Food Strategy Connecting Food and Community

Thunder Bay and Area Food and Agriculture Market Study: What is it?

The Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy is excited to be carrying out a major Priority Project of our 2015 Implementation Plan: The Thunder Bay Food and Agriculture Market Study.  With the support of 13 local agricultural associations and economic development organizations, the market study will provide a comprehensive picture of the local food economy in Thunder Bay and the surrounding area.   The Food Strategy Coordinator spoke with CBC's Lisa Laco about the purpose and goals of the study.  Listen here.

Currently, there is a critical shortage of information regarding the agri-food sector within the Thunder Bay area.  A number of major studies have certainly provided a broad picture of agriculture in Northwestern Ontario and have demonstrated the importance of the agriculture sector for the regional economy.  However, while our community has information regarding the importance of agriculture as an economic driver, there is little information that would assist in the growth of agricultural businesses.

The Market Study will fill the gap left by insufficient information by producing a detailed analysis of Thunder Bay’s food economy.   Specifically, the market study will discover the demand for locally grown and processed food by sector.  Research will be conducted on the size of the existing market as well as the types and volumes of locally grown food being processed and purchased.  Additionally, the market study will determine critical price points, general purchasing habits and preferences, and the overall patterns of consumption.  Further, the market study will seek to determine the interest in and capacity for procuring more locally grown and processed foods.  The market study will conduct research by sector to give a more context-specific overview of the local food system.

The results of the study won’t only provide a greater understanding of the demand for local food in Thunder Bay, but they will also provide insight into opportunities for supplying the local market.  The gathered information will enable farmers and other food businesses to act on locally relevant information to create strategies for expansion, better plan for future growing seasons, strategically construct business plans, and connect with other food businesses to better supply market demand and develop efficiencies.  Furthermore, banks can make use of the data to issue loans, government officials can better understand and support local businesses, farmers can plan their crops for future growing seasons, and economic development organizations can better target funding opportunities and effectively evaluate business proposals.  In the long term, the market study is expected to support local job creation and retention while boosting economic activity within the agri-food sector through the expansion of current farming and processing businesses and the development of new businesses to fill gaps in the market.

Clean Water Waste Water Fund (CWWF)

The Township of O’Connor was fortunate this year to receive funding from the Clean Water Wastewater Fund (CWWF), through both the   Federal and Provincial governments, to replace several road culverts throughout the Township.  This fund covers 50% of the total cost of the  project.

To cover the Township’s share of the project we will also be using funds from the Federal Gas Tax Fund (FGT) and the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) to change approximately 60 culverts in our road system.

Ontario Trillium Foundation Ontario 150 Community Capital Program

ONTARIO 150 COMMUNITY CAPITAL PROGRAM GRANT
March 1, 2017 - Ontario is celebrating its 150th anniversary as a province by improving and renovating over 200 sports facilities, parks, seniors centres, and other community spaces, bringing positive changes to communities and families across the province. The Township of O’Connor would like to announce that our application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation ( OTF ) Ontario 150 Community Capital Program grant has been approved and we will be receiving $34,500.00 to upgrade the HVAC system and make other interior upgrades to the O’ Connor Community Centre. This will include air conditioning in the centre.
Thank you to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for this opportunity.

Update July 10, 2017 - A public announcement of this funding was made at the O'Connor Community Club's annual Strawberry Festival held on July 8, 2017 in the O'Connor Community Centre.  A banner and plaque, also announcing this funding, are being displayed in the Centre as well.

Update September 30, 2017 - The Township would like to announce that the Ontario 150 Community Capital Program Grant renovations are complete.  The O'Connor Community Centre now has new energy efficient propane furnaces and air conditioning,  new washroom partitions have been installed in the basement washrooms and the storage room has been repainted and new shelving installed, along with better air circulation.  Thank you to the Ontario 150 Community Capital Program Grant once again for this opportunity to continue to approve our O'Connor Community Centre and make it a more inviting public space to come to for all social events, both public or private in our community.

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has developed communications material to promote awareness of the change to income thresholds under Seniors Co-Pay Program (SCP) and encourage eligible seniors to apply.

Updated income thresholds:

• Single senior - an income of less than or equal to $19,300; or
• Senior couple - a combined income of less than or equal to $32,000.

Patient benefits:

Eligible seniors:

• Can save an average of $130 per year in out-of-pocket drug costs
• Pay no annual deductible and a co-payment of up to $2 for each prescription.

To find out more go to Ontario.ca/SeniorDrugSavings

DRAFT OFFICIAL PLAN AND ZONING BY-LAW

You are invited to participate and provide input on the Township of O’Connor’s Draft Official Plan and Zoning By-law

A Special Meeting has been set for Monday April 9, 2018 at 6 p.m. in the O'Connor Community Centre - 330 Highway 595 for the Draft Official Plan.  This meeting is open to the public to make comment on the Draft Official Plan - Click on the link -" Special Meeting of Council -Notice - Apr 9, 2018"  for more information or call the Township office at (807)476-1451. 

March 13, 2017 - Ministry comments have arrived on the draft Official Plan and are currently being considered by Council.  The review began at the March 13, 2017 Council meeting and will continue at the March 27, 2017 meeting.

November 9, 2016- The draft Official Plan for the Township of O'Connor was submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for a One-Window Review.

OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW

The Township of O’Connor invites you to become engaged in planning for the Township’s future.  On June 25, 2016 the Township hosted an Public Open House to present, review and receive input on changes to the Township’s Draft Official Plan and Zoning By-law. The Official Plan provides the overall policy direction for development in the municipality, and the Zoning By-law implements the policies through regulations. These documents apply to the entire municipality.

The Open House was the first public consultation event of the review process, however there will be additional opportunities for input at later stages of the process.

If you wish to be notified of the adoption of the proposed official plan, or of the refusal of a request to amend the official plan, you must make a written request to the Township of O’Connor.

If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make submissions to the Township of O’Connor before the proposed Official Plan is adopted, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the Township of O’Connor to the Ontario Municipal Board. If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Township of O’Connor before the proposed official plan is adopted, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board unless, in the opinion of the Board, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.

For more information on the Township Official Plan and Zoning By-law review process, please contact Lorna Buob, Clerk-Treasurer at twpoconn@tbaytel.net or 807-476-1451.

NorWest Community Health Centres – Mobile Health Services

A video produced by the Canadian Institute for Health Innovation and funded by the Ontario Government was filmed in the Township of O'Connor and surrounding area.  This video details the need for their mobile service and the services they do provide.  To view this video please click on this link.  Password is "thunderbay".

Service Ontario Launches Not-For-Profit  

Service Ontario has launched a new section for not-for-profits in Ontario making it faster and easier for organizations to get the services and information they need to start, operate and grow their NFPs.

The new site features information on government open call programs for funding, ideas on how to start and manage a not-for-profit organization, a section to help organizations understand the laws that affect the sector, research about the sector, government initiatives that support the sector, and much more.

Please follow the link to visit this new resource: www.ServiceOntario.ca/NotForProfits

The O’Connor Community Centre

WSIB Ontario – Bill 119