Published monthly by Blue Mountains Arts and Culture Group

Box 340, Clarksburg, ON N0H 1J0

www.theReview.news / 519-599-3345

MARCH 2018 Vol 4 Issue #3

COMMUNITY EVENTSTo be included in this listing post your event on www.visitbluemountains.ca

DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE- CONFIRM WITH ORGANIZERS

INCIDENTAL IMAGES:

Paintings By Nancy De BoniL. E. Shore Gallery, 173 Bruce St. S.

Let these gorgeous paintings put Spring in your step! Show runs till March 28th. 519-599-3681www.thebluemountainslibrary.ca

MONEY SMARTS FOR SENIORS Financing Independent LivingThursday March 8, 10:30 – 2:30 L. E. Shore Memorial Library.

We’ve been told by seniors that independent living is their fi rst choice. That means owning or renting your own detached house, townhouse or apartment. This session will focus on Funding Your Home & Funding Your Personal Needs. Lunch included. All are welcome. RSVP seniors@bvo.ca or 519 599 2577, 29

THORNBURY WEST MASTER DRAINAGE PLAN - Notice of Public Information CentreSaturday, March 10, 10am-12 pm Council Chamber – Town Hall.

C.C. Tatham & Associates Ltd. has been retained by The Town of The Blue Mountains to complete a Master Drainage Plan for the Thornbury West downtown area. This PIC is to advise you of the progress of the project and the upcoming activities. The Public is invited to attend the PIC to view the project panels and provide comments regarding the work.

INTERNATIONAL

WOMEN’S DAY EVENT

Saturday, March 10; 1:30 -3:00L. E. Shore Library, Thornbury

The Blue Mountains Council has been live streaming their meetings for the past few months. When a council meeting is in progress it can viewed on the town website www.thebluemountains.ca A few days after the meeting you can choose to return to the meeting date, and the video will be posted to review what happened. Kudos to the Town Council and Staff for this opportunity for the public to be kept informed fi rsthand regarding municipal government.

Annual Weather Summary: November 2017 To October 2018 from the Old Farmers AlmanacWinter temperatures will be above normal, with the coldest periods in mid-November, early and late December, early January, and early and mid-February. Precipitation and snowfall will be above normal in the east and below normal in the west, with the snowiest periods in late November, mid- and late December, and early to mid-March. April and May will be a bit cooler than normal, with near-normal precipitation. Summer will be hotter than normal, with rainfall below normal in Southwest Ontario and above normal elsewhere. The hottest periods will be in early and late June, early July, and mid- to late August. September and October will be warmer and slightly drier than normal. Photo 1 Debbie Crosskill, Photos 2 & 3 Robert Burcher

Candidate Information WorkshopSaturday May 5, 2018 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Beaver Valley Community Centre, Large HallThis Workshop will give you an understanding of Council’s roles and

responsibilities and provide an overview of the signifi cant changes coming to local government.WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

Potential Candidates, Spouse or Partner, anyone interested in learning more about local government

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:Municipal Powers, Roles & Responsibilities, Public’s Role in Local Government, Diff erence between Governance and Administration, Municipal Confl ict of Interest and other personal responsibilities, • Impact on Family Life

This is a free event / pre-registration is requiredSpace is limited to 250 attendees - must register via emailtownclerk@thebluemountains.ca or call 519-599-3131 x 232

Slabtown Dam almost submerged - Feb thawLog jam at the Thornbury Dam - Feb 20

WEEKLY EVENTS Daily - Monday-Friday

Coff ee Klatch - 10am to noon

Marsh Street Centre, Clarksburg

Mondays

Bridge 1pm. St. Georges Anglican Church,

$2.00 includes refreshments

Tuesday - noon

The fourth Tues of each month

Join the Lunch Bunch at St Paul’s Church

Wednesdays

Events For Life Coff ee Nook 10-11am

Come and enjoy coff ee and muffi ns at Grace

United Church www.eventsfor.life Wednesday and Thursday

Bid Euchre 1:00 pm Beaver Valley Community Centre, $2.00 - 519-599-2209

LEGION BRANCH 281 202 Marsh St. Clarksburg

Progressive Euchre: $5. Entry fee.

Doors open 12:45pm. Plays starts at 1:30pm

Mar 18, Apr 15, May 13, June 10

Published monthly, 3500 copies are mailed throughout the Blue Mountains. Your events, stories and photos of interest to our community can be emailed to info@bluemountainsreview.ca for inclusion in the newsletter. Advertising rates are available by calling 519-599-3345 or from our website. www.theReview.newsEditor Linda Wykes, Printed by Riverside Press, Website hosted by Running Tide

bby donation

Sunday, April 8, 1-4 p.m.Leisure Time Club, CollingwoodGrey Grannies Fundraiser for the Grandmother to Grandmother

Campaign (Stephen Lewis Foundation), Bridge players of

all levels welcome - by donation. Prizes and refreshments.

519-922-2545 for info.

from his Blue Mountain Physiotherapy & Mobility Clinic will tell us how to get in shape for spring gardening. Master Gardener John Hethrington will expound on his favourite tools to make spring gardening easier. Come and try out (at no cost this meeting) our friendly and informative gardening group. Annual fees start April 1 for monthly meetings and summer garden tours, just $25 for the year. For information, Marry Raymond, Membership at 519-599-6578.

REPTILIA SHOW

Thursday, Mar 15,10:30 - 11:30pm L.E. Shore Memorial Library Gallery

Spend your March Break at the Library! Come and experience an interactive live reptile show! Fun for all ages Tickets are only $2/person (babes in arms are free) Tickets will be available at L.E. Shore Memorial Library and Craigleith Heritage Depot. 519-599-3681 www.thebluemountainslibrary.ca

DASHING JAZZ VIOLINIST

COMES TO JAZZ AT THE LIBRARY

Friday March 23, 7:30pmOne of the most exciting jazz musicians in the country, Drew Jurecka, will bring his Trio of Tom Szczesniak, piano and Clark Johnston, bass. Classically trained, Jurecka performs in many contemporary styles, including jazz, pop and rock with such enthusiasm and vitality that it is infectious and uplifting. Being a versatile musician he plays violin, viola, saxophone, clarinet and mandolin and has earned recognition as arranger, composer and producer. As educator Drew is on the faculty at Humber College where he was instrumental in developing the Jazz String program. Tickets $25 at Thornbury Pharmasave and Blue Mountain Music in Collingwood. www.thornburyjazz.com

THE BEAVER VALLEY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AGMMonday, March 26, 7:00 - 9:00pm St. George’s Anglican Church Hall

www.beavervalleyfallfair.ca

Local Choir Traveling to Czech Republic and GermanyConcert Saturday, March 17, 3pm St Georges Church, Clarksburg

Thirty-four singers will leave Canada on April 2nd and will sing with local ‘friendship’ choirs on three occasions. In Prague, activities will include visiting the Jewish town Kutna Hora that dates back to about 1150, and a performance at the St Nicholas Church. The fi rst stop in Germany will be in Dresden where Shoreline will perform a few songs a cappella in that city’s most famous building, the Frauenkirche. Then it will be on to Leipzig to experience some of its rich musical history including an opera performance. Shoreline will be the participating choir for a worship service at Tabor Church. The choir will also sing at the Monument to the Battle of Nations. The tour will then continue to Berlin where planned activities include visits to the Film Museum in Potsdam, the Berlin Wall Memorial and participation in a worship service at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

This is the fourth international trip for the Shoreline Chorus. Previous trips were to Ireland (2016), Holland (2014) and Cuba (2012). Ann-Marie MacDairmid and the Shoreline Chorus have been planning and fundraising for over a year. The program that they will take to the Czech Republic and Germany featuring Canadian music will be presented in concert at St. George’s Anglican Church, Clarksburg at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 17. Admission is by donation.

Ann-Marie MacDairmid 519-599-2710, Email: sbergstra@rogers.com

Group 82 Amnesty International invites you to attend an International Women’s Day Event featuring “In the Crossfi res: Louise Arbour & The Battle for Human Rights”, a 43-minute documentary and an 8-minute CBC interview with Ms Arbour, UN Special Envoy on Migration. Suggested donation of $5.00 to cover costs. Learn what Amnesty International is doing to help end gender-based violence around the world.

SPRING GRANTING FAIR AND

NON PROFIT WORKSHOP Wednesday, March 14

Registration 8:30-9:00am Workshop 9:00-3:00pmRoyal Canadian Legion

1450 2nd Ave W., Owen Sound$20/per person (lunch provided)

Register 519.371.7203 by March 5HOSTED BY THE COMMUNITY

FOUNDATION GREY BRUCE599 GARDEN CLUB

Wednesday March 14, 7:00pmL E Shore Library

Featuring 2 presentations. Luka Senk, Registered Physiotherapist

INFINITE POSSIBILITIES PRESENTS

with Changing Times Woman, Enolia Foti Harmony Ridge, Blue Mountains

NATIVE DRUM MAKINGSaturday, April 14th, 9am to 5pm; $300

Registration & non-refundable deposit of $175 due March 20, (Balance of $125 due at fi rst class)Enolia leads you through a beautiful journey of meditation, breath work, teachings and making your own hand drum, in the traditional way.With this workshop participants receive:• A cedar wood frame with Elk hides and a beater, using traditional assembly techniques.• The teachings of the drum as taught to Enolia by the Ojibwe Elders

DRUMMING THE SPIRITUAL WAY Sunday, April 15th, 1-4pm; $50

The many voices of the drum• How the drum is an extension of yourself• How to focus meditations when drumming• How to dissolve negative emotions and to drum in ceremony for spiritual healing.

www.LovesInfi nitePossibility.com

Beaver Valley Canskate program (beginners) Lily Cornell, Charlotte Cornfi eld, Colton Esteves and Cove Wenderoth.

Beaver Valley Skaters Olivia Eagles, Kate Wilding-Davies, Sophie Noakes and Sophia Howe.

TURN IT UP ICE SHOW Beaver Valley & Meaford Skating Clubs presented their annual ice skating show on, Sunday February 25th at the Beaver Valley Arena. Photos by Robert Burcher

Beaver Valley Branch 281 of the Royal Canadian Legion would like to thank the people of the Town of the Blue Mountains for their generosity during our annual Poppy Campaign. This year we raised over $11,000 dollars. This money is only used to support Veterans and their families. Last year we donated over $9000 dollars for the benefi t of Veterans.

Bert Robinson, Poppy Chairman

Rad Adventures off ers quality youthmountain bike programs in

Thornbury and Collingwood. Text us at: 705.445.3392

Or visit: www.radadventures.ca

Winter Fun at Events for Life!The fi rst two months of 2018 have been busy

ones at Events for Life! In January we enjoyed a trip to Blue Mountain

tubing for an afternoon, what a fantastic day. We attended an Attack hockey game, Owen

Sound vs Guelph...and Owen Sound won! January was a month of unique Asian cooking

and eating with Jean. Zumba is a new addition for us and we are rocking it.

February has started off with a bang. Everyone enjoyed a fun day of outdoor winter activities at Harrison Park in Owen Sound.

Our annual Valentines Dance was a blast, prizes and fun, we danced the night away! Then, on Feb. 10th we hosted a Valentine’s Craft Show Extravaganza it was a big success with a wonderful turn out of friends and families! Watch for our spring craft show…coming soon!

We’re enjoying yoga, art, and music and dancing with Louise at The Marsh Centre. Our group love time outdoors at the Events for Life Centre in fi erce games of road hockey, snowshoeing, hiking and snowman dodge ball!

We continue to delight in winter fun, looking forward to many exciting events as we move into a new season of spring!

Support Rod Crane - para athlete

Rod grew up in Beaver Valley and like most Canadian kids; winter sports were his passion. On March 10, 2010 he sustained a spinal cord injury from a trampoline accident.

Three years post injury, he realized he still wanted to participate in winter sports and for the last fi ve years, has been fortunate enough to play hockey again in the form of sledge hockey, as well as ski again with the use of a mono ski. Getting back into sport after a traumatic injury helped him to realize he wasn’t alone. He has met a large community of athletes who share a very similar lifestyle. Through hard work and determination, he had the honour to be named the assistant captain of Sledge Team Ontario, as well as a member of the National Sledge Hockey Development program. He was also fortunate enough to become a member of the Ontario Para Alpine Racing Team as well as a prospect of the Canadian Para Alpine racing team.

As you can imagine, adaptive sports are very expensive endeavours. Being involved in these sports has shown him that he wants to be able to

continue with them and compete at the highest level possible. Even though funds are available through the Quest for Gold, which is a government grant program that helps subsidize athletes competing in one sport, he would like to compete in two. There are still many out of pocket costs; air fair, hotels, off ice training, equipment, etc. as you can imagine it adds up quickly. Adaptive sports are expensive but the experience is priceless. The funds that he raises will allow him to reach his dreams. www.gofundme.com/therodcranefund

Donations for New BooksThornbury-Clarksburg Rotary President Steven

Schofi eld presented Blue Mountains Public Library with two cheques for new books.

The fi rst donation of $1,000 is to be used to purchase new children’s books. The donation was made in partnership with the CIBC Wood Gundy Children’s Miracle Fund.

The second donation of $600 from the club’s own resources will be used to purchase much needed large print books. Many such books are heavily used at Erinrung.

Representing the Library are Eliza Chandler (L), Manager of Technical and Virtual Services and Emma Barker (R), Manager of Public Services.

These donations are part of T-C Rotary’s continuing commitment to Making a Diff erence in our community.

Rotary Ski DaysNori Szabó, Thornbury-Clarksburg Rotary’s

International Youth Exchange student from Hungary, was joined by 12 of her colleagues when all the RYE students in the district were brought to Ravenna to begin their annual Ski Days Conference February 5 & 6. Many had traveled through white out conditions to get to the gathering. Their drivers were the half dozen volunteer “Red Coats” - District Youth Exchange Offi cers - who run the RYE program. As usual, there was great excitement at being together and anticipation for two days of skiing.

T-C Rotary and the Ski Days Committee are very grateful to everyone who helped make this event such a success. In particular, to Peter Zahradnik, Karen James, Tom and Lee Normet, Grant and June MacPherson and Kenton Acton who all gave their time to help on the hill.

Thanks also to Janine Lachey, Deb Crosskill and Jane and John Gyles who hosted one or more of the visiting students. Ski Days would not have been possible without everyone’s generous support. tcrotary.ca

BRUCE MCFARLANEA beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend, mentor and physician, died on Friday, February 2, 2018. Energetic, curious, thoughtful, and determined, Bruce lived and loved deeply. He sought to nurture and share the best of himself with others and encouraged those around him to do the same personally and professionally. For over 50 years, Bruce was an integral part of a vibrant, extended family, and he died surrounded by these people, in the house he helped build, on the land he had tended. Bruce fi rst practiced medicine in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut and then spent over 30 years doctoring in the Markdale-Flesherton area. In honour of his dedication to learning and his commitment to the common good, a scholarship fund for Inuit students interested in furthering their education particularly in the area of health care has been created.

BRIAN F. GRANTBrian Grant of Thornbury passed away at Campbell House Hospice in Collingwood on Saturday, Feb-ruary 10, 2018. Brian was the cher-ished son of the late Frank and Lois (nee McGuire) Grant, much loved brother of Judy, Michael, Tom (Eric), Barbara (Rick), Shelagh (David), and dear friend of Sharon Bell. He was predeceased by his sister Janice and his brother Kenny (Paula), and will be fondly remembered by his uncle John and his many nieces, nephews and cousins who loved and adored him.

ANNA JOHANNA ROUTHEUTAnna Routheut of Thornbury passed away peacefully at Errin-rung Nursing Home on Monday, February 12, 2018 at the age of 90.Anna was predeceased by her eloved husband Frank Routheut in 2012. She was the loving mother of Andre (Alice) Routheut of Wasa-ga Beach, Victoria (Jim) Smith of Collingwood, Frank (Stephanie) Routheut of Feversham, and was predeceased by her daughter Polly.She was the dear grandmother of 8 and great grandmother of 11.

Photographer for the Blue Mountains

Family Portraits CommercialReal EstatePromotions

519.599.6195 burcherphoto@gmail.com

Thornbury Community Garden Applications Open! The Thornbury Community Gardens Committee wishes to welcome

community members to apply for a garden plot rental for the 2018 growing season by visiting www.freespiritgardens.org.

Applications can be downloaded and either scanned and emailed, or hand delivered, or mailed. Paper applications are also available at the LE Shore Library. Plot rentals are $55 for the season which includes water, access to tools, compost and wood chips, plus the opportunity to grow your own food and meet fellow gardeners. Payment will secure your spot in line for a plot. Applicants will be notifi ed of their plot assignments by mid March. Once construction of the gardens is complete in the spring, gardeners will be able to access their plots.

Beyond plot rentals, there will be free community workshops on growing your own food, a school and food bank plot where school workshops will be held, and volunteers will be invited to grow food for those in need. These gardens have the potential to be a wonderful community project.

Thank you so much to the following groups for granting funds to support this exciting community project: TD Friends of the Environment, Blue Mountain Village Foundation, and the Town of The Blue Mountains Sustainability Fund. www.freespiritgardens.org

PATRICIA CHRISTIE

FENNESSY“A life well lived is a lasting inspiration.”After a courageous fi ght, Pat passed away peacefully on February 16, 2018 with her beloved Denis by her side. Patricia Christie Fennessy (nee Tomlinson), wife of Denis John Fennessy, sister of Alan Tomlinson, Dorothy Herbert and Barbara O’Halloran; sister in law of Nicole and Vince Fennessy; aunt to Peter, David, Norm and Susan and lots of great nieces and nephews. After growing up in Port Credit, Pat became a world traveler, working with the BBC in England, bartending in Switzerland, living on a kibbutz in Israel and roaming through Europe before returning to Canada. After one date with Denis in London, the two maintained a far-fl ung courtship of 10 years before they fi nally tied the knot in Toronto in 1972. They lived in Port Credit until they moved to Melbourne, Australia to be closer to Denis’ family. After returning to Canada, Pat was a superb sales rep for the rest of her working life. She began her lifelong support of Big Brothers/Big Sisters in schools in Port Credit and maintained this after they relocated to Collingwood. Skiing at Blue Mountain and working as a hill host expanded her circle of wonderful friends that continued all her life. Grateful thanks to the caring doctors and nurses at both Collingwood Marine General Hospital and Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie. A celebration of this remarkable woman will be held on Saturday March 3, 2018 at All Saints Church, 32 Elgin Street, Collingwood from 12-2 pm. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of fl owers, donations to Big Brothers/Big Sisters Collingwood, The Georgian Triangle Humane Society, or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.

RUTH ISABELL GRAYBorn in Euphrasia Township, a daughter of the late James and Margaret (nee Curry) McConnell on September 13, 1922, Ruth passed away in Owen Sound in the presence of loving family on Thursday February 8, 2018 at the age of 95. Ruth was predeceased by her beloved husband James Gray in 2010 while the couple were residents of Ridgetown and shortly thereafter Ruth moved back to Meaford. She is lovingly remembered by her son Rick Gray of Lindsay and daughter-in-law Tina of Thornbury and was predeceased also by a son Tom Gray in 2017 and is recalled with fondness by his wife Linda of Owen Sound.

She will be remembered also by her adopted daughter Danielle Gray of Niagara Region. Ruth was a dearly loved Grandmother and Great-grandmother to Amy Ellard-Gray and Kim Ellard and daughter Avery of Guelph, and Sarah Gray and her son Aiden McKee of Owen Sound. She is survived also by her only surviving sister Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Falvey (late Dan) of Meaford. Ruth was predeceased by six sisters: Edna Smith, Mabel Wonch, Lena McConnell, Florence Sherwood, Jean Eisenhofer, and Marjorie Culbert and by two brothers, Jim and Phene McConnell. She will be recalled as a special aunt to her many nieces and nephews and their families.

Recolour Grey Open Houses

Location TimeGrey Ag. Services206 Toronto Street South, Unit 3, Markdale

Monday, March 12 - 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Wednesday, March 14 - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Grey Federation of Agriculture446 10th Street, Hanover Tuesday, March 13 - 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Grey County Administration595 9th Ave. E., Valley Room, Owen Sound Thursday., March 15 - 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Grey County has drafted a new

open house to learn about the changes and how they could

County staff will answer questions

just drop in.

and develop over the next 20 years. Over the past two years, Grey County has been

uses than what is currently on a property, such as the ability to build on-farm businesses.

features and hazard lands for protection.Sometimes the location of these features on your property may limit what you can do withyour land or may require environment studiesbefore you can build.

We’ve created an interactive map to make it easier for you to see if and how land uses on your property have

Maps may take time

speed.

Mail:Grey County595 9th Avenue East

Contact Us:1-800-567-4739

Recolour Grey Public Meeting

What to expect at the meeting

595 9

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

595 9th

Grey County CouncilThursday, February 22 Committee of the Whole Updates

• Tony Yu from Lough Barnes provided Council with an update on the coordinated rural transportation pilot. Tony shared results from a recent survey and outlined details that will support an upcoming funding application.

• Council received a summary of 2017 road projects which included replacing multiple bridges and culverts and resurfacing many roads.

• Grey County is applying for community transportation funding. Council heard more about the opportunity and directed staff to submit an application. The City of Owen Sound is also interested in submitting an application for service between Owen Sound and Guelph. Council is supportive of Owen Sound’s application.

• Council was updated about a funding application to create more child care locations in Grey County. The Ministry of Education provides funding for Grey County Children’s Services. Grey County will update its service agreement with the Ministry to included funding for Journey Together, a new initiative from the Ministry of Education, which supports capital improvements to the OEYCFC operated by M’Wikwedong Native Cultural Resource Centre.

• Grey County ended 2017 with a budget surplus of almost $1.9 million or just over 1% of total spending. Council accepted a report outlining how this surplus will be distributed into

The County has received a plan of subdivision application (County fi le number 42T-2018-03) to create a total of six (6) blocks. A total of twenty three (23) townhouses are proposed within three (3) of the six (6) blocks. The proposed subdivision is located in the settlement area of Thornbury, southwest of the new Foodland store. Servicing to the proposed subdivision will be via municipal water and sewer services. Various reports have been submitted with the proposed subdivision application. The application and supporting studies will be circulated to prescribed agencies and the public for review and comment. The proposed development also requires an amendment to the Town of The Blue Mountains Zoning By-law. The Town of The Blue Mountains will be holding a public meeting for the applications in the near future.

Following the public process, and agency review process, a thorough

Subdivision Application for Louisa St. Thornburyreserves to help fund future needs.

• Council approved a report making minor changes to 2018 equipment purchases including a skid-steer, two pickup trucks and a loader.

• Council adopted a policy regulating election protocols for members of council. This policy aligns with the Municipal Elections Act and regulates councillors’ ability to use County resources for election purposes. It also impacts a councillor’s responsibilities if he or she is interested in running for provincial or federal offi ce.

• Council received an overview of a proposed application for a subdivision with 393 housing units in Markdale.

• Council received an overview of a proposed application for a subdivision in the Town of the Blue Mountains on Louisa Street

• Grey County is partnering with students from University of Guelph Masters of Rural Planning and Development program to undertake a study on aff ordable and attainable housing in Grey County.

• Councillor Kevin Eccles provided clarity about his position on rising farm assessment and the impact on local farmers. Councillor Eccles explained he is open to discussing options for assisting farmers. Adjusting the tax rate for agricultural land impacts the other tax rates in Grey County and that needs to be considered.

The Clerk’s Department maintains the offi cial record for Grey County. This publication is intended to provide meeting highlights only.

For complete details on the above reports, visit www.theReview.news

Citizens’ Pages in the Blue Mountains Review – March 2018

This insert is brought to you as a public service to provide citizens information about issues facing their Town. It is funded by the citizens of the Town through online contributions. If you like this page and would like to keep it going, please donate by following the link https://www.gofundme.com/Citizens-Page-in-the-Blue-Mts-Review To contact us with your letters, comments, ideas, and suggested content please e-mail tbmcitizens@gmail.com

"Libraries are sacred spaces"

A Conversation with the New Library CEO – Dr. Sabrina Saunders

Before taking up her position as CEO of the The Blue Mountains Public Library last October, Dr. Sabrina Saunders spent ten years as head of the Six Nations Public Library in Ohsweken, Ontario, where she spearheaded a drive to build a new, state-of-the-art facility She has also worked as a teacher and a university professor. She has a PhD from

the University of Toronto, and is currently completing her Masters in Library Science.

On behalf of the Citizens Pages, Patricia Grant and Paul Wilson recently talked to Dr. Saunders in the board room of the L.E. Shore Memorial Library.

CP: You arrived at the Library at a time when it was just recovering from a period of crisis. How has that been to deal with?

SS: In any situation where there’s been major change, the biggest thing is team building––working together with staff and building trust. I appreciated that the staff have been through a major transition. So ––we’re on a dating experience right now. We haven’t quite married and moved in, but we’re all getting to know each other. Also the Board. Some members were here originally, but most of them were new and had inherited the issue and were trying to bring the library back into a place where the community felt comfortable with their decisions. The Board is working really hard to do what it has to do in this cycle, that is the new Action Plan, cleaning up the By-laws, making sure that the wording is clear. Teamwork is the foundation for all this.

CP: The relationship between the Library Board and Council got confused in the last two of years. Are you managing to clear that up?

SS: I’ve been working on the By-laws and governance statements with our committee. I believe in having the legal statement that guides you as the starting point. So when you look at the By-laws, it starts with the Libraries Act. We then explain how we’re going to stick to that. The committee has spent a hundred plus hours making sure that everyone is reading the material the same way and there’s no room for misinterpretation. I think that this is going to get us 90% of the way there. The members of this board, and the members of future boards, will have a very clean document which says: This is us. We are an independent body. We respond to Council as the people who appointed us, but we also respond to the community. It clarifies the role of council and the fact that the Board is an independent body. At the same time, we have to

understand that in serving the community the Board and the Council are both serving the same population. The money is based on the tax dollars, so we have to work very closely with council. Yes, they’re writing our cheques, but they’re not drawing up our budget.

We’re currently working on the Memorandum of Understanding with the Town. There are very clear lines that the M.O.U. will clarify. It’s going to the Bylaw and Governance committee (of the town) mid-March and then it’ll go to the Southern Ontario Library Services, and they’re going to take a look at it to make sure that there are no loopholes. Finally, it’ll go back to the Town and when they’re ready to sign off it will go back to our Board. Our Board will review it in a public meeting (I will be available for a Q. and A. with the community) and then they’ll approve a resolution to present it to Council.

CP: We understand that the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, which oversees compliance with the Libraries Act, was critical of an earlier draft of the MOU. It was felt that the Library should handle its own HR and complaint procedures. Has that been sorted out?

SS. Certainly. That is very cleaned up. It’s one of the things that I’ve spoken to our committee about. The language of the MOU gives staff here at the Library and the Town staff the outline of what we’re going to do for each other.

CP: Our sense from having attended some of the Board meetings is that part of what you’re trying to do is empower the Board.

SS. Very much! The Board has to make their own decisions. My job is to give them the information that they need so that when they’re making the decisions they’ll be informed.

CP: Part of their power is to hire and fire the CEO. . .

SS. I made a joke about that because my probation is coming up!

CP: But do you feel any tension between taking an active role in bringing them up to speed, while at the same they’re your boss?

SS. It’s the dance that every CEO in every library in this province and frankly across North America has to do. So it’s not unusual. Everyone who comes to the Board is coming because they have a different interest but it doesn’t mean that they know how to manage library services. There’s a difference between operational management and governance. I have to provide information about the operational pieces so they understand how we work, so they can make good decisions from the governance standpoint.

The governance training is something we’ll be doing early on in the new [Board] cycle. We’re planning that for early January so they’ll receive that training right out of the gate. It’s always a dance.

CP: The original strategic plan included plans to expand the Library. What’s the status of those original plans?

SS: The Board just passed the OK for me to start working on

Continued on page 2

Citizens’ Pages in the Blue Mountains Review – March 2018

This insert is brought to you as a public service to provide citizens information about issues facing their Town. It is funded by the citizens of the Town through online contributions. If you like this page and would like to keep it going, please donate by following the link https://www.gofundme.com/Citizens-Page-in-the-Blue-Mts-Review To contact us with your letters, comments, ideas, and suggested content please e-mail tbmcitizens@gmail.com

A Conversation with the New

Library CEO – Dr. Sabrina

Saunders continued

a feasibility study. So we’ll be putting out an RFP, a Request for Proposals, to consultants, architects, and engineering firms for the expansion of this location (L.E. Shore) and also the same thing at Craiglieth, where we’ll explore how we can expand at the current site or another available site so that we can have a fully functioning library there and at the same time, facilitate what the museum is doing.

CP: Did the fact that TBM library had just taken over a museum a factor in your decision to come here?

SS: Very much. I am all about GLAM!, Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums. We are GLAM. We have the library, the museum, and we’re creating archival content, so this is like a hat trick for a cultural centre. It’s very exciting.

CP: We’re living in a time when the perception and use of libraries is changing. At the same time, as a First Nations person, you must feel that tradition is important. Where do you see yourself on that spectrum of tradition versus change?

SS. Everybody’s always worried that the library is going to go the way of the dodo. We’ve been around since the days of Alexandria. We’re not going anywhere! Libraries and librarians are probably the most versatile places and people because we’re always reading the landscape. There’s always going to be a need for material and information and someone who can curate that information for the community.

CP: I have a feeling you recognize that libraries are sacred spaces for many people. Where does your understanding of that come from?

SS. I grew up in libraries. I was a city kid and that’s how I stayed alive. It was the 70s and 80s and it was a bit different. Children were allowed to leave home at the crack of dawn and not come back until dinner-time. It was an urban setting where there was violence, so I went to the library because it was either that or you were stuck in the house or your back yard. I walked my butt to the Highland Branch of the Buffalo public library every Saturday. The ladies there knew me. I came in. I put my boots in the corner and sometimes when it was closing time they’d have to tap me on the shoulder. “You’ve got to go home now!” So I grew up with this understanding that libraries are sacred spaces, places where you raise your children, or places where your children go to be raised.

Later I made a choice to leave teaching. I was an elementary teacher, but I also taught high school, and later worked as a university sessional professor, so I never really honed in on any age group. It was just “education.”

When I fell into working at a library, all of a sudden it just made sense. This is it! This is where I do “education,” truly cradle to grave! I think that libraries are everything!

Integrity Commissioner Presents

Proposed Changes to Town’s Code

of Conduct, Workplace

Harassment Policy, and

Investigation Protocols

The Town’s Integrity Commissioner, Janet Leiper, was in attendance at the Committee of the Whole on February 21, 2018 to make a presentation to Council on the proposed changes to the Code of Conduct for Members of Council and Local Boards Report Number: FAF.18.06 Subject: Code of Conduct for Members of Council and Local Boards Policy Revisions , the Town’s Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy, Report Number: FAF.18.08,

Subject: Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy

and to present a Protocol Policy for Complaints Related to Members of Council and Local Boards Report Number: FAF.18.07 Subject: Protocol Policy for Complaints Related to Members of Council and Local Boards .

The changes to these policies and procedures incorporate changes required by recent legislative changes and the Integrity Commissioner’s knowledge and expertise on what are best practices for municipalities.

These changes have been in the works for the last year, since in her report on the disclosure in the Michael Seguin affair, the Integrity Commissioner noted “However, in reviewing the history of the matter, it is understandable that there could be public confusion over what took place.” “A complaint protocol would assist members of Council and the public in understanding when complaints made under the Code of Conduct will be investigated and the subject of public report. It should be the subject of debate by Council and once in place, posted along with the Code of Conduct as part of the ethical infrastructure for use by all. It can reflect the value of early complaint resolution, provide for fair and orderly classification of complaints and contribute to Council’s public commitment to upholding the principles in its Code of Conduct.”

The changes to the Harassment Policy, now make it clear that harassment complaints continued on next page

Welcome to the Citizens’ Pages

This is the sixteenth monthly issue of the Citizen’s Pages, a citizen funded insert into the Blue Mountains Review. This insert allows for four pages of news about what is going on in our Town. If you like reading us, please follow the link and make a donation to keep us going. We can’t do it without your support! We have managed to raise enough to survive for our first fifteen issues, but we are surviving month to month. https://www.gofundme.com/Citizens-Page-in-the-Blue-Mts-Review Donations can also be made to the Citizens’ Pages care of The Blue Mountains Review and be dropped off at Riverside Graphics in Clarksburg. All of the funds we receive go towards printing and distribution. All content and editing is provided by citizen volunteers. Alar Soever, Editor

Citizens’ Pages in the Blue Mountains Review – March 2018

This insert is brought to you as a public service to provide citizens information about issues facing their Town. It is funded by the citizens of the Town through online contributions. If you like this page and would like to keep it going, please donate by following the link https://www.gofundme.com/Citizens-Page-in-the-Blue-Mts-Review To contact us with your letters, comments, ideas, and suggested content please e-mail tbmcitizens@gmail.com

Town’s Legal Costs Soar to in

Excess of Half a Million Dollars in

2017

The Town’s legal expenses soared by 24% in 2017. A review and compilation of the Accounts posted for information at Council meetings, showed an increase in payments to legal firms from $407,461.39 in 2016 to $503,986.43 in 2017.

A large increase of $130,440.65 (59%), from $220,645.15 in 2016 to $351,085.80 in 2017, can be seen in the amounts billed by Aird and Berlis, the Town’s Corporate Lawyers, who were involved in the filings for the Judicial Review in the Councillor Seguin case. They also handle other legal matters for the Town, but the increase is concerning.

Bernardi Human Resource Law, the Human Resource Lawyers, who have been involved in the Councillor Seguin case from the beginning, billed for $29,632.17 in 2016 and $32,912.27 in 2017.

Integrity Commissioner Presents

Proposed Changes to Town’s Code

of Conduct, Workplace

Harassment Policy, and

Investigation Protocols continued

related to members of Council and Local Boards are now dealt within the Code of Conduct for Members of Council and Local Boards.

The Application section of the Harassment Policy states:

This policy applies to all Town Workers including students on placement, individuals contracted by the Town on a “purchase for service” agreement, Volunteers and to the Members of Public.

The only exceptions are for Members of Council and local Boards who are subject to the Code of Conduct for Members of Council including the workplace harassment and discrimination provisions found in the Code of Conduct.”

The process for completing a complaint related to a Council member or Local Board member is outlined in the recommended Complaint Protocol.

Individuals are encouraged to use the Informal Complaint Procedure first to address behaviour or activity of a Member of Council, Local Committee or a Local Board (a “Member”) that they believe violates the Code of Conduct. With the consent of the complaining individual and the Member, the Integrity Commissioner may participate in this process. The parties are encouraged to take advantage of the Integrity Commissioner’s potential role as a mediator/conciliator of issues relating to a complaint.

Where the Integrity Commissioner believes that an

opportunity to resolve the matter may be successfully pursued without a formal investigation, and both the complainant and the Member agree, an informal resolution of the complaint may be attempted with the assistance of the Integrity Commissioner.

These changes are very significant. Had they been in place at the time the complaint against Councillor Seguin was made by the former CAO, it would have been handled in public, or even resolved by the Informal Complaint Pro-cedure, potentially saving the Town in excess of $100,000.

The Citizens’ Forum is a community

association open to all who seek effective

ways to improve the management and

governance of The Blue Mountains.

Come out and meet people who are interested in what is going on in the Town, and what is before Council. All citizens are invited to drop in at Maiolo’s on most Monday nights between 4 and 7 (except for holiday weekends) for some socializing and friendly discussion on the issues facing the Town and what is on the Council Agenda. Come, meet new friends, listen, and have your say. Rules: Be polite, respect other people’s opinions, and if you don’t agree with them, just remember: They have the right to be wrong.

COUNTDOWN TO THE NEXT ELECTION

Less than 235 days

The next municipal election will be held Monday, October 22, 2018. It’s never too early to get to know your Town and the issues, so you can make an informed choice.

By voting, we add our voice to the chorus that forms opinions and the basis for actions. Jens Stoltenberg

The Town of The Blue Mountains will be using both internet and telephone voting in the 2018 municipal election. Mail-in and paper ballots will not be used.

With internet and telephone voting, electors will have the opportunity to cast their ballots where telephone or internet service is available.

The Town will offer help centres and education centres throughout the election to ensure all voters have the opportunity to participate. Follow Elections 2018 updates at the link below or by clicking the Election 2018 button on the Town of the Blue Mountains Home Page.

http://www.thebluemountains.ca/administration-election201.cfm

Citizens’ Pages in the Blue Mountains Review – March 2018

This insert is brought to you as a public service to provide citizens information about issues facing their Town. It is funded by the citizens of the Town through online contributions. If you like this page and would like to keep it going, please donate by following the link https://www.gofundme.com/Citizens-Page-in-the-Blue-Mts-Review To contact us with your letters, comments, ideas, and suggested content please e-mail tbmcitizens@gmail.com

1111111aaaaaa

The removal of Accounts and Invoices is a big step backward for openness and transparency. Without this information there is no way for the public to see the details of where their money is being spent. For example, the monthly financial reports do not include enough detail to see what is being spent on legal bills (see our article on that on the previous page), as they are included in Purchased Services. Also it will not be possible to see payments such as the mysterious $50,000 payment in the next article. Information about such payments in the future will have to be obtained through Freedom of Information Requests.

What is the Mysterious Payment of

$50,000 that was redacted?

In reviewing the first redacted version of the Accounts and Invoices, which were part of the Council package for the February 12th meeting, there was an amount for $50,000 which had been redacted.

During the public discussion at the CoW concerning the possible reasons for redaction no suggestion was made that amounts of this size might be redacted. It is highly unlikely that this represents an amount for overpayment of taxes or utility bills, or the return of a deposit, which were cited as examples of personal items which might be redacted, as it is unlikely those types of items would amount to a round $50,000. It is also unlikely that a payment for services would be a round number of $50,000. Clearly this is some other kind of payment.

When we wrote and asked the Town “What kind of payment this was and what is the reason for its redaction. Fifty thousand dollars is a lot of our taxpayer’s money to leave unaccounted. In this regard I am reminded of Councillor Halos comment, that the primary responsibility of a Council, is fiscal responsibility.” the response from the Town was “In regard to any particular payment listed on the detailed account register, we can assure you that it has been made in accordance with the budget and/or in accordance with the direction of council, within legislative framework that staff is required to operate. The suggestion that a payment has been made that is “unaccounted” for is simply incorrect.”

So all we know to date is that some person with a short name starting with either SPA.... or SPE followed by A, B, or C was paid $50,000 of our money.

We gladly accept letters to the editor. Please be advised that these letters will be reviewed & published at the discretion of our Editor. Please limit your letters to 200 words or less. You can email your letters to tbmcitizens@gmail.com. Please include a phone number for validation.

By submitting a Letter to the Editor you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions: You may not use a false e-mail address, impersonate any person or entity, or otherwise mislead as to the origin of submitted material. You agree to be fully responsible for your own submissions. You agree to grant The Citizens’ Pages a right to use your name and other identifying information you provide in connection with that letter. You agree to indemnify and hold the Citizens’ Pages and its associates harmless from any claims, damages, losses or costs that arise out of any Letter to the Editor that you submit, including, without limitation, any material submitted or otherwise provided by you that infringes upon any copyright, trademark, or intellectual property right of any person, defames any person, or violates any person’s rights of publicity or privacy.

Town Considers Changes to

Procedural Bylaw

A Special Committee of the Whole Meeting was held on February 5th to consider changes to the Town’s Procedural Bylaw. At its meeting on February 12th Council received Staff Report FAF.18.32 “Proposed Changes to the Town Procedural By-law 2009-59. Followup to Staff Report FAF.18.13” and directed staff to proceed to a Public Meeting on March 5th to receive comments from the public on the proposed revisions to the Procedural By-law.

The Town is required by section 239 of the Municipal Act, to pass a procedural by‐law for governing the calling, place and proceedings of meetings. The procedural by‐law provides the rules and regulations for the proceedings of Council, Committees and Local Boards. The Town’s Procedural By‐law was last updated in 2013.

The proposed changes are mostly administrative in nature, some made necessary by Bill 68, Modernizing Ontario's Municipal Legislation Act, 2017.

There are however two changes of note, which will have a profound on our local government.

On the positive side there is the proposal for an Open Mic or Public Comment period at Council and Committee of the Whole Meetings as is already practiced in almost all other surrounding municipalities.

The following Public Comment Periods are proposed - Fifteen minutes allotted at the Council Meeting to receive public comments regarding Town matters and ten minutes allotted during each section of the Committee of the Whole Meeting to receive public comments regarding staff reports included on the Agenda. (NOTE: Comments regarding reports that are a follow-up to a Public Meeting are not permitted as the commenting period has ended).

On the negative side for openness and transparency, Staff are recommending removing “Accounts and Invoices” from the Council Meeting, Consent Agenda. Council are not approving the expenditures listed and staff confirm there are internal practices in place to ensure that payments made are appropriate and are in accordance with the approved Town Budget, and Purchasing Policy.

Effective immediately, staff will be redacting personal information from the Accounts and Invoices Summary. Personal payments could include overpayment of taxes or utility bills, reimbursement of a deposit. Council will be required to see staff in advance of the Council meeting to view the “clean” copy of the accounts and invoices statement to determine if they are required to declare a conflict under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. Failure to declare a conflict could lead to other Municipal Conflict of Interest issues to arise.

With the adoption of the revised Procedural By-law, the “Accounts and Invoices” will be removed from the Council Agenda. Moving forward, the monthly financial staff reports will be enhanced to include more detail.

ALL YOU CAN EAT BREAKFASTPancakes, French Toast, Ham, SausageAdults $10.00; Children $5.00 10 yrs & under)

Saturday March 318:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Beaver Valley Arena Thornbury

All proceeds to the Beaver Valley Agricultural Society for the 2018 Beaver Valley Fall Fair

Saturday, March 31, 10 am -1 pm, Beaver Valley Community CentreJoin Beaver Valley Outreach for the annual super-fun Easter celebration! Magic Egg Hunt; Treasure Shop Sale; Create a Craft; Photo Booth; Face Painting; BBQ; Storybook Time; Easter Basket Raffl e, Pat’s PJs and more! Admission by donation. Contact: BVO Preschool 519-599-2190