Back to SearchPivotal projects including redeveloping the beachfront and building attainable housing remain top priorities
WASAGA BEACH – The Town of Wasaga Beach has joined more than 1,600 participants from across the province at the 2024 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference this week. The conference is being held in-person, in downtown Toronto, from January 21 to 23, 2024.
Key presenters for the ROMA 2024 conference have included Ontario Premier Doug Ford, opposition leaders, and provincial and federal ministers.
The conference theme, Closer to Home, speaks directly to ROMA’s advocacy work over the past year, which focuses on solutions to accessing equitable primary healthcare services in rural Ontario, an issue that hits close to home for residents of the Town of Wasaga Beach. A lack of access to primary healthcare services is what prompted the Town of Wasaga Beach, in 2023, to re-open its own municipally-funded medical and after-hours clinic, and strengthen its municipal physician recruitment program.
Mayor Brian Smith and members of Council kicked off the conference and their time in Toronto with a meeting with Ontario Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce. They also attended sessions and meetings related to attraction and retention of municipal employees, local economic development, and attainable housing.
Key priorities that Mayor Smith and Council continue to advocate for at ROMA and beyond, include:
- HIGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY HUB: Raising awareness and support for Capital Priority List submissions to the Ontario Ministry of Education by local school boards, including the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board’s submission to build an innovative high school and community hub in Wasaga Beach in 2024.
- ATTAINABLE HOUSING: Freeing up un-used or under-utilized provincially owned lands in Wasaga Beach that could be used to build attainable housing, in partnership with the County of Simcoe and in support of provincial “Build More Homes Faster” priorities.
- PIVOTAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: Redeveloping the Town’s beachfront and strengthening local tourism.
"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 with our partners to ensure that a high school for Wasaga Beach is #2 on the Capital Priorities List of the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board,” said Mayor Brian Smith. “This is an innovative proposal that our local catholic school board has submitted to the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Town of Wasaga Beach and County of Simcoe. If approved by the Province, it will build on the Town’s new, $60-million, twin-pad arena and library to create an innovative, much-needed high school and community hub.”
“Yesterday, we brought our partners with us to the ROMA conference to meet with ministry staff and Minister Lecce, to raise awareness of the incredible potential of this proposed high school and community hub,” Mayor Smith added. “Our meeting went very well and all partners are feeling optimistic.”
QUICK FACTS
- In 2023, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Education a request to build a high school in the Town of Wasaga Beach. They declared it their #2 capital priority for 2024. The high school plan proposes to build on, expand and become a part of the Town’s new $60-million twin-pad arena and library, essentially creating a state-of-the-art learning environment and community hub.
- In less than one year, Town staff have successfully delivered or made significant progress on almost 80 per cent of this term of Council’s priorities.
- Adopted by Council in early 2023, Council’s priorities are supported by 84 action items to build a resilient, more inclusive and complete community. Actions include 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 local catholic and public school boards.
Background
The Town of Wasaga Beach aims to be a place where people come to create memories that will last a lifetime. Attending the 2024 ROMA Conference and engaging in advocacy with other levels of government supports Council’s priorities: to create opportunities to diversify the economy, create jobs and build a complete community. It’s part of the Town’s plan to become a leader in sustainability, creativity, innovation and fun – a place with thriving businesses and 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.
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For more information about the Town of Wasaga Beach’s participation at ROMA, contact:
Sandra Watts, Director of Strategic Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs: sandra.watts@wasagabeach.com
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