March 2017 - In This Issue
  • Headwaters Trails Summit May 10, 2017
  • Headwaters Food and Farming Alliance (HFFA) Food charter Update
  • Partnership Grant and DC Moves
  • DC MOVES Forum - January 23, 2017
  • Be an Engaged Citizen
  • HatsOnDufferin
A very belated happy 2017 to all of you. It’s been so busy we haven’t had time to properly connect. Let’s bring you up to date. While it has been chilly outside, things are cooking on several fronts that you should know about.
Headwaters Trails Summit May 10, 2017

HCIA Trails/CHATT (Citizens of Headwaters for Active Transportation Team) will again be partnering with the Ontario Trails Council (OTC) to host a Trails Summit.  The OTC has a wonderful track record of hosting and managing Trailhead events.  This event to be supported by our partners at the County of Dufferin, The Town of Mono, and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. The Summit will be an opportunity for stakeholders, interested groups and residents to come together and discuss all things Trail.

What has happened since the first summit in 2009? Given our growing population and identification of Well-Being issues in our latest Well-Being Report, what are the Trail priorities now?

Our date is firmly set, though the agenda is in development, with the following suggested topics:

  • Rail Trail Development
  • Dufferin County Trails Masterplan – discussion by DC
  • Regional Trail Committee Discussion – development and implementation of a Dufferin Regional Trail Committee
  • Economic Impact of Trail Development
  • Developing Interpretive Signage
  • Headwaters Trails Connectivity – opportunities

Headwaters Trails Summit
Date: Wednesday May 10, 2017, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Registration 8:30am with light breakfast and coffee provided
Lunch provided with a walk on the local Trails weather permitting.
Location: Monora Park Pavilion, 500 Monora Park Drive, Mono, ON L9W 0E1
Cost to attend this full day event (lunch included with all tickets):
$75.00 ~ Organization representatives (Trails, Municipal, Recreation, etc). This ticket also allows you to attend all sessions and profile your organization with literature handouts and/or a table display. A table will be provided and your organization promoted where possible.
$50.00 ~ Ontario Trails Council members. Attendance for all sessions.
$25.00 ~ General Admission: Public and non-OTC Members: Attendance for all sessions.

Headwaters Food and Farming Alliance (HFFA)
Food Charter Update

We've been busy summarizing the results from both the stakeholder and public consultations. In total, we had 86 stakeholders attend in-person meetings and 261 community members complete feedback surveys. We're very close to launch of the food charter and action plan.

Here’s what we’re working on now:
  • Putting the final touches on a visual representation of the food charter and action plan (based on mock-ups from a graphic designer)
  • Planning presentations for municipal council endorsement
  • Planning a large-scale public promotion of the charter through social media and local food map distribution  
The local food map initiative is being managed in partnership with In The Hills. Stay tuned for our next update!
Partnership Grant and DC Moves
In April 2010, the Government of Ontario launched the Partnership Project – a province-wide initiative to seek ideas and advice on ways to renew, streamline and modernize the relationship between the government and the Ontario not-for-profit sector. The Partnership Grant Program was designed to address one of the key recommendations - to build sector capacity by investing in projects that support intra-sector cooperation, communication and networks. The 2016-18 Partnership Grant Program will continue to support building capacity of the not-for-profit sector focusing on three priority areas:  
  • Program Evaluation
  • Inclusive Leadership
  • Volunteer Management

The approach will be sector wide with the objective to support two-year projects. Projects must make a substantive impact on improving the ability of not-for-profit organizations to advance their mandates and operate effectively in communities across Ontario.

Fast forward: It was several weeks after the announcement deadline before the good news came through. Things have progressed quickly since then and the team is already gathering business requirements to make Volunteer Dufferin a better and more dynamic website to meet the growing community needs. Regular project updates will happen via the DC Moves forums and newsletters as well. Please stay tuned.

Be an Engaged Citizen
Are you interested in making life better together? Calling all future Board members! If you are passionate about your community then we would like to meet with you. Please connect with us to arrange a meeting!
DC MOVES Forum - January 23, 2017

A very engaged group of 42 people attended this Forum, where information was presented by Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services and Hospice Dufferin regarding the services and supports that they provide within the community. 

Additionally, a very thorough presentation on the Community Priorities in Headwaters 2016 - Increasing Community Well-Being and Resilience report was conducted by Headwaters Communities in Action (HCIA). Information was presented to the group which detailed the five pillars of community well-being (Healthy People, Dynamic Economy, Sustainable Environment, Engaged Citizens and Community Assets), as well as how HCIA plans on addressing issues and gaps within the community. These opportunities to share information with participating agencies is a vital piece of DC MOVES, as this allows for agencies to provide updates to the group and communicate current programming options which DC MOVES members can share with their clients and other stakeholders. 

An introduction to the three pillars of DC MOVES (Community Well-Being, Poverty Reduction and Resource Sharing) led to a breakaway session where preliminary discussions took place surrounding the involvement that DC MOVES will have in addressing these areas throughout Dufferin County.  Each pillar discussion was facilitated by a member of the DC MOVES Leadership Table, and the information collected during this session will be compiled and utilized as a foundation for work to be completed moving forward.  If you or your agency are interested in participating with the work being done within one or more of the pillars, please email Angela Pollard.

HatsOnDufferin is a non-profit organization whose goal is to ensure that every child, person, and family within Dufferin County has a hat to keep warm this winter. The local group plans to donate 150 hand crocheted and knitted hats to every school in Dufferin County in recognition of Canada’s 150th anniversary.

Their first campaign, The Hat-Trail colouring contest partnered with Snapd Dufferin, will select 20-25 winning hat designs by local children and pair them with a crochet artist to bring the design to fruition. These hats will be displayed in storefronts across the County to raise awareness of the initiative. Crocheters and hat donations are always welcome!

For more information please contact:
Stephany St.Louis – Chief Hat Maker 905.587.0178
hatsondufferin.ca | www.facebook.com/hatsondufferin/

We couldn’t do it without you!

Thank you to our many partners, stakeholders and volunteers who make up HCIA and its project groups. Our primary funders are the Ontario Trillium Foundation and United Way of Guelph Wellington Dufferin.
Making life better together!

Listings about existing transportation options available in Headwaters, learn about eligibility requirements, hours of service and cost.
Take a Hike
Over 20 trail descriptions, details and maps in the Headwaters region. Take a hike, enjoy a meal and browse our local shops!