Dwight Improvement Group

October 9, 2010 9am - 4pm

2010-09-21T09:15:00.001-07:00

Change Me to We...

You are invited to attend The ThanksGiving Bake and Craft Sale at the Dwight Community Centre.

Shop for pies, breads & buns, sweets, crafts and harvest centre pieces. Your funds are sending Huntsville High School students to Kenya, Africa to help build a school and build skills for a better future. Get involved and buy a table to sell your items. $25 table fee. All questions can be forwarded to Marcy Hill at (705) 788 4034

September 8th Meeting is being moved to a different date.....stay tuned

2010-08-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

We welcome you to join us on the early eve of Wednesday September 8th, 2010. Come together by 6:30pm at the Council Chambers in Dwight. The Lake of Bays is entering another beautiful autumn season and we are discussing the community plan including some new faces and new ideas for our local community improvement. See you there.

Public Meeting July 28, 2010

2010-07-15T10:11:00.001-07:00

Come out on Wednesday July 28th, 2010 at 7:00 pm.

Location to be posted soon.

*There will be a short presentation from the Dwight Improvement Group
(copies of the proposal are available to view prior to the meeting at the library.)
*The large group will break into smaller interest groups and under the leadership of the group chairperson, the group will brainstorm ideas of what the group would like to pursue; including; projects, funding, duties with in the group etc.
*Then we will come back together and share some ideas from each area.
Potential Interest Groups May Include;

Economic
Creative economy
Eco-wellness
Gas station and services
Bank
Pharmacy
Multi use trails (ATV, cycling waling snowmobiling)
Washrooms
Financing
Marketing
BIA
CIA
Communication and transportation access
Fire and police service

Heritage and Culture
Library
Creative economy
Art
Heritage sites and tours
Festivals
Themes
School
Churches
Signs

Coordination
Liaison between group and partners
Partnerships
MTO
Township
District
Lions Club
Seniors Clubs
School
Chamber of Commerce
Muskoka Tourism
Transportation and communication coordination

Funding
Capital:
Township
District
Province (Trillium)
Federal (Fed Nor)
Private groups (Lions)
Individual supportFundraising specific

Latest DIG Meeting Minutes

2010-06-23T10:38:00.001-07:00

Dwight Improvement Group
And
Discover Dwight

Dwight Community Planning Meeting Follow Up
Township Chambers

June 15, 2010

18 in attendance including Mayor Janet Peake, Councilors Nancy Tapley and Margaret Casey, Marie Poirier, Gary Sanderson, Janine Scott, Linda Keown, John Lilly, Karen Szykoluk

Marie welcomed every one and explained how the data from the previous community meeting from May 11th was divided into six planning headings of which were printed on handouts and put up on a flip chart. The Planning Headings are: Recreation, Aesthetics, Economic, Heritage/Culture, Coordination and Funding. Corresponding columns were Heading Components, Committee Members and Possible Project. attached

Janet Peake - A community plan needs to be a process. We need to identify the projects and the participants who can do them.
The first category of Recreation was briefly discussed.
John suggested we need a project that has minimum cost and could be done quickly, such as adding information such as Festivals to the website, www.discoverdwight.com.
Margaret Casey – may need more discussion on the Planning Headings.
Linda – would be a liaison between the Recreation Committee and the Parks/Recreation Trails (PRT) committee. Re the Dwight rink - partnership of school and fire dept.
Margo Cook – interested in bike and walking trails.
Irene from Spring Lake – interested in ATV trails and if bylaws could be changed. This activity could promote more businesses in Dwight.
Janet – we need to get Dwight vibrant enough to attract a business like a gas station.
Marie - If something is identified as a need or priority, we should plan for it and keep it in mind. For example dealing with MTO when planning for certain projects.
Janet – We need more then ‘keeping it in mind’. A community plan is a guiding, leading document. Commercial needs have to be identified in the strategic plan. What does the community want to spend their money on.
Peggy Hurley – The time line is important. Focus on what we can do.
Nancy – Told of the bike and walking trails being put into Echo Hills.

Aesthetics:
Signs are important. Three ‘Welcome to Dwight’ signs were discussed previously.
There are no signs directing the public to the library or school. She would like an electronic sign to display events. The original sign funds for Baysville came from festivals. The Lions club would help fund raise for signs.
Discussion of how some initiatives have to go through a lot of red tape within the township which is time consuming.
Nancy – talked about the Bigwin window project and the Paddles project which are currently being undertaken by various local Artists.
Economic:
Janet – There may be a possibility to jump start some projects.
John – Partnership is important, go through our councilor to find the best way to expedite some ideas.
Marie – let the group know that there is subgroup of Lake of Bays looking at Dwight for a center for rural health, the Gateway Research Centre from which several systems may flow. www.getewayreserch.ca/node/1
Sub committees for the Strategic Plan already exist. Councilor Ginny Burgess is the contact person for all the current strategy planning groups.

Heritage and Culture:
Peggy – Explained the 3 year plan the Friends of the Library are working on. They have been donated a small building, the‘book nook’ by the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce.
The friends will plant educational gardens with identified plants and a vegetable garden. They will involve the students from Irwin school. The friends are looking for partners for a grant
Peggy – would like to piggy back on the successful Firefest event. One idea she had was the longest picnic table of which every community group could be involved and split the proceeds.

Funding:
Nancy – Once we are ready with certain projects, we can look at obtaining financial partners. Dorset had a funding partner’s lunch with corporate sponsors.
Peggy – is learning how to use the grants software program that the township has acquired.

Coordination:
Marie - What is the feeling of the group?
Janine - We need more public input, have a sign up sheet for interested community members.
Need to identify 2 or 3 ideas to focus on.
Garry – Thinks that signs are one thing to focus on. Businesses should partner with township and MTO. Washrooms is another, protect the beach at all costs. The plans are already in place
from the previous DIG submission to the G8. He said the Langford canoe garage could be taken back from the township for extended parking if a building is put the existing lot site.
Nancy - As a first step before a building is put up, consider handicap porto potties which are larger, could double as a change room, and have running water. It could be anchored down in a pergola structure, or bolted to a pole.

A Community Plan to be developed for long term.
Aubrey would identify the needs of the seniors club, the DIG to work with the businesses.
Create a contact list for all community groups with names of key persons. Address each group to what they feel is important to them.
Margo Brown – would like to be the Irwin School liason
Peggy – the last community meeting was very positive, we need to keep in touch will all concerned. Make use of the Dwight News and Up Coming Events for information.
Janet Peake- would like if at every meeting, people identify themselves.
Margaret Casey – Would like if the DIG group could present to the community their submission to the G8 as presented to the township
Peggy – We could then build upon what the DIG group started. What are the 5 things that were applied for and were turned down. Could a copy of the presentation be put at the library.

Marie - Recap:
Narrow down the ideas
Create short term projects
Get more information out to the community – beef up the media – information on the website.
Put a list of groups together to assist in a longer community plan. Work with Councilor Ginny Burgess with ideas

Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, July 28th, 7:00 township office.

Scribe – Karen Szykoluk

Latest DIG Meeting Minutes

2010-06-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

Dwight Improvement Group
And
Discover Dwight

Dwight Community Planning Meeting

May 11, 2010

Marie welcomed the attendees (forty-four) and introduced the Dwight Improvement Group. She then introduced Mayor Janet Peake who also welcomed the attendees and thanked the DIG group for organizing the first community meeting. Out of the LOB Strategic Plan which was initiated last year, Dorset and Baysville have both started their community plan.
Congratulations on getting the Dwight Community Plan started.

Ginny Burgess, Councilor for Sinclair Ward explained the context of the LOB Strategic Plan. She is acting as the liaison between the various groups and council. A few groups have been started including a Communications group whose initiatives include a Dwight website and a Healthy Environment group working on lake health stewardship.
Stefan Szczerbak (Director of Planning & Bldg. Services) assists as a resource person.

Advantages of a Community Plan:
- Highway #60 alignment concern. Stefan, announced 3 options being proposed for Dwight. All were encouraged to attend the Highway #60 meeting at Hidden Valley on May 13 for more information. www.highway60.ca
- Dorset and Baysville are taking the lead in their planning. Dwight needs to start something. A healthy collaboration is encouraged.
- The Dwight core needs to strengthen its facilities to keep a draw of tourists, cottagers and residents by having public washrooms, upgrade the beach and docking.
- Mitigate the highway threat.
- Have a more welcoming town, make Dwight a destination; we lack a gas station, need a bank or pharmacy.
- It would be nice to have an ambiance of a village, have the highway as the main street with stop lights. Encourage walking and bike paths from the beach to the stores, library and restaurants. Have a theme town.
Why did previous community plans fall apart? Marie said there is a need to involve all aspects of the community. Groups must take ownership of each project, get grants or funding and carry them through.
Janet Peake – we need to make our own commitments. Some items never went to council in the past, can’t rely on council only to carry through projects.
Marie - after the G8 funding was defunct, we need to do the projects ourselves.
Nancy - Dorset is looking at sponsor and donor funding.

Identification of Community Services and Program priorities
Economic, Social and Environmental

Dwight has a lot going for it: we have a school and municipal property. Partner with school board. This is good for encouraging new families, grow the school.
- We have a township office. Partner more with them.
- We are on the Algonquin Park corridor.
- We have a great public beach.
- Encourage retirees to live near Dwight to create a larger tax base.
- The Library is a good outreach. There are many opportunities to expand the programs in the community center and library.
- Brian Simpson suggests Eco Wellness for alternative health. Come to Dwight to be restored.
- Have a permanent focus on youth programs. We need to get the young people involved in service groups to keep the clubs going, ie the Lions Club.
- Aubrey Cotton suggested to do a walk about in Dwight as they do in Baysville. He knows many vendors who would come here perhaps in October.
-The Seniors Club is looking for younger people aged 50 plus.
- Vickie Dodds suggested a ‘Creative Economy’ ie Art in the Pines.
Encourage artists to educate young people and promote Arts and Culture. Teach them to realize this could be a business. This may sustain young people in the area.
Janet Peake added that there are artists interested in doing murals in Dwight which would promote a circle tour out of Huntsville.
Kelly Hayward (Huntsville Chamber of Commerce) – We need to identify the market. Dwight actually is a destination, but we need to service the public better. Have signage and facilities.
- There is a frustration of insurance liability and a lot of red tape with the township from those wishing to pursue an event or new business. We need the township to have a role in the plan.
Nancy Tapley mentioned that Echo Valley is bringing on line a provincially significant mountain bike park with walking trails, skills development park, observation deck and washrooms. It will be an asset for Dwight.
- Brian Simpson - Show the character and heritage of Dwight.
- Promote the United Church and the heritage walk on the beach road.
- Have a town map and signage to link the beach to the other end of town.
- Promote Dwight Beach Rd. as a walking and biking trail. Sign both ends of the road.
- Dwight Beach – less signage, less boat traffic, add kids playground, colorful benches and picnic tables.
- Highway #60 – the community should coordinate a response to the options proposed.
It is our Main Street and should have sidewalks, create zones for bikes and public. A slower speed limit. This may be a planning issue. Coordinate with MTO and let them know our plans.

Stefan reminded us that the Hidden Valley meeting on May 13th is a preliminary meeting.
We have a lot of time to put in our comments and be organized as a community.
Marie would like the Highway #60 discussion on the next DIG agenda.
- Community Events like Firefest and Dwight Winter Carnival can be used to promote the village. Other groups should be able to join in to give these events a greater impact.
- Promote the accommodations in the area along side the festivals to market Dwight as a destination.
- We need ‘Welcome to Dwight’ signs.
- Welcome ATVers - View this three season sport as a sub-economy. The township needs to aid in the bylaws for this initiative.
Peggy Hurley – Sub committee of fundraisers - have a representative of each fundraising group to get together to discuss annual traditions and events we can share with.

Marie – would like to call another meeting in one month with an Action Plan.
Janet Peake asked if anyone can join the Dwight Improvement Group. Marie answered that Yes, any interested person with a business or not is welcome to attend the meetings.
The group is not funded, or incorporated. Right now it obtains funding by the $50.00 businesses’ pay to be on the website.
Comments from this meeting should be directed to Marie, Ginny Burgess or comment on the website.
Stefan concluded that the plan going forward needs to be partnered with the township, school and school board, MTO and make use of the website.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:30 pm
Karen Szykoluk, scribe

Refreshments supplied by Nancy Tapley

Tuesday June 15, 2010 @ 7PM

2010-06-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the follow up community meeting that will revisit the ideas and concepts generated at last months public meeting. We invite you to join the Dwight Improvement Group at Council Chambers in the Lake of Bays in the early eve of June 15. Our focus aims at implementing active plans to improve your community.

If you have any questions, please email the group at discoverdwight@gmail.com.

Welcome to your group

2010-04-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

Discover Dwight and the Dwight Improvement Group

Invites individuals, community groups, public and private service providers, and businesses to attend an

Open Working Group meeting

Purpose: To create a Community Plan of for Dwight in fulfilment of the Township’s Strategic Plan (2009)

Date: May 11, 2010

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: Dwight Community Centre

Agenda

Introduction and Context of the LOB Strategic Plan

Advantages and Purpose of a Community Plan

Community Priorities for Programs and Services
-economic (tourism, business, industry etc)
-social (education, day care, fire and police services, housing, recreation, heritage etc)
-environmental

Identification and Evaluation of Existing services and Programs (community and LOB)

Collaboration Opportunities for Community-based delivery of priorities

Expectations of the Township

Next Steps
For further information call Marie Poirier, 635-9860