Month: February 2014

The average residential property owner in South Dundas will pay about $8 more in municipal property taxes this year, and when combined with the Counties and Education levies the average property tax bill will be about $20 more than last year.

An average home in South Dundas is valued at approximately $176,000.

Capital and operating budgets approved by South Dundas council for 2014 result in a total levy of $5,231,000, which is about $85,000 more than last year.

South Dundas council wrapped up two days of budget deliberations February 20 and 21, satisfied that they had met their target to hold the municipal levy increase close to one per cent.

At the outset of budget deliberations, South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds said, “We need to concentrate on getting the projects we’ve started done. We as a council have to consider what’s good for all of South Dundas, not just for individuals.”

With reserves sitting in fairly good shape at about $3 million, Byvelds suggested, “It’s better to set the books straight for the end of this year so the new council isn’t left to question what we did over the last four years.”

With staff submitting budgets that did not include a lot of excess, council made quick work of the operational budgets. For the most part they were happy with the capital projects presented, and provided their approval.

South Dundas chief administrative office Steve McDonald said there were no service cuts in the budget and told council that the 2014 budget included a one per cent increase in wages and council honourariums. Annual contributions to the municipal return of service incentive for new doctors ended this year.

“This is not an exciting budget. It’s a stay the course budget,” added McDonald, who thanked management staff, especially the treasurer, for the months of hard work that were poured into this document.

The budget does not become official until the budget bylaw is approved by council. It will be presented to council at the March 4, regular council meeting.

[…]

The Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry Provincial Liberal Association has scheduled an all candidate’s debate for Monday March 3rd at 6:30 PM at the Best Western Plus Hotel, 1515 Vincent Massey Drive, Cornwall. 

The event will feature the candidates seeking the nomination for the Provincial Liberal Candidacy. Candidates will be asked a series of questions from the event moderator, and be given an allotted period of time to respond to the questions.

“There are two excellent candidates currently seeking the nomination, who come from two very

different backgrounds” explains James Borer, president of the SDSG PLA. “Both would make very strong candidates in the next Provincial election.”

Currently the two candidates seeking the nomination are Del Jones and John Earle.

The event is open to the general public. 

[…]

Darren Dalgleish, General Manager and CEO of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission (SLPC) has won a Canadian Government Executive (CGE) Leadership award.  

This prestigious award recognizes Dalgleish and his team for leadership in business renewal efforts through their strategy ‘Alive in Five’.  

“I am very honoured to be recognized with this award.  The toughest part of my job as CEO of SLPC is standing to receive recognition for work that others have done.  Over the past two years, my incredibly talented team has rallied around a common vision of self sufficiency and business excellence and we have achieved real momentum,” said Darren Dalgleish, General Manager and CEO, St. Lawrence Parks Commission.  

The award criteria was based upon the demonstrated benefits  improved service and reduced costs; difficulties faced; the quality of change management and leadership; innovation, collaboration, networking and partnerships; the development of team support and employee “buy-in”; the significance and materiality of the project; lessons learned and Replicability.

 “Congratulations to Darren Dalgleish on receiving the 2014 Canadian Government Executive Leadership Award.  The Commission has successfully enhanced its service offerings in creative and innovative ways during challenging economic times.  This award is a well-deserved testament to the hard work, dedication, ingenuity and leadership of the entire St. Lawrence Parks Commission team,” said Steven Davidson, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. 

Shortly after the arrival of Dalgleish, the SLPC adopted the business renewal strategy they call ‘Alive in Five’.  

The strategy, now in its third year, aims to completely renew the organization to self sufficiency within five years.  

There are two essential pillars of this plan; 1: Cost Structure improvement through the execution of Lean Kaizen methodology, enrichment of programs and product portfolio.  

“As an Agency of the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport, our priorities are complex and diverse, but we believe growth and cost effectiveness are key to regional economic growth and essential to enabling sound stewardship of the heritage facilities and properties entrusted to us” said Dalgleish.  

“Our focus is simple, we simply challenge everything we do with the question – “Would the customer be willing to pay for that?”” Dalgleish added. 

The other key is to lead a staff culture change whereby there was greater connection from the top to bottom of the organization with fewer layers, more open dialogue and greater employee engagement.  

Staff surveys, quarterly ‘All Hands’ meetings, Kaizen events, a Hero’s Cup staff award recognition program and other initiatives have helped to dramatically improve employee morale and engagement.  

“The open door management style at SLPC is taking hold” Dalgleish said.  

He also sites General Electric’s philosophy of E=QxA (effectiveness = quality (of the idea) x acceptance) as essential to the sustainability of change and at the core of SLPC’s quest. 

“Darren has brought an important private sector perspective to the St. Lawrence Parks Commission.  His passion for his work has permeated the whole organization and has given new energy to all our initiatives,” said  Ian Wilson, Chair, St. Lawrence Parks Commission.

Canadian Government Executive is the journal of record for public sector executives.  

Now in its 19th year of publishing, CGE reaches a wide national audience of senior decision-makers and managers across federal, provincial and municipal jurisdictions.  

Their mission is to contribute to excellence in public sector management. 

Our contributors are among the sectors most well-known and respected thought leaders.  Published 10 times a year, CGE reaches up to 60,000 public sector leaders and decision-makers every month. 

With extensive experience in business renewal and development, Dalgleish joined the St. Lawrence Parks Commission as CEO in 2011 charged with executing a corporate transformation to create business sustainability.  

He has extensive executive leadership experience in the public and private sectors, led multinational companies and business transformations.  

He is educated in Engineering and Business and has studied at Loyalist College, York University and the University of Tennessee and is a Six Sigma Black Belt. 

The St. Lawrence Parks Commission operates internationally renowned historic site Upper Canada Village, Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada, part of Ontario’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, thirteen campgrounds and beaches from the 1000 Islands to the Quebec border, Crysler Park Marina, Upper Canada Golf Course and Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary along with two scenic parkways – the Long Sault Parkway and the 1000 Islands Parkway.

[…]

There’s going to be a 44th annual Tubie weekend.

The 43 year old event, was in jeopardy when two weeks ago the Morrisburg and District Lions Club’s Tubie Committee announced that they would no longer organize and host the event.

The announcement was a challenge to the community as the outgoing organizers asked that anyone interested in keeping this community’s longest continuously running festival alive, come forward. When they made the announcement, they were confident that someone would come forward to continue the popular event.

Last week, the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce board of directors approved the undertaking and February 14, issued a press release outlining their intentions.

“The community can breathe a sigh of relief. Tubie Fest will not fade away but will continue as strong as ever thanks to The South Dundas Chamber of Commerce stepping up to the plate,” reads the release. 

Chamber President Chuck Barkley is delighted that this signature event will continue. 

“This event is a major economic generator for our Community and the Board of Directors felt strongly that is was much too important to let it disappear,” said Barkley.

In preparation for the 2014 Tubie Fest, the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce will be consulting with the event’s past organizers who have done such an outstanding job over the years.  

“We certainly appreciate their countless volunteer hours and all the challenges they have faced during the past years,” said Chamber of Commerce vice president Carl McIntyre. “We are glad to hear that the previous organizers are willing to guide us through organizing this event.” In the coming months the Chamber will also be looking to the community for volunteers and support as they organize Tubie Fest 2014. 

“Tubie Fest has been one of the community’s most important events for decades and certainly has had a positive effect on the area’s economy over the years. Probably most important, however, is how Tubie Fest brings the community together every summer with friends from near and far enjoying this special week in August. The Chamber feels this is something that should continue and encourages all of those Tubie Racers, hometown folks who live away and the entire community to look forward to making Tubie Fest 2014 one of the best ever,” concludes the media release.

“We are thrilled to learn that the Chamber of Commerce has elected to pick up the torch and ensure that South Dundas will celebrate Tubie Weekend in 2014,” said Michael Domako, who along with Matt McCooeye co-chaired the outgoing organizing committee.

“The Chamber has experience organizing different types of events and by virtue of their mandate have an established network and support in the business community,” he added. “We will work with the Chamber to provide a smooth transition and look forward to the next step in the evolution of the Tubie Festival.

Details about the 44th Tubie weekend event will be up to a new committee, which the Chamber of Commerce directors hope to have in place within the next couple of weeks.

Asked what the community can expect from this year’s event, South Dundas Chamber of Commerce manager Geraldine Fitzsimmons said, “In my own personal opinion – I would think the Chamber will be keeping the event much the same as what the people are accustomed to – it’s been working great so far, so why change it?” 

The event takes a great number of volunteer resources, and the Chamber believes they will have enough help to make it work. 

“Our community is known for all the competent volunteers we have, and everyone knows how important Tubie Festival is for us,” said Fitzsimmons.

“I am glad to see the Chamber pick up the responsibility to run the Tubies,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds. “The community had told me they would have missed them and this proves that, in the end, if the event is worth doing, someone will.”

[…]

SD&G – At the first meeting of the Economic Development Officers Working Group for 2014, held last week at the North Stormont Municipal Office in Berwick, a passionate introduction to the Shift 10% campaign was made.

The Shift 10% campaign is led by champions Kim Stewart, Shift 10% Coordinator, and owner of Stokefire and Donna Primeau, South Stormont, Chamber of Commerce President and owner of Showcase in the Long Sault Plaza.

Shift 10% Back to Local is a campaign designed to remind the public about the benefits of supporting their locally owned businesses. 

Campaign advocate Kim Stewart believes that by actively shifting 10 per cent of shopping to local businesses, the whole community will benefit.  

“The advantage is that we are their neighbours, we are the ones who support their son’s and daughter’s minor sports, donate to community fundraisers, and hire youth from the neighbourhood,” said Stewart.

“The South Stormont Chamber of Commerce (SSCC) has started to develop a 36 month campaign with a primary goal of increasing the profiles of local businesses,” said Donna Primeau. 

There is no charge to participate in the program, only the commitment to be an ambassador of the Shift 10% campaign.  SSCC has been presenting across Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry with the hopes that local business owners will support the Shift 10%  campaign.  

“You do not have to be a Chamber of Commerce member to participate in the program – we want Shift 10% to become region wide – and in the future be recognizable throughout eastern Ontario,” added Stewart.

SDG Economic Development and Communications Officer Terry Besner sees great potential in this grass roots movement. 

“By supporting the Shift 10% program both businesses and consumers will benefit. The economic growth will strengthen existing businesses, encourage expansion, and foster entrepreneurial spirit locally,” concluded Besner.

[…]