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The Voice of Wasaga Beach Since 2010 Locally Owned and Operated | November 2023 | Complimentary Issue | No. 209
Wasaga Beach Remembers Pages 6 & 18
Firefighters Recognized Page 6
Local Artists
Bring Vibrant Transformations to Wasaga Beach Skate Park With the new murals, local artists (l-r) Francesca Mary Vitale, Shandelle Page McCurdie & Alex Kostecka-Silva
Wasaga Beach's Skate Park has received a vibrant addition thanks to three local artists: Francesca Mary Vitale, Shandelle Page McCurdie & Alex Kostecka-Silva. Not only have they breathed new life into this beloved community space, but they've also shared their personal journeys and insights on the profound impact of community art.
Shandelle passionately champions the role of art within a community as a unifying force and a source of vitality in public spaces. She originally became involved in the skate park project following a call to artists in 2021, and more recently, she had the opportunity to refresh a mural with an exciting new design. Shandelle's artistry can be admired in various locations, including Midland and Collingwood.
Francesca Mary Vitale, a Wasaga Beach native since the tender age of 4, is a young artist whose love for the craft has deep roots. "I don't know how or exactly when I got into it," Francesca reminisces, "I just remember always doing it." Her involvement in the community project blossomed from a conversation with Alex, culminating in a plan to execute her first mural. What sets Francesca's art apart is its undeniable uniqueness, from her unconventional font choices to her fearless and bold use of colours. She firmly believes that community art is a powerful means of expressing the culture of a place, and her skate park mural vividly captures the edgy style of skate culture. As for what's on the horizon, she envisions painting a mural at Collingwood Collegiate Institute to represent the students.
Alex Kostecka-Silva, who relocated to Wasaga Beach from Toronto in 2006, has come to appreciate the untapped potential of this picturesque town. Her profound love for art has been a lifelong passion, and it led her to eagerly accept the chance to create public art for the skate park. Alex's artistry is characterized by a unique graphic and illustrative style, rooted in her background in digital design. Her commitment to community and public art is underpinned by her desire to enhance the town's visual appeal and nurture community pride. Looking ahead, Alex aspires to play a more significant role in developing Wasaga Beach's public art sector, offering opportunities for emerging artists.
Shandelle Page McCurdie, who moved to Wasaga Beach in 2019 to immerse herself in the natural beauty of Georgian Bay, has since fallen in love with our beach town. Growing up in a household filled with creativity, she pursued art studies at Sheridan College and now operates a thriving creative business.
These artists have not only reinvigorated the Wasaga Beach skate park with their diverse styles and backgrounds, but have also emphasized the profound significance of community art. As they continue their creative journeys, we can eagerly anticipate further remarkable transformations in Wasaga Beach's public spaces.
Prime Time Singers of Wasaga Beach Date: Every Monday – 10:00 am – Noon Location: Prime Time Club at the RecPlex, 1724 Mosley Street. “If you can sing in the shower, you are good!” Come and join the fun. Brown Baggers in the Beach Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Date: Tuesdays at 7pm & Thursdays at 12pm Location: United Church, 380 Zoo Park Road For more information contact 416-829-8259 or email Francine0464@rogers.com. Visit website at https://brownbaggerssecularaa.com Wasaga Beach Parkinson's Support Group Date: 1st Thursday of each month 12:30 – 2:00 pm Location: Wasaga Beach Public Library, Meeting Room. All Parkinson's patients & caregivers welcome. For more information contact Phil Bender 905-703-6248 or bender.philip@gmail.com The Georgian Bay Photography Club Dates: meets every 2nd Thursday of the month via Zoom Location: Zoom meeting – register by Zoom link GBPC promotes the appreciation & enjoyment of photography, providing an opportunity for photographers to meet & exchange ideas, exhibit their work & advance their skills. For more info please email: communications@gbpc.ca The (Men's) PROBUS Club of Wasaga Beach Date: 2nd Thursday of each month 9:30 am – noon Location: Wasaga Beach RecPlex, 1724 Mosley Street Social club for retired or semi-retired men of all walks of life meet for coffee, meetings & guest speakers. Non-fundraising. Nonpolitical. Non-sectarian. Sponsor quests welcome. Contact Rick at 705-351-2096. Beachcombers PROBUS of Wasaga Beach Date: Every 1st Tuesday of the month 10:00 am Location: Wasaga Beach Recplex, 1724 Mosley Street Regular meetings for retired and semiretired people who value & appreciate opportunities to meet others, enjoy hearing Guest Speakers & attending interest groups, visit places & organizations. For information please email: newsletter@beachcombersprobus.com Georgian Bay Coin & Stamp Club Date: 3rd Thursday of each month 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Location: Prime Time Club, (RecPlex), 1724 Mosley St. Please come & join us. For more info: www.geobaycoinstampclub.com Friends of the Wasaga Beach Public Library Date: The 2nd Wednesday of every month Location: Meeting Room, Wasaga Beach Library - 120 Glenwood Dr. Please come and join us. For more information on becoming a Friend, email us at fotlwasagabeach@gmail.com, follow us on Facebook at Wasaga Beach Friends of the Library or call the Library at 705 4295481 PROBUS at the Beach (Wasaga Beach) Date: Every 4th Thursday of the month 10 am Location: Wasaga Beach RecPlex, 1724 Mosley Street Meetings are for retired & semi-retired women who are looking for fellowship, friendship and fun. We invite Guest Speakers and have additional interest groups. Organized trips to various places or interest & organizations. More info email: probusatthebeach@gmail.com
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Wasaga Artists Date: Every Tuesday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm September thru June Location: Wasaga Beach RecPlex, Oakview Room – 1724 Mosley St. Enjoy the weekly meetings to paint, draw, socialize, learn & have fun.
Thank You
from Angelo and Christina
“3 Old Guys With Cameras” - Art Show Date: Nov. 4 – Nov. 30 – Thursdays & Saturdays – 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Location: Stonebridge Art Gallery, 1 Market Lane (Stonebridge Town Centre) 2nd Floor (elevator access) Free admission. Photographers Martin Jurgeit, Garry Higgins & Bruce Young present an exhibit of their very different artistic interpretations. Notice of Public Meeting – Beachfront Redevelopment Workshops Date: Monday & Tuesday November 13 & 14 Location: RecPlex The Town of Wasaga Beach and FRAM Building Group want to hear from you! Share your ideas as we take the next steps in redeveloping the beachfront. See details, dates and times at www.wasagabeach.com under 'Notices'. Crafters Market and Bake Sale Date: Saturday November 18 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Location: Wasaga Beach United Church – 380 Zoo Park Road Original handmade crafts, unique gifts for Christmas. Homemade baked goods & frozen food items. Plus, many gift baskets to win. Grey Cup Party – The Fighting Owls Football Alumni Date: Grey Cup Sunday, November 19 – Doors open at 5:00 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion, Collingwood Cost is $10 per person. Food and refreshments are available. Funds support CCI Football. Paint Night at the Archives Date: Tuesday, November 21 6:00 pm Location – Wasaga Beach Archives, 140 Main St. Cost is $45 including all materials to complete the holiday themed painting. Step by step instruction by Your She Shack. Light snacks provided. To register call (705) 994-7177 or email: archives@wasagabeach.com wasagabeach.com/archives – Phone: 705429-3560 Santa Claus Parade 2023 & Tree Lighting Date: Saturday November 25, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Location: Mosley Street, from Dunkerron Ave. to the RecPlex. Come join the festive fun and enjoy the Tree Lighting after parade. Wasaga Beach Holiday Market Dates: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 24 – 26. Location: RecPlex South Georgian Bay's newest holiday tradition. Inspired by holiday markets from Munich to Manchester, the 1st Annual Wasaga Beach Holiday Market will have something for everyone. See all the details on page 19 of this issue of beach BOOSTER.
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One of the greatest benefits of owning the Georgian Circle Family Restaurant for the last few decades has been getting the opportunity to interact with so many friends and families in the community. As we transition into retirement, we wanted to take this time to thank all of you for not only your support in making our business a success, but also allowing us to play a small part in bringing your friends and families together to share time and make memories. We look forward to seeing you around the community and THANK YOU!
Ratepayers' Association Meeting a Full House
Engaged members & guests hear from guest speakers & ask many questions
Photos by Beach BOOSTER Media Group It was an amazing turnout at Marlwood Golf & Country Club in support of the Frank Giannone of FRAM talked about the unique opportunity for redeveloping Beach 1 and the importance of holding public meetings and Wasaga Beach Ratepayers Association (WBRA) at the Annual General workshops to start this process. It's critical to have the community's input to Meeting held late October. factor into the early concept and planning stages, hence the recent public meetings and workshops allowing the public to be involved, share thoughts The room was buzzing, with over 200 people attending and every seat was and opinions, while meeting with Frank and other FRAM team members. taken, and none were disappointed. The attendance highlights the passion, interest and The very lively and engaged audience asked many questions of the guest engagement association members/residents have for community and the speakers and received satisfying responses from both. Town of Wasaga Beach. Mayor Brian Smith and all Council members were present to contribute to the extremely positive and enthusiastic vibe in our town. WBRA President, Peter Gribbin, thanked council for championing true community engagement once again, which was met by loud applause. After the formal AGM business was conducted, guest speakers Wasaga Beach CAO, Andrew McNeill and FRAM Building Group President, Frank Giannone were introduced.
Mayor Brian Smith was invited to add some closing comments and as always, he delivered a heartfelt and on point message about our great community and the exciting future plans. We encourage all residents to “be more ENGAGED. Be more INFORMED. Be a MEMBER”. See more information at www.wasagaratepayers.com or on the association's Facebook page.
We heard details about the future Community Hub plan from Andrew, and how quickly this may come to fruition once provincial approval is provided, hopefully in early Spring 2024. (see October issue of beach BOOSTER, #208, for previous story)
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participant in and ending a great season with a marvellous Ladies Night. Sherri and her volunteers kept every Monday night rolling along with ease. Every week, the turn out of vehicles was around 250. Close to 300 cars turned up for the final night. It's not just cruising in our vehicles, but spending time with other members who have become family along the way. Helping each other when needed. Helping in many ways through charities. That's why people show up to display their vehicles at The Wasaga Beach Cruisers Monday Night Show.
'Tis The Season
One Last Great Event of the Season The Wasaga Beach Cruisers Annual Christmas Dinner is a members only dinner/fund raiser held annually at The United Church. All members can gather for one last great event of the year. Members graciously donate new or unused items for a silent auction. At last year's event, members raised more than $3,600.00 for the Food Bank. The club added $2,400.00 to this to bring a total of $6,000.00 for The Food Bank's Turkey Drive. Also, members are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy for the Kinnets toy drive. It's a wonderful feeling to see a room full of toys waiting for a new home. I'm sure that we will surpass this benchmark again this year. Dinner will be a delightful, mouth watering affair. Turkey, Ham, potatoes and veggies with gravy and desserts galore provided by Nica Hammill. Members buy your tickets right away. Only $100.00 per couple. Call Sandy or Russ Philp for more information and tickets at 705 429 9107. If you wish to donate to this great cause you can get in touch with Russ Philp directly at 705 429 9107 or philp59@rogers.com and we will make arrangements to pick up your donation. Thank You all in advance.
The first general meeting of the Wasaga beach Cruisers for the new season was held October 11 at the Stars Arena. The room was packed with members and new members to be. Nominations were taken for elections on the Steering Committee positions by write in ballots. Voting and results on nominations will be at the next meeting Nov. 15. Meeting will start at 7;00 pm. Let me just say, we have the finest organized car club in Ontario. This is due directly because of our Steering Committee who lead us on down the road to success. Wasaga Beach Cruisers, No.1 in Ontario. I'm also going to say this has been a most enjoyable season. Starting the year off with the Lilac Tour and every week something for the members to be a
Lots of things planned for the 2024 season. Planning for next season is already moving forward. Watch for information on some of the great events being organized for 2024 in the next issue of beach BOOSTER. That's all for “Blue Thunder” this month. Come January, I will be entertaining you with some insight to The Wasaga Beach Cruisers; “The Real Story.” Till next time, “Blue Thunder”
Grand Opening & Official Welcome for New Fitness Studio & Supplement Store
Although this new Wasaga Beach fitness facility has been welcoming guests since mid-summer, a fun and very active Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting event took place recently, with owners John & Shelly Frisina eager for all to see what their HQ Fit Studio & Supplements has to offer. Daughters Kaylee and Kyra helped welcome the guests arriving to join the fun. Mayor Brian Smith, Councillors Ellen Timms & Faye Ego were on hand, along with Economic Development Officer Kaitlyn Monsma, as John and Shelly showed all around the facility. Personal Trainers and clients were demonstrating the various pieces of modern equipment as guests browsed the amazing display of supplements and beverages, while enjoying delicious and healthy drinks from the “Smoothie Bar”. A Ribbon Cutting took place with staff and family members looking on, as Mayor Smith presented a certificate and welcomed the Frisina family to Wasaga Beach.
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Photos by Beach BOOSTER Media Group The new HQ Fit Studio & Supplements offers personal training, classes, bootcamps & open gym. The inventory of supplements is amazing, as is the professional advice helping to find what's best for you. Located in the Stonebridge Town Centre at 1 Market Lane (under the Beach BOOSTER Media Group offices), with more information available from their Facebook page & www.wasaga.hqfitstudio.com. Phone: 705-717-1438. We wish John, Shelly and team much success and thank them for their investment in The Beach. Joe Bickerstaff
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Design by Beach BOOSTER Media Group
Wasaga Beach Firefighters Recognized
Council joined the Firefighters who received recognition on special milestones in their careers with the Wasaga Beach Fire Department. Firefighters left to right: Grady McGuire, Jason Bavelaar, Kelly McGuire, Shane Ellis, Kris Allary & Fire Chief Craig Williams
Retiring as Fire Captain after 37 years of service, Kelly McGuire stands beside Chief Williams, listening to a message delivered by Mayor Smith. Photos by Beach BOOSTER Media Group th
At the joint Committee of the Whole & Council meeting on October 26 , several proud members of the Wasaga Beach Fire Department were recognized for some very special milestones in their careers, as their friends and family looked on. Fire Chief Craig Williams spoke to council and members of the public and introduced each of the five firefighters and shared their individual achievements. A truly special moment was when Kelly McGuire was recognized by the Chief, the Mayor and the rest of Council on his retirement as Fire Captain
after 37 years of dedication to the job. Mayor Smith delivered a heartfelt congratulatory message to the retiring Captain and thanked him for his many years of service to our community. Recognition was also given to the others. Grady McGuire & Shane Ellis as Probationary Firefighters, Kris Allary named as Fire Prevention Inspector and Jason Bavelaar being promoted to Fire Captain. Joe Bickerstaff
Blanket of Remembrance Completed by Volunteers An amazing, hand crafted and truly beautiful “Blanket of Remembrance” has been worked on over the last several months, and is now completed. The beautiful creation was displayed at the Wasaga Beach Remembrance Service at Town's Cenotaph on November 5th. It also was th at the Wasaga Beach Library's Remembrance Day Service on the 11 . This community project originally began in 2019 and lead by the former Deputy Mayor. Recently Councillor Ellen Timms reached out to Kathy Odovic to finish the project, and Kathy was eager and proud to take on the task organizing the completion of this community initiative. Many members from the Wasaga Beach community gathered over the last few months, working on the project in order to complete the blanket in time for the service at Town Hall. We express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all that took the time to help in completing this Blanket of Remembrance project . All of the volunteer crocheters, knitters and sewers who gave their time, including students from Birchview Dunes Elementary School, showed true community spirit while providing such a wonderful gift of remembrance. Thanks also to the facilities who provided the space for the volunteers to gather and work on the project. Joe Bickerstaff
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Photo by Beach BOOSTER Media Group Finishing touches are put on the beautiful Blanket of Remembrance, a true community project. Just some of the many volunteers who worked on the blanket are pictured here. (Left – Right) Jeanne Dumoulin Morris, Sandra Brown Gregory, Kathy Odovic, Kim Adshade & Alison Gibson
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Making A Difference
Recognizing two very special people who continue to make a difference
Photos by Bryan Davies Photography Ann Morrison receiving her Making A Difference Award from Krishna Patel of Waterside Nicole McMillan receiving her Roberta Jarlette Award from Krishna Patel of Waterside
At Waterside Retirement Lodge, a highlight of our year, is a special celebration of the Making A Difference Awards. The inspiration for these awards comes from our founders, Alex and Roberta Jarlette, and our organization's purpose, which is to make an outstanding difference in the lives of others. We celebrate two deserving individuals; a resident receives the Making A Difference Award and a team member receives the Roberta Jarlette Award, which honours the purpose and spirit of Roberta Jarlette. Each recipient has made their own unique and extraordinary contributions to the lives of others, during their lifetime and while here as a community member. Our 2023 Making A Difference Award recipient is Ann Morrison. Ann has written her autobiography 'The Girl from the Cove' which is wonderfully captivating. Ann was born in Mount Arlington Heights, Placentia Bay, New Newfoundland fondly known as The Cove. Ann wanted to see the world. At the age of 16 she travelled to the far end of the island to teach in a one room schoolhouse to a mixed age of students, some of which were older than herself. She was not only their first teacher in 4 years, she was their first female teacher. From the age of 16, Ann was already making a difference. Ann joined the Air Force in 1971. With her determination, she climbed the ranks quickly. Ann was part of the new beginning of an era for women in the Canadian military, she succeeded in proving that women could accomplish difficult tasks alongside men.
Snow Removal Dollars for Seniors and Others The Town of Wasaga Beach will be offering a Snow Removal Financial Assistance program to support eligible low-income older adults (65+), and disabilities to safely access their driveways during various winter weather events.
One of Ann's biggest personal accomplishments, aside from making a difference to so many, Ann received the Order of Military Merit in 1995 presented by General Romeo LeBlanc. This is an award for exemplary work ethics and community service work, making a significant contribution to Canada. Ann's life to date is a story of sheer dedication, commitment, selflessness, family, military, diversity, inclusion, hard work, teaching & mentoring others, strength, personal belief and determination. Our Roberta Jarlette recipient is Nicole McMillan. This award is given each year to a front-line team member who exemplifies our organization's values, and a leader among their peers through their actions and example. Everything Nicole does is with commitment and passion. Nicole has been part of the Waterside family since 2016 and she treats every day as a new day. Nicole is a true advocate for the quality of life for our residents, continually looking for ways to ensure the seniors moving to Waterside retain their independence, whether the senior is looking for an independent lifestyle or requires assistance, Nicole will find an option that works best for everyone's needs. Congratulations to Ann and Nicole.
Double the Impact of Your Donation to Hospice Georgian Triangle
Those eligible can apply to receive a maximum $200 grant towards snow removal supports for the 2023/2024 winter season. Qualifying homeowners who are senior citizens and/or people with physical disabilities can apply for the Snow Removal Financial Assistance program to help with costs of hiring someone to remove snow from their driveways. Assistance will be provided in the form of a financial grant to qualified applicants to support the purchase of snow removal services, provided the budgeted funding for this program has not been exhausted. ($100,000.00 for this season) As this is the first year of the program, The Town of Wasaga Beach will receive applications for the grant up to December 22, 2023. Those eligible can apply for the program by completing the Assistance Program Application, and returning it to Town Hall, Attention: Finance Manager. Email: financemanager@wasagabeach.com Application forms can be downloaded from the town's website or from the link in the Digital Issue of this beach BOOSTER. www.beachbooster.com/publications
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This month, until November 30th,Crozier Consulting Engineers will be matching donations to Hospice Georgian Triangle up to $10,000. Your donations mean that patients and families dealing with life-limiting illness will be cared for at Campbell House and supported with community programs, free of charge. For a limited time only, your gift goes twice as far in supporting local families who need our help. Take advantage of this generous matching offer from Crozier Consulting Engineers. Donations can be made from www.hgtfoundation.com/2023-gift-match
Is it Time? Is This the Place?
Photos by Virtual Tours & More
When you walk through the Gardens of Wasaga Beach, the new Wasaga Beach retirement residence, the question that comes to mind is, “why wouldn't you want to live here?” It certainly seems that 'the Gardens' has every amenity you could wish for; from a theatre room that has chairs specially made to hold your drink and popcorn, to a library that looks like a fantastic place to curl up, enjoy the fire and get into a good book, or the fitness room that seems to have a hundred different ways to either get you fit or keep you fit. The patio in the back looks ready to host some very good parties and the wellness and spa area is very impressive. Almost the entire first floor is amenity spaces for a host of things to do. So, my question for the General Manager Tammy Forsyth was, “why wouldn't you want to live here” and the answer that I got surprised me. She said, “a lot of people feel that if they don't live in their own residential home, they feel they're losing their independence”. Well, are they losing their independence if they make a move to the Gardens? Tammy's response was an interesting one; “Let me give you an example, if you lose your license then you have to rely on family or friends or taxi or transit systems that may not be there when you need them. But you don't really have an option if you can't drive anymore, you have to rely on someone else to get you to your appointment or to the grocery store. If you live at the Gardens, then we're going to do our very best to bring almost everything to you. From, social activities to healthcare; fitness, entertainment; they all come to you. So will a Doctor and Chiropodist, Chiropractor, Physiotherapist, Massage Therapist, Denturist, they'll all come in and you just need to sign up if you'd like to meet with one. Are you more independent waiting at home for someone to pick you up and drive you to an appointment or living here where you just sign up and walk down the hallway?” Tammy continues, “in the winter, it's easy to understand how people get lonely. The days are short and again, if you have trouble getting around, live a little out of town or just don't have a social connection, those days in February are long. If you're here, you're going to decide every day how social you want to be. You can be as private as you want on any given day, but you can be as social as you want as well, meals, activities, classes, entertainment. So, are you more independent if you're home alone or you're choosing what you want to do socially every day.” She reminds us, “we also have some men who may be fiercely independent but they're also horrible cooks. You might be independent but you're eating Kraft Dinner when you could be choosing what you'd like off our chef's menu? I think I'm back to, why wouldn't you want to live there?” Gardens of Wasaga Beach is now open every day and the Grand Opening is planned for November 29th from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm and the entire community is welcome. www.beach B O O S T E R .com
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Seeing the new public school on Sunnidale finally in the stages of being built will ease the burden of sending the little ones on buses out of town for schooling. The 60 million dollar+ Twin Pad Arena & Library will soon open with great fanfare. It will be up to the new team to find ways to utilize this facility to it's full potential, while trying to ease the tax burden on residents after the previous council's decision to move ahead without any provincial or federal funding.
“It Takes Team Work to Make The Dream Work”
It is wonderful to see so many positive changes moving things forward since the election a year ago. The opening of Beach Drive and bringing back the popular Beach Bar was just the beginning. Construction on the River Road W. widening & adding sidewalks for safety that was pushed back previously has finally begun. Bringing back the after hours clinic with a doctor's generous donation of the office and equipment is sought to attract more doctors and Nurse Practitioners as we continue to grow.
Photo by Aman Khanna
Thinking outside the box, and not sitting around pointing fingers, this new team moved to find a way to incorporate a community hub as per the original plan back in 2017, and add a much needed high school to boot. Reaching out to both school boards, the SMCDSB jumped at the idea of shared facilities, bringing the opportunity for an elementary and high school campus, recreation, child care, cultural theater and a host of other programs adjacent to the new arena/library, making it a complete community hub. Hopefully easing the arena/library tax burden as it progresses. It took a lot of strategy and work to bring this all together, including getting a developer (Farsight) on board, willing to work with the town and the Catholic School Board. This team-work is a prime example of what respect, professionalism, pride and hard work can do when you have great leadership at the helm. I mean right across the board from our town management, staff, Mayor, DM and Council. They are mending a lot of fences so to speak, and deserve accolades all the way around as they work to finalize the details. And the icing on the cake is after a 4 yr hiatus, FRAM (Frank Giannone) is back on board to develop Beach 1. As guest speaker at the WB Ratepayers association Frank made it clear that you, the residents, will be involved going forward with public meetings. Frank Giannone has also made it clear he won't be proposing a wall of 6 storey high rise condos on Beach 1! It is time to move forward and not look in the rear view mirror. We are on our way to making Wasaga Beach a complete community for all to live, learn, work and play. Cheers!
Fundraiser A Fun Filled Evening of Painting
Photos by Jason George Photography Another evening of fun and painting took place mid-October, as Debbie Myles-Cook of YourSheShack organized one of her crowd pleasing “Paint Nights”. This event took place at Boston Pizza Wasaga Beach and had a goal of raising funds for local Wildlife Photographer and beach BOOSTER contributor Jason George to travel to India. The Boston Pizza dining room was turned into a multi-artist studio, with 34 eager painters showing their skills while also learning from Debbie who helped out with step by step instructions. All registered participants enjoyed the use of all the supplies that were needed, and some good eats provided by Boston Pizza, as Assistant General Manager AK made sure all were having fun. All enjoyed the awesome music provided by Sam from Evolved Entertainment. Local photographer Jason, is planning an excursion to India to photograph and video lions and other native wildlife. This will be an exciting trip for Jason, and for all of us who will enjoy hearing and reading of his adventures when he returns to Wasaga Beach. Watch for
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the exciting tales that I'm sure will follow in Jason's regular Wildlife in The Beach feature in beach BOOSTER. Volunteers helped make this event a success, assisting with set up and clean up. Special mention with thanks going to Marlene Parkens & Constance Ramai. All who participated thank Debbie Myles-Cook for organizing another fun community Paint Night, and we look forward to the next one, a Christmas Paint Night, to be held at the Wasaga Beach Archives on November 21. Tickets on sale now for the Christmas Paint Night and are available at YourSheShack-BeachWaves 1056 Mosley. Phone: 705-994-7177 You can watch a video of the Paint Night for Jason's travels from his YouTube Channel – Jason George Photography.
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Local Walk/Run Held to Recognize Sarah Adams
Over 100 participants, plus the Sarah's Run executive committee and volunteers, gathered on a warm Sunday in September to honour Dr. Sarah Adams.
Sarah Adams, local community business owner and large community minded person, passed last year after her courageous battle with ALS. Her love for the outdoors and life was as infectious as her laughter. So many of our Wasaga Beach community were touched by Sarah's encouragement for health and to live for the moment. The run/walk day was a fantastic temperature and was held along our beautiful beachfront, to which Sarah loved to run. Our amazing community partners donated many raffle prizes, as well as the food and drinks for our participants. Special thanks to the Town of Wasaga Beach for their Beach 1 Event Space, Wasaga Beach Provincial Park for the use of the park, Kate Gass from Visual Roots Photography and On the Bay for capturing our day, as well as all of our donors and sponsors.
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All monies raised from this annual event will go towards a bursary for a local graduating student who embodies many of Sarah's characteristics. Currently almost 11K has been raised. To donate, please visit https://www.huroniacommunityfoundation.com/donate-now/form/ and search Sarah's Run. To watch the video from the day, please visit https://watch.baywatch.ca/videos/sarah-s-run . Please plan to join us next year on Sunday, September 8, 2024 to help us continue her legacy and further raise money for this community minded bursary.
Hallelujah!
Conceptual artist rendering of proposed Elementary & High School facility adjacent to the new Arena/Library.
Wasaga Beach has finally received great news about our prospects for seeing a high school built here for our students. In October, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board announced their plan to partner with the Town of Wasaga Beach to build a community hub which would include their plan for a K-12 school. The plan will be presented to the Ministry of Education early in the new year and we can expect an answer in the spring of 2024. It could mean that a school would be built by 2027. The new school will be part of a hub attached to the twin pad arena and library. The essential component of the hub is the plan to build a facility that can be shared by community groups and higher education providers Canadore College and Lakehead University. In other words, our kids will be able to complete their high school education in Wasaga Beach and follow up with college or university programs specifically set up to prepare graduates for a work life in Wasaga Beach, if they so choose. Is it any wonder that all those involved in the decision-making process, including the Catholic Board and the Ministry of Education representatives are excited to be part of the plan? This new project will honour the work of hundreds of Wasaga Beach citizens who have lobbied the Simcoe County District School Board for a high school since 2005. That Board was approached between 201518 by our High School Task Force to be part of a similar hub. From the outset, our task force members were treated as adversaries and never as potential partners. Their formal presentation to the Board was met with an unprecedented level of contempt and arrogance. Our representatives were lectured by the current Chair on the difference between “wants and needs.” Apparently, Wasaga Beach did not need a high school, we only wanted one. The Board of Trustees, in their wisdom, knew the difference and in no way would respond
positively to a “want.” It should be noted that both school boards received the invitation to partner in the current plan. The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, to its credit, jumped at the opportunity to partner with Wasaga Beach. The high school to be built will offer open access to all Beach Kids, regardless of religious affiliation. All who support this great project must remain vigilant during the next few years as the plan is implemented. Curiously, there is a small but vocal group of politically active citizens who seem to find a way to react negatively to any positive development. Some have already reared their ugly heads on social media. Sadly, these naysayers have experienced success in the past. In fact, the current plan was in the works in 2018 and would likely have moved forward that fall had the election results been different. Elections do have consequences! Most of us rejoice in the anticipation of hundreds of our children walking to and from school each day from their first school day of kindergarten until their last day of high school. They will attend a state-of-the-art facility that will offer them the best educational opportunity available. There will be dozens of additional teachers living and working in our town and all the professional support people that will accompany this influx of jobs. The economic benefits to our community will be significant and permanent. It is indeed a time to be excited about the future of our community and especially the benefits for our students. Our Beach Kids Matter!
Note: Your comments are appreciated. The column on the origins of the term “Beach Kids” elicited responses which confirmed my personal research and observations. Those were gratefully received. Every effort will be made to respond to your letters. (tochuckandrews@gmail.com)
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Celebrating & Supporting Local Green Businesses
Wasaga's Wildlife Lovers
October had an amazing start, not only because I got to fly the Fairchild Cornnell WWII training aircraft, or that I had multiple new presentations booked well into March 2024, but the highlight was bringing together the JGP PROWL one final time for the year. In 2022, I had this idea to create a wildlife club for those interested in nature. I started planning events, and with the way things were in 2022, I went with 2 virtual and 2 in-person events. So, the PROWL started in 2023 with the first in person meeting being awesome as we met the Plovers on Beach 1. You can watch the excitement of the event in Episode 11 – Piping Plovers meet the JGP PROWL on Jason George Photography YouTube.
Photos by Jason George Photography
October 1st was our fourth and final event of this inaugural year and we met at the best Natural History Museum in Wasaga Beach and the Home of the JGP PROWL, aka my garage loft. This museum has some taxidermy, animals in jars and even a dinosaur footprint. The PROWL really enjoyed touching and interacting with the antlers, skulls, bones and crystals in this space, but also enjoyed the secret and rare things that you have to see and ask about when visiting.
We then went for a short nature walk to make a donation to the free community library around the corner with books and puzzles available for kids to use. On the return walk to the Natural History Museum, we saw 50 turkey vultures circling low overhead as they were getting ready to roost for the day. We finished the with our fourth and final draw of the year. All group members in attendance get a prize. If they were at every event for the year, they received a large acrylic print and their name entered into a draw for next year's membership. This year our winner was Colin, congratulations! In 2024 the JGP PROWL is growing and will be better than last year – more prizes, more in person events, and so much more fun and learning. The package will include: 1 membership card, 1 mailed birthday card, 1 surprise challenge, 1 limited edition coaster, and 1 limited edition USB with 50 of my favourite images. You will also have VIP access to books, swag and events. We will have 4 in-person group meetings plus a free solo Wye Marsh entry for member. The first meeting will be January 21, 2024, with a backup date January 28, as we head out as a group to find owls. Meetings 2 and 3 are still being confirmed and we will have out final meeting on October 27 back in the Natural History Museum, with another hike to the community library. One exciting addition in 2024, you will be able to bring friends with you to events allowing them to join in all the fun of that day. Registration for seats on the January 21 (28) Owl Hunting Bus Adventure are now open but limited. All guest must be accompanied by an official 2024 JGP PROWL member. Until next time, stay safe, have fun and enjoy the wildlife! Jason George
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The Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony celebrating outstanding local businesses on October 13th at the Rec Plex. For the second year the Wasaga Beach Climate Action Team (WBCAT) partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to celebrate and support local businesses taking steps to become more sustainable with The “Green Certificate”. The 2023 “Green Certificates” were presented to fourteen local businesses who are making efforts towards responsible and sustainable choices for themselves as well as their consumers, clients and community.
Unlocking Creativity at Wasaga Beach Public Library
Sponsored by: Candace Weel
In a world constantly evolving in the digital age, where creativity knows no bounds, the Wasaga Beach Public Library (WBPL) is gearing up to usher in a new era of learning and innovation. Late 2023 will mark the grand opening of the WBPL's much-anticipated Makerspace and Digital Lab, a haven for hands-on and tech-savvy enthusiasts alike. The Makerspace at WBPL is set to be a playground for those who revel in the joy of creating with their hands. It's a place where DIY enthusiasts can unite and access an array of materials, from hand and power tools to sewing equipment and even a laser cutter. This space is designed to encourage upcycling, where creativity and sustainable practices intertwine. Tracey Strnad, the Maker Space Programmer, emphasized the potential of the Makerspace, stating, "Our Makerspace is a paradise for tinkerers and creators, where the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.” For those who lean more towards the digital realm, the WBPL's Digital Lab will be the ultimate destination. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology for photography, videography, filmmaking, sound recording, 3D printing, and more, this lab is sure to excite the technologically inclined. Tracey Strnad remarked on the significance of this space, saying, "Our Digital Lab is the bridge between art and technology, allowing everyone to unleash their inner artist or filmmaker.” One of the most exciting aspects of this new venture is the opportunity for community input. The WBPL is actively seeking feedback from its patrons to shape the Makerspace and Digital Lab according to their needs and interests. Tracey Strnad invites everyone to take part in this collaborative endeavor: "Your ideas and preferences matter. We encourage you to share your thoughts with us.” As part of their commitment to this interactive approach, the WBPL has launched the Makerspace Survey. This is a call to action for the community to get involved, provide input, and help mold this innovative space and its programs into something truly reflective of the needs and interests of the people it serves. By taking a few minutes to complete the survey, you can contribute to the library's mission of fostering creativity and learning within the community. The opening of the Makerspace and Digital Lab at the Wasaga Beach Public Library promises to be a transformative moment, a space where innovation, learning, and the spirit of collaboration will thrive. Join in this exciting journey and be part of something extraordinary by sharing your ideas and taking the Makerspace Survey via the library's website at wasagabeachpubliclibrary.ca. The future of creativity in Wasaga Beach is in your hands.
Want to know more? Kyle Young Community Relations Assistant 705.429.5481 x2406 communityrelations.wbpl@wasagabeach.com
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New York Pepper Steak
The New York Pepper Steak or "Steak au Poivre" has always been a standard on any respectable Steak House menu. This recipe is exceptional and cuts no corners while capturing all of the flavours and textures that make this classic dish the gem that it is. I will always remember the Maitre d cooking this dish table side and putting so much flair into the presentation. INGREDIENTS 4 good-sized steaks (1/2 pound to a pound each, allow for 1/2 pound per person) Salt 2 tablespoons olive oil, canola oil, or other high smoke-point oil 3 Tbsp black peppercorns, cracked 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots or onions 1/4 cup cognac or other brandy 1 cup beef broth or stock 1/4 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
METHOD Salt the steak and let sit at room temp: Sprinkle salt generously over both sides of the steaks and let them come to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. (Use a pan that can handle high heat. (Cast iron works well for this, or hard anodized aluminum.) When the oil begins to smoke, take the pan off the heat. Pat the steaks dry with paper towels & stud the steaks with the cracked peppercorns (steaks brown better if they are patted dry first) and place in the hot pan. Return the pan to the heat and turn the heat down to mediumhigh. Sear, without moving the steaks, for at least 4 minutes. Try to pick up a steak with tongs, and if it comes clean, flip it and turn the heat down to medium. If it sticks to the pan, let it cook for another minute or two on that side. For this recipe, we sear on one side on high heat, and cook on lower heat on the other side. This way you get great flavor from the seared side, and better control over how done you want your steak by cooking the other side more slowly. For rare, remove the meat from the pan when the inside reaches 120°F, for medium rare 125-130°F, for medium 140°F, and medium well 155°F. Tent with aluminum foil and let the steak rest while you are preparing the sauce. Add the shallots to the pan and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the brandy and as it boils, deglaze the pan by scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon (helps to have one with a straight edge) to dislodge all the browned bits. Once the brandy is almost cooked away, add the beef stock and turn the heat to high. Boil the sauce down until there's a noticeable trail when you drag a wooden spoon through the centre of it (4-5 minutes). Pour in the heavy cream and resume boiling. Again, boil down until you can make that telltale trail from the wooden spoon. Turn off the heat and add the parsley and any remaining black pepper (no more than 1 Tbsp, the rest should have already been used to pepper the steaks). Taste for salt and add if needed. Pour the sauce over the steaks right when you serve.
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Wasaga Beach Remembers
Photos by Beach BOOSTER Media Group
It was a special day indeed as residents & visitors gathered for the Wasaga Beach Remembrance Service that is held annually on the Sunday prior to th November 11 . The weather was perfect as the parade made its way to the Cenotaph* at Town Hall. Police, firefighters, military, pipers and local groups, including children, filled the street as the parade concluded and participants took their place on Lewis Street facing Town Hall.
Veterans, participants and all in attendance, where then invited to enjoy a friendly, community reception in Council Chambers that included refreshments and a light lunch. Special thanks to the Kinettes who volunteered their time to help at the reception.
Several speakers shared heartfelt messages with the crowd, including MP Terry Dowdal, Mayor Brian Smith, Kenn Voss, and a representative for MPP Saunderson.
* The Wasaga Beach Cenotaph was dedicated as a memorial tribute to our Veterans in a special ceremony at the 1993 Remembrance Service.
As the service that included a prayer, two minutes of silence, piper playing Lament and bugler delivering Rouse concluded, the talented group, The Aubry Fill Harmonics sang “In Flanders Feilds” and “God Save the King”.
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Joe Bickersaff
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Home Energy Improvement Symposium Draws Large Crowd .Wasaga Beach Climate Action Team hosted the Home Improvement
Energy Symposium at the Wasaga Beach RecPlex in October. The event included exhibitors, expert speakers, food and drinks, as well as prizes. The objective of the event was to educate the community on how to better understand and take advantage of existing government rebates and incentives (up to $10,600.00 in the case of a heating/cooling system) to outfit their home with a highly efficient heating and cooling system and insulate their home's attic, walls, windows and doors, or install solar panels. Improving your home energy efficiency will reduce your energy bills while reducing your carbon footprint. It's a win-win. Over 100 participants attended the event. Organizers were honoured by the presence of Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith, Councillors Joe Belanger, Ellen Timms and Faye Ego and Town General Manager Danny Rodgers, just to name a few. Their attendance demonstrates council and staff interest and support for climate mitigation and adaptation, in alignment with the Term of Council priorities and Green Pillar strategic initiatives. The organizers shared that this event could not have happened without the many participants, great sponsors and all the volunteers. Thanks to all. Photos by Byan Davies Photography
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Mike Miller is a real "Beach Guy", growing up in Wasaga Beach with deep family roots in the area. Mike’s a collector & custodian of news stories, videos & photos of our long & rich history. Follow Mike’s “Memories of my Town - Wasaga Beach” page on Facebook.
Editor's Note: It was an unusual warm day on November 29th, 2007, that suddenly turned into a bitterly cold, extremely windy evening, bringing gusting blowing snow from over Georgian Bay. Then, the call came in at 12:57 AM, an alert that one of the buildings, a former arcade on Historic Main Street, was fully engulfed in flames. Help was brought in from neighbouring communities and eventually 117 firefighters, along with 20 vehicles from across Simcoe County, joined effort, battling the growing fire that with the swirling winds of over 80 km/h, jumped from one side of Main Street to the other, and had quickly spread from building to building. th
By dawn November 30 , 2007, most of Historic Main Street had been destroyed, while fire crews dealt with hot spots for another 24 hours. The area was declared a Crime Scene and in February of 2009, the OPP announced that two men had been charged with arson in connection with the fire. News coverage at the time, had a headline stating that then Mayor Patterson “pledges to see commercial area back in time for summer”. That didn’t happen. A temporary & much loved Market was created, then removed by the former council, and our Main Street still waits.
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CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Fill in the so that every row, column and box contains the numbers 1 through 9
My friend Jack says he can communicate with vegetables. That's right ... Jack and the beans talk. I accidentally rubbed ketchup in my eyes. Now I have Heinzsight. 2 Guys at the Wasaga Beach “Y”. One is putting on pantyhose. His buddy asks, "Since when do you wear pantyhose?" "Since my wife found a pair in the glove compartment!" I know a guy in Alberta with 100,000 head of cattle. No bodies, just heads. I just got back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport. My son complains about headaches. I tell him all the time, when you get out of bed, it's feet first! I wish my brother would learn a trade, so I would know what kind of work he's out of.
My wife was at the beauty shop for two hours. That was only for the estimate. I tried to come up with a carpentry pun that woodwork. I thought I nailed it but nobody saw it. Singing in the shower is fine until you get soap in your mouth. Then it's a soap opera. Scientifically, a raven has 17 primary wing feathers, the big ones at the end of the wing are called pinion feathers. A crow has 16. So, the difference between a raven and a crow is only a matter of a pinion. Then there was the time Fruit of the Loom took Hanes to court ... it was a brief case.
My friend said she wouldn't eat cow's tongue because it came out of a cow's mouth. I gave her an egg.
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