Sunday, June 28, 2015

Sunday June 28, 2015

Ladies and Gentlemen


This past week our school graduates for 2015-2015 threw their caps into the air and stepped out to enjoy a summer’s break. Sounds like a good idea. So to help you better enjoy the summer, I will suspend News from the Town for the summer season. If anything of note comes up in Midland, I will be sure to send you out a special bulletin.

A few notes for your summer.

Council will continue to meet over the summer. We will not have our General Committee meetings but Council meetings will continue. Please check the web calendar for dates, as they sometimes change on short notice.  http://www.midland.ca/townhall/meetings-agendas
In addition the Town will hold a number of special meetings and events over the summer.

July 1 – Canada Day at Little Lake Park. The parade starts at 10:30 am. Fireworks in Penetanguishene at dusk.  For more information http://www.midland.ca/Shared%20Documents/canada%20day%20events%202015%20little%20lake.pdf

July 6 – MPUC information session 6:30 pm at NSSRC.  Your chance to find out more about Council’s recent decision to consider changes in owning its electricity distribution asset.

July 8 – A meeting of the Downtown Master Plan committee at 1:00 pm at Town Hall to consider the final Master Plan, before it goes to Council.  Later, at 5:00 pm, is a special meeting of Council to discuss our ongoing arrangements for the Fire service and next year’s Butter Tart event.

July 11 – Saturday, and a chance to head out to Huronia Airport for their annual Fly In (lots of planes to check out) or tour a number of gardens with the Library’s Annual Garden Tour.

July 13 – A public meeting (you may speak) at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall for determine your interest in expanding the presence of backyard fires and fireworks.

August 1 weekend –It’s the Rendevous Champlain weekend.  All sorts of events with many in Penetanguishene. The weekend listing is at http://rendezvouschamplain.ca/en/

August 21 – The Metis Nation Annual General Assembly will be held in Midland this weekend.  It starts with a shoreline welcome for those arriving by canoe then a full weekend of conferences and events.

August 22 – Artwalk, the second largest of our downtown festivals, takes place all day on King Street.

August 26 – The Ontario 55+ Central Region Summer Games kicks off with many competitions being held at our NSSRC.  Check your games schedules for times and locations.

For other community events please see the Town events calendar at http://www.midland.ca/visitors/events-calendar


And if that were not enough, a few more for your summer calendar.

The last dance for The Martels in Midland will be at NSSRC on Saturday, July 11.  Proceeds from this final dance are going to assist the Bunn's Kids program. All tickets are $25 and are now on sale at Johnstone's Music Land and the Midland Town Dock,

The Day in the Life series continues all summer at the MCC. The next evening will feature Bill Watters, a legendary sports figure.  He worked with the infamous Alan Eagleson for several years and held management positions with Team Canada between 1976 and 1979. In 1991 he became assistant general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs where he served for 12 years. 
Tickets are available at the Box Office at the Midland Cultural Centre, Please see http://midlandculturalcentre.com/


                                                                   *****

In closing, something sweet. Our recent Butter Tart event was the best yet. While I am still awaiting the final numbers, literally thousands of people came up to see Midland and were very impressed with what the saw. But don’t take my word for it ….. http://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/2015/06/25/ontarios-best-butter-tart-bakers-gather-in-midland-for-a-contest-and-festival.html

Enjoy your summer.



Gord McKay


Be part of Midland’s Year of Bold Action - 2015
                                                                                              



Sunday, June 21, 2015

Sunday June 21, 2015

Ladies and Gentlemen

The longest days of the year are brightening our late evening BBQs. The Party on the Dock is now an echo.  It must be summer.

On Monday June 22nd your Council gets right to work with three meetings. At 5:00 pm is a special meeting of Council to receive a report from our IT consultant about how to improve our municipal technology systems. At 6:00 pm a closed meeting will consider appointments to various committees. Then at 7:00 pm is the regular Council meeting. The agenda includes:
-       Four deputations and petitions:
o    Comments on the Downtown Master Plan from  D. Penrose, St. Paul’s Church
o    Request for a splash pad at Little Lake Park
o    Petition regarding the Downtown Health Centre location
o    Petition regarding changes to downtown parking
-       Public meeting (you may speak) on closing the road allowance near Portage Rd.
-       A plan to bring people back to Little Lake Park
-       Introducing the new inspector for the shared Midland/Penetanguishene building inspection service

June is Senior’s month. On Tuesday at noon you are invited to the annual Midland Seniors Council luncheon at NSSRC. Speakers will include Wes Crown, Town of Midland and Jill Tettmann, CEO NSM Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). The lunch is free but you should pick up a ticket at the NSSRC before attending. Then a 2:00 pm the North Simcoe Housing Working Group meets at Town Hall to continue its work on finding housing solutions for our area.

Wednesday June 24th starts at 9:00 am at the Fire Hall with Project Zero. Midland is pleased to again be selected to receive smoke and CO2 detectors that will be provided to the public by our fire department. Please remember that smoke and CO2 detectors are required to be installed in all of our homes.

At 3:00 pm that afternoon in the Council Chambers, the Town will hold an open house to provide information about the new Downtown Health Centre proposed for the Edgehill Park location. This is the first of the public meetings on the matter and a chance for the public, Council and staff to hear from each other about concerns and questions. There are many rumors circulating on this matter, so of you are interested please plan on attending.

And lastly, the OCPC hearing that had been planned for today to consider the safety issues with outsourcing of police dispatch has been cancelled. To be rescheduled.

On Thursday the 25th Midland plays host to the third Economic Prosperity Summit. This all day event at the MCC will welcome some 140 delegates from business, government and the public to hear about how our economy is performing and the steps being taken to bring more jobs to our area. This summit will showcase the groundwork being undertaken in the four municipalities to ensure a prosperous future for our area.

June is also the month of graduation. Students all over Midland are looking forward to taking that next big step towards their future. Ceremonies include:
-       2:00 pm Midland Learning Centre graduation at NSSRC
-       7:00 pm MSS and St Ts graduations at their locations


On Friday June 26th at 10:00 am the Downtown Safety committee meets in the Town Hall.

Weekend

Saturday
-       4:00 pm Relay for Life in support of cancer research at Little Lake Park

Sunday
-       GB Rowing Club regatta – all day on Little Lake Park at their location




Gord McKay


Be part of Midland’s Year of Bold Action - 2015
                                                                                              


Sunday, June 14, 2015

Sunday June 14, 2015

Ladies and Gentlemen

It’s the day after the Best Butter Tart festival ever. A roaring success. My estimate is over 10,000 people visited Midland this week-end and came pretty close to snapping up 80,000 butter tarts. Social media of the event was abuzz. A job well done to Barb, Nicole and all the great volunteers who made this day happen.

On a less positive note there seems to be a tremendous amount of misinformation circulating about the new Health Center proposed for our downtown. Two of our major public health organizations – the Chigamik Community Health Centre and Waypoint Community Services – are working together to bring an improved range of accessible health services to the people of Midland.

This new public Health Centre (similar to the Huronia Health Centre near the hospital) will provide:
·         Primary healthcare doctors – walk in
·         Nurse practitioners – walk-in
·         Traditional healing – walk-in
·         Eating programs
·         Smoking cessation
·         Fitness programs and counselling
·         Mothercare
·         Meditation classes
·         Walking programs
·         Healthy cooking classes
·         A dietician
·         Anxiety and stress counselling

What the Centre will not be is a hospital with patient beds or a methadone dispensary.

In addition to the question about what the Centre will be, other questions include:
-       Why give up a portion of the little used Edgehill Park?
-       What is the expected impact upon downtown?

Sound responses exist for each of these questions. The first of the public meetings on this matter will be an Open House at the Town Hall on June 24th from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. There will be more public meetings to follow. If you have any questions in the meantime, let me know. Once you have had a chance to hear the facts you will be able to better appreciate how the Center will benefit all of Midland and our residents


                                                                  *****

Monday is relatively quiet – time to recover from the Butter Tart. On Tuesday you are invited to attend an Open House at the Town Hall at 3:00 pm to discuss plans for our newest heritage site, the William Wilson cemetery.  At 7:00 pm is the regular meeting of Healthcare Innovators at the ShopCity location.

On Wednesday June 17th you may wish to attend the regular meeting of the Midland Police Services Board at 4:00 pm at Town Hall. That evening all sports fans will want to be at the MCC at 7:30 pm for a Day in the Life with Mike Keenan. Mike was an NHL head coach for 25 years with 8 NHL teams.  He was a General Manager on two occasions.  He won the Stanley Cup in 1994 with the New York Rangers and has recorded the fifth most wins as a coach in NHL history.  Mike currently works in Russia, serving as head coach of the Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League. 

Thursday June 18th will see lots going on.  At 10:00 am the Ontario Early Years Center hosts their Family Picnic in Little Lake Park.   At noon you are invited by the County to participate in their transit study public consultation to be held at Penetanguishene Village Square Mall.  At 1:00 pm it’s back to Midland for the SSEA Open House at the Midland library.  There you will hear a presentation on invasive species in our area. And at 6:00 pm, municipal staff will gather at the NSSRC for a workshop on energy conservation and system planning.

On Friday the 19th at 9:00 am, I am at the County for the Affordable Housing Advisory committee meeting. The County has completed about two-thirds of its 18 presentations to Simcoe municipalities seeking their help in implementing affordable housing in every community. The responses have been most encouraging.

At 10:00 am the Town will hold its regular Waterfront Project Steering Committee – you are welcome to attend. At 7:00 pm it’s party time with Party on the Dock on our waterfront featuring the Carpet Frogs.


Weekend

Saturday
A celebration of the retirement of Justice Bob Main. Please come and wish Bob well at the MCC from 1:00 to 4:00 pm


Sunday
11:00 am is the Metis Aboriginal Day celebration at Rotary Park in Penetanguishene
7:00 pm enjoy Music in the Park at the Rotary bandstand, Little Lake Park


Gord McKay


Be part of Midland’s Year of Bold Action - 2015
                                                                                              


Sunday, June 7, 2015

Sunday June 7, 2015

Ladies and Gentlemen

The eyes of Ontario will be on Midland this week. We will host a major reception for the Pan Am torch as it passes through our community.  This week-end also sees the “world famous” butter tart festival. And the new Hanson development project along Hwy 12 has started promoting their Little Lake site with a full page ad in the Toronto Star – take a look at www.seasonslittlelake.com. Get ready for our visitors.

Monday June 8th starts with a different kind of event. The Midland “smoke eaters” will visit SS Keewatin in Port McNicoll at 9:00 am (weather permitting) and using their aerial fire truck affix ropes on the masts to allow Keewatin to once again fly her flags. Should be exciting!

At 6:00 pm we come back to earth with a series of meetings at Town Hall.  It begins with a closed meeting to consider matters of land acquisition and solicitor client privilege. At 7:00 pm is the June General Committee covering a number of interesting topics:
-       A discussion and direction on having backyard fires and when fireworks can be set off in the Town. (Too many puns come to mind so I shall refrain)
-       A discussion and direction on our Clean Yards By-law. Do we need new measures to encourage residents to better maintain their yards for the good of the community?
-       Direction and dates will be given for the 2016 budget process
-       The food concession at NSSRC is now being provided by an outside party. Tonight we find out who that will be
After the General Committee there will be a Special Council meeting to grant permission to staff to apply for a Canada 150 grant.

On Tuesday June 9th I will be at County for the regular Council meeting. At 5:30 pm you are invited down to the Boathouse restaurant for the annual Big Bike charity ride for Heart and Stroke.

Wednesday the 10th features a must attend event as the Pan Am torch run comes to Midland. If you are one of the first 500 to arrive early (the NSSRC site opens at noon) you will receive a free Pachi doll, the Pan Am mascot. There will be entertainment, speeches and a proud moment when Midland’s own Adam Dixon presents the torch at about 1:15 pm. You are most welcome to be part of history being made in Midland.

Thursday the 11th will see me back at the County for the second day of strategic planning. In a lighter vein you are invited to a special fundraising Wine and Dine event for We are the Villagers at 5:00 pm at the Library restaurant. Chef Jeff Cote organizes the four course feast. He will be accompanied by a sommelier to demystify the wine parings. For tickets call 1-855-528-5252.  


Weekend

Saturday
-       Butter Tart festival downtown all day. This year an impressive 80,000 butter tarts are to be sold. Look for a lot of creativity. http://buttertartfestival.ca/
-       1:30 pm the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets 32nd annual year-end review at NSSRC


Sunday
-       The Butter Tart Trot takes place starting at the Town dock at 8:00 am. Features;
8:30 am Sweet Tarts - kids 6 and under 1 km
9:30 am Mini tarts kids - 7-13   2.5 km
10:15 am – King and Queen of Tarts – adults  5 km
For information call Irene Parker at 322-3589
-       11:00 am Alzheimer walk at Tiffin House




Gord McKay


Be part of Midland’s Year of Bold Action - 2015