AHED

Minutes of meeting

held on Thursday, September 21, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.

at the

Dunchurch Community Centre, Whitestone.

Present : Kay Tod; (Secretary/ member-at-large); Gilbert Lane (Councillor - Ryerson); Dominique Marleau (NDO MNDM); Catharine Mayne (NECO); Denise Eckert (Community Updates); Jeff Johnston (Councillor –Kearney); Kelly Early (EDC, Whitestone); Brenda Scott (WORC); David Stewart (Almaguin HighlandsOntario Inc); Frank Tod, (Councillor- Magnetawan); Stacie Fiddler, (LTAB); SarahJayne Connick (Project Co-ordinator, Ontario’s Near North); Don Carter (Councillor- Whitestone); Clint Brooks (MRWA); Wendy Schroeder, (Parry Sound Chamber of Commerce)

Regrets : Chair Christina Golding, (Councillor – Powassan); Barbara Groves (Mayor - Chisholm); Eleanor Sled-Kurrle (R/A/BF. Special Events Comm); Andrew Busch (EDC Powassan); Jackie Leung (AH B&B); Jeff Buell (Bluesky.net); Merv Mulligan (McMurrich/Monteith)

1. Meeting called to order by Vice-Chair Kay Tod @ 10:05 a.m.

2. No declarations of pecuniary interest

3. Deputations : None.

4. Adoption of Minutes

Moved by Johnston and seconded by Early that the minutes of the meeting held August 17, 2006 be accepted.   Motion carried

5. Reports from Community and Resource Partners

5.1   Ministry of Northern Development and Mines .

• Dominique Marleau indicated the third round of COMRIF funding is underway..
• 13 municipalities have provided funding for the Blue Sky initiative to receive funding from NOHFC.
• With this funding, a resource profile of each participating community will be created

5.2   Municipality of Chisholm

• No report

5.3   NECO

• Catharine Mayne read a list of NECO Local Initiative Project funding recipients as a result of networking at AHED meetings.
• Next round of applications will be in October. .

5.4   FedNor Not present

5.5   Bluesky.net

• Jeff Buell was not present at this meeting however Jeff Johnston reported that solicitation of reps from communities has been done.
• Discussion was held regarding GIS/ mapping of the area. Catharine Mayne will ask Jeff Buell to bring copies of the GIS Strategic Plan (completed in August, 2006) to the next AHED meeting.

5.6 Women’s Own Resource Centre.

• Brenda Scott reported on recent events at WORC. Funding app. for skill training was not accepted but the partnership with Nipissing University and Canadore College will continue.
• GIS will be the topic of the news page for October. Spin-offs will be tremendous
• The Community Partners (Social Services Transportation) will meet October 2, 2006 at WORC. They are looking for letters of support and will send an application to the Trillium Foundation.
• Jeff commented on the need for transportation to jobs and a suggestion was made that this could be a municipal issue.

5.7   Burk's Falls/Armour/Ryerson Special Events Committee – not present

5.8   Almaguin Highlands Business After Hours (AHBAH )

• Report for Julie McDermott given by Denise Eckert. The membership drive is ongoing and all meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at Seven Gables Golf Club in Sundridge.

5.9   Powassan Observatory Committee

• Kay Tod reported on the Press Release in the papers updating information on the project.

5.10   Municipality of Whitestone BR&E Program .

• Kelly Early informed group re a new club that has been formed in Whitestone --- Whitestone Rod and Gun Club and now has 40 paid-up members
• Trails are being developed and interest is growing. Presently there are trails in Dunchurch Estates, Ardbeg and Whitestone Lake Resort.
• Kelly is leaving Whitestone for a new position in Innisfil as Building Inspector. We all thanked her for her enthusiasm and faithful attendance at our meetings.

5.11   Economic Development in the Municipality of Powassan

• No report.

5.12   Almaguin Marketing Proposal

• No report. We will remove this item from the Agenda until further information is received.

5.13   Almaguin Highlands Bed and Breakfast Association. (AHB&B).

• No report

5.14   Kearney Watershed Environment Foundation/2008 Centennial Project .

• Jeff Johnston thanked NECO on behalf of KWF and noted this funding was as a direct result of the association with AHED.
• The KWF has distributed information packages to almost 2000 residents and have received positive feedback regarding the information.
• The Centennial 2008 information sheet was distributed to AHED Committee with the previous minutes.
• The Publication Sub-committee will be doing P.R. work with cards, books etc
• The Committee will be looking for assistance from an intern or student
• The Beautification Committee would like to enhance the town centre and asked Council to issue and RFP for a streetscape. This could be a basis for another app for funding.
• There is funding for community improvement through MAH.

5.15   South Almaguin E. D. Committee (formerly BF/A/R Economic Development Group )

• Gib Lane reported on an upcoming open public meeting with all the funders. Will be held at the
  Burk’s Falls Arena on Monday, October 2, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend

5.16   Community Updates Directory

• Denise Eckert reported about a partner now assisting with marketing and P.R. etc
• Cottagers can now access Community Updates through a PDF file.
• Reminded the group about an upcoming production of The Senator Wore Pantyhose on Nov. 23, 24 and 25 at LOL in Burk’s Falls
• Denise hopes to purchase a press in order to do her own printing.
• A reminder of the Snowmobile Races in Burk’s Falls on March 3 and 4, 2007

• Dave stated that he has been very busy
• Has some new hats with Almaguin Highlands.com and AH Logo on it
• He will be developing fleece shirts etc to market the region.
• Would like to discuss printing the AHED minutes on his website and this will be pursued at the next meeting when the Chair returns.

5.18   McMurrich/Monteith.

• No report

5.19   Magnetawan River Watershed Association.

• Report by Clint Brooks that the MRWA is in the incubation stage
• He reminded us that “all water impacts the environment”
• Association now has 26 interested members
• The dream is to develop an umbrella organization across the Magnetawan River Watershed --- to include the municipalities, lake associations, interested citizens etc. Together they could develop a legacy for the next generation.
• The Association will try not to duplicate any work that has already been done by other organizations as a huge amount of work has already been accomplished.
• The goal is to incorporate and apply for funding.
• Jeff Johnston commented that communities could come together to develop a study on water quality.
• Brenda Scott stated that a WORC BR&E newspaper page could focus on this issue in the new year and all agreed this would be a great idea.

5.20   LTAB (Local Training and Adjustment Board)

• Stacy gave the group an insight on the work of LTAB.
• A volunteer Board of Directors governs LTAB.
• There are 21 regional, not-for-profit organizations across the Province mandated to identify the training, adjustment and labour force development issues.
• Reports can be downloaded from the website. : mnps@ltab20.on.ca
• LTAB hosts job awareness events for students looking for careers.
• Brenda suggested that AHED write a letter to the Near North School Board that grades 7 and 8 students should be allowed to attend the job awareness events.

6.   Correspondence

7.   In-Camera

8.   Other Business/Community Reports .

8.1   Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce.

• Wendy Schroeder thanked us for inviting her and was pleased to hear about our work.
• P.S. also has an After-Hours Group that is similar to AHBAH and has about 382 members
• In response to a comment, Wendy said she would look into the east side of Parry Sound joining in with the West side Chamber of Commerce making it a total Parry Sound organization.

8.2   Ontario ’s Near North (ANTA)

• Sarah Jayne Connick spoke about her work at Ontario ’s Near North (Almaguin Nipissing Travel Association Incorporated – ANTA)
• Her project at this time is to develop a regional map identifying businesses, locations etc.
• She will produce 60,000 copies and it will be published on the website.
• SarahJayne also agreed to look into using the words “ALMAGUIN HIGHLANDS” on the map thus identifying AH as a region. This could be a tremendous step forward in being able to erect signs on the highways etc.

8.3   Efficient Energy and Forum Trade Show

• October 13, 2006 at Nipissing University . 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This will be a trade show for new products and services to save energy and also will offer alternate energy options.
• Guest speaker will be Environmental Commissioner, Gord Miller
• Cost $65.00 (continental breakfast and lunch included)
• Registration 1-888-249-8998

8.4   Don Carter

• Don commented that he has been involved with AHCAC, AHSPIC and now the AHED Partnership Committee right from the start and is pleased to note that AHED has become a cohesive and pro-active group.

9.   Adjournment and next meeting

Moved by Scott   that the meeting adjourn at 11:50 a.m. Carried.

Next meeting : McMurrich/Monteith Municipal Office

Date October 19, 2006

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Directions: .Exit Highway 11 at 518 WEST

Travel about 10 minutes west along 518W into Sprucedale.

Turn south on William Street after the intersection at the Hotel.

The Twp Office, MMCAP and Volunteer Fire Dept are in the same bldg

The directions are on the website at www.mcmurrichmonteith.com

________________________       ______________________

Christine Golding, Chair                     Kay Tod, Secretary

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