Business View Civil and Municipal l January 2023

176 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 SPRINGWATER , ON Schmidt shares, “We have spent the last few months getting input that will help inform our next moves. Unlike some other municipalities that tend to focus on a four-year plan alongside Council terms, we wanted to take a long-term view of the next 10-20 years. It’s about providing a vision for the municipality so that those who come after us have an opportunity to pick up where we left off and dig into what we’ve learned to ensure that vision is ultimately achieved.” He continues, “There are five key themes that have come out of the discussions to date: leveraging growth to improve Springwater as a community, leveraging growth to improve our economy, developing and growing ourCorporate/ Council capacity, branding Springwater to build a sense of unity, and finally, building resilience to climate change and embracing environmental sustainability. Each of these themes will be considered in a draft plan, which we aim to have approved by Council in early 2023.” From a business development perspective, Jeff says, Council is focused on turning a new, holistic page for the local economy that will attract In December 2022, Midhurst Valley welcomed its first homeowners just 14-months after launching for sale. “On behalf of the development group and all builders – Brookfield Residential, CountryWide Homes, Geranium and Sundance Homes – this is a milestone moment and we’re thrilled to welcome homeowners to this vibrant new community”, said Cheryl Shindruk, Executive Vice President of Geranium. The first phase of a master planned community that will greet approximately 10,000 new households, Midhurst Valley represents a new chapter in the Township of Springwater’s history. The municipality is to be commended for its desire to preserve and protect the natural environment, welcome new residents, and provide enhanced amenities for all of Springwater, including a new recreation hub situated in the heart of the community. Midhurst Valley masterplan includes parks, a network of trails, open greenspace, and acres of protected area. The community borders the internationally significant Minesing Wetlands Conservation Area, a 6,000-hectare popular destination for canoeing, kayaking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and bird watching. The masterplan also includes new state-of-the-art wastewater and water treatment facilities, which will allow the community to be able to attract a broader range of employers, thereby expanding the range of employment opportunities for residents. Nestled within a natural landscape, this all-seasons location, just minutes from the City of Barrie, and the recreational areas of Snow Valley, Georgian Bay and Horseshoe Valley, Midhurst is ideal for families of all ages and sizes. Prospective buyers can select from a premium collection of 25’ semis, and 36’ and 44’ singles in a mix of traditional and transitional architecture. For more information, visit: www.m idhurstvalley.com MIDHURST VALLEY WARMLY WELCOMES NEW HOMEOWNERS