Category Vrbat Amzfh

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.

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Wasaga Beach resident wins Rotary Club early bird draw

Wasaga Beach resident Shari McKilligan was the early bird winner of $1,000 from the Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach’s early bird draw.

The draw was made July 3.

The final draw for the 2019 Long Beach Red Corvette Stingray will be held at the Recplex in Wasaga Beach on Sept. 29 at 2 p.m.

To date, more than 1,000 tickets have been sold. Tickets are $100 each.

Funds raised from the Corvette Lottery will be donated to 15 local charities in Simcoe County.

For more information, go to .

Shawn Scott — Oro-Medonte Ward 4

Your New Voice, Representing Your Concerns.

Personal background: I was born and raised in Mississauga and moved to Oro-Medonte over 15 years ago. I lived on Lakeshore Road in Ward 4 until my family and I bought a larger rural property, also in Ward 4.

Professional background: I retired in 2016 having served almost 33 years with a large municipal police service. I retired as a sergeant and served as an acting staff sergeant for three of my last five years. During the course of my career I worked in uniform patrol, criminal investigations, intelligence services, operational planning and resources, internal affairs and the communications (911) centre.

Notable Professional Attributes:

Recipient of the Police Exemplary Service Medal.

Recipient of the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for my contributions to Canada.

Past member of the International Association and Ontario Association of Law Enforcement Planners.

Authored and co-authored business cases to develop new initiatives and facilities, including joint use facilities, which in turn save the community unnecessary expenses.

Trained human rights investigator.

Guest instructor and facilitator at the Canadian Police College — Senior Police Administration Course.

My final posting was in the communications bureau (911) where I managed 141 personnel and a multimillion dollar budget.

Why vote for me?

My professional career has afforded me the opportunity to experience a wide range of sub-professions ranging from uniform patrol to corporate research. This experience has broadened my abilities to not only engage in conflict resolution but to prepare business cases, monitor and improve policies, manage a large workforce and manage multimillion dollar budgets.

I have volunteered to community events extensively throughout my life, most notably; Track Official — Oro World’s Fair; Victim Services; Cops for Cancer; United Way; MS Society and as a nonparent goalie coach.

I have proven throughout my life that I am an honourable servant of the community and will continue to do so if given this honour and responsibility — representing all of Oro-Medonte’s concerns.

I believe that we can preserve our heritage while encouraging responsible growth in farming, tourism, recreation and business.


‘This is your home’: Matthews House Hospice unveils Centre of Excellence in Alliston

After all those years of fundraising and planning, the dream has finally become reality.

Hundreds of guests came out to celebrate the grand opening of Matthews House Hospice’s Centre of Excellence at 131 Wellington St. E. in Alliston.

The brand new $6-million facility features 10 beds for palliative care, along with a host of programs and services.

Hospice president Margo Cooney told the crowd the new facility will act as a place of “service, compassion and welcome” for those facing life threatening or life limiting illnesses, the bereaved and their families

“This is your home,” she said. “At some point in our lives we may need the care of Matthews House or we will know someone who will, and Mathews House will be here, ready to help at any time.”

She said none of this would have been possible without the tremendous amount of support the community has given to the organization.

“Our heartfelt thanks go out to our incredibility generous community, our benevolent corporate donors, our caring provincial, county and municipal governments, all of whom provided funds and resources to make this construction possible,” she said.

CEO Kim Woodland said the real job now begins.

“For us it’s about a new beginning, a fresh start based on a solid foundation of really great support from our community and volunteers,” she said. “We will be having chats and journeys together about living and living well before we die, because that’s what hospice is.”

The state-of-the-art facility, which began construction last fall, boasts a living room, kitchen and garden where families can spend time together, along with several other areas where guests can make and listen to music, draw pictures, take part in reiki and reflexology sessions, watch movies and more.

“You can do whatever you want to do,” Woodland said. “We will make sure your days are meaningful and pain free.”

The organization has raised all of the capital funding for the new building, but will require about $1.2 million every year to cover the operational costs.

To become a supporter or a volunteer, or to learn more about the programs and services, visit .