been an active member of two school councils, one of which I chaired. I have contacts at news outlets and the local paper to highlight the good our community has done. 

Council needs to LISTEN before it speaks. Only then can issues be properly addressed.

Innpower — I will look into lowering rates without sacrificing service.

Urban sprawl — I want our town to grow soundly, instead of filling space until there is nothing left. Proper planning leads to a booming town, where ease of access is a right and not a worry.

Safety in our schools — Not one but two schools this year have approached council with issues regarding the welfare of the children who walk to school. It needs to be addressed.

The above items are only a few of the things I seek to accomplish as your councillor.

Lastly, I am asking for your vote, but not your money. I am campaigning with my own funds. I believe in MY town that much.

Fighting for your rights,

Ken Fowler

Collingwood Museum gets a facelift

The Collingwood Museum is in the midst of a facelift.

The organization has completed the first phase of a three-phase re-design project.

Melissa Shaw, museum assistant, said the first phase is a boat made by the Watts family in 1937 as well as backdrop with floor-to-ceiling photographs of the harbour.

Shaw said the second phase will focus on the history of the museum, which started as the Huron Institute, and the Indigenous history of Collingwood.

She expects this phase to be completed by the end of 2019.

Next year, the final phase will focus on the significant rail history of Collingwood and the legacy of the shipbuilding industry and the Collingwood Shipyards.

She said the themes of the exhibits will be permanent but the artifacts will rotate.

“We have a pretty large Indigenous collection,” Shaw said.  “We’re working with the collections that we have.”

Shaw said the displays have also been spruced up and they will include a variety of items from Collingwood’s history.

She said they are looking to get feedback from residents that will help develop the next two phases.

“We want to know what people like about it and if there is things they don’t like, we’d like to know what those are,” she said.

Mark Taylor – Severn Ward 1

I love where I live and I am proud of Severn Township’s beauty and history.

I grew up on a family farm in North River with my 8 siblings and attended SS #8 Matchedash Public School, Coldwater Public School, and Park Street Collegiate Institute in Orillia. I graduated from the University of Guelph with a BSc in Food Science and have been working in the food industry for 40 years.

As a councillor, I supported the water and sewer project in the West Shore, various bridge and road projects in Ward 1, and the start up of the Coldwater Curling Club. I was previously a member of the Severn Sound Environmental Association and I am currently a director on the Southeast Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce. If elected, I will continue to strongly support the Coldwater Community Centre, the Matchedash Community Heritage Centre, the Coldwater Mill, Coldwater Memorial Library, Coldwater Canadiana Museum and the Fire and Emergency Services for the Township, which includes Station 4 in Ward 1 and our Roads Department.

In recent years, the Township has budgeted funds for hamlets, villages, and our beautiful trails and I believe this should be continued.

We must be fiscally responsible with the replacement of the Township’s infrastructure and assets. Our tax payers deserve quality roads and bridges. We have to work with the Provincial Government regarding dangerous fires on crown land, as well as the Province’s Heritage Mapping, which will have a huge impact on future development.

My pledge is to represent the constituents of Ward 1 with a strong and sensible voice and to effectively work with council and staff as a team to ensure the success of the Township.

With your support on Election Day, I will be honoured to serve as councillor of Ward 1 in Severn Township.

Your Vote Matters

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Unattended cooking causes kitchen fire in Angus

A mom and her 11-year-old son were treated for minor smoke inhalation after their oven caught fire at their home on Decarolis Crescent in Angus early Friday afternoon.

Essa Fire Chief Cynthia Ross Tustin said the fire happened just after 1:30 p.m. Aug. 10.

The home’s smoke alarms activated after the appliance caught fire and started to burn the wall behind the oven and some of the cabinets.

“The mom extinguished the fire with a garden hose before we got there,” she said.

The fire also caused minor smoke damage throughout the home.

The chief reminds residents to make sure they have working smoke alarms and to never leave cooking unattended.

Scott Jermey — Oro-Medonte deputy mayor

I am Scott Jermey and I want to serve as deputy mayor for Oro-Medonte.

After serving as councillor for Ward 5 from 2014 to 2018, I have ideas and experience to make our great community even better!

I would like to see our recreation facilities improved with expansions and upgrades to our existing sports fields and parks. I have brought forward the concept of creating an Oro-Medonte Sports Hall of Fame to recognize our superior athletes.

The township could fund these improvements for our residents by reducing our legal costs. We could use local lawyers more and Toronto lawyers less.

Cutting county council from 32 members to 16 would save over $600,000 per year, and approximately $2.5 million over four years. This is money better spent on meeting the needs of residents.

I believe in working for our community. By hosting fundraising events, I have helped raise over $6,500 for Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, and I am holding a charity barbecue for the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie this September.

I have been and remain active in the Oro-Medonte community. I have been both a member and a leader in 4-H, and umpired softball for over 25 years. I am currently an elder and secretary of Esson Church. I served on the local milk committee for 10 years, two years as its chair, and volunteered with the Orillia Agricultural Society (ODAS Park) for over 40 years.

After attending East Oro Public School and Park Street Collegiate, I took a bachelor’s degree at the University of Guelph, where I received the Governor-General’s Gold Medal and the Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal for academic achievement.

For the past 31 years I have owned, operated and expanded a dairy farm in the township. This requires understanding the concerns of both a small businessperson and an environmental steward.

I have the energy and the passion to champion the issues and causes of the residents of Oro-Medonte at the local and county levels.

I hope you will consider supporting Scott Jermey as your next deputy mayor.