Free fishing week, infrastructure committee, LKDSB report

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Monday, July 3, 2017

Today – Cloudy. Becoming a mix of sun and cloud this morning. 40 percent chance of showers near Lake Erie this morning. High 26. Humidex 31. UV index 9 or very high.

Tonight – Partly cloudy. Low 13.

Free Family Fishing Week

With summer officially here, celebrate the warm weather and the great outdoors by fishing licence-free with the whole family from July 1 through July 9, 2017.

Families across the province can take part in Free Family Fishing Week by finding a good nearby fishing spot through Ontario’s Fish ON-Line website, or by learning the ropes of fishing at one of many community angling events across the province.

“Fishing is a great way for families and friends to get outside, spend time together and enjoy Ontario’s beautiful lakes and rivers,” stated Kathryn McGarry, Minister, Natural Resources and Forestry.

“Family Fishing Week offers everyone the opportunity to give fishing a try, and I encourage you to join in the fun at one of the many free family fishing events taking place across the province.”

– Approximately 1 million fishing licences are sold in in Ontario each year.

– Fish license fees go back into programs that help stock Ontario waterways, conduct biological research and support conservation projects.

– Ontario’s lakes and rivers are home to approximately 160 types of freshwater fish.

– New anglers can borrow fishing gear for free through the Tackleshare program.

The Dover Rod & Gun Club Annual Youth Fishing Derby will be held on July 8.

It runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Call 519-352-8012 for more details.

Members of public sought for committee

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is seeking six members of the public to volunteer for its new Infrastructure, Bridge, Culverts and Roads Innovation Committee

The Committee will help set the framework and guidelines of its mandate and report back to council for support and direction by October 2017.

This strategic task force, to be appointed by council, consists of four council members, three members of the public with infrastructure/capital expertise, three members from the agricultural industry as well as representatives of other levels of government and Chatham-Kent staff.

Anyone interested can submit an application and/or provide information highlighting relevant experience and qualifications. The application form is available on the CK website www.chatham-kent.ca

Submissions must be received by Monday, July 10, 2017 at noon. Submissions can be made in person to any municipal centre or municipal information desk, by email to ckclerk@chatham-kent.ca or by mail to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, c/o Judy Smith, Municipal Clerk, Civic Centre, 315 King Street West, P. O. Box 640, Chatham ON N7M 5K8.

LKDSB holds Thoughtexchange process

The Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) has published a report on the results from the Thoughtexchange process on the proposed plan for the Blenheim, Ridgetown, Tilbury, and South Chatham Area phase of pupil accommodation.

The report highlights themes from the 3,653 thoughts that were contributed by 748 participants, including parents/guardians, students, staff, and community members. From discussions about grade division organization; transportation; and the impact of school closures on small towns and communities, participants shared their thoughts on the issues that were most important to them.

Readers will be able to review the comments and see the number of stars assigned to each thought.

The Thoughtexchange involved a three-step process: Share, Star and Discover. The “share” phase launched March 20 29, during which stakeholders shared their thoughts using both a paper and online process.

Then, participants were asked to “star” comments of others April 6-18. Once the data was collected, Thoughtexchange assembled the results into an online report, which is available at: http://lkdsb.thoughtexchange.info/.

On June 28, The Ministry of Education announced it is conducting a review of the Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines beginning in the fall of 2017.

School boards will not start new pupil accommodation reviews until the revised guidelines are complete, unless the review is required to support a joint-use school initiative between two school boards.

Although the Blenheim, Ridgetown, Tilbury, and South Chatham communities were invited to share thoughts on the proposed phase, this is not the start of a pupil accommodation review for the area.

An Initial Staff Report has not been presented to Trustees.

“We appreciate the thoughts contributed by those who participated in the Thoughtexchange process,” said Jim Costello, Director of Education. “As the Ministry continues to emphasize the importance of community engagement in the pupil accommodation process, this report provides Senior Administration with a better understanding of the issues that concern students, staff, families and community members in the Blenheim, Ridgetown, Tilbury, and South Chatham areas. This will allow us to work collaboratively on solutions moving forward.”

More information about the Thoughtexchange process is available at http://www.lkdsb.net/Board/Community/ThoughtExchange/Pages/default.aspx

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