Councillor McCann Meeting Report (September 15, 2026)
Parry Sound Public Library Monthly Board Meeting
On Wednesday morning, September 9, 2026 I attended the Parry Sound Public Library Monthly Board Meeting in person. It was a shorter meeting than usual taking care of some housekeeping matters. Treasurer Reports for May, June and July were received. The Board is continuing to investigate the possibility of a lift or elevator installation with grant assistance. Planning is still in its infancy at this time. New and upgraded security cameras have been installed, replacing the older cameras. This has provided staff with better quality visuals around the library, and with additional features such as motion capture and alarms, staff time in managing the surveillance has been greatly saved. Surveillance covers both inside and outside the building. With the library's own programming and other programs provided through area partnerships, staff kept pace with a busy summer schedule and pleasing attendance figures made for very worthwhile efforts. As always for the latest library news and program offerings please visit its website at https://www.parrysoundlibrary.com/.
West Parry Sound District Museum Monthly Board Meeting
Later that day, September 9, 2026, I attended the West Parry Sound District Museum Monthly Board Meeting in person. We covered a busy agenda which first included the receipt and approval of Financial Reports for July and August, and Year-To-Date. This month our Accessibility Policy was examined. It has been updated to align with current industry best practices and terminology. Revisions were made to the core policy framework to reflect established standards and clearly define the timelines under which legal modification may be required. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with the Town of Parry Sound to remain open on Sundays until the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend. A new gift shop attendant was hired. The museum received a generous donation for the purchase of furniture for the back deck. Attendance as of the end of August has surpassed the total for all of 2025. Social media continues to grow in our numbers.
You may recall the museum participated in the SPEEDIER Project, a Tesla Powerwall installation back in January of 2021. The initial phase and the phase II extension of the SPEEDIER project are complete. This project provided the Powerwall to us at no cost for a period of five years. We're now into an additional one-year extension that has been offered which takes us to April 30, 2027. At that time the board will need to decide on whether we have the unit removed or buy out the Powerwall at $9,250 which is half the original cost. The museum can also let the unit go and purchase something similar from another vendor. The board will be reaching out in the spring of 2027 for options.
Staff spent most of August focusing on big-picture planning. Using our Strategic Plan as the core guide, staff mapped out next year’s operational plan and budget. A new 5-year Collection Plan was created. More work and preparation were rendered in planning for our upcoming re-branding.
Oh So Sweet: The Songs of Gordon Lightfoot - A Tribute
On the evening of Friday, September 3, 2026 my wife Josey and I attended "A Tribute, Honouring the Legendary Gordon Lightfoot" at the Charles W. Stockey Centre. The Classic Lightfoot Live band sounded so very authentic. The audience was not disappointed. The full band seemed to make the Lightfoot experience seem so alive. The music was accompanied by detailed facts and knowledge of the life of Gordon Light. Testament to the fact that the Stockey Centre attracts visitors from out of town came about when I asked the couple sitting next to us where they were from. Sudbury was their answer. When I mentioned that I grew up there he said they lived in Chelmsford, just a few kilometres from my home town. In talking we discovered we had the same high school gym teacher and a math teacher. Small world!
