From the Desk of Mayor Rawson & Council #1

Bonjour, Ahneen, good day to everyone, and welcome to the regular council communications. I will send out regular updates to inform you about the work, policy planning and activities your Council is working on.

I want to thank our previous Council led by Mayor Leroux, Deputy Mayor Dubeau and Councillors Cummings, St. Amant, Klug, LaRose, Mayotte, Levy, and Vadeboncoeur. Their work and efforts are greatly appreciated while building on the growth, development and success of Penetanguishene. Thank you all!

Throughout the campaign, many people talked about engagement and that we must work harder to ensure open dialogue between the community and your Council. This newsletter is one way we will begin this work, and our council-elect is committed to engaging with our community and building on a great job already being done.

We Need Your Help!

We depend on and need the support of our community to contribute and participate on a wide range of committees/workgroups and boards. Applications are open until November 30, please assess where your best fit lies and submit your application to our Clerk, Stacey Cooper. You can learn more about the committees, working groups, and boards at: Committees and Boards - Town of Penetanguishene and the application can be found at Committee Application Form.

If you require assistance, don't hesitate to contact town hall at 705-549-7453 and advise you are looking for help with the committees and boards application process from the clerk's office.

Past Week's Events

Since the election, I have been meeting with residents and staff. Jeff Lees, the town's CAO and I have had several conversations as we prepare for the transition and swearing-in of the new Council. I have had the privilege of having 1:1 meetings with each Council elect to see their goals, objectives and direction for our town.

I have met with Mayor-Elects from Midland (Bill Gordon) and Tiny (David Evans) to have introductory meetings while building on our municipalities relationship. I will be meeting with Tay's Mayor, Ted Walker, shortly. Andrew Mendler from the Midland Mirror interviewed me about the plans for Penetanguishene. Along with council-elect Waters, we met with representatives of the Penetanguishene Sports Hall of Fame about our future relationship. I am eager to see the upcoming report from our Director Sherry Desjardins. Additionally, I have had discussions with residents regarding the intersection at Burke/Robert/Dufferin and concerns with clean yard by-laws and leaves - these items will be coming before council shortly. 

Mayor Leroux and some members of his Council, Council-elect Waters, and I attended the Passion for Fashion Grand Opening.

Along with several other municipal representatives, I attended RVH for an elected officials breakfast meeting and to share the launch of the RVH foundation capital program for an expanded RVH. You can learn more at the 'Keep Life Wild' Campaign. 

Tuesday, November 15 - The term of Council began.

Wednesday, November 16 - Council participated in a full day of orientation hosted by our town's senior leadership team and the integrity commissioner. Our town staff did a great job providing the necessary information, supporting policies, and documents to give this Council the tools required to start our term successfully.

Deputy Mayor Elect LaRose, CAO Jeff Lees and I attended the Midland Council Inaugural.

Thursday, November 17 - Deputy Mayor Elect LaRose, Council elect Vadeboncoeur, Waters, CAO Jeff Lees and I attended Tay Council Inaugural.

Upcoming Council Events

Today, November 21 - Council orientation concludes with a site tour of key town attributes and assets.

Wednesday, November 23 @ 7:00 pm - Town of Penetanguishene Council Inaugural Event. Your town council will be sworn into office and officially begin their duties. This meeting is open to the public, but seating is limited. You can watch the Inaugural live on the Town of Penetanguishene's YouTube Channel by clicking here. Alternatively, you can watch it on Rogers Local TV programming, Cable TV 53. Access the Agenda here.

Wednesday, November 30 @ 7:00 pm - Town of Penetanguishene Special Committee of the Whole Meeting (Budget #1). Staff will introduce the budget, which will be our Council's first review. We will review the 3-year operating budget, ten-year capital plan and 2023/2024 capital justifications, 2023 departmental goals and objectives and understand the 2023 estimated tax impact. Access the Agenda here.

Wednesday, December 14 @ 7:00 pm - Town of Penetanguishene Council and Committee of the Whole. The first full meeting of the 2022-2026 Council. An update will be out a few days before informing you what is on the Agenda and how to participate. Access the Council Agenda here. Access the Committee of the Whole Agenda here.

Wednesday, December 21 @ 7:00 pm – Town of Penetanguishene Special Committee of the Whole – Budget 2023.  Access the Special Committee of the Whole Agenda here.

Upcoming Special Events

November 21 @ 5:00 pm-7:00 pm @ Penetanguishene Foodland - POP-UP Engagement with Economic Development Corporation North Simcoe (EDCNS). EDCNS is a partnership between Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny & Tay. Come to this event to provide your input into the economic opportunities for North Simcoe.

Friday, December 2 @ 5:30 pm @ Town Dock - Town of Penetanguishene Festival of Lights. Due to a prior engagement scheduled months before the election, I cannot attend. Members of Council and staff will join Deputy Mayor LaRose for the annual tree lighting ceremony at the Penetanguishene Town Dock. After the tree lighting, everyone is welcome to attend the Penetanguishene Centennial Museum for activities and good family fun.

Wednesday, December 7 @ 7:00 pm @ Townhall - Town of Penetanguishene Public Consultation - Budget 2023

Please participate in the public consultation session and provide your feedback regarding the 2023 Budget, including the 2023 operating, 2-year capital plan and estimated tax impact. You can participate in council chambers or watch on the Town of Penetanguishene's YouTube Channel by clicking here.

County of Simcoe

The Mayor & Deputy Mayor of the sixteen municipalities across Simcoe County comprise the County of Simcoe Council. Deputy Mayor LaRose and I will attend a county orientation on Tuesday, November 22, followed by the Council Inaugural on December 13. 

How to keep up to date with Community Events

You can find community events on the town's website by visiting the Community Calendar. Subscribe to ensure you never miss an event, and you can submit any community events you would like to share with the community.

All town council and committee meetings can be found on the town's website by visiting the Council Calendar. You can subscribe to ensure you never miss an event.

If you cannot make council meetings but would like to be part of the process, you can watch them online on the Town of Penetanguishene's YouTube Channel by clicking here, and most meetings can also be seen on Rogers local Tv Channel 53. All prior meetings can be seen through the Town's YouTube Channel.

The objective of this newsletter is to keep an open line of communication between your Council and the people we represent. Over the following few issues, we will introduce you to our council members and their objectives for this term.

Council-Elect Bonita Desroches

I am a francophone born and raised in Perkinsfield. I moved to Penetanguishene in 2005. I am a seasoned, ambitious individual with a passion for Community. I ran for Council because I believe that all citizens should give their time and energy to make ‘home’ a better place. The Town of Penetanguishene has infrastructure in need of attention: town dock, arena, curling rink. The future of the PSS lands is also in question. With big decisions ahead for all residents of the town, I feel that it is time to start moving forward to refresh our town.  

Council-Elect Suzanne Marchand

Suzanne has been an active member within the local community for many years. As a francophone and mother of two busy and active teenagers, she has instilled in them the importance of being engaged and involved in the community they call home. Suzanne attended ESPSS and was student council president and from there her interest in politics started.  From there she attended MacMaster University where she obtained her degree in Political Science. Having always had an interest in politics, she decided the time was right to run for council. Suzanne is anxious to get the community engaged and involved with important town and community decision, positioning Penetanguishene well into the future.

Council-Elect Bill Waters

Hi: I am Bill Waters and I am humbled to be your new Councillor for the next four years. Many of you already know me as a familiar face on Main Street for the past four decades. I hope you will all find that I am approachable.

Our New Mayor Mr. Doug Rawson has asked that I Chair the Parks and Recreation Committee. This means that I will be working to maintain and improve all the “Fun Things” in Penetanguishene. Some of which are all our Parks and Playgrounds, Our Trails and Beaches, Our Planters and Flower Beds, The Arena, The Dock, Our Waterfront Heritage Area, The Museum and All the Fun Events that each hosts throughout the year. To make these events Spectacular cost money, I propose that we as a community come together to create World Class Events here in Penetanguishene. Please consider volunteering even an hour to make the Town a little better.

Council-Elect - Doug Leroux

My name is Doug Leroux. After serving as your Mayor for the past 4 years, I had decided not to seek re-election as the Mayor in order to have more time with my family. However, I have been re-elected as Councillor and have a number of projects that I would like to see completed.

(1). Hoping that the environmental study and report of the Ojibway Landing Decision of Land use will be completed by September 2023    and that this Council can decide with public participation what the best use for this property would be.

(2) Moving forward with report and recommendations in regards to a new Community Centre with Federal- Provincial-County and hopefully   Corporate assistance.

(3)Reconstruction of Harriet Street (Edward to Jeffery Streets )

(4)There are several more all dealing with continued infrastructure of roads and sidewalks—Downtown Main Street— Completion of Memorial Park tennis courts. ALL within minimal burden to Penetanguishene tax payers.

(5) With grant having been received seeing that our Town Angels will be relocated to our actual Town Boundary.

Meegwetch, Merci, Thank you, on behalf of Council,

Doug

Mayor Doug Rawson