Councillor McCann Meeting Report (October 15, 2024)
A Wave of Possibilities
On the evening of October 7, 2024 I attended a very special event, “A Wave of Possibilities!” at the Stockey Centre. Running from 6:00 to 9:00 admission was free and there was a tremendous turnout. On behalf of the Waterfront Advisory Committee and the Town of Parry Sound, thank you for your interest and engagement. As you know this was a kickoff event launching the public process to update the Town’s waterfront master plan. We had an opportunity to hear about development along the waterfront, various ideas and visions of what the future can hold for the water front and our town. I feel sincerely that these are exciting times and we have good reason to expect great things in the next few, short years to follow.
Parry Sound Public Library Monthly Board Meeting
On Wednesday morning, October 9, 2024 I attended the Parry Sound Public Library Monthly Board Meeting in person. We reviewed our budget for the coming year, received financial statements for August, 2024, and reviewed another policy, this time around the Composition of the Board and Terms of Reference of the Officers. Take note tomorrow, Wednesday, October 16, 2024 the library is hosting Poet Elizabeth Cunningham as she does a reading of her new poetry from her book, “Look to This Day – Poems for Doris McCarthy”. Our fall line-up of programs includes Art Journaling and Knit & Stitch. We are starting a Kids’ Math Club after school on Tuesdays. The library is also running activities with home school families on Thursdays. Our 3rd Annual Halloween Outdoor Movie Night on Friday, October 25, 2024 is tentatively set. At the beginning of this month the library started collecting warm outerwear for the Winter Coat Drive. This goes through to February 28, 2025. All items are free to take with the intent of keeping our community warm through the winter months. Finally, the library will be asking for a 5% increase (or a total of $349,914.90) for its 2025 operating budget. This addresses payroll adjustments. It does not cover book purchases. The library has had the benefit of the CC Johnson bequest to help sustain a fresh supply of book inventory.
Belvedere Heights Redevelopment Team Hosted A Virtual Town Hall Meeting
I logged in to a virtual Town Hall Meeting hosted by the Belvedere Heights Redevelopment team, Wednesday afternoon, October 9, 2024 at 2:00 pm. Details about the addition of new beds and administration moving downstairs were presented. The meeting began with a history of how and why the Belvedere Board of Management arrived at this juncture. Adding new beds to the present location of Belvedere Heights was the only option when it was clear that the province had no interest in moving forward with a "Campus of Care" model to be established on the grounds of the West Parry Sound Health Centre. This was an opportunity for attendees to learn in much detail, about how the renovations would proceed. Attendees could also ask questions and provide feedback.
