Newsletter: November 2022
Here Comes the Holiday Season!
Alliston Santa Claus Parade
Santa has been very busy visiting towns throughout our riding of Simcoe-Grey. The Rotary Club of Alliston hosted the 2022 Alliston Night Lit Santa Claus Parade on Saturday November 19th. The evening parade was cheered on by crowds that had gathered along Victoria Street, starting at Downey Avenue, past Banting Memorial High School to King Street and finishing on Young Street. It was fun to meet so many happy people along the parade route and to be a part of the official launch of the Christmas Season in Alliston
Angus Santa Claus Parade
Santa paid a visit to Angus on Saturday November 19th to officially kick off the Christmas Season. Hundreds of people took advantage of the good weather and lined up along Mill Street Saturday morning to make sure they would have a good view of this year’s Santa Claus Parade. It was a fun time for children of all ages. The parade featured many creative floats, animals, music, and a few special guests including Simcoe-Grey MP Terry Dowdall.
Collingwood Santa Claus Parade
The Christmas Holiday Season is officially underway in Collingwood. The Town of Collingwood held its annual Santa Claus Parade followed by a downtown tree lighting ceremony on Saturday November 19th. It has become a popular tradition to hold the parade and festivities in the evening. Thousands of people lined the downtown streets this year to watch the parade. Organizers think the 2022 crowds may have been the biggest ever. It was chilly, and the streets were lined with snowbanks thanks to the snow events south Georgian Bay had been experiencing the week before the parade. Nature’s contribution certainly added to the festive spirit that was alive and well in downtown Collingwood on parade night.
November 11th
Simcoe-Grey Remembers
Remembrance Day Ceremony – Wasaga Beach
It was my honour to be a part of the well-attended Wasaga Beach Remembrance Day parade and ceremony, and to lay a wreath on behalf of the people and government of Ontario on Sunday November 6th. The Cenotaph had on display a collection of special Remembrance banners to honour local veterans.
Remembrance Day Ravenna
The weather forecast cooperated with the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Ravenna Cenotaph on November 11th. I attended this ceremony with Simcoe-Grey MP Terry Dowdall.
Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Legion in New Lowell.
Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Cenotaph in Everett
Remembrance Day Ceremony – Collingwood
It can be bitterly cold along Collingwood’s waterfront in mid-November, but not on this day. Mild fall-like temperatures greeted the large crowd that gathered at the Cenotaph for Collingwood’s Remembrance Day Ceremony. Bev Stephenson is this year’s Silver Cross Mother.
Remembrance Day Ceremony – Alliston
The unseasonal warm weather held for one more morning throughout Simcoe-Grey for Remembrance Day services. In Alliston, a large crowd lined the streets around the Cenotaph as the community gathered to remember.
A Special Presentation to the Collingwood Legion
A special presentation by a former Mayor and Simcoe County Warden was a highlight of the annual Remembrance Dinner at the Collingwood Legion on Saturday November 5th.
Terry Geddes presented Branch 63 President Rob Graham with a flag that flew at Juno Beach. Geddes is pictured above with Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson.
Days later, MPP Saunderson paid tribute to Legions throughout Simcoe-Grey at Queen’s Park.
Paying Tribute to Simcoe-Grey Legions
Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson rose in the Ontario Legislature on Monday November 14th to recognize the important work of Legions throughout the province and in his riding. Just days after Remembrance Day, Saunderson talked about his visits to services around Simcoe-Grey and his interaction with legion workers, volunteers and of course, veterans.
MPP Saunderson recognized the twelve legions in Simcoe-Grey.
“Alliston, Angus, Beeton, Collingwood, Creemore, Everett, Lisle, New Lowell, Stayner, Thornbury, Tottenham and Wasaga Beach all have thriving, active legions that serve these communities.”
I always enjoy touring our riding to meet with business owners/operators and their employees to learn more about the entrepreneurial spirit that is alive, well and thriving in Simcoe-Grey!
Funding to Improve Accessibility at Collingwood’s Sunset Point
Left-to-right: Collingwood Mayor Yvonne Hamlin, Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson, Collingwood Councillor Kathy Jeffery
Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson said Collingwood has received an Accessibility Inclusive Communities Grant from the province of Ontario in the amount of $30,600 to be used to purchase a “Mobi-mat” outdoor beach access mat to make the beachfront wheelchair accessible and to aid those with other mobility issues.
“This will go nicely with Collingwood’s accessible boat launch ramp at Harbourview Park helping to make Collingwood a true leader in providing accessible installations along its waterfront attractions.”
MEDATech Tour in Collingwood
MEDATech in Collingwood has been designing and building custom mobile heavy equipment since 2003 for world-wide use in the mining, construction, waste, transportation, and energy sectors.
“We started in the Mining sector in 2003 and have since expanded into Construction, Waste, Transportation, and Energy. We’re known as the ‘engineering ninjas’ of the heavy equipment world, building custom machines for the likes of Vale, Torex and HydroOne.”
The company has three divisions; Engineering services – from consulting to engineer/design/build to industrial software development, Borterra – advanced drilling equipment and Altdrive – all-electric powertrains.
I recently toured MEDAtech in Collingwood to meet with company officials to learn more about ALTDRIVE.
Darren Mueller, MEDAtech Director of Sales and Marketing with Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson
I met with Taylor Davies, MEDAtech’s Sales Engineer, Darren Mueller, Director of Sales and Marketing, and Nic Beutler from ABB Switzerland. On my tour I learned ALTDRIVE is an engineered battery-electric powered system that is capable of powering heavy equipment including commercial trucks, tractors, excavators, buses, haul trucks, light rail, and mining machines. The technology is designed to replace internal combustion engines without surrendering performance.
Georgian Hills Vineyards Tour – The Blue Mountains
As you can see with the bright blue sky in the background, it was a beautiful fall day to visit Georgian Hills Vineyards in The Blue Mountains on Tuesday November 8th. Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson was joined by Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Neil Lumsden on a tour of South Georgian Bay’s emerging wine region.
Pictured above, left-to-right: Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Neil Lumsden, Georgian Hills Partners John Ardiel (in hat), Robert Ketchin (sweater)
The web site says it best: “Our team grows deeper in understanding the business of a destination winery and all the elements to making it a success and a wonderful place for people to visit.”
Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain Visit
Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Neil Lumsden toured Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain on Tuesday November 8th, 2022. They were joined by Blue Mountain Village Association President Andrew Seigwart and welcomed by Scandinave Director of Marketing and Sales Mylisa Henderson.
Pictured above, left-to-right: Blue Mountain Village Association President Andrew Seigwart, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Neil Lumsden, Director of Marketing and Sales for Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain Mylisa Henderson, Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson
Somerville Nurseries Tour
Somerville Nurseries President Fred Somerville with Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson
On Friday November 4th I enjoyed meeting with Somerville Nurseries President Fred Somerville to have a tour of the Everett property.
Somerville Nurseries has operated as a tree farm/nursery since 1950 and is one of Canada’s largest producers of Christmas trees, nursery stock and Ontario native tree seedlings. On my visit, it was obvious that the crew was ready for the busy Christmas season, even on a day when the temperature was way above where it should have been for early November! They harvest 140,000 Christmas trees a year.
Somerville Nurseries raises between 20-25 different varieties of Christmas and shade trees. Most of their trees are purchased in the Golden Horseshoe but they ship as far away as British Columbia
Fred Somerville worked closely with former Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson on a Private Members Bill to have the first Saturday in December declared Christmas Tree Day in Ontario.
Special Recognition – Clearview Township Councillor Robert Walker
Left-to-right: Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson, Clearview Township Councillor Robert Walker, Clearview Township Mayor Doug Measures
Canada and Ontario Increasing Access to High-Speed Internet Service
Left-to-right: Marnie Miron, Sr. Director, Service Expansion, Rogers, Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson, Newmarket-Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen ,Simcoe County Warden George Cornell
I was excited to be in attendance in New Lowell on Friday November 18, 2022 for a special announcement by the governments of Canada and Ontario. Both governments are each investing more than $1.7 million to bring high-speed internet access to more than 1,645 families, farms and businesses in Simcoe County.
In partnership with Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc, the completion of construction of broadband infrastructure is now providing access to fast, reliable high-speed internet service to more than 430 families, farms and businesses in the community of New Lowell, as well as 1,215 families, farms and businesses in the communities of Penville, Rich Hill, Connor, Hockley Valley and Rosemont.
Sheldon Creek Dairy Tour
Bonnie den Haan with Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson
Sheldon Creek Dairy is built on the third generation Haanview farm nestled in the rolling hills of the Sheldon Valley. I was fortunate enough to have a tour of the facility on Friday November 18th.
In 1953, Haanview Farms was established in the Sheldon Valley with the purchase of a cow named Maggie. At present, Sheldon Creek Dairy has 75 purebred Holstein cows in their milking herd. They have been breeding exclusively for A2A2 genetics for the past 5 years and have tested their herd for A2. They are the first in Canada to produce 100% Milk free from A1 proteins.
Sheldon Creek Dairy also has a retail component of the dairy farm and sell their milk products in 250 outlets in Ontario including at their own store at the farm at 4300 Concession Road 5 in Loretto.
November was a busy month at Queen’s Park. Here are some of the many meetings I attended on behalf of the province and residents of Simcoe-Grey.
On Tuesday November 22nd I was most pleased to meet with Sasha Haughian and Jamie Laroque from Tottenham to discuss @CFCanada and how our government can continue to support Ontarian’s living with #cysticfibrosis
https://www.cysticfibrosis.ca/
I had an opportunity to sit down with Simcoe County teachers at the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF). We had a healthy conversation about how to strenthen public education and how to continue to build Ontario.
Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson met with Debbie Kesheshian and Annalise Stenekes of Hospice Palliative Care Ontario on Monday October 31st. The meeting provided an important opportunity to discuss the importance of hospice and palliative care in Simcoe-Grey and throughout the province. @HPCOntario #hpcontario #simcoegrey
https://www.hpco.ca
I was pleased to have the opportunity to sit down and speak with Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Hospital Professionals. OPSEU represents 25,000 hospital professionals in more than 250 classifications of occupations in 84 hospitals across the province of Ontario.
https://opseu.org/sector/hospital-professionals/
On Thursday November 17th I met with OUSA university students from across Ontario. We discussed working together to continue to improve the quality, affordability, accessibility & accountability of post-secondary education.
The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) represents the interests of approximately 150,000 professional and undergraduate, full-time and part-time university students at eight student associations across Ontario. OUSA’s approach to advocacy is based on creating substantive, student driven, and evidence-based policy recommendations.
I had an informative meeting with the @WoodGreenCommunityServices representatives at Queen’s Park in Toronto. We discussed the many programs and services that help Ontarian adults, seniors, caregivers and people with disabilities find jobs, live healthy and create financial empowerment.
www.woodgreen.org
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October 2022 Newsletter
September 2022 Newsletter