Wasaga Beach Recognizes Impact of Over $1.25 Million in OLG Contributions in 2023/2024

Wasaga Beach Celebrates First Anniversary of Town-operated Medical Centre and After-Hours Clinic, Recognizes Impact of Over $1.25 Million in OLG Contributions in 2023/2024

“The Town of Wasaga Beach is pleased to recognize the positive impact that casino revenues are having on our community,” said Mayor Brian Smith. “These annual contributions are supporting the things that truly matter to people living in Wasaga Beach. They have helped increase services provided at the Town’s medical centre and after-hours clinic, which has served thousands of local patients and families in 2024. They have helped the Town deliver large-scale tourism events including Memories of Summer. OLG contributions have also given Council the ability to double the amount the Town invests in our local food bank and windrow snow-removal program, which supports our most vulnerable citizens.” – Mayor Brian Smith

WASAGA BEACH – Wasaga Beach celebrated the first anniversary of its municipally-operated and funded medical centre and after-hours clinic, and thanking the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) for investing over $1.25 million into important projects, programs and community festivals in the community.

 Over the past year, OLG slot contributions have helped the Town: 

• attract investment, secure partnerships and increase services provided at the Town’s medical centre and after-hours clinic
• deliver large-scale tourism and community events including shows by the Carpet Frogs in celebration of the Town’s 50^th Anniversary and Tom Cochrane during Memories of Summer
• double the amount invested in the Town’s local food bank
• expand the Town’s windrow snow removal program

Earlier today, Karen Smiley, Municipal & Government Relations Manager from Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) presented Mayor Brian Smith with a $1,256,830 cheque to the Town. These funds represent the municipal portion of proceeds from the Wasaga Beach Playtime Casino received from OLG between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. A cheque ceremony for the 2024/2025 OLG contributions will be held in the coming months.

Quick Facts:

• In 2023, OLG slot funding was allocated to help the Town of Wasaga Beach launch (re-open) Ontario’s first municipally-operated and funded community medical centre and after-hours clinic. In 2024, the Town and South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team leveraged this investment and attracted almost $800,000 in provincial funding which increased the number of health services delivered at the clinic.
• The Town of Wasaga Beach is actively engaged in efforts to attract more full-time doctors. The Wasaga Beach Medical Clinic can accommodate up to three full-time doctors.
• OLG’s Community Recognition Program funding payments are made under an equitable formula in the Municipality Contribution Agreement which determines the funds municipalities receive for hosting a casino. Payments are based on graduated scale of gaming revenue consistent across all sites in Ontario.
• Since the Wasaga Beach Playtime Casino opened its doors in 2022, the Town of Wasaga Beach has received $2,732,409 from OLG.

Quotes

Karen Smiley, Municipal & Government Relations Manager from Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG)

“OLG is proud to see how these funds are making a difference in the Town of Wasaga Beach,” said Karen Smiley. “Each and every year, 100 per cent of OLG profits are reinvested in Ontario to support provincial priorities. From critical infrastructure to community festivals to local programs, OLG’s profits are hard at work in Wasaga Beach and all across our province to build stronger communities. We were proud to support the launch of the Wasaga Beach Medical Clinic over one year ago, and we’re proud to continue supporting its success.”

Trish Rawn, Co-Chair of the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team

“The South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team is grateful for our partnership with Town of Wasaga Beach, which enables us to operate the Shoreline Health Clinic within the Wasaga Beach Medical Clinic. The Shoreline Health Clinic was funded by the Government of Ontario as part of their effort to expand primary care access and has supported over 4000 appointments for patients who live in our community who do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner since it opened in April 2024. This clinic has been imperative to improving our community’s health, expanding access to primary care in our region and reducing stress on the local hospital’s emergency department. The success of this clinic would not have been possible without the support of the Town and Council of Wasaga Beach, and the OLG funding that helps make the Wasaga Beach Medical Clinic possible.”

Marie LaRose, Executive Director of the Georgian Bay Family Health Team

“Thanks to the Town of Wasaga Beach’s innovative approach to allocate a portion of OLG casino proceeds to fund the Wasaga Beach Medical Clinic, the Georgian Bay Family Health Team has been able to bring care closer to people in our community. Since October 2023, we have offered satellite appointments in the Wasaga Beach Medical Clinic for diabetes management, mental health counselling and smoking cessation to Wasaga Beach residents. These satellite appointments have made it easier for the community to access our services and receive the essential care they need closer to home.”

Additional resources

Watch a Facebook reel about the 2024 Breaking the Ice Festival.

Learn more about the Wasaga Beach Medical Clinic: www.wasagabeach.com/MedicalClinic

Visit the Wasaga Beach Playtime Casino

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