ADVERTISE with us
Locally Owned and Operated • Special Report
The Power of Positive by Joe Bickerstaff
Although most who know me personally, recognize my passion for our community of Wasaga Beach while recognizing its long and rich history. I have always tried to promote our community in a positive way and continue to support the only industry Wasaga Beach has known for over a century… tourism. Hence, several years ago Beach BOOSTER was born and the Beach BOOSTER Team is proud to continue the original mandate of “promoting Wasaga Beach, its people and businesses in a positive way”! In a story promoting the value of positive thinking and actions, it's impossible not to bring up some examples of how negativity can harm the ultimate goal of decision makers. Please forgive reference to what I may consider negative, as I hope to prove that a positive, united group can overcome many obstacles or challenges. Firstly, a community needs to recognize its history and have a plan for the future. Wasaga Beach is not just another “beach town”. We are unique in many ways that includes our geography, population, history and perhaps most importantly, how we grew from a small but popular seasonal resort village to an incorporated town that ended up being home to not only the World's Longest Freshwater Beach, but one of the few truly “urban Provincial Parks”. (Entire park within one municipal boundary) The reason we grew so quickly to our current status of stretching from Tiny Township in the north (east) to Collingwood in the west should be understood in order to recognize our past and then look towards the future. If we as a community have agreed that every town or city needs some kind of industry to survive, for Wasaga Beach, we should concentrate on one that has been successful in the past while recognizing needs and wants of the consumer can change. Wasaga Beach has seen a decline in its tourism industry over the last two decades, due to complacency and perhaps neglect. During the last municipal election, the majority of residents voted for change, with most on council and the Mayor campaigning on the promise of change. To fulfill the campaign promises, the majority of the current council has attempted to move forward on bringing much needed change to Wasaga Beach, in hopes of revitalizing our famous Main Beach Areas and bringing back the significance of a true, community Main Street to assist in boosting our tourism based economy. The current council consists of 5 who continue to move towards a promised plan, while 2 are obviously against most attempts to move forward, while never truly expressing an alternative to presented plans and directions. We have seen the delays and disappointing conflicts resulting from this division on council. I do not understand the motivation behind the ongoing conflicts and these differences have been shared by the media locally and beyond and unfortunately bring negativity to our town and harms our reputation as being progressive, welcoming and basically a fun place to live, work and play. Even with the delays we have seen created, I along with so many others, are excited about
the progress that has made in the last two years. To name a few positive changes: Creating a new position at Town Hall (Director of Economic Development & Tourism) and empowering an experienced and knowledgeable director with decision making authority and an approved budget, declaring a true “Downtown Designation”, gaining more control over the important commercial beachfront at our Main Beach, developing better communications with Ontario Parks, showing a positive emphasis on tourism and recognizing the significance of Main Street with an very exciting and do-able plan to offer residents of Wasaga Beach with a new and welcoming community space we can all be proud of. Most residents and business owners recognize that we are moving in a positive direction! With exciting plans for our new Downtown , I'm hoping we can move as quickly as possible to show residents and visitors some of the many good things coming to Wasaga Beach! Neighbouring communities have recognized the need for people friendly settings in a downtown area, with Midland council just approving a multi-million dollar project to enhance their main street downtown, Collingwood continues to improve their downtown and the City of Barrie unveiled new plans to restore a downtown building for community use! Wasaga Beach has a plan like no other, to add to our unique assets as a welcoming tourist destination while providing community space for residents to enjoy. Beach BOOSTER is eager to continue our promotion of Wasaga Beach, a town that was built on fun and the welcoming of visitors to all we have to offer. I believe with the re-birth of our tourism industry and the ongoing improvements to Main Street and the Main Beach, visiting Wasaga Beach will be a rewarding experience while making residents proud to show off our community. The entire Beach BOOSTER Team is eager to help our community move forward with positive thoughts about our future while remembering the template created by our long and recognized history of being a welcoming and fun beachfront resort, while still being a community of loving, caring and happy residents. There is so much to enjoy in Wasaga Beach while we realize the need for change and updating the Wasaga Beach experience for our valued visitors. Positive thoughts generate positive actions! Let's work as a united community to move forward on a plan that benefits everyone. There will be mistakes and corrections along the way… but that's not only a part of doing business… it's a part of life. Although I am very proud of so many in our community for their forward thinking, positive thoughts including the entire Beach BOOSTER Media Group team, I am looking to help create a “Team Positive” to help share the Wasaga Beach “Good Stuff” with the world. I'm eager to hear from anyone with an interest in being involved in an active, fun group… “Team Positive”. Joe@BeachBOOSTER.com
We Have Comments... Judi Wilkins of Transformations Hair Studio says; “We have heard a positive buzz about the changes the new council has already put into action. We feel there are now even more reasons to enjoy the atmosphere surrounding the longest fresh water beach in the world....kudos to the new town council!” Joe Morano of Elm Developments says; “We are excited about creating a signature master-planned community in Wasaga Beach. Georgian Sands with its new commercial area of shops and cafés, its parks and streets lined with new homes beside a golf course will be just minutes away from the new downtown area and the famous Main Beach. It's clear from the response to our new community that people are looking forward to everything that Wasaga Beach has to offer, from a world-class beach to hiking, biking and Nordic ski trails and the incredibly beautiful natural surroundings. We're thrilled to be here.” The direction of (most) of our town council is one of positivity and change. I am looking forward to the implementation of the well-thought-out plans that our Mayor and council have for the future of our town. The improvements at the Main Beach alone last summer made it more of a destination for us as residents than ever before - and a place that we are proud to promote to visitors to our beautiful town. Jennifer Tindale Wasaga Beach Yoga On the topic of community, Peter Wilkins commented “Wasaga Beach Brewing Company is very pleased with the support we have received from both residents and tourists alike. We are very excited about the positive direction the new council has taken, and look forward to all the great things to come.” Garry Sawatzky of Skull Island Mini Golf on Main Street Wasaga Beach said “As one of the newest investors in Family Entertainment in Wasaga Beach, I am thrilled to be a part of the rebirth of this great Town. This Town has the most potential of any town I have been a part of or have ever seen.” Aaron Armstrong of Beach1.com states “With a business that has the finger on the pulse of Beach One and the community, there is overwhelming, positive buzz with the plans for a new downtown / Main Street area that has captivated the majority Wasaga Beach residents.” “As a resident and business owner for the past 12 years, I am so excited about the future of the beachfront and Main Street development!" says Tanya Snell, President of Wasaga Beach Women's Business Association and owner of www.whatsuphut.com . Main Street business owner Alex Smardenka says “I have been in business for the last 9 years in Wasaga Beach and have never felt more confident about our future. I have full confidence our council will revitalize our town in a responsible and cost effective manner. We will have a town of which we can all be proud.” "As a more recent business owner to Wasaga Beach, I am very encouraged by the changes I have witnessed since we moved here three years ago. I am extremely excited about the future potential for Wasaga Beach both as a business owner and as a resident! I have heard the positive buzz from fellow business owners while attending many Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce functions. We love our community!!" John Tindale, owner, Beach Hearing Ltd. "It doesn’t bother me that the out of town media talk or write about Wasaga Beach. What ticks me off is that they don’t get all their facts right! They are talking to the wrong people. They should come back here and get comments from the people making statements in this article. Positive, Positive, Positive.” Bill Frieday, Lions Clubs International, A-12 Zone Chair 8N, Immediate Past President Wasaga Beach Lions Club