A lawn sign in the Wasaga Sands neighbourhood calls for a stop to a residential development proposal for the now-defunct Twin Creeks golf course Wasaga Sands resident Gary Bendus was one of several residents who spoke out against a redevelopment of the golf course during a public meeting in May Motion passed by council puts town in line to support residents opposed to project at the Ontario Land Tribunal Wasaga Beach will line up beside residents fighting the redevelopment of a defunct golf course Council, following a behind-closed-door meeting with the municipality’s planning lawyer Harold Elston, announced it would not accommodate Achille Development’s plan to build 364 homes on the former Wasaga Sands, also known as Twin Creeks A motion passed by council April 24 cited “significant public health and safety threats associated with the proposed servicing scheme” for the project which “supersede the land use planning grounds.” The project is before the Ontario Land Tribunal Achille filed an appeal last year because the town did not make a decision on its development application within 120 days The matter is scheduled to be back before the Ontario Land Tribunal May 15 to hear a motion from the developer asking for a one-day hearing to address existing drainage agreements A 20-day hearing at the tribunal on the entire merits of Achille’s application is scheduled for September A representative of Achille Development did not respond to a request for comment on the town’s motion The golf course has been closed for several years Mayor Brian Smith said the town would normally welcome a mixed-use “It’s rare that we find ourselves in this position,” he said “(But) this council will do what is needed to protect the integrity of our water and wastewater infrastructure health and wellness of our fast-growing community.” The motion passed by council stated the town would not accept or assume any public works proposed by the developer or “in any other way facilitate or accommodate the development proposed by Achille.” Ontario Land Tribunal has not set date to hear appeal A news release from the town stated council had several concerns with the project including preventing flooding on neighbouring private and public property protecting two groundwater aquifers below the proposed development the town assuming responsibility for “substandard infrastructure.” The release also cited the need to “preserv(e) and protect an award-winning environmentally-sensitive residential community The subdivision around the course was recognized with a bronze plaque award by the Ontario Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association as an example of a state-of-the-art quarry rehabilitation Achille Development had made applications for amendments to the zoning and official plan designations for the 30-hectare property in early 2024 The plans include several development blocks along with two stormwater management ponds The project has been met with significant resistance from neighbours who have challenged the development on several fronts including its potential negative impact on the environment and traffic and its incompatibility with the existing homes In May 2024, residents packed the council chambers for a public meeting on Achille’s plans bringing forward a litany of concerns about the project Achille’s planning consultant told council an environmental impact study concluded the development could be built with no negative impacts to the two creeks or other natural heritage features on the site The residents had identified a number of animal along with more than 40 tree species — including butternut and black ash Along with the town and the County of Simcoe “We are incredibly grateful for the town’s decisive leadership and bold action to save Wasaga Sands and protect the health and safety of our residents,” said resident and WSHG director Allie Bendus “Wasaga Sands is truly unique and preserving the integrity of our green space is essential to the fabric function and long-term sustainability of our community and its ecological systems.” Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account BarrieNewsWasaga Beach announces summer live music lineup, with over 30 concertsBy Kim PhillipsUpdated: April 30, 2025 at 7:29PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Sign in Join now, it's FREE! this year’s reimagined format features 11 free concerts at three trailhead locations with performances staggered to allow attendees to bike or travel between venues and catch every note active way to experience the South Georgian Bay region Trail Tunes offers an unforgettable way to celebrate the outdoors and our thriving local arts scene Clearview Township — Centennial Park Town of Collingwood — Shipyards Amphitheatre Town of Wasaga Beach — RecPlex Rotary Band Shell Trail maps and performer details are available at www.cyclesimcoe.ca/trailtunes Follow the latest updates and behind-the-scenes moments from Trail Tunes 2025: June is National Bike Month and National Parks and Recreation Month More Spotlight > Street sweeping and sand clean-up has started at the east end of Town and is moving westerly The Street Sweeping Program may take 5 to 6 weeks to complete all of the streets in Town Once the sweeping operations have been initiated crews generally work in the following order:  Main Roads - Roads with Paved Shoulders - Residential Side Streets - Parking Lots  A typical STREET SWEEPER crew consists of rubber tired front end loaders in combination with trackless sweepers mechanical street sweepers and dump trucks.   A typical STREET FLUSHING UNIT crew may be the first vehicles into the neighbourhoods with curb and gutters on their streets The street flusher will wash the sand off of the street and into the curb and gutter with clean The mechanical street sweepers will arrive to the area after the street flusher to pick up the sand out of the curb and gutters.  PLEASE GIVE THESE CREWS SPACE TO DO THEIR WORK Motorists are requested to please slow down while travelling in close proximity to the street sweeping equipment and their operators Please give the equipment space as you drive by PLEASE DO NOT PILE SAND FROM THE ROADWAY OR DRIVEWAY ON THE ROAD The sweeper is not able to pick up piles of sand; therefore it is best if sand is left spread out on the side of the road If you wish to sweep sand from the boulevard or your driveway please ensure that sand is loosely swept and spread onto the edge the roadway prior to the week of April 14th.  The Street Sweeping Program is subject to change depending on the weather as the Spring wet weather can impact the performance of the cleaning equipment.  PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON THE STREET WHEN YOU SEE OR HEAR THE STREET SWEPING CREW IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD Parked cars can hamper operations and give the appearance that areas have been missed please refrain from parking on the street until the cleanup crew has been through your neighbourhood They may not be able to return to the area until late May to get the missed areas The early morning sweeper crew in your neighbourhood The early morning work is a temporary disturbance to the neighbourhood The crew are usually on your street only once or twice in the early morning during the Street Sweeping and Sand Clean-up Program The purpose of the early morning shift is to provide an additional layer of safety to the residents and equipment operators to avoid pedestrians (especially school aged children) and parked cars for this short duration disturbance you may experience We thank you for your cooperation and patience The Sweeper Crews will do their best to get your street cleaned up as soon as they can please call the Public Works Department at (705) 429-2540 To Read a pdf version of this article click here Stay up to date on Wasaga Beach activities programs and operations by subscribing to our many eNewsletters Sign Up Town of Wasaga Beach 30 Lewis Street, Wasaga Beach ON L9Z 1A1 Phone: 705-429-3844, Fax: 705-429-6732, Email Us Nature and environment news and inspiration for people who love to get outside Untangle the thorny process of cottage succession with expert advice from lawyer During a January 16 meeting Town of Wasaga Beach councillors agreed to sell five acres of beachfront property to developer Stonebridge Building Group for $14 million “Stonebridge Building Group has presented the town with an offer that represents fair market value, which demonstrates that they understand the value of this land and this development for the future of our community. They are ready to get shovels in the ground on a high quality, mixed-used development,” said Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith, in a statement “All of this aligns with the Town’s plans to reinvent our main beachfront and commercial area.” The section of land purchased by Stonebridge is across from the town’s Beach Area One and is bounded by 1st and 3rd Streets which includes a combination of mixed-use buildings and townhouses will total 150 residential units and 31 commercial units Stonebridge will roll out the development in five phases with the first phase set to start this spring Stonebridge has entered into a unique payment agreement with the town Rather than pay the total sum up front for the land Stonebridge will pay smaller sums throughout each phase This is because Stonebridge plans to build the units before it has committed buyers fronting the construction costs out of pocket Accessible beaches in Ontario Stonebridge will also have to provide a $100,000 deposit to cover the costs of demolishing the buildings currently on the land councillor Sasha-Rose Dileo voiced concern over the payment agreement questioning what would happen if Stonebridge wasn’t able to sell the units town CAO Andrew McNeill said: “[Stonebridge] has found in Wasaga Beach And [Stonebridge has] proven that to be quite successful in the market What this means is the entire development will move a lot quicker because [Stonebridge] has found units sell quicker when people can actually see them.” Mayor Smith added that if units from the first phase weren’t selling the town would retain ownership of the land set to be developed in phase two through five and could reassess the deal with Stonebridge Bigwind Lake Provincial Park’s plan for development met with mixed feedback The company, however, has a successful track record with the town Stonebridge contributed $75,000 towards the development of the town’s current beachfront redevelopment master plan It built a home with Habitat for Humanity in Wasaga Beach invested in mobi-mats to make the beach more accessible for mobility-challenged individuals and provided space for the Wasaga Society of the Arts in its Wasaga Beach office All councillors except for Dileo voted in favour of approving the payment agreement with Stonebridge The Stonebridge project is the second major development project approved by council in the last year. In June 2024, council partnered with Sunray Group to build a 150-room boutique-style hotel with commercial shops This project is set to be constructed next to the Stonebridge development Both developments are part of Wasaga Beach’s downtown redevelopment project increase the percentage of overnight stays and increase the amount of non-residential municipal taxes collected by the town An artist rendering of the proposed hotel that will overlook Beach Area One at Wasaga Beach Town officials and local business community see hotel as key in redevelopment of main beach area The president of Sunray Group says the company hopes to break ground next year on a 120-room hotel overlooking Beach Area One Sunray has a “firm deal,” but not yet a signed agreement with the Town of Wasaga Beach for 1.5 acres at the main beach area, said Kenny Gibson in an interview with Simcoe.com He said the goal is to start construction in early 2026 “We saw a good opportunity to come together with the town and do something there with the hotel,” Gibson said take a little bit longer to plan and work through but we’re well down the road to getting (a concept) in front of the town to take a look at.” The sale price of the lands in the four phases will be $2 million with a profit-sharing component in the joint-venture agreement that could pay the town upwards of $11 million The sale will come with a five-year tax holiday for the hotel property “The town (is) thrilled to welcome this over $45 million investment in our community,” said Mayor Brian Smith and is key to encouraging visitors to stay in the community longer The hotel would include a restaurant and conference facilities “Wasaga Beach is excited to partner with Sunray as we continue to redevelop our beachfront commercial area and unlock our community’s potential to become a thriving The deal requires Sunray to start building by September 2026 and that the hotel — being built at an estimated cost of $45 million — be substantially complete by the fall of 2029 Gibson said the hope is to start much sooner “It’s not realistic to have a shovel in the ground this year Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce president Colleen Bannerman said the local business community is excited about the project — and its place as part of a larger redevelopment of the main beach area bringing fresh faces eager to explore our shores,” Bannerman said “This means a surge in customers for our local shops and restaurants boosting sales and creating new job opportunities The commercial spaces are a blank canvas for entrepreneurs ready to paint our town with unique businesses “This isn’t just a facelift for the beach; it’s a chance to redefine Wasaga Beach as a vibrant hub for both visitors and locals.” Town of Wasaga Beach will keep the former Dardanella property as it determines the next use for Sunray operates 70 hotels across Canada, including Bayview Wildwood Resort and Hockley Valley Resort Gibson said the hotel’s brand is still being discussed The company’s hotel portfolio includes Marriott “We’re in discussion with a number of brands He said 120 rooms is small for a full-service hotel is driven by the seasonality of the market “at least for the first few years until (the beachfront) gets totally reimagined and redeveloped “We think that (small) is the right size for that market,” he said Gibson acknowledged the town’s vision for the beachfront is to take it from an area that’s busy two or three months of the year “The idea to bring in some higher-end retailers build residential — the hotel component was what was missing in order to kind of extend the season,” he said “We’re kind of tagging on to the town’s vision.” Gibson said while the agreement with the town hasn’t closed “Because of the way Beach Drive is going to work getting the exact footprint for the hotel parcel but it’s nothing that’s going to hold us up,” he said it also has several condominium and estate subdivisions in various stages of development He said while the condo market has slowed down substantially he estimated the market should return by the time the company is ready to move ahead on the residential component of the Wasaga project Construction of the hotel would take 18 to 24 months Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson announced Tuesday morning that Wasaga Beach will be getting a public high school with a windfall of $59.3 million in funding for the project This marks the second high school in Wasaga Beach announced by the province within a nine-month period “As a dynamic and growing community on the scenic southern shores of Georgian Bay Wasaga Beach has a long-standing need for a community high school,” Saunderson said in a news release this government is addressing that need to provide local students with access to a best-in-class learning experience enhanced by a full complement of extracurricular programs and school events in their own community," he added.  The new high school build will be located at Sunnidale Road South and Sun Valley Avenue and will include 1,145 student spaces both the local public board and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board put forward a proposal in the last round of submissions for a school serving high school students in Wasaga Beach In May, the province announced it had chosen the Catholic board’s junior kindergarten-to-Grade 12 proposal, but then-education minister Stephen Lecce didn’t rule out an option to approve another secondary school for Wasaga Beach in the future the province committed $57.7 million for the Catholic school for 1,000 students In the latest round of capital priority funding requests, the Simcoe County District School Board moved a Wasaga Beach high school up to number two on its priority list “This is a very welcomed announcement for the Simcoe County District School Board,” board education director Dawn Stephens said in a release “Staff have worked hard to put forward a strong business case and we are grateful that these efforts have attracted the funds required for a much-needed secondary school in Wasaga Beach continues to experience significant growth,” she added Collingwood/Wasaga Beach trustee Mike Foley did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story More Spotlight > BarrieNewsMan struck by falling tree limb in Wasaga BeachBy Kim PhillipsPublished: April 29, 2025 at 6:44PM EDT Canadian National Fireworks Association chief advocacy officer Aleem Kanji said Wasaga Beach’s new rules for fireworks may be tough to enforce Ban on fireworks in Wasaga Beach comes after years of noise complaints Wasaga Beach is snuffing out private firework displays A new bylaw will ban the consumer sale of fireworks in the municipality Municipally-run shows for holidays such as Canada Day and Victoria Day can carry on as can public displays for special events on private property with the OK of the town’s fire chief But anyone who sets off fireworks in their backyard could find municipal bylaw officers on their doorstep Fines for breaking the law, which would fall under the Provincial Offences Act Council supported the new rules at its April 10 meeting because it is part of (the) fun … and definitely part of the fabric of Wasaga Beach,” Deputy Mayor Tanya Snell said Wasaga Beach firefighters and OPP responded after groups shot off fireworks and Roman candles at one another a former Wasaga Beach councillor and deputy reeve She voiced her opinion to councillors during the meeting that they needed to pass the bylaw not only in relation to noise concerns “It looks like it’s going to be beneficial to the residents of Wasaga, and I think for a lot of the visitors as well, because they don’t come here to listen to all that blast,” she told Simcoe.com after the decision Kerluke said she hopes the town and the provincial park work together to ensure the issue doesn’t move from private property onto park property where municipal bylaw officers won’t have jurisdiction The former councillor was one of two people who spoke up in favour of the town’s bylaw a resident who organized neighbourhood displays and a national advocacy organization urged council to reverse course and allow sales and public use “I believe we should leave things pretty much the way they are,” said Don Douglas a Wasaga Beach resident who put on neighbourhood displays until he was fined two years ago for firing off a display in William Arnill Park Douglas said he stood on behalf of the “thousands and thousands in this town who appreciate and enjoy fireworks particularly on the Victoria Day weekend.” in which majority of more than 200 respondents were very concerned about the use of fireworks on private property Douglas said there was a significant difference between what he did safe event,” opposed to what he pointed out was “illegal behaviour.” That included individuals who set off fireworks outside of the previously-approved days of Canada Day New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day He asked that retailers continue to be allowed to sell fireworks and that the town put strict limits on their use to specific days around the holidays Douglas also asked the town to create a safe area for people to shoot off their own fireworks Aleem Kanji, the chief advocacy officer for the Canadian National Fireworks Association said without adequate enforcement in place He pushed the council to focus on educating residents rather than implementing a ban He said council should have referred the report back to staff for further investigation as several councillors still had questions around enforcement Smith’s motion to refer the report back to staff was defeated Kanji said he sees other municipalities across Ontario expanding fireworks bylaws but not to the point of banning the activity “Communities that have regulations in place have them in place so residents know and obey the regulations,” he said as people can buy fireworks while on their way to Wasaga Beach or online “I think this municipality is going to find, very quickly, that the purchase and sale will continue outside the community,” Kanji told Simcoe.com “The use is going to continue.” he isn’t confident the town has a plan for enforcement “The municipality chose to throw the industry out of town and does not want to work with the industry who could have helped and (worked) with the municipality to help provide education and help with their own enforcement at the point of sale,” Kanji said the town’s co-ordinator of municipal law enforcement said a survey of other municipalities that have implemented stricter regulations showed a “significant reduction” in complaints and related issues “This recommendation was not taken lightly,” Ivak said, noting a number of factors were considered, including public safety, environmental impacts of the chemicals used in fireworks and the concerns expressed in the community about the negative effects on pets and wildlife bylaw officers received 48 complaints about fireworks She said the complaints do come with enforcement challenges She said the department will be “reviewing internal enforcement procedures” on how to handle complaints there were changes made that resulted in “many charges successfully laid” for setting off fireworks illegally “The reality is we won’t know how effective a ban is in our community unless we give it a try,” she said “It’s important that we take a step forward and assess the solution so we can better understand its potential.” BarrieNewsWasaga Beach introducing self-cleaning public washrooms By Rob CooperUpdated: May 01, 2025 at 7:07PM EDT Sunray Group will be required to start construction of beachfront hotel by September 2026 A hotel project on Wasaga Beach’s waterfront will act as a catalyst to future development At its March 6 meeting, councillors approved a purchase and sale agreement with the Sunray Group for 1.5 acres of town-owned land overlooking Beach Area One “It will enable higher-value tourism and multi-day visits to our community It represents a growing commercial tax base which takes pressure off of our homeowners,” Mayor Brian Smith said as we continue to redevelop our beachfront commercial area and unlock our community’s full potential to become a thriving The area designated for the hotel is the spot formerly occupied by the building that housed Bananas plus a portion of the Playland Parking Lot and the hotel will be the first of four phases of development by the company on the beachfront The next three phases will be developed under a joint venture agreement with the town that will be coming back to council at a later date for approval The total sale price of the lands in the four phases will be $2 million “This is absolutely one of the most significant economic development things this municipality will do for decades,” Andrew McNeill “Every great beach community in the world typically has a main hotel on their beachfront The sale will come with a five-year tax holiday for Sunray How much that will cost the municipal coffers isn’t known McNeill noted the town isn’t collecting any tax money now from the municipally owned property “Granting a short-term (tax break) is considered a good investment to assist the hotel in stabilization which will ensure stable long-term assessment revenue for the municipality,” he wrote “There will be immediate economic spinoff benefits once the hotel is built as the building of the beachfront area will encourage new growth in the surrounding area.” The branding for the hotel is yet to be determined (Sunray’s hotel properties across Canada include Marriott The project would include below-ground parking and a variety of other retail shops and amenities Sunray is also prohibited from selling the property for 10 years The property tax holiday — 100 per cent over the first three years of the hotel’s operation and a 50 per cent reduction in years four and five — is known as a Tax Increment Equivalency Grant (TIEG) a Planning Act tool under the municipality’s Downtown Community Improvement Plan intended to support redevelopment McNeill expected about 100 jobs to be created through the operation of the hotel as the building of the beachfront area will encourage new growth in the surrounding area,” he wrote in his report The only note of caution around the council table came from Coun who pointed out the sale price was significantly below what would be considered fair market value for the property “I cannot wrap my head around the $580,000 for 1.5 acres right on the beach I’m having a hard time with that,” Dileo said noting she had read through the agreement several times one could argue the municipality is selling the lands at below fair-market value,” McNeill said “You need to look at the deal in its entirety … the cumulative deal will net the municipality more than fair-market value.” Dileo ultimately joined the rest of the council in approving the agreement a promissory note attached to the deal requires an appraisal to be done and Sunray will be required to pay the difference between the sale price and the appraisal value “I think we’ve covered all the bases to protect the municipality and the residents,” McNeill said McNeill said that during his time as economic development officer for the town more than five years ago he spoke with a number of hoteliers who were interested in the opportunity of coming to the community — but none who were willing to be the first to break ground “I can’t underestimate what a coup this is for Wasaga Beach,” he said Barrie WatchWasaga Beach announces Summer 2025 Live Music LineupThe Town of Wasaga Beach announced its summer live music lineup featuring over 30 concerts. An Urben Blu self-cleaning washroom under construction at the company’s factory in Quebec The interior of a self-cleaning washroom built by Urben Blu Quebec-based Urben Blu gets contract for “smart” self-cleaning washroom at Beach Area 1 Wasaga Beach is getting “smart” with its next set of beachside public washrooms The town will spend more than $447,000 to test drive a self-cleaning facility on a site that will straddle Beach Area 1 and Beach Area 2 The washroom, built by Quebec-based Urben Blu and go through a cleaning and disinfection cycle of the toilet bowl after every use Another cycle pressure-washes the floor after a set number of visits The units also include technology to send an alert when it runs low on paper and soap “It’s a four-inch pipe,” Bolduc told Simcoe.com The town’s chief administrative officer Andrew McNeill said the pilot gives the town a chance to see how the facilities work “We wanted to very deliberately put this in the most hostile environment possible,” McNeill told council before it approved the purchase so you’re tracking sand in and we can ensure the system can cope with that Only two companies responded to the town’s request for information in February and staff recommended directly awarding the contract to Urben Blu McNeill said there were several selling points to the washrooms The buildings can be easily picked up and moved to a new location The cost of the unit will be paid through reserves Bolduc said his company began importing self-cleaning washrooms from Europe in 2010 but found they couldn’t withstand the Canadian climate coming up with a building that could be used year-round and built using only Canadian technology and components The units are built in the company’s factory in Quebec and transported in one piece — including the concrete pad — to the site He said it only takes a couple of hours to connect the unit to existing water Urben Blu has washrooms across the country The City of Toronto was so impressed after buying two that it has 15 on order There’s nothing else like it in North America.” Bolduc said the technology for the units is constantly evolving and the company is updating the software every few months Urben Blu is developing technology that would make the unit able to detect if the user has a heartbeat in part to address concerns about drug users going into the unit and potentially overdosing Bolduc noted that while the cost may seem large up front it’s still cheaper than building a traditional public washroom of similar size because the washroom can be programmed to clean itself after so many uses “We have one in Oshawa that’s surrounded by pavement you might want to have it clean after five “The fact you don’t know how many users (a typical public washroom might have) you have to send someone on a regular basis,” for maintenance and cleaning The Urben Blu unit will send an alert when maintenance is needed BarrieNewsBusiness owners and residents frustrated over Wasaga Beach fireworks banBy Kim PhillipsUpdated: April 16, 2025 at 7:16PM EDT Barrie WatchLegendary figure skaters head to Wasaga BeachLegendary figure skaters head to Wasaga Beach for the town’s Champions On Ice show. BarrieNewsWasaga Beach unveils images of first high school By Kim PhillipsUpdated: March 28, 2025 at 7:10PM EDT The Town of Wasaga Beach launched the expropriation process to obtain this property at the intersection of Mosley and Main streets and the neighbouring property to the north Town has already agreed to deal for one of two properties on Main Street Wasaga Beach appears to be cutting deals for two beachfront properties it had been looking to expropriate The town started the expropriation process in December for 24 and 32 Main St. identifying both as “integral” to the development of a traffic circle at Main and Mosley and the creation of a new public square at the beachfront The work for both projects is expected to be completed through 2025 and 2026 council approved a $635,000 purchase agreement for 24 Main St Council also gave chief administrative officer Andrew McNeill direction to present an offer to purchase 32 Main St The town and the owner of 32 Main had been headed to an April 3 hearing before the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) to debate the merits of the town’s argument to expropriate the property That heading was cancelled just ahead of its scheduled start OLT spokesperson Anna Chiaramonte said both sides withdrew the request for a hearing “and are now working independently towards a settlement.” having been purchased for $1 million by WJAB Holdings this past June The most recent sale for 24 Main was in 1998 In his report in December, McNeill said the purchase of those properties would be funded from the sales of surplus municipal properties. That includes the former Wasaga Stars Arena property of which a portion of the proceeds will be dedicated to the beachfront project CORRECTION (April 4 1:55 p.m): This story has been edited to remove a reference to comment from the town with the paperwork Nikki has collected in order to secure a passport for her 12-year-old daughter In spite of presenting Passport Canada with documentation endorsed by a judge showing she has sole custody A Wasaga Beach couple is about to take their family on a trip of a lifetime Cam Moggach and Britta Jackson have saved up for three years to take their family on a cruise of the Caribbean to celebrate the couple’s 20th anniversary Britta’s daughter Nikki Jackson applied for a passport for her 12-year-old daughter Nikki had been through the process twice before with her daughter, but this time, in spite of presenting Passport Canada with the same documentation endorsed by a judge showing she has sole custody the federal agency came back at her asking for more “Passport Canada has been making me run through hoops,” Nikki said adding the previous passports for her daughter had typically been issued in three-to-four weeks Under Passport Canada rules a child’s passport is considered a “new” application — even if the child has previously had a passport With only days left before the trip, after Simcoe.com interviewed the family and reached out to Passport Canada the agency did issue Nikki’s daughter a passport Toronto-based immigration lawyer and policy analyst Mario Bellissimo said it’s not that unusual for Passport Canada to request additional documents to confirm sole custody of a child and to confirm the application is being submitted by the legal guardian is to prevent parental abduction or unauthorized travel “While one parent can apply for a passport for a child the applying parent must provide legal documents establishing custody rights,” he said “If the parent applying for the passport does not have sole custody of the child including the decision-making power of the parent if the non-custodial parent is responsible for child support payments and if the custodial parent needs the other parent’s consent to travel internationally with the child the federal agency stated it “reviews all custody and legal documentation for each individual child passport application parenting time and/or mobility may have changed.” such as information provided on the application may also require clients to submit additional documentation feel Passport Canada’s requests for more information went well beyond what has been requested previously asking for the minutes of the settlement meeting — even though the final court order was signed by the judge “There just seems to be a roadblock every time (she) went back,” to Passport Canada Nikki did find the mediation report that’s based on the minutes of settlement and discusses all the matters dealt with in the judge’s order She’s been told by court staff that if the minutes are still available they’ll be filed somewhere in the basement of the courthouse in Brampton “They weren’t optimistic (about finding them),” Nikki said “It can take from a week to a month (for a search) Passport Canada also called up the 12-year-old’s guarantor on the application — a friend of the family — to inquire about the father The friend had to respond that she had never met or heard of the man The family said the father has had no contact with the daughter since she was an infant nor pays — and is not required to pay — child support With the clock ticking to when their flights leave in early April “We didn’t know what else to do,” said Britta, who had reached out to Simcoe.com about the issue “Even if she were to come up with those minutes are they going to come up with something else that she doesn’t have?” They’ve already spent thousands of dollars making the arrangements for 14 people and it seemed like we were there after a couple of years of planning it and making sure everybody had what they needed,” Britta added “If (my daughter and granddaughter) don’t go Nikki said she felt like she was being punished for something she doesn’t know she’s done “It’s almost like it’s personal … is there somebody at Passport Canada that I wronged?” she asked “I don’t know anybody who works at Passport Canada in Wasaga Beach was once home to a Coffee Time and gas bar Wasaga officials hope purchase kicks off development opportunity at vacant site Wasaga Beach has added to its land holdings, buying a high-profile property at the entrance of the downtown council approved the purchase of 304 Main St and set in motion a process to find a development partner in the next couple of weeks The town’s chief administrative officer Andrew McNeill said the land — which has sat vacant for several years — is a “key gateway site for our community who comes into the beach (from the east) … you pass by this site,” he said “This is an incredible opportunity to really set the stage for redevelopment.” the property was identified as a “key component” of the downtown who at the time was the town’s economic development officer said the measure allowed the municipality to “take a timeout” on the property in order to put in appropriate development policies “A gateway site is your first impression to this community and do we want our first impression to be a one-storey gas station or do we want it to be something more significant something in keeping with what we anticipate will be our new vision?” he questioned at the time The land was sold to an Ontario numbered corporation in April 2021 for $4.9 million The new owner demolished the existing buildings and came to the town with a plan to build a hotel That plan never went beyond the concept stage McNeill said the property has been subject to “land speculation” and “every year the land looks worse than it did the year before.” a contractor was hired by the town to clean up the site McNeill said the land went back on the market in early 2025 under power of sale and the town was given the chance to buy it before it went on the open market The land was transferred to the town March 17 The purchase will be funded by borrowing from the County of Simcoe’s strategic land reserve account but McNeill said he is confident the town can pay it off before then Borrowing from the county gives the town flexibility to pay the loan off sooner unlike borrowing from Infrastructure Ontario which requires a municipality to commit to a 30-year period the town will cut the grass and remove the asphalt to make way for redevelopment at the waterfront He estimated the cost to temporarily spruce up the property to be less than $50,000 Council had previously approved the purchase during a behind-closed-door meeting “It will allow us to gain control from an out-of-control situation for many years,” Mayor Brian Smith said Learn more about the Town's holiday kick-off weekend events, and get the latest traffic and parade information by following us on Facebook! You can also visit wasagabeach.com/events Santa Claus Parade road closures on Saturday wasagabeach.com/events A Wasaga Beach man is accused of sexual offences involving a minor following an investigation into “multiple” incidents the accused made contact with a young person while posing as “Justin 15yrs.” on the social media app Snapchat “for the purposes of committing a criminal offence,” Huronia West OPP stated in a news release Police also allege that in the fall of 2024 while in the area of Beach Area 1 in Wasaga Beach the accused sexually assaulted a young person was arrested and charged with one count each of luring a child He has an April 8 court date in Collingwood None of the allegations have been tested in court.  Police say they believe there could be other victims and they are asking anyone with information to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestopperssdm.com The former Wasaga Beach transit storage barn will be one of the buildings demolished to make way for a development to be built by Stonebridge overlooking Beach Area One Mayor touts agreement as a good deal which will spark new life into beachfront Wasaga Beach has sealed its deal with a developer for a piece of beachfront property councillors agreed to sell a piece of its commercial property at Beach Area One to Stonebridge for $14 million The property is only part of the town-owned commercial lands at Beach Area One. The municipality recently signed a letter of understanding with Sunray Group to develop a hotel and other amenities for the area between Spruce and 1st streets Stonebridge and the town had previously announced the two sides had agreed to a sale price “This (the agreement with Stonebridge) is a good deal for Wasaga Beach that will inject new life into our downtown commercial area at Beach Area One — inspired by the success of mixed-use master-planned destinations like the Village at Blue Mountain,” said Mayor Brian Smith “The town also continues working with the award-winning Sunray Group of Hotels to bring a premium hotel to Beach Area One.” is a reporter for Simcoe.com, covering community news and events throughout south Georgian Bay, and municipal councils in Clearview Township and Wasaga Beach. He can be reached at iadams@simcoe.com. Follow Simcoe.com on X Please enter your email and we'll send you a new password request code You don't need to book a plane ticket to enjoy gorgeous beach destinations. These Ontario beach towns offer dreamy sand shores, sparkling waters and coastal charm You can spend your summer days soaking up sun on white sand beaches cooling off with ice cream cones and enjoying a drink on a picturesque patio If you're already dreaming of beach days it's time to start planning a trip to some of these eight Ontario destinations Why You Need To Go: Pack your bathing suit Grand Bend is a beach lover's paradise situated on the shore of Lake Huron The popular summer destination is known as "one of Canada's best beach towns," according to Lambton Shores offering lots to do once you've had your beach fill Don't miss out on Grand Bend's iconic sunsets which transform the sky with vibrant shades and add a touch of magic to the evenings Grand Bend Website Why You Need To Go: You don't need to get on a plane and travel to a far-off land to enjoy a bit of the tropics. This enchanting small town near Toronto has a beach that will make you feel like "you're sitting somewhere ocean-side in the Caribbean," according to the website Cobourg is a summer oasis and a dreamy place for a sun-filled getaway You can lounge on a white sand beach and swim in sparkling waves all day long Downtown Cobourg has charming streets lined with local shops Other attractions include a farmers' market Experience Cobourg Website Why You Need To Go: With East Coast charm and pristine beaches the beautiful harbour village has cozy small-town vibes and a beautiful shoreline with white sand The town's Main Beach is "one of the finest stretches of sandy beach on Lake Erie's north shore," according to the regional tourism organization It's a dreamy place to enjoy the sunshine and summer season you can head into town and treat yourself to an ice cream cone from Broderick's and indulge in a meal on one of the scenic patios Port Stanley Website Why You Need To Go: Located in the scenic Niagara region this charming beach town "offers a captivating journey through time with its rich heritage sites and stunning landscapes," according to the website making it an idyllic spot for a summer escape will have you feeling like you're on a tropical vacay You'll need to purchase a Day Pass in order to access the beach Aside from swimming and enjoying the white sand shores you can check out some of Fort Erie's shops Fort Erie Website Why You Need To Go: Sauble Beach is a majestic spot to visit this summer and has quaint beach town vibes The town boasts 7 kilometres of silky white sand shores According to the website, the destination is "Canada’s #1 rated freshwater beach " and has even been dubbed the "Daytona of the North," so you can expect some tropical vibes here The town has many cute local shops to explore You can also enjoy attractions like mini golf and the arcade while in the area Sauble Beach Website Why You Need To Go: You can spend your summer days on "the longest freshwater beach in the world." Wasaga Beach has 14 kilometres of velvety shoreline making it an incredible spot for a beach day take a dip in the sparkling waters and enjoy the stunning views of South Georgian Bay The town has several restaurants and beachside eateries where you can indulge in a meal or cool off with a beverage Explore Wasaga Beach website Why You Need To Go: This quaint small town has historic streets and cozy shops that are straight out of a storybook It's close to the beautiful Sandbanks Provincial Park, where you'll find three stunning white sand beaches as well as the "world’s largest baymouth barrier dune formation," according to the park's website You'll be transported to a Caribbean island as you wander across rolling dunes and swim in the turquoise waters making it a dreamy spot for a warm-weather escape Experience Picton website Why You Need To Go: This quaint beach town is a beautiful summer retreat Southampton is a postcard-worthy destination with powdery shores and old-world charm According to Bruce County "the town has a definite maritime feeling a fine sand beach and tasteful shops," so you'll feel like you're in a whole other land and stunning sunsets that light up the sky Visit Southampton Website Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed Madeline Forsyth is a Toronto-based Lead Writer for Narcity Media she spent a year travelling much of the world as a flight attendant she uses her experience in the travel industry and passion for writing to share stories about buzzworthy events and adventures across Canada and the globe Madeline has been published in PopSugar and has interviewed sports and entertainment personalities for Narcity She has covered and photographed restaurant openings as well as event launches such as the world premiere of the Dr Some of her favourite things to write about include charming small towns and anything to do with Harry Potter We built a Welcome tour we highly recommend Your free account has now been created. You can change your notification settings anytime here you will be required to verify your email before reading our content Password reset email has been sent to {email} Please check your inbox for the reset code and enter it here: You are missing important information on your profile in order to access commenting features You can manage your subscription anytime by navigating to your account settings You need to create a custom avatar in order to comment Nous avons préparé une visite de bienvenue que nous vous recommandons fortement Votre compte gratuit a maintenant été créé. Vous pouvez modifier vos paramètres de notification à tout moment ici Si tu t'es inscrit(e) en utilisant ton adresse e-mail tu devras vérifier ton e-mail avant de pouvoir lire notre contenu Un e-mail de réinitialisation du mot de passe a été envoyé à {email} Veuillez vérifier ta boîte de réception pour le code de réinitialisation et le remplir ici : Il vous manque des informations importantes sur votre profil pour acc\u00E9der aux fonctionnalit\u00E9s de commentaire Votre soutien est ce qui nous permet de continuer Vous pouvez gérer votre abonnement à tout moment en vous rendant dans les paramètres de votre compte Merci d'avoir confirmé votre adresse courriel Tu dois créer un avatar personnalisé pour pouvoir commenter BarrieNewsOut with the old, in with the new: Wasaga Beach moves forward with beachfront demolitionBy Kim PhillipsUpdated: March 20, 2025 at 6:56PM EDT Canadian Olympic medallists Elizabeth Manley and Elvis Stojko (who trained at Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie as an amateur) and four-time world champion Kurt Browning are set to perform at the town’s new Wasaga Stars Arena on June 8 The iconic figure skaters will take over one of the town’s new NHL-size ice pads and perform as part of Champions on Ice Hosted by Olympic and world silver medallist — and local figure skating hero — Elizabeth Manley this spectacular event will feature a lineup of champion skaters fans of the sport will be treated to an unforgettable performance showcasing the very best in figure skating talent including three-time Olympic medallist Kaetlyn Osmond two-time Mexican champion Gladys Orozco-Stojko Battle of the Blades champion Violetta Afanasieva skating fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to attend an exclusive and intimate fireside chat with Elizabeth Manley The skating icons will share personal stories from their decorated careers and offer insights into their lives beyond the rink Guests of the fireside chat will also get a sneak peek of the Champions on Ice rehearsal Tickets are also on sale for a post-show meet-and-greet and autograph session on June 8 Tickets range from $25 to $100. They are available now at wbse.ca “We are so excited to bring Champions on Ice to Wasaga Beach After the tremendous success of our 2024 performance during the town’s Breaking the Ice Festival it’s clear that Wasaga Beach is a special place for skating fans Whether you’re attending the show or joining us for the fireside chat this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get up close and personal with some of my dearest friends and the sport’s biggest legends Learn more about Wasaga Beach Sports and Entertainment Inc. Conservative incumbent John Brassard speaks to volunteers and supporters after his re-election win was declared Conservative candidate Adam Chambers (right) is congratulated by a young supporter after being declared the winner in Simcoe North Terry Dowdall speaks to supporters after his election win in Simcoe-Grey Conservative candidates were elected in ridings of Simcoe-Grey Barrie South—Innisfil and New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury While the Liberals will form the next federal government all five of Simcoe County’s ridings will be represented by Conservatives in the upcoming Parliament John Brassard retained his Barrie South—Innisfil seat a Conservative stronghold riding he’s held since its creation in 2015 The riding’s runner-up was John Olthuis of the Liberal party Brassard said he was proud of the campaign he and his party ran this election but was disappointed in the national result he says he will be focused on working with the Liberal government to address affordability in Canada “We can’t keep on the trajectory that we’re on,” he said Otherwise we’re going to be in bad shape as a nation.” Brassard has previously served as deputy whip and opposition house leader under the Conservatives Brassard was a three-term Barrie city councillor Continuing a Conservative sweep of the Barrie area Doug Shipley was elected for a third time in his home riding of Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte Simcoe.com reached out to Shipley for comment after election night results came in the incumbent could not be reached at the phone number provided by his campaign office Shipley has served as his party’s associate shadow minister for public safety and most recently as vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security Liberal candidate Rose Zacharias came in second Conservative Scot Davidson was elected in the new riding of New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury unofficial results had Davidson with about 59 per cent of the vote The riding used to be York-Simcoe but was changed when boundaries were updated for the 2025 election Davidson’s campaign did not return Simcoe.com’s request for comment Conservative Terry Dowdall was once again elected to represent Simcoe-Grey in Ottawa With 195 of 221 polls reporting as of press time, Simcoe.com declared Dowdall the winner with 52.5 per cent of the votes This marks the third federal election win for Dowdall a former Mayor of Essa Township and warden of County of Simcoe his supporters and volunteers who put up more than 1,800 signs during the campaign the night was bittersweet as the Conservative Party won’t form the next government “I kind of feel a bit like getting the MVP Award and you didn’t win the Stanley Cup,” he said Dowdall was pleased with the numbers for the party “We are going to hold their feet to the fire as we always do,” he said Voters in Simcoe North have sent a Conservative to the House of Commons for the seventh straight election had a lead of more than 1,200 votes over his Liberal rival Melissa Lloyd of the NDP was a distant third Stephen Makk of the People’s Party of Canada and Russ Emo of the Christian Heritage Party celebrating his victory at the Bonaire Golf Club in Coldwater said while he had been watching national polling numbers that favoured the Liberals he generally ran into a positive reception while going door-to-door “We knocked on thousands of doors,” he said noting there were challenges with the ice storm “We were hearing people are concerned about the economy the housing question is still very much to be resolved and we need to do a lot better on housing.” Rocca said that while on the campaign trail he heard from people who generally voted Conservative that they would be voting Liberal due to what was happening south of the border “They really felt the right person for the job is Prime Minister Mark Carney,” he said Chambers acknowledged the Conservative Party will have to go through some introspection but was buoyed by the party’s improved results from 2021 “There are more people voting for the party than did last time,” he said “There’s some positive things to take from this “Everybody said there was a red wave coming and everyone was flocking to the Liberal party They were not given a majority tonight and there were these other issues I was hearing about at the door.” You can also follow our coverage of the 2025 federal election and click through our interactive map for real-time results after the polls close BarrieNewsOlympic skating legends to perform and host event in Wasaga BeachBy Kim PhillipsPublished: April 10, 2025 at 5:16PM EDT Barrie WatchWasaga Beach snuffing out private fireworks displaysA new bylaw will ban the sale of fireworks in Wasaga Beach. A person has been found dead following a fire in Wasaga Beach today.  According to a news release from Huronia West OPP firefighters and police were called to a structure fire on 51st Street where a person was confirmed deceased.  The fire call came in on March 31 at 3:02 p.m and was reported as a collapsed structure fire.  "The investigation remains ongoing but an 80-year-old male was located deceased at the scene," states the police news release There will be an increased presence of emergency service workers as the investigation continues Police are asking the public to avoid the area.  If you have information about this incident, please visit Crime Stoppers at: www.stopcrimehere.ca or contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122.  BarrieNewsWasaga Beach is about to get ‘Loud’ with concert by Canadian country music star By Sarah FreemarkPublished: February 06, 2025 at 2:35PM EST Since the gaming site opened in November 2022 These payments to host communities are based on a formula consistently applied across all gaming sites in Ontario using a graduated scale of gaming revenue at the hosted site “OLG’s Municipality Contribution Agreement payments help pave the way for Wasaga Beach to build critical infrastructure and fund important programs that make a real difference for residents,” said Brian Saunderson member of provincial parliament for Simcoe-Grey “Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach supports numerous jobs and generates a great deal of economic activity that improves the well-being of our local community.” host communities have received more than $2.2 billion in non-tax gaming revenue OLG is proud to share proceeds of casino gaming with local communities contributing to economic development including infrastructure and job creation Payments to host communities are part of OLG’s commitment to Ontario which includes reinvesting 100 per cent of OLG’s profits back into the province service providers have invested more than $2.5 billion in private sector capital investment across the province These investments have led to the development and opening of seven new casinos numerous gaming floor expansions and new non-gaming amenities BarrieNewsWasaga Beach finalizes $45 million investment by award-winning hotelierBy Mike LangPublished: March 22, 2025 at 1:11PM EDT Huronia West OPP officers responded to a traffic tip of a possible impaired driver in the area of 45th Street South in the town of Wasaga Beach Officers were able to locate the vehicle at the owner's address officers noticed an odour of alcohol on the individual's breath and conducted an impaired driving investigation a 49-year-old from Wasaga Beach was arrested and has been charged with the following: The accused is scheduled to appear in court at a later date Drivers and members of the public are reminded to respect our communities and not jeopardize the safety of our citizens or our neighbourhoods with risky The OPP and Traffic Safety partners remain committed to saving lives on our roads. For safety and crime prevention tips, please visit our website at www.opp.ca Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display You will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000 The Ontario Provincial Police is committed to public safety delivering proactive and innovative policing in partnership with our communities BarrieNewsWasaga Beach clears way for new era with beachfront overhaulBy Rob CooperUpdated: April 24, 2025 at 7:43PM EDT Wasaga Beach resident Terry MacKay has launched an online petition asking council to consider a bylaw that would require any landowner to get a permit prior to cutting down a tree Wasaga resident said there are numerous benefits to having trees beyond the esthetic Terry MacKay used the pageant to speak up for the environment so it has been a life-long thing,” she said Her speech must have struck a chord with judges because the then-Miss Calgary won the title we’re talking decades ago … there’s the old joke about (contestants) speaking about world peace,” she said with a laugh “There weren’t many people who would go out there and speak about environmental issues.” As a recent arrival to Wasaga Beach, MacKay is once again speaking up for the environment, advocating for the town to strengthen the rules for cutting down trees Two years ago, MacKay moved to the community for retirement. She loved the natural beauty of the area and Georgian Bay, and began to volunteer with the Wasaga Beach Climate Action Team That’s when she became keenly aware of tree cutting in the community — not just to make way for development but also homeowners taking down a tree for esthetic reasons She has launched an online petition — soon to be augmented with a paper version — asking council to consider a bylaw requiring landowners of any size of property to get a permit before cutting down a tree and I was just seeing trees coming down on private property,” she said “There was this cottage lot across from the provincial park where three massive trees were taken down MacKay worries that some landowners might look at a tree that might be windswept as potentially being hazardous She thinks that’s what happened with one particular tree in her neighbourhood if you look at the paintings of the Group of Seven That’s why they grow the way they grow: they can bend so a healthy tree is not really a danger.” According to the town’s director of communications and intergovernmental affairs is scheduled to be reviewed by staff and brought to council later this year The existing bylaw prevents tree cutting on a woodland or within a natural heritage system on properties greater than one hectare in size including removing trees that have been damaged or are diseased A permit isn’t required to cut down a tree on a residential lot if the lot is under one hectare in size and not in an environmentally-protected area industrial and high-density residential lots may fall under “site plan control” and may have restrictions on tree removal Watts said that when a change to any municipal bylaw is proposed, the public is invited to comment, and a formal public engagement process through the town’s engagewasaga.ca website That input would be collected and presented to council as part of the process The town’s climate action advisory committee has also included a review of the tree bylaw as part of its work plan for 2025 MacKay hopes the review of the bylaw results in legislation that is robust and requires applicants to do more than pay a permit fee to take down a tree “When I look at the bylaws from other municipalities they do have (an assessment process) in place where you have to make an application and it has to meet certain criteria,” she said we need to introduce language that you have to have a real reason MacKay said trees can play many roles beyond adding to the community’s esthetic appeal including as a windbreak for snow and sand “I understand that people (will feel) it’s their personal right to … do what they want with their property,” she said “But I feel we’re in a transition where (there are) the rights of nature and realizing that a tree doesn’t just belong to the person on that lot In a time when we’re trying to fight against climate change taking away your tree canopy is something that’s important.” She noted the loss of trees in Wasaga Beach has been hastened by development that has made it one of the fastest-growing communities in the country “We’re starting to lose more and more of the huge natural woodlots to massive development,” she said “When you start to lose those larger plots of trees the individual ones on all of these (residential) lots become more and more important.” A print copy of the petition will be available at the climate action team’s booth at the Wasaga Beach Lions Home and Garden Show at the Wasaga RecPlex It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Christina Armstrong on March 13 Their enduring love and commitment to each other for over 30 years served as a role model for all who knew them inspiring many to seek such a deep connection in their own lives Christina and Brian made their home in Wasaga Beach where they were active members of the Wasaga Beach United Church Christina served with love and dedication for nearly 20 years at the Wasaga Beach Ministerial Food Bank offering care and support to those in need.  Christina will be profoundly missed by her devoted husband and their combined five children and daughters-in-law: Robert (Jennifer) Christina adored her grandchildren—Rachel & Eric Joshua & Lorilae and great grandson Harrison; cherishing all moments spent with them A woman of immense warmth and compassion with a great sense of fun Christina considered her many friends to be her extended family and she will be sorely missed by them and her legacy of kindness and service will live on in the hearts of all who knew her We will hold our cherished memories close until we meet again.  Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Carruthers & Davidson Funeral Home, 509 River Rd W, Wasaga Beach A celebration of life in Christina’s memory will be held on April 12th at 1:00 PM at the Wasaga Beach United Church In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Christina Armstrong to the Wasaga Beach Ministerial Food Bank or the Wasaga Beach United Church would be appreciated by the family. To sign her Book of memoires, please visit www.carruthersdavidson.com  A municipal sign at Beck and Main Street promotes events being held at Wasaga Beach Municipal accommodation tax would apply to hotels Wasaga Beach could join the growing number of Ontario municipalities levying a tax on tourists The town has launched a four-week public engagement process on the potential of implementing a municipal accommodation tax An online survey has been posted on the town’s public engagement website at engagewasaga.ca/mat Public sessions with businesses and stakeholders are also expected to take place in April A Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) is a levy or fee applied to visitors who stay in commercial operations within a municipality. The province introduced the Transient Accommodation Tax in 2017 as a revenue tool for municipalities to support tourism-related activities and projects Most Ontario municipalities set the tax at four per cent Toronto increased its MAT from four to six per cent in 2023 The tax is collected by accommodation providers at the time of booking or check-in and is remitted to the municipality at regular intervals throughout the year At least 50 per cent of net revenue from MAT must be allocated to an eligible not-for-profit (NFP) tourism entity for tourism promotion and development The remaining funds are used at the municipality’s discretion It would apply to stays of 30 days or less in hotels and short-term rentals such as those offered through online platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo The MAT would only apply to the cost of accommodations or other hotel amenities — are not subject to the tax The idea of a MAT for Wasaga Beach was proposed as part of a 2018 Tourism Destination Management Plan That plan underwent a “refresh” in 2023 and the introduction of a MAT was a key recommendation in the plan adopted by council in June 2024 A process for consulting with the public and the tourism industry was accepted by council that August “This isn’t a tax on residents — it’s a small fee paid by tourists who come to stay in hotels and other accommodations and all the money goes into a municipal fund to help pay for festivals events and experiences that the town delivers to keep driving tourism and new investment in our community,” Mayor Brian Smith said “This is part of council’s plan to shift the burden of paying for town festivals and events off our residents and onto visitors who come to Wasaga Beach to have fun and enjoy our community and the longest freshwater beach in the world.” The consultation is intended to help identify existing needs More than 40 Ontario municipalities have adopted a MAT including The Town of the Blue Mountains and Town of Collingwood The results of the survey will be summarized and presented to council in May to help inform recommendations regarding the structure Canadian Blood Services is holding donation clinics May 7 in Collingwood and May 10 in Wasaga Beach The Collingwood clinic will take place at the Collingwood Legion The Wasaga Beach clinic will take place at the Wasaga Beach RecPlex Appointments are required and can be made at blood.ca Demolition of beachfront buildings expected to start later in January Wasaga Beach is chasing two of its former beachfront tenants for more than $94,000 in rent money even as it prepares to tear down the buildings fronting Beach Area One the town filed statements of claim against Jean-Paul Piacente and his father as well as allegedly leaving the units they leased in a state that they couldn’t be handed over to a new tenant The younger Piacente has operated the Dardanella since 2017 Vincenzo Piacente was the proprietor of Ciao Pizza Espresso & Gelato The Piacentes could not be reached for comment. As of Jan. 8 (the day Simcoe.com received the statements of claim from the Barrie courthouse) The claims filed by the municipality’s lawyers contain statements that have not been proven in court The town’s claims ask that both be heard in Barrie defendants have 20 days to respond to a statement of claim by filing a statement of defence a defendant can serve a notice of intent to defend The Piacentes were the only beachfront tenants who were behind on their rent said town Director of Strategic Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs She said she was not able to comment on active legal proceedings and could not respond to the question of why the town was pursuing the Piacentes for damages for buildings that would be soon demolished “the town will always seek to recoup any costs or losses as a result of a tenant defaulting on a lease.” The town is claiming the younger Piacente owes $82,700 including outstanding rent of more than $52,000 plus $30,000 for “costs incurred by the landlord in reclaiming and repairing damage to the premises and the cost of recovering and reletting the premises.” The claim against Vincenzo Piacente is for more than $74,000 including the same $30,000 amount for alleged damages that needed to be repaired The statements of claim filed by the town indicated the municipality made “multiple demands” for payment of the outstanding arrears which were met by an acknowledgment by the tenants of the obligation to pay the landlord continued to allow the tenant’s use of the premises in accordance with the lease,” both claims state but the town was allegedly given various excuses for failing to drop off a cheque “such as being stuck in traffic or feeling ill.” “The defendants reneged on their promise to pay and it became apparent to the landlord that the tenant had no intention of complying with their obligations under the lease,” the claims stated This isn’t the first time the town has gone to the courts to collect rent from its beachfront commercial properties. In 2020, the municipality took several tenants and former tenants to court to try to collect a combined $250,000 The town also took several tenants to small claims court in 2017 the complainant in an alleged sexual assault that took place at a Wasaga Beach house party on Victoria Day long weekend in 2019 offered potentially critical evidence on Friday is on trial facing a single charge of sexual assault after pleading not guilty before Superior Court Justice Vanessa Christie in the judge-alone proceeding The identity of the complainant is covered by a publication ban that protects the identity of alleged victims of sexual assaults The 23-year-old woman was called back to the stand to be questioned about a narrow topic regarding her previous interaction with the accused before the alleged incident The woman maintained that she only briefly met Shephard once before that night the woman told court she couldn’t remember much about it “I don’t have any recollection of what we talked about,” the woman said in response to a question from Crown attorney Dennis Chronopoulos The woman also said she had no memory of communicating over social media messaging apps or by more conventional means such as email “I’ve never had (Shephard’s) phone number,” she testified That position is in sharp contrast to what Shephard told court last week: that he had met the woman as many as seven times previously and that they had bonded because she confided to him that her sister had suffered from addiction issues the complainant offered an entirely different scenario my sister has never had an addiction problem,” she told court on redirect examination by Chronopoulos pressed the woman on whether she had read any of BarrieToday’s coverage of the trial which has been carried on other sites across the Village Media network “Are you aware that (this case) has been covered in the popular press?” Allman asked her “Only from my (own testimony),” she replied of the two days she spent on the stand, Dec One side says there was virtually no relationship while the other says there were many more meetings with at least one conversation over a deeply emotional topic Like their respective testimony about the encounter that took place in the spare bedroom at the party It’s the Crown’s case that Shephard snuck into the bedroom in the wee hours of the morning and pretended to be another man as a ruse to have sex with her The encounter stopped quickly once she began to wake up from her stupor and became aware Shephard wasn’t her intended paramour Shephard maintained over his two days on the stand last week that the sex was consensual if somewhat spontaneous after he encountered her in that bedroom while checking on his sleeping arrangements The recall of the complainant was made because of a rule in law called Browne v It refers to a case in Victorian England that established the precedent that if a witness has their evidence contradicted by another witness they must be afforded the opportunity to respond in cross-examination The woman was cross-examined by Allman on critical elements of his client’s defence but she was not asked about the vast differences in how much Shephard claimed the two had met prior to the alleged assault who has otherwise provided Shephard with a vigorous defence was unaware until his client offered the evidence on the stand While a remnant of 19th-century jurisprudence was in play in the courtroom on Friday evidence introduced during the trial was very much modern-day including lurid descriptions of sex and talk of hook-up culture The latest snag has moved final submissions to March 4 in Newmarket where Christie is presiding over another trial that week Shephard was arrested and charged just past 8 a.m By the time Christie renders her judgment on an as-yet-undetermined date roughly a quarter of the time both the complainant and accused have been alive BarrieNewsResidents avoid severe damage to their home after fire caused by smoking materialsBy Mike LangPublished: April 27, 2025 at 11:28AM EDT Check out our interactive map for live results after polls close Follow our coverage of the 2025 federal election and click through our interactive map for real-time results after polls close Comparisons to the 2021 election above use these transposed results the town delivered our first winter music festival featuring rock legends Burton Cummings and Blue Rodeo in our new state-of-the-art arena," the mayor added. "As part of our summer live music lineup we celebrated under the stars with the Strumbellas the Carpet Frogs and Canadian music icon Tom Cochrane We look forward to continuing this tradition of celebrating home-grown talent by welcoming Tim Hicks back to Wasaga Beach give the gift that will keep on giving – get tickets now before they’re all gone.” Canadian country star Tim Hicks is set to make his highly anticipated return to Wasaga Beach on Feb. 7 The multi-platinum and Juno Award-nominated artist will perform at the town’s new Wasaga Stars Arena following in the footsteps of Canadian music icons Burton Cummings and Blue Rodeo Hicks will light up the stage at 544 River Rd W. in what is promised to be an unforgettable evening of live music “Wasaga Beach is a special community The fun doesn’t end when the snow arrives – residents are warm and welcoming This is a town with a long history of appreciating live music This is going to be an amazing show in our amazing new venue,” added Mayor Smith Hosted by Wasaga Beach Sports and Entertainment and presented by Stonebridge and Wasaga Distribution this high-energy show will also feature an opening performance by the River Town Saints Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster and at wbse.ca Prices range from $80 to $125 (plus fees and taxes) general admission floor tickets are on sale for just $99 (plus fees and taxes) More Spotlight > The corner of Lyons Court and Ramblewood Drive the site for a proposed Costco in Wasaga Beach A draft site plan for a new Costco in Wasaga Beach as submitted to the town’s planning department The Wasaga Beach Costco would be the largest single-tenant retail space in southern Georgian Bay Wasaga Beach’s worst-kept secret is now the town’s most anticipated store opening After months of speculation on local Facebook pages, the owner of the west-end property — Kelowna Valley Developments — submitted a site plan for a Costco in November Barrie WatchWasaga Beach finalizes $45 million investment by award-winning hotelierThe Town of Wasaga Beach and Sunray Group finalized a deal that will see the latter invest more than $45 million into redeveloping part of the town’s beachfront. WARNING: This article contains details heard in court that may not be suitable for some readers A sexual assault case stemming from an incident in Wasaga Beach almost six years ago is set to conclude next month faces a single count of sexual assault that is alleged to have occurred at a house party that took place on the Victoria Day long weekend in 2019 before Superior Court Madam Justice Vanessa Christie heard closing submissions Tuesday in a Barrie courtroom Christie reserved her decision for April 1 cannot be identified per law that protects the identity of complainants in sexual-assault proceedings The woman, who is now 23, did not attend in-person, providing her testimony in December by video link elsewhere in the courthouse The Crown alleges that Shephard essentially pretended to be someone else – a man whom the girl had been with that evening but who had already left the party – as a ruse to have sex with the alleged victim told over two days on the stand that included a withering cross-examination by the Crown is that the sex was spontaneous but consensual “It doesn’t make sense,” said Crown attorney Dennis Chronopoulos referring generally to Shephard’s explanation of how he happened upon the alleged victim in a spare bedroom and engaged in consensual sex soon after “He had to embellish (his story) … he’s gotta say that because he has to have evidence that she consented when her evidence was that she (did not),” he added offered a 10-pont submission to explain his client’s account of what happened that night “It doesn’t make any sense without her consent,” said Allman making specific reference to how the alleged victim removed her own clothes and how she recognized physical differences between her original paramour and Shephard “She was aware and was an active participant,” he added The case touched on and heard testimony about many aspects that those in the bayside resort community are familiar with especially as spring turns to summer — out-of-town visitors mingling with locals and the laid-back way of life that takes hold for four months every year It also served as a cautionary tale about how despite reasonable precautions to supervise young people and allow them a safe space to socialize the potential dangers when teenagers and alcohol mix in such a setting The host of the party was a friend of both the accused and alleged victim She had invited her old friends from Orangeville to a party that was attended by mostly people from her new home in Wasaga Beach That girl’s mother testified to the extent she went to supervise the party – strict rules about sleeping arrangements for out-of-towners providing a ride home for local guests who didn’t have one – to ensure everyone’s safety it’s also proof that it wasn’t enough The case was also a sad commentary at the glacial pace of the courts. There were numerous delays: the original Crown, Fred Temple pandemic restrictions and voluminous pre-trial motions and arguments stretched it well past five years what was supposed to be a relatively quick trial of about a week eventually took more than twice that time forcing court staff to scramble for extra days in January then March and now April as the proceedings became bogged down in procedural matters and other legal minutiae There was one final delay: Tuesday’s proceedings extended almost an hour past the normal time for closing court before a suitable date for Christie’s judgment could be agreed upon who demonstrated patience throughout will shoe-horn her decision in during a short break from a trial she is presiding over in Newmarket on April Fool’s Day both the accused and alleged victim will have spent a quarter of their lives with the case hanging over them