Serving all Georgina Communities and the Greater Pefferlaw Area

August 10, 2017 Volume 13, Issue 15

Mulroney declaration gives birth to another political dynasty Caroline Mulroney, the daughter of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, has filed her nomination papers in a run to succeed long-time York-Simcoe Conserva-tive MPP Julia Munro at Queen’s Park. Ms. Mulroney, 43, a lawyer and mother of four children filed on August 2 at Elections Ontario as a nomination candidate for the riding. “The idea to run here was my own,” Ms. Mulroney said in an interview with the Georgina Post. “I went to Patrick Brown a few years ago and told him I was thinking about running and it has been a long-term process to get to this decision.” She says she has known Julia Munro for many years and she has been a frequent visitor to the area. “So when I heard about Julia, that is when it all clicked for me,” Ms. Mulroney said. Ms. Mulroney is married to Toronto invest-ment firm executive Andrew Lapham and the two have recently purchased a home in Jackson’s Point. Ms. Mulroney uses her maiden name professionally and is Vice President of Bloomberg Sen Investment Partners. She sits on the board for the Hos-pital for SickKids Foundation and is co-founder and Chair of the Shoebox Project for Shelters. She says she has decided to run for provin-cial politics because “I feel government has gotten into people’s way. That is the feeling

I have and I believe it is a feeling people here have and I want to be part of the team that rights this ship,” she said, adding, the spending and borrowing habits of the Lib-eral government are putting Ontarians at risk. “The interest on our debt is the largest growing line item in the budget which is crowding out all sorts of services that we need. That is what I am passionate about,” she said.

Ms. Mulroney said although she is new to the riding she is looking forward to meeting the residents and listening to their concerns. “I want to work hard for them and help make life better in the immediate and long term. I hope when they get to know me they will believe in that,” she said. “I believe the PC party has the ability to make life more affordable and once again make Ontario a place where people, busi-nesses and innovation can thrive.” Ever since Ms. Munro announced her re-tirement earlier this year, Georgina resi-dents have been speculating on who would run for the nomination of her seat—one she has held in York-Simcoe for 22 years. It has been no secret that federal Conserva-tive MP Peter Van Loan has been actively recruiting potential nominee candidates but told the Georgina Post that once probable contenders heard Ms. Mulroney was going to run, they threw their support behind her. “When they met her, they said ‘we have got a great candidate here’,” Mr. Van Loan said. However, should other nominee candidates come forward between now and the party’s nomination meeting, which could be as early as September 11, a vote will take place among York-Simcoe party associa-tion members to announce the winner and the new York-Simcoe conservative Continued on page 8...

Caroline Mulroney, daughter of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mul-roney, makes her political debut by filing nomination papers to represent the York-Simcoe riding at an upcoming riding nomination meeting in September.

Hi Karen: I read the letter in the last issue concerning the administration side of our municipal services. I've lived in Keswick since 1984 and I too had heard the stories about how hard it was to get any-thing done through those offices, especially building permits etc. For the past few months I have been involved with my son’s project of demolishing an exist-ing structure and building a two storey, three car garage on his Keswick property. My experience so far has been nothing but positive. I've found all the people in the numerous departments I've had to deal with to be very helpful and coopera-tive. We needed to move a drive-way, setting up a new entrance on a different street on his corner lot. Permit was granted in a few days. We had issues with heights and setbacks and had to apply for minor variances. Again the staff led us through the process, re-turned calls promptly and gave us some good advice along the way. Everyone I dealt with was pleas-ant and our project is well on its way. Bob MacDonald One day about a year ago, I re-ceived an email from a Michael T. Wall (also known as the “Singing Newfoundlander”). He told me as a first time visitor to Georgina, “ I loved reading your little paper” and he said he stopped into several of the stores in Sutton that were advertised in that issue. I had never heard of him so I googled him and found out he was born in Corner Brook, New-foundland, was indeed a well-known recording artist who has travelled the world over, promot-ing Newfoundland through his down-home, traditional country music, has received the “Living Legend Award” and he is 79 years old. The paper must have made an impression on him because re-cently I received a “singing” birthday card from him, some newspaper clippings of his music tour to Australia and China and the words to a song he has writ-

ten with his two daughters. I don’t know how he found out it was my birthday unless he’s been trolling Facebook, but I was quite touched that he took the time to send along a package of memen-tos and the birthday card. The whole experience has left me in awe and with wonder at how one person reading one issue of my paper could be transformed into such a special moment for me. Michael, if you are reading this, thank you! I don’t know you, I’ve never met you but your talent, thoughtfulness and kindness is probably why I read that you are recognized as a Goodwill Ambas-sador for Newfoundland, the 1997 recipient of the Stompin` Tom award, have been inducted into America`s Oldtime Country Music Hall Of Fame, and be-came the first Canadian to be inducted into the Australian Country Music Hall Of Fame. I hope to meet you the next time you travel to Georgina.

Karen Wolfe, Editor.

Publisher/Editor Karen Wolfe

(705) 437-1216 karen.wolfe@sympatico.ca

Proofreader Nancy Pickering

Advertising Sales & Inquiries Karen Wolfe

(705) 437-1216 karen.wolfe@sympatico.ca

Distribution Inquiries The Georgina Post Offices:

17 Otter Cove Pefferlaw, Ontario

L0E 1N0 (705) 437-1216

www.thegeorginapost.com

The Georgina Post publishes on the 10th and 24th of every month (except December 24) and is dis-tributed throughout Georgina and beyond. The contents of this pub-lication are protected by copyright and may only be used for personal

and non-commercial use. The Georgina Post accepts no respon-sibility for claims made for any product or service reported or

advertised.

Letter to the Editor — plus 2

3

Canada 150 $10 bank note The Bank of Canada is marking the country’s 150th birthday by issuing a commemorative bank note. You can buy some lunch with this special $10 bill, but take a good look at it first. Its visual elements are full of mean-ing and help to tell a story about our history, land and culture. Bordering the large window are 13 maple leaves representing each of Canada’s provinces and territories. The three metallic leaves at the bottom of the win-dow reflect the leaves found on the shield of the coat of arms, which represent the many peo-ples of Canada. At the bottom of the large win-dow is an image of Owl’s Bou-quet, a stone-cut and stencil print by acclaimed Inuit artist Keno-juak Ashevak. A Companion of the Order of Canada, Ashevak has produced artwork that has been featured on a Canadian stamp and coin, but never before on a Canadian bank note. Ashevak lived and worked in Cape Dorset, Nunavut, the last territory to join Confederation, in 1999. The pattern that appears across the top and bottom of the note is based on the distinctive Assomp-tion, or arrow sash, which is an important cultural symbol of the Métis people. The sash also has significance to French-Canadian culture. Worn by habitants, the sash became a hallmark of the voyageurs and fur traders in the 18th century. Representing Can-ada through meaningful visual content is a key aspect of the Bank’s formal bank note design principles. The artwork by

Ashevak, the arrow sash pattern and the portrait of Senator James Gladstone—who represents the role of Indigenous peoples in government—allow the Canada 150 bank note to represent First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The note also depicts Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir George-Étienne Cartier and Agnes Macphail, three parliamentarians who’ve made significant contributions to Canada’s political history. In addition, the note incorporates symbols of Canadians’ military service, including a vignette of the Hall of Honour, the central corridor of the Centre Block, and the Memorial Chamber Arch of the Peace Tower, both on Parlia-ment Hill. Today, the Hall of Honour is decorated with various plaques commemorating the original Parliament building (destroyed by fire in 1916), Con-federation and the First World War. The Memorial Chamber was dedicated in 1927 to all Ca-nadians who died in military service during the First World War. It has since come to honour all Canadian men and women who gave their lives in service to their country. The Canada 150 note began cir-culating on June 1. In all, 40 million commemorative notes will be distributed through Can-ada’s financial institutions. To get one, simply visit your local bank or credit union. Most of them will have a limited supply of these special notes to distrib-ute over the counter. This is only the fourth commemorative note issued by the Bank of Canada in its 82-year history.

Email: davethedj.dj@gmail.com

4

New YRP training facility

Georgina’s complement of approximately 60 York Re-gional Police officers will now receive their annual training, professional development and education requirements at a new 89,000 sq. ft. facility lo-cated in East Gwillimbury. The $30.4 million facility fea-tures 10 classrooms, a simula-tion training room, a practical skills training room, a 50-metre

firing range, a police vehicle operations driving simulator, fitness rooms, locker and lunchroom. The YRP organization boasts 2,200 sworn and civilian mem-bers. The new facility is home to Corporate Development Services (CDS), the education, training, professional develop-ment and recruitment arm of YRP.

5

The Gupta family is joined by family, friends and political dignitaries during the “Grand Opening” celebrations at the Ramada Jackson’s Point Resort and Spa on Sunday, July 23. The renovation of the former Georgina Resort hotel took two and a half years and in comments made by owner Rakesh Gupta, “it was a long journey and not an easy one. We all feel very proud.” Photo L to R: MP Peter Van Loan, Mayor Margaret Quirk, Swati Gupta, Rakesh Gupta, Ontario Conservative party leader Patrick Brown, and Makul Gupta help Anika Gupta cut the cake in celebration of the official opening.

Back Row: Larry Bagshaw, David Oldham, Ed Bagshaw, Jim Creighton, Ron Oldham, John Thomas, Charley Hynes, Alex Col-ville, Terry Bagshaw. Middle: Barbara Hynes, Mary Hynes, Betty Avery, Vern Bryan, Dorothy (Jex) Shier. Front Row: Elaine (Beggs) Hannah, Eleanor (Bagshaw) Camplin, Shirley (Bagshaw) Snoddon, Carol (Lancaster)Wetheral.

Reekie School Reunion In 1867, the year of Confederation, the new S.S.#6 Reekies School in Wilfrid welcomed its first students. Now, 150 years later on Sunday, July 23, several formers students of this one-room schoolhouse, reunited to share memories and reminisce about those good’ol school days before school buses, central heating, computers and i-pads. Former students recall sleigh rides to school, chopping fire wood for the stove, screeching blackboards and no electricity. The school closed in 1958 and was purchased eight years later by two artists, Viktor and Judith Tinkl, and renovated by them.

New Ramada opens with great fanfare

Tennyson Tidbits

6

Wil Wegman, well-known Canadian Angler Hall of Fame recipient, will leave his fishing rod behind when he sets off on August 12 to swim four kilometres across Lake Couchiching to raise money for charity. Wil, together with 50 other swimmers, will do-nate the proceeds from the Sun City Swim event to the Child Advocacy Centre of Simcoe/Muskoka. Max and Helen Bulmer will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary with family and friends on August 18. And, Max sent along a little note: I want to thank my wife Helen for kindness and above all patience and love she has given me for 55 years. Of course, two great children, Sandra of Pefferlaw and Kevin in Calgary plus 6 grandchildren. This is a mile-stone blessed by God to

whom we give thanks. Con-gratulations Max and Helen! Happy Birthday wishes go out to John Dallimore as he celebrates his 98th birthday. John is a Canadian forces veteran and is a long-time resident of Pefferlaw. Con-gratulations John! We send sincere birthday greetings out to Wanda O’Neill who turns 63 on Au-gust 14. Cheers Wanda! And, on the same day, Brenda Camplin of Pefferlaw will celebrate her 60th birth-day. Best Wishes, Brenda! Our sincere condolences go out to the friends and family of Elizabeth Kortko who passed away on Monday, Aug 7. Funeral services were held at St. Anthony’s Catho-lic Church on Aug. 11.

7

First glimpse of Sutton Fair weekend on now The 162nd edition of the Sutton Fair & Horse Show opened on Thursday, August 10 and here is your first glimpse of the sights and sounds of the four-day event. Photos: (Left) Top: Students and teachers at Deer Park School painted individual red and white stones with im-ages of Canadian culture celebrating Canada 150. The art won Best in Show. Second photo: An aerial view of the midway. Third Photo: Dax McArthur, 4, from Kes-wick offers a peace sign during his bumble bee ride. Fourth Photo: Cleo Fiorentino and Ava Moser fly by on the Hang Glider midway ride.

Lauren Mew, 17, from Keswick is crowned Senior Am-bassador of the fair. Ms. Faith Dennis, 17, from Sutton received runner-up honours.

Keswick native Chris Tierney of the San Jose Sharks opened the show to the delight of fans after relating childhood memories of the fair and Georgina hockey experiences to the crowd.

279

8

“Crazy” spring market is over According to sales representa-tives in Georgina’s housing market, the crazy buying frenzy that saw some homes sell for $250,000 plus above the asking the price, is gone. The factors that influenced that market, they say, created a “perfect storm” which sent real estate prices in Georgina through the roof. Wayne Winch, a sales represen-tative for ReMax All-Stars Re-alty in Keswick with 35 years experience, listed a number of factors that affected the local market: the 404 highway, low inventory and high demand, foreign buyers and their agents unfamiliar with the Georgina market, multiple offers, Geor-gina’s proximity to the lake and low interest rates. “In the first part of January, we only had about 38 or 39 listings and if you go back to last year, there would have been 150 list-ings on the market at one time,” he said. Now, he says, with the new tax regulations, the foreign buyers have disappeared, interest rates have increased and there is an abundance of listings on the market. “Prices have come down. When we go in to price a house now, we are pretty much operating on last July’s prices,” he said. “But it is hard to educate the sellers about this. And a lot of them are finding their house is on the

market for 90 or 120 days and there are multiple price reduc-tions.” Laura Rackham with Royal LePage in Sutton agreed with that reality and said the spring market was a stressful time for both sellers and their agents. “Some people aren’t honouring contracts and there are some yucky things going on right now. People are just walking away from deals because they feel they have paid too much and they don’t feel like closing now.” That scenario, Ms. Rackham said, has had serious impacts on sellers who have an offer on another property based on the strength of their sale closing. “It has created a domino effect,” she said. Ms. Rackham said because the Ontario government stepped in with their Fair Housing Act which taxed foreign investors an additional 15 per cent, they have moved on to Quebec. And now, Georgina has an overabun-dance of listings (approximately 400) and with no bidding wars, homes are selling for much less. “But the market still hasn’t fig-ured itself out,” she said. “We have homes that are very appro-priately priced and they are just sitting but I have no doubt it will correct itself and we are still a very inexpensive place to buy real estate.”

Continued from page 1. candidate. MPP Julia Munro, who will step down once the provincial election is called, said “I think it is really good and I’m pleased that she (Ms. Mulroney) has made this decision. I cer-tainly think that she has the skills and the kind of personal-ity that people want to see in their elected officials,” Ms. Munro said. “I think she is ob-viously very capable and cer-tainly easy to talk to and able to quickly assess situations and difficulties.”

Ms. Munro will be at the nomi-nation meeting next month and reflected on how she would be feeling after representing the riding for 22 years. “I’ve thought about that. It’s very difficult in some ways and in others I know the time has come but I just feel it is time for me to be doing something else,” she said. “But you can’t have done something this long and not have a huge emotional in-vestment. You just have to say to yourself, ‘that was a great time’ and ‘aren’t you lucky’.”

Mulroney to run for York Simcoe seat

9

eprair

lersa

unowd

Last Issue: humid, summer, soltice

Council rejects staff recommendation to cancel roof over Pefferlaw Ice Pad A staff recommendation to cancel the construction of a roof over the Pefferlaw Ice Pad was rejected by council at the August 9 council meeting. Staff recommended cancelling the roof when bids for the project came well in over budget—in some cases double the cost—and staff was unable to renegotiate a better price. The roof construction, together with a picnic shelter extension, was expected to cost $786,225 in 2015 when the Town received a Federal government grant of $315,000.00. The balance of $471,230 was put into the Town’s 2017 budget. Council was alerted to the issue on June 21 when staff received four bids and identified a shortfall of $267,175 against the lowest bid of $1,053,400.00. Citing an inability to identify funding sources to cover the shortfall, staff rec-ommended cancelling the project and the unspent Town funds of $435,000 be redi-rected “to other deferred maintenance requirements found within other Town

facilities.” However, Mayor Quirk said she wanted the project to move forward in order to “continue our commitment to the resi-dents of Pefferlaw,” and council was unanimous in directing staff to award a contract and come back with recommen-dations on how to fund the shortfall. Ward 2 councillor Dan Fellini said, “I do believe we should be able to find a cou-ple of pennies to fund this project. It is the right thing to do and we have to do it.” Given the delays in finding a suitable contractor within the funding parameters of the project, the issue of timing has become an issue since the federal funding grant is contingent upon the project being completed by March 31, 2018. However, staff told council the construction could now be completed by January 2018 at the latest. Word on how the construction may im-pact the upcoming winter skating season will be forthcoming.

10

Cheers to Forrest Jones and his team for their monumental efforts in hosting a charity event, the BBQ Fest, at the ROC on Saturday and Sunday, July 29 and 30. All proceeds will support the Georgina Food Pantry, Georgina Cares and the Georgina Animal Shelter. Well Done! The event featured various vendors, a kids’ zone, a slo-pitch tournament, a BBQ, a silent auc-tion and live entertainment. Forrest Jones sends a huge shout-out to the sponsors of the event: KX 96, M. W. Becker Funeral Home, CPG Aerospace, Access Restoration Services, STL Lighting Group, the Ramada, Thomas Woodward Real Estate/ReMax, Old Flame Brewing Co. (Photos) (1) Mike Waddington of the CPG Aerospace team, hits an RBI single. (2) The crowd rocks to the country music sounds of Garth Brooks cover band Fresh Horses. (3) Mayor Mar-garet Quirk and organizers Forrest Jones and his sister, Janet Braithwaite, get set for the two-day event. (4) Fresh Horses, the Garth Brooks cover band puts in a great performance for the crowd. (5) Mark McInnis (left) brought visitors from Glasgow, Scotland, John Dallas (centre) and Leonna Murray (right) to enjoy the sights and sounds at Georgina’s ROC. (6) Hunter Morton, 9, from Sharon bounces his way through a maze.

BBQ Fest — all in the name of charity

2

1

3 4

5 6

11

Pefferlaw Picnic—Always a crowd favourite It was a little drizzly but that did not dampen the spirit of the crowds attending this year’s Pefferlaw Family Picnic on Monday, August 7. Sponsored by the Pefferlaw Association of Ratepayers (PAR), the event provided all-day fun with games, contests, food and animal displays. Below: (Top) Kids had a great time rolling around in these giant human hamster balls. (Bottom Left) The Pefferlaw Lioness instruct the little ones on how to catch a fish at their fish pond and win a prize. (Bottom Right) Pearl Sweeney and Ashtyn Richards stopped by the Zoo to You display to pose for a photo with a snake and learn the habits of other exotic creatures. Madisyn Hill takes a bite at the water-

melon eating contest. It is a hit every year as crowds line up to see who can plough through a container of watermelon first.

Ava Wolske tackles the Canadian Tire wind tunnel for a chance to catch as many CT bills as possible can while the money swirls furiously around her.

Every year the Pefferlaw & District Lions Club organizes one of the best Antique Car Shows around.

12

Coming Events & Announcements

Be on the look-out for a Painted Perch cut-out at participating retail stores across Georgina and the Georgina Arts Centre. Purchase one and get those creative juices flowing for the Painted Perch Challenge on Sat. Aug. 12 at Jackson’s Point parkette. The Sutton Fair and Horse Show is on until Sunday, August 13. The summer isn’t com-plete until you’ve visited the Fair!! The Sutton Curling club located at 15 Fair-park Lane in Sutton is hosting a clothing drive in support of the Kidney Foundation of Canada. They will be happy to accept donations of any clothing, other cloth based items, footwear, purses and sports bags. The initial campaign will run from August 14 with a blitz day drop-off to be held on August 19 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Knox Annual Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, August 21 at the East-bourne Golf Club at 885 Lake Dr. N. Shot-gun start at 3:45 pm. Dinner to follow. Golf and Dinner $45. Soft drinks supplied or BYOB. Call (905) 252-7494. The Beaverton Horticulture Society is holding its Annual Flower Show at 133

Main St. in Beaverton. Entries should be in by 11:00 am. Open to the public from 1:30 to 4:00 pm. You are invited to help Bill and Doris Ma-jor celebrate their 50th wedding anniver-sary at an Open House celebration at the Georgina Arts Centre and Gallery on Satur-day, August 26 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. On Monday, August 28 at 7:30 pm the Lake Simcoe Gardeners will host their Flower and Vegetable Show at the Kes-wick United Church. Dugald Cameron will also discuss “Planting a Spectacular Spring Garden Now”. Join them for coffee and conversation after the meeting. St. George’s Anglican Church invites you to the following weekly events in August: Sunset Watch—Aug. 17, 24 at 8:00 pm; Hedge Rd. Bicycle Tour—Aug. 11, 25 at 10:30 am; Photography Essentials Workshop—Aug, 11, 25 at 7:00 pm. St. George’s is open daily for visiting from 10:30 am to sunset during the summer. Christ Church ACW in Roches Point will host a Rummage and Bake Sale on Sat. Sept 9 from 8:00 am to noon.

The Chippewas of Georgina Island are actively protesting the Upper York Sewage Solutions (UYSS) project with an on-line petition. According to a communiqué sent by the Social Planning Council of York Region recently, 17,875 people have signed the petition to protect Lake Simcoe against the York Region Municipality’s UYSS proposal. The petition is located at: www.change.org/CIFNLake Guardi-ans. “If the Upper York Sewage Treat-ment Plant project is approved by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, over 40 million mega litres of treated sewage will be dumped into Lake Simcoe every single day,” the communiqué says. “The Georgina Island First Nation (GIFN) community depends on Lake Simcoe for their livelihood and has been under a boil water advisory for the past two years.”

Georgina Island First Nation takes stand against the

UYSS