Minutes

CALABOGIE & AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

DATE:  Monday, April 12th    7:00 P.M.

LOCATION:  Dickson Manor, Calabogie Peaks

 

Attending: 

Tama McCartney, Robin and Chantelle Wright, Karen Philips-Curran, Paul Murphy, Ann Stubinsky, Chris Fleming, Karen Warren, Bill Weiss, Carrie McCallum, Lee Chapman, Catherine Fortin, Carolyn Jakes, Deb Giffin, Cath Reynolds

Guests:  Peter Emon, Reeve; Darren Matthews (Rink Fundraising Committee) Diana Bowl (Advertising Project – Pakenham)

 

7:00    WELCOME &  ROUND TABLE SELF-INTRODUCTION

Thank you to Paul and Carrie of The Peaks, for providing meeting room and delightful refreshments.

 

Approval of Agenda

Motion to approve carried.

 

Treasurers Report & Member Status – David Abraham

            .  Results from December Fund Raising Auction were around $1,000

David sent regrets.  Carolyn presented the report on David’s behalf.

Total in bank as of March 31 is $7862.39 

There is still a large amount committed to Ec Dev for signage and co-operative advertising.  ($3600+$750)

 There is an allocation of support monies to the Festival of Senses and K & P Trail Map.

Approval of Previous Minutes - December 2009 meeting

Motion to approve previous minutes carried.

Correspondence since our last meeting

  1. Renfrew 150 year celebration June 9-12, 2011
  2. Renfrew County is resigning from the maintenance responsibilities of Cherry Point Park, located on Hwy 508.  Our municipality received a letter from CABA in support of their request for county to continue. Reeve Emon commented Council was not optimistic though other options have been suggested such as shared cost and transfer of ownership.

 

Festival of Senses Brainstorm Ideas – Cath Reynolds

Time to start thinking of our third annual Festival of the Senses.  At our next meeting, to be held in June, we would like to explore some fresh ideas.

Rural Ramble is divided into a series of 4 weekends.  On October 3, 4 the theme is Arts and Culture.  Perhaps we can utilize this opportunity.

New ideas forwarded to the festival committee so far

1.      The Pioneer Gathering (making history come to life)

2.      Wilderness Art Adventure (Taking advantage of our wonderful network of trails in the area, artists, hikers, naturalists and explorers can participate armed with sketchbook, cameras and paints.  This could be followed up with an exhibit and sale of the ‘fruits of this labour’, perhaps a year later.) 

           

 

Canada Day Participation – Cath Reynolds

A suggestion was made that CABA participate in the Canada Day festivities by organizing an old fashioned ‘pie eating contest’. A motion was put forward to grant monies in support of this venture, up to a total of $100.00.  Motion was approved by general consent.

 

Burnstown Business Report

CABA Director Moira Hutchison of Burnstown was unable to attend.  Karen Phillips-Curran of Riverstones Gallery, Burnstown, talked about the live music nights at Neat Coffee, the amazing quality of talent, and the high attendance, translating into new visitors to Burnstown.

Their annual Affair of the Arts is slated for June of this year.   They are reprinting their village tourism brochure.

A little retail space is available between the Blackbird Café and Somethin’ Special and also the former Bingo Bay Interiors has 900 sq ft retail space  available

 

Reeve Emon – Municipal Government Update

Municipal news update

1.  Cherry Point Park update (recorded earlier in minutes)

2.  Seniors' committee will soon be an incorporated body, looking to build 2 multi-unit buildings, 12 each in Griffith and another in Calabogie.  Should be 3 years away from turning sod.

3. Another application will be made for the Health clinic model.  This project needs to stand alone and not be a part of the Ottawa and surrounding area structure.

4.  Trails are moving forward, Manitou Mountain is about 1k longer.  Two new walking trails continue to be developed.

5. Broadband gap closed between Springtown and Burnstown with a new (unplanned node).  Burnstown will be on the grid by end of May supposedly.

6.  2 rapid emergency vehicles were purchased.  This municipality continues to invest in fire protection.

7.  1,000,000 in roads projects. Pucker Street and Mill Street will be completed in the fall.  Town will start soon, grinding and resurfacing (with a paved strip for sidewalk and bicycles) .

Whalen Road is being finished by county.

8.  Public school has been bought by the municipality for 40,000.  The plan advanced by the Reeve is to move council chambers and admin offices there, leaving room for the clinic and library to expand (purchasing process almost complete)

9.Rink Committee Chair, Darren Matthews, a Barryvale resident and parent of two children, spoke about the importance of our community rink and the improvements needed before next winter season.  He stated the rink boards are in very poor shape and the surface area where the ice is built needs a pad.

A new Recreation Committee, together with Rink Committee, and Chris Fleming as Fundraising Chair, will begin fundraising to replace boards and install new ice pad.  The future plans are to erect a roof and enclosure, turning it into a 4 season recreational facility.

The township is going after grant money from both governments.  Businesses will be asked to donate either financially or through offered services.  Chris feels this community enhancement project will be well worth the effort.

10. At present the Recreation Committee has 4 members and has been most successful with dances for kids. Their aim is to provide a healthy social setting for young people.   Peter added that this is a “nice rebirth”. They advertise through the school, will send out mailings and publish a calendar of events in the Highlander.  There are approximately 223 young people in our area.

 

 

Harmonization Sales Tax – Transitional May 1st Requirements – Carolyn/Cath/Deb

 

Enterprise County is organizing many seminars throughout the County to assist businesses in preparing for the HST Transition period. Due to huge turn outs, additional seminars have been added.  The latest bulletin for these seminars was circulated.  To get updated info go to www.enterpriserenfrewcounty.com .  It was recommended all businesses attend.  Government agency phone numbers to call with questions relating to the transition period and HST are 1-800-959-5525 (Revenue Canada, Business Inquiries) and 1-800-337-7222 (Budget hotline, Ontario Ministry of Revenue).  Three CABA Executive members attended the Renfrew HST seminar with the plan to relay information back to members but found the quantity and detail of information was too high and recommend members attend a seminar or obtain the guidelines directly.  One key point is emphasized however, that if you receive a decision from Revenue Canada - GET IT IN WRITING!  as it appears their policies are changing and evolving as time goes on. 

 

Economic Development -  CABA’s OVTA & Maple Lanes Travel Guide Participation

Deb circulated the new OVTA guide/map, good exposure for our cooperative ad.

Pat Habel from Maple Lanes magazine asks if businesses would be interested in purchasing a separate (cooperative) page in Maple Lanes.  If interested, CABA can provide contact information. 

Municipal tourist map is available at the municipal office. Volunteers presently stock such areas as Barnet Park, Antrim Truck Stop, Mount St. Patrick, tourist booth during unmanned season, Hwy 508 and Centennial Lake cross roads and the Matawatchan and Griffith areas.  Tama McCartney volunteered to find a distribution location in village of Pakenham in early summer.  Anne Stubinsky volunteered to “adopt” the Centennial Lake intersection mail box.

 

Broadband Update

There are some designated wi-fi areas around town…..the library, community centre, municipal garage, Calabogie Highlands, Calabogie Lodge, Black Donald Tent and Trailer campground and David Lester’s Muligan’s Den Indoor Golf Center. Renfrew County is trying to come up with universal signage for wireless hotspots.

 

Miscellaneous

FYI, visitor centre stats circulated.  460 parties (845 individuals) visited Calabogie tourist booth last year.

 

Canada Youth Grant Application

CABA submitted application again; confident we will again obtain approval for a student for this year.  Lions Club has applied for two students and their student will help out with tourist centre on the two days a week our CABA student does not work.

 

Reorganization of Tourism Districts by Ministry of Tourism

We are designated as Algonquin East-Ottawa Valley, Region 11 

 

Tourism Funding from Province

In the past, overnight accommodations collected only 5% provincial sales tax (as opposed to standard 8%).  With the new HST there will no longer be a 3% break.  The province has “promised” this additional 3% will be directed towards promoting tourism.  A new board with representatives from each new re-aligned district will be formed and the OVTA and County will be represented by County staff member Mitch Wilkie on the board.  Reeve Peter Emon is involved in the OVTA and will be helping promote the channeling of funds for tourism initiatives back into District 11.

 

Old/New Business

            . Chris Fleming/Elizabeth Jost-Couture/Catherine Fortin

with guest, Diana Bowl – Pakenham Retailers Promotional Idea

Chris displayed a tourism promotional tool that organizes business info for ease of reference by visiting tourists. The idea was created by a group of people to promote businesses in Pakenham.  He introduced one of the group members,  Diana Boal, who described the steps it took to put the project together.  The project took about 6 months to complete but once done is easy to manage. 

 Almost 20 businesses participated. They chose to highlight the front doors of participating businesses on specially designed, colour-coded business cards.    The cards are displayed on boards which then are located in key places (bank, convenience stores, etc.)

CABA members were impressed with the plan and encouraged Chris, together with his team of Elizabeth and Catherine, to begin the process.

 

.  Municipal Election Year

All members are encouraged to know the candidates and their business philosophy.

 

.  CABA President, Executive and Director Term Elections – June 2010

Deb asked for volunteers to form a nomination committee to run the elections for our June meeting.  No one volunteered at the time.

IF ANY CABA MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON THIS ROLE, PLEASE CONTACT DEB AT mycalabogie@aol.com.

 

.  Member News and Views

Catherine Fortin brought  her business sign which includes the CABA  logo.

 

Membership fees due at the end of June for 2010-2011 are $40.00 this year.  The Treasurer will be sending out invoices again in the regular post office mail.

 

New public washrooms at Barnet Park are not up and running yet.  Last week of April the septic system is being installed.  Everything should be up and running by May weekend.

 

Ottawa Valley Business encourages businesses to be listed in “101 things to do”.  Deadline is May 13 and the cost is only $25.00  For more info go to www.fwdthink.net

 

Paul Murphy has joined the Township’s Sound Advisory Committee as a CABA representative.  The purpose of the committee is to reorganize the sound policy for the municipality.

 

Thank you to the Peaks.

 

Next Meeting:  June 7th with location tba

Adjourned 9:32