AHED

Minutes of meeting

Thursday January 19^th, 2012, 10:00 – 12 noon

Whitestone Lake Resort

Present: Whitestone: Bill Church & Don Carter , MABA: Carol Pease, Walter Reich, Perry Township: Cole Dault: Intern.~ Economic Development Officer, John Dunn: Mayor Mary Ann Love: Councilor, Sundridge Business Committee & Red Brick Cafe: Dawn Berry,  Kearney: David Hunks,  Almaguin Highlands Ontario Inc: David Stewart (Explorers' Edge too) and Karen Insey Stewart (Healthy Almaguin too),  South Almaguin Community Development: Dianne Kirou (& Kawartha Credit Union)  Ryerson: Rosalind Hall , McMurrich/Monteith: Merv Mulligan, Business Centre of Nippissing & Parry Sound : Michaela Clark; FedNor Industry Canada: Ron Bejin,  MNDM:Tara Hamilton, Healthy Almaguin Committee of Access 2011:Lisa Rogers;  Women’s Own Resource Centre: Kara Mitchell (& AHED Secretary) &, KPABA :Jeff Johnston; (& AHED Chair)

• Call to Order and welcome – Jeff Johnston – Chair
• Motion to accept Nov. minutes – moved Rosalind, 2^nd:  Merv, All in favour
• Dec. 12, 2011 Minutes – moved accept Don, Merv 2nded, All in favour,

Motion – to send out minutes labeled as Draft minutes to all contacts following a meeting made by  Don Carter. 2^nd: David Stewart.  All in favour.

• Election; Chaired by Don

Nominations for Chair:  For Jeff Johnston – 1^st Rosalind, 2^nd Merv

Nominations for Vice-Chair:  David Stewart –Karen, 2^nd Bill

2^nd Nomination:  Rosalind Hall;  Dianne K & Merv

3^rd Nomination for Don Carter – not accepted by nominee

Secret Ballots cast:  Rosalind elected

Nominations for Secretary:  For Kara Mitchell – Merv 2^nd: Bill – no other nominations, accepted.

Showcase Almaguin:  deferred to next meeting

Roundtable of updates from attendees: 

Healthy Almaguin – Lisa Rogers

• HA = subcommittee of Access 2011, a not for profit organization
• Background: stats for our region show that our health is lower than other areas
• Access 11 connecting AHSS and community found in Community Survey in 2009 that people want better access to programs and information about what’s available in the region
• subcommittee formed to respond and starting with a  Healthy Communities Grant application in Feb. 2012.
• committed members of HA Subcommittee include; AHSS, Municipality of South River, Health Unit, HANDS, Tyerson, DSSAB, Almaguin Highlands Inc.
• DRAFT  Proposal planning flow chart & budget & Roll-out Plan presented
• Transportation was a part of initial plan, may be dividing into separate or 2-stage portion
• looking for partnership, support from community members 
• in application , launching stage:  in letters and in-kind or financial support, an appeal distributed, return by end of January / Beginning of Feb. to help with application, though welcome at any time  
• If/when start-up funding is achieved, word will be sent through AHED network as was already done in support and spreading word about Community Survey
• AHED secretary volunteered to distribute, draft letters and motions of support by email following the meeting
• Invite to other Municipal gatherings, including West Parry Sound Municipal Association & recommendations on presentations extended to HA  applicability to other regional, provincial and federal funding opportunities discussed

Steve Munro – Westwind Forest Stewardship

• in Almaguin Region just had a great meeting , new partnership with Cambian are ordering telephone poles , will create jobs
• developing combining heat and power  from forest resources– mills in Bracebridge producing wood pellets
• Ontario gov. has come out with Ont. Wood branding , Almaguin mills are looking to get this & consumer recognition
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency has contained the invasive beetle threatening Maple in the province
• Westwind has new updated aerial, digital photography of region and GIS maps, with many features already marked on it – offer this in partnership with community organizations for development projects –eg. have provided for trails organization, KPABA project 

Jeff Johnston – KPABA

• have been researching public transportation system in Almaguin Highlands, have been talking with Hammond Bus lines who service Parry Sound District presently
• Looking viable to have a basic service in morning and in evenings once we have cooperation from variety of municipalities
• Discussion re. transportation

Business Centre – Michaela Clark

• hand-out with contacts provided about business centre
• help new Entrepreneurs start their business, business planning supports & market research resources, work closely with NOHC & Canadian Youth Foundation both active funders for start-up
• many programs focus on youth retention and supports – eg. Summer Company,
• provide Lunch & Learn exchanges in North Bay for businesses
• have kiosk location @ Callandar & Temagami, looking to expand into Almaguin in near future
• Laker’s Den :  a competition and mentoring program for serious young (under 29) entrepreneurs  -modeled after ‘Dragon’s Den’, are establishing partnerships for judges, prizes / incentives such as special consideration & removal of barriers for NECO  (potentially $100 000 payment deferred loan ) & NOHC grant access & business incubator opportunity
• Can be individuals or teams/partners
• Some (free) workshops offered with Nipissing University in next couple weeks  March 16^th = deadline for applications in for Laker’s Den contestants

Merv Mulligan - McMurrich/Monteith

• Feb11-12 : Sprucedale Winter Carnival
• Sequin trail is open, snowmobile mobile traffic starting
• Local trail sign is up, looking to establish a working committee in the spring to maintain trail

Rosalind Hall - Ryerson

• Feb. 20^th: Family Day – SAEDC – winter celebration -11-3
• Ryerson Twp will be getting high speed, two towers approved
• Looking to hire an intern, working with MNDM as economic development officer, wants this person to work with surrounding townships too,
• Seeking partnerships to keep this sustainable

Dianne Kirou – South Almaguin Community Development

• described work and partnerships being built in this group through the fall – focus is on Community Development, economic being one part of that
• will have and extended invite to Monday Jan.23rd meeting 

Karen Insley-Stewart

• recommends  community promoter for Active Living – contact to be sent and added to the minutes   

David Stewart – Almaguin Highlands Inc.

• Advocate for need for an NPO (formal Not For Profit Organization) to focus on economic development for the region
• Pointed out how this is bringing benefits to development in particularly tourism industry in other regions

David Stewart – Explorers' Edge:

• Budget and agenda for next year are being planned 
• Committees are opening up to new role of Advisors  
• Are installing equipment in travel information centres that will be tracking and providing information digitally to visitors

Ron Bejin - FedNor

• Will be supporting Magnetawan in fire recovery, continuing with project in Perry

David Hunks - Kearney

• Feb 11-12 – Kearney Dog Sled Race
• Graphite mine
  • November expect start-up
  • 70 full time jobs

Perry Township

• intern hired to focus on economic development initiatives

MABA Carol Pease

• James Murphy of Explorer’s Edge presented, will be advertising in golden triangle, seeking input
• Recreation Committee, looking to organize family day celebration
• Seeking:  updated statistics, populations 
• Others present offered to send info.

Walter Reich - Magnetawan

• Magnetawan and Health Fair in Sept with low enrolment, hopes to see collaborative support

• Advocate for better waste management – liners on dumps are lacking, incinerating and recycling are options that should be considered economic development, there are jobs and resources available 

Bill Church – Whitestone

• Boards are up on outdoor rink to keep safer
• Family Day Feb. 18^th, hosting Family Day Celebrations
• Discussion of upcoming Spring Municipalities meeting   
  • Judy in Ryerson = contact, deadline today

Women’s Own Resource  Centre – Kara Mitchell

• Jan-March Entrepreneurial Skills courses in Burk’s Falls and South River are well enrolled, thanks for referrals, next 10 week session starts in September
• will be offering Balanced Living workshops to individual women in late Feb. & March and (mixed gender) groups of 6 / more – these offer chance to assess access to a variety of assets that form sustainable livelihoods and also to learn of resources available here and regionally and set goals and plans to boost these assets.
• re Carpool Almaguin
  • WORC sent appeal in Dec. to municipal partners involved in establishing this project about sharing costs of maintaining it in 2 ways;
    • re-leasing a road sign on Hwy 124 for year and on annual basis of maintaining the CarpoolAlmaguin.com domain name and landing webpage
    • thanks to responses received, follow-up in weeks ahead and appreciate cooperation with this outreach
• WORC is also a member of the District of Parry Sound Poverty Reduction network who earlier in January set some priorities for the year ahead, including a Food Forum meant to bring together all organizations helping make healthy, affordable food here accessible & will bring more updates (& suggest then this not be the topic focus of any Showcase Almaguin AHED launches)

Meeting Adjourned - 11:55

12 – 1:30  special Presentation / Consultation with Labour Market Group

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