THANK YOU HGTV!!
Westport is #4 on HGTV’s “20 of the Best off the Radar Spots for a Vacation Home in Canada”. Take a moment and view the link and then swagger – just a little!
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Mac’s (name only) changes to Circle K
On Saturday, April 7, Councillor Ron Pollard (Twp of Rideau Lakes) and I helped Guy and Cathy Davison celebrate the name change from Mac’s to Circle K. Cathy assures everyone that Circle K is Canadian owned and you will still get outstanding service when you shop or gas up. Thanks for all you do for the communities of Westport and Rideau Lakes, Guy and Cathy!
Village of Westport successful in obtaining Ontario Trillium Fund Grant.
The Ontario Trillium Fund has awarded the Village a $56,500 grant to build an accessible, covered stage in Lockwood Memorial Field and Park. The grant covers all costs including the installation of electrical and landscaping. Village Council & Staff and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee are pleased that Westport was successful in this very competitive process and have thanked the Ontario Trillium Fund for its support.
The improvements to Lockwood Memorial Field and Park over the past three years have only been possible through fund raising and grants. The 2015 grant from Lockwood Foundation has been a significant boon and enabled the Village to implement its plan for the park. No tax dollars have been spent on the improvements.
The stage will be used to bring groups and people together for arts, cultural and heritage festivals and family events. Community groups and members will now have a venue to bring people together – regardless of the weather.
The project has been awarded to Scott Blair Construction and it is our expectation that it will be operational this summer.
How exciting!!!!!!
Join the team and offer your First Impressions of our exchange community
People who visit our community for the first time can offer fresh perspectives and unique insights about our services, accommodations and tourist attractions. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) offers the First Impressions Community Exchange (FICE) program, where you can tap in to these insights. By taking part in this program, we get paired up with another community and see what kinds of first impressions the Village makes when people visit for the first time. What we learn can help us find ways to better attract tourists, residents and investors.
Our application to be part of FICE has been accepted and we have been paired with another community. We are recruiting and need four more volunteers, who will receive training from OMAFRA. Our volunteers will:
•travel to our partner community to anonymously make observations
•record their feedback in a survey during the visit
Your costs for travel, accommodations and meals will be covered.
The exchange visits are where volunteer teams visit their exchange community and note observations in order to prepare a report back. The evaluation of Westport by the other team will include:
Evaluate and get insights about:
◦services that make our Village visitor-friendly (access to transportation, information centres, signage, location of attractions)
◦physical spaces (historic sites, buildings and entrances)
◦community services (housing, education, jobs, health)
◦businesses, retail stores and restaurants
◦natural areas (harbour, parks and walking paths)
Evaluate how we serve visitors and get insights about:
◦what makes us visitor-friendly (access to transportation, information centres, signage, location of attractions)
◦tourist attractions (landmarks, events)
◦natural areas (parks, cycling and walking paths)
Evaluate our downtown area and get insights about:
◦the look and feel of downtown areas
◦businesses, retail stores and restaurants
◦entertainment (events, festivals, arts and culture activities)
If you are interested in being part of the Westport exchange team, pls email Councillor Gerald Schwinghamer at gswestport@gmail.com. The First Impressions training will occur on Tuesday, Mar. 27 at 10 am at the Town Hall in the second floor meeting room.
I think this sounds like fun and encourage you to be part of it!
Call anytime – 9195
A Busy Week … let me catch you up
Monday started with an early train to Toronto to meet with Vic Fedeli, the Interim Leader of the Provincial Progressive Conservative Party. Accompanied by several Wardens from the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, we apprised Mr Fedeli of several issues impacting Eastern Ontario and found him to be engaged and genuinely concerned.
Breakfast with the Mayor on Wednesday morning at the Cove was well attended by business owners. Councillors Brady, Huth and Schwinghamer and I listened to several points of view concerning parking in general and specifically strong objections to charging for parking in the Village. These opportunities for Council to consult with stakeholders are important and provide key information before decisions are made.
Village of Westport Historical Walking Tour Task Force also met on Wednesday morning after the breakfast. A great team of Christine Janeway, Cynthia Pringle, Kim Bonner, Rob Roberts, Councillors Brady and Schwinghamer have developed a new Historical Walking Tour booklet and app. Both will be available by May 24, 2018.
On Thursday, I went to Queen’s Park and made a delegation to the Standing Committee on Bill 175 Safer Ontario Act (bill to replace the Police Services Act). A Standing Committee is the opportunity for all three provincial parties to consult with stakeholders and the public between the 2nd and 3rd reading of a bill in the legislature. There are several concerns in the draft legislation that will have an impact on Westport and all of rural Eastern Ontario if passed in its current form. I am optimistic that our perspective was compelling.
The final work at the sewage plant is wrapping up, although the contractor will be back after the spring thaw to clean up the site. Once the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change gives its final approvals and the works is commissioned, I will let you know. That will be the time to celebrate!
Have a great week … call anytime … 9195
Robin, The Mayor 
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