Latest / North Shore News / July 24th, 2026

Transcript

July 24th, 2026 · North Shore News

0:07
Welcome to North Shore News and Interviews on
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Amherst Island Radio. Each week we keep you updated
0:14
on newsworthy events, happenings and conversations
0:17
that we've had with people in the local community
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and beyond. Loyalist Township has announced that
0:28
the Leisure and Activity Centre in Amherstview
0:30
will officially close as a recreation facility
0:33
on July 31st. Front desk services at the center
0:36
are no longer available. For program registration,
0:39
payments and proof of residency assistance, the
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Township is asking residents to visit the W .J.
0:44
Henderson Community Center. The Leisure and Activity
0:46
Center will be renovated to support future daycare
0:48
services in partnership with BGC Southeast. Recreation
0:52
programming will continue across the Township
0:54
with programs transitioning to alternate locations.
0:57
Residents originally came to Council with a petition
0:59
against the closure of the center. Staff looked
1:01
at feedback from residents and completed a review.
1:04
on the space. Staff's review confirmed recreation
1:06
service levels can be maintained through a combination
1:09
of municipal space and third -party facility
1:11
use. Based on program testing conducted in May
1:14
and June, staff found that the W .J. Henderson
1:16
Community Centre is only suitable for low -volume
1:19
fitness programming, but due to a number of factors
1:21
including room layout, ceiling height, acoustics,
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privacy and overall functionality considerations,
1:27
high -volume fitness classes are better suited
1:29
to third -party spaces. Staff noted that deferring
1:32
the closure beyond August 1, 2026 would impact
1:35
ongoing discussions related to child care in
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the Township and space negotiations with BGC
1:40
Southeast. During Council's latest discussion
1:43
on the matter, residents came forward to voice
1:45
concerns including programming, scheduling, cost
1:48
and location. This is our community center. I
1:51
think it is great that the Boys and Girls Club
1:53
have a chance of obtaining a grant to open a
1:56
daycare. And knowing this, it gives me no pleasure
1:58
to say that I believe their benefits should not
2:02
be our losses. It took years to develop LAC.
2:06
I acknowledge the work to come up with a plan
2:08
in a short period of time, but this plan is in
2:11
no way ready. to implement in such short notice.
2:15
Manager of Parks and Recreation with the Township
2:17
Matthew Sibolsky speaks about maintaining service
2:19
levels. In this report we have addressed that
2:22
service levels that are expected are maintained.
2:26
Councillor Paul Proderick spoke about residents
2:27
concerns. I guess I've been troubled since the
2:30
start because the word closure I prefer the word
2:33
relocation but that's just my English teaching
2:37
background. In the surveys that were presented
2:41
to council There was 152 submissions on this.
2:44
Number one was program availability at 86 percent
2:49
and 93 percent of the 152 respondents wanted
2:54
adequate programming. Proderick went on to speak
2:56
about the importance of daycare in Loyalist Township.
3:00
If you walk around parts of the township there
3:02
are lots of people looking for daycare. I think
3:05
most some of the questions have been answered.
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The big question is can you have getting it all
3:10
under one roof? and right now I don't see that
3:13
as an option. I firmly believe in daycare, but
3:19
I'm firm on the daycare, and if it costs me,
3:22
if I should run again for election, so be it.
3:24
I think it's the right decision, and it can only
3:28
help our growing township, and I will stand by
3:31
that. Councillor Jake Ennis noted the importance
3:33
of childcare in the area. I'm sympathetic to
3:37
the need for childcare. My youngest is in junior
3:41
kindergarten, so I've been through the daycare
3:44
process for two children recently. It's not easy.
3:48
It's expensive. Where responsibility lies for
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making that happen across various organizations
3:54
and levels of government. However, I also believe
3:57
that a large portion of the community sees this
4:02
closure as a cut to their recreation services.
4:08
I find it difficult to argue with them in principle.
4:12
Councillor Carol Parks spoke about their decision
4:14
-making process. From conversation with several
4:17
residents in regards to the lack closure, it
4:22
really is, the deputy has mentioned, a change
4:25
of venue or consideration for change of venue
4:28
and the original report that came out, it was
4:30
moving everything under the WHC. So we did take
4:34
that. Information back from the residents that
4:37
was brought forward about the concerns about
4:39
the location and changed course. And I think
4:42
staff has provided some fairly substantial alternatives
4:46
to the lack to run the program in between the
4:51
Rhythm Dance Center and also through the Presbyterian
4:54
Church. For Amherst Island Radio and the Local
4:56
Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is
5:00
North Shore News. Lennox and Addington County
5:11
Council will be reducing the speed limit along
5:13
County Road 9 for a one -year trial period. After
5:16
much discussion, Council chose this option to
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avoid removing the trees. The three remaining
5:21
trees on County Road 5 will be removed due to
5:23
their condition, while a guardrail will be installed
5:25
in front of the tree on County Road 41. Council
5:28
will also address plans in the future for planting
5:31
new trees in place of those removed. The trees
5:33
are primarily bur oak and are approximately 250
5:36
years old. The lifespan of bur oak trees in Ontario
5:40
ranges from 200 to 300 years. In preparation
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for upcoming construction, county staff identified
5:46
trees located within designated clear zones of
5:48
the roadways. Residents had previously come forward
5:51
and asked council to not remove the trees. Director
5:54
of Infrastructure Services Chris Wager explained
5:56
the work staff did. Staff completed a further
5:59
review of the trees that were identified within
6:02
the clear zone on County Road 41 and on County
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Road 9. Additionally, staff engaged two engineering
6:09
firms to also complete a safety analysis and
6:12
look at options to preserve the trees. These
6:15
reports considered options such as warning signs,
6:19
regulatory signage, traffic calming, protection
6:22
barriers, and even roadway realignments. The
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reports included benefits and concerns as well
6:29
as potential costs. Staff also included an example
6:35
of a municipality where they decided to use the
6:38
lower clear zone or I guess the lowest clear
6:42
zone distance of three meters in order to preserve
6:45
the trees along their road. Other than realigning
6:48
the roadway and or removing the trees on counter
6:51
road nine there's no other options that improve
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safety and reduce liability from the county.
6:57
As per the municipal act The county has a duty
7:00
of care to keep the roads in reasonable state
7:03
of repair. Failure to remove or properly deal
7:06
with hazards exposes the public to danger and
7:11
opens the county to legal consequences. Wager
7:14
spoke about staff's original recommendation to
7:16
remove the trees and more about the county's
7:19
legal liability. Staff's recommendation to remove
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the trees from last month's council is based
7:25
on engineering standards that are used by municipalities
7:29
across Ontario and Canada. These guidelines are
7:33
not legally binding, so council can go outside
7:39
of them. However, they are used by courts and
7:42
expert witnesses as evidence of the accepted
7:45
standards of engineering practice. In short,
7:48
municipalities can deviate from TAC, but they
7:52
need like a reason for the deviation and it needs
7:54
to be well documented and supported by engineering
7:57
rationale. Courts will look at whether the municipality
8:00
acted reasonably, whether the design reflected
8:04
engineering standards, and whether the risks
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were foreseeable, and whether the municipality
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has a rational base for the design decision.
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Councilor Brian Calver noted the importance of
8:14
looking into other options. I've kicked this
8:16
around 85 ways from Sunday. I understand the
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distances. I get that. but I can't see why we
8:23
can't try something before we bring out the chainsaws.
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Councillor Terry Richardson spoke about looking
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into other options as well. I think there are
8:30
other options with respect to the signage that
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I think we could take a look at and at least
8:37
on a trial basis to examine. My personal opinion
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is that I don't think we've done enough and I
8:43
do think that there are other options that would
8:45
reduce liability. and increase safety. Deputy
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Warden Tony Fritz spoke about the effectiveness
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of reducing speed limits. It's a very sensitive
8:54
subject. There's no one in the room that doesn't
8:57
want to preserve trees. But it's the habits of
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drivers that I see every day where they don't
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believe in anything on the road, essentially.
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Double lines, they'll pass anywhere, pass on
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hills, do this, do that. Driver behavior today
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is just not obedient. in terms of speed limits,
9:19
where you can pass or what you can do. So I do
9:22
struggle with believing that we're begging them
9:26
to slow down through signage, so to speak, but
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I very much struggle believing that they would
9:33
actually comply with that and that it will solve
9:36
the problem. Wager noted the differences between
9:39
installing stop signs or reducing the speed limit.
9:42
Using a stop sign does not remove any liability.
9:47
um whatsoever or in my opinion really improve
9:50
safety at that location. Reducing the speed limit
9:53
like say posting it at a 40 kilometer an hour
9:56
or 50 kilometer an hour that is a regulatory
9:59
sign that is used to control speed and that would
10:02
not remove any liability it would marginally
10:06
marginally improve safety because some traffic
10:08
would would slow down um but it's still that
10:11
hazard still exists within the clear zone but
10:15
Reducing the speed limit, in my opinion, it still
10:18
has minor improvements, but the liability risks
10:23
are still there with the municipality as far
10:26
as insurance implications, but there is a marginal
10:29
increase in safety with the reduction of... reduced
10:32
or with a reduced speed. Wagga spoke about motorists
10:35
not following speed limits. We collect data on
10:38
our roads and design speed or the clear zone
10:41
distance is defined by the operating speed which
10:44
is the 85th percentile of traffic and we take
10:49
that even even at a posted 50 the design speed
10:53
might come in around 70 if people aren't really
10:56
slowing down. those trees are still within that
10:59
clear zone with that distance and still have
11:01
the hazard. An argument could be made that should
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there an incident occur that council's not liable,
11:09
the county may still be liable, but staff and
11:12
council wouldn't be liable because they made
11:14
an engineering decision and there was a rationale
11:16
to lower speed there. But again, you're looking
11:21
at That grove of trees is the real issue and
11:25
problem because they are so close to the road.
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There's still a huge risk there. According to
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the TAC manual, the operating speed would have
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to be less than 50 kilometers an hour to remove
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the trees from liability that are three meters
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and greater. Any tree that is three meters or
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less, which is that seven of the nine trees in
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the grove, we we're not removing any liability
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from the uh from the municipality regardless
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of speed. Typically what we what we see in our
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roads is if you post a speed at 80 people are
12:00
driving 15 to 20 kilometers above that if you
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post the speed at 60 people are driving 10 to
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15 kilometers above that um except in your your
12:10
urban higher urban areas um out there again people
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drive what they're feel, what the feel of the
12:18
road is and what they're expected to drive. You
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could post that at 30 and still have speeds of
12:24
70. The clear zone calculation and liability
12:27
is then calculated by the actual speeds and I
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just don't think they would come down low enough
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regardless of whatever we post out there. Waggers
12:34
spoke about speed enforcement and the work staff
12:36
would do to implement the speed reduction. We
12:39
would notify the OPP that there's a new signage
12:42
going in. We'd change our bylaw. We worked with
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the OPP at our TAC. They would assign officers
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because it's a newly created zone. So I would
12:54
expect increased enforcement. That said... enforcement
12:59
is only available on the available officers that
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are in the area. The location of that, it's tough
13:07
to get out there and then respond to other calls
13:09
and other needed areas. So I do expect increased
13:12
enforcement and I can see increased enforcement.
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I would caution that it's not going to be the
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enforcement that the public would be looking
13:20
for and complaints and wanting enforcement would
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increase. Calvert spoke about putting a guardrail
13:25
in front of the tree on County Road 41. I've
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been out there I've looked at it and I fully
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believe it can be saved by throwing a guardrail
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up there for that one. You know the one and a
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half meter protection zones there for the guardrail
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I don't see why there can't be a guardrail put
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up to protect that tree. They did cut one of
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the other trees down recently about the same
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size and shape that had some issues but that
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tree is... in my opinion is 100 % healthy and
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worth looking after. Waggers spoke about why
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they chose to remove the trees on County Road
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5. They are very similar to the grove of trees
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on County Road 9. In fact I think the one is
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even even closer than most of them. So it's just
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these three trees that we're recommending removal
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of. Should there be any wet condition or... A
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driver not paying attention or any incidents
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on the road, these trees are right in your line
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of sight and again are a safety hazard due to
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the proximity and within the clear zone. For
14:24
Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
14:26
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
14:30
News. Loyalist Township Council agreed to proclaim
14:41
October 21st, 2026 as the 26th Annual Child Care
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Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation
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Day. The day is in recognition of the education,
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dedication, and commitment of child care workers
14:53
to children, their families, and quality of life
14:55
within their community. The proclamation request
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noted that trained and knowledgeable registered
15:00
early childhood educators are the key to quality
15:03
in early years and child care programs. It stated
15:05
that early learning and child care promotes the
15:08
well -being of and responds to the needs of families
15:10
as well as the broader community by supporting
15:13
quality of life. Each year, the day is proclaimed
15:15
by the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care,
15:18
the Canadian Union of Public Employees, as well
15:20
as municipalities and school boards across Ontario.
15:23
The day is marked by hundreds of child care centres,
15:26
unions and allies. Councillor Paul Proderick
15:28
showed his support for proclaiming the day. Having
15:31
spent 30 years in education, this is a... core
15:35
group both within the school system and within
15:38
child care that are vastly underpaid and underappreciated
15:41
at times, but their contribution to youth is,
15:45
it can't be measured. For Amherst Island Radio
15:47
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
15:50
Evans. This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township
16:03
Council approved the extension of the Loyalist
16:05
Link pilot program to September 3rd, 2027. This
16:09
will maintain uninterrupted service while the
16:11
Township waits for the outcome of their Ontario
16:14
Transit Infrastructure Fund application. Funding
16:16
for the extension will be provided through provincial
16:19
gas tax allocations as well as fares. Beginning
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in September, the current 90A -90B service will
16:25
transition to a single connector route linking
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Bath, Odessa and Millhaven to the WJ Henderson
16:30
hub. will align with the planned shift for Kingston
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Transit Route 10 to 30 minute intervals. According
16:36
to staff, the combined ridership of the two Loyalist
16:38
link routes was over 9 ,600 in 2025 and continues
16:42
to grow. Staff are looking to improve coverage,
16:44
flexibility, and cost efficiency. They will be
16:47
reporting back to council with updated financial
16:49
projections and service performance metrics following
16:52
the release of the funding decision. Director
16:54
of Community and Customer Services Lori McFarland
16:57
noted plans for the future. There is plans to
17:00
increase ridership. You know, we're trying to
17:04
do that. Hopefully, you know, through the as
17:09
presented, we're looking at on demand, which
17:12
could bring some efficiencies. and might increase
17:16
ridership as well. Director of Corporate Services
17:18
Strategy and Innovation Jenna Campbell spoke
17:21
about waiting for the outcome of the funding
17:22
decision. We are limited right now in some of
17:25
our actions that we can take while we're waiting
17:28
to have the final OTF application submitted to
17:31
the province because we have to remain in pilot
17:35
status. some of those opportunities may come
17:41
to fruition a little bit more in terms of encouraging
17:43
the growth of the ridership and that sort of
17:45
thing. Once we have an idea of whether we'll
17:47
be receiving that funding. Councillor Paul Broderick
17:50
showed his support for the program. I remember
17:52
going out for a early morning ride with director
17:55
Campbell around the the first few weeks and sort
17:59
of thinking we're going to be the only two on
18:01
here. But the data supports some growth. And
18:04
I think that was the original thing we were worried
18:06
about was Would people come thinking, oh, this
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is only going to last a year. You know, we're
18:11
not going to change our habits, but I think we're
18:13
heading in the right direction. And this is one
18:16
thing I'm really proud this council has done
18:18
is looked into that. And I hope that we can continue
18:20
this down the road. I think it's a viable service.
18:23
And through personal experience, anytime you
18:26
can get my kid on public transit, we're doing
18:28
something right. For Amherst Island Radio and
18:31
the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
18:34
This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township will
18:45
be recognizing October 10th, 2026 as National
18:49
Dental Care Day. Council heard from founder of
18:51
the day, Dr. Raj Kanuja, who spoke about the
18:54
importance of improving access to oral health
18:56
care. Kanuja explains how and why he started
18:58
the initiative. National Dental Care Day started
19:01
from one simple moment. Years ago, I met a single
19:05
mother who was living with severe dental pain.
19:08
She avoided treatment because she could not afford
19:11
it. She told me she was saving every dollar she
19:15
had so she could keep a promise to buy used hockey
19:19
equipment for her child. She chose her child
19:22
over herself. That moment stayed with me because
19:26
dental pain is not just about teeth. It affects
19:29
confidence, sleep, work, mental health. and dignity.
19:34
That is why National Dental Care Day was created.
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Kanuja speaks about how the initiative has grown
19:40
and notes numbers from last year. What started
19:43
as one free dental day has now grown into a national
19:47
movement after 13 years of volunteer care. Last
19:51
year alone, 219 Canadians received care across
19:55
the country through volunteer clinics. and professionals.
19:59
National Dental Care Day was proclaimed by 25
20:02
municipalities, three premiers, and two lieutenant
20:06
governors. It was also spoken about in the Senate
20:10
of Canada by Senator Muhammad Iqbal Rawalia and
20:14
entered into the Hansard Parliamentary record.
20:18
National Dental Care Day mobilizes volunteer
20:20
dental professionals, students, clinics, educators
20:23
and community partners across Canada to provide
20:26
essential dental care to underserved individuals
20:28
and families without cost, barriers or judgment.
20:32
The initiative emphasizes the importance of oral
20:34
health as an essential component of overall health
20:36
and well -being. Kanuja explains the importance
20:38
of bringing National Dental Care Day to more
20:41
communities. The need for dental care is not
20:44
limited to one city. or one region. It exists
20:48
dentistry is expensive and care forces many people
20:55
t teeth, hide their smile a Loyalist Township
21:18
Council has agreed to a request made by the Odessa
21:21
Agricultural Society to waive fees for emergency
21:24
services at the tractor pole and demolition derby
21:27
during the Odessa Fair taking place July 24th
21:30
to 26th. Secretary and volunteer with the society
21:34
Stephanie Gimo spoke about the fair and the increase
21:37
in costs. The Odessa Fair has been a staple of
21:40
Odessa for 191 years and has traditionally relied
21:44
on emergency fire services at no cost to us for
21:48
fair events. This bylaw is a drastic increase
21:51
to our budget that we had not foreseen. As a
21:54
non -profit volunteer run organization, we do
21:58
not have the reserve funds to cover the substantial
22:01
cost increase to operate these community favourite
22:04
events at the annual fair. Gimo noted the breakdown
22:08
of costs for emergency services. Deputy Chief
22:11
Grenham stated that the Agricultural Society
22:14
would be required to pay for the fire emergency
22:17
services for the tractor pull and demolition
22:20
derby at the annual Odessa Fair taking place
22:24
July 24th to 26th. Based on the hours the fire
22:27
department was required for these events in 2025,
22:32
the cost would be $8 ,472 .20 for the tractor
22:37
pull and $3 ,230 .52 for the demolition derby,
22:44
totaling $11 ,000. 703 .20. These fees include
22:49
the MTO's apparatus hourly rate and the hourly
22:53
wage of each firefighter for these events. Alongside
22:57
partnering with the Township for events like
22:59
Trunk or Treat, Gimo spoke about how proceeds
23:01
from the fair are used and how important the
23:04
agricultural grounds are for the community. The
23:06
proceeds from the fair enable the Agricultural
23:09
Society to continue to maintain the agricultural
23:12
grounds and its buildings. The grounds offer
23:15
a park community to enjoy and th is a space for
23:20
the communi The Lions Club prepares th in this
23:24
space and free ev such as see and learn are grounds.
23:30
With the origina being to receive the deleg the
23:35
society. Counselor Ja added the motion to waiv
23:38
move that council receiv request from the Odessa
23:42
A and to approve the request for waiver of emergency
23:47
services fees. So moved. Do I have a seconder?
23:50
Councillor Buhlgaard. NS noted possible funding
23:52
options for the future. I think it's a long -standing
23:55
event, a community event that we're supporting.
23:59
And I think perhaps if we support it this year,
24:03
the organization could look to the community
24:05
grant fund in the future as a possibility. But
24:09
I think it's a long -standing event that we...
24:11
to continue to support. Councillor Mike Budarek
24:13
spoke about the importance of supporting events
24:15
like the fair in the community. I believe, too,
24:18
that we should support anything that gets people
24:21
in our community out and such a long -standing
24:23
tradition of the Odessa Fair and even the track
24:27
pool is fantastic. Great crowds and it's great
24:32
to see. people in our community come out and
24:34
support things. Council also asked for a staff
24:36
report to help guide decisions for future events.
24:39
Councillor Paul Proderick noted why they want
24:41
the report. There's no doubt that over the years
24:43
this has been a very valuable, you know, 191
24:46
years and I think that's why all my grandparents
24:48
were at that fair when they lived in Railton.
24:51
And as we sort of move ahead we want to quantify
24:54
things just so we get an overall picture and
24:56
a staff report looking at that for next year
24:58
maybe there's a Back and forth questions that
25:01
can be answered such as, you know, do you really
25:02
need six firefighters or whatever? Things like
25:05
that that can come out of a report. For Amherst
25:07
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
25:10
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. This
25:16
has been North Shore News and Interviews. If
25:19
you have an idea for a story or want to create
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