Dr. Mark D. Black

• Environmental Hero: Richard & Sandi Gauder

• Environmental Hero: Wil James

Councillor Warren and the new chair of KLEAC, Deborah Pearson, presented this year’s awards to our recipients.

Food Insecurity in Kawartha Lakes

In her presentation to Council, Heather Kirby, Executive Director of Kawartha Lakes Food Source, explained what food security and insecurity is, spoke to food insecurity in Kawartha Lakes and how the community can support Kawartha Lakes Food Source. Kirby also introduced the 14 local member and nonmember food banks in Kawartha Lakes. Communitybased food programs do not impact food insecurity in the long term, and are only a short term solution. Meaningful change can happen but it has to happen through systems and policy change, and Kirby provided suggestions on what individuals in our community can do to help.

Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes

Jack Roks, Board Member, Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes, and Laurie Dillon-Schalk, Executive Director, Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes, presented to Council. They covered who they are and what they do for the community. Since 2020, the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes has administered over $638,000 in relief/government grants and over $556,000 in donor directed giving. Dillon-Schalk asked for collaboration and support from Council, in the form of working together on grants, receiving municipal endorsement on projects on the cusp of funding, and more.

Stopping Harassment and Abuse

Marina Hodson, Executive Director, Kawartha North Health Team, introduced and advocated for Bill 5, the Stopping Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act, which is pending a second reading in Parliament. This Bill would allow existing workplace harassment policies to be applied to municipal Councillors. Hodson explained the need for this Bill stems from the lack of recourse for employees when experiencing harassment from local government officials. Marina concluded by asking Council to pass a resolution to support Bill 5 and make that known to the Federal Government.

2024 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo

Cathy Lasby, Executive Director of Ontario Plowmen’s Association, spoke to Council about the upcoming 2024 International Plowing Match – the largest event of its kind in North America –taking place October 1 to 5, 2024. The event at the Lindsay Exhibition Grounds is expected to welcome 80,000 visitors, half of which will be travelling from more than 40 kilometres away, with a reported annual expenditure at the event of $72 million. The familyfriendly event will host food venders, a quilting competition, antiques displays, musical entertainment and more. Bob Armstrong, Local Chair for the 2024 International Plowing Match, proposed a partnership with the City of Kawartha Lakes, including an interest free loan of $35,000 to assist with initial costs.

Old Mill Heritage Conservation District Study

Emily Turner, Economic Development Officer for

Heritage Planning, provided background on Heritage Conservation District (HCD) processes and the Old Mill-Pumpkin Hollow HCD Development which commenced in 2018. The study, completed between 2020 and 2022, was provided to Council. Turner used a map to show the study area versus the updated smaller plan area, excluding several properties that were pulled out of the final plan area. Turner asked Council to endorse the new evaluation of the area as an addendum to the existing study in order for the process to move on to its next steps. Council passed a motion to put the study on pause, due to community feedback against the designation. The project team will alert property owners in the study area, and inform them that they will be able to pursue individual designation for each of their own properties if they choose to do so.

Million Dollar Makeover

Carlie Arbour, Economic Development Officer for Community, provided an introduction to the Million Dollar Makeover program, informed by the Strategic Community Improvement Plan, which has encouraged private investment in commercial and heritage buildings throughout Kawartha Lakes. Launched in 2019, Million Dollar Makeover is a grant and loan program with two annual intakes. Carlie provided an overview of the intake and approval process, funding incentives, and approved projects by year and community. For every $1 of municipal contribution in the program, $11 is put back into the community through private investment. The 2023 program has seen two funding intakes, 10 approved projects, and four funding agreements executed. A total of $59,855.55 in approved grants and $80,000 in approved loans for signage, façade, building repair, accessibility, and heritage has been awarded.

Future Waste Disposal Options

During 2022, public consultation revealed broad public support for landfill expansion as the primary means to continue the municipality’s waste disposal service. During finalization of the Future Waste Disposal Options Study, staff became aware of an emerging initiative to assemble a consortium of eight single-tier and upper-tier municipalities in eastern Ontario for the purpose of exploring the feasibility of a central incinerator (mass burn) which would produce electricity by burning waste from nearby municipalities. As discussions continue toward a possible future solution, there is urgency to proceed with an expansion of the Lindsay Ops Landfill to ensure we have capacity to manage waste disposal. The next step is to complete terms of reference on a waste disposal Environmental Assessment (EA).

Resiliency Funds

Donna Goodwin, Economic Development Officer for Arts and Culture, submitted a report with a