Latest / North Shore News / September 17th, 2026

Transcript

September 17th, 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. Loyalist Township Council agreed
0:28
to support and circulate a letter calling for
0:30
the provincial government to increase the municipal
0:32
rebate for harmonized sales tax. The initiative,
0:35
Building Ontario Together, HST Reinvestment for
0:38
Municipal Infrastructure, was put together and
0:40
released by the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus.
0:43
The group is asking the government of Ontario
0:45
to increase the municipal rebate for the provincial
0:47
portion of HST from 78 % to 100%. This would
0:51
eliminate the current 1 .76 unrecoverable provincial
0:54
HST cost taken on by municipalities. They're
0:57
hoping the provincial government will recognize
0:59
this measure as a fiscally responsible investment
1:02
that supports infrastructure renewal, housing
1:04
infrastructure, long -term asset management,
1:06
and essential municipal services, while reducing
1:09
pressure on local property taxpayers and businesses.
1:12
Staff's report noted unrecoverable provincial
1:14
HST represents millions of dollars annually that
1:17
could otherwise be reinvested into municipalities.
1:20
Returning the remaining provincial portion of
1:21
HST to municipalities would not increase taxes
1:24
for residents or businesses. Municipalities in
1:27
Ontario currently receive a 100 % rebate of the
1:29
federal 5 % portion of HST, but only a 78 % rebate
1:33
of Ontario's 8 % provincial portion. This results
1:36
in municipalities permanently absorbing the remaining
1:39
22 % of the provincial share. This is equivalent
1:42
to 1 .76 % of eligible municipal expenditures.
1:45
Mayor Jim Hagedorn speaks about the letter. So
1:48
this was something that has come through the
1:50
EOWC and as being warden of the county, I'm a
1:53
member of the EOWC. The HST that the municipality
1:58
collects, the federal portion, we are able to
2:01
retain all of it. So the EOWC looked at it and
2:05
with all of the initiatives that are being taken
2:08
right now, as well as once we've done our infrastructure
2:13
assessments and master plans and the deficit.
2:18
that every municipality in Ontario is running
2:21
with trying to keep up with their infrastructure.
2:23
EOWC figured this was an easy catch, is just
2:27
if we could keep all of the provincial portion,
2:31
that would give us money back without actually
2:34
raising taxes at any level of government. We
2:38
presented it at AMO to all the ministers that
2:46
we met with both on the conservative side and
2:49
on the other sides. So both sides of the house
2:53
we presented it to everyone that we had a delegation
2:55
with and we had I believe it was something eight
2:58
or ten delegations so they're well aware of what
3:01
we're requesting. So now we're just putting it
3:03
out looking for endorsement from all the municipalities
3:07
basically saying that You think this would be
3:10
a good idea? What we were saying to them is we
3:12
would expect that there would be a provision
3:15
to this funds to be reinvested in the infrastructure
3:18
within the municipality, not go into general
3:21
budget. So it would go towards like capital costs
3:25
or maintenance costs to maintain our infrastructure
3:28
in an acceptable manner. Councillor Paul Proderick
3:30
offered his thoughts on the initiative. Given
3:32
what I've read on the key asks from the Eastern
3:34
Ontario caucus is we need sustainable funding,
3:39
and the government of Ontario is always looking
3:41
at reducing red tape. Here's a classic example
3:44
of all the red tape that would go to recover
3:46
1 .76%. It's got to be a savings everywhere and
3:49
a gain for all the municipalities. For Amherst
3:52
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
3:55
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. The
4:07
future Sports Hall of Fame at the W .J. Henderson
4:09
Community Center will be named the Marion and
4:11
Mason Buderich Sports Hall of Fame. This is in
4:14
recognition of the family's contributions in
4:16
the community and a $50 ,000 donation towards
4:19
the W .J. Henderson Community Center Renewal
4:21
Project. Mason Buderich founded the current Amherst
4:24
Few Jets Junior Hockey Club in 1989. Following
4:27
his passing in 2005, his legacy has continued
4:30
through the Mason Buderich Memorial Fund, which
4:32
helps local children play hockey. Marion Buderich
4:34
has held leadership positions with the organization
4:36
in the past, including the president of the Amherst
4:39
Few Jets. The family's decades of volunteer service
4:41
and leadership have had a great impact. on the
4:43
local hockey community. Staff with the township
4:45
will also be assisting the Amherst View Jets
4:47
in the management of a fundraising sub -campaign
4:50
looking to raise $50 ,000 to rename the Jets
4:52
dressing room in memory of Don Lee. Lee is remembered
4:55
for his passion, leadership, and community spirit.
4:58
He was a lifelong advocate for youth and sport
5:00
in the community. His dedication to the Jets
5:02
and developing young players in the community
5:04
has left a lasting impact both on and off the
5:07
ice. CAO Rebecca Murphy speaks about the fundraising
5:09
goal for the W .J. Henderson Community Center.
5:13
We're very excited from the fundraising campaign
5:16
that we're nearing in our goal. This contribution
5:18
takes us over the $1 .7 million mark. So we're
5:22
over 85 % of the way there to our goal and it's
5:24
very good. And we're trying to wrap up some loose
5:26
ends to be able to get us to the final goal.
5:29
So this is another announcement that we're happy
5:32
to make. Hopefully we get there before our October
5:35
4th grand opening. Murphy noted the campaign
5:38
for renaming the dressing room. I know there's
5:40
been lots of discussion amongst the community
5:43
too about naming something after Donley and the
5:46
Jets letters really supports kind of marketing
5:50
this and branding this naming. Council is awaiting
5:53
a final decision on the location and eligibility
5:55
requirements for the Hall of Fame. Staff will
5:58
be bringing a report to the next term of council
6:00
with a new policy for the space. For Amherst
6:02
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
6:05
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. The
6:18
City of Kingston has agreed to take on the licensing
6:20
and enforcement of taxi cabs for Loyalist Township
6:23
without cost. Loyalist Township Council voted
6:25
in favour of enacting a new taxi bylaw known
6:28
as the Passenger Transportation Services Bylaw.
6:31
The Kingston Area Taxi Commission had been responsible
6:33
for licensing and enforcement of taxi cabs in
6:36
Loyalist Township and the City of Kingston, but
6:38
will be dissolved on September 30th. Without
6:40
this new bylaw and service agreement, taxis could
6:42
not operate within Loyalist Township. According
6:45
to staff's report, this would also bar the Township
6:47
from operating the Loyalist Accessible Transportation
6:50
program. The City will administer the new bylaw
6:52
on the Township's behalf while service agreements
6:54
will formalize the arrangement for the City to
6:56
license and enforce taxi cab regulations in the
6:59
Township. CAO Rebecca Murphy spoke about the
7:02
arrangement. There are some liabilities of the
7:04
Commission which will have to be split and they're
7:06
split based on population with the City of Kingston
7:08
so we're... get quite small obligation on that
7:12
note. And we haven't been advised of what the
7:14
exact number is, but it's probably tens of thousands
7:17
of dollars. It's based on population. So if we're
7:20
17 ,000 and they're 140 ,000, we're, you know,
7:24
less than 10%. They had some. some liabilities
7:26
and some court decisions that obligated them
7:29
to pay some money. So that final of counting
7:31
will happen when, at the end of this month, when
7:34
the commission is finally wrapped up and we get
7:36
their final financials. The agreement will have
7:38
an initial term of five years with the plan to
7:40
extend. For Amherst Island Radio and the Local
7:43
Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is
7:46
North Shore News. Staff at the town of Greater
7:58
Napanee are looking to include all in -town trails
8:00
as part of the town's sensitive use designation,
8:02
but will need to go through a larger review process
8:04
first. This expanded designation would mean the
8:07
trails will have encampment protocol restrictions.
8:10
CAO Matthew Grant spoke about the Trail Development
8:12
Advisory Committee's recommendations. The committee
8:15
itself felt that the new in -town trails should
8:19
have encampment protocol restrictions around
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it. Now I point out The encampment protocol already
8:24
covers a significant portion of the in -town
8:27
trails. We could expand sensitive use designations
8:29
to the periphery of in -town trails. I think
8:32
that should be part of a broader review process.
8:34
Grant noted the impact and explained what future
8:37
plans might include. Not only the impact on the
8:40
citizens, but the impact on the services that
8:42
citizens pay for is significant. And as well,
8:45
the individuals living there are also not having...
8:48
great time of it. There's a lot of concern. I
8:51
would say that Greater Napanee has gone further
8:55
than most in terms of protection. So conservation
8:58
park in its entirety. is off limits. And we've
9:01
had great success in making sure that we've minimized
9:06
conflicting use in those areas. We've been able
9:09
to partner with social service agencies and law
9:13
enforcement. And I would say that in the event
9:16
that there is a proper shelter option in town,
9:22
I'm cautiously optimistic we might see that in
9:24
the future. I know the Morningstar mission and
9:27
their move is looking at their options. I think
9:30
the county has been in on those discussions and
9:33
supportive of Morningstar missions. broader mandate.
9:38
So I'm keeping an eye on that situation very
9:40
closely and appreciating that many council members
9:43
would like to protect as much area as we can.
9:46
Councillor Bill Martin called for the designation
9:48
to include Springside Park as well. I agree with
9:51
most everything and thank goodness that we're
9:53
working towards finishing the In -Town Trail.
9:55
It's going to be wonderful. Certainly agree with
9:57
lighting and cameras. The sensitive use issue
10:00
is a big deal for me. I'd love to see it as sensitive
10:04
use on the trail as well. But I got Springside
10:06
Park that I'm really concerned about right now.
10:09
I'm always concerned about the homeless situation
10:11
in Springside Park, so I'm finding, you know,
10:15
if a trail can be designated sensitive use, certainly
10:19
our park can be too. I'm really concerned about
10:21
the children playing down there right now. There's
10:24
people walking their dogs, children. running
10:27
and playing in our Springside Park. And that's
10:30
not a sensitive use area. It should be. So I'm
10:33
saying if we're gonna put sensitive use on the
10:35
trails, Springside Park should be sensitive use
10:38
as well. I mean, we've got visitors going down
10:40
there, hundreds of them every day. I wouldn't
10:42
even be surprised if it would hit a thousand
10:44
people down there. I've picked up needles myself
10:47
off the ground. and took them to a needle drop
10:50
-off. It's dangerous for kids. It's dangerous
10:53
for people being down there in that park. I'm
10:56
really, really ticked off right now what's going
10:58
on down there. And I know it's a problem everywhere.
11:01
Residents, taxpayers, they can't use their park
11:05
because of... of what's going on, and that's
11:08
not fair to them. Deputy Mayor Brian Calver spoke
11:10
about the work of the Trail Development Advisory
11:12
Committee. Speaking on behalf of the Trail Development
11:15
Advisory Committee, we've got off got off our
11:19
first meeting, both feet hit the ground and running
11:22
and our second meeting we just held. We've appointed
11:25
a chair and a vice chair and we've come up with
11:28
some really good ideas. This trail committee
11:30
is it's just an honour to be sitting on it and
11:33
working with them because everybody's all rowing
11:36
in the same direction. It's just a fabulous group
11:39
of people we've put together for this." Council
11:41
has also deferred the promotion or acceptance
11:43
of e -scooters and e -bikes on the trails until
11:45
they come up with a new bylaw. Staff will be
11:47
consulting with the OPP for security camera locations
11:50
on the trails and looking into estimates for
11:52
solar lighting. For Amherst Island Radio and
11:55
the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
11:58
This is North Shore News. The town of Greater
12:09
Napanee has proclaimed September 28th, 2026 to
12:13
be recognized as National British Home Child
12:15
Day. Between 1869 and 1948, over 100 ,000 children
12:20
emigrated from all areas of the UK to Canada.
12:23
The children were used as a source of labor on
12:25
farms and in households. They are known today
12:27
as the British Home Children. Many of these children
12:30
settled into the Lennox and Addington area and
12:32
contributed to building the region. Councillor
12:34
Bill Martin spoke about the proclamation and
12:36
his own personal connection. the mayor and council
12:39
for actually doing the proclamation. It's always
12:42
my privilege. And because of my personal situation
12:46
with my own dad being one of the British home
12:48
children, I always every year enjoy doing this
12:51
to honor not just my dad, but there was thousands
12:55
of people that came and settled right in the
12:57
Napanee and LNA area. So I just want to honor
13:01
those people who, like I say, settled here in
13:04
Napanee. Right now, there's literally I think
13:06
there's four or five million people. in Canada
13:09
that are descendants of the British home children.
13:14
So my porch light will be on September 28th and
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I'm very proud and happy that everybody is doing
13:23
this proclamation. On September 28th, over 65
13:26
venues across Canada, Scotland and England will
13:28
be participating in the Beacons of Light for
13:30
British Home Children and Child Migrants Tribute.
13:33
Community members can participate by leaving
13:34
porch lights on or by placing a sunflower on
13:37
the resting place of a British home child in
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the area. For Amherst Island Radio and the Local
13:42
Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is
13:45
North Shore News. Greater Napany Council voted
13:56
in favor of not changing the town's grass cutting
13:59
bylaw, but directed staff to review it before
14:01
the next enforcement season. Council also implemented
14:04
a 10 -foot buffer to be mowed in regard to a
14:07
compliance order made against a resident with
14:08
a naturalized lawn. Originally, the option was
14:11
offered with a 15 -foot buffer. At their previous
14:13
meeting, council heard from the resident, Julie
14:15
Bogdanowicz, requesting they cancel the compliance
14:18
order. She noted her property was intentionally
14:20
naturalized rather than neglected, which is not
14:22
reflected in the bylaw. Council granted an extension
14:25
and requested a report from staff. Staff's report
14:28
noted the bylaw department received multiple
14:30
requests for grass enforcement in June and 20
14:33
compliance orders were issued. On July 20th,
14:35
a re -inspection was conducted of the area and
14:38
found all other 19 orders to be compliant. Bogdanowicz
14:41
spoke about her position. on the matter. Services
15:12
and Municipal Clerk Jessica Walters explain the
15:15
need for updating the bylaw. Staff do acknowledge
15:17
that the bylaw is over 25 years old. When we
15:21
look at our other comparators, it's definitely
15:23
the oldest bylaw in that list and we would recommend
15:27
that it be looked at. However, because it affects
15:31
everyone and we know that there's very strong
15:34
feelings and opinions about what's important
15:37
to have in a grass bylaw, we think it's really
15:39
important to do extensive public consultation
15:41
and get community input for a council to hear
15:45
what the residents of Greater Napanee feel is
15:48
important to them to have in a grass bylaw, which
15:50
is why we recommend that that decision be. a
15:54
recommendation that the next term of council
15:55
look at it very early, ideally before the next
15:58
enforcement season begins, but that that not
16:01
be something that we try to rush through in the
16:05
last couple months of this term. Just about every
16:08
property in town has some form of grass on it
16:10
and so it's something a lot of people, we should
16:12
give them the opportunity to participate in that
16:15
conversation. Bug Danowitz spoke about her findings
16:18
from staff's last report. One of the things in
16:20
the report that I found that was interesting
16:23
that I wanted to highlight was an interpretive
16:25
direction that pollinator gardens and naturalized
16:28
lawns could fall within the existing exemption
16:31
for ornamental grasses that currently exist in
16:34
the bylaw. And if that interpretation is taken,
16:36
that would protect our garden and others like
16:39
it as the bylaw update proceeds without requiring
16:42
counsel to wait until the next term to act. The
16:45
report recommends mowing along two of my property
16:48
lines but it says that I don't need to mow if
16:51
the area is a wetland and those property lines
16:55
contain cattails and so in my interpretation
16:58
this is you know part of a stormwater swale.
17:01
The report also suggests that the order is cancelled.
17:05
However, it kind of suggests that it could be
17:08
opened up again before the next term of council.
17:11
And so again, I'm here to humbly ask that the
17:13
decision that is made closes the issue for us
17:16
until the bylaw can be updated. Walters noted
17:18
that grass cutting is one of the most frequently
17:20
requested enforcement areas, accounting for approximately
17:23
20 % of cases so far in 2026. We're seeing an
17:26
increasing trend across the board in requests
17:28
for enforcement of bylaws as people become more
17:33
familiar with using the E -1 -1 tool to submit
17:35
requests. The grass does remain one of our consistently
17:40
in our top five areas where residents request.
17:44
enforcement action to be taken. Bogdanoff spoke
17:47
about concerns regarding ticks. The topic of
17:50
ticks and pests came up at the last meeting and
17:53
I wanted to refer to the letter that council
17:55
has received by Joyce Hostlin who is a Thousand
17:58
Islands Master Gardener. She wanted to I guess
18:02
point council to a number of scientific papers
18:05
that have been written on the issue and in particular
18:07
just to quote her her letter she says that black
18:10
-legged ticks and their abundance is driven by
18:12
deer access. white -footed mice populations and
18:15
woodland proximity, and plant height and mowing
18:19
schedules do not quite contribute to tick populations.
18:23
Deputy Mayor Brian Calver explained his concern
18:26
regarding ticks. I'm just a little concerned.
18:29
I mean, we have bylaws in place for a reason.
18:32
And I'm just concerned myself, I know, with our
18:35
property that we maintain and look at 100 plus
18:37
acres of land. and we have trails as well and
18:41
we do have ticks on the property as well and
18:44
it's a non -stop fight to try to keep them and
18:47
we keep everything cut back on our trails and
18:49
so on and so forth but yeah I'm just a little
18:52
concerned when you say that the long grass doesn't
18:55
doesn't inhibit these these ticks because we
18:57
have them too and they're everywhere especially
19:00
in southeastern Ontario there's these ticks are
19:03
all over the place I still believe our bylaws
19:06
are are still good and should be followed. Walters
19:09
referred to staff's report and spoke about bylaw
19:11
enforcement. We do note in the report that Eastern
19:14
Ontario does have a higher prevalence of Lyme
19:16
disease and black -legged ticks than maybe other
19:18
areas of the province and that is certainly a
19:21
valid consideration. In a gross bylaw, a lot
19:24
of bylaw enforcement is making sure that neighbours
19:26
can live with each other, that one person's right
19:30
to use their own property doesn't cause negative
19:33
impacts or unreasonably negative impacts to the
19:35
people who are also living in that same area.
19:40
Councillor Bill Martin noted the importance of
19:42
naturalized lawns. I just think if there's going
19:44
to be a staff review, this order to mow should
19:47
be suspended until that's done. and we have a
19:50
new bylaw in place. I just feel that naturalization
19:55
has to have some weight in this. Some people
19:59
I know are worried about ticks and they're worried
20:02
about noxious weeds, but sometimes you have to
20:05
go beyond those things. I mean, it's very important
20:08
that we also have pollination with our bees and
20:11
with our butterflies. So I'm the opposite of
20:15
some people's view on this. Mayor Terry Richardson
20:17
spoke about offering a 10 -foot buffer zone as
20:19
opposed to 15. I think what we're doing here
20:22
is taking a very measured approach. I don't think
20:25
we are in a position to completely discredit
20:29
the risk of the black -legged tick. It's become
20:32
a public safety issue at some point because back
20:36
in April of 2025, the Southeastern Health Unit
20:41
put out a release that identified the risk of...
20:44
encountering the black -legged ticks in the southeast
20:47
region which where we are is very high compared
20:50
to the rest of the province. I think we need
20:52
to do our due diligence on this at this point
20:54
and provide some form of a buffer which I think
20:57
10 feet is probably the fair amount as we've
21:00
heard in previous reports that The 15 -foot buffer
21:04
zone is a buffer zone that is being used by a
21:07
municipality that's close to us, which would
21:09
be fine, but I think the 10 -foot buffer zone
21:11
would be sufficient in order to provide the public
21:15
safety that I think we need to provide. For Amherst
21:19
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
21:21
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. Lenox
21:34
and Addington County staff will be looking into
21:36
implementing road signage to warn drivers about
21:38
agricultural vehicles along county roads while
21:41
also providing information about local farms.
21:44
Staff will be conducting a safety study to determine
21:46
areas that warrant signage. Representative with
21:49
the Lenox and Addington Federation of Agriculture,
21:51
Max Kaiser, explained concerns that were raised
21:54
and why he came to council. Recently, we've had
21:56
a member from North Varensville. They farm just
21:59
North Varensville, but they also have properties
22:01
up Maguire Road and some of the other side. roads
22:03
there. So they're on and off 41 with slow moving
22:06
vehicles as part of their normal activities.
22:08
Due to the new waste management sorting facility
22:11
at just south of Roblin, they've perceived an
22:15
increase in heavy truck traffic coming up and
22:17
down their roadways and that's adding to, you
22:20
know, summertime cottage traffic and whatnot
22:23
going up and down 41. And there's a pretty big
22:26
speed discrepancy between cars going up and down
22:28
the road and then heavy equipment like tractors
22:30
and what you might be pulling. Well, they've
22:32
seen the signs in neighboring municipalities.
22:34
I know tiny denega has them on some of their
22:36
roads and company has them on a couple of our
22:38
roads like meet road. So they'd seen them and
22:40
they knew they were out there and they asked
22:41
specifically if we could help. Kaiser noted the
22:43
area in question and spoke about a previous concern
22:46
raised when you turn north on 41 from the 401.
22:49
That's a key spot where we believe it's warranted
22:52
as soon as you leave Napanee or even north of
22:54
Selby that those farms that are using that road,
22:57
we had another farmer who expressed a concern
22:59
a few years ago. closer to Napanee because of
23:03
a closure of a small municipal road that he was
23:07
forced to go out on 41 and come back in just
23:09
to get to the north end of his farm, which was
23:10
on the other side of a creek. Director of Parks,
23:12
Recreation and Culture with the town of Greater
23:14
Napanee, Chris Brown, explained that the Traffic
23:17
Advisory Committee wouldn't support signs that
23:19
are unwarranted. Brown spoke about his suggestion
23:21
for new signage. I think treating all of our
23:24
roads equally is the fundamentals of what we
23:28
do. And just putting signs up that are unwarranted
23:32
aren't really supported by TAC or staff. But
23:35
what I would be recommending to do is more of
23:37
an information campaign and working with our
23:40
communications department, creating not quite
23:43
a billboard size, but the size for our reconstruction,
23:46
like a four by four, four by eight signage and
23:49
doing an information about agriculture and including
23:53
the slow moving vehicle sign and Notifying residents
23:57
that there are a lot of farm equipment in the
23:59
area Brown went on to speak about the need for
24:01
a safety study after reviewing this back through
24:05
attack minutes as well as with other municipalities
24:08
at the county level the signs that we discussed
24:12
Are typically used and warranted at certain certain
24:15
specific criteria safety restrictions sightlines
24:18
That's that sort of thing so I think that staff
24:22
need to complete like a safety audit of the area
24:25
to ensure that proper signage as approved by
24:28
our policy which is using the OTM book five and
24:31
book six manuals from the province and if that
24:34
if those signs are warranted we'll install those
24:36
signs. Brown explained how the new signs might
24:38
work. If we move that say two weeks or four weeks
24:42
around to different farming areas. And we would
24:45
have to work with the agriculture society to
24:48
get a list of participants of farmers that want
24:50
to participate. We could one, do a safety message
24:54
of here's where the signage today. And here's
24:58
what that farmer in the area produces and offers.
25:01
And where can you find it locally? Kaiser spoke
25:03
about possibilities for the signage. It actually
25:05
fits really well with sort of our mandate, which
25:08
is promoting agriculture, but also we're an advocacy
25:10
group for agriculture. We have produced some
25:13
signs that we've installed on field edges that
25:16
say, you know, this is a field of soybeans. This
25:18
is what it's used for and whatnot. But I think
25:21
work on this sort of education and awareness
25:23
campaign, which kind of covers a lot more than
25:25
just the road safe. maybe we can hit some targeted
25:27
areas. Councillor Brian Calver noted the importance
25:30
of road signage for safety. The amount of traffic
25:33
is really, really increasing and so whatever
25:36
we can do to kind of help things out a little
25:38
bit because you've got cottagers, you've got
25:41
Airbnbs all over the place, you've got a lot
25:43
of people coming from cities, coming from different
25:45
countries to visit that aren't aware of these
25:49
big pieces of equipment. They don't stop on a
25:52
dime. So whatever we can do to get it out there
25:55
and let people know to try to help and save,
25:58
it's a good thing for sure. Deputy Warden Tony
26:01
Fritch noted safety as a priority. If you're
26:04
on one of those roads, you pray every time you
26:06
pull the tractor out and you thank the Lord every
26:10
time you pull back in your driveway. So it's
26:12
just about that simple. For Amherst Island Radio
26:15
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
26:18
Evans. This is North Shore News. A new design
26:30
for the main level of Nappan E -Town Hall has
26:32
been approved by council and staff will now move
26:34
forward with the renovation. The new design would
26:36
include moving the lease space for the Chamber
26:38
of Commerce to the front of the building. This
26:40
space would then be used for storage. Staff would
26:42
be looking to then move washrooms to the back
26:44
of the building. The new washrooms would include
26:46
a barrier -free fully accessible washroom and
26:49
two standard washrooms. Staff's next report to
26:51
council will include full construction drawings
26:53
as well as a breakdown of costs for the interior
26:56
renovation. Further design work will continue
26:58
beyond that, as well as stakeholder consultation
27:01
with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of
27:03
Napanee, and relevant advisory committees. The
27:05
design includes a durable vinyl plank flooring
27:07
chosen for its ease of care and to reflect the
27:10
plank floors that buildings of the same age were
27:12
originally constructed with. Mayor Terry Richardson
27:14
spoke about the renovation. It's placing the
27:18
Chamber of Commerce in the front of the building,
27:20
which has many, many options. The back of the
27:22
building where they were going to be is... a
27:25
part of the facility that I think would be better
27:28
suited for storage. It's a part of the facility
27:33
that was never abated and I think it'd be more
27:36
appropriate if we use that for storage. And then
27:38
there's a number of different advantages, especially
27:40
with the bathrooms in the back as originally
27:42
when the bathrooms put in this building, that's
27:44
where they were. So I'm almost thinking that
27:47
there's probably still holes and plumbing on
27:48
the floor that would assist us in doing that.
27:52
CAO Matthew Grant noted the committees that worked
27:54
on the project and spoke about some of the new
27:56
features of the design. That work has been undertaken
27:59
with the Market Square Advisory Committee and
28:01
as well as the Director of Parks, Recreation
28:04
and Culture. been a number of meetings and discussions.
28:08
And there's also been input received from the
28:13
Arts Committee and as well from the Heritage
28:16
Committee. So in essence, they've talked about,
28:20
you know, Clearing out the insides, ensuring
28:23
that there is infrastructure to hang arts material,
28:26
putting in a coffee bar. Staff provided council
28:29
with various options for where washrooms would
28:30
be located, as well as the location of the Chamber
28:33
of Commerce offices. Grant spoke about the option
28:35
council chose. The committees themselves didn't
28:39
have the ability to consider this fully given
28:42
that where the Chamber of Commerce is located
28:45
was considered off limits in the planning exercise.
28:48
I think having the chamber in the front solves
28:50
their accessibility problems and people aren't
28:53
going through the event space to get to their
28:55
office. Councilor Angela Hicks noted some of
28:57
the reasoning behind Council's decision. I think
28:59
it's a better use of the space. I have never
29:02
liked the idea of the bathrooms at the front
29:04
of the building because we lose the natural light
29:09
coming through two, if not three. Well, it would
29:12
have been all three. of those windows in the
29:14
front. It also gives us the option for a closet.
29:18
So the occupancy limit is 149 people. We didn't
29:22
consider where they'd all be hanging their coats
29:24
in January. Richardson spoke about the future
29:26
of the facility. I had some different ideas as
29:29
well, but they've convinced me that this type
29:31
of floor plan, this is the way we should go.
29:33
So I, for one, am going to be very excited to
29:35
see some of the progress that we're going to
29:37
see downstairs, because I think it's going to
29:39
be an absolutely marvelous and fabulous facility
29:42
for our community. For Amherst Island Radio and
29:45
the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
29:48
This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township Council
30:00
approved the extension of the Loyalist Link pilot
30:03
program to September 3rd, 2027. This will maintain
30:06
uninterrupted service while the Township waits
30:09
for the outcome of their Ontario Transit Infrastructure
30:12
Fund application. Funding for the extension will
30:14
be provided through provincial gas tax allocations
30:17
as well as fares. Beginning in September, the
30:20
current 90A -90B service will transition to a
30:23
single connector route linking Bath, Odessa and
30:25
Millhaven to the WJ Henderson hub. will align
30:28
with the planned shift for Kingston Transit Route
30:30
10 to 30 minute intervals. According to staff,
30:33
the combined ridership of the two Loyalist link
30:36
routes was over 9 ,600 in 2025 and continues
30:39
to grow. Staff are looking to improve coverage,
30:41
flexibility and cost efficiency. They will be
30:44
reporting back to council with updated financial
30:46
projections and service performance metrics following
30:49
the release of the funding decision. Director
30:51
of Community and Customer Services Lori McFarland
30:54
noted plans for the future. There is plans to
30:57
increase ridership. You know, we're trying to
31:01
do that. Hopefully, you know, through the as
31:06
presented, we're looking at on demand, which
31:09
could bring some efficiencies. and might increase
31:13
ridership as well. Director of Corporate Services
31:15
Strategy and Innovation Jenna Campbell spoke
31:18
about waiting for the outcome of the funding
31:19
decision. We are limited right now in some of
31:22
our actions that we can take while we're waiting
31:25
to have the final OTIFF application submitted
31:28
to the province because we have to remain in
31:32
pilot status. So some of those opportunities
31:36
may come to fruition a little bit more in terms
31:40
of encouraging the growth of the ridership and
31:42
that sort of thing once we have an idea of whether
31:44
we'll be receiving that funding. Councillor Paul
31:47
Broderick showed his support for the program.
31:49
I remember going out for a early morning ride
31:52
with director Campbell around the first few weeks
31:55
and you know sort of thinking we're going to
31:57
be the only two on here but the data supports
32:00
some growth and I think that was the original
32:03
thing we were worried about was Would people
32:05
come thinking of this is only going to last a
32:07
year? You know, we're not going to change our
32:09
habits, but I think we're heading in the right
32:11
direction. And this is one thing I'm really proud
32:14
this council has done is looked into that. And
32:16
I hope that we can continue this down the road.
32:19
I think it's a viable service and through personal
32:22
experience. Anytime you can get my kid on public
32:24
transit, we're doing something right. For Amherst
32:27
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
32:29
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. Cataract
32:42
Way Conservation is looking to restore nearly
32:44
23 hectares of degraded meadow to functional
32:47
native grassland habitat at the south end of
32:49
Lemoyne Point Conservation Area. Previous monitoring
32:52
of the site identified nesting pairs of both
32:54
bobalink and eastern meadowlark, two native bird
32:57
species listed as threatened under the Federal
32:59
Species at Risk Act. However, extensive encroachment
33:02
by gray dogwood and other shrub species had reduced
33:05
habitat suitability. The project will look to
33:07
reestablish a structurally native grass and forb
33:10
community for bobalink, eastern meadowlark, and
33:13
other native ground nesting grassland species
33:15
and pollinators. According to Cataraqui Conservation,
33:18
the restoration plan for this project has been
33:20
designed in accordance with the Migratory Birds
33:22
Convention Act and Species Conservation Act.
33:24
It will prioritize long -term habitat function
33:26
and ecological resilience, ensuring the restored
33:29
meadow develops the vegetation structure and
33:31
plant diversity required to support breeding
33:33
grassland birds. The timeline for the project
33:35
has been designed to have the least amount of
33:37
disturbance for species at risk. The project
33:39
will run until spring of 2027. The work has been
33:43
structured using an integrated pest management
33:45
approach. A range of available methodologies
33:47
have been combined to most effectively restore
33:49
the grassland habitat at the south end of Lemoyne
33:52
Point Conservation Area. The goal is to minimize
33:54
negative environmental impacts and use only the
33:56
minimum amount of chemical intervention necessary
33:58
to successfully remove gray dogwood and establish
34:01
the native grassland ecosystem. Certain activities
34:03
will require restricting access to the project
34:06
area and surrounding trail network. Restrictions
34:08
and closures will be limited to a few hours or
34:10
a few days. Closures will be posted on social
34:13
media and signage will be placed in parking areas
34:15
and trails to notify visitors. Cataract Way Conservation
34:18
notes the project will ultimately enhance biodiversity,
34:21
provide critical habitat to threatened species,
34:23
as well as improve the site's overall resilience
34:25
to climate change and invasive species. For Amherst
34:28
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
34:31
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. The
34:43
Canadian Walk for Veterans Kingston takes place
34:46
Sunday, September 27th at the Kingston Military
34:49
Family Resource Centre at 32 Lundy's Lane. Veterans,
34:52
military members, families and community supporters
34:54
are invited to walk in support of those who have
34:57
served, those currently serving and the families
34:59
who support them. Registration is at noon and
35:01
the walk begins at 1pm. There are 5k and 2 .3k
35:05
walk options. Families, strollers and pets are
35:08
welcome. For more information and to register
35:10
visit kmfrc .com. For Amherst Island Radio and
35:15
the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
35:18
This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township Council
35:30
agreed to proclaim October 21st, 2026 as the
35:34
26th Annual Child Care Worker and Early Childhood
35:37
Educator Appreciation Day. The day is in recognition
35:39
of the education, dedication, and commitment
35:42
of child care workers to children, their families,
35:44
and quality of life within their community. The
35:47
proclamation request noted that trained and knowledgeable
35:49
registered early childhood educators are the
35:52
key to quality in early years and child care
35:54
programs. It stated that early learning and child
35:57
care promotes the well -being of and responds
35:59
to the needs of families as well as the broader
36:01
community by supporting quality of life. Each
36:04
year, the day is proclaimed by the Ontario Coalition
36:06
for Better Child Care, the Canadian Union of
36:09
Public Employees, as well as municipalities and
36:12
school boards across Ontario. The day is marked
36:14
by hundreds of child care centres, unions and
36:17
allies. Councillor Paul Broderick showed his
36:19
support for proclaiming the day. Having spent
36:21
30 years in education, this is a... core group
36:25
both within the school system and within child
36:28
care that are vastly underpaid and underappreciated
36:31
at times, but their contribution to youth is,
36:35
it can't be measured. For Amherst Island Radio
36:37
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
36:40
Evans. This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township
36:52
will be recognizing October 10th, 2026 as National
36:56
Dental Care Day. Council heard from founder of
36:58
the day, Dr. Raj Kanuja, who spoke about the
37:01
importance of improving access to oral health
37:03
care. Kanuja explains how and why he started
37:06
the initiative. National Dental Care Day started
37:09
from one simple moment. Years ago, I met a single
37:12
mother who was living with severe dental pain.
37:16
She avoided treatment because she could not afford
37:19
it. She told me she was saving every dollar she
37:22
had so she could keep a promise to buy used hockey
37:26
equipment for her child. She chose her child
37:29
over herself. That moment stayed with me because
37:33
dental pain is not just about teeth. It affects
37:36
confidence, sleep, work, mental health. and dignity.
37:41
That is why National Dental Care Day was created.
37:45
Kanuja speaks about how the initiative has grown
37:47
and notes numbers from last year. What started
37:50
as one free dental day has now grown into a national
37:54
movement after 13 years of volunteer care. Last
37:58
year alone, 219 Canadians received care across
38:03
the country through volunteer clinics. and professionals.
38:07
National Dental Care Day was proclaimed by 25
38:10
municipalities, three premiers, and two lieutenant
38:13
governors. It was also spoken about in the Senate
38:17
of Canada by Senator Muhammad Iqbal Rawalia and
38:21
entered into the Hansard parliamentary record.
38:25
National Dental Care Day mobilizes volunteer
38:27
dental professionals, students, clinics, educators
38:30
and community partners across Canada to provide
38:33
essential dental care to underserved individuals
38:35
and families without cost, barriers or judgment.
38:39
The initiative emphasizes the importance of oral
38:41
health as an essential component of overall health
38:43
and well -being. Kanuja explains the importance
38:46
of bringing National Dental Care Day to more
38:48
communities. The need for dental care is not
38:51
limited to one city or one region. It exists
38:54
in every community. Dentistry is expensive. and
38:58
not being able to afford care forces many people
39:02
to live in pain, lose teeth, hide their smile,
39:07
and lose confidence and dignity. For Amherst
39:10
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
39:12
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. The
39:25
Bath Museum and Visitor Center is welcoming the
39:27
community back for another season of Culture
39:29
Talks, a speaker series celebrating history,
39:31
heritage, and storytelling. Hosted at the museum,
39:34
the series brings together local historians,
39:36
musicians, and researchers who share unique perspectives
39:38
on the region's history. Held on the third Monday
39:41
of the month from 6 to 7 p .m., Culture Talks
39:43
offer an opportunity to explore fascinating cultural
39:46
topics in an intimate setting. Tickets are $5
39:49
per person and seating is limited. Monday, September
39:51
28th at 6 p .m., Steve and Bruce Med will be
39:54
be presenting a combination of song ballads and
39:56
storytelling. The evening will cover historical
39:58
events and people in pre -Confederation Canada,
40:01
including indigenous connections, French explorers,
40:03
loyalist refugees of the American Revolution,
40:06
the War of 1812, and more. Stephen Bruce Med
40:08
is a performing songwriter of historical ballads
40:11
and spiritual songs. His songs are inspired by
40:13
Canadian history, the remote and beautiful landscapes
40:16
he explored as a geologist, and social issues
40:18
of the day. Monday, October 26th at 6 p .m.,
40:21
Phil Norton will be telling his 2021 bicycle
40:23
camping journey from Prince Edward County to
40:25
the Mexican border. Repeating a journey he did
40:28
in 1979 and 1980 as a 22 -year -old, Norton set
40:32
off again in 2021 at the age of 63. Norton tells
40:35
personal stories about his adventure combined
40:37
with the geography and people he met along the
40:39
way. Culture Talks take place at the Bath Museum
40:42
located at 434 Main Street in Bath. Tickets for
40:45
each talk can be purchased online. For more information
40:48
about Culture Talks and other upcoming programs,
40:50
visit loyalist .ca slash events. For Amherst
40:53
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
40:56
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. This
41:00
has been North Shore News and Interviews. If
41:03
you have an idea for a story, or want to create
41:06
stories for the show, consider joining our volunteer
41:10
team. Contact Amherst Island Radio for more details.