Latest / North Shore News / May 20th, 2026

Transcript

May 20th, 2026 · North Shore News

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Welcome to North Shore News and Interviews on
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Amherst Island Radio. Each week we keep you updated
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on newsworthy events, happenings and conversations
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that we've had with people in the local community
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and beyond. Loyalist Township welcomes visitors
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to Doors Open Ontario on June 20th. Residents
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and visitors are invited to explore the stories,
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places, and people that helped shape the community.
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Doors Open Ontario takes place Saturday, June
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20th from 10 a .m. to 4 p .m. As part of the
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province -wide celebration, this free community
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event offers a unique opportunity to discover
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historic landmarks, cultural spaces, museums,
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churches, farms, galleries, and community hubs
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throughout Loyalist Township. This year's event
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features 20 participating sites across Bath,
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Odessa, Wilton, Amherstview, and Amherst Island,
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each offering visitors a chance to connect with
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the township's heritage through guided tours,
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exhibits, demonstrations, family -friendly activities,
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and behind -the -scenes experiences. Visitors
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can experience everything from heritage architecture
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and local history to art studios, agricultural
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traditions, dry stone walls and live demonstrations.
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Featured activities include meeting rescue animals
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at Second Chance Ranch, exploring hiking trails
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from farm experiences at Topsy Farms, learning
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about basket making at Babcock Mill and tasting
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locally made cheese at the Wilton Cheese Factory.
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Admission is free at all participating sites.
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This year there is also a chance to win one of
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two $100 prizes for anyone who visits five or
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more sites. For event details, maps, and participating
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locations, visit loyalist .ca slash doors open.
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For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
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Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
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News. Community members in Loyalist Township
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have come forward with a petition for council
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to reconsider the closing of the Leisure and
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Activity Center in Amherstville. In April, staff
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met with a working committee made up of residents
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who were looking to preserve services at the
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center. During this meeting, staff received the
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petition consisting of over 1 ,500 signatures.
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After receiving the petition, staff received
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a request from a member of council to add the
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petition to their latest agenda. Council originally
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approved a staff recommendation to formally close
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the center as a direct programming space on August
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1, 2026. This came after a close three to two
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vote. Residents who use the space regularly have
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brought concerns to Council including the size
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of the new space, privacy and the costs associated.
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The matter will come before Council again at
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their June 9th meeting. Loyalist Township resident
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Lorna Thorne explained the petition and noted
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the response from the community. We have collected
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over 1 ,500 signatures for residents in Amherstview,
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Odessa and Bath and the rural areas. Our petition
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states that we would like Council to take the
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necessary steps to make a reversal of the 3 -2
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vote taken on March 10th regarding the decision
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to close the lack and move existing programs
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to the Henderson Community Centre. Going door
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-to -door was a new experience and daunting for
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many of us. We were overwhelmed with the positive
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response we received from the constituents of
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Loyalist Township. Resident of Loyalist Township
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and former recreation director Cindy Lawson speaks
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about the need for the centre. Following my retirement
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in 2013, the space was renovated and since then
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people of all ages have been enjoying a great
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variety of programs. Disappointment is an understatement.
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When I learned on March 10th, a staff report
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recommended the closure of the Leisure and Activity
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Centre and council approved it. I cannot understand
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how a facility that took over 25 years to acquire
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is no longer needed. This community is growing.
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We currently have a space that serves us well.
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Now is not the time to give it up, as we all
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know to replace it is not in the foreseeable
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future. Loyalist Township resident Barbara Usman
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-Goldhar notes the importance of spaces like
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the Leisure and Activity Centre within a community.
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As a widow recovering from illness, I look to
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find a centre where I could begin my healing
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process. Being a retired physiotherapist with
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35 years experience and rehabilitation, I knew
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the benefits of exercise. I looked for an exercise
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center and found the lack just five minutes from
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my home. I realized quickly that this was the
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place that I needed. As I joined the exercise
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classes, I found an energetic group of like -minded
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people who were exercising to keep fit. For example,
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to maintain diabetic control. blood pressure
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and weight gain, prevent aging complications
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such as osteoporosis and dementia, and recover
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from serious health issues. Morning classes with
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instructors who educate and model are particularly
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helpful as they establish routines, prevent stiffness,
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and improve energy and mental clarity. The LAC
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offers a cohesive center where participants get
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to know each other, find support, and have fun.
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Large, safe, and well -designed exercise centers
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like the LAC are essential to accommodate group
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classes effectively. It is vital to create a
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community where people can live healthier, longer,
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and more connected lives. Another resident, Carla
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Rogers, explains the concerns residents have
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brought to Council. We have provided Council
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and staff with the petition, several documents,
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foot and photos explaining the opposition to
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the concept of moving the fitness programs to
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a room that is half the size with low ceilings,
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epoxy flooring, and as well as the downfalls
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of reducing class sizes and spreading them throughout
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the day. We have explained the shortcomings of
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the proposed room for the purpose of the children's
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programs due to the lack of cooking facilities
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and the reduced space. Community recreation facilities
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are not just line items. They are infrastructure
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that support health. connection and equality
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of life in our township. Councillor Jake Ennis
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spoke about the potential reconsideration at
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their June 9th meeting. I think residents have
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been very clear about their concerns. I think
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they've been very clear that they don't want
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to see a reduction in service. Sympathetic to
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those concerns. I think it's a positive step
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that staff are looking at alternatives and I
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think it's important for us. us to consider consider
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those alternatives and for the public to consider
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those alternatives in addition to a potential
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reconsideration in in june counselor carol park
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spoke about the original decision and coming
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back to council in june i believe that council
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made the wrong decision that's my personal opinion
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and um as a swing vote that was part of that
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meeting. I do take responsibility for that. So
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I do support this motion and I look forward to
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this coming back before council in June so that
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we can revisit this. Deputy Mayor Nathan Townhoun
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spoke about council's role in decision making
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and the importance of municipal politics. We're
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elected to be decision makers that make decisions
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based on... all of the available information
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and have that be transparent to the public. And
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so, you know, from that point of principle, we're
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principally hamstrung until June 9th. And maybe
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council's decision will be to reconsider and
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to maintain status quo. I won't comment on what
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that will be. That could be. But the point is
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council needs all the information available and
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the public needs that information. Municipal
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politics is incredibly important. It's the level
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of government closest to the public and that's
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never more evident than a chambers full of people
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concerned about what's happening in their community.
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And regardless of where anybody stands on an
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individual issue, that's incredibly important.
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For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
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Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
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News. Construction of the new pump track at Loyalist
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Park in Amherstview has begun. The expected completion
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date is July 30th. Thanks to a confidential donation
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of $500 ,000, the construction of the pump track
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will not impact the Township's budget. It will
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be developed at no cost to Loyalist Township
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other than staff time to oversee it. The entire
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project, including the skate park, is estimated
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to cost approximately $1 million and is being
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completed in two phases. Phase 1 is the construction
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of the pump track, including a skate bowl, while
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Phase 2 will include the completion of the remaining
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skate park features, subject to securing additional
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funding. Council heard a presentation in June
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of 2025 from New Line Skateparks, an engineering
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firm with expertise in skate park construction.
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Now with approval, the company is beginning construction.
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A public consultation process is currently taking
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place on the Township's website. Vice President
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and Director of Business Development with New
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Line Skateparks, Trevor Morgan, spoke about the
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benefits of the skateparks and pump tracks they
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build and the one they're looking to build in
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Loyalist Township. Very integrated, green space,
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connections to pathways, colour, texture, art
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installations that can be very exciting to...
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Put a signature, I guess, of the community within
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the architecture of the park, even through different
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lighting schemes, if that's something that's
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desired, and then accessibility. You're likely
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to have folks from the adaptive community who
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would like to ride this park. So yeah, every
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park has its story, and we hope there's a story
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to be told here with the Township. Morgan noted
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the potential boost in tourism the facility could
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bring. A network of these parks are being created
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in communities across Canada and across Ontario,
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and There's a large population that will want
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to experience each different unique park and
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communities and they'll purposely travel around,
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stop in these communities, visit, spend money
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at local businesses, maybe even spend a night.
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I know when I was 12 years old on the family
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trip and I was an avid skateboarder, I could
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be very influential to spend an extra night in
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the community if they had that one skate park.
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Morgan spoke about the potential of events at
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the facility as well. You're likely to have user
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groups and community groups that will say, hey,
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we would love to have some some level of organized
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events there that could be lessons nights some
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community -based contests and so forth and so
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we really try to design a modern park with that
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in mind. Councillor Paul Prodrick spoke about
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neighboring communities and their skate parks
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as well as what a new one in Amherstview could
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do for the community. I think the closest one
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to us is Napanee and then you go to Picton's
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got a great site but again it's it's probably
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20 years old now I think it becomes a hub. for
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gathering and it fits into the master recreation
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plan. Also an opportunity to add something to
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the community and I think we haven't had a recreational
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facility addition in well over I'm going to say
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40 years and again it's just through the leadership
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of a community member who wishes to help out
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in times where we don't have a lot of money to
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do a lot of things that we'd like to do. Councillor
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Jake Ennis spoke about the donation and choice
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of the donor. It's a very generous donation.
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They're very appreciative for the donation and
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I think the donor is chosen well. It's an amenity
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that focuses on youth and one that I think will
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be very well used. Deputy Mayor Nathan Townand
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showed his appreciation towards the donor as
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well as what the project will do for youth in
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the area. It's incredibly generous and provides
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an amazing opportunity for us and to appreciate
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the particular kinds of youth that something
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like this can engage based on the whole lifestyle
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and culture that goes with it. Not one I claim
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to understand. I think it's not just youth engagement
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writ large in some sort of big, broad context.
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This is something quite specific that I think
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will cater to members in our community that otherwise
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don't have a facility like this. I do go by the
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one in Napanee quite regularly and it is a gathering
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place. You see all sorts of demographics and
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ages and different usage of it so I fully support
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this. Mayor Jim Hagedorn spoke about the progress
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in access to skateboarding facilities and shared
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a story from his youth. I was in my teens on
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probably a $10 skateboard trying to go down the
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largest hill where I lived at the time called
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Big Hill and with blind corners. It's come a
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long way. When I was young, I've actually seen
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some of the like may dock, they have a nice one
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there. I remember when they were building the
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first phase, and I was kind of like, what is
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going on in there? And now to see it now, it's
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been developed into the whole park is basically
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devoted to this now. And it's packed all the
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time. It is something that is what I believe
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will be well used. And this is a Great opportunity,
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I think, for Lilas Township to be able to provide
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another amenity new to the community that will
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be used, very well used, I believe, for an extended
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period of time. For Amherst Island Radio and
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the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
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This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township Council
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pre -approved $900 ,000 in the 2027 capital budget
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for the purchase of a new tanker for the Amherstview
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Fire Station. They will also use nearly $85 ,000
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from the 2026 capital budget for the down payment.
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Council had already approved the purchase of
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a new tanker for the Amherst Island Fire Station
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in the 2026 capital budget and were informed
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the tanker in Amherstview has reached the end
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of its useful life. With fire apparatus costs
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continuing to rise each year, staff noted that
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delaying the purchase would see an increase of
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at least $125 ,000 for 2027. Fire chief Kent
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Reedman spoke about the importance of getting
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pre -approval. There will be no cost incurred
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this year, no additional cost incurred this year
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by the Township. This will be all on the 2027
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capital budget, so it will save. $125 ,000 plus
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in next year's budget if we can do it this spring,
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as opposed to waiting eight months. There's some
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significant price increases coming down the pipe
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here, and we're just trying to get ahead of it.
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Councillor Mike Boderich noted the importance
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of trying to save money. I just appreciate that
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the Chief's trying to get ahead of this and save
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us a little money, so it's always appreciated
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with how tight times are these days. Councilor
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Paul Proderick showed his support for the pre
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-approval. A hundred thousand is a good savings
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and given the experiences of the last few months.
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The value of our emergency services cannot be
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measured in dollars and move ahead with this
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as soon as possible. The emergency services department
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looks to order the same tanker that was ordered
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for Amherst Island and remain consistent with
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their fleet for the next 20 to 25 years. The
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two old tankers will be sold and are expected
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to generate nearly $75 ,000. This will be applied
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to the fleet reserve for future apparatus purchases.
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For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
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Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
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News. Loyalist Township has two community town
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hall meetings coming up for the spring season.
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On Thursday, May 21st at 6 .30 p .m., a meeting
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will take place in Odessa at the Odessa Municipal
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Office at 263 Main Street. On Wednesday, May
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27th at 630 p .m., a meeting will take place
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on Amherst Island at the Amherst Island Fire
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Hall at 955 Stella 40 -foot Road. The meetings
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will provide updates on municipal programs and
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projects. There will be opportunities to share
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ideas, ask questions, and engage on projects
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that are currently open for community consultation.
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For more information, visit Loylist .ca. For
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Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
16:18
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
16:21
News. The Bath Museum and Visitor Center are
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welcoming the community back this spring for
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another season of Culture Talks, a speaker series
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celebrating history, heritage, and storytelling.
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Hosted at the museum, the series brings together
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local historians, musicians, and researchers
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who share unique perspectives on the region's
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history. Held on the third Monday of the month
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from 6 to 7 p .m., Culture Talks offer an opportunity
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to explore fascinating cultural topics in an
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intimate setting. Tickets are $5 per person and
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seating is limited. May 25th, singer -songwriter
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David Archibald brings the maritime history of
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the Great Lakes to life through original music
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from his acclaimed collection, Spirit of the
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Inland Sea. Through storytelling and songs, audiences
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will hear tales of shipwrecks, heroic voyages,
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legendary figures, and the lonely lives of lighthouse
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keepers. Archibald's work has been featured in
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parks across Ontario and frequently aired on
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CBC Radio. June 22nd, local historian Lloyd Tarion
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will deliver an illustrated talk examining the
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opening years of the War of 1812. Tarian explores
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the Alliance's personalities and decisions that
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shaped the conflict's early course. His presentation
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provides insight into how British, Canadian militia,
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and First Nations forces defended Upper Canada
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during a pivotal period. Culture talks take place
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at the Bath Museum, located at 434 Main Street
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in Bath. Tickets for each talk can be purchased
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online. For more information about culture talks
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and other upcoming programs, visit Loyalist .ca
17:50
slash events. For Amherst Island Radio and the
17:53
Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This
17:56
is North Shore News. This has been North Shore
18:01
News and Interviews. If you have an idea for
18:04
a story or want to create stories for the show,
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consider joining our volunteer team. Contact
18:11
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