Latest / North Shore News / November 26th, 2025

Transcript

November 26th, 2025 · North Shore News

0:07
Welcome to North Shore News and Interviews on
0:10
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
0:20
and beyond. Habitat for Humanity has proposed
0:28
building two four -dwelling units in Bath by
0:30
2030. The units would be affordably priced through
0:33
an affordable mortgage structure with the organization.
0:36
According to their report, the organization's
0:38
preliminary cost estimate excluding the land
0:40
would be $1 .4 million per fourplex. Funding
0:44
is to come from government grants, land asset
0:46
contributions, revenue from the organization's
0:49
restore location in Kingston, donations, and
0:52
fundraising events. Mortgage payments are set
0:54
at 25 % of the household's gross income, and
0:57
families are not required to make a down payment.
1:00
As part of the agreement, Habitat for Humanity
1:02
retains a portion of the home's equity, and upon
1:05
resale both the homeowner and organization share
1:07
in any market appreciation. Homeowners would
1:10
also have to contribute 500 hours of volunteer
1:12
work. If plans move forward, the company would
1:15
be asking Loyalist Township for rezoning and
1:17
site plan approvals, as well as exemptions for
1:19
building permit fees, development charges, and
1:22
impost fees. Construction of roads and services
1:25
to the property line would need to take place,
1:27
along with land transfers as well. The company
1:30
noted these builds often involve community volunteers
1:32
and student programs. These partnerships help
1:35
reduce construction costs and provide training
1:37
opportunities. CEO of Habitat for Humanity for
1:40
the Kingston and Limestone area, Gary Lees, explained
1:43
the timeline and what the company is looking
1:45
to contribute. Subject to municipal terms and
1:48
conditions of land transfer, timelines to build,
1:51
permits, etc. One fourplex in 2027. We've built
1:56
this before. We feel confident we can pull the
1:58
build off. It's so nice to build something that
2:00
we've already built. It just makes life a little
2:04
bit easier. So we can pull that off in 2027.
2:07
I'm confident of that. In the second fourplex,
2:09
we are doing 2028, 2030. We'd want to work with
2:12
needs a little bit as well for permitting and
2:15
some of those things. Site servicing, of course,
2:18
is important. Connection to municipal water and
2:21
sanitary and sewer services. Offsite storm. water
2:25
management. All of those things need to get in
2:28
place, of course, but we'll hustle and do our
2:30
part with build. We will enlist volunteers to
2:33
help us with the project, try to keep the costs
2:36
down. Lee spoke about the need for affordable
2:38
housing. Affordable mortgage structure, no down
2:41
payment. It's a big stumbling block for folks
2:43
out there is coming up with that down payment.
2:46
When we're paying high rent and then we need
2:48
to save so that we can put a down payment on
2:52
a home. it's a daunting task and Canadians are
2:55
losing hope and vision of actual affordable homeownership.
3:00
80 % of renters out there right now wish they
3:03
owned their home and that's a wish that's becoming
3:07
very difficult. So the more equity that we can
3:10
create in the home by keeping costs down, by
3:13
donated product using volunteers. Anything that
3:17
we can do to keep those costs down, we reinvest
3:20
in building more affordable home ownership. And
3:23
that's an investment in this country, this township,
3:27
and our vicinity, our whole area. It's one I'm
3:30
very proud of as well. Lee spoke about the materials
3:33
he has available now and the investment they'll
3:35
be making in Loyalist Township. I have containers
3:38
of insulation right now. I have 400 sheets of
3:41
drywall I need to get out of Home Depot's inventory.
3:44
I've got stuff to build homes right here in Loyalist.
3:48
And we just want to tap into that and keep the
3:50
costs down so that when we sell the home to the
3:54
family and then hold that mortgage at zero or
3:56
a portion of the mortgage at zero, we can create
3:59
as much equity as we can so we can reinvest in
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Loyalist and keep this ball rolling with affordable
4:06
homeownership. Lise speaks about the restore
4:08
location in Kingston and the new one opening
4:11
in Napanee. So our restores are social entity
4:13
that generate revenue and we pump that revenue
4:18
back into our home build programs. We are opening
4:20
a second restore in Napanee that opens on January
4:24
1, will soft open on January 1 as well. So we're
4:28
going to book and loyalist and have you'll know
4:31
where to go for your product either in Kingston
4:34
or Napanee. For Amherst Island Radio and the
4:37
Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This
4:41
is North Shore News. Loyalist Township's latest
4:53
draft budget for 2026 shows a residential rate
4:56
increase of 4 .93 percent. The Township held
4:59
its first of three budget meetings as they prepare
5:01
for their 2026 budget. The draft 2026 operating
5:05
budget results in a Township levy requirement
5:07
of almost $24 .6 million. This is a 6 .4 % increase
5:12
from 2025. According to staff's report, the Township
5:15
experienced development in 2025, resulting in
5:18
assessment growth totaling $300 ,000. This growth
5:21
helped reduce the tax rate by 1 .3 % down to
5:24
the currently proposed 4 .93 % increase. The
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Township's Director of Finance and Treasurer,
5:29
David Clasey, explains the increase and notes
5:32
numbers they'll be gathering going forward. When
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it comes to tax rates, I just want to be be clear
5:37
that when we're talking about a 4 .93 % tax increase,
5:42
we're only talking about the township portion
5:45
of a tax bill. And of course, there are three
5:47
components to a tax bill. That being one of the
5:51
components, we then have the Lennox and Addington
5:54
County tax rates, which is also makes up part
5:57
of the bill. And we don't have those rates yet.
5:59
They're generally set early in the spring. So
6:03
once we have those, that will be the next component.
6:06
And then we have the education rates that are
6:08
set by the province. this point. They haven't
6:12
been set yet, but they haven't changed in the
6:14
last two or three years, mainly because there
6:16
hasn't been a reassessment. So we're assuming
6:20
they will probably not change, but we don't have
6:22
that confirmation as of yet. So the conversations
6:24
over the next couple days are just about the
6:27
township portion of that bill. And then once
6:29
we have those other rates confirmed in the future,
6:32
then that'll make up the total of the remainder
6:35
of the bill. Members of the committee voiced
6:36
their concerns about the increase and noted they'd
6:39
like to see it under 4%. Councillor Lorna Willis
6:42
shared her thoughts. I appreciate the work the
6:44
staff have done and I can tell that a lot of
6:46
pencil sharpening was done before this budget
6:48
was brought to us. I still do choke a bit at
6:52
4 .93 % in a year when people are very much struggling
6:57
just to buy groceries and things like that. Though
7:01
I understand, too, that we have to continue to
7:04
offer services and follow through on all of the
7:07
master plans that we've done and things like
7:09
that. Councillor Mike Buderich spoke about the
7:11
rate increase and suggested more discussion along
7:13
with more public engagement. Under four would
7:15
be ideal. I think we could, as council, could
7:18
take some time to maybe throw some email suggestions
7:20
back to as we let this sink in. Think to the
7:25
community itself on what they're actually looking
7:27
for and see where we might be able to cut. Councillor
7:30
Carroll -Park spoke about keeping it under 4
7:32
% as well. I agree with my colleagues. I think
7:35
coming under 4 % is where we need to be. Councillor
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Paul Proderick noted the difficulty in prioritizing
7:40
items on the budget. Maybe look at some of the
7:42
low priority items that could be eliminated because
7:45
obviously if we have a scale and so on there's
7:48
going to be some that and I think the problem
7:50
probably with the low priority items are going
7:52
to be small dollar values but maybe if they could
7:54
go back and look at maybe that and maybe a one
7:58
or two of sort of the medium proposals just to
8:00
get an idea if we can get down to that magic
8:03
number that some of us are talking about under
8:05
four. Mayor Jim Hagedorn noted the hard work
8:07
staff did putting the budget together. After
8:09
talking to staff we realized quickly that this
8:12
is a hard budget to bring forward. There have
8:15
been a lot of increases in costs and trying to
8:20
keep the increase tax rate at a reasonable rate
8:24
did take a lot of work. But the work was done.
8:27
Staff worked very hard to identify areas to be
8:31
able to trim and be able to bring forward the
8:35
budget that they did. Hagedorn noted the impact
8:37
of the township's newly appointed strong mayor
8:39
powers. Strong mayor powers were given to Loyalist
8:43
Township this year. And as a result, I did work
8:50
with staff more than what I normally would have
8:53
during the development of this budget. We mostly,
8:58
just to discuss, and also I did provide some
9:01
direction and suggestions where applicable, trying
9:05
to make it as streamlined as possible. and with
9:08
the strong mayor powers, one of the things that
9:10
we wanted to do was keep it as traditional as
9:12
possible while still meeting all of the requirements
9:15
of the legislation. I believe we've done that
9:18
following the typical process the best we can.
9:21
Some of the terminology will be a little different
9:23
with amendments and things like that, but I really
9:28
hope that we are able to have good discussions
9:30
and amendments if needed. Claisy explained removing
9:35
capital projects won't affect the tax rate. If
9:37
there was any of those projects that were the
9:40
council wanted to remove, then that funding would
9:42
stay in the capital reserve and be there for
9:44
future years. So I just wanted to make that clarification
9:47
as there's been a couple comments about looking
9:49
at capital projects, which we can do, but I just
9:53
want to be clear that that wouldn't necessarily
9:54
have a direct impact on the 4 .93%. Klazee speaks
9:58
about funding for the W .J. Henderson Recreation
10:01
Centre. We have an additional 674 ,000 built
10:05
in for staffing and programming at the Henderson
10:08
Community Centre. And again, that's based on
10:13
the expansion that's gone on there with the arena
10:16
now being operational full time. And it also
10:20
looks at staffing for the pool coming on midway
10:25
through 2026. So while that's a big number in
10:29
staffing, it's also important to note that we
10:31
do have a fair amount of additional revenue coming
10:34
in in terms of user fees and rental fees to offset
10:37
that. So it's not the full hit, but there is
10:40
some definitely investment in that. The draft
10:43
budget also showed an increase of $40 ,000 to
10:46
the Township's Family Physician Recruitment Incentive
10:48
Program to accommodate the signing of two additional
10:51
physicians. Deputy Mayor Nathan Townand explains
10:54
staff's next steps going forward. There's a number
10:56
of things staff want to do in the background
10:59
to present to council, to committee at our next
11:04
meeting. But what would be helpful for staff
11:06
right now is any general thoughts, directions
11:10
from committee of things that people want to
11:13
see, information people would like to see in
11:16
more detail, things that committee would like
11:19
staff to bring back. So general. thoughts and
11:22
perceptions so that staff can gear their work
11:25
for our next meeting. Staff will return to council
11:27
with updates at their next budget meeting scheduled
11:29
for November 26th. For Amherst Island Radio and
11:33
the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
11:37
This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township Council
11:48
heard from Carbon Free Technology, an Ontario
11:51
-based company looking to build a new solar project
11:53
in Millhaven. The company presented plans to
11:56
council noting the project would include a community
11:58
benefits agreement. It would also look to increase
12:00
local tax revenue and contribute to the province's
12:02
grid reliability. The project looks to use up
12:05
to 20 acres of fenced -in land that is over one
12:08
kilometer away from residences. Before moving
12:10
forward, the company is looking to engage with
12:12
the public and local groups. VP and legal for
12:15
the company, Emma Coyle, explain the company's
12:17
next steps going forward. We've begun neighborhood
12:20
canvasing. We have a public meeting on November
12:23
24th. The First Nation Partnership, we do have
12:26
the support of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.
12:29
We don't yet have the official resolution from
12:31
them, but we fully expect for that to be finalized.
12:36
On November 26th, there will be a staff report
12:39
to council with respect to the project. And on
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December 9th, we'll be coming back. with a request
12:45
for a municipal support resolution with respect
12:47
to this project. VP in engineering and special
12:49
projects for the company, Meghadsami, noted the
12:52
different approaches they're taking in community
12:54
engagement. Through the website, we've already
12:56
received a comment or a query and we've engaged
12:59
with that party already and had a few phone calls
13:04
and we've been trying to arrange a longer discussion
13:09
as well. So it might take a few different approaches.
13:13
Carbon -free technology has projects worldwide
13:15
and has worked on projects locally as well. In
13:18
2015, the company was a development partner to
13:20
Samsung for Kingston Solar. For Amherst Island
13:23
Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm
13:26
Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. Loyalist
13:38
Township announced the lap pool in the new Aquatic
13:40
Centre located inside the WJ Henderson Community
13:43
Centre has been sponsored by Latham Pools. The
13:46
new name, the Latham Lap Pool, will be used in
13:48
Township marketing materials and signage adjacent
13:51
to the pool. The Township officially entered
13:53
into an agreement with Latham to recognize their
13:55
significant donation to the W .J. Henderson Revitalization
13:58
Campaign. The gift agreement is for $75 ,000
14:01
over a 10 -year period. Latham is the largest
14:04
designer and manufacturer of in -ground residential
14:06
swimming pools in North America. The company
14:09
officially opened its state -of -the -art manufacturing
14:11
facility in Loyalist in May of 2023. The plant
14:14
is the company's largest fiberglass facility
14:16
to date and serves markets across eastern Canada
14:19
as well as parts of the United States. The plant
14:21
created over a hundred jobs locally. Staff noted
14:24
they were grateful that Latham is continuing
14:26
their investment in the region. CAO Rebecca Murphy
14:28
showed her appreciation. We're very grateful
14:30
for Latham Pools to be sponsoring the lap pool
14:34
so it will be the Latham Lap Pool and we're very
14:37
excited that our organizations in our community
14:40
are stepping up and being part of this. wonderful
14:45
community center that we're building. Councillor
14:47
Paul Prodereck spoke about the significance of
14:49
the company's donation. We've had several meetings
14:51
with Latham over and tour there that appreciate
14:54
their commitment given the current economic downturn,
14:58
I guess I would say in many communities and it's
15:01
every little bit helps. Latham will also be recognized
15:03
in a prominent position on the donor wall inside
15:06
the center. For Amherst Island Radio and the
15:09
Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This
15:12
is North Shore News. Township has announced the
15:23
new name for the Aquatic Centre at the W .J.
15:25
Henderson Community Centre. Through a gift agreement
15:28
for naming rights with Barr Homes and a $250
15:30
,000 donation from the company, the space will
15:33
be named the Barr Homes Aquatic Centre. Council
15:35
approved the 10 -year agreement at their latest
15:37
meeting. CAO Rebecca Murphy spoke about the agreement
15:40
with Barr Homes. Barr Homes has agreed to sign
15:43
on, be a major donor in the Tier 3 category,
15:46
to name the Aquatic Centre at... at the facility
15:50
at the WJ. This is very great. We're very gracious
15:53
and very thankful to Barr for stepping up and
15:56
being part of this vital community project. And
16:00
we're excited to be naming it and recommending
16:02
that it be named the Barr Homes Aquatic Centre.
16:05
The renewal of the entire center has been a large
16:07
ongoing project for the township. The revitalization
16:10
campaign was approved by council on December
16:11
10th, 2024, with a goal of raising $2 million.
16:15
The new space will feature an eight lane 25 meter
16:17
pool, a new warm water leisure pool, updates
16:20
to arena infrastructure, enhanced accessibility,
16:23
updated change rooms, green energy upgrades,
16:25
and a new indigenous legacy space in partnership
16:28
with the Downey Wenjack Fund. Residents can expect
16:31
to see the new name used in township marketing
16:33
materials. It will be displayed inside on the
16:35
west wall of the space as well as a location
16:37
on the exterior of the building to be agreed
16:39
on at a later date. Barr Homes will also be recognized
16:42
on the donor wall to be located in the atrium
16:44
of the building. Barr Homes has over 70 years
16:47
of history in the construction industry within
16:49
Kingston and the surrounding areas. According
16:51
to the company, they build approximately 60 homes
16:54
annually in Kingston and Loyalist Township. For
16:57
Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
16:59
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
17:03
News. Deputy Mayor of Loyalist Township Nathan
17:13
Townand announced that a town hall meeting scheduled
17:16
for November 12th on Amherst Island will be postponed.
17:19
The new date is tentatively planned for Monday,
17:21
December 8th. While noting residents' concerns
17:24
about the ferry, Townand said there are several
17:26
things in the works right now that will likely
17:27
be greeted as good news but are not yet finalized
17:30
or are awaiting confirmation. Townand noted one
17:32
of the things in the works is a new pay system
17:34
for the ferry. Out of respect for Island residents,
17:37
Townand noted that a better, more informed discussion
17:39
can be had if staff have more time. Townand also
17:42
noted he'll be available in the meantime for
17:44
questions. For Amherst Island Radio and the Local
17:47
Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is
17:51
North Shore News. Loyalist Township will be accepting
18:02
naming ideas for street names in the area until
18:05
December 31st. The Township's commemorative street
18:08
naming program gives residents the chance to
18:10
put forward suggestions that celebrate the people,
18:12
places, and stories that make the community unique.
18:15
Approved names will be added to the Township's
18:17
road registry for future developments. Learn
18:19
more and submit ideas at Loyalist .ca. For Amherst
18:23
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
18:26
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. Loyalists
18:37
Township has announced that their annual holiday
18:39
celebration, Light Up the Season, will be returning
18:41
on Saturday, November 29th from 3 p .m. to 5
18:44
p .m. at Fairfield Park, 4574 Bath Road in Amherst
18:48
View. Admission and all activities are free and
18:51
no registration is required. This festive family
18:54
-friendly event will include wagon rides, festive
18:56
music, milk and cookies, hot chocolate, marshmallow
18:59
roasting, ornament making, and visits with Santa
19:01
and his reindeer. Lights in the park will continue
19:04
to shine nightly until February. Guests are encouraged
19:06
to park at the W .J. Henderson Community Center
19:09
and take advantage of the free shuttle service
19:11
running every 15 minutes starting at 2 .45 p
19:14
.m. Parking at Fairfield Park is reserved for
19:16
accessible parking only, and parking along Highway
19:18
33 is not permitted. For more information, visit
19:21
loyalist .ca slash events. For Amherst Island
19:24
Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm
19:27
Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. Torrent
19:39
Productions is returning to Lennox and Addington
19:41
with their second annual Merry Magical Pantomime.
19:44
This year the company is presenting Jack and
19:46
the Beans Talk, a Merry Magical Pantomime. Shows
19:49
will take place at the hall at Emmanuel United
19:51
Church, 63 Factory Street in Odessa. It will
19:54
be premiering Tuesday, December 23rd at 7 p .m.
19:57
and run for 15 shows until January 4th. Established
20:01
in 2008, Torrent Productions is a professional
20:03
theatre company composed of Rob Tor and Stephanie
20:05
Graham. They've developed and produced new musicals
20:07
at the Toronto Fringe Festival and Next Stage
20:09
Theatre Festival in Toronto, as well as an annual
20:12
holiday pantomime in Toronto from 2016 to 2019.
20:15
Both Tor and Graham have extensive theatre credits
20:17
from the Stratford Festival, Charlottetown Festival,
20:20
Neptune Theatre, Theatre Aquarius, Mirvish Productions,
20:23
Thousand Islands Playhouse, and many other companies
20:26
across Canada. Most recently, Graham was the
20:28
co -director and choreographer of the sold -out
20:30
run of Mary Poppins at Thousand Islands Playhouse.
20:33
Tor has spent seven seasons as a performer at
20:35
Thousand Islands Playhouse, as well as many other
20:37
theatres across the country. For showtimes and
20:39
more information, visit torrentproductions .com.
20:42
T -O -R -R -E -N -T productions dot com. For
20:46
Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
20:48
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
20:52
News. This has been North Shore News and Interviews.
20:57
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