SERVING MAPLETON AND MINTO
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 52 ISSUE 11
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THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019
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Town to provide youth programs utilizing in-house resources By Patrick Raftis
Junior broomball - The Mixed Bunch from Palmerston took on the Outcasts from Mildmay during a Saturday morning game in Harriston at the annual Palmerston Junior Broomball Tournament. The co-ed tournament provides new players from Atom to Juvenile ages an opportunity to try out the sport. The tournament ran March 8 to 11, with games played in both Palmerston and Harriston. Photo by Patrick Raftis
Donation for health professional recruitment approved By Aryn Strickland MAPLETON - Mapleton council approved a 2019 contribution of $10,000 to the Minto-Mapleton Health Professional Recruitment Committee on Feb. 20. Representatives from the committee addressed council on Jan. 8 ahead of the passing of the 2019 budget on Feb. 3. The $10,000, which coun-
cil has traditionally donated on an annual basis, will come from the $15,000 allocated in the 2019 budget for charitable donations. Surplus fire vehicle Mapleton Fire Rescue’s Drayton station rescue vehicle has been replaced with a newer and larger 2019 Freightliner vehicle. The fire department is selling the old rescue truck through an online auction
using GovDeals. A report prepared by Fire Chief Rick Richardson stated, “Any money received through this process will be directed to fire department reserves.” Richardson added it is likely the department will get between $10,000 and $15,000 for the vehicle on the online auction. However, he said they would probably only put a $5,000 reserve bid on it.
MINTO – The town of Minto will direct funds previously put toward sharing the costs of a community youth resiliency worker toward in-house efforts to maintain local youth programs. Last year, after Trillium funding for the worker, through North for Youth, ended, Minto, Mapleton and Wellington North, along with the Mount Forest Community Health Team, each agreed to contribute $13,000 to keep the program going. Accomplishments since the initiation of the program in 2015 have included creation of the Minto Youth Action Council (MYAC) in October of 2016 and Minto’s designation as a gold level Youth Friendly Community by Parks and Recreation Ontario in 2018. In January, youth resiliency worker Gabriella Ieropoli resigned to take a position with Kidsability. “To replace Gabby would have been very difficult as the skill sets, experience and knowledge required are different for health versus community/economic development, as well as the fact that building rapport with youth, community members
and service providers takes time,” noted Minto business and economic manger Belinda Wick-Graham in a March 5 report to council. “The Minto Economic Development Team felt that the majority of the community/economic development projects that were being undertaken by this position could be brought in-house and the funds redirected into funding ongoing or new youth programs. “We are fortunate in Minto to have a strong staff working in economic development and recreation to continue to support many of the programs.” Wick Graham noted local youth-oriented initiatives include: - a Municipal Youth Internship Program to explore youth engagement, specifically for “at risk” youth; - Student Start Up Program, a summer entrepreneurship program for students in Grades 6 to 12; - Northern Wellington Youth Connections, an annual event that attracts Grade 9 students from Norwell Disrict Secondary School and Wellington Heights Secondary School to learn about local opportunities and
resources; - Truth About Youth, a program that engages students in the alternative education program in community betterment projects; Municipal Youth Engagement Initiative, which engages Grade 12 students in the human development throughout the lifespan course at Norwell and last semester worked with Grade 11 students in the introduction to anthropology, psychology and sociology; - Minto Youth Action Council will continue to operate under the direction of Taylor Keunen and implement an action plan that was generated by youths from youth input; Youth Workers Workshop/Pre-Employment, designed to give youth an opportunity to better themselves as workers and a chance for Minto employers to notice youths they may potentially want to hire; Youth Stream at LaunchIT Minto, developing programming, workshops and further enhancing the LaunchIT space to attract youth; - Northern Wellington Young Professionals Network; SEE YOUTH » 4
‘Attainable housing’ challenge facing rural communities By Patrick Raftis
County housing - Wellington County operates a number of affordable housing and rent-geared-to-income properties across the county, including Elizabeth Street Court in Harriston.
Housing issues - “Attainable housing” was the focus of a joint economic development meeting for northern Wellington municipalities in Harriston on March 6. Graham Cubitt (standing, left) of charitable supportive housing developer Indwell, was among the presenters. Photos by Patrick Raftis There are 85,000 households, including 220,000 people in Guelph and Wellington, said Poste, noting that between 2011 to 2017
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the area grew by seven per cent, 2% higher than provincial average. “By 2041 our area’s population is expected to reach
303,000,” said Poste, adding the highest rate of growth is anticipated in Centre Wellington, where the population is forecast to “almost
WEEKLY WAG “Home is the nicest word there is.” - Laura Ingalls Wilder
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HARRISTON – “Attainable housing” was the topic of a joint economic development meeting of northern Wellington municipalities on March 6. Municipal staff and councillors, business leaders, developers and planners from Mapleton, Minto and Wellington North gathered to hear ideas on affordable housing from several speakers at the Harriston-Minto Community Centre. Wellington County housing program manager Mark Poste outlined housing challenges in the county, as well as some potential solutions. “It’s an issue that’s gathering more and more attention across the country as we see what the community impacts are when people can’t find and maintain a safe, affordable place to call home,” said Poste.
double” in that time frame. A lack of rental apartment units across the region is part of the reason for an affordability crunch, Poste explained. “Sixty-three per cent of our housing stock is made up of single detached homes, with only 7% actually being apartments of five or more storeys,” he stated.
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In Minto, Poste continued, only about 20% of the population are renters, while 80% are homeowners. However, 38% of renters are spending more than 30% of their income on rent. “Which is very high. Thirty per cent is considered kind of a healthy rate, 30% or below,” Poste noted. SEE AFFORDABLE » 2
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