Latest / North Shore News / October 9th, 2026

Transcript

October 9th, 2026 · 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. Greater Napanee Council decided against
0:28
adding Springside Park and the new in -town trails
0:30
to the town's sensitive use area. The matter
0:33
was brought to Council in September by Councillor
0:35
Bill Martin, who said the town should act immediately.
0:38
Martin noted the designation in other areas.
0:40
Our beautiful Springside Park down there is visited
0:44
by so many visitors every day. And I know that's
0:47
for a fact. I've been down there seven days a
0:49
week, twice a day. I try to get down there and
0:52
monitor what's going on. And I do agree that
0:56
Conservation Park needs a designation of sensitive
0:58
use area. And I also agree Lions Park did. But
1:02
what's happened is the problem hasn't been solved.
1:05
It's been moved from Conservation Park down to
1:09
Springside Park. Martin explained his stance.
1:12
People shouldn't have to live like that. And
1:15
I'm not suggesting that we are mean to the homeless
1:18
people in the encampments, because I'd like to
1:22
get them help. But as we all know, the province,
1:26
the county, wherever you want to go, the federal
1:28
government, they've got to downstream some resources
1:33
to us, because we can't do it. The town will
1:35
not be reviewing their encampment by -law until
1:38
next term. Members of staff and council noted
1:40
two ongoing appeals in Ontario in which the outcomes
1:43
will have impacts provincially and locally. Manager
1:45
of Legislative Services and Municipal Clerk Jessica
1:48
Walters spoke about encampments in the area.
1:51
Overall, in 2026, we were seeing higher numbers
1:53
than we saw in 2025, which was higher numbers
1:57
than we saw in 2024. We continue to see our largest
2:00
spike in August and then a slow decline through
2:03
the winter. We expect that we will probably see
2:08
our December numbers higher again this year than
2:11
last year, just based on the larger unhoused
2:15
population that we have in our community compared
2:17
to last year. But we are still seeing that same
2:20
trend where our numbers peak in August and then
2:23
start to go down as the weather turns cooler.
2:25
We also know that... With the warming center
2:29
opening on November 1st, we will see a change
2:31
in how encampments are located in the community
2:34
when that happens as well. The case law in Canada
2:39
regarding unhoused individuals' right to shelter
2:42
is still in a bit of a holding state. There are
2:45
two appeals outstanding that have the potential
2:48
to impact our ability to enforce encampments
2:52
on public property. There was a case in Hamilton
2:55
where the outcome of that case was to determine
2:58
that Hamilton could ban daytime camping in their
3:03
parks, although they had to permit overnight
3:04
camping. That decision was appealed. The appeal
3:08
has been heard. A decision has not yet been rendered.
3:11
Waterloo earlier this year had a case where the
3:14
finding was that the city could not or the region
3:17
could not clear an encampment because they had
3:19
not provided any alternate place for those individuals
3:22
to go. That decision is being appealed by the
3:26
region and the province has requested intervener
3:29
status. No date has been set yet for that hearing,
3:32
so we don't know when to expect the outcome of
3:36
that decision, but we do expect that that decision
3:39
will have a significant impact on how we approach
3:41
encampments. At this point, we know that we can
3:44
expect either change or clarity, but we don't
3:49
have a timeline for when we can expect that,
3:51
which does make it challenging to try to determine
3:54
what our position should be in the interim. Mayor
3:57
Terry Richardson spoke about the appeals and
3:59
their impact. The Superior Court decision in
4:01
Hamilton has been heard by the Ontario Court
4:05
of Appeal. And so we're just waiting on a decision
4:07
which could come tomorrow, could come next week,
4:10
could come next year. The decision... with respect
4:14
to the Waterloo Region matter, was accepted.
4:17
The province of Ontario has partnered up with
4:20
Waterloo Regional to, for better lack of word
4:23
and policing terms, take a run at the Superior
4:27
Court decision that's outstanding in Waterloo.
4:31
We're knee deep into case law. We're knee deep
4:34
into waiting on decisions from other levels of...
4:36
Government, I guess, is the best way to put it.
4:38
But with respect to conflicting decisions, we're
4:41
expecting some decisions here in the not too
4:43
distant future in order to add possibly some
4:46
clarity with respect to the homeless situation.
4:49
CAO Matthew Grant noted the current situation.
4:52
If there is not enough shelter in a community,
4:54
the courts have deemed that individuals have
4:57
a constitutional right, a charter right, to shelter
4:59
themselves. And Napanee has no shelter space
5:03
at the moment. Also key in the case for the city
5:07
of Hamilton was that the bar to require enough
5:12
shelter for everyone when those numbers are continually
5:14
changing and growing was an unreasonable bar
5:16
descent. And that the judge deemed that it was
5:20
an infringement on property rights to allow no
5:22
management of park space at all. And I would
5:25
say what they found was a compromised position
5:29
where people have the right to shelter themselves
5:32
at night, but they don't have the right to live
5:35
there continually. I think there's a lot of eyes
5:37
on that, both of those case laws, because I could
5:40
dramatically change the reality as we know it.
5:43
Grant went on to speak about widespread effects.
5:46
With respect to Kingston or other municipalities,
5:48
I think it's also important to note that any
5:52
court case decision that happens for municipalities
5:55
doesn't just apply to that municipality, it applies
5:57
to every municipality. So people tend to be quite
6:02
careful about the steps they're taking. There's
6:06
a lot of preparation and making any changes.
6:09
And there's also the awareness that any step
6:13
we take is going to impact our neighbors. Grant
6:16
noted the amount of work staff could be undertaking.
6:19
There is both what the court allows and what
6:21
a municipality is able to do. So should a case
6:25
law be upheld where it prevented daytime camping,
6:28
we could, in essence, be able to ask people to
6:31
move along from public spaces and return in the
6:34
evening. What I can tell you is in Hamilton,
6:38
the ability to do that was a massive, massive
6:43
undertaking. A huge resource was required to
6:47
do that. So I would say that the solution that
6:53
we've come up with in terms of like distances
6:56
and conservation park being off limits is within
7:00
our resource areas. And should we decide to move
7:05
in a different direction, I would need to have
7:06
a resource conversation. Martin spoke about complaints
7:09
he's received. I also have... the residents up
7:12
on Palace Road to think about and their rights.
7:16
They pay taxes. The residents up on up on the
7:19
hill from Springside Park all along Palace Road
7:22
from Highway 2 over to Centre Street. There's
7:27
an area in through there and Bracken Street area
7:29
is right there too. I get numerous calls from
7:32
there and I certainly don't blame them and part
7:36
of my job is understanding what's going on and
7:40
for them to contact me as well. I mean, our bylaw
7:43
doesn't work at night and OPP doesn't administer
7:48
our bylaws. The problems happen at night, loud
7:51
music, profane language, under control fires.
7:55
The problem is once everybody's back is turned,
7:58
the fireman's back is turned, our bylaws back
8:00
are turned. The activity that goes on at night
8:03
is not fair to the residents up top of that hill.
8:05
It's not fair to visitors that come to our park.
8:08
Martin went on to note the importance of Springside
8:10
Park. We've got residents in this area that used
8:14
to take their children down to the park. They
8:16
used to walk their dog down the park. People
8:18
jogged there. And now I'm getting comments like,
8:22
well, we don't go there anymore because we're
8:24
scared. We're intimidated. I'm afraid my child
8:29
is going to step on a discarded needle. And all
8:31
I'm saying is, Springside Park needs our attention.
8:35
Springside Park is just as important and even
8:38
more important than Conservation Park. There's
8:41
a lot more visitors to our park there daily than
8:43
there is at Conservation Park. And as far as
8:46
the new trail is concerned, I'm also concerned
8:48
that encampments are going to find that an easy
8:52
area to encamp as well. Councilor Bob Norrie
8:55
shared his thoughts on Springside Park. It has
8:58
cleaned up a bit, but all summer. I like Councillor
9:01
Martin. I've been down there a lot. People avoided
9:03
going. I know my neighbours, they have grandchildren.
9:06
They didn't go down there. They don't go down
9:08
there. Wedding pictures, all this. It's a tourist
9:10
area, so it should just be right off limits.
9:13
I'm sorry, but it's too important of an area,
9:15
the beautiful area, and the taxpayers should
9:16
be allowed to use it with their grandchildren.
9:18
That's my feeling. Deputy Mayor Brian Calvert
9:20
spoke about the park and not rushing into a decision.
9:23
Every day when I come into town, every night
9:25
before I leave town, and if I have to come back
9:27
in for something else, we go there as well. I
9:31
still do see people using the park, but I agree
9:35
we should soon be looking at. I don't think we
9:38
want to rush it. We've got to get it right. But
9:40
it has cleaned up a lot more this year than other
9:43
years. But I mean, you go down there at any given
9:46
time at lunchtime and you have a hard time getting
9:48
park to be able to eat your lunch because there
9:50
are people using it. There are people walking
9:52
it. Yes, people are some people are saying they're
9:55
afraid, but. I mean, this is unfortunately the
9:59
new world we're in. But I think we do need to
10:01
look at it. Would it be great to get all of Springside
10:04
Park clear? Yes. We now have data. We know how
10:07
much money we've spent to clean up the messes
10:10
and so on and so forth to try to get more area
10:13
clear. We need to work, have more work done on
10:16
our encampment protocol, which is working. Seems
10:18
we've had other municipalities reaching out with
10:21
what we've done in the past. So I just don't
10:24
want to rush into it. I'd like staff to take
10:26
their time and can get it right. Councillor Angela
10:29
Hicks noted the activity in Springside Park and
10:31
recognized public concern. I was down at Springside
10:35
Park, couldn't get a parking spot. I had a very
10:37
unhappy granddaughter in the back, so I sat and
10:41
waited and got that situation sorted out. But
10:44
as I was there, like I sort of looked around
10:47
and I thought, what, what is everyone talking
10:49
about? There were people, there were kids, there
10:51
were people fishing, there was people walking
10:54
up and down right next to the falls, they were
10:56
walking down the road, there were kids over in
10:59
the skateboard, the pizza truck was busy, there
11:01
was so many people out enjoying the day and enjoying
11:05
their community. It was like I was in a different
11:08
town, like when I actually stopped and thought
11:10
about it, I thought I didn't see any of this.
11:13
I understand that the people on Palace Road do
11:16
have issues, the same issues were experienced
11:19
over in Conservation Park. People that did not
11:22
sleep for nights at a time slept in shifts in
11:25
absolute terror that their house was going to
11:27
burn down in the middle of the night from uncontrolled
11:29
fires. I understand, but I don't think rushing
11:33
this in two weeks is going to help the situation
11:38
either because then something gets missed. Richardson
11:40
spoke about the town's current encampment bylaw.
11:43
The encampment bylaw that we have looked at the
11:47
total of the community. and we come up with some
11:51
very viable ways to protect the most sensitive
11:54
areas of our community. Again, is it perfect?
11:58
Absolutely not. It's not perfect. We know that.
12:01
Is it the best we got right now? Probably is,
12:04
especially in the light of much larger municipalities
12:08
trying to sort this matter out at the highest
12:11
levels of court in this province. We have spent
12:15
an inordinate amount of time coming up with a
12:19
plan, albeit not the best plan. The best plan
12:24
would be have nobody in our parks. But we've
12:26
come up with something that we feel is something
12:29
that we're not going to get challenged on. And
12:31
as I say that somebody will challenge us tomorrow.
12:33
But I think it's very defensible that the plan
12:35
that we have, I think, at least in my humble
12:39
opinion, that the direction that we're on in
12:42
reviewing the sensitive area matters. holistically
12:46
for all of the community as opposed to cherry
12:48
picking certain areas. As a municipality, I don't
12:52
think we're in a hurry to start to cherry pick
12:55
certain things without taking into account the
12:58
community as a whole as far as sense of use areas.
13:02
The recorded vote ended three to two, defeating
13:04
the motion. The motion on the floor is that staff
13:07
do not wait until winter or next term to review
13:10
our encampment bylaw. And further, we act immediately
13:12
to add Springside Park and our new in -town trail
13:15
to the sensitive use area. Or two, Councillor
13:18
Hicks? No. Or Councillor Norrie? Yes. Five, Councillor
13:23
Martin? Yes. Oliver? No. Mayor Richardson? No.
13:28
That motion is defeated. For Amherst Island Radio,
13:31
and the Local Journalism Initiative. I'm Ted
13:34
Evans. This is North Shore News. The town of
13:46
Greater Nepany will be revitalizing the Alcorn
13:48
Francis Memorial Soccer Field at 16 McPherson
13:51
Drive. Staff noted the field is a recreation
13:54
asset that supports youth and adult sport programming.
13:57
The project will cost nearly $275 ,000. Director
14:01
of Parks, Recreation and Culture Chris Brown
14:03
noted concerns and how staff are addressing them.
14:05
The field quality has been identified as a concern
14:08
for a number of years due to uneven playing conditions.
14:11
So to address these concerns, town staff met
14:13
with representatives from Belcon Design Builders
14:16
Limited, Willoughly Sod Farms and Kerr Sprinklers
14:19
to develop a rehabilitation strategy. The preferred
14:22
approach focuses on a complete renewal of the
14:24
primary planning surface and installation of
14:27
a permanent irrigation system to protect the
14:29
town's investment and support long -term turf
14:32
health. Brown explained the upgrades. The project
14:35
will upgrade approximately 9 ,000 square meters
14:37
of soccer field area and apron. It'll include
14:40
the relocation of three light posts to expand
14:44
the width of the playing surface, installation
14:46
of a new irrigation system, field grading, regrading,
14:50
and leveling, addition of sand and soil, removal
14:53
of the existing turf surface, installation of
14:56
new Kentucky bluegrass sod, temporary fencing
15:00
and site protection during the field establishment
15:03
and the existing subsurface drainage system has
15:06
been reviewed and is considered functional and
15:08
will remain in place. Operationally, the project
15:13
team's objective is to complete this construction
15:16
during the fall of 2026 to allow for winter dormancy
15:20
and establishment resulting in a playable field
15:23
for spring of 2027. Additional considerations
15:26
include weather -dependent construction activities.
15:29
So the only thing that could potentially hold
15:31
us up is that weather, which we can't predict.
15:35
But everyone involved is super confident that
15:38
we can definitely get this project done in the
15:41
fall this year so that it's ready to play in
15:43
the spring. Brown spoke about the contract for
15:45
the work. Looking at the financial implications,
15:48
the work is being delivered through the Canoe
15:50
Procurement Group of Canada job order contracting
15:52
program. Design Builders Limited serving as the
15:56
primary contractor and project manager. The total
15:59
fixed price work order is for $273 ,416 plus
16:04
applicable taxes. Additionally, Town staff have
16:08
separately procured the relocation of the three
16:10
light posts on the south side of the field to
16:12
ensure the playing surface is FIFA regulation
16:15
size. VAR Electric will perform the work for
16:17
a total of $35 ,000. So the total project cost
16:21
comes to $308 ,416 plus applicable taxes. The
16:26
capital budget for this project in 2026 was only
16:29
$235 ,000 and therefore we have a shortfall of
16:32
$73 ,416 plus applicable taxes. Brown noted future
16:37
upgrades they'll be looking into as well. We're
16:39
looking to add enhancements like spectator bleachers,
16:42
pole padding, permanent fencing, additional signage
16:45
and some backstop netting to go along with the
16:48
improvements that we're making in 2026. Staff's
16:51
intention is to bring these enhancements to council
16:54
during our 2027 budget deliberations. Brown spoke
16:57
about an incident at the field and perimeter
17:00
security. The perimeter security is top of mind.
17:04
Not too long ago, I believe it was the holiday
17:07
weekend in September, we did have a truck drive
17:09
up there and rip a couple donuts. So not a big
17:13
deal right now because no one's playing on it.
17:15
We are going to rehabilitate that turf field,
17:18
but it will be a massive deal once we invest
17:21
in this field. So we do want to put. permanent
17:24
fencing all the way around the perimeter with
17:26
lockable gates so that the field can be opened
17:28
and accessed by people who are actually booking
17:31
the space to use it for the intended purposes.
17:33
That's certainly a high priority for sure and
17:36
we are going to put temporary fencing around
17:39
the perimeter in the meantime to ensure that
17:42
the investment is protected. Mayor Terry Richardson
17:45
spoke about the extra funding. The additional
17:47
funds that we're spending isn't... affecting
17:49
the taxpayer by any stretch of imagination as
17:51
funds that were created or given to us in order
17:54
to do the exact same things that we're doing
17:56
now which is investing in our infrastructure.
17:59
Brown noted the additional funding. This is exactly
18:01
what the community benefit fund is for and so
18:04
staff felt that this was the best use to make
18:07
sure we can get this project over the finish
18:09
line in 2026. Staff's goal is to complete construction
18:12
during the fall of 2026. For Amherst Island Radio
18:16
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
18:18
Evans. This is North Shore News. Greater Napanee
18:31
Council voted three to two against sending a
18:33
letter to Premier Doug Ford urging him to use
18:35
the notwithstanding clause to implement measures
18:38
for encampments and mental health services. The
18:40
motion was brought forward by Councillor Bill
18:42
Martin. Council's vote means they will not be
18:45
sending the letter. Although council members
18:46
agreed the current situation needs attention
18:48
and more funding, they felt this was not the
18:50
right approach nor the right time. Martin spoke
18:53
about his intentions behind the letter. Back
18:55
in May of 2024, The 13, I believe it was 12 or
18:58
13, larger municipalities spoke to Doug Ford,
19:02
Premier, and he requested them put it in writing,
19:05
which they did. What I'm doing here is hopefully
19:08
trying to bring attention back to the very reason
19:12
that they did that back in 2024, just to draw
19:15
further attention to what's going on with the
19:19
encampments. And like I say, I'm not trying to
19:22
harm folks who who need shelter. What I want
19:26
to do is get them help. We need addiction clinics
19:31
and we need emergency shelters. And what I'm
19:35
hoping is us smaller communities can band together
19:39
and we will grab the attention of the premier,
19:43
grab the attention of our MPP. Ministers in the
19:47
provincial government, the county, all have to
19:50
have their feet put to the fire because We cannot
19:54
supply the resources here. We've literally spent
19:57
hundreds of thousands of dollars just this year.
20:01
And I'd like to see Premier Ford use the notwithstanding
20:04
clause if that's necessary to get it done. And
20:07
I think it is. Councillor Angela Hicks spoke
20:10
about the current shortage of mental health services.
20:12
I don't think that this is the right approach.
20:15
I agree 100 % that we should be holding both
20:18
provincial and federal governments the proverbial
20:21
feet to the fire. and where we need the money.
20:24
We here, boots on the ground, dealing with it
20:27
face to face, need the money. But I honestly
20:31
don't think that the notwithstanding clause is
20:33
going to get us where we actually want to be
20:36
to help those people. I really don't think because
20:39
there's no place to send them put them there's
20:42
there's not enough doctors and nurses and psychologists
20:47
and psychiatrists and therapists now to deal
20:50
with people with run -of -the -mill health problems
20:53
let alone addiction. Councillor Bob Norrie noted
20:56
the importance of getting the attention of higher
20:58
levels of government. We have to get the especially
21:00
the federal government's attention I mean they
21:02
can give 80 million to study the oceans and we
21:05
can't look after our homeless. I think we have
21:06
to get their attention and if it's a small wheel
21:09
we got to start squeaking then we start and when
21:11
they see the cost of this stuff maybe they'll
21:13
say okay we can do something. Mayor Terry Richardson
21:15
explained his thoughts on not sending the letter.
21:18
We are now in the throes of waiting for a decision
21:20
from the court of appeal. I just don't think
21:23
this is the right time to be sending this letter
21:25
out. If we want to support the premier two years
21:28
from now if he loses the Ontario Court of Appeal
21:32
decision, that would be the time to do it then.
21:35
I don't think it's going to get the credence
21:36
or the credibility it should get. We need addiction
21:40
treatment centers. We need we need an addiction
21:42
treatment center and virtually every community
21:45
about the population of twenty thousand people
21:47
in this country, because every community about
21:50
the and a lot of them below twenty thousand have
21:53
got substance abuse problems. The ball has been
21:55
dropped and the ball has been dropped decades
21:57
ago, not just years ago. where I do have the
22:01
issue is using a piece of legislation. This is
22:04
a really, really big hammer. The recorded vote
22:07
ended three to two. The motion on the floor is
22:10
that the Council of the Town of Greater Napanee
22:12
send a letter to Premier Doug Ford with copies
22:15
to MPP Rick Brisey, MP Shelby Cramp Newman. County
22:19
of Lenox and Addington and the other 443 municipalities
22:22
of Ontario requesting the following. One, the
22:25
provincial government become an intervener in
22:27
any court case restricting municipalities ability
22:30
to prohibit encampments. Two, strengthen the
22:33
existing system of mandatory community -based
22:35
residential mental health care and expand service
22:38
to treat those who have severe and debilitating
22:40
addictions. 3. Implement a drug and diversion
22:43
court system across the province and ensure that
22:45
there are necessary resources to allow a focus
22:48
on rehabilitation as opposed to incarceration.
22:51
4. To amend the Trespass Property Act to include
22:53
a separate provision for repetitive acts of trespass
22:56
and to permit a police officer to arrest a person
22:59
who commits repetitive acts of trespass after
23:01
being told by police not to engage in such activity.
23:04
These amendments should also include an option
23:06
for referral to a divisional court for charges
23:08
of repetitive trespass. We urge the Premier to
23:11
use the notwithstanding clause to ensure these
23:13
measures are implemented in a timely and effective
23:15
way. Word two, Councillor Hicks. No. Word four,
23:21
Councillor Norrie. Yes. Word five, Councillor
23:24
Martin. Yes. Deputy Mayor Kelver. No. Mayor Richardson.
23:29
No. That motion is defeated. For Amherst Island
23:32
Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm
23:35
Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. Council
23:48
and staff at Loyalist Township are preparing
23:50
for the 2026 fall term of their 2024 to 2027
23:54
strategic plan. Staff will continue with planned
23:56
initiatives and will have a final report at the
23:59
end of 2027. Objectives within the plan followed
24:02
strategic priorities such as strong communities,
24:05
organizational effectiveness, balanced growth,
24:07
as well as sustainable infrastructure and services.
24:10
CAO Rebecca Murphy spoke about the term. This
24:13
is the last report on the strategic plan for
24:15
this term of council. We're very pleased with
24:18
the progress that's been made with respect to
24:20
the initiatives that were set by council in 2024.
24:24
And the strategic plan does go to the end of
24:27
2027. So there's still another about another
24:29
year of things that are going on. For the most
24:32
part, everything is in progress or planned to
24:36
be completed. Council should be very pleased.
24:40
There was a very long list of initiatives that
24:43
under that strategic plan that council and staff
24:46
set. And I'm pleased to say that we've accomplished
24:49
most of them there and looking forward to the
24:53
next strategic plan. So the plan would be for
24:56
the next term of council sometime next fall.
24:59
We would come back to council with an update
25:02
and look at. reviewing and revising our strategic
25:05
plan if that's council's direction and then to
25:08
set another set of initiatives for the next term.
25:11
Several initiatives may be ongoing into 2027,
25:14
some of which may have impacts on future operating
25:17
budgets. Mayor Jim Hagedorn noted staff's work.
25:20
It was a very aggressive term along with some
25:24
pretty major projects. So it is good to get all
25:26
this work done and well done by staff. Staff
25:29
will be bringing a report back to council in
25:31
early 2027 to get direction for their next strategic
25:34
plan. For Amherst Island Radio and the Local
25:37
Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is
25:40
North Shore News. Loyalist Township Council has
25:52
directed staff to look into laws and regulations
25:55
surrounding electric bikes in the township. Councillor
25:57
Paul Proderick made a direct motion regarding
25:59
the matter. I would put a motion forward that
26:01
Council direct staff to provide a report considering
26:04
the options relating to regulating the use of
26:06
e -bikes within Loyalist Township. The motion
26:08
was seconded by Councillor Mike Buderick and
26:10
passed by Council. Proderick spoke about the
26:12
use of electric bikes in Loyalist Township. It's
26:15
becoming more and more prevalent in the community
26:17
that the use of these micro bikes or whatever
26:20
you want to generally call them. It's becoming
26:22
a safety issue. People on the sidewalks on the
26:25
streets for the kids without helmets and so on
26:27
and so on. And I think the Township needs to
26:30
come up with some kind of statement, regulation,
26:33
whatever you want to call it to try and get that
26:36
under control. And, you know, just as an aside,
26:40
we need to engage the OPP at some point for,
26:43
you know, in terms of what they can do, etc.
26:46
And the biggest piece is going to be public education
26:49
because it's sort of the Wild West and whether
26:51
we have to get people out to schools, et cetera,
26:54
et cetera. But I'd like to get that process started
26:56
and not wait another year or so to do it. Councillor
26:59
Lorna Willis noted the growing use of electric
27:01
bikes in the area. Having some connections with
27:03
teachers in the local schools, I know that the
27:06
e -scooters are an extreme concern. So while
27:09
they're illegal, they're widely used. and and
27:13
I think that you know we have the potential for
27:16
a tragedy in our township so I would strongly
27:19
encourage then that we encourage the OPP to enforce
27:23
that law. Councillor Carol Park spoke about help
27:26
from the OPP. The OPP is actually going to be
27:28
doing more enforcement and education on this
27:30
so we'll probably see some things implemented
27:33
on that end too which will help support what
27:35
we want to do. Staff will be bringing a report
27:37
back to council at a future meeting for Amherst
27:39
Island Radio. and the Local Journalism Initiative.
27:42
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. Staff
27:55
at Loyalist Township have announced the transition
27:57
of the Loyalist Link program to a demand -responsive
28:00
transit service model. Director of Community
28:02
and Customer Services, Lori McFarland, explains
28:05
how the new service will work. Right now, traditionally,
28:07
we have a regular route that the bus runs regularly
28:11
X amount of time during the day and it just runs
28:14
its route and there's stops along the way. This
28:17
one is basically an on -demand. So the bus, if
28:22
you're a rider, you're going to put in a request
28:24
for a pickup either on the app, on the website,
28:28
or there is a dispatch a phone number. You'll
28:31
identify where you want to go. You can do it
28:35
a number of different ways. You can do it by
28:37
what time you want to be picked up, or you can
28:39
do it by what time you want to arrive at your
28:41
final destination. You will then get feedback
28:45
as to what time your pickup is. The system then
28:49
generates all of the other requests similar to
28:53
that and it works efficiently through the route
28:56
to take you to your destination and it'll pick
28:59
people up along the way or drop people off as
29:02
well. It should be in a more efficient way for
29:06
us to deliver this type of service for people
29:09
and we're not going to have buses... driving
29:11
around without people on them. It has been used
29:17
in other communities similar to ours and it has
29:21
been very successful and it has increased ridership.
29:24
We're also introducing some virtual stops as
29:26
well in different locations where there aren't
29:29
currently an actual bus stop but it's a spot
29:32
where people could go and gather that may be
29:37
able to enhance more rural spots, but it's within
29:42
the route right now that's there. They're just
29:44
not set specific spots. The report also noted
29:47
improvements to Route 10, opportunities for intercity
29:50
bus services, and better options for buying transit
29:53
passes. Route 10 service now has 30 -minute frequency
29:56
intervals for most periods of operation. Loyalist
29:59
Township and Lennox and Addington County are
30:01
also looking into potential partnerships to establish
30:03
intercity bus services with trips to select major
30:06
Ontario cities. Kingston Transit Passes will
30:09
be available for purchase at the W .J. Henderson
30:11
Community Centre. For Amherst Island Radio and
30:14
the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
30:17
This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township Council
30:29
agreed to support and circulate a letter calling
30:31
for the provincial government to increase the
30:33
municipal rebate for harmonized sales tax. The
30:36
initiative, Building Ontario Together, HST Reinvestment
30:39
for Municipal Infrastructure, was put together
30:42
and released by the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus.
30:44
The group is asking the government of Ontario
30:47
to increase the municipal rebate for the provincial
30:49
portion of HST from 78 % to 100%. This would
30:53
eliminate the current 1 .76 unrecoverable provincial
30:56
HST cost taken on by municipalities. They're
30:59
hoping the provincial government will recognize
31:01
this measure as a fiscally responsible investment
31:04
that supports infrastructure renewal, housing
31:06
infrastructure, long -term asset management,
31:08
and essential municipal services, while reducing
31:11
pressure on local property taxpayers and businesses.
31:14
Staff's report noted unrecoverable provincial
31:16
HST represents millions of dollars annually that
31:19
could otherwise be reinvested into municipalities.
31:21
Returning the remaining provincial portion of
31:23
HST to municipalities would not increase taxes
31:26
for residents or businesses. Municipalities in
31:29
Ontario currently receive a 100 % rebate of the
31:31
federal 5 % portion of HST, but only a 78 % rebate
31:35
of Ontario's 8 % provincial portion. This results
31:38
in municipalities permanently absorbing the remaining
31:41
22 % of the provincial share. This is equivalent
31:44
to 1 .76 % of eligible municipal expenditures.
31:47
Mayor Jim Hagedorn speaks about the letter. So
31:50
this was something that has come through the
31:52
EOWC and as being warden of the county, I'm a
31:55
member of the EOWC. The HST that the municipality
32:00
collects, the federal portion, we are able to
32:03
retain all of it. So the EOWC looked at it and
32:07
with all of the initiatives that are being taken
32:10
right now, as well as once we've done our infrastructure
32:15
assessments and master plans and the deficit.
32:20
that every municipality in Ontario is running
32:23
with trying to keep up with their infrastructure.
32:25
EOWC figured this was an easy catch, is just
32:29
if we could keep all of the provincial portion,
32:33
that would give us money back without actually
32:36
raising taxes at any level of government. Hagedorn
32:40
explained the intention of the letter and noted
32:41
their presentation to ministers. We presented
32:44
it at AMO to all the ministers that we met with.
32:49
both on the conservative side and on the other
32:52
sides. So both sides of the house, we presented
32:55
it to everyone that we had a delegation with.
32:58
And we had, I believe it was something eight
33:00
or 10 delegations. So they're well aware of what
33:03
we're requesting. So now we're just putting it
33:05
out looking for endorsement from all the municipalities,
33:09
basically saying that. You think this would be
33:11
a good idea? What we were saying to them is we
33:14
would expect that there would be a provision
33:17
to this funds to be reinvested in the infrastructure
33:20
within the municipality, not go into general
33:23
budget. So it would go towards like capital costs
33:27
or maintenance costs to maintain our infrastructure
33:30
in an acceptable manner. Councillor Paul Proderick
33:32
offered his thoughts on the initiative. Given
33:34
what I've read on the key asks from the Eastern
33:36
Ontario caucus is we need sustainable funding.
33:40
And the government of Ontario is always looking
33:43
at reducing red tape. Here's a classic example
33:46
of all the red tape that would go to recover
33:48
1 .76 percent. It's got to be a savings everywhere
33:51
and again for all the municipalities. For Amherst
33:54
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
33:56
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. The
34:09
future Sports Hall of Fame at the W .J. Henderson
34:11
Community Center will be named the Marion and
34:13
Mason Buderich Sports Hall of Fame. This is in
34:16
recognition of the family's contributions in
34:18
the community and a $50 ,000 donation towards
34:20
the W .J. Henderson Community Center Renewal
34:23
Project. Mason Buderich founded the current Amherst
34:25
Few Jets Junior Hockey Club in 1989. Following
34:29
his passing in 2005, his legacy has continued
34:32
through the Mason Buderich Memorial Fund, which
34:34
helps local children play hockey. Marion Buderich
34:36
has held leadership positions with the organization
34:38
in the past, including the president of the Amherst
34:41
Few Jets. The family's decades of volunteer service
34:43
and leadership have had a great impact on the
34:45
local hockey community. Staff with the Township
34:47
will also be assisting the Amherst View Jets
34:49
in the management of a fundraising sub -campaign,
34:52
looking to raise $50 ,000 to rename the Jets
34:54
dressing room in memory of Don Lee. Lee is remembered
34:57
for his passion, leadership, and community spirit.
35:00
He was a lifelong advocate for youth and sport
35:02
in the community. His dedication to the Jets
35:04
and developing young players in the community
35:06
has left a lasting impact both on and off the
35:09
ice. CAO Rebecca Murphy speaks about the fundraising
35:11
goal for the W .J. Henderson Community Center.
35:14
project. We're very excited from the fundraising
35:17
campaign that we're nearing in our goal. This
35:20
contribution takes us over the 1 .7 million dollar
35:23
mark so we're over 85 % of the way there to our
35:26
goal and it's very good and we're trying to wrap
35:28
up some loose ends to be able to get us to the
35:30
final goal so this is another one of our another
35:33
announcement that we're happy to make and Hopefully
35:36
we get there before our October 4th grand opening.
35:39
Murphy noted the campaign for renaming the dressing
35:41
room. I know there's been lots of discussion
35:43
amongst the community too about naming something
35:46
after Donley and the Jets letters really supports
35:51
kind of marketing this and branding this naming.
35:54
Council is awaiting a final decision on the location
35:56
and eligibility requirements for the Hall of
35:59
Fame. Staff will be bringing a report to the
36:01
next term of council with a new policy for the
36:03
space. and the Local Journalism Initiative. I'm
36:07
Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. Cataract
36:20
Way Conservation is looking to restore nearly
36:22
23 hectares of degraded meadow to functional
36:25
native grassland habitat at the south end of
36:27
Lemoyne Point Conservation Area. Previous monitoring
36:30
of the site identified nesting pairs of both
36:32
bobalink and eastern meadowlark, two native bird
36:35
species listed as threatened under the Federal
36:37
Species at Risk Act. However, extensive encroachment
36:40
by gray dogwood and other shrub species had reduced
36:43
habitat suitability. The project will look to
36:45
reestablish a structurally native grass and forb
36:48
community for bobalink, eastern meadowlark, and
36:51
other native ground -nesting grassland species
36:53
and pollinators. According to Cataraqui Conservation,
36:56
the restoration plan for this project has been
36:58
designed in accordance with the Migratory Birds
37:00
Convention Act and Species Conservation Act.
37:02
It will prioritize long -term habitat function
37:04
and ecological resilience, ensuring the restored
37:07
meadow develops the vegetation structure and
37:09
plant diversity required to support breeding
37:11
grassland birds. The timeline for the project
37:13
has been designed to have the least amount of
37:15
disturbance for species at risk. The project
37:17
will run until spring of 2027. The work has been
37:20
structured using an integrated pest management
37:23
approach. A range of available methodologies
37:25
have been combined to most effectively restore
37:27
the grassland habitat at the south end of Lemoyne
37:30
Point Conservation Area. The goal is to minimize
37:32
negative environmental impacts and use only the
37:34
minimum amount of chemical intervention necessary
37:36
to successfully remove gray dogwood and establish
37:39
the native grassland ecosystem. Certain activities
37:41
will require restricting access to the project
37:44
area and surrounding trail network. Restrictions
37:46
and closures will be limited to a few hours or
37:48
a few days. Closures will be posted on social
37:51
media and signage will be placed in parking areas
37:53
and trails to notify visitors. Cataract Way Conservation
37:56
notes the project will ultimately enhance biodiversity,
37:59
provide critical habitat to threatened species,
38:01
as well as improve the site's overall resilience
38:03
to climate change and invasive species. For Amherst
38:06
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
38:09
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore news. Loyalist
38:21
Township Council agreed to proclaim October 21,
38:24
2026 as the 26th Annual Child Care Worker and
38:27
Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day. The
38:30
day is in recognition of the education, dedication,
38:33
and commitment of child care workers to children,
38:35
their families, and quality of life within their
38:37
community. The proclamation request noted that
38:40
trained and knowledgeable registered early childhood
38:42
educators are the key to quality in early years
38:45
and child care programs. It stated that early
38:47
learning and child care promotes the well -being
38:50
of children. and responds to the needs of families
38:52
as well as the broader community by supporting
38:54
quality of life. Each year, the day is proclaimed
38:56
by the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care,
38:59
the Canadian Union of Public Employees, as well
39:02
as municipalities and school boards across Ontario.
39:05
The day is marked by hundreds of child care centres,
39:07
unions and allies. Councillor Paul Broderick
39:10
showed his support for proclaiming the day. Having
39:12
spent 30 years in education, this is a... core
39:17
group both within the school system and within
39:19
child care that are vastly underpaid and underappreciated
39:23
at times, but their contribution to youth is,
39:26
it can't be measured. For Amherst Island Radio
39:29
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
39:32
Evans. This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township
39:44
will be recognizing October 10th, 2026 as National
39:47
Dental Care Day. Council heard from founder of
39:50
the day, Dr. Raj Kanuja, who spoke about the
39:52
importance of improving access to oral health
39:55
care. Kanuja explains how and why he started
39:57
the initiative. National Dental Care Day started
40:00
from one simple moment. Years ago, I met a single
40:04
mother who was living with severe dental pain.
40:07
She avoided treatment because she could not afford
40:10
it. She told me she was saving every dollar she
40:14
had so she could keep a promise to buy used hockey
40:17
equipment for her child. She chose her child
40:21
over herself. That moment stayed with me because
40:24
dental pain is not just about teeth. It affects
40:28
confidence, sleep, work, mental health. and dignity.
40:33
That is why National Dental Care Day was created.
40:37
Kanuja speaks about how the initiative has grown
40:39
and notes numbers from last year. What started
40:42
as one free dental day has now grown into a national
40:46
movement after 13 years of volunteer care. Last
40:50
year alone, 219 Canadians received care across
40:54
the country through volunteer clinics and professionals.
40:58
National Dental Care Day was proclaimed by 25
41:01
municipalities, three premiers and two lieutenant
41:05
governors. It was also spoken about in the Senate
41:09
of Canada by Senator Mohammed Iqbal Rawalia and
41:13
entered into the Hansard parliamentary record.
41:17
National Dental Care Day mobilizes volunteer
41:19
dental professionals, students, clinics, educators
41:22
and community partners across Canada to provide
41:25
essential dental care to underserved individuals
41:27
and families without cost, barriers or judgment.
41:30
The initiative emphasizes the importance of oral
41:33
health as an essential component of overall health
41:35
and well -being. Kanuja explains the importance
41:37
of bringing National Dental Care Day to more
41:40
communities. The need for dental care is not
41:43
limited to one city or one region. It exists
41:46
in every community. Dentistry is expensive and
41:50
not being able to afford care forces many people
41:54
to live in pain, lose teeth, hide their smile
41:58
and lose confidence. and dignity. For Amherst
42:01
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
42:04
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. The
42:16
Bath Museum and Visitor Center is welcoming the
42:18
community back for another season of Culture
42:20
Talks, a speaker series celebrating history,
42:23
heritage and storytelling. Hosted at the museum,
42:25
the series brings together local historians,
42:28
musicians and researchers who share unique perspectives
42:30
on the region's history. Held on the third Monday
42:32
of the month from 6 to 7 p .m., Culture Talks
42:35
offer an opportunity to explore fascinating cultural
42:38
topics in an intimate setting. Tickets are $5
42:40
per person, and seating is limited. Monday, September
42:43
28th at 6 p .m. Stephen Bruce Med will be presenting
42:46
a combination of song ballads and storytelling.
42:49
The evening will cover historical events and
42:50
people in pre -Confederation Canada, including
42:53
indigenous connections, French explorers, loyalist
42:55
refugees of the American Revolution, the War
42:58
of 1812, and more. Stephen Bruce Med is a performing
43:01
songwriter of historical ballads and spiritual
43:03
songs. His songs are inspired by Canadian history,
43:06
the remote and beautiful landscapes he explored
43:08
as a geologist, and social issues of the day.
43:11
Monday, October 26th at 6 p .m., Phil Norton
43:13
will be telling his 2021 bicycle camping journey
43:16
from Prince Edward County to the Mexican border.
43:18
Repeating a journey he did in 1979 and 1980 as
43:22
a 22 -year -old, Norton set off again in 2021
43:25
at the age of 63. Norton tells personal stories
43:27
about his adventure combined with the geography
43:30
and people he met along the way. Culture Talks
43:32
take place at the Bath Museum located at 434
43:35
Main Street in Bath. Tickets for each talk can
43:37
be purchased online. For more information about
43:40
Culture Talks and other upcoming programs, visit
43:42
Loyalist .ca slash events. For Amherst Island
43:45
Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm
43:48
Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. This has
43:53
been North Shore News and Interviews. If you
43:56
have an idea for a story or want to create stories
43:59
for the show, Consider joining our volunteer
44:02
team. Contact Amherst Island Radio for more details.