Regular Council Highlights – May 20, 2025

Kawartha Lakes – The following are highlights from the Regular Council Meeting on May 20, 2025.  

The meeting can be viewed in full on our YouTube Channel.

The Regular Council minutes from April 22, 2025 were received and adopted.

Recognition of Years of Service Milestones for Kawartha Lakes employees

With May being Employee Appreciation Month, the meeting kicked off with Mayor Doug Elmslie and CAO Ron Taylor recognizing employees that have reached service milestones with the municipality. The following people were recognized:

25 Years of Service 

• Kimberly Page, Craig Shanks, Marielle van Engelen, Dustin Heacock, Valerie Knights, Jeremy Thomas, Tim Groen, Ryan McIlmoyle, Jason Teel, Randy Watson, Sara Avery, Karen Barter, Beverley Binks, Shannon Clarke, Kally Robinson, Connie Traill, Jeffrey Waldron and Heather Saigeon.

30 Years of Service 

• Shaun Davidson, Brian Beukeboom, and Cindy Minaker.

35 Years of Service 

• Paula Fisher, Tim Brasier, Brian Junkin, John Pearson, Jane Davis, Cathy Hamill-Hill, Cliff Archer, and John McRae. 

40 Years of Service 

• Danny Barr, Larry Blodgett, and Jody Clements.

45 Years of Service 

• Wendy Ellis and Roger Gostin.

Congratulations to all the Staff that we’re recognized and thank you for all you do for our community!

Paramedic Service Week and Recognition of Exemplary Acts in the Community  

Paramedic Services Week is May 18 to May 24. The theme for this year is “We Care for Everyone”, which reflects the spirit of inclusivity that drives the Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Services (KLPS) work. As a part of the celebrations, Paramedic Deputy Chief Jamie Golden shared a powerful story that highlighted the importance of the Chain of Survival. The Chain of Survival is a sequence of interconnected actions that when performed efficiently, maximizes the chances of survival in situations like cardiac arrest.  

Today’s story surrounds a cardiac arrest that occurred on December 13, 2024 at the Legion in Lindsay. There were family members and bystanders at the Legion that acted quickly by recognizing the emergency, calling 911, performing high quality CPR, and applying a defibrillator. At the same time, our ambulance communications officers were taking the call information, providing CPR instructions, making sure the defibrillator was attached and ensuring that the appropriate resources were being dispatched to the scene. Not long after this, a paramedic acting as a first responder arrived and assisted with CPR and management of the defibrillator. A few minutes later, a paramedic crew, paramedic supervisor and Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service (KLFRS) arrived and advanced resuscitation measures were deployed. The paramedics crew continued the cardiac arrest care while transporting the patient to the hospital where care was continued and ultimately led to a successful resuscitation. 

As a result, bystanders Dylan and John Ireland received the KLPS Courage Award and a Save Pin for their efforts. Paramedic Chief Sara Johnston, the first paramedic on scene, received a Lightning Bolt Pin which recognizes paramedics for their role in a successful resuscitation. Paramedics Greg Donnan, Jeff Micks and Chris Vanden Berg also received a Lightning Bolt Pin. Firefighters Brandon Mitchell, Ryan Herlihey, and Tyler Cayley received a Save Pin. Ambulance Communications Officers Anna Charlton (call taker) and Sydney Lodwick (dispatcher) also received a Save Pin for their invaluable role in the rescue. Survivor Merle Schroter attended the ceremony with her husband and received flowers from the municipality. 

After-Hours Care Presentation 

The After-Hours Care presentation by Dr. Baldeep Paul of the Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team and Andrew Veale of the Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative outlined ongoing efforts to address primary care access challenges in the community. The After-Hours Clinic, staffed by Family Health Team members, serves local patients, those without family doctors, and individuals from outside the area. In June 2024, the Family Health Team received funding of $36,000 per month for six months from Council to enhance services. The funding was used to reopen Friday operations and expand Thursday hours, which increased physician coverage from 26 to 32 hours per week. This funding also allowed the clinic to remain open to patients outside the Family Health Team roster, letting them be seen by healthcare providers without further taxing the Emergency Department at the Ross Memorial Hospital 

Despite this progress, physician retention remains a critical issue. A recent meeting with primary care physicians highlighted the impending loss of another physician, leaving approximately 2,000 patients without a primary care physician.  

The team is seeking ongoing support to sustain the clinic’s operations. They requested $25,000 per month for 12 months, less than previously received, to maintain current services. The team emphasized accountability to both the City of Kawartha Lakes and the Ministry of Health, and committing to meet the mandated 21 service hours. They will continue operating the After-Hours Clinic with the same hours, and continue collaboration with Kawartha Lakes on physician retention while awaiting clearer direction from the Ministry on future after-hours care policy. 

The presentation was received as given, and the funding request for 2025 was approved.

Committee of the Whole – May 6, 2025 

All recommendations from the Committee of the Whole meeting were adopted as printed in the minutes, save and except for Items 9.3.1, 9.3.6, 9.3.7, and 9.3.8. 

Item 9.3.1 - Request for High Water Bill Relief 

The deputation was received as printed and referred back to staff for a report at the July Council meeting. The motion passed.   

Item 9.3.6 - 2025 Lifecycle Management Capital Program 

To clarify the public record, the motion was re-read in full:  

That Report ENG2025-015, 2025 Lifecycle Management Capital Program, be received; 

That the budget of capital project 983250604 (Local Asphalt Paving) be increased by $2 million to accommodate the road segments identified in Table 7 of Report ENG2025-015, save and except for Ski View Drive, with the budget increase financed by $1.8 million from the Canada Community Building Fund Reserve and up to $200,000 from the Capital Contingency Reserve; and that Sturgeon Glen Road, in its entirety, and Slalom Drive be included in Table 7 of Report ENG2025-015 and completed using existing 2025 tenders. The motion passed.  

Item 9.3.7 - Budget increase request for Capital Project 9832503 (Urban Arterial Resurfacing) 

To clarify the public record, the motion was re-read in full: 

That the budget of capital project 9832503 (Urban Arterial Resurfacing) be increased by $300,000 to accommodate Kenscott Crescent and Thorndyke Drive with the budget increase financed from the capital contingency reserve; and that these road segments be funded by existing 2025 tenders. The motion passed.  

Item 9.3.8 - Budget increase request for Capital Project 9832505 (Gravel Resurfacing) 

To clarify the public record, the motion was re-read in full: 

That the budget of capital project 9832505 (Gravel Resurfacing) utilize the existing contingency fund to accommodate the Hemlock Road segment; and that existing tenders be utilized to implement this road segment. The motion passed.

 

Planning Advisory Committee – May 7, 2025 

All recommendations from the Planning Advisory Committee were adopted as printed in the minutes  

Release of Fenelon Falls Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Funds 

Three community groups received funding from the the Fenelon Falls Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund Reserve. The funds were allocated as follows:

• Maryboro Lodge Museum Corporation was approved for $6,000 in funding for their annual KidsFest event. KidsFest is a free family event that features many educational activities and locally manufactured toys. The funds will go towards materials for toy making and activities, as well as for local instructors and performers during the weekend event. 

• Kawartha Works Community Cooperative was approved for $6,000 in funding that will go towards the purchase of Robinia Stacks for Juniper Park in Fenelon Falls. Robinia Stacks is a type of playground structure designed for children of all ages and abilities. It will provide opportunity for balance and climbing activities and is made from natural wood materials that align with the natural theme of the park. Head over to the Juniper Park Revitalization Jump In page to view an early concept design of the park redevelopment. 

• The Grove Theatre was approved for $2,857.57 in funding to support the costs of venue rentals, props, and costumes for the operation of their 2025 summer camp.  

For more information, read the Release of Fenelon Falls Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Funds report.

Fire Protection Agreement with the Township of Ramara

The municipality is replacing the Lake Dalrymple Bridge in 2025. During construction, the bridge will be closed, which means local volunteer firefighters won’t be able to reach their station easily. To make sure emergency services are still provided quickly and safely in the area, we’ve set up an agreement with the Township of Ramara.

This agreement allows Ramara’s fire department to automatically respond to emergencies in the affected area during the bridge closure. Ramara is closer and can respond faster while the bridge is out of service.  The report was received as printed and it passed.

For more information, read the Fire Protection Agreement with the Township of Ramara report. 

Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit Program – Follow-up information

The municipality is reviewing how it delivers the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB), a program that gives money to people who need help paying for housing. Right now, the program is focused on three groups: survivors of domestic violence, people experiencing homelessness, and seniors. These groups were chosen in 2020 because of high need and limited provincial funding. 

Recently, Council asked if people living with disabilities should be added as a fourth priority group. Staff explained that adding another group would mean even more demand for a program that already doesn’t have enough funding. The current funding ($251,901 per year) wouldn’t be enough to cover more people without reducing support for those already prioritized. Some cities, like Ottawa, do include people with disabilities in their priority groups, but they receive much more funding. Since the COHB program ends in March 2026, staff suggest Council consider creating a new, locally funded benefit in the future to support more people.