Mayor's Focus on Business Volume 3, Issue 4 - September 2009
Well summer is almost over and on August 31st Township Council resumed with our first committee meeting of the fall/winter session. Despite all the rainy weather the parks and streets have been busy with activity and of course the “construction season” is well underway.Waterfront/Library Project Up-Date
While it may seem that the waterfront project is slow to roll out, I can assure you that much planning and fine–tuning of the project have taken place over the summer and commencement of construction is imminent. This past week saw two old properties removed from the construction area and the tenders for Water Street and Palmer Park trails/boardwalks are to be let next week with construction commencing some time around beginning of October. Trying to accommodate all the park uses and tourist season leaves a very small window of time for construction but hopefully the disruption of the park will be at the time it is least used. The Library requests for proposals also will be undertaken in September. Many modifications have taken place over the summer as staff prepare to undertake this complicated yet exciting redevelopment. If you wish to follow the project up-dates, please visit the Township web-site at www.scugog.ca and click on the link under the residents section.
Durham Region Farm Tour
The 2009 Durham Agricultural Advisory Committee Farm Tour takes place on September 17th and this year’s theme is “Redefining Agriculture”. The tour which takes place primarily in Pickering gives attendees a first hand look at the future of agriculture in our Region. Tour begins at 1 p.m. at Hy Hope Farm on Lakeridge Road and will visit a mushroom farm in Ashburn, Dutchmaster Nurseries, Alsar Farms in Claremont before returning to Hy Hope for dinner around 5:30 p.m. If you wish more information or would like to attend, please contact Laurie Noland in Durham Region’s Planning Department at 905-668-4113 x 2569 no later than September 10th, 2009.
Tourism Season
As the summer tourism season comes to an end I would like to congratulate all those involved in the many events that bring tourists whether locals or visitors to enjoy our great community. This year saw two new events in the downtown and both brought out significant crowds to view Classic and British cars. Chrome by the Lake sponsored by the Scugog Standard packed our downtown streets with cars and people and raised much needed funds for the local museum.
The BIA sponsored Brits on the Lake in August and managed to outlast the rain as well as having a very successful afternoon of visiting the great British cars on display. Canada Day while not a new event saw a new theme of celebrating our local food and culture. This year’s festivities were organized by the Township with lots of help from various community groups and local farmers and proved to be a winning formula. Plans are to build on this for next year in much the same format. When you take all these new events and add in the winning mix of the new Splash Pad opening at Palmer Park, Rotary’s Aquarama, Dog Days at the Museum, Concerts in the Park and the upcoming Fall Fairs in Blackstock and Port Perry, I think we have managed to hold our own in the very competitive and weather challenged 2009 summer tourist season.
The Economic Development roundtable for the tourism sector will take place in October or early November and suggestions are always welcome as to what we can do to continue to offer a great tourism experience. I would ask that all organizations try to establish their 2010 event dates for that meeting as promotion starts soon.
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
While Council is in recess for the summer the many other facets of our Township operation are not. On July 21st, I had the opportunity to join with three Australian MP’s, Durham Planning and Economic Development staff and the GTA Agricultural Advisory staff on a tour of the Greenbelt, Rouge Park and Niagara areas to discuss agricultural sustainability issues as they relate to “near-urban areas”. The MP’s are preparing a report for the Australian parliament which is due out this fall and were seeking input on the challenges faced by farmers in the Greenbelt.
On July 29th, I spoke to our local Rotary Club regarding the Waterfront/Library Project and the booklet I used for my presentation is now on the Township web-site under the resident section.
On August 4th, I attended a huge infrastructure announcement for Durham Region at the Duffin’s Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Pickering which saw Minister Jim Flaherty and MPP Joe Dickson announce over $93 million dollars in stimulus funding to increase the capacity of the facility and introduce more environmental enhancements to the plant.
August 13th, I attended an Agriculture Sustainability Workshop at Vineland Research Centre in Niagara on behalf of the GTA Agriculture Committee and joined with over 35 participants from the provincial government, farm organizations, the private sector and various non-profit groups on strategies to ensure that agriculture remains viable. Two main priorities were identified: taxation issues in agricultural areas and the need for a Food Strategy. The day was a great opportunity to network with communities facing similar challenges to Scugog – a huge agricultural base with minimal growth predicted in the other sectors. It further proved that we must begin to focus on “value-added” agriculture and the benefits it could bring to the area. Finally, last Friday I represented Regional Chair Roger Anderson at the opening of the CNE and brought greetings from not only Durham Region but also Scugog and all the GTA Mayors and Chairs. In the evening, I attended Canadian Forces Musical Salute to Canadians as a guest of Brigadier-General J.C. Collin. What a memorable evening that was. This Saturday after attending the Blackstock Fair I will be back at the EX to hear former US President Bill Clinton speak.
Scugog Shores Heritage Centre &Archives Opens
It was in my newsletter of September 2008 that I announced we had received federal funding of $120,000 towards the development of a new cultural space at the Scugog Recreation Centre and on September 10th at 7p.m. the new centre opens its doors to the public. Included in the project are a completely accessible Archival Centre, a new Gift Shop promoting Scugog products, three new galleries – a Sports Hall of Fame, A First Nation Gallery and a Local History Gallery as well as a much larger venue for special exhibits. The opening night exhibit entitled “Our Past Is Showing” is a partnership between the Township and Scugog Council for the Arts and promises to be exciting. For tickets or information on opening night you can contact my assistant lfitton@scugog.ca. This new cultural space was made possible by the partnership of the Lake Scugog Historical Society, the Trillium Foundation, the Baagwating Community Association, the Provincial and Federal governments and the Township. Exciting exhibits, lectures, workshops and day camps will all be accommodated within the new venue as we continue to link culture, heritage, tourism and better use of existing facilities.
Construction Season
Numerous construction projects are presently underway in Scugog as we celebrate the 5th season of the year - construction season. John Street in downtown Port Perry commenced construction at the beginning of July and is expected to conclude in September. This project is costing just under a million dollars and includes bump-outs at Perry/Queen which were identified in the 2007 Downtown Strategy and prior to that in the BIA downtown study of the early 90’s. When the Water Street construction is undertaken later this year, it too will include the bump-outs recommended in the various studies. As well, an $879,000 road rehabilitation program is underway that includes some roads in the industrial parks as well as a residential street in the Castle Harbour area. The gravel program of over $500,000 was completed in June and saw the application of approximately twice the tonnage of 2008. Sidewalk improvements are expected to begin in early September and the extension of new sidewalks along Old Simcoe Street will be part of that program. It has been a challenging year for our Works Department trying to maintain our huge inventory of roads while dealing with unpredictable weather, wind storm damage and unbelievable amounts of rain.
The Region of Durham works projects this year have included work south of Blackstock, east of Caesarea, the Island Road and soon north of Port Perry on Simcoe Street. Federal gas tax, and recent announcements of infrastructure funds are welcomed as we deal with the under funding of roads that took place in the late 80’s and all through the 90’s.
Closure of Business & Information Centre
With the recent move by the BIA and Chamber to the United Way offices, the Township has decided to not duplicate the provision of business and tourism services offered at this location and so it is with regret that we announce the closure of our former offices at Unit G-1. It is the intent at this time to have the Scugog Council for the Arts continue their operation out of this location while we solicit other partners or sub-lease the facility until the end of the present lease in 2011.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 5-7: Port Perry Fair
Sept. 10: Scugog Shores Heritage Centre & Archives Opens
Sept. 16: United Way Campaign Kick-Off
Sept. 17: Durham Farm Tour
Sept. 19: E-Waste Collection Day – Scugog Arena
Sept. 20: Pioneer Fall Fair: Museum Village
Sept. 26: BIA “Harvest Day” Downtown Port Perry
Oct. 3: Gates Open - Harvest Market at Palmer Park 8 am to 4 pm
Oct. 3: Cartwright Fields Fall Festival - Nestleton
Oct. 8: Fore Scugog Golf Tournament – Oakridge Golf Club
If you have any questions regarding this newsletter or wish to be removed from the mailing list, please forward your inquiry to my assistant at lfitton@scugog.ca
