Nakina Ward Winter Newsletter 2012

Dear Citizens, Winter, 2012

Tourism Trade Show – Stuttgart Germany

Attention All the Outfitters, Resort Owners and all groups with an interest in promoting our amazing “Made in Greenstone” outdoor experiences.
Recognizing an emerging opportunity to support economic development opportunities related to tourism, The Municipality of Greenstone has agreed to support two Greenstone ambassadors (Karen Routly and myself) to attend the Tourism Trade Show in Stuttgart, Germany. The CTM Trade Show runs from January 12th - January 20th , 2013 and last year over 2 million visitors travelled through this show. http://www.messe-stuttgart.de/en/
This event marks first step in Greenstone’s efforts to tap into the European tourism market.

Volunteering to work Greenstone’s Trade booth for nine days, our ambassadors will be exposing and demonstrating with multimedia, all that Greenstone has to offer such as outfitting ventures, fly-in operations, local resorts and campgrounds and regional amenities such as parks, boat launches, kayaking, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice climbing, hunting, golf, hiking, swimming, boating and the myriad of other secrets we all know too well.

The Municipality invites all Greenstone businesses to use this opportunity to advertise in Stuttgart, Germany through us. We will have laptops, an ipad, projector, and internet capacity (LAN and Wi-Fi) at the booth, and will encourage visitors to browse and be guided through your brochures, websites and images / video.

Please provide us with your promotional brochures and pamphlets by 3:00 pm on Thursday, December 27th  at the Nakina ward office. Your materials will be shipped overseas during the first week of January and distributed at the event by our ambassadors.

Electronic pamphlets and media (subject to size limitations) can be provided to us and used on your behalf.

At our Council meeting on Monday of Dec. 18th , support was confirmed in the audience from the Presidents of both The Longlac and Geraldton Chambers of Commerce, The Geraldton Dance & Entertainment Committee and an $800 private donation.

The Municipality of Greenstone continues to pursue strategic initiatives to capture growth associated with the tourism sector, and is excited to be a part of this project. Readers and listeners are asked to spread the word and help us make this a huge success. For more information or inquiries, please contact:
Jamie Armstrong, Financial Assistant to the Economic Development Office (807) 854-1100 ext. 2034

Rural Landowners meetings are being held throughout Greenstone to help map out a course in dealing with an issue(s) of local assessment especially where so many residential property values have dropped and rural waterfront has increased. Council is expecting a deputation on their behalf. A third meeting was held in Nakina on Monday, December 17th following planned meetings in Geraldton and Beardmore.

We recently received a generous donation of hockey equipment, hockey bags, hockey jackets and clothes from an AAA minor hockey team in Southern Ontario. This was all brought together by Bob and Joanne Rotz with the help of Manitoulin Transport who delivered the goods for free. THANK YOU BOB and JOANNE!

Snowshoes in a variety of sizes are now available for free use by borrowing them from our Ward office. This pastime is growing in popularity, is relatively inexpensive and can bring hours of outdoors experience with good exercise and good company. The trails across from the Seniors is a popular area which many locals have been using for the past few years. Thanks to Grant for doing some brushing and gps’ing the trail loops (if someone wants a map). Thanks Holly. This was her idea which I brought forward resulting in the purchase of snowshoes for each ward. If there is good use, I’ll ask for more.

The Municipality presently opens up over 340 windrows in Greenstone every snowfall, as well as 32 parking lots after each significant snowfall. Over the years, we experience from 10 to 26 snow events per winter, causing our costs to run from $80,000 at a minimum to $200,000 per winter season. In reviewing this service, Council gave direction to Public Works to begin the notification of businesses and community groups, that effective January 1st, 2013, we will discontinue the practice of free snow removal for all non-municipal parking lots. I am pleased the service of removing snow windrows for Senior citizens and handicapped residents will continue this winter. Looking ahead, Council will re-evaluate the service of windrow removal affecting seniors and handicapped applicants before the 2014 budget (to go in to affect next winter). At this time, Seniors should not be unnecessarily upset by this topic as I know it’s a “hot button”. I do not believe there are ‘real’ savings to warrant eliminating this service and I will join the discussion when it comes back to Council next fall.

I attended and enjoyed two recent festive dinners with residents and workers at The Nakina Kids ‘n Us Xmas dinner and Senior’s Christmas dinner. It was refreshing to see new folks participate and a sense that the Holiday Season is upon us. To the Seniors and staff, parents and children of Nakina Kids ‘n Us, Thank You again for sharing in your celebrations of service and support. In an increasingly troubled world, I am thankful to be somewhat isolated from the tragedies that befall too many. Prayers and support are extended to the families, children and staff of Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Council and its sub-committees have been meeting regularly in budget planning. The challenges of balancing sustainable funding to provide essential services are testing all of us. Please wish us well to get it as “right as possible”.

An energized group has begun the planning for Nakina’s 90th Anniversary. The festivities will run the long weekend of August 3rd-5th. Stay tuned. We’ll let you know the details but in the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook as well and join the already 595 followers to date. Lots of interest.

The arrival of the Basler turbo 67 aircraft flying out of the R. Elmer Ruddick is expected any day now. Crews have been trained and the Basler should be in operation as it is in currently in Thunder Bay waiting for a ‘certificate of registration’. The purchase and use of this much larger type of aircraft is an indicator of the current and expected activity associated with deriving business from mining companies in the Ring of Fire. While the political discussions continue, the attention and recognition of the enormous wealth and opportunity continues to grow in understanding the potential and the necessary protections. A new 300 x 300 area was prepped by the Municipality to support the leased space required for this aircraft. A new 5 year operation agreement between the Municipality and Nakina Air Service has resulted in several significant cost-reductions for the Municipality coupled with lower fuel costs as a result of the recent tendering on aviation fuels. I will be asking to re-evaluate the current tiered fee structure for fuel sales. (NOTE: The Basler’s usefulness has been proven in every imaginable application, from passenger, to cargo, to military and special purpose missions. This high-performance aircraft is versatile, tough, simple and spacious.) The support I introduced to form an airport committee has been useful. We have met three times to date (twice in Nakina) where the members from Nakina & Geraldton were involved in the expansion of the parking area for the Basler. I expect the committee will convene again early in the New Year to review future expansion plans.

I continue to post periodic news items and information on Facebook which is searchable under ‘Greenstone Matters’ for the past year as well on my blog
located at: http://jay-- daiter.blogspot.com/  Posting here provides more exposure to issues / interests related to the Nakina Ward and all of Greenstone and invites feedback from a broad readership.

Warmest Regards & Season’s Greetings,

Jay Daiter,
Nakina Ward Councillor,
Municipality of Greenstone