Tourism funding available, Names with Purpose, New EV Charging Stations, LoB grants, Join the OPP Board, Weekly Collection Returns, Leaf and Yard Waste pick-up days

Select Muskoka Newsbites from various sources including our own reporting, media releases, and a few notes contributed by our friends at The Bay 88.7 FM.

HMATA Tourism Funding Applications

The annual intake period to apply for Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association (HMATA) community tourism sponsorships opened this week.

Non-profit organizations and private businesses planning to host a tourism-related event between October 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025 can apply for funding. Organizations from outside of Huntsville planning events that will have significant economic impact in Huntsville may also apply.

Although events happening at any time of year will be considered, those in the shoulder seasons or winter months, as well as mid-week events, are preferred. 

The application deadline is June 30, 2024. To apply or learn more, visit huntsvillemat.com/community-tourism-sponsorships.

This funding is made possible by the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) — paid by visitors at local hotels, motels, resorts, and short-term rental accommodations — community tourism sponsorships help to grow Huntsville’s tourism industry by supporting initiatives by local organizations or which benefit the Huntsville tourism economy.

Names with Purpose

Earlier this week, the District of Muskoka launched Names with Purpose, an initiative in collaboration with the Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table (MAILT) and community partners.

Names with Purpose is focused on identifying and examining the names of roads, landmarks, and public spaces in Muskoka that may be perceived as disrespectful or inappropriate. The aim is to deepen our understanding of Muskoka’s naming landscape to ensure it reflects our community’s values of respect, diversity, and inclusion.

The District is focusing on identifying and evaluating the names of roads, landmarks, and public spaces within Muskoka that may be considered inappropriate or offensive, whose meanings may have evolved over time, or names that may carry racial or cultural insensitivities.

To accomplish this, we are relying on the valuable insights of our community members to identify and submit these names and places. In parallel, the District of Muskoka is conducting an in-depth internal review, to grasp the existing naming landscape in Muskoka, ensuring a thorough and inclusive approach.

“We’re revisiting the names of our roads, landmarks, and public spaces to ensure they truly represent what Muskoka stands for,” said District CAO Julie Stevens in a press release. “Names with Purpose offers a unique opportunity for everyone to have a say in how we honour and acknowledge our history and diversity – we need your feedback to help us identify names that may need a fresh perspective.”

Community members can submit names to be considered for renaming. Submissions are being accepted until July 31, 2024. Explore the initiative and share your renaming suggestions online at www.engagemuskoka.ca/NamesWithPurpose

New EV Charging Stations in Bracebridge

Five EV charging stations were recently opened at the Bracebridge Sportsplex, courtesy of a collaboration between Lakeland Power and the Town of Bracebridge.

And there are plans for more – with eventually nine more green parking spaces to come – as the Town continues to promote eco-friendly travel and local development with level 2 chargers to recharge EVs during visits.

These initiatives also fall in line with the District of Muskoka’s sustainability goals.

Environmental Projects Grant Program

The Township of Lake of Bays has introduced an Environmental Projects Grant Program to help support initiatives improving residents’ quality of life while focusing on water quality and ecosystem health.

The program encourages projects promoting sustainability, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship. Funding streams include the Habitat Fund, Biodiversity Fund, and Watershed Fund.

 Applications for the first two are open until June 30, with the Watershed Fund opening on October 1.

You can apply at LakeofBays.on.ca/Grants.

Join the OPP Board

Community members are being recruited to serve on two new Boards for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Detachments in Bracebridge and Huntsville. These detachments provide police services to communities across Muskoka, and each will have its own board.

The Community Safety and Policing Act came into effect on April 1, 2024, requiring all OPP detachments in Ontario to have a board. The District of Muskoka is responsible for policing in Muskoka and uses the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to deliver this service.

OPP detachment boards will be responsible for determining objectives and priorities for police services in consultation with their detachment commander, advising the detachment commander on the detachment’s policing, consulting on the selection of the detachment commander, receiving regular reports from the detachment commander, and monitoring the detachment commander’s performance.

Application forms and information about the selection process, the communities served by each detachment, the number of board members to be appointed, and eligibility requirements for membership are available at www.muskoka.on.ca/opp-detachment-boards

Weekly Waste Collection Returns

Weekly curbside garbage collection in Muskoka returns the week of May 6.

This also means summer collection routes will resume. Residents can find curbside schedules, curbside limits and get updates on collection at www.muskokawaste.ca. District crews and waste collection partners will monitor seasonal road conditions, given the unusual weather patterns experienced this year.

Leaf and Yard Waste Pick-up

Residents are reminded curbside leaf and yard waste collection for urban area households is scheduled during the weeks of May 13 and May 27, 2024. The compost is processed to create nutrient-rich compost to give it back to residents and prevent it from going to waste.  

Note when putting out leaf and yard waste, only use paper yard waste bags or containers that can be dumped and left behind; as well collection will occur during the week – not necessarily on your regular collection day.

Those who live outside of the urban area, residential leaf and yard waste can be delivered to a Transfer Station at no charge.