Newsletter: July 2023

I hope you have enjoyed your summer so far. There are so many incredible businesses, attractions and outdoor adventures to explore here in Simcoe-Grey. It certainly is nice to see our summer festivals back in full operation in all communities throughout the riding. If you are just heading away for a summer holiday, be safe and have a fun time!

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Blackdown Cadets Parade & Graduation

I was thrilled to be in attendance to witness approximately 350 cadets from across Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States on parade on Friday July 28th at CFB Borden. The parade and graduation ceremony was held in recognition of the hard work and dedication of the cadets that had just completed summer training at the Blackdown Cadet Summer Training Centre at Canadian Forces Base Borden.

Visit the Blackdown Cadets Facebook page to learn more about the graduation ceremony and training exercises.

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Wasaga Beach Twin Pad Arena and Library Tour

I recently met with Wasaga Beach CAO Andrew McNeill, Deputy CAO – Special Projects Gerry Marshall and Director of Recreation & Facilities Chris Roos to talk about various issues and initiatives that are currently underway and in the planning stages within the community.

We visited various Wasaga Beach town sites including the new Twin Pad Arena and Library, Beach Areas 1 and 2 and the beachfront retail district. CAO McNeill and I had a conversation about the current condition of the Nancy Island Historic Site. This site has served as an historic site since 1928 and is the most viable site to the War of 1812 in Simcoe County and the Georgian Bay region. 

READ MORE – PHOTOS in the NEWS SECTION of my website

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Krasman Centre 25th Anniversary Barbecue

The Krasman Centre in Alliston held a barbecue to celebrate its 25th anniversary and grand re-opening from a fire that damaged their building last summer.

The Krasman Centre is a Consumer/Survivor Initiative that offers peer support-based programs, physical hubs and resources for people with lived experience of mental health, substance use and housing challenges, and their family and friends. We serve York Region, areas of Simcoe County and North Toronto, with drop-in centres in Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Alliston.

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2023 New Tecumseth Senior of the Year

On behalf of Premier Ford, the Province of Ontario and the people of Simcoe-Grey, I’d like to congratulate Patricia Middlebrook on being recognized as the 2023 New Tecumseth Senior of the Year. It was a real pleasure to meet Patricia at my Alliston office to present her with a certificate from the Province to celebrate her award.

Volunteering comes naturally to Patricia. “This is something my mother taught me. She volunteered all of her life. She lived to be 101 years of age. I think if she was still alive she would be volunteering.”

More on this story in the NEWS SECTION of my website

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Tour of Parkbridge Wasaga Beach

Thank you to Lachlan MacLean Senior Vice President, Property Operations and Jason Wakem, Director, property Operations, Ontario Residential, for an informative discussion and tour of the Parkbridge community in Wasaga Beach. We talked about the communities and resorts of Parkbridge RV Camping & Cottage Resorts past, present and future. Parkbridge is Canada’s leading operator, developer, and owner of more than 55 residential communities. The company operates out of a beautiful new head office in Collingwood and continues to grow here in Simcoe-Grey.

https://www.parkbridge.com/en/

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Ontario Trillium Foundation Funding for Theatre Collingwood

Theatre Collingwood patrons enjoyed some extra good news at a recent Porchside event. Not only did they enjoy the outstanding Quammie Williams & Friends performance but prior to the show the audience learned that Theatre Collingwood had received an Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Fund grant of $62,400.00.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

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https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F1575356662&show_artwork=true&maxheight=750&maxwidth=500

POINT2POINT PODCAST with Professional Public Policy Advisor Trent Gow and Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson. In this edition, Gow and Saunderson discuss how the Province of Ontario is working to provide improved Skilled Trades training in our schools.

Tim Horton’s Camp Day 2023

I stopped at Tim Horton’s in Stayner and caught up with Clearview Mayor Doug Measures at Camp Day. On this day, across Canada and in the United States, 100 per cent of the proceeds from all hot and iced coffee sales at Tim Hortons are donated to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps to help underserved youth reach their full potential.
Camp Day – 2023 – Tim Hortons® Foundation Camps (timscamps.com)

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Collingwood Pride Festival Parade

The weather cooperated for the Collingwood Pride Parade on Saturday July 15th. The Pride Collingwood parade is a major attraction at the weekend event.

I was with Simcoe-Grey MP Terry Dowdall in a classic convertible driven by Greg Taylor. The top was down and we were very glad the rain held off! It was an incredible parade with lots of colourful floats and a big, boisterous crowd lining the downtown streets. This festival certainly delivers the message that love wins in Collingwood, an open and inclusive community.

MORE PHOTOS in the NEWS section of my website

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Walker Duntroon Quary Summer Community BBQ

Friends & neighbours of the WALKER DUNTROON QUARRY were invited to a Summer BBQ and Quarry bus tour on Friday July 14th. Quarry officials were on hand to talk about the day-to-day operation and history of the long-established Duntroon operation. I had a chance to talk to Geordie Walker, President of Walker Industries and Chris Breen, VP Government & Community Relations. Clearview Mayor Doug Measures was in attendance as were members of his council.

Click this link to learn more about Walker Aggregates:
“Our responsible approach to sustainability and community is as strong as our commitment to producing quality aggregates.”
www.walkerind.com

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Quest for Gold Funding

Local Simcoe-Grey athletes received good news from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport recently. They have learned that they will benefit financially from the latest Quest for Gold Funding initiative. Quest for Gold (QFG) Canada Card funding provides direct financial assistance to Ontario athletes so they can compete at the highest national and international levels. 

The funding assists athletes in many ways. The Quest for Gold Funding program encourages athletes to live and train in Ontario and offers eliminates a huge stress component often associated with the time needed to train — compensation — for lost time from work. The program helps athletes successfully pursue excellence in sport while fulfilling their educational goals, increases athlete access to high-performance coaching and enhances training and competitive opportunities available to athletes.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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Lined Up Barber Shop in Alliston

Congratulations to Samatha Alzoni-Mate, owner of the new location of the “Lined Up Barber Shop” at 9 Dufferin Street South in Alliston. Cathy Laws, Executive Assistant to Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson, presented Samantha with a congratulatory certificate on behalf of Premier Ford, MPP Saunderson and the people of Simcoe-Grey to recognize the special achievement. The LINED UP Barber Shop Official Opening and Customer Appreciation Party took place Sunday July 23rd at 12 noon.

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50 Years in Business for Greg Goldsworthy

It was my pleasure to extend congratulations to Greg Goldsworthy on behalf of Premier Ford, the Province of Ontario and the people of Simcoe-Grey in recognition of his celebration of 50 years in business in Collingwood. A special ribbon cutting was held at The Financial Centre’s downtown Collingwood location on Thursday July 13th. Also in attendance, Simcoe-Grey MP Terry Dowdall, Collingwood Deputy Mayor Tim Fryer and Greg’s family and friends. As for the thought of retirement … Greg has no plans to slow down any time soon!

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Hot Dogs & Champagne

On July 12, we celebrated my Mother’s birthday with our traditional meal of champagne and hot dogs. It was a great opportunity to gather as a family and to celebrate and toast an incredibly talented and wise woman, whose influence on each of us is beyond words.
Happy Birthday Mum!!

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Keep Collingwood Clean

A group of dedicated volunteers gathered in the parking lot behind Tim Horton’s on First Street in Collingwood on Saturday morning to continue the good work of “keeping Collingwood clean.”

Recently the group learned that it had been awarded a grant from the UnSmoke Canada/Great Outdoors Fund. The group was recognized for its devoted work and extensive hours of volunteer time in the community. Group organizers are grateful for the grant, saying the money will help with printing, bags, grabbers and gloves. Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson’s Executive Assistant Jamie Berman was on hand to talk about the grant and boast about the great work of the group. In fact, Jamie is a member!

The group continues to grow and volunteers are welcome to join in. The presence of “Les Butts” helps to deliver the message that throwing away a cigarette butt is never a good idea.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

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Peacekeeper’s Park Angus

On Friday July 7th, my colleague, Laura Smith MPP for Thornhill, and I had a tour of Peacekeeper’s Park in Angus with Bob George, a veteran of 3 Peace Keeping missions and one of the driving forces behind the Park’s creation and it’s ongoing enhancement and upkeep. The Park is dedicated to the recognition and memory of the approximately 160,000 Canadian Armed Forces who have served and the 162 who gave their lives while on UN sanctioned missions from 1947 to present.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

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Beattie Farm in Alliston hosted the Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture Summer BBQ

It was my pleasure to have a tour of the John Beattie Potato Farm and #beattiesdistillers in Alliston at the annual Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture Summer Barbecue. The Beattie family has been and continues to be a leader in the big business of farming here in Simcoe-Grey.

The Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture is one of 51 county and regional federations supported by OFA across the province. Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture represents the voice of agriculture in the local community and advocates on behalf of farm families in Simcoe County on local agricultural issues.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

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Collingwood Music Festival Flag Raising Ceremony

VIDEO: The Collingwood Music Festival is welcoming world class talent to South Georgian Bay this summer. Organizers officially launched the concert season with an official flag raising ceremony in front of the Collingwood Library on Tuesday July 4th. John Kirby introduced the many special guests including Collingwood Mayor Yvonne Hamlin, Clearview Mayor Doug Measures, Debra Bloom Hall from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson, Simcoe-Grey MP Terry Dowdall and Festival Artistic Director Daniel Vnukowski.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

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Alliston’s Pita Land Official Opening & Ribbon Cutting

New Tecumseth Mayor Richard Norcross, Pita Land Area Manager Kamran Malik, MPP Brian Saunderson’s Executive Assistant Cathy Laws and MP Terry Dowdall were some of the guests taking part in the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially welcome Alliston’s Pita Land.

PITA LAND serves delicious, fresh, and affordable shawarma and kebabs, souvlaki, falafel, gyro, salads and wraps. “Our traditions and recipes have been in our culture and in our family for centuries of Middle-Eastern history.”

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Collingwood Celebrates Canada Day

VIDEO: Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson participated in a noon Canada Day event in Collingwood. He was joined by Simcoe-Grey MP Terry Dowdall, Author, Playwright Dan Needles, Collingwood’s Poet Laureate Gillian Morris, Collingwood Mayor Yvonne Hamlin, Town Crier Ken Templeman and Master of Ceremonies Greg Goldsworthy. The well attended event included the Citizenship Reaffirmation Ceremony followed by the cutting of Collingwood’s Gigantic Canada Day Birthday Cake.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

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Canada Day Celebrations in Creemore

VIDEO: Clearview Township Mayor Doug Measures talks about the restoration of a 1941 Creemore Fire Truck. The heritage vehicle continues to play a key role in the community by appearing at various special events including this year’s Canada Day Parade.

In Clearview – Discover Clearview – I was fortunate to spend some time with Mayor Doug Measures at Creemore’s Canada Day celebrations. The day’s events included the popular Creemore Ladies Auxiliary Canada Day BBQ, Harold Crawford Memorial Bike Parade, Olde Thyme Games including the Three Legged, Sack and Egg & Spoon Races, a Scavenger Hunt, Water Balloon Toss, Lawn Bowling, Ring and Bean Bag Toss, Face Painting and Street Hockey along Veterans Way. Young (and not so young) people enjoyed the special Canada Day Cup Cakes! It was terrific to see so many people of all ages smiling, laughing, having fun and celebrating Canada’s birthday!
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

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Tom Walsh Memorial Gazebo Dedication in Adjala-Tosorontio

I was pleased to attend a special Canada Day celebration in Township of Adjala Tosorontio. A Dedication Ceremony of the Adjala Tosorontio township’s gazebo in honour of the late Tom Walsh, former Mayor and Community Builder, was a highlight of the day’s activities. Mr. Walsh was the Reeve of the Township of Adjala from 1991-94, first Mayor of the Township of Adjala Tosorontio in 1994, and Mayor of Adjala Tosorontio from 1997 to 2014.

Congratulations to Mayor Scott Anderson, Adjala Tosorontio municipal officials and agricultural community members for remembering and paying tribute to Mr. Walsh in such fine fashion.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

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Canada Day Celebrations Began with Pancakes

Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson began his Canada Day riding tour bright and early at the Collingwood Downtown Celebrity Pancake Breakfast. Ralph Sneyd of the Optimist Club of Collingwood and Southern Georgian Bay took the first shift and immediately was cooking up a storm! MPP Saunderson was joined by Collingwood Downtown BIA General Manager Sue Nicholson, members of the Collingwood Optimist Club and Town of Collingwood Councillors.

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Modernizing Court Processes, Procedures and Technology

On Tuesday July 18th, our government announced an investment of $166 million towards modernizing court processes, procedures and technology. I had the privilege to join Attorney General @douglasdowney as Parliamentary Assistant at the announcement.

The Ontario government is investing $166 million to deliver more legal services online, replacing outdated paper-based procedures with a digital platform that will support access to the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice.

“Ontario is one step closer to a digital justice system that helps people resolve legal matters easier and faster,” said Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario. “Today marks a significant new chapter in our government’s plan to build a more modern, accessible and effective justice system now and into the future.”

“We applaud the government’s investment and support towards the modernization of court processes, procedures and technology. The Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice remain committed partners in this critical modernization project and to collaborating with our justice partners to replace several antiquated technology programs with a more seamless and streamlined system to support both courts and across business lines” said Geoffrey Morawetz and Sharon Nicklas Chief Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice and Chief Justice, Ontario Court of Justice.

Learn more: Click this link to view the full NEWS RELEASE:

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After the Media Announcement for the new electronic filing system in Ontario Courts at the new Ontario Provincial Courthouse in Toronto, I spent the afternoon canvassing with Scarborough Guildewood PC candidate Councillor Gary Crawford and Caucus colleague Laurie Scott, MPP, for the July 27th by-election.

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Ontario Expanding and Investing in Palliative Care in Alliston & Collingwood

SIMCOE-GREY — As part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is expanding access to palliative care services in both Alliston and Collingwood. This is part of Ontario’s $147.4 million investment over three years in communities across the province to connect more Ontarians to comfortable and dignified palliative care close to home and loved ones.

“The provincial government recognizes the tremendous role that hospices play in delivering compassionate, high-quality care to support those with a life limiting illness, and their loved ones, as well as the crucial grief and bereavement services,” said Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey. “Today’s funding announcement of $940,000, means that each of Hospice Georgian Triangle in Collingwood and Matthews House Hospice in Alliston will receive $470,000. These funds will allow more people to receive the specialized care they need, close to their home. I extend my sincere thanks to Margaret Bachle and Trish Rawn, and their respective staff and volunteer teams for the work they do each day in our communities.”

CLICK HERE to read more – FULL PRESS RELEASE

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Standing Committee on Justice Policy Bill 41

Simcoe-Grey MPP – Parliamentary Assistant to the Attorney General – Member, Standing Committee on Justice Policy – Brian Saunderson participated in the July 10th Standing Committee on Justice Policy session – Bill 41, Protection from Coerced Debts Incurred in relation to Human Trafficking Act, 2023

The Standing Committee on Justice Policy is meeting today (Monday July 10, 2023) at Queen’s park to consider Bill 41, An Act to amend the Consumer Reporting Act and the Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking Act, 2017 with respect to certain debts incurred in relation to human trafficking.

https://www.ola.org and

Bill 41, Protection from Coerced Debts Incurred in relation to Human Trafficking Act, 2023 – Legislative Assembly of Ontario (ola.org)

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Ontario Supporting Local Projects to Protect the Great Lakes

The Ontario government is investing $6 million to support 30 multi-year projects to help protect, conserve and restore the Great Lakes. These investments will help reduce plastic litter, excess nutrients and road salt entering lakes, rivers and streams, advance climate resiliency, and make significant progress on restoring environmentally degraded areas of the Great Lakes.

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