Latest / North Shore News / June 23rd, 2026

Transcript

June 23rd, 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 has decided
0:27
to go ahead with a new staff plan to relocate
0:30
programming from the Leisure and Activity Centre
0:32
in Amherst View. Staff looked at feedback from
0:35
residents and completed a review on the space.
0:38
Staff's review confirmed recreation service levels
0:40
can be maintained through a combination of municipal
0:43
space and third -party facility use. Based on
0:45
program testing conducted in May and June, staff
0:48
found that the W .J. Henderson Community Centre
0:50
is only suitable for low -volume fitness programming,
0:53
but due to a number of factors including room
0:55
layout, ceiling height, acoustics, privacy and
0:58
overall functionality considerations, high -volume
1:01
fitness classes are better suited to third -party
1:03
spaces. Staff noted that deferring the closure
1:06
beyond August 1st, 2026 would impact ongoing
1:09
discussions related to childcare in the Township
1:11
and space negotiations with BGC Southeast. Members
1:15
of the community were out to voice concerns including
1:17
programming, scheduling, cost and location. This
1:21
is our community centre. The dispensing of programs
1:24
in multiple locations takes a step back. from
1:28
the goal of centralizing programs under one roof.
1:31
It is not about the boys and girls' deadline,
1:34
but about making the correct decision for the
1:36
whole community. Council should think carefully
1:39
and not be pressured into making this decision
1:41
to fit the Kingston Boys and Girls Club schedule.
1:43
There's a saying, your emergency is not my problem.
1:46
This decision should be made with complete information,
1:49
careful consideration, and without haste. It
1:51
took years to develop LAC. I acknowledge the
1:55
work to come up with a plan in short. in a short
1:57
period of time but this plan is in no way ready
1:59
to implement in such short notice. I think it
2:03
is great that the Boys and Girls Club have a
2:05
chance of obtaining a grant to open a daycare
2:08
and knowing this it gives me no pleasure to say
2:10
that I believe their benefits should not be our
2:14
losses. I believe renting these spaces in different
2:17
locations that is not under one roof will be
2:19
problematic as it has been in the past for staff
2:22
and members and these programs will also be more
2:25
vulnerable because now We are not owners, we
2:28
are renters. Manager of Parks and Recreation
2:31
with the Township Matthew Sobolewski speaks about
2:33
maintaining service levels. In this report we
2:35
have addressed that service levels that are expected
2:39
are maintained. So we do have 20 hours of fitness
2:42
classes that are outlined in this report and
2:46
75 % of those programs that are going to be moving
2:49
to an alternative location will be moving to
2:51
Rhythm Dance Centre and the other 25 % would
2:54
be moving to the WJH Community Room. as an alternative
2:58
location. So it does maintain our current service
3:00
levels as outlined in this report. Councillor
3:03
Paul Broderick spoke about residents concerns.
3:06
I guess I've been troubled since the start because
3:08
the word closure, I prefer the word relocation,
3:11
but that's just my English teaching background.
3:15
In the surveys that were presented to council,
3:19
there was 152 submissions on this. Number one
3:22
was program availability at 86%. And 93 % of
3:28
the 152 respondents wanted adequate programming.
3:33
Proderick went on to speak about the importance
3:35
of daycare in Loyalist Township. If you walk
3:37
around parts of the township, there are lots
3:40
of people looking for daycare. I think most some
3:43
of the questions have been answered. The big
3:45
question is can you have getting it all under
3:48
one roof? And right now I don't see that as an
3:50
option. I firmly believe in daycare and But I'm
3:57
firm on the daycare. And if it costs me, if I
4:00
should run again for election, so be it. I think
4:02
it's the right decision. And it can only help
4:05
our growing township. And I will stand by that.
4:09
Deputy Mayor Nathan Townand explains staff and
4:11
council's focus. I think throughout this process
4:16
over the last couple of months, the word I would
4:18
use to describe what we have been trying to do
4:21
here in collaboration with staff, obviously at
4:25
ground level, is accommodation. We are trying
4:29
to accommodate the feedback that we've had from
4:33
residents and users of the LAC. We're obviously
4:36
trying to accommodate child care spaces. We're
4:40
trying to accommodate the provincial government's
4:44
timeline for the funding that will make those
4:46
spaces possible. And so from our side, the work
4:49
has been... accommodation. The flip side to that
4:53
from members of the public is is compromise.
4:56
And, you know, I want to acknowledge that, you
4:59
know, we are asking residents and users to compromise,
5:01
you know, we are asking users to compromise the
5:05
fact that the LAC has been this particular space
5:09
that has functioned a particular way and meant
5:12
a particular thing to those users. And now we
5:15
are changing that town and went on to explain
5:18
their decision. We have tried to accommodate
5:20
and staff in particular have worked hard to do
5:24
that. There were comments made about the change
5:27
in this report versus the original report and
5:31
things do change and the democratic process has
5:35
worked here in this situation. We heard the feedback
5:41
and we responded to the feedback and staff have
5:44
responded to the feedback and staff have worked
5:46
to make adjustments and change courses to try
5:51
and, as I say, accommodate. I do think this is
5:54
in overall the best interests of the township.
5:57
I don't want the narrative here to be that young
6:00
people were chosen over old people, that childcare
6:02
spaces were chosen over seniors. That is a politicized
6:07
and simplistic way of looking at it that I don't
6:09
feel is the case. We are trying to accommodate.
6:14
our residents and the needs of our residents.
6:16
And that requires some compromise. Councillor
6:20
Jake Ennis noted the importance of childcare
6:22
in the area. I'm sympathetic to the need for
6:27
childcare. My youngest is in junior kindergarten,
6:30
so I've been through the daycare process for
6:33
two children recently. It's not easy. It's expensive.
6:38
Where responsibility lies for making that happen
6:40
across various organizations and levels of government.
6:44
However, I also believe that a large portion
6:48
of of the community sees this closure as as a
6:53
cut to their recreation services. And I find
6:57
it difficult to to argue with them in principle.
7:01
Councillor Carol Parks spoke about their decision
7:03
making process. From conversation with several
7:06
residents in regards to the lack closure, it
7:11
really is, the deputy has mentioned, a change
7:14
of venue or consideration for change of venue.
7:17
And the original report that came out, it was
7:18
moving everything under the WHC. So we did take
7:23
that information back from the residents that
7:25
was brought forward about the concerns about
7:27
the location and changed course. And I think
7:31
staff has provided some fairly substantial alternatives
7:35
to the LAC to run the program in between the
7:39
Rhythm Dance Center and also through the Presbyterian
7:42
Church. In an effort to accommodate the needs
7:44
of everyone involved, council voted in favor
7:46
of the new plan. For Amherst Island Radio and
7:50
the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
7:53
This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township Council
8:05
has agreed to a request made by the Odessa Agricultural
8:08
Society to waive fees for emergency services
8:11
at the tractor pole and demolition derby during
8:14
the Odessa Fair taking place July 24th to 26th.
8:18
Secretary and volunteer with the society Stephanie
8:20
Gimo spoke about the fair and the increase in
8:23
costs. The Odessa Fair has been a staple of Odessa
8:26
for 191 years and has traditionally relied on
8:30
emergency fire services at no cost us for fair
8:34
events. This bylaw is a drastic increase to our
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budget that we had not foreseen. As a non -profit
8:41
volunteer run organization, we do not have the
8:45
reserve funds to cover the substantial cost increase
8:48
to operate these community favourite events at
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the annual fair. Gimo noted the breakdown of
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costs for emergency services. Deputy Chief Grenham
8:57
stated that the Agricultural Society would be
9:00
required to pay for the fire emergency services
9:04
for the tractor pull and demolition derby at
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the annual Odessa Fair taking place July 24th
9:11
to 26th. Based on the hours, the fire department
9:14
was required for these events in 2025. The cost
9:18
would be $8 ,472 .20 for the tractor pull and
9:24
$3 ,230 .52 for the demolition derby, totaling
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$11 ,000. These fees include the MTO's apparatus
9:37
hourly rate and the hourly wage of each firefighter
9:41
for these events. The proceeds from the fair
9:53
enable the Agricultural Society to continue to
9:57
maintain the agricultural grounds and its buildings.
10:00
The grounds offer a park -like setting for the
10:02
community to enjoy, and the large palace building
10:05
is a space for the community to come together.
10:08
The Lions Club prepares the holiday baskets in
10:10
this space, and free events for families such
10:13
as See and Learn are held on the fairgrounds.
10:16
With the original staff recommendation being
10:18
to receive the delegation request from the Society,
10:21
Councilor Jake Ennis also added the motion to
10:23
waive the fees. I would move that Council receive
10:27
the delegation request from the Odessa Agricultural
10:29
Society. and to approve the request for waiver
10:33
of emergency services fees. So moved. Do I have
10:35
a seconder? Councillor Buechert. Ennis noted
10:38
possible funding options for the future. I think
10:40
it's a long -standing event, a community event
10:43
that's worth supporting. And I think perhaps
10:46
if we support it this year, the organization
10:50
could look to the community grant fund in the
10:53
future as a possibility. But I think it's a long
10:56
-standing event that we... should continue to
10:58
support. Councillor Mike Budarek spoke about
11:00
the importance of supporting events like the
11:02
fair in the community. I believe, too, that we
11:05
should support anything that gets people in our
11:07
community out and such a long -standing tradition
11:10
of the Odessa Fair and even the track pool is
11:14
fantastic. Great crowds and it's great to see.
11:19
people in our community come out and support
11:20
things. Council also asked for a staff report
11:23
to help guide decisions for future events. Councillor
11:25
Paul Proderick noted why they want the report.
11:28
There's no doubt that over the years, this has
11:30
been a very valuable, you know, 191 years. I
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think that's why all my grandparents were at
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that fair when they lived in Railton. And as
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we sort of move ahead, we want to quantify things
11:41
just so we get an overall picture and a staff
11:43
report looking at that for next year. Maybe there's
11:45
a Back and forth questions that can be answered
11:47
such as, you know, do you really need six firefighters
11:49
or whatever? Things like that that can come out
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of a report. For Amherst Island Radio and the
11:54
Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This
11:58
is North Shore News. Loyalist Township will be
12:09
recognizing October 10th, 2026 as National Dental
12:13
Care Day. Council heard from founder of the day,
12:15
Dr. Raj Kanuja, who spoke about the importance
12:18
of improving access to oral health care. Kanuja
12:20
explains how and why he started the initiative.
12:23
National Dental Care Day started from one simple
12:26
moment. Years ago, I met a single mother who
12:30
was living with severe dental pain. She avoided
12:33
treatment because she could not afford it. She
12:36
told me she was saving every dollar she had so
12:39
she could keep a promise to buy used hockey equipment
12:43
for her child. She chose her child over herself.
12:47
That moment stayed with me because dental pain
12:50
is not just about teeth. It affects confidence,
12:54
sleep, work, mental health. and dignity. That
12:58
is why National Dental Care Day was created.
13:01
Kanuja speaks about how the initiative has grown
13:03
and notes numbers from last year. What started
13:07
as one free dental day has now grown into a national
13:11
movement after 13 years of volunteer care. Last
13:15
year alone, 219 Canadians received care across
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the country through volunteer clinics. and professionals.
13:23
National Dental Care Day was proclaimed by 25
13:26
municipalities, three premiers, and two lieutenant
13:30
governors. It was also spoken about in the Senate
13:33
of Canada by Senator Muhammad Iqbal Rawalia and
13:38
entered into the Hansard Parliamentary record.
13:42
National Dental Care Day mobilizes volunteer
13:43
dental professionals, students, clinics, educators
13:47
and community partners across Canada to provide
13:49
essential dental care to underserved individuals
13:52
and families without cost, barriers or judgment.
13:55
The initiative emphasizes the importance of oral
13:57
health as an essential component of overall health
14:00
and well -being. Kanuja explains the importance
14:02
of bringing National Dental Care Day to more
14:04
communities. The need for dental care is not
14:07
limited to one city. or one region. It exists
14:11
in every community. Dentistry is expensive, and
14:15
not being able to afford care forces many people
14:18
to live in pain, lose teeth, hide their smile,
14:23
and lose confidence and dignity. For Amherst
14:26
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
14:29
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. The
14:41
County of Lenox and Addington has started a Schedule
14:43
C municipal class environmental assessment to
14:46
review and improve key intersections along County
14:49
Road 2. The study will look at options to enhance
14:51
safety traffic flow, and long -term design at
14:54
the intersections of County Road 1 and County
14:56
Road 2, as well as County Road 5 and County Road
14:59
2. Public information centers where residents
15:01
can learn more and share feedback are planned
15:03
for June and another in late fall. Dates and
15:05
venues will be provided as part of a formal notice
15:08
from the county. Attendees will be invited to
15:10
review the information presented and provide
15:12
feedback, questions, and comments that will be
15:14
considered as the study progresses. Once the
15:16
study is complete, an environmental study report
15:18
will be prepared and made available for comment.
15:25
For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
15:28
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
15:31
News. Construction of the new pump track at Loyalist
15:42
Park in Amherstview has begun. The expected completion
15:45
date is July 30th. Thanks to a confidential donation
15:48
of $500 ,000, the construction of the pump track
15:51
will not impact the Township's budget. It will
15:53
be developed at no cost to Loyalist Township
15:56
other than staff time to oversee it. The entire
15:59
project, including the skate park, is estimated
16:01
to cost approximately $1 million and is being
16:04
completed in two phases. Phase 1 is the construction
16:07
of the pump track, including a skate bowl, while
16:09
Phase 2 will include the completion of the remaining
16:12
skate park features, subject to securing additional
16:15
funding. Council heard a presentation in June
16:17
of 2025 from New Line Skateparks, an engineering
16:21
firm with expertise in skate park construction.
16:23
Now with approval, the company is beginning construction.
16:26
A public consultation process is currently taking
16:28
place on the Township's website. Vice President
16:31
and Director of Business Development with New
16:33
Line Skateparks Trevor Morgan spoke about the
16:35
benefits of the skateparks and pump tracks they
16:37
build and the one they're looking to build in
16:39
Loyalist Township. Very integrated, green space,
16:43
connections to pathways, colour, texture, art
16:48
installations that can be very exciting to...
16:50
Put a signature, I guess, of the community within
16:53
the architecture of the park, even through different
16:55
lighting schemes, if that's something that's
16:57
desired, and then accessibility. You're likely
16:59
to have folks from the adaptive community who
17:02
would like to ride this park. So yeah, every
17:04
park has its story, and we hope there's a story
17:07
to be told here for the Township. Morgan noted
17:09
the potential boost in tourism the facility could
17:12
bring. A network of these parks are being created
17:15
in communities across Canada and across Ontario,
17:18
and There's a large population that will want
17:21
to experience each different unique park and
17:23
communities and they'll purposely travel around,
17:26
stop in these communities, visit, spend money
17:28
at local businesses, maybe even spend a night.
17:31
I know when I was 12 years old on the family
17:33
trip and I was an avid skateboarder, I could
17:36
be very influential to spend an extra night in
17:38
the community if they had that one skate park.
17:40
Morgan spoke about the potential of events at
17:42
the facility as well. You're likely to have user
17:45
groups and community groups that will say, hey,
17:48
we would love to have some some level of organized
17:50
events there that could be lessons nights, some
17:54
community -based contests and so forth and so
17:57
we really try to design a modern park with that
18:01
in mind. Councillor Paul Proderick spoke about
18:03
neighboring communities and their skate parks
18:05
as well as what a new one in Amherstview could
18:08
do for the community. I think the closest one
18:10
to us is Napanee and then you go to Picton's
18:13
got a great site but again it's it's probably
18:15
20 years old now. I think it becomes a hub. for
18:19
gathering and it fits into the master recreation
18:23
plan. Also an opportunity to add something to
18:26
the community and I think we haven't had a recreational
18:30
facility addition in well over I'm going to say
18:33
40 years and again it's just through the the
18:36
leadership of a community member who wishes to
18:39
help out in times where we don't have a lot of
18:41
money to do a lot of things that we'd like to
18:43
do. Councillor Jake Ennis spoke about the donation
18:46
and choice of the donor. It's a very generous
18:49
donation. They're very appreciative for the donation
18:54
and I think the donor is chosen well. It's an
18:58
amenity that focuses on youth and one that I
19:02
think will be very well used. Deputy Mayor Nathan
19:05
Townand showed his appreciation towards the donor
19:07
as well as what the project will do for youth
19:09
in the area. It's incredibly generous and provides
19:13
an amazing opportunity for us and to appreciate
19:17
the particular kinds of youth that something
19:20
like this can engage, based on the whole lifestyle
19:23
and culture that goes with it. Not one I claim
19:25
to understand. I think it's not just youth engagement
19:31
writ large in some sort of big, broad context.
19:34
This is something quite specific that I think
19:36
will cater to members in our community that otherwise
19:39
don't have a facility like this. I do go by the
19:47
one in Napanee quite regularly and it is a gathering
19:49
place. You see all sorts of demographics and
19:52
ages and different usage of it so I fully support
19:56
this. Mayor Jim Hagedorn spoke about the progress
19:58
in access to skateboarding facilities and shared
20:01
a story from his youth. I was in my teens on
20:04
probably a $10 skateboard trying to go down the
20:08
largest hill where I lived at the time called
20:10
Big Hill and with blind corners. It's come a
20:13
long way. When I was young, I've actually seen
20:16
some of the like may dock, they have a nice one
20:19
there. I remember when they were building the
20:23
first phase. And I was kind of like, what is
20:25
going on in there. And now to see it now, it's
20:29
been developed into the whole park is basically
20:32
devoted to this now. And it's packed all the
20:35
time. It is something that is what I believe
20:38
will be well used. And this is a Great opportunity,
20:42
I think, for Lilas Township to be able to provide
20:44
another amenity new to the community that will
20:48
be used, very well used, I believe, for an extended
20:51
period of time. For Amherst Island Radio and
20:54
the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
20:57
This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township Council
21:09
pre -approved $900 ,000 in the 2027 capital budget
21:12
for the purchase of a new tanker for the Amherstview
21:15
Fire Station. They will also use nearly $85 ,000
21:18
from the 2026 capital budget for the down payment.
21:21
Council had already approved the purchase of
21:23
a new tanker for the Amherst Island Fire Station
21:25
in the 2026 capital budget and were informed
21:28
the tanker in Amherstview has reached the end
21:30
of its useful life. With fire apparatus costs
21:32
continuing to rise each year, staff noted that
21:35
delaying the purchase would see an increase of
21:37
at least $125 ,000 for 2027. Fire Chief Kent
21:41
Reedman spoke about the importance of getting
21:43
pre -approval. There'll be no cost incurred this
21:47
year, no additional cost incurred this year by
21:48
the Township. This will be all on the 2027 capital
21:52
budget, so it will save. $125 ,000 plus in next
21:58
year's budget if we can do it this spring, as
22:01
opposed to waiting eight months. There's some
22:04
significant price increases coming down the pipe
22:07
here, and we're just trying to get ahead of it.
22:09
Councilor Mike Boodereck noted the importance
22:11
of trying to save money. Just appreciate that
22:14
the chief's trying to get ahead of this and save
22:16
us a little money, so it's always appreciated
22:18
with how tight times are these days. Councillor
22:20
Paul Proderick showed his support for the pre
22:22
-approval. A hundred thousand is a good savings
22:25
and given the experiences of the last few months.
22:29
The value of our emergency services cannot be
22:32
measured in dollars and move ahead with this
22:34
as soon as possible. The emergency services department
22:36
looks to order the same tanker that was ordered
22:38
for Amherst Island and remain consistent with
22:41
their fleet for the next 20 to 25 years. The
22:43
two old tankers will be sold and are expected
22:46
to generate nearly $75 ,000. This will be applied
22:49
to the fleet reserve for future apparatus purchases.
22:52
For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
22:55
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
22:58
News. This has been North Shore News and Interviews.
23:04
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