Nomination Meeting Details

Make sure you come out and vote for our local choice - Chris Carrier
Polls open 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Friday March 25, 2011
Wasaga Beach Rec Plex
1724 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach

How you can help in the nomination process?

In order to vote on who becomes the next Conservative Party of Canada representative for Simcoe-Grey you need to be a card carrying member of the Conservative Party of Canada. It costs $10 to register. To register online now click on this link. Let me know that you have joined and I will forward you the information you need to know to make sure your voice is heard on nomination day. Then be sure to join all of us on nomination day and cast your ballot for Chris Carrier, Conservative Candidate Simcoe Grey.If you wish to make a donation to assist in the expenses of my campaign, click on this link.
Thank you once again for the trust you placed in me these past 14 years. It would be my honour and great privilege to continue representing you, this time at the federal level. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email.

Chris

Georgian Announces Collingwood Campus Name

It was a particularly good day for the Riding yesterday as we did have the unveiling of the name for the currently under construction site of the Collingwood campus of Georgian College. The name of the campus site is the “John DiPoce South Georgian Bay Campus”. John and Marie were on hand to receive some of the acknowledgements that are very well deserved. Mr. DiPoce as borne witness by Mr. Tony Miele has been a very generous benefactor in community projects across central Ontario. Yesterday it was also announced that a formal extension of the CAF funding of 4 million dollars (Federal Government monies) has been extended from March 31 2011 to October 31 2011. Mr. DiPoce has long recognized the value of education and this Post-Secondary Institution will benefit today’s students and the future needs of ever changing global economy. This institution is an economic catalyst that will pay dividends to Simcoe Grey residents forever. Congratulations to all but especially to John and Marie DiPoce for their generosity of spirit and community mindedness!

Vertical Farming in Simcoe Grey

What is vertical farming, well take a look folks! This is already occurring here in Simcoe-Grey! I actually tasted some arugula and lettuce growing from this new technology. Rather delicious. The production unit is cost effective and can yield a crop in about 6 weeks. The capital costs versus revenue generation is so far looking at about 1-30 (30 times the revenue). The costs of production are still be analyzed but at this small unit production level it looks like a bigger operation will certainly produce a bigger profit. The equipment can be produced locally and I gotta say it was pretty exciting to see this micro-operation up and running in person. Agriculture comes to Main Street everywhere ! This equipment can be set up almost anywhere but local planning regimes may require specific site zones but that is still under review. So we can produce our own food, locally and cost effectively in as small an area of about 16 square feet. I would say the 100 mile diet got a lot closer today!

Regards,
Chris

Collingwood's Santa Claus Parade

Collingwood's Santa Claus Parade - very wintry! I enjoyed the car ride with Ward Bond from Blue Mountain Honda. It was a wonderful way to say thank you, good bye as Mayor, and to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Thank you Collingwood for the privilege to serve as your Mayor.

Chris

Tremont Recognition

Richard and Anke Lex are pleased to announce that restoration of The Tremont has been awarded the Peter Stokes Restoration Award. This award, present annually by the Architectural Conservatory of Ontario, recognizes those responsible for the exemplary restoration of significant heritage structures, undertaken in accordance with the accepted policies and practices of heritage conservation in Ontario.

The award was presented at the annual ACO dinner held at the Arts and Letters Club in Toronto on Friday, November 19th.

The awards committee chair Susan Ratcliff noted that, “A once decrepit building ready for demolition is now a remarkable gem in Collingwood's downtown heritage district. This outstanding project raises the bar for the restoration of heritage architecture in Ontario, and will serve as a model for other dreamers across the province."

The award honours Peter Stokes, ACO’s pioneering restoration architect, best-known for bringing international standards of heritage conservation to his projects throughout the province. Mr. Stokes played a vital role in the early development of the Collingwood Heritage District. His work in 1981, with the help of architecture students from the University of Waterloo, provided the first background study to what would later become the Heritage Conservation District."

The Tremont project involved the preservation, restoration and revitalization of an important 1889 designated building in the Collingwood Heritage District and its adaptive reuse to provide commercial opportunities and live/work space for the creative sector. The historic Tremont building underwent a 16-month restoration beginning in June 2009. The building is now home to The Bay School of Art, The Tremont Cafe, The Elihu Book Room, nine artist studios and four third floor apartments.

The photo shows - From right to left: Bowie Lex, Nina Lex, Christine Cowley (nominated the project) Annette Snowdon (VP of ACO Collingwood), Anke Lex, Richard Lex, Lloyd Alter (president of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario).

For more information please contact Richard or Anke Lex at (705)445-5764 anke@thetremont.ca or visit the Tremount website.

Paramedic Services Launch the 2010 Toy Drive

The County of Simcoe Paramedic Services are pleased to announce the launch of the eighth Annual Toy Drive, benefitting local children and families during the holiday season. Donations of new, unwrapped toys will be accepted at various locations and parades across Simcoe County.

Since its inception, the County of Simcoe Paramedics Services Toy Drive has collected more than 20,000 toys, $30,000 and 7,600 pounds of food from the generous residents of Simcoe County. All donations will be distributed to local children and families in need by charitable organizations working in partnership with Simcoe County Paramedic Services. Residents are being asked for their continued generosity and support in helping those in our region most in need celebrate this holiday season.

Donations can also be made at the County of Simcoe Administration Centre, 1110 Highway 26 in Midhurst during regular business hours and at all Simcoe County Paramedic stations, where outdoor drop boxes are now available.

Alliston – Concession 7 and Dean Drive
Angus – 1 Treetop Street
Barrie – 113 Tiffin Street
Barrie – 667 Bayfield Street
Bradford – Unit 6/7 Artisian Industrial Parkway
Coldwater – Fire Hall Lane
Collingwood – 195 St. Paul Street
Craighurst – 2298 Horseshoe Valley Road
Elmvale – 7 Patterson Street
Midland – 395 Cranston Crescent
Orillia – 820 Memorial Avenue
Stroud – 2394 Victoria Street
Wasaga Beach – 23 Oxbow Park Road
Washago – 401 Anchor Drive

The County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.