As we enjoy these perfect last days of a long-delayed summer, I wish to thank all those who attended our Annual General Meeting on August 26 at the Innisfil Lakeshore library. Our meeting was well attended including guests Deputy Mayor Lynn Dollin, former Mayor Barb Baguley, Councillor Stan Daurio and Town Planner Michelle Banfield.
Margaret Prophet of the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition and IDA director Carla Smiderle made presentations at the meeting. Ms. Prophet spoke about the need to protect our water sources both in Simcoe County and in Canada. Despite the fact that Canada has 20% of the world’s fresh water, only about 2% is accessible to large populated areas. One way to protect our water sources is to expand the Greenbelt into Simcoe County. This would ensure large swaths of natural forest cover and river headwaters would not be developed. The last opportunity to provide comments on areas that should be protected, such as Simcoe County, is October. 4. If you would like to comment, please go to the following link:
IDA director Carla Smiderle introduced the audience to the Bllue Dot movement is a fast-growing effort to ensure that right of all Canadians to have clean air and water. We are encouraging the Town of Innisfil to become a Blue Dot community as over one hundred others have already done across Canada. Please check out their website and join the movement: http://bluedot.ca/
A week after our AGM, IDA directors were invited on a tour of the Friday Harbour Resort. Directors were shown around the site and introduced to examples of the environmental measures taken by the team at Friday Harbour. Two examples were the natural filtration of water from the golf course through wetlands to ensure it returns to the lake in the best condition possible and the tunnels that were created under Friday Drive to allow for amphibian migration. For the most part, the response from the directors was positive and we are glad that the IDA worked hard to ensure that the resort had the highest environmental standards possible.
Immediately after our AGM, the Board had a brief meeting to look forward to the future of the leadership of our association. I announced, after 10 years as Vice President and 4 years as President, my resignation as President. Our new President is Deborah McGrath and taking on the role of Vice Presidents are Stuart Marwick, Carla Smiderle and Tim Clark. While I will remain on the Board, I sincerely thank all members for your input, advice and support over the last four years.
We’re looking forward to another busy year in the Town and we want your continuing help to “Shape Tomorrow’s Innisfil.”
Ross Pityk