North Grenville’s Council adopted the 2023 Municipal Budget

Submitted by Jill Sturdy

Council adopted the 2023 Budget earlier this week with an emphasis on affordability during trying economic times alongside strategic long-term investments as we emerge from the pandemic, contend with high inflation and manage supply and contractor issues.

“Council was elected to ensure key investments in several priority areas, including core infrastructure, road safety, fire protection, recreation, preservation of our heritage, as well as arts and culture. These investments are intended to foster a high quality of life for residents and business leaders in North Grenville while ensuring our community remains affordable,” said Mayor Nancy Peckford.

“As a high growth community, it is imperative that we make important infrastructure investments while continuing to forge a strong fiscal path forward,” emphasized Mayor Peckford. “We appreciate the community’s understanding this year as we navigate turbulent economic times.”

Investments in key areas include:

1. Maintenance and improvements to municipal roads and bridges at $3.5 million, plus $1.8 million over for three years for North Grenville’s share of the expansion of CR 43;

2. Addition multi-use pathways, pedestrian crossings, and sidewalk improvements; amenities and opportunities, including the Riverside Park redevelopment, three neighbourhood parks, enhanced winter and summer trails, as well as financial support to several arts, culture and sports groups;

4. Preserving North Grenville’s heritage through long awaited investments in some of our most cherished buildings, including Maplewood Hall and the Oxfordon-Rideau Township Hall;

5. Taking care of each other through investments in the Kemptville District Hospital, Victim Services, Kemptville Salvation Army Food Bank, Seniors Community transportation services, the Kemptville Youth Centre and the Beth Donovan Hospice;

6. Accelerating progress in three areas: a rural transit system for all ages, physician recruitment, and affordable housing;

7. Continued support for our local economic development and tourism promotion.

In the 2023 Budget, the $26.9 million in operational costs and $7.5 million in capital costs includes key investments in infrastructure and services that residents rely on every day and key priorities that make North Grenville a better place to live. North Grenville’s 2023 budget results in a municipal tax rate increase of 3.87 percent.

As a separate item, Council adopted the Water and Wastewater Budget, that includes $4.5 Million in operating costs and $18.2 Million in Capital costs.

The majority of capital expenditures for water and wastewater in 2023 is dedicated to fund phase 1 of the expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Centre (a threeyear project). The Water and Wastewater operating and capital budgets are exclusively funded by user fees and development charges. As such, property taxes cannot and will not be utilized.

“The investments highlighted in the 2023 Budget reflect the objectives of the North Grenville Strategic Plan, including balanced growth, environment and sustainability, community services, economic development and efficient government, as well as sustaining a strong sense of community,” added Deputy Mayor John Barclay.

With the proposed County tax rate increase of 6.87 percent, overall property taxes are likely to increase by 4.35% ($198) on an average residential assessed value of $400,050. The budget of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville will be adopted in early March.

The Municipality held three public consultations in February, two in-person sessions held in Kemptville and Oxford Mills, as well as one virtual session. Details on the North Grenville 2023 Budget are available at: www.northgrenville.ca/budget.

Municipal Office Hours

The Municipal office is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visit our events calendar to find out what’s happening in the community: www.northgrenville.ca/events

UPCOMING MEETINGS

COUNCIL MEETINGS

Please see the Council agenda for further details on how to participate in Council meetings. All Council meetings will be live streamed on YouTube at: youtube.com/user/NorthGrenville/ featured and on the Municipality’s website at: www.northgrenville.ca/meetings.

To make a deputation in relation to an item on the agenda, please provide your comments no later than two hours prior to the start of the meeting to clerk@northgrenville.on.ca. Council agendas are available at: www.northgrenville.ca/meetings.

• Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. (Open Session) – Council Chambers

• Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. (Open Session) – Council Chambers

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Committees may be meeting in-person or virtually. Please see the Committee agenda for details on how to attend. Agendas can be found on the Municipal website at www.northgrenville.on/meetings.

• Accessibility Advisory Committee – March 13, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

VOLUNTEER AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Summer Student Opportunities – Parks, Recreation and Culture

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture is currently accepting applications for various full and part-time spring/summer student positions. For a full list of available positions and information on how to apply, please visit www.northgrenville.ca/careers. Please submit applications to hr@northgrenville.on.ca by 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 10, 2023.

Engineering Co-op Student

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking to fill three full-time positions of Engineering Co-op Student. Interested applicants may submit a cover letter and resume outlining qualifications in confidence to Human Resources by 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 17, 2023. Visit www.northgrenville.ca/careers for details and more information on how to apply.

Advisory Committees

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking to fill volunteer positions on various Advisory Committees of Council.

• Equity Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee

• Heritage Advisory Committee

• Housing Advisory Committee

• Indigenous Advisory Circle

• Property Standards Committee

Visit www.northgrenville.ca/careers for more information on how to apply. For questions, please contact the Clerk by email at clerk@northgrenville.on.ca or by telephone at 613-258-9569 ext 171. Applications due by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 24, 2023.

The Municipality of North Grenville 285 County Rd. 44, PO Box 130 , Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Tel: 613-258-9569 Fax: 613-258-9620 general@northgrenville.on.ca www.NorthGrenville.ca

Building: 613-258-9569 x130 Fax: 613-258-1441

Fire Services Info: 613-258-9569 x201

What are we teaching our children?

by Marguerite Boyer

3. More recreational comments about individuals and businesses here in our community, comments with no substance, etc.

I have been thinking a lot about social media and how people use it. For myself, I use it to keep in touch with friends and family around the world. Being in the newspaper business, I know for a fact that everything we put in print had better be backed up with evidence before it goes to print, otherwise we could be sued.

But it seems social media is different. From what I have seen over these past few years, you can post anything, and have people believe it, whether it is true or not. I have seen parents and grandparents posting things that I am shocked by. Nasty

Sometimes we get letters attacking individuals, or businesses, and most of the time these letters are anonymous, or the writer asks us not to print their name. We don’t print these letters, mainly because we don’t know the entire story of what actually happened, nor do we have the means at times to investigate. There is one thing I dislike more than anything else though, and that is anonymous posts. We had two placed last year on our web site during the Provincial Elections, and those two posts caused a lot of trouble in the months to come. Was that the aim of those posts? We quickly took them down once we were notified. Whoever posted them, I would call a coward.

As a parent and grandparent, I would be shocked if any one of my own children posted anything like some of the comments I have seen on Facebook. Regardless of how they felt towards that individual that they are bashing on social media, there is no excuse for being rude or nasty. I may not have been the best mother, but one thing I hope I have taught my children are morals. Right from wrong. I may not like

Fax: 613-258-1031

By-Law Services: email: bylawinquiries@northgrenville.on.ca

613-258-9569 x211

Police Administration: 613-258-3441

Animal Control: 613-862-9002 you as an individual, but I have no right to bash you on social media, just because I really don’t like you.

This all leads me to wondering what we are teaching our children? If you can stoop as low as name calling on social media, a platform that our children have access to, is this what you are teaching your child? That it is okay to bully and call people nasty names, something the school has been trying to teach the students not to do because of the hurt it can cause? During the Trump reign, I have seen that man use nicknames for many of his foes - nasty ones - and his audience taking pleasure in this. It is like we are going backwards instead of forwards.

I have no idea what drives a person to be so nasty on social media. Perhaps they have so much pain and anger themselves, that this is how they release it? I don’t know, I am not a psychologist, I don’t have the answers. I sometimes get angry at a person, and in my head call them all kinds of names; but I know it is morally wrong to post my thoughts, so why don’t others know as well? There is a code of conduct we were raised by: bullying and name calling is just not acceptable. And remember, our children and their children have access to this.

So what are we teaching our children?

North Grenville Celebrates International Women’s Day

North Grenville recognizes the many women who work in many different capacities in the Municipality, from the frontline staff who serve the public every day, to the staff who work behind the scenes supporting municipal services, to women in senior leadership roles.

embrace equity, we embrace diversity, and we embrace inclusion. With equal rights, women and girls are given the opportunity to reach their highest potential.

submitted by Jill Sturdy

The Municipality of North Grenville celebrates International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, a day to recognize gender equality and improve the lives of all women and girls (trans and cis) through cultural, legal, economic, and social change.

“International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognize, celebrate and support the diverse and dynamic women in our community who give generously to make our community stronger every day,” emphasized Mayor Nancy Peckford.

“Council honours the many women who enrich North Grenville through their roles as volunteers, professionals, community and business leaders, life partners, mothers and grandmothers, to name just a few,” highlighted Deputy Mayor John Barclay.

“Our female staff contribute to every aspect of Municipal operations and help to strengthen North Grenville as a whole,” added Councillor Doreen O’Sullivan.

“International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognize the many women business leaders who make our local economy more vibrant,” said Councillor Debbie Wilson.

“We are fortunate to have many professionals across the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fields who call North Grenville home. The impact that these women continue to make each day is important and a key part to fostering equity, diversity and inclusion in our community and workplaces,” added Councillor Kristin Strackerjan.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is #EmbraceEquity. When we

Equity, diversity, and inclusion is defined as the ability to embrace and celebrate difference among our population in ways that provide equity of opportunity and that contribute to inclusive and safe community spaces.

The Municipality of North Grenville is dedicated to strengthening its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and is embarking on a process of engaging with diverse communities of North Grenville to gather their input and feedback to develop an equity, diversity and inclusion strategy. For more information on this project visit: www.northgrenville.ca/equity.

International Women’s Day is a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action to accelerate women’s equality.

For more information visit: www.internationalwomensday.com

KDH Women’s Health Club brings women together

In response to this positive response, the following year we expanded to include four sessions speaking to a range of topics from managing finances, to understanding hormones, to coping with grief. We also added a showcase of local businesses run by women.

bring together women from all over North Grenville to talk about women’s health and wellness,” said Margret Norenberg, KDHF Chair.

submitted by Kristy Carriere

In 2017, the Kemptville District Hospital Foundation held its first ever Women’s Health and Wellness Education seminar. Over 90 women attended our inaugural event.

The success of these events led to the creation of the Women’s Health Club.

The Women’s Health Club is a philanthropic program bringing together likeminded women who care about women's health issues.

“Please join me as we

The KDH Foundation is pleased to announce that we will once again be hosting a free seminar on May 11, 2023. Join us for an evening with Shulamit Ber Levtov, as she discusses Entrepreneurship and Mental Health.

Shula was the first speaker at our inaugural event in 2017 and we are thrilled to have her back.

I moved to Kemptville in 1997, best decision ever! I am foremost a daughter, a mother, and a spouse. I transitioned from a career in food service to law in 2000, became a lawyer in 2010 and opened my own office in 2014. Within my practice I employ five fantastic women who help me provide excellent legal services to this community.

In my spare time I have been an Algonquin College Instructor, past member of the Board of Directors of the Kemptville Youth Centre, the Board of Directors