News & Alerts
Message from the Mayor – June 24, 2022 (CLICK TO VIEW PDF VERSION)
Hello everyone! We’ve made it to summer, and we cannot wait until tomorrow, June 25th, for our annual FunFest festivities. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we were unable to host this event these last two years. This year, our volunteers really outdid themselves in putting this event together, and how wonderful that we will have our new playground equipment ready, just in time!
At FunFest this year, we will start by hosting pancake breakfast at the Community Centre at 7:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. The parade will commence at 11 a.m., with the opening ceremonies happening at 12 p.m. As part of our opening ceremonies this year, we intend on “christening” our new “ships” (playground). We are so grateful for the funded dollars from our province and federal government to make this project possible. Bouncy castles, vendors and food will be served at the event, and we encourage everyone to come down and check it out. The municipal staff also intend to be on site this year to answer any questions our residents may have regarding any of our services or projects. Feel free to stop by and say hi! Our renowned fireworks will also be set off at dusk, to finish the events for the day. We are so very much looking forward to it and hope everyone will enjoy some normalcy after our last two years of isolation.
I’m sure everyone has been noticing the excitement at Centennial Park these last few weeks, with the removal of our beloved ship and the introduction of our new playground equipment, but some of you may have also noticed the stakes in the ground and wondering what they were for. This is the proposed location of our new boardwalk and pavilion. This will all come together in the coming weeks, and we cannot wait to see unveil the final results.
The municipal day docks at the pier and boat launch are anticipated to go in shortly. Unfortunately, they were back ordered due to material shortages associated with the Pandemic. We are anxiously awaiting their delivery and are reaching out to the supplier regularly in hopes that they’ll be ready soon.
At the last Council meeting, Council also agreed to some major improvements at the Bill Barber Outdoor Rink. We know how much this outdoor space means to our community and, as we wait to hear from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation regarding funding, we could not delay the project any longer. We intend to replace the asphalt with a concrete slab and replace all of the rink boards. This will occur in the fall, and it will be ready for the 2023 winter skating season. It should also assist with summer events and facilitating recreational opportunities in the off-season.
The Municipality’s new entrance sign at Callander Bay Drive and Cranberry Road will also be installed in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for it, as I am sure you will not be disappointed.
The Community Standards By-law has been passed by Council and can be found online for viewing. A draft version of the Official Plan will be presented to Council in July, and we are hopeful that this new format and regulations will help us build the vision we have for our Municipality. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the Community Affiliation Policy is also intended to be brought forward to Council in the coming weeks. We should have these passed by Council shortly.
For those who have been accessing our social media page, it has been quite the campaign as staff reach out and search for developers that may be interested in assisting the Municipality in realizing its vision for the waterfront property on Lansdowne. If you haven’t seen the campaign, or would like a copy of the Developer’s Package, please contact the Municipality. Expressions of interest are due in just a few days!
Just a reminder that the Municipality will be introducing a new line of communication in the coming month, to encourage better communication associated with emergencies, road closures, events, public meetings, etc. VoyentAlert is a text and/or phone alerting system, in which residents can choose which alerts they’d like to be kept up-to-date on, and where they could find more information. This is now available for download, and if there are any issues or concerns with getting registered, or if you are simply wishing more information, please contact the Municipal Office or stop by the booth at FunFest tomorrow.
A reminder that the Callander Public Library continues to offer great programming, for young and old alike. For those who do not follow their social media page, we strongly encourage it. You can visit their Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/callanderpubliclibrary.
Another reminder that the Museum’s gift shop continues to receive new merchandise. If you are looking for Callander specific gifts, please visit our Tourist Centre at the Museum. They also have a great lineup of events and art shows coming up. To stay up to date with their lineup, please visit www.mycallander.ca/en/visiting-us/art-gallery.
Last but not least, nomination period for the 2022 Municipal Elections has opened up as of May 2nd and runs until 2:00 p.m. on August 19, 2022. Information regarding the election is available on the Municipality’s website or contact the Municipal Clerk’s office at clerk@callander.ca.
We hope you have a great weekend. See you at FunFest tomorrow! Stay safe.
Mayor Robb Noon