Subscribe for only $45 per year Contact 519-632-7432 or www.ayrnews.ca
The Ayr News ~ Published by the Schmidt family since 1913 ~ North Dumfries • Blandford-Blenheim • Brant • East Zorra-Tavistock • Wilmot
Vol. 124 — No. 35
AYR, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th, 2021
$45 Per Annum — $1.00 each
Rogers Hometown Hockey event is coming to Ayr
CALLS BRANT ‘WILD WEST’
by Irene Schmidt-Adeney Ayr will be featured on the Rogers Hometown Hockey program according to the North Dumfries Council agenda for Monday, September 13. Staff has recommended that council approve a budget of $29,500 to plan and facilitate the delivery of the program. The budget may increase by $10,000 if fireworks are approved. Rogers Hometown Hockey is a television program hosted by Ron MacLean and Tara Sloane. They share grassroots stories about Canadian communities and their hockey heroes. An addendum to the agenda states that, “In late August 2021, the Township was invited, via phone to Mayor Foxton, to participate in a virtual meeting to discuss hosting the Rogers Hometown Hockey event for the 2021-2022 season. During this meeting, the Township was advised that the Township was chosen to launch the season, with the Festival kickoff event starting on Saturday October 16 until October 18, 2021. The full experience of Hometown Hockey actually commences earlier in the week with initiatives such as “Paint the Town Red”, spirit day in the schools and other similar program events all of which lead into and build momentum to the weekend Festival.” The event will be hosted at the North Dumfries Community Complex.
By Irene Schmidt-Adeney An application to build a Tim Hortons, gas bar, and convenience store on Paris Road has property owners concerned that they will lose their residential neighbourhood, and according to the Official Plan that can happen. The Brant County Planning and Development Committee held a public hearing on Tuesday, September 7 for a proposed development at 517 Paris Road, at the intersection of Oak Park Road. The 1.18acre property is owned by Vu Hoang Le. The property currently contains a residence and is zoned Rural Residential and Agriculture, but the Official plan that was reaffirmed in 2012 designates the land as General Commercial. Eight letters from residents and three delegations opposed to the development were received by the committee. Some of the residents said they were not aware that the land could become commercial development. This application was first made in 2017 but a decision was deferred because the studies were incomplete. “People believed they won in 2017, they thought it was gone, and not just paused,” said Councillor Marc Laferriere.
Neighbours opposed to new gas bar are advised by applicant’s planner to sell
BELGIAN HORSE DEMONSTRATION AT THE PARIS FAIR - A four-horse hitch of Belgian horses, owned and driven by Scott Sowden of Evergreen Farms. For more Paris Fair photos, please see page 10. Photo by Bob Howes
170th
Drumbo Fair Schedule Page 9
“I happen to think that this is going to create a lot of issues for traffic and for the quality of life,” he said. Planner for the applicant Terrance Glover said that the residents should not have been surprised that the application has returned. “They have had all this time to be able to mitigate their issues,” he said “They have done nothing to mitigate their own concerns.” When asked by Councillor Steve Howes how the residential neighbours should mitigate their concerns, Glover replied that the neighbours should sell their properties. “I would look to the future to re-designate my property to commercial use, so I could benefit myself,” he said. “My understanding is that the neighbours have done nothing of the sort, they have maintained their residential use and they haven’t sold.” Glover said that if the application was not approved, it would indicate that ‘Brant is not open for business’ and is in a ‘Wild West’ situation. Speaking as if he was a Brant Councillor, Glover said, “Regardless of the rules that we [Brant County Council] have in place, we may do whatever we want.” “Brantford isn’t running ...continued on page 3
Heating | Cooling | Plumbing | Air Quality | Controls | Fireplaces 519-632-7116 • Toll Free 1-844-632-7116 • info@prioritymechanical.ca • www.prioritymechanical.ca