Ladies
and Gentlemen
It’s been a slow laborious process getting this Spring of
ours on the road. Fingers crossed, it starts coming together next week.
A welcome sign of Spring is the growing number of
visitors to our Town. This year we will be able to better welcome them through
the efforts of our newly created Destination Marketing Organization” (DMO). The
DMO is tasked with promoting our area and ensuring the North Simcoe visitor experience
will keep them coming back for more. Your
DMO Board of Directors is:
1.
Will Baird
2.
Kevin Cowie
3.
Brig Kennair
4.
Angela Kruger
5.
Alex Laurin
6.
Ken MacDonald
7.
Laura Thomas
*****
Monday April 27th features our April Council
meeting. At 5:30 pm we go into closed session to discuss hiring a Fire Chief
and a personal matter. At 7:00 pm it’s the regular Council meeting. It promises
to be a long meeting with:
-
Two presentations:
o
Bob Jeffery receives an Award of Merit
o
Recognition of our OMHA Novice BB Champions
-
Three deputations:
o
Healthy community design proposals by the
District Health Unit
o
Update on Huronia Airport operations
o
An update on Waypoint
-
A public meeting with three topics: (Your
chance to speak)
o
Changes to Council’s procedural by-law
o
Business licensing for farmers markets
o
Back flow preventer by-law changes
-
The rest of the meeting includes items such
as the Police Service budget and the Terry Fox run.
A variety of items for you on Tuesday April 28th.
At 1:00 pm it’s the Askennonia
Springtime in Paris Fashion Show at the NSSRC. Then at 2:00 pm the North Simcoe
Housing Working Group meets in Tay at 145 Albert St. The meeting will discuss
the upcoming request by County for a made in Midland plan for affordable housing
plus look at starting our own local housing projects.
From 3:30 to 5:30 pm the Town will hold a Sunnyside Park
Open House. This is the first step in
creating the long requested public park in the Sunnyside area. You are
encouraged to attend.
On Wednesday the 29th a very special Day in
the Life presentation. In 1952, Larry Fox, a
17-year old RCAF engine mechanic from Midland, was recruited by M16, the
British Secret Intelligence Service. He was trained in weapons, explosives,
hand to hand combat, cat burglary and Gurkha military techniques. He became an
espionage courier, and a deadly killer, like the fictional James Bond. But this
was real! You will want to be at the MCC for 7:00 pm to hear the fascinating story
of one of Midland’s own.
Thursday April the 30th sees two significant retirements
at the Town. At 11:00 am Joanne Gagnon,
a long time employee with our Treasury department will be feted at the Town Hall.
From 1:30 to 3:30 pm you are also
invited to attend a reception for Mr. Bryan Peter who will be retiring from his
position as Head of Parks and Recreation. Over his many years Bryan has
provided quality leadership in making Midland a great place to play hockey, listen
to music, attend festivals or simply walk in one of our many well-tended parks.
Please come out and show Bryan your appreciation.
At 6:00 pm I will attend a Georgian College Board
reception being held at our Midland campus.
The College will play and increasing role in the future success of our community.
Friday May 1st. I am pleased to announce that another healthcare
business is opening in the downtown. The
Midland Hearing Clinic, at 357 King St., will hold its opening celebrations at
12:30 pm. You are welcome to attend.
That evening there are two events for you at the MCC:
-
At 6:30 pm is the “Short Film Festival”
featuring a variety of cutting edge films including one by our own local
cinematographer Nate Lacroix.
-
From 7:00 to 9:00 pm Quest Art School + Gallery opens two new exhibitions. “Landmarks: Past
to Present”, a celebration of Simcoe County before and after the arrival of
Samuel de Champlain will be on display in the Atrium Gallery and in the Upper
Gallery will be “High Art ’15”, a collection of art work by local high school
students.
Weekend
Saturday
-
7:00 pm is the Huronia Community Foundation gala at the Brooklea
-
7:30
pm the Serenata Choir hosts a concert St Pauls featuring flautist Allan Pulker
Sunday
-
9:00 am the Mandarin MS walk starts at the
NSSRC
-
1:30 pm is the Hospice Huronia walk on the Penentanguishene
waterfront
*****
From the “great news” file, Central Taxi is now providing
an accessible taxi service in Midland. The service is available on a booking
basis seven days a week. The formal launch should take place in a few weeks’
time. I want to commend Tony DeGuglielmo
at Central for providing this needed service, largely at his own cost.
And in closing, a more serious note. Each year we learn
of the heavy price we all pay because of men’s violence towards women. It comes in the form of insults, physical and
psychological abuse, and on occasion even death. Stopping the violence begins
with the men – with each of us showing leadership that this type of behavior is
not tolerated.
All men and women are invited to a public meeting where
we will learn more about the problem and where the men will take a pledge to
end violence towards women. The event takes place at noon on Friday May 8th
at the Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre, 175 Yonge Street, Midland.
Gord
McKay
Be
part of Midland’s Year of Bold Action - 2015
