Office of the Mayor

The Town has an exciting opportunity February 3 to host 35 Toronto East General Medical Residents for a day long retreat. This event will be a chance for medical students to experience lecture style learning with local medical experts in the morning and some practical experience centered on ice/water rescue and other cold weather related situations in the afternoon. It will be a terrific community event with participation by Simcoe County Paramedics, South Simcoe Police Services and the Innisfil Fire and Rescue Services. Emergency service workers will teach what happens in these situations prior to the patient arriving at the hospital. Our goal is to showcase Innisfil to these medical students and get them interested in considering practicing in our community.

Council has also established a partnership with York University Nursing Students to conduct a needs assessment and community profile of Innisfil to help us as we move forward on improving health care options for residents.

Students will focus on a health care provision needs assessment such as statistics about doctor usage, visits to emergency departments, public health, Community Care Access Centres, social services, nurse practitioner care, naturopath visits, levels of disease and injury. They will also complete a health care needs survey which addresses the population’s opinion of the community assets and the resources currently available.

Another focus is on socio-ecological causes of health both positive and negative. This information will come from interaction with the community to discuss needs including such things as income and social status, employment and working conditions, social supports and networks, diversity and social inclusion, recreation, education, transportation, communication and community involvement.

Local community leaders will help arrange and facilitate access to groups of community members and key citizen stakeholders so that the students can hear community voices. They will be interested in all facets of the community including the food bank, formal and informal groups, clubs and organizations. Watch the town website or be in touch with me to see how you can get involved in either of these exciting projects.  If you with to get involved directly or offer suggestions of groups or individuals for the students to interview send an email to health@innisfil.ca

Innisfil Free Family Skate on New Years Day from 2-4 pm at Innisfil Recreational Complex sponsored by Mayor and Council. I hope to see you there.

For the past year I have been proud and humbled to serve as Mayor of the Town of Innisfil. The team that was elected to Council by the people of Innisfil has been great to work with and to move forward with the changes you asked for at the election.

We have changed to a much more transparent agenda and meeting process and I invite you to attend Council meetings scheduled on the first and third Wednesday evening at 7:15.  You can preview the agendas and minutes at www.innisfil.ca   We have set aside 15 minutes for public forum on any subject they wish to present.

The budget process has become more transparent including a public review of the budget with staff and members of Council and the budget review is complete with final decisions Dec 14 2011. I am hopeful that the process will take place even earlier for the 2013 budget process. This allows us to get better tender prices for roads and equipment and have our financial plan in place before the year starts. This process is one step towards the Inspiring Innisfil goal to make sure the Town is Financially Stable by 2014.

We held a very well attended free “Family Fun Skate with Mayor and Council” personally sponsored by us at the Innisfil Recreational Complex on New Year’s Day and will be doing it again New Year’s Day from 2 to 4 pm at the Innisfil Recreational Complex. Come on out and have some fun, skate and visit with members of Council.

March 29 I held Innisfil’s first Mayors Breakfast at the OLG Slots at Georgian Downs with business and community leaders in attendance. I will be working with the Chamber of Commerce and OLG to hold one again this year in March.

June 25 was the first Innisfil Family Fun Day held at the Innisfil Recreational Complex. It was a free community event organized from the Mayor’s office and was a great success with many community partners putting on displays. Included in the displays were the Library, South Simcoe Police, Simcoe County Paramedics, Innisfil Fire, Public Works, Water and Wastewater, Parks and Recreation, the Historical Society, Rotary Club and Horticultural Societies. It will be bigger and better in 2012 on June 23 from 2 to 4 at the Innisfil Recreational Complex.

The summer brought the very successful Farmers’ Market, Celebrate Lake Simcoe and Canada Day Parades – all great opportunities to meet the people of Innisfil and all back again in 2012.

I started an informal “Coffee with Council” held on Saturday September 24 with over one hundred people stopping in for a chat with members of Council and myself. I am planning another Coffee with Council in May – I hope to see you there.

The fall was busy with meetings for South Simcoe Police Services, Innisfil Hydro, Innisfil Community Heath Committee, Physician Recruitment and many other routine meetings.
There have been many new people to meet, roles to learn and all of it has been a pleasure.

We need to make important decisions together and as always, I am hopeful that you will contact me and your local councillor to share your opinions and ideas. I have a variety of ways to communicate with Innisfil residents. In addition to this blog, bbaguley@innisfil.ca, Mayor Barb Facebook page, Twitter @barbbaguley, by phone 705-436-3740 ext 1101. I look forward to hearing from you.  I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Barb

From Deputy Mayor Davidson: “The last year on council has been amazing , working with a team as great as the new council elected just a year ago has been a pleasure. A Team that is passionate about what is right for the people of Innisfil, about openness of their town, and taking pride in the opportunity to give their best at all times. Now there have been some small challenges amongst us but that is ok, as we all are doing what we feel is best for Innisfil as a whole . From this we have learned to listen to the people who make up this town, and that is our duty. So by doing so I look forward to even better challenges in the upcoming year and new beginnings for Council and staff that will put Innisfil on the map as an innovative town and a town that is open for new beginnings and innovation towards a greener, healthier place to do farming, business and bring up our families in a way that respects the surroundings that we are so blessed with. Have a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year and Happy Holidays to everyone.”

Councillor Doug Lougheed Ward 1: “2011 for me, was a year of new experiences involving the intricacies of municipal government. Interacting with constituents, our dedicated staff, and building on the foundations of previous councils to make Innisfil prosper has been very rewarding. Not all will agree with certain directions of council, but I believe 2011 was about building trust with residents and other stakeholders. Councils’ expanding openness and public inclusion process are foundations of responsible and accountable government. 2012 will see many significant events which will shape Innisfil’s future for decades. Servicing employment lands, expanding our local job base, and making Innisfil a self-sufficient community are just some of the key elements.
My Best wishes to all for a very safe and happy holiday season.”

Councillor Rod Boynton Ward 4: “Innisfil residents voted for change. Starting with releasing the Council Agenda sooner, allowing deputations the day of Council, and a new Procedure that promotes order, and respect, then a new budget process that makes sense, pedestrian crossing signals for our schools, and a fairer local roads program where they don’t “disappear” from the list. Residents chose the town’s future, through Inspiring Innisfil. Completing Innisfil Beach Rd is attracting a number of exciting ventures with new jobs and opportunities. With a high calibre staff and a Council eager to learn, Innisfil is the “Place To Be!”

Councillor Ken Simpson Ward 3: “It has been a rewarding and challenging year on Innisfil Council. Residents have contributed enormously with ideas and suggestions as well as criticism which help me deliver their concerns and message to Council. I have attended all Council meetings and am making a contribution to the library, sitting on the Library Board. My colleagues on Council have been both engaging and instrumental in making the first year a memorable one. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Councillor Bill Loughead Ward 5: “The first year has been a major learning experience and a challenge. It has been fun. The people I have met have been amazing. The learning curve is sharp in the next three year my listening should be worth the time it took. I hope I have helped many people but I am what I said I would be. I am a person like everyone in Innisfil a worker just the average Joe.”

Councillor Maria Baier Ward 6 It has been an honour and a pleasure to serve on council and represent ward six over this past year. I have especially enjoyed my contact with residents and the opportunity to listen to ideas, discuss issues and resolve problems. I am continually impressed with the passion and innovation of our citizens. Participating in ‘Inspiring Innisfil ‘was a particular highlight. I believe that this process has resulted in an excellent common vision for our town. It has been wonderful to see many of the specific initiatives begin to roll out over the past year. I have also had the honour of chairing the newly formed Innisfil Community Health Committee. I am very excited about a number of very practical initiatives that our committee is pursuing to bring health care providers and services to Innisfil.
It is great to be a member of council at such a pivotal time for this town! It is clear that we have an excellent staff group and a motivated council who are committed to a more open and collaborative political process. I look forward to 2012 with a focus on continuing to build a connected and vibrant Innisfil with a healthy and protected natural environment, increased employment opportunities, more local services to meet the needs of residents, and an increased focus on arts and cultural activities.

You are welcomed to a 2012 Capital and Operating Budget information session day on November 29 2011 at Town Hall. At the session residents will be able to discuss their questions and concerns related to the 2012 budget with Town Staff and members of Council. There are 3 sessions 9-11 am; 2-4 pm; 7-9 pm. I hope to see you there.

Council will be debating the 2012 Budget starting at 9 am Nov 30 & Dec 1 in the Council Chambers. All are welcome to attend and make delegation for input or suggestion on Nov 30 at 6:30pm. Registration for delegation to Council must be made before 5pm to the Clerk’s Office. I encourage you to attend if you can or discuss the 2012 Budget with any member of Council.