Attracting business, employment among township priorities
Posted Jan 19, 2012 By Sherry HaaimaEMC News- McNab-Braeside Mayor Mary Campbell delivered her state of the township address at council's first meeting of 2012 on Jan. 10.
Campbell explained the state of the union address has been customary since she's been mayor. "I would like to dedicate this address, with pride, to the council of the Township of McNab-Braeside, whose leadership during 2011 was impeccable in its commitment, integrity and work ethic," said Campbell.
She explained that 2011 was a year of change, challenge, community and achievement for McNab-Braeside.
In terms of changes, said Campbell, there was a new council, new staff, new vehicles, new property, new scale at the landfill site, new requirements for the Braeside post office, new postal code and new road projects.
New awards were also introduced - Stan Horal was honoured for heritage achievement while Matt Gardner and Jennifer Gillan's heroism in saving a woman whose house was on fire was also recognized.
New recreation improvements were made at Burnstown Beach, Braeside Beach, and Red Pine Bay and new services were introduced, including health check clinics, seven-day access to Waba Cottage Museum and canteen services at Burnstown Beach and Dochart Park.
The year included new website design, partnerships with individuals in the community, organizations and businesses, new policies and bylaws for noise and karst, a new employee compensation grid and renewed commitment to township promotion and economic development in Expo 150 and McNab Days.
"We congratulate John Perrault on the continued success of his venture, Neat Coffee Shop on the expansion of their concert crowd capacity, White Lake Marina on expansion of their product lines and services, and we welcome Mike Bode and his furniture manufacturing business."
The township faced its share of challenges in 2011.
"Some are old, like vandalism, roadside litter, speeding, Braeside's cat population and finding the means to fund investment in ourselves. Some are new like the deputy mayor's leadership in community design, steadily increasing interest in McNab-Braeside among developers, addressing drainage in the face of more extreme weather patterns, creating employment opportunities, absorbing the impacts of the Eastern Ontario broadband initiative, meeting new community needs and responsibilities that demonstrate our long term sustainability as a municipality, communication," said Campbell.
In 2011, McNab-Braeside made great strides in becoming an increasingly community-led municipality.
"While sponsored and supported by council, McNab Days was a community-driven festival. The Calling of the Clans and Scottish Festival led by Mackie McLaren and his committee more than doubled in attendance from its initial effort.
RIVER DRIVE
"The Braeside River Drive led by Dan Smith and his committee attracted eight times the attendance, fostered intercounty and interprovincial exchanges through the flotilla and the Alligator, and procured roughly $10,000 of community sponsored improvements to Red Pine Bay," Campbell said.
The Burnstown WI l00th anniversary and the White Lake WI McNab Days Euchre Party were not only successful fundraisers but led to new possibilities for both those organizations, she added.
"The concert series sponsored by Neat Coffee Shop during McNab Days helped to attract more visitors to the township," said Campbell. "While the McNab Days Market and Sunday Stretch might not have been as successful as other events, they were successful trials for ongoing activities in the future."
Campbell explained the community effort in McNab Days has positioned the township well in terms of qualifying for more federal and provincial grants.
Initiatives by both the White Lake WI and the Burnstown United Church led to introduction of accessible washrooms in two public facilities, as well as an accessible entrance to the church hall and a lift between the hall and the sanctuary.
"All these factors of changes, challenges and community have led to significant achievements during 2011, all of which have strengthened us as a community," said Campbell.
She cautioned that in the eyes of the province, the township's most significant achievements are those that contribute to social, environmental and economic sustainability. "Without question, these days, the highest priority is given to job creation. McNab-Braeside is in a situation where over 85 per cent of our working families depend on employment outside the township," said Campbell.
She said one of council's most important initiatives of 2012 will be to not only attract businesses but to attract and create employment opportunities.
"While diversity is important, attracting businesses that build on our current economic segments of agriculture, building, recreation/healthy living, and arts/heritage/culture will offer our best opportunities for long-term sustainable growth," said Campbell.
"Encouraging business clusters that extend supply chains to include production, processing, distribution and ongoing services will do more build a stable economy than waiting for random expressions of interest," she said.
"Much of our low cost of living and our high living standard depends on working in harmony with our natural environment and the protection of our natural resources, most notably water. Protection of our natural heritage features is critical to our future economic development as a desirable rural community in which to live and for recreation and tourism."
"The province has advised that, as a rural municipality, we take a planning approach that identifies our natural features, first. Buffers these with agricultural belts and then, plan development on the remaining marginal lands," said Campbell.
The Eastern Warden's Caucus has already been advised by the province that Eastern Ontario will be required to prepare its own growth, she said. "As a rural municipality, the township of McNab-Braeside is advised to take a proactive stand in our own planning rather than risk being relegated to designs of others," said Campbell.
"As well as the deputy mayor's community design initiative, which should prove an excellent vehicle in moving us forward in our planning, the environmental advisory committee will be critical in garnering community advice on protecting our natural resources, critical to our future as a sustainable rural municipality."
PARTNERSHIPS
As a rural community, McNab-Braeside has traditionally enjoyed a strong, if informal social network, said Campbell.
"It is partnering with our school, our women's institutes, churches, local businesses and organizations that we can further strengthen the relationships among our residents.
"Whether it's participation in recreation programs, municipal committees, events such as McNab Days or emergency management exercises, we need to take every opportunity to build relationships across the community. That network of relationships is in itself one of our strongest resources. Our principal challenge during 2012 will be to continue to adapt the constant change around us and at the same time to continue to define who we are as a municipality and pursue that vision."
Campbell said that to adapt, grow and evolve while remaining true to family and community roots will require combined energy, talent and patience from council, staff and community.
"The economic realities surrounding us means we will be forced to set priorities and to engage in longer term planning. Many of the issues we face require planning beyond the four-year term of office for this council," she said.
"Many councils hesitate, but I encourage this council to be fearless in moving forward, as essential to the long term viability of McNab-Braeside as an independent rural municipality. Even more essential is the constant, consistent involvement of the community in our direction and decisions.
"Congratulations council on an incredibly productive 2011 ... 2012 will present increasingly complex challenges and opportunities. It is our openness, trust and respect for one another, our staff and community that will have us looking back on 2012 with McNab-Braeside even stronger and more successful."
Sherry.haaima@metroland.com
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