Since I became mayor almost four years ago, it was clear that we needed to develop a new capacity in our area to drive economic development. The four municipalities (with a lot of encouragement) created an "economic alliance" to improve cooperation in North Simcoe. I knew that we could not stop there though. If we were to seriously move our local economy forward we would have to meaningfully engage the private sector and give them the proper corporate structure to be successful.
A few weeks ago, the four municipalities created the Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe. This is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to building our area's economy. Their first major task was to hire an experienced Economic Development Officer (EDO) to bring energy and discipline to the job. As you can see in the media announcement below, we now have an impressive new EDO.
Looking for more good news in the year ahead!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe appoints Economic Development Officer.
MIDLAND, Ontario; (August 7, 2014) The Board of Directors of the Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe (EDCNS) today announced the appointment of Sharon Vegh (Economic Development Officer) to work with the Board to implement the Economic Strategy in the four municipalities of Midland, Penetanguishene, Tay and Tiny commencing on August 18, 2014.
Sharon is a seasoned economic development professional experienced internationally (Senior Consultant, Finpro/Consulate of Finland) and in the GTA, supporting the nine York Region Municipalities (Manager, Economic Strategy). She was Director of an international business development firm, LS Market Strategy. Sharon is a Board Director with the Canada-Finland Chamber of Commerce and Xact Solutions Group, Inc. She has a BA in Political Science and a Master of Library and Information Studies from McGill University.
Sharon is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Economic Development Strategic Action Plan; taking a lead role in activities and initiatives that will attract investment and business opportunities to the North Simcoe (County) area and actively supporting (and/or leading) business retention and expansion activities that will increase local employment in the region leading to growth and sustainability.
The EDCNS Board is committed to building a vibrant and sustainable economy, sharing information and ideas and forming strong linkages and networks within the North Simcoe region. Chris Johnston, Chair of the Hiring Committee commented, "The EDCNS Board is dedicated to fostering a business ecosystem that enables businesses and organizations to retain and create jobs that contribute to the continued development of a productive and prosperous business climate. I am encouraged to see the region working together cooperatively to positively impact not only each community partner’s interests but also those of North Simcoe as a whole."
As of August 18, 2014, Sharon can be reached at +1 (705) 526.1371, extension 114 or by email at svegh@edcns.ca.
About EDCNS
The EDCNS Board of Directors was established in 2014 and is composed of 11 members including one appointee each from the Town of Midland, the Town of Penetanguishene, the Township of Tay and the Township of Tiny; 6 members were selected by the Nomination Committee and 1 member was appointed by North Simcoe CFDC. EDCNS is located in the offices of the North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation (NSCFDC) in Midland, ON.
Wednesday, August 06, 2014
Tuesday, August 05, 2014
Cruising Into Summer
The Great Lakes cruise ship Pearl Mist has docked in Midland in what promises to be the start of a long lasting relationship. Carrying 214 passengers and with ports of call including Chicago and Toronto, Midland is now on the cruise ship circuit. The Pearl Mist will make two more visits to Midland this season.
I was invited aboard by Captain Jeremy and taken to the forward lounge. This was the Captain's first time in Midland and he was very complementary of our lovely town - cruise lines choose their ports of call to satisfy their passengers interests and we apparently did quite well. As you can see below, the downtown is at their doorstep!
While a few passengers stayed aboard or toured King Street, most were off for tours of the S.S. Keewatin, Ste. Marie Among the Hurons, and Little Lake Park. And with the busy four hour stay completed, there is nothing like coming back to a wonderful meal served by the ship's dining room.
I was invited aboard by Captain Jeremy and taken to the forward lounge. This was the Captain's first time in Midland and he was very complementary of our lovely town - cruise lines choose their ports of call to satisfy their passengers interests and we apparently did quite well. As you can see below, the downtown is at their doorstep!
While a few passengers stayed aboard or toured King Street, most were off for tours of the S.S. Keewatin, Ste. Marie Among the Hurons, and Little Lake Park. And with the busy four hour stay completed, there is nothing like coming back to a wonderful meal served by the ship's dining room.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Indonesia Visits Midland
On Sunday evening, the Midland Cultural Centre was visited by
the Consul General of Indonesia, his wife and two children, and a troop of some
40 entertainers and musicians. The night
was simply magical!
Like all visits with national dignitaries, exchanging gifts is de rigeur. Fred Hacker, Chair of the MCC, presented the Consul General with a beautiful Jan Phelan vase - truly a work of art. The Consul General presented the mayor a traditional wayang kulit (shadow puppet). These puppets have been used to entertain residents of the archipelago for centuries.
T
The performance too quickly drew to a close. The party moved out into the atrium where Midland met Indonesia face-to-face. Stories were exchanged and laughter was heard over traditional foods and beverages. With promises to return again next year, our newfound relationship with the Indonesian people is off to a friendly start.
Like all visits with national dignitaries, exchanging gifts is de rigeur. Fred Hacker, Chair of the MCC, presented the Consul General with a beautiful Jan Phelan vase - truly a work of art. The Consul General presented the mayor a traditional wayang kulit (shadow puppet). These puppets have been used to entertain residents of the archipelago for centuries.
The performance started with an ensemble of some 12 musicians.
Many of the instruments were percussion, similar to a heavy xylophone. The most
impressive instrument was an array of bell-like objects called a "gamelan". These are struck, producing the haunting bell-like
tones that we associate with South Asian islands. The dancing group followed and was simply awesome.
They performed intricate timed manoeuvers that defied belief. The standing
ovation by some 200 attendees was certainly merited.
TThe performance too quickly drew to a close. The party moved out into the atrium where Midland met Indonesia face-to-face. Stories were exchanged and laughter was heard over traditional foods and beverages. With promises to return again next year, our newfound relationship with the Indonesian people is off to a friendly start.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
The Eighth Worst Place to Live
The headline is a shocker: Midland, the eighth worst city to live in Canada. As I walked by the Town dock this morning and watched the morning sun sparkle on the Bay and glorify a pair of early sail
boats, the question that came to mind was, "what were they thinking?".
To be fair, the author of the article, Moneysense Magazine, was referring to North Simcoe and not just to Midland. Both Penetanguishene and Tay are officially designated as rural areas, so it is problematic to consolidate them with Midland and call it all a "city". The underlying analysis was primarily financial in nature - unemployment rate, average income, years to buy a house, etc. For those that live in North Simcoe, these are known areas of concern.
The challenge before us then, is not to "question the data", but to move Midland in a direction where we show improvement with our financial metrics. And this is not done to satisfy Moneysense, but to respond to our own needs for a financially sustainable community.
Midland Council has spent considerable energy over the last four years to lay the foundation work. The four North Simcoe communities cooperated to build the Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe - a private sector led corporation that will focus exclusively on improving our local economy. KPMG evaluated the Town's operating structure, which has led to improved efficiency and an average annual tax rate increase of 1.2%. The Town of Midland has just acquired the 40 acre Unimin site, setting the stage for a development project that will profoundly improve our economy, local employment, and the quality of life in Midland.
The Moneysense headline may cause some to doubt our community. Like most Midlanders, I know that we are far better than eighth to last place. So, let's push back. Let's continue to fix our problems and take every opportunity to tell the world about the real story of Midland - one of the truly great Canadian towns in which to live.
To be fair, the author of the article, Moneysense Magazine, was referring to North Simcoe and not just to Midland. Both Penetanguishene and Tay are officially designated as rural areas, so it is problematic to consolidate them with Midland and call it all a "city". The underlying analysis was primarily financial in nature - unemployment rate, average income, years to buy a house, etc. For those that live in North Simcoe, these are known areas of concern.
The challenge before us then, is not to "question the data", but to move Midland in a direction where we show improvement with our financial metrics. And this is not done to satisfy Moneysense, but to respond to our own needs for a financially sustainable community.
Midland Council has spent considerable energy over the last four years to lay the foundation work. The four North Simcoe communities cooperated to build the Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe - a private sector led corporation that will focus exclusively on improving our local economy. KPMG evaluated the Town's operating structure, which has led to improved efficiency and an average annual tax rate increase of 1.2%. The Town of Midland has just acquired the 40 acre Unimin site, setting the stage for a development project that will profoundly improve our economy, local employment, and the quality of life in Midland.
The Moneysense headline may cause some to doubt our community. Like most Midlanders, I know that we are far better than eighth to last place. So, let's push back. Let's continue to fix our problems and take every opportunity to tell the world about the real story of Midland - one of the truly great Canadian towns in which to live.
Saturday, July 05, 2014
Canada Day
Canada day is one of the few times each year when we celebrate our great country. Midland's Canada Day celebrations started out under stormy skies. By the time the parade was set to start, the sun was breaking through heralding near perfect weather. Crowds at the start were light, but over the course of parade the people came out en masse to celebrate.
Town staff are to be commended for organizing a superb family day. The wind off of Little Lake made it difficult on the bouncy castles, but face painting, clowns, BBQ, water races, and generally meeting with neighbours kept everyone entertained. A special thanks to Freeman Campbell, a young entrepreneur who brought his paddle-boards down to the lake. There was a steady line-up of people trying this new water sport - look for paddle-boards to return to Little Lake later in the summer!
One comment that I heard from many people was that they could not swim in Little Lake because it was polluted. Well, yes you can swim. The water is tested weekly and is great for swimming most of the summer. I have asked our Parks Department to put a special sign on our Town webpage so the residents can see that yes, it is safe to go into the water.
The crowd of some 5,000 people ended Canada Day with an exceptional fireworks display. The icing on the cake was when many in the crowd broke out into singing O Canada - a stirring tribute to our nations birthday.
Town staff are to be commended for organizing a superb family day. The wind off of Little Lake made it difficult on the bouncy castles, but face painting, clowns, BBQ, water races, and generally meeting with neighbours kept everyone entertained. A special thanks to Freeman Campbell, a young entrepreneur who brought his paddle-boards down to the lake. There was a steady line-up of people trying this new water sport - look for paddle-boards to return to Little Lake later in the summer!
One comment that I heard from many people was that they could not swim in Little Lake because it was polluted. Well, yes you can swim. The water is tested weekly and is great for swimming most of the summer. I have asked our Parks Department to put a special sign on our Town webpage so the residents can see that yes, it is safe to go into the water.
The crowd of some 5,000 people ended Canada Day with an exceptional fireworks display. The icing on the cake was when many in the crowd broke out into singing O Canada - a stirring tribute to our nations birthday.
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