Latest / North Shore News / April 20th, 2026

Transcript

April 20th, 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. The South Frontenac Stock Sport Club
0:29
hosted the 10th annual Canadian Ice Stock Federation
0:32
Season Ending Tournament this past weekend at
0:35
the Gananoque Curling Club and Amherst Island
0:38
Radio was covering all the action. Hey, CJAI
0:43
101 .3 FM calling Sunday night live on location
0:47
for North Shore News and we are at the... year
0:51
-end ice stock Bondspiel in Gananoque. And I'm
0:54
going to talk to some of the players. We're an
0:56
important team Canada. And guys, I want you to
0:59
tell me first how you got involved with the sport
1:02
and tell us about the exciting news that you're
1:05
coming. So I'm going to go to you first. All
1:08
right. Well, how we got involved with the sport
1:10
is basically our entire family plays all the
1:13
time. It's really fun. My dad and me always come
1:18
over to Harris Smith and we always play. I've
1:22
been playing for a very long time. Recently my
1:25
brother just got into it as well and we've been
1:27
recruiting more people each and every day. Alright,
1:31
you've been playing for a very long time, so
1:33
how long could you be playing? You can play from
1:36
whatever age, it really does not matter. Currently
1:39
I'm 16 and I've been playing probably since 2015
1:43
maybe. Yeah. Sorry, what was your name again?
1:47
My name is Lucas, Lucas Hammer. All right, so
1:49
we're gonna go over here. What's your name? My
1:51
name's Preston. I recently joined two years ago
1:56
and me and my dad just have fun doing it. Always
2:01
fun to come back out and I love sport. And you
2:05
guys have some exciting news? Are you guys going
2:08
on a trip or something? Yeah, we're going up
2:11
to Austria to support Canada in stock. and going
2:15
to be a fun time. That's awesome. I wish you
2:18
guys all the best over there. And we're going
2:20
to talk to this young man. What's your name,
2:22
sir? My name is Caleb Hammer. And yeah, just
2:26
like we said, we're going up to Austria and first
2:28
ever Canadian youth team to ever go up. So it's
2:31
going to be very fun. And I recently just got
2:33
in the sport about three and a half years ago.
2:36
So that's awesome. And you say about three and
2:39
a half years ago, and now you're going to Austria
2:41
to play for Team Canada. How cool is that? Think
2:44
it's really cool. I think we should we've been
2:46
trying to get more kids to try to join in sport
2:47
and I don't know It's hard to explain but so
2:51
what is your message to to try and get more kids
2:53
involved though? You've been playing since a
2:55
young lad. So how do we get more use out? So
2:58
it's it's an easy sport to learn all you have
3:00
to do is just practice a lot and come out to
3:03
Harrow Smith with us We always practice every
3:05
what day? Every Tuesday, so yeah, if you want
3:09
to come out and do that Yeah room for a 55 year
3:13
old has been oh, yeah, definitely All right,
3:17
and who are we got here? My name is Jayden. I've
3:19
been practicing since this spring actually brand
3:22
new But um, it's been a journey. What guy involved
3:25
interested in the sport actually my friend Lucas
3:28
I've been friends with him for about seven or
3:30
eight years now but Chris his dad introduced
3:35
me to the sport and ever since I've been hooked
3:38
And now what is the one thing that you didn't
3:41
expect when you started playing that you really
3:43
like about the sport? Probably the target aspect
3:48
and the knocking and like strategy and stuff
3:50
like that I was gonna say I just like to rip
3:53
it as hard as I can and do the takeouts but Yeah,
3:56
well, that's good. So I want to wish you guys
3:57
all the best in Austria You're making history
4:00
the first u16 team ever from Canada So we really
4:04
want to congratulate you and when you come back,
4:07
hopefully you'll come on the radio and tell me,
4:09
tell us all about it. For sure. All right, now
4:11
I'm going to go to the last word to the big guy
4:13
here, Chris Hammers, no stranger to Amherst Island
4:16
Radio. So tell us a little bit about the tournament.
4:18
I know we talked a lot about the U -16s in the
4:20
past, but just talk about what this tournament
4:22
means to you and your club and your sport. So
4:24
for the federation itself, this is the time when
4:26
everybody comes together to play and actually
4:28
on ice versus we play usually in the summer in
4:30
Hale -Smith on the Paverstone Lanes. So this
4:33
time is a good time to use your winter shocks.
4:35
Everybody together and get an awkward way. We
4:37
have good times. We go back to the hotel and
4:38
have some sociable drinks and that kind of stuff.
4:40
But it brings everybody from the Canadian Ice
4:42
Stock Federation, which is mainly out of Kitchener,
4:44
Waterloo and Berry area. But everybody comes
4:47
down here to celebrate this event. So for 10
4:49
years that the Federation has sort of reignited
4:52
itself, got going again, that we have this many
4:54
people here. This is just awesome. 35, 40 people
4:57
here playing today. This is what the Federation
4:59
is. If we can grow this to 80 or more or 60,
5:03
you know, then we're rocking, we're rocking the
5:04
stocks and we're growing the sport. That's the
5:06
all time goal of the Federation is to make this
5:09
sport bigger was what it once used to be. Very
5:13
good. And you know, you can consider me a plus
5:16
one growing your sport. So I really appreciate
5:19
all that you do for the community, giving kids
5:22
a chance to play the sport and travel, represent
5:25
their country. So want to wish you all the best
5:28
and good luck with the rest of the tournament.
5:30
Thank you. We love having you down here. Amherst
5:32
Island's radio, always a great time for us and
5:34
we love working with you. You know, so much for
5:36
the reunion that you did with us. You helped
5:38
us with the stock and just spreading out in the
5:40
communities. It's not just Amherst Island. It's
5:42
so fun. I could scan an aqua here all over the
5:44
place, you know, and we really, really, really
5:46
appreciate the support from your radio station
5:47
yourself. You know, Lorianne came down today
5:50
from her, her, the side of the media thing and
5:52
you guys work together and that's what's bringing
5:54
stocks all about. It's bringing everybody together.
5:56
So thank you, Colin. We really appreciate you
5:57
coming down to help us out. It's my pleasure.
6:00
So for CJI North Shore News, I'm calling Sunday
6:04
night and you're listening to Amherst Island
6:06
Radio. The Amherst Island Recreation Association
6:16
had a successful 2025 according to their recent
6:19
presentation. Members of the association shared
6:21
a review of their last year of operations at
6:23
Loyalist Township Council's latest meeting. Chair
6:26
of the association, Chelsea McDonald, spoke about
6:29
the makeup of the association and their last
6:31
year of operations. We have a board of directors
6:35
for our not -for -profit. There are nine directors
6:37
on our board with three executives. We have 10
6:39
volunteers and we have program leaders and helpers.
6:44
This year we were able to have two paid instructors
6:47
provide programs for us and we were able to provide
6:50
13 programs in total with a variety of participants
6:53
ranging from four to 19 participants per program.
6:59
In the past we've done a variety of sports -related
7:03
programs. We find that Zumba is a really big
7:06
popular one with everyone on the island, especially
7:10
young moms and kids come out to enjoy that. program
7:15
and this year we were able to find another yoga
7:17
instructor that was able that is actually a community
7:19
member so someone local that's able to come out
7:22
and provide yoga to the community and that was
7:25
another big accomplishment for us because it
7:28
was a really good program. Volleyball has always
7:31
been really popular with the young adults as
7:34
well as some older adults and we find that in
7:38
the spring we get a higher volume with university
7:41
students coming back to play. In the fall we
7:44
actually changed it to 13 plus because we had
7:46
some eager young students that wanted to join
7:50
as well. McDonald spoke about new programming
7:52
in the last year. The newest thing we were able
7:55
to provide for youth this year was electronics.
7:59
We had an island resident who reached out and
8:01
wanted to teach robotics to the kids. So they
8:05
had done a little bit in the classroom at school,
8:07
but she really wanted to provide a camp. So we
8:10
worked with her and were able to provide a four
8:12
-day camp in August for kids to learn about robotics.
8:16
They made some really neat Christmas decorations
8:18
that lit up and robots that moved. and it was
8:21
so successful she opted to start an actual club
8:24
starting in September where the kids go twice
8:27
a month and they learn how to do coding and make
8:31
more robots. McDonald noted one of her favorite
8:35
programs. All Ages Sports Night is honestly one
8:38
of my favorites because it's the kids come out
8:41
to play and we do a variety of different sports
8:46
from soccer to volleyball to pickleball to basketball
8:49
and the absolute favourite is dodgeball and every
8:53
week they ask if we can play dodgeball. McDonald
8:55
spoke about programming throughout the winter
8:56
and spring. Winter Walking Club is something
8:58
that we provide to the community in the winter
9:02
months so from December to April where the community
9:07
has a safe space to walk and to socialize. One
9:10
of my other favorites is youth art. So each spring,
9:13
this is the third year we've doing it. We're
9:15
able to provide a youth workshop for art with
9:18
using local island volunteers to provide these
9:22
classes. Last year we did watercolor and pencil
9:27
drawing and animation. Treasurer for the association
9:30
Mike Walhaut spoke about their finances for the
9:32
year. We're running at a small deficit. We do
9:36
fundraising and we kind of do it as needed so
9:41
we're making up the difference that way. This
9:43
was our first year as well so we had to get through
9:46
the accountant and all the not -for -profit filing
9:50
processes that are costly and we're going to
9:53
look at ways that we can save money and perhaps
9:55
access some grants as well. Councillor Lorna
9:58
Willis shared her experience with the programming
9:59
on Amherst Island. The programming that we get
10:03
to enjoy on the island right now is very special
10:05
and I was at one of the children's art programs
10:09
the other day and it's kind of fun to see all
10:14
the kids getting together in the school after
10:16
school voluntarily. For Amherst Island Radio
10:19
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
10:22
Evans. This is North Shore News. CJ AI 101 .3
10:35
FM North Shore news and we are going to go back
10:39
to a little bit of ice stock And we've got some
10:42
exciting news for our local listening area. Our
10:46
South Frontenac chapter of the Ice Dock Federation
10:49
is making history this summer as the U16 coached
10:54
by Chris Hammer is going to compete in Austria
10:57
for the very first time at this level. So first
11:00
of all, Chris, I've got Carl here as well, who's
11:02
taking his team to Brazil for the Americas later
11:05
this summer. Let's just talk about this historic
11:08
moment for your sport in our community with the
11:10
U16. sixteenths. Absolutely, it's a part of history
11:14
for the Federation of the Canadian Ice Hockey
11:16
Federation for our club and for a team that's
11:18
under the age of youth 16 to experience heading
11:21
to the Austrian Alps to play where the sport
11:23
is heavily played in Austria to be part of it,
11:26
to be part of a European Championship is a once
11:28
-in -a -lifetime experience. Myself, I'm going,
11:31
my two sons, Lucas and Caleb, their friend Jayden
11:34
Kermien's coming out and Preston Klein and also
11:37
his dad, Adam, has been coaching with me this
11:39
year. Adam's family is actually, his dad's side
11:42
is from Germany. So he's kind of putting the
11:44
European spin onto his family too, which is really
11:46
neat. The experience alone and getting ready
11:49
for this and just being part of it for these
11:51
kids is a pretty big highlight. Yeah. And it's
11:53
going to be a heck of a road trip too, eh? Absolutely.
11:56
We've got a long road trip to get there. A lot
11:58
of fundraising, a lot of money and the cost of
12:00
the flights and the hotels and a few expenses
12:03
along the way as you expect traveling across
12:05
the ocean to the other side of the pond there.
12:07
It comes with the territory, you know, but the
12:09
kids are more... We have a good backbone here
12:12
in South Frontenac and the Kingston community,
12:15
and we're really looking forward to it. And for
12:17
somebody that is interested in following along
12:20
or maybe helping out to support the cause, what's
12:23
the best way to do that, to get in touch with
12:26
you guys? So they can reach out to the Canadian
12:29
Ice Stuck Federation Facebook page. They can
12:31
send us a private message or they can reach out
12:34
to the South Frontenac Star Sport Club, anybody,
12:36
anyone who is there. Facebook is our easiest
12:38
way to reach out. They can send again, send us
12:41
a private message there. We're looking for support
12:43
or community donations to support the youth team
12:46
themselves to get them over. by reaching out
12:49
to actually anybody in the club or myself or
12:51
Carl or the Canadian Stuck Federation president.
12:54
That means we can have a phone call or an email,
12:56
a chat, whatever people want to do. We'll make
12:59
it happen and we can reach out and we'd love
13:01
the support. All right, Chris. Well, certainly
13:03
here, all of us at Amherst Island Radio will
13:05
be following along and wishing you well. So good
13:08
luck with the U16s in Austria. Danke schön. Thank
13:12
you. And Carl, Brazil. I think of ice stock,
13:17
I do think of it as certainly South Frontenac
13:19
because that's where I was introduced, but I
13:21
do think of it as Austrian German. So tell us
13:25
about the Americas in Brazil. Is it going to
13:27
be on ice or is it on the ash vault? So they
13:30
actually have, it's a special concrete that's
13:34
got pebbles, stones in it that Basically, the
13:38
important thing when you're not playing on ice
13:40
is that whether it's asphalt or the paverstone
13:43
is the air pockets and our paverstone lanes in
13:47
Harrowsmith, every grout line, every joint is
13:50
like an air pocket that allows the stock plate
13:54
to slide efficiently across, right? So their
13:58
lanes are concrete and obviously Brazil doesn't
14:01
have to worry about frost and heaving of things,
14:03
right? So they can use concrete and it's got
14:06
special pebbles in it and it's quite a beautiful
14:09
surface to play on. I've never been there yet
14:11
but I've heard all about it. And the interesting
14:14
thing is that Brazil kind of gives us a good
14:18
idea of, I would say they're about maybe 10 or
14:22
15 years ahead of us. Obviously it's a Germanic
14:25
community in Brazil that we're heading to for
14:28
the America Cup. Grande do Sul is sort of a bigger
14:31
area. And they had some Germanic people that
14:36
had still connections over in Germany. And they
14:40
saw that the sport was being played and really
14:43
thought, well, this could be really cool to try
14:45
to bring back to Brazil. And literally that's
14:48
how it started. And I think that was either late
14:50
90s or early 2000s or something like that. And
14:53
it literally started with the idea of a couple
14:56
of people. And here we go to 2026 and Brazil
15:00
actually when we got, you know, we competed last
15:03
year in the world championships and, you know,
15:05
Brazil is in certainly the top five, you know,
15:10
probably around the fourth or fifth in terms
15:12
of the men's and the women now jumped up also
15:14
to the A division. So they haven't basically
15:19
in 26 years turned into a stock nation and they
15:22
don't even have ice. they'll head over a little
15:25
bit earlier before World Championships and just
15:28
train for maybe a week on ice to get their feet
15:30
on. But outside of that, they're training always
15:33
on their concrete lanes. Anyway, so we kind of
15:37
make history too this time around because it's
15:40
the first time that Canada has ever sent two
15:43
men's teams and two women's teams to an America
15:46
Cup. Usually, we're just able to send one man
15:50
and no women. we're really pushing it now. And
15:56
we do have most of the team being built upon
16:00
members from South Front ExSocs Sport Club this
16:03
time around. I think out of the 16 people, I
16:05
think 14 are connected to our club. So it's,
16:10
again, another great sort of testament to the
16:13
growth of our club and how successful we are
16:16
in terms of participation. We certainly wish
16:19
you all the best as you embark on this historic
16:23
summer tournament and For more information you
16:27
can go to the South Frontenac Stocksport Club
16:31
on Facebook And you can look for their upcoming
16:34
events. There's a mixed dual event in Harrow
16:37
Smith on May the 2nd June 20th. There's the CISF
16:41
and the South Frontenac stock the sport club
16:45
and harrow smith august 15th there's the club
16:48
tourney in harrow smith and uh... one that i've
16:51
already circled on my calendar october thirty
16:53
first halloween stock bash at harrow smith for
16:57
more information you can message them or email
17:00
them out at south frontenac stock sport at gmail
17:04
dot com for cj a i one oh one point three f ms
17:09
north shore news i'm colin sunday Loyalist Township
17:21
Council approved additional funding to complete
17:23
the construction of the W .J. Henderson Community
17:26
Centre renewal project. Staff's report presented
17:28
an updated business case for the construction
17:30
and operation of the centre. The report reflected
17:33
a variance of over half a million dollars since
17:35
staff's first estimates were presented to council
17:37
in November 2023. Engineering and environment
17:41
manager with the township Luke McDonald talks
17:43
about the original business case staff presented
17:45
in 2023. Back in November 2023, staff brought
17:49
forward the validation report which outlined
17:52
the scope of the WJ project as well as the business
17:57
case which presented the financing. and operational
18:02
costs for the project and future operations of
18:06
the facility included in that business case where
18:09
a number of assumptions made about both expenses
18:12
that would be incurred as well as funding that
18:15
would be secured or not. Treasurer and director
18:17
of finance with the Township, David Clasey, breaks
18:20
down the remaining costs and how it may affect
18:22
the Township's tax rate in the future. Since
18:24
the validation report was done, councils received
18:28
the Township's asset management plan. The revised
18:31
amount for yearly amount or impact to the operating
18:35
budget is 737 ,000. The good news is that of
18:42
that 737 ,000, we actually built in 479 ,000
18:48
of that in the 20. 26 operating budget. So we
18:52
build, we started to build in some of the amount
18:54
for the debt repayment and we also built in a
18:58
fair sized chunk of the staffing costs because
19:01
we've already budgeted for at least a half a
19:04
year of operations for the facility. So there
19:09
is a significant portion of that already built
19:11
in. In addition, we'll have the 180 ,000 of revenue
19:16
on top of that coming in for the sponsorship
19:18
revenue. So that really only leaves about 78,
19:22
79 ,000 left to build in, to potentially build
19:25
into the tax rate in 27, which results in about
19:29
a third of a percent tax increase. Manager of
19:31
Recreation, Parks and Facilities with the Township
19:33
Matthew Sibolsky explains one of the larger variances
19:36
in the report. Total staffing is projected in
19:39
the revised report for 2027 compared to the previous
19:42
report outlining an increase to our staffing
19:45
model at $535 ,000. that increase does show up
19:50
is $12 ,000 for our administrative capacities
19:54
and areas versus 2026 validation. For arena capacities
19:59
and areas, there is a variance or an increase
20:02
of $223 ,000 versus 2026 validation. And in our
20:07
aquatics, we do have a variance of $299 ,000
20:11
for current projections versus validation. Cebulski
20:14
went on to detail new staffing requirements in
20:17
the Aquatic Center. Aquatics does drive most
20:19
of this variance. So our updated 2027 operating
20:22
model does reflect some staffing needs that are
20:26
required to safely run a two pool aquatic center.
20:30
Majority of these needs are based in lifeguard
20:33
and instructor coverage, supervision across two
20:36
pools for simultaneous programs, as well as operational
20:40
backfill for training and stat holiday dates.
20:42
McDonald's speaks about one of the positive variances
20:45
in the report. The community sport and recreation
20:48
infrastructure fund provided by the province
20:51
of Ontario was not initially projected in the
20:54
original validation report, but the staff has
20:57
secured the nine point. approximately 9 .2 million
21:01
dollars that is included there. So obviously
21:05
that's a large change for the better to the township.
21:09
So that was excellent news. McDonald noted the
21:12
future of the centre. At the end of the day the
21:14
facility is going to be a beautiful facility.
21:17
I think everyone is very proud of what's being
21:20
done and it should be reflected in the final
21:24
project outcomes. Councillor Paul Broderick spoke
21:26
about the importance of the variances. We've
21:28
all had housework done and you find the surprise
21:30
behind the drywall. And when you do a project
21:32
like this, it's a little bigger than a little
21:35
surprise behind the drywall. But I know staff
21:37
work to keep that as low as possible. Councillor
21:39
Mike Buderick showed his support for the project.
21:42
Travelling around to different communities to
21:44
see facilities that other municipalities have.
21:47
And this is one to be proud of considering its
21:49
age and the work that has gone into it to to
21:54
keep it what it is. Mayor Jim Hagedorn spoke
21:56
about the future of the W .J. Henderson Community
21:58
Center. We are taking on a significant project
22:01
for a township this size. We are succeeding.
22:05
We have run into a few extras, but we're going
22:09
to complete it. We're going to be able to enjoy
22:10
it. And I'm thankful that the next generation
22:14
will be able to enjoy it just like we have when
22:17
our forefathers originally built the project.
22:20
For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
22:22
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
22:26
news. Join Loyalist Township in celebrating Earth
22:38
Week with three community events happening from
22:41
April 18th to 25th. April 18th is the community
22:44
electronic waste, battery, food and textile recycling
22:48
drive. from 9 a .m. to 1 p .m. at the Amherst
22:50
View fire station located at 363 Amherst Drive.
22:54
Township staff will be on site at the back of
22:56
the fire station parking lot to help residents
22:58
unload their vehicles and to safely handle electronic
23:00
waste and batteries. For more information about
23:03
accepted electronic waste and safe battery storage
23:06
tips, visit Loylist .ca. Registration for the
23:09
community cleanup takes place Tuesday, April
23:11
7th to Saturday, April 25th. The cleanup period
23:14
will take place during Earth Week, Sunday, April
23:16
19th to Saturday, April 25th. For more information
23:19
on the 2026 community cleanup, visit Loyalist
23:22
.ca. And the next curbside giveaway in Loyalist
23:25
is Saturday, April 25th. To participate and be
23:28
part of the township's giveaway day map, visit
23:31
Loyalist .ca. For Amherst Island Radio and the
23:34
Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This
23:38
is North Shore News. Loyalist Township Council
23:50
approved an amendment to a zoning bylaw that
23:52
will permit the Windsor in Amherstview to house
23:54
an alternative health facility and add additional
23:57
site -specific provisions, including more parking.
23:59
This matter has come back to Council multiple
24:01
times and has now been approved. Kingston Health
24:04
Sciences Centre also made a presentation about
24:06
the facility at the meeting. Executive Director
24:08
for Patient Care and Deputy Chief Nursing Executive
24:11
with Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Tom Hart,
24:13
spoke about the feedback they received and the
24:15
work they've done since. Of course, we take our
24:18
role very seriously. And after the council meetings
24:20
and public feedback, we had a KHSC senior leadership
24:23
debrief on the feedback from both the public
24:25
and the council. And we was already taking action
24:28
to try and alleviate some of those concerns.
24:29
So we have engaged a real estate agent to try
24:32
and look for parking options. We've worked with
24:35
the owner of the home to try and arrange a saddle
24:38
shuttle for employees to alleviate some of the
24:40
parking congestion. We've asked that the owner
24:43
of the home commit to having a stop sign prior
24:46
to the sidewalk, which they have committed to
24:49
do. Hart noted the type of activities that go
24:51
on in the building and how their partnership
24:53
with Loyalist Township can move forward. All
24:56
activity within the building is regulated, supervised
24:58
and aligned with provincial health policy and
25:01
the Public Hospitals Act. We have a robust governance
25:04
safety and operational controls in place. And
25:07
of course, they're subject to continuous monitoring
25:09
and improvement. Our commitment to the community
25:12
and council, KHSC, we have a very long history
25:15
and proud history of collaboration with our municipal
25:17
partners and we are very committed to. transparency
25:21
and ongoing dialogue and we respect for the local
25:24
concerns along with our regional health obligations.
25:28
We are certainly open to input on additional
25:30
safeguards and operational adjustments and very
25:33
willing to work with council and the public to
25:35
strengthen assurances and comfort level. Residents
25:38
came forward again with concerns about on -street
25:40
parking and public safety. It's just kind of
25:43
a concern of being bullied. I don't feel as a
25:47
member of the street that they are equal neighbors
25:52
to us and their initial plea to amend the Residential
25:58
Uses Act and have themselves considered residences
26:03
when it's primarily a temporary facility is,
26:07
I think, bad form and bad taste. This small infill
26:14
subdivision of ours has gone through a lot. We
26:17
finally had our developer finish the work, and
26:21
there was a lot of problems with that developer.
26:23
Now we have this Windsor thing, we have the school
26:25
ongoing. It's 250 meters of road, but it seems
26:29
a lot of the development and a lot of the problems
26:32
are in this one area. And as residents, we are
26:35
constantly being bombarded by this. The Windsor
26:38
had already been housing the alternative health
26:40
facility before they received official approval
26:42
from Council. They will now provide 64 on -site
26:45
parking spaces, an increase of 13 spaces from
26:47
what was initially proposed, and an increase
26:50
of 30 spaces from what exists today. Councillor
26:52
Paul Proderick noted residents' concerns. We've
26:55
had lots of presentations. I think the views
26:59
of the populace along Park are fairly clear.
27:02
The parking issue, the school construction, all
27:07
these different things. It's like the residents
27:12
have been bombarded for X number of years. And
27:16
I'm hoping that we can develop a parking through
27:20
the staff, some kind of parking zoning commitment
27:23
to whatever that alleviates some of that stress.
27:27
And that further down the road, when the building
27:30
across the street is finished, we might look
27:33
at a more permanent a permanent solution to some
27:38
of the stresses on Park Street, because we all
27:40
know when it was built, the entrance to the old
27:43
church was there, but certainly it was a different
27:45
once a week type thing. And having been a member
27:49
of that parish, we didn't fill the parking lot
27:51
very often. So I can appreciate what the residents
27:53
have said. Our hands are tied in terms of legislation,
27:58
Ontario Land Tribunal. And this is the best result
28:03
of for the residents a situation that is challenging
28:08
at best. Deputy Mayor Nathan Townand assured
28:10
residents they're doing all that they can. We
28:12
want the public on park to know that we've heard
28:16
them. and that we are doing what we can within
28:19
the limited tool set that we have to try and
28:22
address those concerns meaningfully. Councillor
28:26
Mike Buderich showed his confidence in staff
28:28
coming up with a viable solution. We will have
28:30
an adequate solution proposed by staff, I can
28:35
guarantee that. For Amherst Island Radio and
28:37
the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
28:40
This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township will
28:52
be running a programming pilot through the spring
28:54
and summer as they look to transition the use
28:57
of the Leisure and Activity Center to the W .J.
28:59
Henderson Community Center. Council approved
29:01
a staff recommendation to formally close the
29:03
Leisure and Activity Center as a direct programming
29:05
space on August 1, 2026. Staff's report noted
29:09
the programming pilot will help ensure service
29:11
continuity while improving operational efficiency
29:14
and optimizing the use of township recreation
29:16
assets. With leisure programming, fitness amenities,
29:20
aquatics, library services, and select municipal
29:23
payment services under one roof, staff says it
29:25
offers residents a more convenient, connected,
29:27
and accessible experience. They also noted increased
29:30
public transit access at the W .J. Henderson
29:32
Community Center. The Leisure and Activity Center
29:34
has served as a secondary municipal programming
29:37
space for many years. However, staff's report
29:39
noted its condition, accessibility limitations,
29:42
and operational inefficiencies have increasingly
29:44
challenged its long -term viability. Recent reviews
29:47
and facility condition assessments have identified
29:49
significant capital needs, including HVAC modernization,
29:53
accessibility retrofits, and lifecycle renewal.
29:56
Projected annual operating savings from the service
29:58
consolidation are estimated to be between $55
30:01
,900 and $92 ,000. in recurring cashable sa to
30:07
32 hours per week in st manager of recreation
30:11
par with the township Matthew S recommendation.
30:15
We did lo and the asset replacement items that
30:20
are included and as we're nearing some financial
30:24
pressures that within the wreck FM divi that
30:29
for the best course moving forward to remove
30:33
that pressure from our sustainable services moving
30:37
forward is to not segment our services and try
30:41
to move towards additional savings that would
30:44
be associated with. let's say delaying potential
30:48
capital projects. Sabolsky spoke about the evaluation
30:51
process for the programming pilot. We do have
30:53
three pivot periods that are built into the trial
30:57
plan that outline if we're not necessarily meeting
30:59
milestones that are anticipated, we will have
31:02
a review period at that point. The goal is to
31:05
have our residents participate that are over
31:07
at the LAC as users. participating in the pilot
31:10
program over at the WJH. And then there will
31:12
be a pilot evaluation framework that will be
31:15
asking users, instructors, as well as staff to
31:17
all complete. Councillor Paul Broderick noted
31:19
his concerns with the programming pilot and staff
31:21
recommendation. My concern is that when you put
31:24
a hard date on something and do a trial run before
31:28
that, it almost looks like the decision's made
31:31
before the trial run. And honestly, I'm having
31:33
trouble seeing a class in that community room.
31:37
given my experience with the the facility. Residents
31:41
who use the Leisure and Activity Center regularly
31:43
brought concerns to Council, including the size
31:46
of the space, privacy, and the costs associated.
31:49
The committee room at the Henderson Center is
31:51
quite small. I don't personally understand how
31:55
you could fit 16 people in there, given the size
31:58
of the exercise requirements. Right now, the
32:01
Henderson Center does not have, in my opinion,
32:04
appropriate facilities to run exercise programming.
32:08
There's a bigger picture here, and it's not just
32:10
about dollars and cents. Right now, the community
32:13
that participates in the Leisure Centre, we're
32:16
anxious because to put an August 1st date and
32:20
then do trial runs through this spring, we've
32:24
all taken a hike over to the WJ Henderson to
32:27
see what facilities will be available. And it
32:32
doesn't suit what we're providing. And I understand
32:36
the idea of making everything in one building,
32:39
but it looks like there was no consideration
32:42
done to build a leisure facility with fitness
32:46
components to it. We're talking dollars and cents
32:50
or something that we need. You close it down,
32:54
the building is still going to be there. Why
32:56
are they thinking of forcing us into that little
33:00
room which takes 16 people? It just doesn't make
33:03
sense. There's a time for dollars and cents,
33:07
and this is not the time for dollars and cents.
33:10
We're a senior center. It's the only thing that
33:12
we have in this area, and it should be kept going.
33:15
Deputy Mayor Nathan Townand addressed concerns.
33:18
I understand the concerns raised by residents,
33:22
but, you know. It's more than simply dollars
33:26
and cents. The dollars and cents are that this
33:28
township's invested nearly $50 million in a recreation
33:33
facility that is part of a recreation master
33:35
plan to consolidate. And change is difficult,
33:39
but this is the direction that we as a council
33:42
have chosen. And I think we need to follow through
33:47
with that said, I think there needs to be very
33:50
careful attention paid. to the impact of that
33:54
change on the residents who have spoken and provision
33:57
for council to be able to keep touch with them
34:00
and address those concerns how we may following
34:05
the pilot. Sabolsky spoke about how staff are
34:07
addressing concerns as well. We have taken some
34:10
considerations for some assessments regarding
34:12
privacy. requirements at the WJH community room.
34:16
So some of those considerations are for privacy
34:19
screenings, as well as spatial needs for the
34:22
space or for the for the area and the layout.
34:23
There is a capacity of that community room of
34:26
around 60 participants to be in that space for
34:30
general meeting purposes. And we have used a
34:32
formulaic approach to outline our capacities
34:35
that for certain classes would be 12 to 16 in
34:37
capacity, 16 to 20 in other areas, depending
34:40
on programming and specific needs. outside of
34:44
the privacy assessment that would be implemented
34:46
to let's say upgrade the features of that community
34:49
space to be utilized for a direct programming
34:52
facet. We have looked at a scheduling matrix
34:56
and paradigm regarding additional outlets for
34:59
access. So this would include additional programming
35:02
schedules for early morning programs, afternoon
35:06
programs, evening programs. After staff and council
35:09
weighed in, it was a close three to two vote
35:11
in favor of the recommendation. For Amherst Island
35:14
Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm
35:17
Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. The Bath
35:29
Museum and Visitor Center are welcoming the community
35:31
back this spring for another season of Culture
35:33
Talks, a speaker series celebrating history,
35:35
heritage, and storytelling. Hosted at the museum,
35:38
the series brings together local historians,
35:40
musicians, and researchers who share unique perspectives
35:43
on the region's history. Held on the third Monday
35:45
of the month from 6 to 7 p .m., Culture Talks
35:47
offer an opportunity to explore fascinating cultural
35:50
topics in an intimate setting. Tickets are $5
35:53
per person and seating is limited. April 27th,
35:56
lifelong collector and local historian Michael
35:58
McKinnon will present highlights from his personal
36:00
collection of historic artifacts, sharing the
36:02
stories behind objects that reflect daily work,
36:05
family life, and baths early years. May 25th
36:08
singer -songwriter David Archibald brings the
36:10
maritime history of the Great Lakes to life through
36:12
original music from his acclaimed collection,
36:14
Spirit of the Inland Sea. Through storytelling
36:17
and songs, audiences will hear tales of shipwrecks,
36:20
heroic voyages, legendary figures, and the lonely
36:22
lives of lighthouse keepers. Archibald's work
36:25
has been featured in parks across Ontario and
36:27
frequently aired on CBC Radio. June 22nd, local
36:30
historian Lloyd Tarian will deliver an illustrated
36:32
talk examining the opening years of the War of
36:35
1812. Tarian explores the Alliance's personalities
36:38
and decisions that shaped the conflict's early
36:40
course. His presentation provides insight into
36:42
how British, Canadian militia, and First Nations
36:45
forces defended Upper Canada during a pivotal
36:47
period. Culture Talks take place at the Bath
36:49
Museum located at 434 Main Street in Bath. Tickets
36:53
for each talk can be purchased online. For more
36:55
information about Culture Talks and other upcoming
36:57
programs, visit Loyalist .ca. For Amherst Island
37:02
Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm
37:04
Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. This has
37:10
been North Shore News and Interviews. If you
37:13
have an idea for a story or want to create stories
37:16
for the show, consider joining our volunteer
37:19
team. Contact Amherst Island Radio for more details.