> Historical Society president rejects notion of fusing downtown with Main East in study /Pg 13 > WLMH Foundation’s 50/50 launches Pg 3 > Colourful characters in Grimsby’s past Pg 6 > Trees of Healthy Wishes campaign wraps Pgs 7-10 Thursday, January 13, 2022 Vol. 10 Issue 35
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Council set to review controversial firearms bylaw next week By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Early morning gunfire, safety concerns and confrontations with hunters have become commonplace since Grimsby council altered the Town’s firearms bylaw last fall. Petitions and posters have been been circulated in recent weeks in an attempt to get council to reconsider the changes made to a 1976 bylaw which previously banned any discharge of firearms. Coun. Dave Sharpe got the ball rolling on the changes when he instigated changes to the bylaw in relation to bow hunting. Once the door was open, bylaw officer Henry Boese initiated input from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters who were given direct input on the creation of the new bylaw. While Coun. Kevin Ritchie noted at the last council meeting he was concerned with staff putting in too much time in helping clear up public confusion about who is responsible for what regarding jurisdiction, there was no issue with Boese putting in time to research and reword the bylaw with OFAH. “The Town of Grimsby will be dis-
cussing the new revised draft Discharge of Firearms By-Law next Monday evening (details for the meeting will be released on the town website on Friday, September 24). Given our direct involvement in working with the Town on this by-law, we have been granted permission to share the newly revised by-law/map with you prior to it being posted on their website, which will occur at some point tomorrow,” states a Sept 24 update on OFAH’s website. The issue has been mired in a state of chaos and misinformation from the get-go. At council’s last meeting, Coun. Randy Vaine told those watching the Zoom feed the OPP were the agency to call about any issues only to be corrected by Boese who said Ministry of Natural Resources is actually the right agency. According to MPP Sam Oosterhoff and an MNR official, neither is correct. “Ducks are federally regulated migratory birds; Canadian Wildlife Service (department of Environment Canada) is responsible for duck hunting seasons,” said Curtis Lindsay, senior communications advisor for MNR. See HUNT, Page 4
WLMH rebuild in homestretch By Mike Williscraft NewsNow One more hurdle remains - the awarding of the reconstruction contract - before shovels hit the ground for the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital rebuild. Three construction
companies were shortlisted for the $200 million project. All three submitted bids by Monday’s closing deadline. “Following a fair, open and transparent Request for Qualifications process, three teams – Amico Sacyr Alliance,
EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare and Pomerleau Healthcare Partners were shortlisted and invited to respond to a Request for Proposals in June 2021. All three teams have submitted their proposals See REBUILD, Page 2
Since Grimsby council made several adjustments to the Town firearms bylaw last November, scores of concerns have been raised about safety, noise issues and, to many, common sense. Hunters have frequented Lake Ontario waters - within the boundaries of the new bylaw - from Foran’s Marine west to just beyond the Murray Street Park. Here, a youngster perched on a swing in that park watches a camouflaged boat on the water. Impacts of this bylaw change are scheduled to come up this coming Monday at Grimsby’s council meeting.