March 2020
Published monthly
Newsletter
Vol. 1, Edition 9
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Supporting you through the COVID-19 pandemic
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March was a month like no other that we can recall in recent times.
Our focus has primarily been on ensuring services continue for the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Information is key at the best of times but even more so during a health care situation like the one we find ourselves in now.
To help keep you informed, we created a dedicated COVID-19 information page on our website. You can find the page
here.
We've also produced two special e-newsletters and seven Information Bulletins, as well as e-newsletters for the business community. You can find these on our COVID-19 page.
We have also placed notices in the Wasaga Sun newspaper.
Our focus in this edition is on the pandemic. We aim to make you aware of what the town is doing to keep municipal services operating at this time. And we will strive to inform you about steps council has taken to help you, your family, and the business community during this period.
Remember, reading the
The Monthly Report is a great way to stay up-to-date on town activities.
Thanks for taking the time to read this edition and if you haven't subscribed you can do so by visiting here:
http://bit.ly/2nyvDpX.
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The world is currently experiencing a COVID-19 pandemic.
All levels of government, in partnership with public health authorities, are working to address the situation.
The Town of Wasaga Beach is taking several steps to ensure that municipal service delivery continues without interruption while protecting the health of our employees and the public
Public and staff health and safety is our top priority.
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In response to the pandemic, facilities such as the recplex, library, arena, youth centre, and seniors active living centre, are closed and programs have halted.
Town hall, public works, and the fire hall are closed to the public but service delivery continues.
All outdoor spaces are closed as well but "walk-through" access is permitted.
You can reach us during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 705-429-3844.
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Working to help Wasaga Beach families and business
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On March 26, members of council approved implementing a number of steps to make life easier for the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We recognize that this is a challenging time for everyone in Wasaga Beach. People have lost their jobs, non-essential businesses are closed, other businesses have substantially changed or limited their operating model, our schools have closed, and financial markets are struggling,” Mayor Nina Bifolchi said. “These measures today aim to help people as we go forward together through these uncertain times. And, if needed, we will consider additional ways to help our residents and businesses in the future.”
Council approved suspending a number of fees and charges, effective April 1, 2020 with most in place to Sept. 30, 2020. On a temporary basis the town is also taking credit card payments over the phone.
The following is a list of
suspended fees and charges
:
- Bus passes and cash fares. Transit is free starting April 1 to April 30.
- Reprint of Tax or Water Bill or Account Statement.
- Business Licensing – Late Renewal Fee.
- Penalties and interest will not be applied on the March 15 and May 15 property tax billings for the period April 1 to September 30, 2020.
- Penalties and interest will not be applied on 2020 water and wastewater utility bills, for the period of April 1 to September 30, 2020.
The Personal Authorized Payment Plans will continue with the present scheduled payment periods. If you do not want to pay per these scheduled payment periods, you will need to opt out of the program and return to the regular installment program. Residents who wish to opt out are asked to call the town at 705-429-3844, ext. 2234 or e-mail
taxes@wasagabeach.com
.
“Your municipal government is here to support you,” Mayor Nina Bifolchi said. “We will help you get through this period.”
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Staying up to date with us during the pandemic
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Since the pandemic started, we are providing regular Information Bulletins to the community to keep you up to date on what the town is doing to support you at this time.
You can access our past bulletins here:
Information Bulletins
Special e-newsletter updates
To date we have issued two special e-newsletters. Read them here:
We have also provided direct messaging to our business community in order to support businesses at this time.
You can access this information here:
Business Newsletters
For future messaging please visit our website
here.
You can also find regular updates on our corporate
Facebook page
here
And on our corporate
Twitter page
here
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Residents can now self-isolate at home in RVs and trailers if required
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Council, considering creative ways to help the entire community during the pandemic, is allowing trailers and motorhomes in driveways so people have a place to self-isolate, if needed.
A section of the town’s Zoning Bylaw normally prohibits people from living in mobile units but council recognizes, at this time, the option could prove helpful for a limited period.
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Advisory committee meetings cancelled, Committee of the Whole and Coordinated Committee, too
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Due to the pandemic, council cancelled all advisory committee meetings until further notice and for the month of April cancelled the Coordinated Committee meeting and Committee of the Whole meeting. Special council meetings may be called to address particular issues that arise. Please check the town's website for notices. All public council meetings are streamed on the internet.
A special council meeting is planned for April 9. You can watch the meeting
here
.
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Online resources to support you
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Town of Wasaga Beach
County of Simcoe
Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
Ontario Ministry of Health
Health Canada
Government of Canada
World Health Organization
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Take the LINX bus to Barrie
The route runs weekdays between Allandale Station in Barrie and the Real Canadian Super Store in Wasaga Beach.
Ridership is currently free.
Ride the Wave ... hop on Wasaga Beach Transit to get around town
Wasaga Beach Transit is an affordable and economical way to get around our community.
Our buses run seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Leave the car at home and take the bus.
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When to call 211 or 911
211 is a tremendous community connection program, where a live person assists callers 24 hours a day to find information about a wide range of health and community services.
911 is strictly for emergencies (fire, ambulance, police) when help is urgently required.
Neighbours Helping Neighbours
The changing seasons are upon us! In the spirit of our age-friendly community, individuals are encouraged to assist those who may have difficulty raking leaves, clearing snow and performing other such tasks that are a challenge when trying to remain independent in their own homes.
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Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Search "Town of Wasaga Beach" on Facebook and Twitter and follow us for daily updates on town activities and services.
Be the first to know what's new!
Get information about agendas, town programs, council happenings, and much more.
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Wasaga Beach Council Highlights
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Wasaga Beach Town Council met on Tuesday, March 26.
For an overview of what took place, see our highlights package:
Here
You can watch the full council meeting here:
Watch
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Find a meeting in our calendar
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Looking for information on when town meetings take place?
Check out our website for dates and times. You can see the whole month at a glance.
Learn more here:
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Beach Drive turning pedestrian friendly for summer 2020
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The town’s historic Beach Drive will be for pedestrians only this summer season.
At its Feb. 25 meeting, Wasaga Beach Town Council approved closing the road to vehicular traffic for the summer months.
“But the main beach area is still here and we are open for business. It is just a road that we have closed,” Mayor Nina Bifolchi said. Several special events are planned for the beach area, building on the success of last year’s events. See a full event listing:
Here
Council based the road closure decision on the challenges faced during the 2019 high water levels that resulted in water and sand washing onto the road.
There were four major clean-ups due to the high water levels at an average cost of $15,000 per incident.
Based on various unknowns, including the result of an ongoing Municipal Class Environmental Assessment and potential redevelopment of Beach Area 1 and 2, along with uncertainty about how long high water levels will last, closure is the most prudent option for now. It will also give the town and the community the opportunity to evaluate the option of permanently closing Beach Drive in the future.
The municipality will allow the sand that has accumulated on Beach Drive to remain this summer, creating additional beachfront for residents and visitors.
The town will embark on a marketing campaign to promote the expanded beach area as one of the few beach areas remaining on the Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay basin.
From information available to date, experts anticipate water levels on Nottawasaga Bay will exceed historic record highs experienced in 1986.
Despite the changes to Beach Drive, there remains ample parking in the area. In addition to beachfront fun, we have a number of non-beach related activities to pursue. This includes hiking local trails, cycling, boating, canoeing and kayaking in the Nottawasaga River, golfing, shopping, mini-putt, go-karting, and dining in local restaurants.
“We look forward to another great summer here in Wasaga Beach – a place where friends and family gather and lifelong memories are made,” Mayor Bifolchi said.
Related resources:
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
Wasaga Beach Tourism
Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce
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Indemnification Policy Q&A
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Recently council approved an update to the municipality's Indemnification Policy. Learn why this important change was required.
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News Release: Sunshine List
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Every year as per provincial legislation we publish a list of employees who earned $100,000 or more during the previous year.
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Waste collection information
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The County of Simcoe is responsible for waste collection in the Town of Wasaga Beach.
You can learn more about waste services by visiting the county's website.
The site includes a variety of information, including waste collection schedules and landfill locations. Learn more here:
http://bit.ly/2m4oVad
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Water conservation rebates are available!
The Town of Wasaga Beach has a water conservation rebate program.
When you install a low flow or dual flush toilet you are eligible for a $70 rebate.
Residents who install a rain barrel can get a $30 rebate.
Please note that only property owners on municipal water are eligible for the rebate.
You can find rebate forms at
www.wasagabeach.com or pick one up at town hall, 30 Lewis St. Applicants must include copies of receipts indicating that they purchased the particular item.
Completed forms and supporting documentation can be presented at town hall. The rebate will be applied to your next water bill.
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You've got payment options through Plastiq
Through the town's website using Plastiq (third party), you can pay your property tax and/or water/wastewater bill by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
There will be a service fee of 2.5 percent applied by the service provider, Plastiq.
Please note that there are several low or no-cost means of paying your bill with the town. These include equal payment plan, telephone banking, mailing a cheque, or placing a payment in our drop box.
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All of our special events are on hold due to the pandemic. But we are planning a variety of virtual activities. Check out our website at
www.wasagabeach.com for full details.
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Main Street bridge project
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UNDER WAY As we outlined in our July newsletter (see here:
https://conta.cc/2SAZjhJ), work has started on the Main Street Bridge rehabilitation project. This $6.1-million investment will see a refurbished bridge when the work is completed in 2021. Due to the work taking place, the bridge is now down to one lane. Signals are used to advise motorists about right-of-way. We have received reports of some motorists ignoring the red lights. Please do not do this. Ignoring the lights is against the Highway Traffic Act and you could be subject to charges. Furthermore, you put yourself, your passengers, and other motorists at risk of injury. You can access our map, outlining the placement of signals and a detour route, by clicking here:
http://bit.ly/2kTjtXI
***Please note the bridge
will be opened to two lanes
for summer 2020.***
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Check out Let's Talk Wasaga Beach here:
Click
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Pocket dialing can tie up resources
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When inadvertently dialing 911 on your cell phone, please remember you are activating an emergency service.
In doing so, emergency personnel are committed to determining the origin and extent of the emergency that may be happening.
This means they have to locate the individual who inadvertently dialed 911.
This response can draw needed resources away from actual emergencies. To prevent this please, when not using your phone, lock it so that unintentional calls do not happen.
If you do dial 911 by mistake, please do not hang up on the operator. Explain the call is in fact not an emergency, tell the operator where you are and stay there. This is because an officer must attend your location to determine an emergency is not taking place.
By hanging up or leaving your current location, you create a situation where emergency services must try to locate you, and in the process tie up precious resources.
Only you can stop 911 misdials.
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Are you familiar with MedicAlert Connect?
MedicAlert Connect provides Ontario Provincial Police with 24/7 direct access to a person's medical information including conditions, anxiety triggers, and de-escalation techniques, to assist with reuniting you and your loved ones.
To learn more about this program, see here:
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Did you know the OPP has an online crime reporting site?
The site lets you report a crime without visiting an OPP detachment. Learn more here:
http://bit.ly/2n3EoI8
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BACK IN THE DAY The Ivandale Hotel was located on the banks of the Nottawasaga River. The Ivandale started out as a hunting lodge in the late 1800s and, as the beach developed, it was changed to a hotel to accommodate the growing number of tourists coming to the area. You could fish, go canoeing and swimming in the river, or take a brief walk and enjoy the beachfront. In 1911, John and Sarah McLean came to Wasaga Beach to manage the Ivandale Hotel. While managing the Ivandale Hotel the MacLeans would drive along the beachfront and it was during this time they made the bold decision to build an inn on the beach. This would lead to the building of several of the most iconic hotels and the Dardanella dance hall on the beachfront. Had it not been for their decision come to Wasaga Beach, to run the Ivandale Hotel, they may have never developed the idea of building the Capstan Inn on the beachfront. From the Historical Advisory Committee.
From the Historical Advisory Committee
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Wasaga Beach Public Library
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Here is the March/April newsletter from the Wasaga Beach Public Library.
To access the newsletter click here:
Link
The library is at 120 Glenwood Dr. Stop by to access reading material, movies, computers, programs, and much more.
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Message from Mayor Nina Bifolchi
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I recognize that the COVID-19 virus is a serious matter. Every day we see news reports with anchors and politicians, speaking with solemn voices that insight fear and uncertainty in people.
But I believe it is imperative that we remain strong and resilient as Wasaga Beach residents and Canadians.
We must not forget the importance of remaining positive.
Rather than instilling fear in you, I am choosing to remind you of your inner strength. Use common sense and be the change that is required right now. We must all step up and be diligent.
If you are returning from out-of-province, respect the rules and self-isolate for 14 days. That means you do not leave your house.
If it is determined that you have COVID-19, or have been in contact with someone who has, stay home and follow provincial health directives.
And if you need items call on family, friends or home delivery. Don’t be the weak link in beating this.
No matter what the challenge, it is important that we remain kind to one another.
As we navigate this pandemic, we must keep in mind the many frontline service people who are putting themselves at risk for us.
I thank all of our hospital and emergency service personnel for everything you are doing.
Thank you to those transporting supplies to where we need them.
And thank you to staff in pharmacies and grocery stores for ensuring stocked shelves and access to necessities.
Throughout all that we are enduring, we must show all our frontline workers our greatest respect.
It is also key that we observe the measures our health experts have put in place for our safety.
At the Town of Wasaga Beach, we are working on your behalf to provide services and ensure that town business continues.
Your council and our staff remain strong and committed as we move through this period.
We want to ensure that development and businesses are ready to bounce back.
On behalf of council, I thank all our staff for their efforts and for recognizing that as a government organization, tasked with delivering municipal services, we have an important role to play during these challenging times.
While we have cancelled our Coordinated Committee meeting and our Committee of the Whole meeting, we do have a council meeting planned for the end of April. Council will meet as required throughout the pandemic. Please watch our meetings online
here
.
The public can still comment on council business by sending their thoughts to us by phone or e-mail. You will find our contact information
here
.
We recognize that online viewing is not the same as attending a meeting in person and as soon as the health professionals indicate that gatherings are appropriate we will encourage people to join us in the council chamber.
I have heard several concerns from people about certain businesses allowed to remain open at this time. This decision is one that falls to the health authority, and we must abide by their expert knowledge. One thing I encourage everyone to do is find ways to support our local business community. If you can order a service online, access take-out, buy a gift card – please consider doing so as a way to help.
It is important that for accurate information about town services you visit our website at
www.wasagabeach.com
. Our COVID-19 page is
here
. You can also access reliable information from our town social media channels.
I want to share with you this video link to a PBS program that speaks to the science of a pandemic. I think you will find it informative. Please click
here
.
One of my final points, for now, is community well-being. We can help each other get through this period by remembering to keep our spirits up. Humour is still OK. Music, too. Dance like no one is watching – because right now no one is. Reading will help us get through the day as well. We can still enjoy walks also.
Ultimately, beating COVID-19 depends on us working together.
Lastly, please know we remain in regular contact with our counterparts, public health, and upper-tier levels of government.
We will get through this as a community. And we will be stronger and more united than ever when we see happier times return.
Nina Bifolchi is mayor of Wasaga Beach.
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Wasaga Beach Town Council
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Mayor Nina Bifolchi
705-429-3844, ext. 2225
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Deputy Mayor Sylvia Bray
705-888-1131
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Councillor Joe Belanger
705-816-0733
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Councillor David Foster
705-441-2211
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Councillor George Watson
705-309-7653
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Councillor Stan Wells
705-429-3239
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Members of Wasaga Beach town council are elected to represent the people of Wasaga Beach.
You can discuss town matters with a member of council by calling or e-mailing them.
If you would like a member of council to attend a special event please contact Pam Kenwell at 705-429-3844, ext. 2246 or e-mail
eamc@wasagabeach.com
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George
Vadeboncoeur
Chief Administrative Officer
705-429-3844, ext. 2222
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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