Sunday, May 1, 2016

Sunday May 1, 2016


Ladies and Gentlemen



Another sure sign of spring. The four municipalities are getting together to launch the North Simcoe inter-municipal baseball competition. Each municipality will field a team made up of members of town staff and council. The baseball schedule:



Wednesday June 1st   @ 6:30 pm     McGuire Park, Penetanguishene

Wednesday July 20th  @ 6:30 pm     Perkensfield Park, Tiny

Monday August 8th   @ 6:00   &  7:30 pm  Peterson Park, Midland

Thursday September 8th   @ 6:30 pm     Talbot Park, Port McNicoll



Team names and rosters are still settling in. I think I heard some discussion about a salary cap too. Let the SPRING TRAINING begin.



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Monday May 2nd at 11:30 am, will see a cheque presentation from MPUC to the Town for the LED street light program. Three years ago the Town started a program to convert all of its street lights to energy efficient LEDs. With this cheque we are fully converted. 



I head to the County for 1:00 pm to meet with housing developers to discuss the best ways to engage them in working with municipalities to build affordable housing units.  Their comments will be used to build a set of recommendations for Simcoe municipalities to meaningfully encourage private sector involvement in affordable housing development. The recommendations are likely to show that all parties will have to contribute something to the solution.



Later on that day I meet with the area mayors to refine our position paper that we will be taking to Minister on ways to reform the funding formula for midsized hospitals such as GBGH.



Tuesday the 3rd will feature a very special event in our community. The Friends of Tiffin Pond will conduct a neighborhood tree planting at 3:15 pm at Tiffin Pond. With help from the SSEA they will be taking a major step in public stewardship of our municipal wetlands. Come down and join the fun – or start one in your own neighborhood



At 6:30 pm, all entrepreneurs are invited to the first in a series of presentations on starting a small business. This four seminar series will be held at the Library and is brought to you by NSCFDC, the County, our local Business Enterprise Center and the Library. All seminars are free.

1)     Start your business - May 3rd 6:30 pm

2)     Grow your business – May 17th at 6:30 pm 

3)     Dealing with a mature business – 31st at 6:30 pm

4)     Succession planning – June 14th 6:30 pm



Another option for you at 6:30 pm is the BIA AGM which takes place at 225 King Street, upstairs.



Wednesday April 4th is McHappy Day at McDonalds.  I have the 8:00 am shift at the McDonalds on Hwy. 93. Please drop by and support this worthy charity. At 2:00 pm our Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe hosts a manufacturing summit - part of the ongoing effort to grow our local manufacturing base. And it’s working. My discussions over the last few months show that most of our manufacturers are hiring and/or looking for more growth in 2016.



At 7:00 pm it’s the Planning and Development Committee. It starts with a public meeting (you may speak) on Home Occupation. Council has asked staff to change our existing by-law to recognize the reality that many of our business start-ups begin in someone’s basement. The regular part of the meeting includes:

-       Report on second suites. This is likely the final discussion before it goes to Council

-       Report on the zoning changes for Midland Bay Landing

           





On Thursday I am again at County for a meeting, this time with landlords to learn how to better engage them in managing more affordable housing units. 



On Friday May 6th the four mayors and Beausoeil First Nation meet with Patrick Brown to discuss many local issues. At noon, please join me for the opening of Georgian Bay Books at their new book shop on King Street. (the old Riv Bistro location).



Weekend



Saturday

-       12 noon is the season opening for Martyrs’ Shrine.  The Shrine will also celebrate the  opening the Holy Door for the church`s Year of Mercy



Sunday

-       Mother`s Day – Please take a moment to honour all of our mothers

-       10:00 am to 3:00 pm is Little Lake Park clean up.  Please come down and join your fellow citizens in helping our Park get ready for summer.





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This upcoming Saturday June 25th at 10:00 am will see Midland`s first Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event. Over the past few years Kathy Willis of Rosewood has challenged the men of our community to get serious about stopping the ongoing violence against women. Last year approximately 70 local men held a public ceremony to personally commit to ending such violence. This year, with the help of our local YsMen Club, we become more vocal. We challenge all area men to participate in the Walk. More details to follow.





Gord McKay







Your Year for Getting Aboard – Midland is on the Move - 2016

                                                                                              


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