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Dwight Improvement Group
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Dwight Community Planning Meeting

May 11, 2010


Marie welcomed the attendees (forty-four) and introduced the Dwight Improvement Group. She then introduced Mayor Janet Peake who also welcomed the attendees and thanked the DIG group for organizing the first community meeting. Out of the LOB Strategic Plan which was initiated last year, Dorset and Baysville have both started their community plan.
Congratulations on getting the Dwight Community Plan started.

Ginny Burgess, Councilor for Sinclair Ward explained the context of the LOB Strategic Plan. She is acting as the liaison between the various groups and council. A few groups have been started including a Communications group whose initiatives include a Dwight website and a Healthy Environment group working on lake health stewardship.
Stefan Szczerbak (Director of Planning & Bldg. Services) assists as a resource person.

Advantages of a Community Plan:
- Highway #60 alignment concern. Stefan, announced 3 options being proposed for Dwight. All were encouraged to attend the Highway #60 meeting at Hidden Valley on May 13 for more information. www.highway60.ca
- Dorset and Baysville are taking the lead in their planning. Dwight needs to start something. A healthy collaboration is encouraged.
- The Dwight core needs to strengthen its facilities to keep a draw of tourists, cottagers and residents by having public washrooms, upgrade the beach and docking.
- Mitigate the highway threat.
- Have a more welcoming town, make Dwight a destination; we lack a gas station, need a bank or pharmacy.
- It would be nice to have an ambiance of a village, have the highway as the main street with stop lights. Encourage walking and bike paths from the beach to the stores, library and restaurants. Have a theme town.
Why did previous community plans fall apart? Marie said there is a need to involve all aspects of the community. Groups must take ownership of each project, get grants or funding and carry them through.
Janet Peake – we need to make our own commitments. Some items never went to council in the past, can’t rely on council only to carry through projects.
Marie - after the G8 funding was defunct, we need to do the projects ourselves.
Nancy - Dorset is looking at sponsor and donor funding.

Identification of Community Services and Program priorities
Economic, Social and Environmental

Dwight has a lot going for it: we have a school and municipal property. Partner with school board. This is good for encouraging new families, grow the school.
- We have a township office. Partner more with them.
- We are on the Algonquin Park corridor.
- We have a great public beach.
- Encourage retirees to live near Dwight to create a larger tax base.
- The Library is a good outreach. There are many opportunities to expand the programs in the community center and library.
- Brian Simpson suggests Eco Wellness for alternative health. Come to Dwight to be restored.
- Have a permanent focus on youth programs. We need to get the young people involved in service groups to keep the clubs going, ie the Lions Club.
- Aubrey Cotton suggested to do a walk about in Dwight as they do in Baysville. He knows many vendors who would come here perhaps in October.
-The Seniors Club is looking for younger people aged 50 plus.
- Vickie Dodds suggested a ‘Creative Economy’ ie Art in the Pines.
Encourage artists to educate young people and promote Arts and Culture. Teach them to realize this could be a business. This may sustain young people in the area.
Janet Peake added that there are artists interested in doing murals in Dwight which would promote a circle tour out of Huntsville.
Kelly Hayward (Huntsville Chamber of Commerce) – We need to identify the market. Dwight actually is a destination, but we need to service the public better. Have signage and facilities.
- There is a frustration of insurance liability and a lot of red tape with the township from those wishing to pursue an event or new business. We need the township to have a role in the plan.
Nancy Tapley mentioned that Echo Valley is bringing on line a provincially significant mountain bike park with walking trails, skills development park, observation deck and washrooms. It will be an asset for Dwight.
- Brian Simpson - Show the character and heritage of Dwight.
- Promote the United Church and the heritage walk on the beach road.
- Have a town map and signage to link the beach to the other end of town.
- Promote Dwight Beach Rd. as a walking and biking trail. Sign both ends of the road.
- Dwight Beach – less signage, less boat traffic, add kids playground, colorful benches and picnic tables.
- Highway #60 – the community should coordinate a response to the options proposed.
It is our Main Street and should have sidewalks, create zones for bikes and public. A slower speed limit. This may be a planning issue. Coordinate with MTO and let them know our plans.

Stefan reminded us that the Hidden Valley meeting on May 13th is a preliminary meeting.
We have a lot of time to put in our comments and be organized as a community.
Marie would like the Highway #60 discussion on the next DIG agenda.
- Community Events like Firefest and Dwight Winter Carnival can be used to promote the village. Other groups should be able to join in to give these events a greater impact.
- Promote the accommodations in the area along side the festivals to market Dwight as a destination.
- We need ‘Welcome to Dwight’ signs.
- Welcome ATVers - View this three season sport as a sub-economy. The township needs to aid in the bylaws for this initiative.
Peggy Hurley – Sub committee of fundraisers - have a representative of each fundraising group to get together to discuss annual traditions and events we can share with.

Marie – would like to call another meeting in one month with an Action Plan.
Janet Peake asked if anyone can join the Dwight Improvement Group. Marie answered that Yes, any interested person with a business or not is welcome to attend the meetings.
The group is not funded, or incorporated. Right now it obtains funding by the $50.00 businesses’ pay to be on the website.
Comments from this meeting should be directed to Marie, Ginny Burgess or comment on the website.
Stefan concluded that the plan going forward needs to be partnered with the township, school and school board, MTO and make use of the website.


Meeting Adjourned at 8:30 pm
Karen Szykoluk, scribe

Refreshments supplied by Nancy Tapley