- As the needs of residents change - what do you see as the needs we will need most to meet in the next 5 years?
- Are there visitors to Huntsville for reasons we don't normally think of that could open our eyes to new ideas?
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13 comments:
As residents of Huntsville we need to increase the accessablility to high speed internet to all members of the community. Currently many in the outskirts of the town are not able to access high speed internet.
As high speed internet is something that allows us to bank, research, communicate and shop from home it is vital that all members have the ability to access it.
The second component is that there is a growing amount of tele-commuting going on that requires high speed internet access in order to work from home.
This would allow Huntsville to attract more proffessionals from the city to our area. They may have to travel to the city on a weekly or monthly basis, but having the ability to work in Muskoka tends to make the occassional commute to the city bareable.
We look at what our area has to offer in terms of natural beauty and it is an easy choice to come here rather than work in a concrete jungle.
If high speed is not avaialble you look elsewhere.
Typically these jobs are well paying and year round. Is this not what we are looking for in terms of economic development for the town.
Dan W P1H
Dan
As you may know, there is currently a major project underway to provide this high speed access across the whole community. FedNor was a major funder. It is called Muskoka Community Network. It has a web site. Contact John Finley for more info.
Claude
Hi Dan W:
Our research totally agrees with your point of view.
Mayor Doughty is correct that Muskoka Community Network's has an initiative underway to bring broadband to unserved areas. More information can be found on this project at our website at http://www.mcnet.ca/mediacentre/faq/
Rob McPhee - Muskoka Community Network
As a community with demographics showing it is growing older, and given that the baby boomer market is one identified suitable for Huntsville to pursue as retirees, then our town departments such a planning, building and parks and recreation need to develop a strategy that serves the needs of this older population and at the same times takes advange of the economic oppertunities.
Mike Greaves
Councilor for Brunel Ward
Mike
I agree with you that the town is growing older and the statistics from the Stats Canada on the Census shows that this is happening. We actually see a reduction in the 25-44 age category. This concerns me, as this is essentially the working and family demographic.
Now you say we want to move to retirement, woudl it not make more sense to move to attract and retain this demographic as this will help improve the town.
Do we want to look at establishing ourselves as a retirment community, I think Gravenhurst tried this in the 80's and 90's and recently has made moves to reverse this.
One of the reasons I came to Huntsville is that they have in the past been progressive. If we want to be the status quo we will become a retirement community with a growing aging population. This is what many communities are doing, would it not make sense to be slighlty contratian in our outlook.
If everyone else is looking for older residents, we should attract the youth. As an older population will not have the same economic impact that large numbers of 25-44 will have.
Dan...my comments were not at the exclusion of other economic strategies. The simple fact is that there is an immense baby boomer market that is looking to move to small town Ontario. This is a huge economic engine that we need to make sure we get our share of. Of course we need to continue to try to attract the younger...however that objective is considerably more difficult as the traditional manuafacturing sectors are in a state of flux. Plus by developing an attractive retirement option, oppertunities for the younger population to service this market will also be created in service and professional careers. Yes Gravenhurst did, I challenge that they are now backing out - Muskoka Warf is essentialy retirement driven - regardless they were ahead of the curve in the 1990's. A simple re-read of Boom, Bust & Echo will confirm that the time is now...we already see it coming in the planning applications coming into town hall...Mike
It appears as if there is already some form of plan for a second ice surface, but I have not seen anywhere that the funding is available or plans for the facility. Moving to the area just over two years ago, I was very surprised that this population base had one surface. I was unable to join the men's adult league which I have heard as well from many peers. Any time there is an event, the regularly scheduled hockey, etc. is cancelled. As a community that prides itself on an active lifestyle, this would not only confirm that notion, but allow for the addition of other events without the disruption of those already scheduled. Hosting hockey tournaments is the sort of thing that can provide a nice boost to the local economy, especially for those businesses that rely mainly on summer tourism. I have heard the discussions on this topic have been going on for several years, but the impression I have is that it has been held up with red tape that is hopefully over and done with.
Drew M. P1H
Drew M P1H... As a member of the Second Ice Pad Feasibility Study Group my understanding is that the funding for the second pad is at the budgeting stage with the Parks and Recreation staff for the Town of Huntsville, to be included in this years (2008) budget?
Public meetings have been held, the report has been made and submitted to council with recommendations.
If the political will of this council is to have a second ice pad during the current mandate, then it is possible, but the clock is ticking.
Hello my name is Jesse and I am in grade 8 and I think Huntsville should have a mini golf and a Burger King because mini golf is awesome and because a lot of people eat Burger King.
I think that if you where to add additional stores in the mall you should add more fast food restaurants like Taco Bell and Burger King! We also would like a Clairs, an arcade, and a bigger Bootlegger. Most teens would also like a bigger and better high school! We should also have a youth center for children and teens to communicate with people they wouldn’t usually talk to.
Candice.L. Age: 14
If I was the mayor in this town, the first thing I would do is put in a Burger King with a BIG playground!!! The second thing I would do is put in a West 49 because West 49 is a really good store and they have some sweet skateboards. Also I would put in a Candy Shoppe and Hardees. Thirdly I would put in a New York Fries.
Trevor P 13 yrs old
Hello I am a grade 7 student, and as a resident of Huntsville, I think that the town should attract more youth oriented shops, such as West49, in the Huntsville mall. It would draw a lot more young residents and employ a lot of people and make more people happy.
I recently read an e-mail regarding water access especially on Lake Vernon. After a presentation by the Huntsville Train Station Society I made a suggestion to Mayor Doughty which I will share now. The Society asked that in our vision that the project be completed with the recreation of the Hunters Bay dock that serviced the train station. I suggested to Mayor Doughty that we should consider incorporating the needs of the island residents on Lake Vernon as well as any Huntsville resident who wishes water access by providing seasonal docking slips made available on a rental basis. I further suggested that possibly there is enough land in the train station area to handle the seasonal parking required by these potential users. The town has already established a dock rental policy in Swallowdale and a similar program could possibly be established on Hunter Bay.
Mike Greaves Brunel Ward Councilor
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