Food Strategy Connecting Food and Community

Thunder Bay and Area Food and Agriculture: Join the Food Strategy Council

Are you passionate about building a sustainable food system for the Thunder Bay region?  Join the Food Strategy Council to provide oversight and strategic advice for the implementation of the strategy. Click here to join!

Working Group Updates

Communications

The Communications Working Group is looking for new members! Members must be passionate to continue building food literacy and local food promotion tools to provide information about the quality, diversity and availability of local food.  Writers for the Northwest Nosh are needed! Contact us if you have story ideas.  Email Victoria Pullia at foodstrategyadmin@ecosuperior.org for more info.

Indigenous Food Circle

The Indigenous Food Circle, in collaboration with the Thunder Bay Country Market and the Food Strategy will be hosting food literacy workshops in the coming months. Stay tuned for more details!

School Food Environment

The School Foods inventory Project headed by Dr. Barbara Parker and Mario Koeppel, has examined existing food programming, initiatives and approaches to food programming in elementary and high schools in Thunder Bay.  A report presenting their findings with recommendations is underway which will be presented at the Fall Annual General Meeting.

NAN Food Symposium

The Food Strategy attended the 10th Annual NAN Food Symposium at Grey Wolf Scout Camp August 11-2 to learn about Indigenous governance through food, food security and traditional food preparation.

Candidate Survey

The Food Strategy is surveying 2018 Municipal Candidates from the City of Thunder Bay, Oliver Paipoonge, O'Connor, Gillies, Shuniah, Neebing and Conmee in an effort to profile different perspectives on issues related to the regional food system.  Responses will be posted on our website in September.

The Food Strategy is excited to introduce the first ever Golden Carrot Award!

This award will be presented at the Fall 2018 Annual General Meeting to one food champions who have gone above and beyond in supporting the regional food system.
For more info follow the link to our website here. 
Please submit your nomination entry by September 27th at midnight.The Food Strategy is surveying 2018 Municipal Candidates from the City of Thunder Bay, Oliver Paipoonge, O'Connor, Gillies, Shuniah, Neebing and Conmee in an effort to profile different perspectives on issues related to the regional food system. Responses will be posted on our website in September.

Local Food Events

Gathering of Fall Flavours

The Indigenous Food Sovereignty Committee will be hosting  an event on September 5 from 12pm - 2pm. Gathering of Fall Flavours: Creating Shared Food Spaces through Indigenous Food Sovereignty will feature Blueberry Compote (Aroland First Nation Youth Project) with bannock and fresh local corn from Belluz. Please attend the fire-pit at Lake Tamblyn (behind Lakehead University's Agora). Everyone is welcome!

10% Local Food Challenge Workshop

The Food Strategy will be hosting the 10% Local Food Challenge for EcoSuperior's Hands on Sustainability Series at Waverly Library on September 19th from 6:30-8pm. This interactive workshop will discuss the local food system and what we raise and grow in the Thunder Bay and Area. Join us to learn about how to start incorporating more local foods into your life! Don't forget to bring your favorite local food recipe for the recipe exchange! Click here to register for this FREE workshop. Great fun for the whole family!

Fair Finance Fund Fall Forum

Are you a local food and farm enterprise? Community investor? Local food advocate? Join the Local Food and Farm Co-ops (LFFC) along with Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) on Tuesday October 23 from 6pm-9pm at the Finlandia Club to learn about the progress share your feedback! Click here to register for the event.

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

April 9, 2018 - Special Meeting held for the draft Official Plan and Zoning By-law.  This meeting was open for the public to make comment on the draft Official Plan and Zoning By-law.  This meeting was the last opportunity for the public to participate and provide input on the draft Official Plan which was adopted April 23, 2018.  The draft Official Plan will be  submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MMA) for approval.  Once the draft Official Plan has been approved by the MMA, reviews will commence for the Zoning By-Law.  Copies of the draft Official Plan are available for pick up at the Township of O'Connor Municipal Office during regular office hours or can be found on this website.  Please watch our website for further updates.

> draft Official Plan - April 2018 

> Land Use Schedule A - March 2018

> Development Constraints Schedule B - March 2018

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