Back to SearchAlmost 80% of Term of Council Priorities are complete or well underway in less than one year
Wasaga Beach – The Town of Wasaga Beach is moving forward into 2024 with a Council-approved budget and good news that in 2023, in less than one year, staff have successfully delivered or made significant progress on almost 80 per cent of this term of Council’s priorities.
The 2024 budget was approved with a 5.6 per cent increase that will ensure quality municipal services can continue to be delivered and improved as residents have come to expect.
"Everything we do is for our full-time residents. Wasaga Beach continues to be one of the fastest growing municipalities in Ontario and we have worked very hard to approve a budget that will ensure we can continue to deliver the quality municipal services that our residents deserve and have come to expect,” said Mayor Brian Smith. “Our focus remains on providing value for money, identifying clear priorities and working quickly to move our community forward. As a result, in less than a year, we’ve been able to complete 23 priorities, and make significant progress on 41 others that are building a stronger, more resilient Wasaga Beach that our residents can feel proud of.”
“We’re pleased to share that Town staff have delivered on almost 80 per cent of the action items Council identified at the beginning of 2023, including opening Beach Drive, re-opening a medical centre and after-hours clinic, engaging in public consultation on the beachfront redevelopment and ensuring that a high school for Wasaga Beach is included on not just one – but two – capital priorities lists, working with the catholic and public school boards,” Mayor Smith added. “Everyone should feel optimistic about what we’ve accomplished, the direction we’re headed in, and what we’re going to see over the next year and in the coming years. I’m confident that we have the budget, priorities and partnerships in place to succeed in 2024."
The update was presented to members of Council and the community by the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Andrew McNeill, who provided a detailed update to the public and Council on the status of Council’s 2023-2026 priorities. Adopted by Council in early 2023, these priorities are supported by 84 action items to build a resilient, more inclusive and complete community.
Highlights of the presentation, and actions that are completed or well underway, include:
- Re-opening Beach Drive
- Welcoming the grand opening of Gateway Casino
- Launching successful beachfront activations including a new food truck area
- Delivering a record-breaking Memories of Summer festival, with over 12,000 visitors/residents in attendance
- Moving forward with a potential beachfront redevelopment partner, FRAM Building Group
- Delivering beachfront redevelopment workshops and public engagement sessions
- Delivering the new Wasaga Stars Arena and Wasaga Beach Public Library, a project that started during the 2014-2018 term of Council
- Securing partnerships to establish a community hub
- Building new sidewalks
- Improving Town wayfinding signage
- Creating a Holiday Market
- Creating an Affordable Housing Task Force
- Launching business round tables to engage local businesses
- Completing a review of Town surplus lands and exploring higher and better uses of these lands
- Conducting an organizational review and taking steps to build a more strategic and effective organization
- Introducing progressive human resources policies and programs to attract and retain top talent
The full proceedings of today’s Council meeting, including a copy of the CAO’s presentation, can be viewed on the Town’s website: wasagabeach.com/meetings.
Quick facts
- To support a safe and rewarding work environment and advance its bold mission to become one of Canada’s Great Places to Work, in 2023 the Town implemented a work-your-way flexible workplace policy and introduced an innovative new whistleblower program – two firsts, in the history of the municipality.
Background
The Town of Wasaga Beach aims to be a place where people come to create memories that will last a lifetime. The CAO’s report to Council today supports Council’s priorities: to ensure that the Town is well run, and to create opportunities to diversify the economy, create jobs and build a complete community. This includes ensuring the highest level of transparency and accountability for the taxpayers of Wasaga Beach, striving for excellence in customer service and creating a corporate culture that will attract and retain top talent. It’s part of the Town’s plan to become a leader in sustainability, creativity, innovation and fun – a place with thriving businesses; safe, inclusive and complete neighbourhoods where we celebrate our rich history, diversity of cultures and natural beauty including the Nottawasaga River, Georgian Bay and the longest freshwater beach in the world.
Media contact:
Sandra Watts
Director of Strategic Communications & Intergovernmental Affairs
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