All posts by SHLF

Dave Wood — New Tecumseth Ward 7

Resident of New Tecumseth since June 1981

Married 42 years, two children

I went to Acadia University — major in recreation, minor in business.

Business Experience — senior logistics manager North America having developed and managed complex national operations, networks.

I retired in April 2017 and started attending council and planning meetings to gain a better understanding and appreciation of what is involved in being a councillor in New Tecumseth. Being retired, I now have the time that I believe is necessary to devote to this position. After decades of volunteering in the community, it is time to take on a larger role and represent the south as a councillor in Ward 7.

I have the business knowledge and experience, along with my willingness to work hard and dedicate myself, to be a strong representative in New Tecumseth. Hard work, never quit.

I am prepared and willing to give the time to listen and voice the opinions of the residents in Ward 7 and take action to get things done. I will address issues head on. I will demand answers. I will look to resolve problems with openness, honesty and transparency.

Three issues that need to be resolved immediately (in no specific order), with action plans put into place with specific timelines for Ward 7 are high speed internet connectivity, town water for the Deer Springs community residents, and the landfill operation at TAC Airport and other rural locations. We have gone on long enough without action being taken. We need to get things done.  Residents want action. I will be that person to complete these tasks.

Other pressing issues are enforcement of our bylaws and increasing the fines, repair and completion of the Trans Canada Trail, reduction of the speed on the rural roads through road patrols and education, and stopping the illegal dumping of soil.

We, the south, need our voices heard!

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Five things you should know to start your week: Aug. 13 – Aug. 17

Here are your five things to know this week.

Clearview Council holds its bi-weekly meeting on Aug. 13 and on the agenda is the draft survey for Creemore residents on a proposed public transit route: Clearview Township municipal offices

On Aug. 13 Associate Chief Justice Frank N. Marrocco hosts a public meeting on the upcoming inquiry in Collingwood on the sale of Collus, starting at 6 p.m. Collingwood municipal offices

On Aug. 14 Multi-award winning quintet Goitse will take the stage at the Midland Cultural Centre

MID-MCCSharonShannon

The Stayner-born magician Sawyer Bullock is hosting a family magic show on Aug. 15 at 2 p.m., at the Historic Gayety Theatre on Hurontario Street.

The company developing Wasaga Beach’s municipally-owned properties in the downtown and on the beachfront is looking for your input at a meeting on Aug. 15, from 1 until 9 p.m.

Here's where Fram will start developing Wasaga's downtown

Shelly Skinner – Barrie Ward 8

Meet Shelly Skinner  Candidate for Ward 8

 Since moving to Ward 8’s Allandale area from the GTA in 2012, I quickly fell in love with the connectivity and lifestyle Barrie has to offer. It’s the perfect city to raise a family and my two children, Jade and Lucius, and our dog Jersey couldn’t agree more.

I’ve immersed myself in the community and the culture – truly living Barrie’s slogan “well connected.” I’ve taken on the responsibility to be a voice for and support those who are marginalized.

Community involvement has been a key focus for me, both on a professional level and as a dedicated volunteer. Through event planning and fundraising, I have helped to raise over $100,000 for community organizations such as the Women and Children’s Shelter of Barrie, Redwood Park Communities, and Barrie Pride.

As a 2018 recipient of the Leading Women, Leading Girls Building Communities Award, I’ve dedicated myself to improving my community and the lives of women, children and marginalized groups.

This year, the Ontario Trillium Foundation chose me to speak on diversity inclusion; I was a keynote/rally speaker and MC for International Women’s Day events organized by Barrie Women and Children’s Shelter and Georgian College; I was MC for various City events including the Barrie Arts Awards and the Black History Month Women of Colour Panel; and, I was a panelist for the EGALE –  Canada Human Rights Trust conference in Toronto.

I love my city, but I know it needs work to become one of the greatest cities in Canada. I feel strongly that diversity and inclusion, accessibility, affordable housing, growth in arts and culture and community togetherness are the key issues that need more focus from local government.

I can no longer sit on the sidelines. As a cty councillor and community changemaker, I will be a strong voice for the community and many residents who are just not being heard.

Connect with Shelly:

• Website 

• Email 

• Social media:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Hashtags:

#Greatfor8  

#ShellyforWard8

Nathaniel Brown — SMCDSB trustee Barrie Wards 1-5

I studied pre-health at Georgian College, and previously worked for a number of years as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the City of Barrie’s rec centres. In these roles, I got to learn exactly how important proper teaching, mentoring, and support are in a kid’s development.

While I currently work in the hospitality industry, creating the conditions for kids to succeed has always been a priority for me, which is why I am running to be your school trustee.

People pay attention to the mayor and councillor campaigns, but trustee races are often forgotten, resulting in people picking the first name on the ballot without knowing who they are.

I’m running to change that, so that you know when you see my name on the ballot, you know voting for me will allow me to bring specific, realistic goals that a trustee can actually implement.

My priorities as your trustee will be to:

1) Support teachers who champion extracurriculars

There is nothing “extra about extracurriculars. Sports, arts, leadership activities: they are all vital programs that help develop students into happy, healthy, productive adults, and should be treated as a priority and supported. As trustee, I will lobby the school board to ensure that teachers who take on extracurriculars after hours have proper equipment, supplies and resources to make sure these programs succeed and provide students with meaningful experiences.

2) Fund breakfast programs

Students cannot properly absorb what they are learning and think critically in the morning if they are running on the fumes of what they ate the previous night for dinner, if they even ate the night before. Eating sugary junk food doesn’t solve the issue, either. As your trustee, I will move motions to properly fund breakfast programs at every school with nutritious options. Every student, whether they don’t have food at home or simply just forgot that morning, needs to know that they can use the program anytime without questions.

Police seek help finding Bradford’s Christian Robinson, missing since June

It’s been one month since Christian Robinson went missing and investigators are once again reaching out for information.

The 46-year-old Bradford resident was last seen leaving his house in the 6th Line and Simcoe Road area at about 3:30 p.m. on June 12.

He has not been seen or heard from since and was reported missing to South Simcoe police the following day.

Robinson is described as white, five-foot-ten with short brown hair and tattoos.

He was last seen wearing a grey golf shirt with a yellow and white pattern covering the chest, grey shorts, flip flops and glasses.

Anyone with information that can help find him is asked to contact the South Simcoe Police Service criminal investigation bureau at 905-775-3311 or 705-436-2141. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).



Blue Mountains library CEO earns new degree

Sabrina Saunders, CEO of The Blue Mountains public library, recently received her Master of Library and Information Sciences Degree (M.L.I.S.). 

She completed the requirements for the degree in April, and on June 20 she walked across the stage at the University of Western Ontario graduation ceremony to receive her degree.

Saunders adds this degree to a Ph.D in Theory & Policy Studies (University of Toronto), a Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education, a Master of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies, a Master of Science in Student Personnel Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology (Buffalo State University).

Saunders models professional development to all of her staff, and inspires those around in her pursuit of lifelong learning.

Oro-Medonte holding forum on elementary school and community centre

Oro-Medonte residents and business owners are encouraged to attend a community forum later this month to learn about plans for a joint elementary school and community centre.

The township and the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) formally announced their plans for a mixed-use facility in the Horseshoe Valley area in June.

The township will be hosting a community forum on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. at Horseshoe Resort, in the Alpine room. The consulting firm assisting the township, The Rethink Group, will provide a presentation, followed by a facilitated discussion.

Attendees will have an opportunity to provide their input through an online survey, which will be available Aug. 15th on .

Pre-register at . Due to space limitations, community groups are asked to limit representatives to two individuals.

Driver arrested after crashing into Innisfil ditch

A 55-year-old Innisfil woman is facing an impaired driving by drug charge after she crashed into a ditch Aug. 21.

South Simcoe Police Service had several 911 calls about an SUV driving erratically on the 20th Sideroad after 3 p.m., with several callers reporting the SUV almost hit them.

“They were forced to take evasive action while the SUV sped northbound, utilizing both lanes and shoulders,” Deputy Chief Robin McElary-Downer said.

Moments later, the vehicle crashed at Innisfil Beach Road and officers responded to the scene.

The driver was uninjured, but arrested and held for a bail hearing. She was also charged with dangerous driving and breach of recognizance.

Wasaga officials explore land acquisition for proposed festival square

Wasaga Beach officials have opened discussions with several landowners to start the process of consolidating ownership of the future public square site on the beachfront.

At the Aug. 15 public information session to present the first iterations of Fram Building Group’s design for the town square and Beach Area 2 site, the town’s director of economic development and tourism, Andrew McNeill, said he, the municipality’s clerk and the chief administrative officer, had been given delegated authority to begin the negotiation process with landowners who own property within the area designated as Festival Square.

While it was to be a centrepiece of the town’s plans for the downtown, creation of the square has been put off to a future phase because of land ownership issues.

The letter of intent signed with Fram in July specifies Fram and the town “work together to prepare a strategic plan for the location, acquisition, planning, development and construction of the festival square facility.”

Fram would have the first right to make an offer for the Festival Square land as a second phase of the downtown development.

In an interview with Simcoe.com, McNeill stated municipal staff met with landowners to “understand what a potential win-win scenario could look like for the town to potentially negotiate the acquisition of land — or alternate arrangements to allow development to proceed that could include some form of amicable land swap.”

McNeill said the staff direction from council includes a “framework that they must negotiate within and cannot exceed.

“The town and Fram both believe that the development of Festival Square is a priority,” he wrote. “The current need is to consolidate land ownership so that redevelopment can proceed.”

McNeill stated land acquisition costs would be recovered through the redevelopment process.

In 2015, the municipality paid $13.6 million for 28 commercial properties along Beach Drive; the purchase was made through the combination of a mortgage through TD Canada Trust and a loan through Infrastructure Ontario.

In December, 2017, the town added to its beachfront holdings with the purchase of a quarter-acre property between the Playland Square parking lot and Spruce Street for $749,000. The purchase was paid for through reserves.

Peter Beacock — Oro-Medonte and Springwater SCDSB trustee

Over the past 12 years as your Trustee, I have worked hard on behalf of Oro-Medonte & Springwater students and families to improve the learning opportunities in the Simcoe County District School Board.

As Trustees, we are responsible for every student in the county and not just in the area where we were elected. Students have benefited from a new French Immersion Program, improved music programs and many additions and new schools because of Trustee decisions. Springwater has seen additions at Huronia Centennial and Elmvale District High while Oro-Medonte will see a new elementary school in the Horseshoe Valley area. Our school board has been very successful at receiving funds for many new schools across the county in recent years.

During my time as your Trustee, I have been the chair of many committees and been elected vice-chair of the board three times. I have been elected by my peers as the chair of the board for five consecutive years. I have earned the respect of many within both municipalities and in the education system. As the chair of the board, I have attended many special events on behalf of Trustees and have gone the extra mile to support schools.

I have an impeccable attendance record for all meetings and functions of the board. I visit schools regularly to talk with students and staff to ensure that the decisions we make at the board table are having a positive outcome in our schools.  As a former manager of a local manufacturing company, I have the ability to work with all parties and use my common sense approach to work through issues and concerns. This approach has helped me to resolve many concerns that parents have shared with me.

I would be pleased to continue my work on your behalf.

I can be reached by phone at 705-322-1053, by email at [email protected] or via Twitter, @PbeacockL.