PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release – August 17, 2023

RE:             Callander Receives Funds for Washroom/Shower Facilities at Municipal Docks

On August 17, 2023, an announcement was made in Corbeil by the Honourable Victor Fedeli that Callander was successful in securing $180,000 of provincial dollars to be dedicated towards a shower and washroom facility at Callander’s municipal docks and boat launch on Lansdowne Street West.

 “Callander, as most have noticed, has made fantastic progress in our Downtown and Waterfront Revitalization Strategy since its inception in 2012, and especially in the last couple of years. We’ve invested approximately $756,000 in Centennial Park with the addition of new playground equipment, a concrete boardwalk, the Hec Lavigne Pavilion, and landscaping, about $995,500 in physical improvements to Lansdowne Street, which has improved the walkability and access to our municipal docking system, and $2.5 million in our Wharf and municipal day mooring docks.” Mayor Noon says. “We are encouraged by the province’s continued support towards achieving Council’s vision for our downtown and waterfront area”.

“We will be procuring the project this fall and are hoping to introduce one of the north’s first automatic self-cleaning facility. We are hopeful that this will entice boaters and ice fisher-people to come off the Lake and into our beautiful downtown core, as well as help our families who utilize the docks for recreational activities.” continues Mayor Noon.

The Municipality has had difficulty during the 2023 budget in moving the Downtown and Waterfront Revitalization Strategy forward, due to the economic crisis currently being experienced in Ontario, as well as the lingering impact of COVID-19 on the cost-of-living. Many of the capital plans associated with this Strategy were delayed, to reduce the impact on our taxpayers. Callander notes that investments from the province in these capital projects allow Callander to keep moving forward, allowing residents and tourists to benefit from these investments sooner. “Because of the Province’s contribution today, we will see washroom and shower facilities installed at the municipal docks at the end of Lansdowne Street by next summer.” says Mayor Noon.

During the presentation, Mayor Noon emphasized that the ongoing investment into our downtown and waterfront area has sparked private investment to follow suit, for example - the construction of the Farquhar Lighthouse. Callander is also seeing an unprecedented number of inquiries with high levels of interest from regional and provincial developers, which the mayor attributes to the municipal/provincial/federal investments into the public realm.

The Municipality thanked the Honourable Vic Fedeli for his continued advocation and Laurie Marcil with the Board Members of NOHFC, for their ongoing support. “The Municipality remains hopeful that continued investment into Callander’s downtown and waterfront development initiatives will continue, into the future.”