Latest / North Shore News / September 18th, 2025

Transcript

September 18th, 2025 · North Shore News

0:07
Welcome to North Shore News and Interviews on
0:10
Amherst Island Radio. Each week we keep you updated
0:14
on newsworthy events, happenings and conversations
0:17
that we've had with people in the local community
0:20
and beyond. I am Eric Trombley and this is North
0:29
Shore News. Hockey fever is returning to Kingston.
0:33
The Kingston Frontbacks are set to drop the puck
0:35
on what promises to be one of the most exciting
0:37
seasons. In recent memories, they face off against
0:40
the Ottawa 67s this Friday, September 19th. 7
0:44
-0 -5 start at the slush puppy place for their
0:47
highly anticipated home opener. After an electrifying
0:50
playoff run last season that saw the Black and
0:53
Gold reach the second round and generate the
0:56
best playoff crowds in years. The Frontenacs
0:59
are ready to build on that momentum with a fresh
1:01
roster that blends veteran leadership with some
1:04
of the most promising young talent in the Ontario
1:07
Hockey League. The excitement starts early with
1:09
the fourth annual home opener tailgate party
1:12
proudly presented by Scotiabank and taking place
1:15
from five o 'clock to six thirty right there.
1:18
On the tragically hip way in front of the slush
1:20
puppy place, families can enjoy food, drinks,
1:22
live entertainment before heading inside for
1:25
what the team is calling an electric. What makes
1:29
this season special, you might ask? Well, the
1:31
Fronachs have assembled an intriguing mix of
1:34
returning stars and exciting newcomers. Veterans
1:37
like Jacob Battaglia, Tyler Hopkins, Kieran Durbin,
1:41
Van Williamson anchor the roster, providing that
1:43
leadership and experience that drove last season's
1:47
success. But all eyes will be on the team's impressive
1:50
rookie class. The crown jewel of Kingston's future
1:53
is 16 -year -old Alex Kuhlman, selected 9th overall
1:57
in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection Draft. The
2:01
6 '370 lb son of former Toronto Maple Leaf and
2:05
New York Islanders forward Nikolai Kuhlman brings
2:09
size, skill, and of course proper bloodline to
2:13
the frond nacks. General Manager Corey Cooper
2:15
calls him a modern day, two -way forward with
2:18
a high ceiling. Who has the framework to be a
2:22
pro? in the future. Joining Kuhlman in his fellow
2:25
first -round pick, Matthew Henderson selected
2:27
17th overall, described as a smooth skating defender
2:30
that is calm under pressure and plays tons of
2:34
big minutes. Between the pipes, 17 -year -old
2:37
goaltender Gavin Betts takes over as the team's
2:40
number one netminder, fresh off a bronze medal
2:42
at the Hlinka -Gretzky Cup. Betts is poised for
2:45
stardom. and could be the difference maker in
2:48
Kingston's quest for playoff success this year.
2:51
And the rivalry element adds even more spice
2:53
to Friday's opener, the Ottawa 67s. Of course,
2:56
they're coming to Kingston to visit the slush
2:58
puppy place, bringing with them the natural intensity
3:01
of a regional matchup that promises to showcase
3:04
the best of OHL hockey right from game one. Head
3:08
coach Troy Mann returns behind the bench after
3:10
guiding the team to a 40 -20 -5 -3 regular season
3:14
record. and of course that memorable playoff
3:17
run from last year. With significant roster turnover
3:20
following the graduation of key veterans, Mann
3:22
faces the exciting challenge of integrating this
3:25
fresh new talent while maintaining the competitive
3:27
standard that energized the community last spring.
3:31
For Frontenac fans like you, This represents
3:34
more than just a hockey game. It's a continuation
3:36
of a special relationship between you and the
3:39
team and the community all around it and the
3:42
buzz that reached new heights during last season's
3:44
playoff runs. We want to keep it going. There
3:46
was certainly an excitement in the air and a
3:48
buzz all around the city and the region. I'm
3:50
talking about Napanee, Loyalist Township, Stone
3:52
Mills and it came to a fever pitch in the second
3:55
round with the best playoff crowds. in years.
3:59
So mark your calendar. That's Friday, September
4:00
19th, 7 .05 start at Slush Puppy Place. Come
4:03
early for a tailgate party. Stay late to celebrate
4:06
what could be the start of something truly special
4:09
for Kingston Frontenac's hockey. Tickets are
4:12
available now and the team encourages fans to
4:14
secure their season membership even to be part
4:17
of what promises to be a memorable campaign in
4:20
the black and gold. I am Eric Tremblay and this
4:24
is North Shore News. All sides have backed down
4:33
and agreed to work together after the town of
4:36
Greater Napanee was warned about potential legal
4:38
action from the county. Lennox and Addington
4:40
originally requested that the town cease distributing
4:43
its encampment protocol map that identified public
4:46
property, including county lands. Greater Napanee
4:49
Council confirmed a letter they received September
4:51
9th from the county states that Lennox and Addington
4:53
does not intend to pursue any further legal remedy
4:56
to the disputes that existed. The letter also
4:58
noted that the county would pass its own bylaw
5:01
regarding the matter at hand. CAO of Greater
5:03
Napanee Matthew Grant explains the timeline of
5:06
events. I'm pleased to say that we're now at
5:08
a place where I kind of wish we had started,
5:11
but we did receive correspondence from the County
5:14
of Lennox and Addington. It is their intention
5:16
to pursue their own bylaw. We did send a letter
5:20
to the County of Lennox and Addington following
5:23
our last meeting. We offer to assist them in
5:27
their bylaw. I'm happy to share that we've already
5:31
made that offer to the chief administrative officer
5:33
of the county, as well as the head administrative
5:37
head of Pellis. And we sent a note to the county
5:41
of Lennox and Addington as they are identified
5:45
by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs as the service
5:47
manager accountable for service delivery. And
5:49
we also sent a note to Pellis and the mayor sent
5:53
one to the Pellis chair. as the operational service
5:57
provider. Grant explains the latest recommendation
5:59
he made to Council, which they approved at their
6:01
meeting. I'm recommending that we offer use of
6:03
our facilities in the community and that Council
6:07
authorize staff to waive any fees that we might
6:09
charge so that when they engage in consultation,
6:14
as we engage in consultation, that they can do
6:16
so with whatever facilities at our disposal that
6:19
they feel will fit their plan. Grant details
6:21
how staff are moving forward. Council and staff
6:24
look forward to putting this unfortunate incident
6:27
behind us. And, you know, I know that, you know,
6:32
staff are very much looking forward to proceeding
6:35
forward with our partners, with mutual respect
6:39
and mutual support. With that in mind, we are
6:43
pleased to assist with any upcoming consultations,
6:47
bylaw development, or activities with the Summit.
6:50
any of the ongoing efforts of the provincially
6:54
funded and mandated organizations responsible
6:56
for housing and homelessness. Mayor Terry Richardson
6:58
notes the importance of working together while
7:00
trying to help unhoused individuals and families.
7:02
We've got to move on from this. We have to work
7:05
together to try and resolve a multifaceted problem
7:10
that exists in every municipality. in this country
7:13
and probably in this continent. So if we don't,
7:16
we're going to continue to spin our wheels and
7:18
the people that we're supposed to be representing
7:20
are not going to be represented. For Amherst
7:22
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
7:25
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. The
7:36
Lenox and Addington County OPP Detachment presented
7:38
their annual report, including data about crime,
7:42
traffic enforcement, and community well -being.
7:44
The report noted an increase in violent crimes
7:46
through 2024 and the creation of a crime prevention
7:49
and community support bureau. The report also
7:52
highlights the detachment's initiatives and successes
7:54
from the past year. Inspector David Toville noted
7:57
where the department is at and what they're looking
7:59
forward to in the future. highlights our crime,
8:02
roadway, waterway and trail safety and our community
8:04
well -being data and highlights successes from
8:07
the past year. This 2024 report also is a midway
8:11
report for the Lennington Addington OPP 2023
8:14
to 2025 action plan and provides updates on our
8:18
current progress. and our action plan commitments.
8:23
So at the end of 2025, we will be going into
8:25
our next action report. And what's going to be
8:27
exciting about this one is this time with having
8:29
our detachment board in place, we're going to
8:31
be working with the board who represents our
8:34
communities to understand what our priorities
8:37
are in each of the communities. And that will
8:39
form our action plan for our officers moving
8:41
forward over the next few years. We'll be able
8:44
to have those little milestone markers throughout
8:47
that term. to evaluate how we're doing and, you
8:52
know, pivot as needed to ensure we're meeting
8:55
the needs of our community. Along with the creation
8:57
of the Crime Prevention and Community Support
8:59
Bureau, the detachment's response to an increase
9:01
in violent crimes includes more training for
9:04
officers. Tovel explains the training they've
9:06
implemented. We've increased the number of officers
9:08
trained in major case investigations, including
9:11
human trafficking, intimate partner violence
9:14
investigations, and investigative interviewing
9:18
techniques. In courses like the human traffic
9:20
investigations, these are new courses over the
9:22
last few years. Again, it's a new concern in
9:24
policing that we never really... had to worry
9:28
about a number of years ago but it's just the
9:31
reality of society now and you know we've learned
9:34
that human trafficking goes through all of our
9:36
communities and and often it's within all of
9:39
our communities it's important for our officers
9:40
to to understand and recognize those signs for
9:44
those types of crimes. Toville details the importance
9:46
of training and notes the amount of new young
9:48
officers on their front line. During the 2023
9:52
to 25 action plan period Our detachment, the
9:55
Lenin -Static NOPP, have increased our capacity
9:58
for investigative excellence in a number of ways.
10:01
Training has been key for us in training our
10:03
people. Our detachment frontline in particular
10:08
is made up of a lot of new young officers. Probably
10:13
most of our shifts have less than four years
10:15
policing experience. Probably 80 % of that is
10:18
less than three years. We have officers who have
10:20
been on a year and a half coaching new recruits.
10:22
And that's just the reality of policing across
10:24
I think across the country. So it's not unique
10:27
to the OPP. It's just a reality. And with that
10:30
then comes a high demand for training. And so
10:33
that's a big burden to put on our Ontario Police
10:35
College and our provincial police academy out
10:37
of OPP headquarters. Toville spoke about road
10:40
safety in the area. Our officers remain steadfast
10:43
in their commitment to keeping our roads safe.
10:45
We're pretty proud to say that our impaired driving
10:47
enforcement has increased 20 % over where it
10:49
was in 2023. Our speed enforcement's increased
10:53
32 % over 2023. Our steep belt enforcement has
10:57
doubled since 2023 and our distracting driving
11:00
enforcement is near tripled since 2023. Fatal
11:05
motor vehicle collisions were reduced and I'm
11:07
pleased to report that year to date there have
11:10
been no fatalities. Personal injury collisions
11:13
and property damage collisions have reduced an
11:16
additional 14 % year -to -date right now from
11:19
where they were in 2024 through the efforts of
11:22
our officers. Tobil went on to speak about waterways
11:24
and trails in the area as well. We've engaged
11:27
with community stakeholders and regional traffic
11:29
teams to address a number of specific issues
11:32
on our roads, waterways and trails and during
11:35
this action plan period we've committed to a
11:38
full -time marine program. We've done this for
11:40
a few years now and between May to September
11:43
the OPP has full -time operators on our waterways
11:47
throughout Lennington and Addington. In 2024,
11:50
our operators alone engaged more than 1 ,300
11:54
operators on our waterways promoting recreational
11:56
safety with a focus on preventing unnecessary
11:59
injury or death. Toville noted the amount of
12:01
mental health calls they received over the last
12:03
year. We are down in our mental health calls
12:05
this year. Last year we had 338 calls year to
12:08
date. We're at 300 right now, so we are down
12:10
a bit, but still 300 calls with regards to mental
12:14
health. When we didn't at one time have that
12:17
social services available and it was police responding
12:20
who weren't trained to deal with providing the
12:22
assistance to these people, that's in place now.
12:26
Toville detailed some of the new technologies
12:28
officers are using. The OPP has invested heavily
12:31
on our frontline mobile digital technology. Over
12:34
the last year, year and a half, all of our cruisers
12:37
now have in -car cameras. They have cameras not
12:41
only recording exterior of the car, but we also
12:43
have cameras inside the front seat, back seat
12:46
for when we do have prisoners. All officers now
12:49
have body worn cameras that are... activated
12:54
through self -activation or when we activate
12:57
our emergency lights in the cruisers, not only
12:58
do our in -car cameras come on, but our body
13:00
-worn cameras also. And all that video evidence
13:03
is captured in cloud base. Each cruiser has mobile
13:07
workstations. Each officer has now been issued
13:11
a mobile cell phone, and the purpose of the cell
13:14
phone is all the video evidence that's coming
13:16
from our in -car camera, body -worn camera, and
13:20
taking audio statements. That's all tethered
13:22
through the mobile phone, and our officers do
13:24
a lot of the work in uploading that through that
13:27
device. We've also trained our officers in the
13:32
community, the new community safety outreach
13:34
system, commonly referred to as a CCTV. So Greater
13:37
Napanee area, through grant funding and working
13:40
with Leningston and NPP, have enhanced their
13:44
CCTV system in the downtown and the main intersection
13:48
areas. There was a couple of years ago when I
13:50
first started as a Dutch commander, there were
13:52
a few cameras in place and they were looking
13:54
to tear down a building. So they called me just
13:56
to... give me a heads up that infrastructure
13:59
was going to be torn down and we were able to
14:02
stop that and actually take advantage of a grant.
14:05
a substantial grant from the Ontario government
14:07
and the CCTV network we now have in the Greater
14:10
Napanee area has got AI technology, it's got
14:13
a capacity for automated license plate recognition
14:16
and those sorts of things. We've used it for
14:19
locating missing persons, solving crimes. And
14:26
we have representatives from all of our communities.
14:28
I'm very, very pleased with the relationship
14:32
that we've established within the board already.
14:35
So great communication. and a lot of great stuff
14:38
ahead. Chairman Norrie and I attended Ontario
14:43
Association of Police Service Board meeting in
14:45
London a couple months ago together and we're
14:49
able to talk about a lot of policing issues and
14:51
community safety issues that we share and the
14:54
work that we're looking forward to doing in the
14:57
coming year. So things are working really well
14:59
there. For Amherst Island Radio and the Local
15:02
Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is
15:05
North Shore News. According to their 2024 annual
15:17
report, Loyalist Township Emergency Services
15:19
responded to a total of 542 calls for service
15:22
in 2024. This included a total of 65 fires, resulting
15:26
in just over $2 million of loss. Fire Chief Kent
15:30
Reedman noted an approximate percentage of accident
15:32
calls that come from the 401. When I look at
15:36
the stats from last year, it's about around 100
15:41
calls. where car accidents or motor vehicle collisions,
15:45
exactly 100 out of our calls. So that accounts
15:48
for about 18 and a half percent of our calls
15:51
are car accidents. Out of that, I don't have
15:54
the specifics on the 401, which I can get and
15:57
it's probably a good number to actually keep
15:59
track of. But I would. Just a rough guess, we're
16:03
going to look at probably at least 75 % give
16:05
or take of our calls of our motor vehicle collisions
16:09
would be on the 401. So a significant amount.
16:11
So you're probably looking at last year, give
16:13
or take 75 calls on the 401. Councillor Paul
16:17
Prodrick spoke about the time spent on the 401.
16:20
The chief and I talked last night and I was really
16:22
intrigued by how much time is spent on 401 calls
16:25
because I think people need to realize how much,
16:27
you know, our time is spent on the major highway.
16:31
Reedman provided counsel with statistics and
16:34
general information on a variety of operational
16:36
and division -specific aspects of their team
16:38
in 2024. They welcomed Reedman as their new Fire
16:42
Chief last year, along with two Deputy Fire Chiefs.
16:45
Just under 6 ,500 hours of training were delivered
16:47
to staff in 2024. They counted a total of 29
16:51
more service calls in 2024 than in 2023, representing
16:54
a 5 .35 % increase. The Amherst View station
16:58
responded to the most calls in 2024, being the
17:01
primary response area for 225 calls. Reidman
17:05
spoke about the breakdown of their annual report.
17:08
It's based on just the average of the municipality.
17:10
We could separate the more urban areas out. It
17:15
does create some significant differences within
17:18
that reporting structure. It definitely can be
17:21
done. It was just done as an average over the
17:25
entire township. For Amherst Island Radio and
17:28
the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
17:31
This is North Shore News. Greater Napanee Council
17:42
decided to defer a decision about selling a piece
17:44
of land with a former CN rail line on it. Staff
17:47
will wait to hear from the town's ad hoc committee
17:49
on trails. In May of 2023, council held a meeting
17:52
regarding the land in question and created the
17:55
ad hoc committee on trails. The trail, previously
17:58
used by the community for recreation, was recently
18:00
closed following an increase in use of private
18:03
property by individuals and motorized vehicles.
18:06
The public portion of the trail ends soon after
18:08
crossing Highway 401 and leaves no other option
18:10
but for users to access non -public land if they
18:13
wish to continue. The town has since blocked
18:15
access over the bridge on advice of the ad hoc
18:18
committee. Working on crossing the 401 is underway,
18:20
but plans cannot be finalized until the MTO finishes
18:23
widening the highway. The town is also waiting
18:26
for clarity from the MTO on exactly how in -town
18:28
trails will be able to cross Highway 401. Mayor
18:31
Terry Richardson explained why they decided to
18:34
defer to the ad hoc committee. We've employed
18:36
an ad hoc committee to do this work. They've
18:40
done a marvelous bunch of work. We have a direction
18:43
to go in. We should bring them back and have
18:45
a conversation with them. because they're the
18:46
ones that did all the work on this. And so maybe
18:49
what we should do is before we change direction,
18:51
because we did have a direction with the resolution,
18:54
before we change direction, maybe we should have
18:56
a chat with them and see what their thoughts
18:59
are. And then, because let's face it, none of
19:02
us had worked on this, and we had six very able,
19:05
competent people that worked on this thing. And
19:07
I'll tell you, they came up with some solutions
19:09
that I didn't think were possible. And I just
19:12
don't think it's fair that the ad hoc committee
19:14
for us to make a decision this evening without
19:17
actually consulting with them. I just think we
19:19
owe it to these six people to come and have a
19:22
chat with us because I gotta admit they have
19:25
done an absolutely marvelous bunch of work on
19:27
this thing. The Town's CAO, Matthew Grant, originally
19:30
recommended removing the resolution from the
19:32
Town's resolution tracker, but staff did not
19:34
agree. Grant explains. Since this report's been
19:38
published, a number of council members have been
19:42
kind enough to come forward and let me know that
19:44
the initial report as written really missed the
19:47
mark. And they explain the reasons why, and I
19:51
have to agree with them. And what specifically
19:53
members of council said to me was by removing
19:57
this from the resolution tracker, It doesn't
20:00
sufficiently remind us of our obligation to the
20:03
stakeholders that we made. And so for clarity,
20:06
it was a good deed that was not necessarily well
20:09
thought out and council who did not have any
20:14
desire to change what we were doing was kind
20:17
enough to point that out. So it is my intention
20:20
to with some of the background information and
20:25
alternatives to consider to sort of put us back
20:29
on track there. Councillor Michael Schenck explained
20:32
why listening to the ad hoc committee's recommendation
20:34
made the most sense. We all agreed the ad hoc
20:37
committee said we're going to close the railway
20:39
line and the town went ahead and we put up barriers
20:41
but closed no trespassing on the railway bridge
20:44
itself and it's proven in the in how many reports
20:48
that we've seen that saying that that railway
20:51
line ends and doesn't go anywhere. It's just
20:55
going across behind somebody's property. I always
20:58
try to put yourself in the other person's position,
21:00
all right, or the other farmer's position, or
21:02
the other thing, what would you feel? Now, we've
21:05
already gone through all these public meetings
21:07
and discussions and everything else, and then
21:10
we're gonna leave it to a new council, and you
21:13
never know who you're gonna get, and they're
21:15
gonna say, oh, by the way, we're gonna make this
21:18
into a walking trail. Now, you've got the county
21:21
arguing about homelessness. You know you're gonna
21:24
leave public property behind a multi -million
21:26
dollar farm and they're not supposed to be upset.
21:30
I would lose my mind. Councillor Angela Hicks
21:32
explained why deferring to the ad hoc committee
21:34
was council's best option. I don't have a crystal
21:38
ball but I do not foresee in 50 years any way
21:41
possible for that rail line and again that's
21:43
already been determined by the ad hoc committee
21:46
and council has accepted their recommendations.
21:50
I don't agree necessarily with putting it up
21:53
for sale right now, but I think it should be.
21:57
We can remove the resolution. I like the resolution
21:59
because it's there and it's a glaring reminder
22:01
to everyone. on this council and future councils
22:05
that it needs to be dealt with, that there is
22:07
a project underway. It's just sitting there,
22:10
it's not doing anything. I don't know what the
22:12
amount of money would be that we would get for
22:15
it, but I think good faith to the ratepayers
22:17
of the town and the ad hoc committee is to just
22:20
leave it, not sell it right now until we've made
22:23
further headway with the MTO on getting over
22:27
or under. the 401. Shank noted potential plans
22:30
he's seen and the importance of the recommendation
22:33
of the ad hoc committee. If the trail was going
22:36
somewhere and it was not in a dead end, you would
22:40
have an argument by leaving it open and not having
22:42
it in a surplus list. Camden Road, when they
22:46
expand the 401, they will be doing redevelopment
22:49
on that bridge in a walking or whatever. A couple
22:52
of designs that I saw was one going north with
22:55
the Old Skidoo Trail. One going possibly over
22:57
the Camden Road over that bridge there. But at
23:01
no time do I believe MTO will go underground
23:04
right where the railway bridge is at this current
23:08
time. So therefore, we got a dead -end trail,
23:11
and we've had some very intelligent people sitting
23:13
on those committees. And if we say, well, by
23:16
the way, for the last three years that you've
23:18
been doing this committee, and we're, you know
23:20
what, we don't agree with you. and you've already
23:22
given to our public meetings, and you gave our
23:25
presentation, and we didn't question you there,
23:27
and now we're going to go ahead and say, ah,
23:29
we don't want to sell it? When they're saying,
23:31
hey, guys, we don't need it, well, I don't want
23:34
to be down that road. CAO Matthew Grant explained
23:37
what future talks with the ad hoc committee could
23:39
look like. I'm confident that they would be very
23:42
receptive to sharing their perspectives that
23:45
they've already given and to hearing that we're
23:48
open to making on -the -ground progress. on trails
23:53
within the town. I think in some of the conversations
23:57
that I've had is talk is great, but investing
24:03
in some of the trail stuff that we have on the
24:05
ground is even better. Staff confirmed that any
24:07
discussion on the sale of the lands cannot occur
24:10
until it has been deemed surplus by council.
24:12
This procedure would need to be accompanied by
24:14
public consultation. For Amherst Island Radio
24:17
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
24:20
Evans. This is North Shore News. Landowners in
24:31
Loyalist Township have already showed interest
24:33
in a proposal brought forth by Westbridge Renewable
24:35
Energy for a large -scale solar farm. The proposed
24:38
project would be located on approximately 800
24:41
acres of private land near Switzerville. With
24:43
a target operation date in May of 2030, the project
24:47
would be capable of supplying energy to 20 ,000
24:49
homes. According to the Township's zoning and
24:52
official plan policies, Loyalist is recognized
24:54
as having some of the highest photovoltaic potential
24:57
in the province. Westbridge Renewable Energy
24:59
is a Canadian -based developer focused on utility
25:02
-scale solar photovoltaic projects. They currently
25:04
have operations in Canada, USA, the UK, and Europe.
25:08
Director and Executive Chair of Westbridge Renewable
25:11
Energy, Scott Kelly, explains the components
25:13
of the project and what the site would look like.
25:16
Components would really be the solar PV photovoltaic
25:20
panels in a rural environment. quiet generating
25:25
solar energy and clean electricity to connect
25:29
to the grid and supply to the local community
25:31
and industry. In terms of what it would look
25:34
like, typically rows of 10 meter solar panels,
25:38
some very small substations and inverters, and
25:42
gravel access roads and perimeter fencing. We
25:44
try to keep a fairly low as much of a low impact
25:48
as possible and protect the local environment
25:51
as much as possible and it's very key in our
25:54
site criteria and our development. Kelly speaks
25:57
about the proposed site south of the 401 near
26:00
Switzerville. This is subject to change. We're
26:02
going through quite a bit of environmental and
26:06
other consultation work, working with the local
26:09
municipalities and trying to refine and fine
26:12
-tune this. Kelly explains how the company chooses
26:14
an ideal site. The way we look at projects and
26:18
the way we would select an ideal site is obviously
26:22
is there availability on the local transmission
26:25
line to add new power and can we connect to it
26:29
in an economic way and transfer and transmit
26:32
the clean energy in an economical and efficient
26:35
way. We look for non -prime agricultural land
26:39
where there's very good solar. radiance meaning
26:42
the ability to generate an excellent amount of
26:46
energy that makes the project economical. Where
26:49
there's definite landowner interest we see the
26:52
landowners as very much as our partners and where
26:55
there is municipal and community support and
26:58
very much where we're working within the guidelines
27:00
and the policies of the municipalities and the
27:03
communities that we are partnering with. Kelly
27:05
notes how the company collaborates with the communities
27:08
they work within. All of our projects are very
27:12
much elaboration with communities in which we
27:15
are working with. We spend a lot of time with
27:18
the municipalities, with the local landowners,
27:22
working within the regulations and the environment
27:24
that we're working in. Every project is unique
27:28
and we look at ourselves as long -term partners
27:32
with community and do our very best to benefit
27:35
the community in every way we can. Kelly explains
27:38
how the company establishes a community benefit
27:40
fund for communities they work with. In terms
27:43
of adding back to the community, it's something
27:46
we very much take as part of our project. Every
27:52
project that we build and plan and bring to market
27:58
includes a small fund that would uh essentially
28:04
share some of the revenue and some of the benefit
28:06
and some of the funding and money that comes
28:09
from this project with the local municipality.
28:12
COO and director with Westbridge Renewable Energy
28:14
Margaret McKenna speaks about the lifespan of
28:17
the project. The typical lifespan can be kind
28:19
of anywhere between 35 and 50 years depending
28:24
on weather. the panels are replaced and how many
28:29
times they are replaced during the life of the
28:31
project. There will be a decommissioning plan.
28:35
It's required as part of the renewable energy
28:39
approval process and we anticipate that there
28:42
would be coordination and consultation with the
28:47
Loyalist Planning Department in terms of what
28:50
that looks like. Kelly explains the timeline
28:52
of their proposal and their steps going forward.
28:55
We did have a pre -consultation meeting at the
28:58
end of July. We have met with several landowners.
29:01
I've met with several of them personally in the
29:02
last few weeks myself and we're planning an open
29:05
house just around the corner. on the 25th of
29:10
August at the Odessa Agricultural Society Fairground
29:13
to discuss face -to -face with anyone in the
29:16
community who would like to attend. And we'll
29:18
be back in September with much more finalized
29:23
plans and be coming to the council for some support.
29:29
And the final submission is October 16th. For
29:34
Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
29:37
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
29:40
News. Loyalist Township Council approved the
29:50
continuation of the Community Tree Initiative
29:52
with consideration for expansion. Staff are now
29:55
looking to bring back a funding proposal for
29:57
the 2026 operating budget. The program supports
30:00
climate goals, including the planting of 20 ,000
30:02
trees in Loyalist Township by 2034. The program
30:06
was originally made possible through a $15 ,000
30:09
community grant. In its first year, grant funding
30:11
supported the purchase of 125 trees by residents.
30:14
Trees were valued between $165 and $175, reflecting
30:18
a discounted rate the township received through
30:21
bulk purchase. Residents paid $25 per tree, and
30:24
the grant subsidized the remaining cost of the
30:27
trees. The follow -up survey showed 100 % of
30:30
respondents recognized the benefits to the community.
30:32
Most participants expressed interest in participating
30:35
again, and over 75 residents signed up to be
30:38
notified of future tree programs. With hopes
30:40
of expanding the program, staff has recommended
30:42
increasing the number of trees available each
30:44
year, dependent on program uptake and success.
30:47
The recommendation would be 250 trees in 2026.
30:51
Deputy Mayor Nathan Townand showed his support
30:54
for continuing the program. The program is great.
30:56
I do think it should be expanded. I think it
31:00
conforms to our strategic plan. That's obvious,
31:03
particularly with respect to our climate action
31:05
plan. And I think we should find the means to
31:08
continue to fund it through our usual budget
31:10
process, which we do for all of our other items
31:13
that come under our strategic plan. Councillor
31:15
Paul Broderick explained why he thinks the program
31:17
should go through the budget process rather than
31:19
a community grant. By putting it through the
31:21
budget process we sort of have a better opportunity
31:24
to look at our needs and what we can afford at
31:27
that time. Councillor Jake Ennis disagreed and
31:29
explained why he wouldn't be supporting the motion.
31:32
I'm not going to support the motion. I think
31:33
it's the type of thing that should be supported
31:35
by the community grants policy and I would like
31:37
to see what staff would come back with as an
31:40
option there. Ultimately the motion was passed
31:42
and the program will be funded through the 2026
31:44
operating budget. For Amherst Island Radio and
31:48
the Local Journalism Initiative. I'm Ted Evans.
31:51
This is North Shore News. A new transportation
32:01
subsidy program could be coming to Lenox and
32:03
Addington County. County Council voted in favor
32:06
of supporting a local not -for -profit corporation
32:08
as they apply for grants to assist low -income
32:11
individuals and families with greater access
32:14
to transportation. The corporation's founder
32:16
Ronald Yeomans approached the county looking
32:18
for a letter of support to accompany grant proposals
32:21
for a transportation subsidy program. The program
32:24
would subsidize cab fares with a subsidy of $6
32:27
per ride. According to staff's report, the advantage
32:30
of using a cab is the door -to -door service,
32:32
which benefits people with disabilities and parents
32:35
of young children. It would also provide the
32:37
ability to pre -book rides. The service would
32:39
be available from 5 a .m. to midnight on weekdays
32:42
and 5 a .m. to 1 a .m. on weekends. Director
32:45
of Social Services with Lennox and Addington
32:47
County, Lynn Chenier spoke about the need for
32:49
better transportation options in the area. Transportation
32:52
in small rural municipalities is always a challenge.
32:56
We're quite a large geographic area with a smaller
33:00
population so public transportation is always
33:02
a challenge in terms of ridership and affordability.
33:05
So a non -profit corporation is requesting a
33:08
letter of support from the county. They've previously
33:11
been to Tepelas and it was supported as well.
33:14
Chenier noted the program would start in Greater
33:17
Napanee with hopes of growing. Initially they're
33:19
looking at Greater Napanee just because they're
33:23
not sure how successful they're going to be with
33:25
grants. They're starting small and hopefully
33:27
they hope to be able to expand in the future
33:30
to be the whole county. But at this time what
33:33
they're looking at is Napanee. They want to look
33:34
at what the ridership is, the true cost once
33:38
it's implemented and those kinds of things. On
33:40
January 9th, 2024, the Desirano Transit Service
33:43
implemented transit routes serving the Belleville
33:46
to Greater Napanee Corridor with a number of
33:48
stops within Greater Napanee. The funding for
33:50
this service expired on March 31st of this year.
33:54
At that time, Greater Napanee Council decided
33:56
there would be no extension made to the Desirano
33:58
Transit Agreement. They decided at that time
34:00
as well to explore alternate transit options,
34:03
giving consideration to Greater Napanee's population
34:05
and geography. For Amherst Island Radio and the
34:08
Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Tad Evans. This
34:11
is North Shore News. This has been North Shore
34:19
News and Interviews. If you have an idea for
34:23
a story or want to create stories for the show,
34:26
consider joining our 100 % volunteer team. Contact
34:31
Amherst Island Radio for more details.