Civil Municipal Magazine - Dec 2023

75 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 TOWNSHI P OF SCUGOG , ONTARIO a permeable trail connection, a new picnic shelter, a splashpad, and enhancements to the outdoor pool area. Additionally, there are plans for a new washroom building, and an accessible change room for the pool. Nix expresses the positive impact of events held in the area, such as those for Canada Day and Fall fairs. “We have events virtually every second weekend that bring people to the downtown and to the community. We are also extending the tourism season through locating an ice pad at the waterfront in conjunction with a small winter market. The spin offs there are fantastic for our businesses and for the residents themselves, so that we can enjoy these great things that are happening.” He also mentions the historical Old Mill, an iconic landmark in need of restoration. “It really is the intersection between the waterfront and downtown. We’re looking to partner to find ways to bring it back to its splendor, because it truly is a huge landmark within the municipality and on the waterfront,” he remarks. Residential Growth Mayor Wotten discusses the ongoing efforts in the municipality to address the housing shortage through the development of several small subdivisions. She notes the challenge of finding suitable land for construction due to Greenbelt restrictions, highlighting the township’s active initiatives in this regard. “A couple of years ago, when the housing crisis became more apparent, we as a municipality looked for different lands where we could potentially support residential. At the time, we were very limited by the land that was available and that could be constructed,” she recounts. “I did advocate for a conversion of some land, and it is still in the books through a new regional official plan. We’re hopeful that will enable us to build more residential, as well as a long-term care facility.” Wotten recognizes the need to accommodate every segment of the population, ensuring that seniors in the community have options to age in place, or downsize, while younger families are able to obtain affordable housing. Supporting Business Success in the Township The township of Scugog is actively working with existing businesses to understand their needs for growth and expansion. Currently a Business Retention and Expansion survey is underway to gather information from local businesses. “We’ve got a very vibrant small business community here,” Nix conveys. “We are going to visit as many businesses as we can and find out exactly what they need, and what