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Trailblazers look to form steering committee for biosphere
proposal
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by Neil Zacharjewicz
MANITOULIN - The Manitoulin Trailblazers have decided to proceed with
forming a steering committee to look into the possibility of
nominating Manitoulin as a World Biosphere Reserve.
The organization made the announcement on November 14, in a letter to
stakeholders who had participated in the recent public meeting to
discuss the issue. The letter, signed by Trailblazers secretary Lynda
MacDonald, indicated that 20 people have already signed up to
participate on the new steering committee, and the organization is
seeking more interested individuals to participate. The first meeting
of the committee has been slated for Saturday, December 6 at 1 pm in
the Central Manitoulin Council Chambers.
The Manitoulin Trailblazers have also begun circulating a list of
answers to many of the questions raised at the public meeting on
November 1. One of the concerns at the time was the use of the term
'reserve.' According to the Trailblazers, while the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) would
officially recognize Manitoulin as a Biosphere Reserve, it would be
up to the steering committee to decide on a name for the biosphere.
It was stressed that the term 'reserve' refers to those areas already
officially protected, such as provincial parks or nature reserves
that are already in existence.
Another major concern raised at the meeting was the impact of having
Manitoulin designated as a biosphere reserve on business, industry,
land use and development. The information being circulated by the
Trailblazers suggests the World Biosphere designation is a concept,
not a regulatory body.
"There are already Official Plans in place, municipal By-Laws and
Planning Board regulations, property rights, and Aboriginal rights
which determine how things are done in the biosphere. This will
remain the same," the information suggested. "However, if
individuals, businesses or groups identify an issue in the biosphere
that creates a disturbance in the balance, then the biosphere
committee may be able to help develop solutions to that issue. The
recognition as a biosphere indicates only that some local
organizational arrangements are in place to co-operate with the
existing owners and agencies in promoting stewardship and
sustainability for resource uses, protecting environmental quality,
and conserving natural biological diversity, while at the same time
developing the community-based capabilities for doing this through
research, monitoring, demonstration projects, education and public
information."
Concerns were raised with regard to the structure of the biosphere
committee, and the Trailblazers are emphasizing that the committee
will be representative of a cross-section of the community.
Participation will be open and voluntary.
The plan to designate Manitoulin a biosphere reserve also requires
that there be core areas and buffer zones. Core areas have to be
officially protected areas of landscape that serve the conservation
function, and several have already been identified on the Island,
such as Misery Bay, Queen Mum's Park, Mac's Bay, the part of the Cup
and Saucer owned by the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, and the
Blue Jay Creek Provincial Park. This is a similar situation for the
buffer zones, the Trailblazers have suggested, and consultation with
the Manitoulin Planning Board would be useful to identify other
potential buffer zones.
With regard to First Nations involvement, the Trailblazers point out
that they have been involved in other successful biosphere proposals,
such as in Clayquot Sound, and suggest that the model of
co-management for special projects utilized there may work well with
the First Nations on Manitoulin.
"Although there have been no studies to prove the impacts on economy,
experience indicates that being nominated a World Biosphere will draw
tourists to the Island," the Trailblazers suggest. "Being designated
as a World Biosphere through UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere program
would promote Manitoulin Island internationally. Product branding is
another concept that Manitoulin is already considering and would be
further supported through the World Biosphere program. It would give
some momentum to the excellent Strategic Plan that the LaCloche -
Manitoulin Business Assistance Corporation (LAMBAC) has developed."
The information also suggests that biosphere programs are usually
well-supported through government funding programs, grants and
private sector funds. These activities, the Trailblazers indicate,
promote jobs for professionals and summer employment for students.
Concerns were raised about the process of getting sufficient people
to support the concept of nominating Manitoulin as a World Biosphere,
and this responsibility will be given to the steering committee, who
will discuss questions, research the issues and learn about the
process of nomination before bringing the information to various
groups on Manitoulin.
"After consultations with stakeholder groups and more presentations
throughout the Island, the committee will then be able to recommend a
course of action," the Trailblazers suggest.
As for what criteria Manitoulin must meet to be designated a World
Biosphere, UNESCO's nomination forms describe what a World Biosphere
should look like.
"The steering committee could look at that nomination form and
research the information about the Island to determine if Manitoulin
is worthy of World Biosphere status," the Trailblazers state.
"Up to now, the concept has been well received by any of the people
we have spoken to. People seem to be very interested and impressed
with the idea," the Trailblazers suggest. "We are only in the very
early stages of developing the concept for Manitoulin Island. Much
networking and information sharing, as well as addressing concerns of
all the community interests groups needs to be done."
They continue, "These concerns will be addressed and resolved, and
then all groups will have to give their stamp of approval in order
for us to proceed with the nomination."
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Mary Nelder to head LAMBAC
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by Michael Erskine
GORE BAY---Mary Nelder has been appointed as the new General
Manager of the LaCloche Manitoulin Business Assistance
Corporation (LAMBAC), effective January 1, 2004.
"I am absolutely delighted," said current General Manager Marg
Hague,
who is retiring with the new year. "She will do a superb job."
"I was very pleased to be chosen as the new General Manager at
LAMBAC," said Ms. Nelder. "I have great respect for our retiring
manager, Marg Hague, and hate to lose her."
Ms. Nelder said it was more than a little intimidating for her
to try
and fill Ms. Hague's shoes.
Ms. Hague has been involved with LAMBAC since it began in 1986,
in
fact, she was involved even before it began.
"I was in on the planning stages in 1985 with Vic Badenhorst,"
she
said. "When he left in 1989, I took over as General Manager."
Ms. Hague described her tenure as very rewarding, particularly
the
number of businesses with which she has had an involvement
through
the years.
"There have been quite a few," she said.
Ms. Hague said she has not decided what her retirement plans
will be,
but she will doubtless miss the bustle and excitement of her
LAMBAC
days. For now, she is looking forward to a family Christmas and
the
holiday season.
"I appreciate being given the opportunity and I am excited about
this
new challenge," said Ms. Nelder, of her new job. "LAMBAC has a
great
board of directors from communities across the region, I expect
to
rely on their direction and good judgment."
LAMBAC is funded by FedNor/Industry Canada, and therefore must
comply
with the Official Languages Act. The Act requires that services
must
be provided in both official languages in areas where the
percentage
of francophones is in excess of 5 percent. As the Manitoulin
Lacloche
region is in this category, the new General Manager must be
competent
in oral and written French, as well as English.
After advertising for the position, LAMBAC received 20
applications,
and, after careful review four were selected for interviews. The
LAMBAC board approved the hiring committee's recommendation to
appoint Ms. Nelder.
Ms. Nelder brings a lot of strong assets to the position.
"I've had the opportunity to get to know the municipal leaders
of the
LaCloche Manitoulin quite well in the past three years while
working
on the implementation of the regional strategic plan," she said.
"There are many business people and community groups I have yet
to
meet, so I look forward to that. With the help of the staff I
hope to
carry on the good work LAMBAC is known for, community
development and
assistance with the creation and expansion of local business
ventures."
According to the organization's website, LAMBAC board and staff
are
dedicated to community economic development. LAMBAC's goal is to
develop further growth and employment opportunities in the
Lacloche
Manitoulin area. To facilitate this goal, objectives are: to
work in
co-operation with existing community economic development
programs
and groups; to encourage the creation and expansion of local
business
ventures, thus providing employment opportunities; to support
the
area's municipalities in their endeavours to develop
economically and
socially; to encourage and support entrepreneurship; to support
the
creation / maintenance of jobs in the business community through
LAMBAC's investment fund.
The board of directors are made up of community leaders from
across
the LaCloche Manitoulin cachement area.
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MSS Senior Boys Volleyball team bound for
provincial championships |
by Neil Zacharjewicz
M'CHIGEENG - The Mustangs Senior Boys Volleyball team has
trampled
the competition, and now they are bound for the Ontario
Federation of
School Athletic Associations championships.
The team proved to have nerves of steel when pressed by a tough
Ecole
Secondaire Catholique Champlain squad in the Northern Ontario
Secondary School Association (NOSSA) finals, held on Saturday at
Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS). The Mustangs eked out a
victory in
the first game 25-23. Then, with only one score to go to win the
Northern Ontario title, Champlain pressed and won the second
game
28-26. But the Mustangs would overcome this minor setback in the
third game. With a little crowd support, the Mustangs crushed
Champlain 15-8 to win the NOSSA title and earn a berth at the
Ontario
Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA)
championships.
This marks the third time in four years the team has earned a
berth
at OFSAA, and is also the fifth consecutive year the team has
won the
North Shore Secondary School Association (NSSSA) title.
This year's squad went 11-1 on the season, losing only to
Elliott
Lake. The team redeemed themselves of that loss in the NSSSA
championship game, a close and hard-fought match that also went
to a
third game. The Mustangs prevailed, however, and proved that
they are
a team that can win under pressure. They simply never let up.
"I never thought we'd get that good," stated Coach Peter
Kategiannis.
"We used to be the doormats of the league."
In the early 1990s, he explained, teams used to love to play the
Mustangs because more often than not it meant an easy win. Now,
teams
are intimidated by the dynasty that Manitoulin Secondary School
has
built.
One of the things that has meant a lot to Coach Kategiannis and
the
development of the Senior Boys Volleyball program at MSS has
been the
willingness of former team members who have graduated and moved
on to
university to come back and share what they have learned with
the
present players. For instance, Coach Kategiannis pointed out
Ryan
Anderson, who currently plays for the York University Men's
Volleyball team, recently put on a clinic for the players, and
shared
things even the coach admits he did not know.
"It means a lot," Coach Kategiannis said.
Another effort which has helped to improve the squad is the fact
that, for the last few years, the team has participated in
tournaments in Toronto, where they get to face off against some
of
the best teams the province has to offer.
"It gives us some good competition early in the season," Coach
Kategiannis explained.
With their victory on the weekend, the team is now preparing for
the
OFSAA competition, which starts Thursday in Rockland, Ontario.
"At the beginning of the season, we set a goal. The goal was to
make
it to OFSAA and let the cards fly where they may. I think we
could
show something. We are not just going there to show up," Coach
Kategiannis said. "I think we could medal. These kids work
hard."
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Northeast town waterfront committee makes
final recommendations |
by Michael Erskine
NORTHEASTERN MANITOULIN AND THE ISLANDS (NEMI)---The final
meeting of
the NEMI Waterfront Business Plan Steering Committee endorsed a
report by consultants KPMG LLP calling for a $11.7 million
upgrade to
the waterfront in downtown Little Current, but only if there is
no
additional cost to the taxpayer.
The plan, as outlined, will use funds the town received from the
federal government to maintain and rehabilitate the waterfront
docks
as the municipal portion of an ambitious plan to revitalize the
downtown area.
The endorsement carried a number of suggestions, besides the
financial caveat, but overall the committee's reaction to the
report
was strongly positive.
One of the key suggestions put forward was that the steering
committee, or a similar one with a broad public and stakeholder
presence, be appointed to see the project through to completion.
The final meeting included the presence of Glen Warren, co-ordinator,
Resource-based Tourism Diversification Program. Mr. Warren
expressed
the high degree of community input and support the project
appears to
be generating, both in the business community and the public at
large.
The committed work of the committee was praised by acting-chair,
John Hodder.
"Six months ago I would have said this is dead in the water,
everything was going nowhere, cruise ships seemed to be at the
status
quo," he said. "We have made serious progress."
Mr. Hodder said he had serious concerns with the report's
concentration on Spider Bay Marina.
"At $3 million it is a little too rich," he said. "It amounts to
$150,000 per parking spot and I don't see how enough revenue
could be
generated to justify that kind of outlay."
But with the addition of a contingency plan that looks at the
alternative of placing slips below the Tourist Welcome Centre
and at
the municipal docks, Mr. Hodder said the bulk of his misgivings
were
allayed.
The need to communicate the benefits of the project for the
entire
town was reinforced by Peggy Young, a CDC representative. She
suggested that in addition to the obvious economic benefits of
drawing more summer visitors to the area, the enhanced number of
slips might also be utilized by local boaters.
Christine Jones, one of the public representatives on the
committee
suggested that approaching a local artist, such as Brian
Chapman, to
create artists renderings of how the waterfront might look would
be a
positive step toward creating a positive public perception of
the
project.
"I still get people asking me, 'What will this do for me?'" she
said.
"It is going to be difficult to overcome that perception. Until
I saw
some of Brian's paintings of the downtown, myself, I never
really
realized how pretty it really is," she added.
The report's concentration on enforcement and education about
what
can be done about parking downtown was also felt to be less than
adequate by some members.
"Is this enough?" asked Public Representative Siska Poenn. "Are
people going to be happy with that?"
"It is clear in the report that nothing that is done should
infringe
on what is already there," said Ms. Young. "I don't know what
else
they could do."
Much of the discussion in the final meeting of the committee
consisted of details of the final form of the revitalization.
Questions about where curbs should replace boardwalk,
switchbacks to
alleviate the steepness of the ascent to Turner Park, and
concerns
over the noise from traffic on the swing bridge filled much of
the
discussions.
No issue or concern raised was deemed sufficient by any member
to
delay the implementation of the plan.
During the committee's discussions with the consultant, said Mr.
Hodder, it was revealed that Canadian Pacific, the company that
controls the coal docks across from the town had indicated they
would
be willing to discuss any plan for the area with the
municipality.
This in itself is a major change from what had appeared to be
the
case in the past. Town council and staff had previously
indicated
that there was no responsefrom inquiries made by the town on the
issue.
NEMI Mayor Ken Ferguson suggested the committee's
recommendations
include that some of the work begin as soon as possible.
"It would be best if the docks, at least, could be in place
before
the beginning of next season," he said. "With the yacht race
coming
it could really help out."
"It is in the report," replied Mr. Hodder.
"I think it could still use reinforcing," said Mayor Ferguson.
The final report will be reviewed at a public meeting at 7 pm on
November 24 at the Little Current Howland Recreation Centre, and
presented for acceptance the next day at the November 25, 2003,
session of council.
While that might appear to mean that public input at this point
is
irrelevant, Mr. Hodder was adamant that this was not true.
"We have gotten a lot of changes in the past couple of weeks
alone,"
he said. "There is nothing written in stone."
Mr. Hodder stressed that public buy-in is essential for the
project
to work and that he was certain any concerns voiced by the
public
would be taken into account, even at this late date.
"Even if something is in the report, it doesn't mean it will be
done," added Ms. Young. "The council can take or leave any part
it
sees fit."
The single most important aspect of the project, said Mr. Hodder,
is
that, if properly managed, the project should not cost
ratepayers any
extra money.
Mayor Ferguson thanked the committee for their hard work and
diligence, both from his own personal perspective, and from that
of
council.
"The hard work you put in will do the town a really good turn,"
he said.
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