Councillor McCann Meeting Report (November 3, 2026)
West Parry Sound District Museum Monthly Board Meeting
On Thursday evening, October 29, 2026. I attended my final West Parry Sound District Museum Monthly Board Meeting, via Zoom. We approved Financial Reports and Notes for September of 2026 and for Year-to-Date. This month's Policy Review covered "Code of Conduct". There were no recommend changes. The Board approved its budget for 2027. Our annual attendance figures continue to climb. So far we are up to an 8.6% increase over the year-to-date in October of 2025. The year-to-date amount in October of 2025 was an increase of 18.8%. The Museum's online social media numbers also continue to rise from month to month on the Facebook, Instagram and YouTube platforms. Watch for the Museum's re-branding in the near future. Staff has been faced with a number of discrepancies, errors, missing calculations, etc. while making an effort to transition from QuickBooks full desktop to QuickBooks Online. The user of this software has no choice unless content to stay with the original desktop versions leaving the user short of functionality especially Payroll. It has also become pricey as a subscription service. The staff is recommending migrating to AccountEdge Pro. As this was my final meeting with the Museum Board, I thanked everyone for their work, support and dedication to our Museum. It has been a wonderful pleasure working with fellow Board members, management, staff and volunteers. Remember to keep an eye on the Museum's website for news and upcoming features, themes and displays. Visit https://www.museumontowerhill.com/.
Condolences to the Family of John Verstraten
I would like to take this opportunity to extend sincere condolences to the Family of John Verstraten. John passed away this past Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at the age of 86. At just ten years of age John and his family emigrated to Canada. On June 1, 1973 he opened Parry Sound TV and Appliances serving the community for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2010. He was married to Josephine for 63 years and was a very active member of the Knights of Columbus, Parry Sound. Our thoughts and prayers are with his extended family and friends. His funeral will be held next week, Thursday, November 12, 2026 at St. Peter's.
A New Chapter in My Life
As you may know, my time on Council has come to an end, and it is with tremendous regret that it is time to move on. I've completed three consecutive terms, that's 12 years and I've enjoyed the privilege, honour, liberty of being a voice for the people of Parry Sound. I truly have loved the involvement. I have learned much. I want to thank everyone who voted for me in this election and for that matter each municipal election going back to 2014. As you've heard in the past and something I too have stated, a municipal councillor is your front line person, your voice, your go-to person, one that has no concerns about party lines, partisan politics, no obligations or stipulations to follow the party's stance as enjoined by its leadership. Throughout these past three terms on Council I have enjoyed myself and have been particularly proud of how I believe we worked well together. We listened to each other, respected one another and never fell into a state of toxicity and infighting that from time to time is something you read or hear about in towns and cities across the province. As I move into the next chapter of my life, I will continue to serve as Chair of the Parry Sound Community Radio Association. As you know we have put much work and effort into an application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). We've been told by two of their representatives over the last several months that the Commission was very pleased with our application telling us that it was well done and thorough. A hearing this past July in Ottawa was held and we eagerly expect a decision any week now. We have very good reason to be optimistic. You'll hear more as this moves forward and some day in the not-too-distance future you could be tuning into CHCE FM 97.9 as well as streaming online.
And so, this is it! My final report and I'll end by thanking you for having me for the past 12 years.
