Back to SearchA Message from Mayor Brian Smith
2024 is a year to remember! Together, we accomplished so much.
Here are a few highlights:
✅ Celebrated the on-time, on-budget grand opening of the new Wasaga Stars Arena and Wasaga Beach Public Library
✅ Lobbied for and welcomed a $57.7 million investment by the Ontario government to build Wasaga Beach’s first high school and community hub, in partnership with the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board!
✅ Delivered Wasaga Beach’s first “Breaking the Ice” winter music festival, featuring rock legends Burton Cummings and Blue Rodeo, which attracted almost 6000 guests to town including 3000 visitors from other communities
✅ Lobbied for and welcomed over $1 million in financial support from the province to offset rising provincial OPP costs. This ensured that our Council could introduce a lower 3.96% tax increase in 2025, instead of the 5.6% increase that would have been necessary had the province not covered these unexpected cost increases.
Faced with a 23% jump in our OPP bill for 2025, this Council acted urgently. We passed a motion urging our neighbouring municipalities and communities across the province to join us in requesting that the province fully cover and carefully review these rising policing costs. Our efforts at the provincial level were successful, and we will continue advocating for a long-term, sustainable policing solution that works for the families and hardworking residents of Wasaga Beach.
That’s not all.
In 2024, your Mayor and Council:
We’ve made significant progress in reinventing our main beachfront and commercial area. The RFP awarded to Stonebridge Building Group covers a 5.18-acre portion of Town-owned property located at Beach Area 1, nestled between 1st Street and 3rd Street. The vision for the project includes creating vibrant open spaces, a public park, and a focus on live-work townhomes with commercial space. In total, the project will feature over 150 residential units and 31commercial units, providing a mix of housing and business opportunities. Overall, this project promises to be a game-changer for our community. We’re excited to see shovels in the ground in Spring 2025.
✅ Celebrated the reopening of William Arnill Park and the Town’s BMX bike track, after investing over $400,000 to build new parks or improve existing facilities.
✅ Almost completed construction on River Road West!
✅ Scored the first Junior A hockey team in the history of the Town, the Wasaga River Dragons!
✅ Attracted a new family doctor to town along with over $880,000 in provincial funding for additional services to be delivered at the Town’s 160 Beck Street medical centre and after-hours clinic.
✅ Launched a bold new destination management plan and tourism website.
✅ Programmed a successful summer of events that helped mark the Town’s 50th anniversary with outstanding live music, entertainment, and the biggest increase in tourism we have seen in over a decade.
The list goes on!
To kick off the New Year in style, we welcomed Canadian country star Tim Hicks to the Wasaga Stars Arena on February 7th, following in the footsteps of Canadian legends Burton Cummings and Blue Rodeo. And on February 8th, we welcomed six-time JUNO Award winner Sam Roberts Band to town. These exciting concerts are just one of the many ways we're bringing the community together and supporting the Town’s vision of becoming a thriving year-round destination.
✅ I have already asked staff to schedule Council’s next series of open-mic style public meetings at the RecPlex and the library this spring and summer. In addition to regular council meetings, these gatherings are a great opportunity for you to ask questions and learn more about Town programs, projects and recent announcements. We’re excited to hear from you and keep the conversation going. Be sure to keep an eye on our website and social media for more details and announcements — I look forward to seeing you there!
✅ To wrap up, we’re kicking off 2025 on an incredibly positive note. Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated Town employees, over 90% of the priorities and action items identified by Council at the beginning of 2023 are completed or well underway. With such great momentum, I’m confident that 2025 will bring even more exciting achievements and news for our Town.
Update after this newsletter went to print:
I'm proud to share that after this newsletter went to print, Council and staff welcomed more great news — Council's government advocacy is paying off! On January 28, 2025, Council welcomed the largest infrastructure investment in the history of Wasaga Beach:
✅ $10.9 million to pay for the flood-proofing and redevelopment of Beach Drive
✅ over $59 million to build a SECOND HIGH SCHOOL in the west end
✅ and on February 4, the Town has resolved that it owns a large portion of Allenwood Beach.
Your Mayor and Council continue to win, and we continue to move Wasaga Beach forward.
The best is yet to come!
Sincerely,Mayor Brian Smith
View the full January 2025 Edition - Council Highlights newsletter.
Read more news and updates in the February edition of BeachBooster.
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