CommunityNews N O R T H
W E L L I N G T O N
Volume 53 Issue 06
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Mapleton council hears details of joint economic development partnership for northern Wellington JAIME MYSLIK REPORTER
Straight toss - There was no ice on Feb. 1 for the Moorefield Optimist Club’s Tin Can Classic (tin can curling), but that didn’t stop teams from coming out and enjoying the weather with a cornhole tournament. Jenn Burns of Drayton, a member of an entry known as the Burnt Mohles, takes aim at a target. More photos on page 9. Photo by Jaime Myslik
Painting from 1900s to return to historic townhall in Drayton JAIME MYSLIK REPORTER MAPLETON – A Drayton painting from the early 1900s is being returned to its original home at the Drayton Festival Theatre, which was once the town council chamber. On Jan. 28, community member Bruce Schieck asked for Mayor Gregg Davidson to issue a letter that would release the painting from the Wellington County Museum and Archives and allow it to be hung in the theatre. “It is of a blacksmith’s shop with a blacksmith in front of his forage doing his work and looking out the backdoor you can see the railroad tracks with a
train going over the bridge,” Schieck said. “Some of us are of the opinion that that painting should maybe be returned back to the theatre where it was originally intended to be.” The painting was restored by a previous council and is ready to be hung in the Drayton Festival Theatre. “I’m a member of the historical society so I’m greatly in favour of keeping our community’s historical pieces within our community as much as possible rather than sending everything to the Wellington County museum,” said councillor Marlene Ottens. “I’m greatly in favour of this.” Schieck said it would be hung in the theatre lounge, beside the grand piano.
“I believe the room you’re talking about Bruce, I’m not sure but was that not the council chambers back in the day?” Ottens asked. “So that’s kind of coming full circle.” Schieck confirmed Ottens was correct. “I think it’s a great spot for that painting,” councillor Mike Martin said. “That room itself is a great room and to all your talking about, it seems like a great spot. I support this request.” Schieck offered to use his own money to move the painting because it needs to be professionally transported and hung. “I think it’s a masterpiece that should be preserved and put in the town hall,” he said.
MAPLETON – Mapleton council has offered its support for the Northern Wellington Economic Development Enhanced Partnership. Mapleton representative Aly Cripps made a presentation to council on Jan. 28. A partnership between Mapleton, Minto and Wellington North isn’t necessarily a new idea; the three municipalities have been meeting since 2012 to discuss economic development. As a result of the county-wide service review by KPMG, a joint economic development partnership was identified as one way to find efficiencies. “It’s no secret that Minto does a fabulous job, (Minto economic development manager) Belinda (Wick-Graham) and her team,” said Mapleton CAO Manny Baron. “And we kind of want to leverage that and leverage your expertise and learn from you and see how we can do better.” The partnership will address five main projects in 2020: - a cross-sector business retention and expansion program; - the recruit of a municipal youth engagement coordinator; - a focus on newcomer attraction and housing programs; - the expansion of LaunchIt Minto services to Mapleton and Wellington North; and - targeted marketing and promotion activities. Minto will also be helping Mapleton with a communications and social media strategy. “A very big deal for Mapleton in
this partnership was trying to get our social media and communications skills up,” Cripps said. All other economic development projects will be the responsibility of the individual municipalities. In Mapleton the enhancements have already been added to the economic development budget. “So there will be nothing going over our budget with any of these programs,” Cripps said. Mapleton councillor Marlene Ottens was supportive of the idea. “I think it’s great,” she said. “I think it’s something that we’re all going to benefit from.” However, she did ask how many of the new businesses helped by LaunchIt Minto have survived. Wick-Graham pointed out that LaunchIt isn’t just for new start-ups but for any business in any sector. “People have started in there and moved out onto the main street and they’re still there, but we also help businesses that have been around forever, just helping them grow,” she said. LaunchIt will bring training programs to Mapleton and Wellington North so “that the travel barrier is taken away,” Wick-Graham said. Council passed a resolution in support of the initiative. Wellington North has also received a presentation on the partnership. All three councils will be presented with a memorandum of understanding which, if approved, will put the agreement into effect. “I want to thank everybody for being a part of [discussions] and I think what we have here is a really good product and I’m excited to see what comes out of it,” Baron said.
Wellington North launches Digital Main Street Service Squad Township receives $10,000 grant to help businesses use digital tools KENILWORTH - Wellington North Township has announced it received a $10,000 grant from Digital Main Street (DMS) to fund a Digital Service Squad to help downtown small businesses improve their online capabilities. “We are excited by this opportunity to be able to assist main street small businesses,” said Wellington North’s economic development officer Dale Small in a Jan. 28 press release. “A vibrant downtown is key to a strong community and because of this grant we will be able to provide our businesses with the opportunity to
take advantage of trained specialists who can teach them how to use new technologies and provide tools and training in order to stay competitive in today’s digital world.” Wellington North received the grant from the province as part of the DMS program to establish a Digital Service Squad (DSS). The DDS will consist of trained specialists who will visit and assist businesses at no cost to help them set up Google Business and conduct a digital readiness assessment. “Our government is committed
to helping small businesses improve their competitiveness, create jobs and attract investment,” states Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Our investment in the Digital Main Street program will help ensure that Ontario is open for business and open for jobs.” Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece said, “Gaining the experience necessary to compete in the digital age is a key to success.” Digital Main Street is a joint program funded by the government of
Ontario and delivered by the Ontario BIA Association. “The Township of Wellington North is playing an important role in helping downtown small businesses in the municipality take advantage of Digital Main Street and digital technologies,” said Kay Matthews, executive director of the Ontario BIA Association. “Our small main street businesses are a critical contributor to Ontario’s economic, social and cultural health, and it’s vital that we work together to ensure their success. Digital Main Street will help the downtown busi-
nesses of Wellington North compete in an increasingly digital world.” Wellington North’s economic development office works in partnership with the Arthur and Mount Forest Chambers of Commerce and community BIAs with the joint mission “to promote and connect businesses, volunteers and the community to make Wellington North a vibrant and progressive place to live, work, visit and shop,” states the township press release. For more information about the program visit digitalmainstreet.ca.
New EarlyON Child and Family Centre opens in Drayton PATRICK RAFTIS REPORTER DRAYTON – “Children and youth are about one third of our population, but they’re 100 per cent of our future,” said Ron MacKinnon, executive director for the Community Resource
Centre of North and Centre Wellington at the opening of a new county-operated family centre in Drayton on Jan. 29. The County of Wellington hosted the grand opening ceremony for the new EarlyON Child and Family Centre, which officially opened its doors to
the public on Jan. 30. EarlyON Child and Family Centres in Wellington and Guelph are planned and managed by the county’s Children’s Early Years Division, with funding from the province. “Our goal is to have accessible, high-quality services available across
our service delivery area,” said Warden Kelly Linton in a press release announcing the opening. “The first EarlyON Centre opened in Wellington North in 2018. The county plans to have at least five EarlyON Centres in various locations across the county by 2021.”
SERVING MAPLETON, MINTO & WELLINGTON NORTH
County councillor and social services committee chair Dave Anderson lauded the partnerships that made the centre possible, specifically crediting Mapleton Mayor Gregg Davidson, Children’s Early Years director Luisa Artuso and building owner Frank SEE EARLYON » 12