Thursday February 16th, 2012, 10:00 – 12 noon
Perry Township
Present: Kay Tod, Perry Township: Cole Dault: Intern.~ Economic Development Officer, John Dunn: Mayor, Mary Ann Love: Councilor, Kearney: David Hunks, Almaguin Highlands Ontario Inc: David Stewart and Karen Insley Stewart (Healthy Almaguin too), South Almaguin Community Development: Dianne Kirou (& Kawartha Credit Union) Ryerson:, McMurrich/Monteith: Merv Mulligan, Westwind Forestry: Steve Munro, Women’s Own Resource Centre: Kara Mitchell (& AHED Secretary), KPABA: Jeff Johnston; (& AHED Chair) , KPABA & Algonquin West Property Maintenance: Frank Colley, Employment North: Laura Irwin, Almaguin Highlands Arts Council: Doreen Wood
Regrets: Jim Coleman – South River & CAEDA, Don Carter Whitestone
2. Motion to accept January minutes – check spelling of names based on the sheet - add Teryl Faulkner of Parry Sound Health Unit = contact for Social Planning Council that’s developing in East and West Parry Sound –Dave 1st, Merv 2nd, all in favour
3. Terms of Reference: approval and discuss promotional distribution of (final version)
- amendments: - move Mission and Vision to top - add Chisholm & East Ferris to Communities
- including Almaguin.org section in Background and Accomplishments section discussed
- With above changes of separating Terms of Reference and Background & Accomplishments, Motion made by Steve to approve Terms of Reference, Kay 2nd
1 opposed, 1 abstained, 11 in favour - passed
4. Showcase 2012 - could be way of bringing together sub regional economic and other community development groups and exchange info re. development plans discussed as one benefit
- including social services mentioned as important
- a way to feature and communicate between attendees, communities what is being offered and developed in Almaguin relevant to a certain theme
- potential themes - Public Transportation
- Almaguin going Green / Environmentally Sustainable Development here
- Stimulating Local Trade
- best timing: June & Fall discussed
- advantage of capturing visiting people in June offset with getting available funding & time to plan and run with greater attendance and success
– committee setting – WORC / Kara, Kay, ? Potentially Dianne S.Almaguin, ? AHAC, Steve /Westwind, Perry via Intern, David Stewart / Almaguin.org, Jeff -Wed. Feb. 22nd , (later changed to Fri. March 9th) 10 -11:30 @ WORC, South River
Dianne: South Almaguin Community Network
- also recognizes need for more effectively collaborating, not overlapping with other organizations mandates but strengthen each other
- started this apolitical initiative in November, engaging with people who want to better their community (South Almaguin)
- have developed mission and vision statements with assistance through such networking as AHED provided & MNDM’s support - shared these with the group
- Meeting on Tues. Feb. 21st 7 @ Evergreen Heights Educational Centre (public school) - to vote on this organizational pillars and start to plan initial projects
- talked of matching with Kawartha Credit Union approach, brought up supports for small business & community funds for not for profits with an application process (planned 1 year in advance)
Kearney – (David )
-18th annual dog sled races on the weekend of Feb.11th&12th, good attendance, over 800 volunteers, teams from as far Alaska , biggest race and purse in Ontario -Perry also supportive with volunteers (thanks)
-on Monday Graphite mine got approval on plan, will start to extract ore in Sept., 1st staff member hired (from Huntsville) – getting power and internet are next steps, may receive FedNor supports for this, Lakeland Power providing competitive quote
- Ralph Byce project on hold with great potential
David – RTO 12 / Explorer’s Edge
Karen - Healthy Almaguin (follow-up to Feb. presentation)
- recruitment of partners and defining financial and in-kind support they will provide to the project - the funding available through Ont. Healthy Communities Fund has been reduced to $30, 000 - grant to run 6 programs through the High School - looking for organization (Non-profit corporation or municipality) that will step up to provide insurance support for the project - need organization to certify the rider the NN School Board supplies will be sufficient - particular needs mad available & on request
Almaguin Highlands Arts Council
- new Arts Directory will be distributed before May 24th weekend - this year have more artists compared to past (when listed services), there is space for 4 more - will have a map - funded by charge for advertising,
- website currently being updated
- events done in past include Art after Dark and Showcases (2 @ Caswell Resort in Sundridge) –want to have 2 showcases this year in the Region
- more studios being set up and coming forward
- a regional tour is a longer term goal
McMurrich/Monteith -Merv
Westwind -Steve Munro
- mapping partnership with KPABA brought up
- discussion of nursery tree availability as fund raiser for organizations – references for suppliers provided including Brinkman of North Bay, Summerville Nurseries & Pine Needle
Perry & Almaguin Highlands Information Centre (AHIC)
Frank Colley: Property Maintenance – growing quickly in association with the Graphite mine
-KPABA (w Jeff Johnston): is incorporated now, looking to have membership differentiated so that its more accessible to variety of businesses
- growth over years of Dog Sled races has been sustainable economic development contributor
Laura – Employment North (non profit organization)
- help with recruitment of new employees – provide HR services for employers – have changed from focus on youth and youth training to being more open to all ages – provide referrals -last year achieved 90% placement - new employees, manager this year & new Mentorship program being established
- discussion of partnerships with local employers & organizations
–Sundridge office – also offer services in Gravenhurst and satellite services 1 day/week in Magnetewan and Powassan
Kara –Women’s Own Resource Centre
- March 8th = International Women’s Day – Almaguin celebration on that day in South River , WORC also helping spread word about regional events throughout the week including a trade show for female entrepreneurs of the region Sat. March 10th in Parry Sound
- last wed of every month (Feb. 29th in Powassan, March 28th in South Almaguin) Almaguin Resource and Business network meets for luncheon – free / shared training on topic of common interest and networking opportunities for local business women
- Carpool Almaguin – thanks to Municipalities for their responses to appeal for shared support in continuing to maintain the project -WORC board making decisions post pooled responses and follow-up to come
- other networking:- Northern Lights , Burks Falls branch is launching this month a pilot program for 18-30 year olds who are unemployed that provides training for entering the job market & seek job placement partners for the spring
- Poverty Reduction Network of Parry Sound District – set priorities for the year ahead at January meeting, including organizing a forum focusing on improving access to affordable, healthy Food
Next meeting; March 15th ; approach a Powassan, East Ferris, Trout Creek (rotate through South, Central and North of Almaguin through the year)
12:10 Motion to adjourn :David Stewart
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