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Georgian Bay Biosphere staff expect to collect their 10,000 turtle egg this spring. 

Since 2020, the organization has rescued 8,900 eggs found throughout the Parry Sound district, incubated them, and released close to 8,000 hatchlings back into the wild, according to officials. 

Tianna Burke, lands and wildlife program manager, says staff are called whenever turtle nests are found in at risk locations. 

“This could be nests on the edges of roadways, at marinas and other high-use sites,” said Burke. “A lot of times this program has partnered with construction crews and our local townships at constructions sites. We go in ahead of time and clear the sites of nests and bring (the eggs) back for incubation.” 

Last year, more than 1,700 eggs were collected, and more than 1,500 hatchlings were released. Four species of turtle eggs were collected, including the Midland Painted, Eastern Map, Common Snapping, and Blanding’s Turtle. 

Burke said the organization has information and resources available to anyone who finds eggs on their property and wants to protect them, including turtle nest cages. 

“If you have a nest in your backyard, you can use this cage to put on top of it, and that way predators like raccoons or skunks aren’t able to dig up these eggs and eat them.” 

More information on what to do when you find a turtle nesting, or on a road, can be found here. 

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The Ministry of Transportation remains committed to the planned rehabilitation of Highway 559. 

In a letter to the Township of Carling, MTO officials reiterated their plan to improve the highway, including replacing the centerline culvert, adding paved shoulders and a new layer of asphalt. 

Officials say construction crews are on-site repairing potholes to address immediate safety concerns, and they anticipate having a contractor begin roadwork this fall. 

The Ministry is also planning additional surface work on Dillon Road and several sections of Carling Bay Road East. That work is expected to begin in June. 

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The Friends of Algonquin Park say now is the prime time to spot a moose along Hwy. 60 in Algonquin Park.

However, in a post on its Facebook page, the non-profit organization recommends drivers stay alert because moose and other animals “are often surprisingly hard to see, especially after dark." 

"The application of salt to Hwy. 60 during winter road maintenance operations attracts moose to roadside ditches," it says in the post. "Moose with salt-deficient winter diets capitalize upon this unnatural source of salt. “From mid-April when roadside ditches thaw, to about mid-May when roadside ditches dry out, chances are good you will observe several of these magnificent animals during a leisurely drive along Hwy. 60." 

They suggest keeping your eyes peeled for animals darting from one side of the road to the other. Also, they point out that if another driver flashes their lights at you while near Algonquin Park, they're likely warning you about an animal running across the road.  

It’s noted in the post that moose and other wildlife are occasionally hit by vehicles. The group says the best course of action is to drive slow to “help save the lives of Algonquin Park’s moose and possibly even your own.” 

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The Town of Parry Sound is now accepting applications for the municipal assistance program.

According to town officials, the grant program is open to volunteer, non-profit community groups and community economic development agencies.

Groups that have previously received a grant are required to submit a post project report along with their program application.

Applications, which can be found here, must be submitted by 4 p.m. on May 3.

More information on the program can be found at parrysound.ca.

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Parry Sound’s Harvest Share food bank received a large donation on April 22. 

According to officials, 357 pounds of food and $470 in cash was dropped off after being collected at a food drive hosted by Ecole public aux Quatre-Vents and the Parry Sound Fire Department. 

Harvest Share Executive Director Wendy Pegahmagabow said the donation was much needed, as their shelves were getting low due to a growing need in the community. 

“Harvest Share really needs the support of our community in meeting the food needs of our most vulnerable and those that are struggling with food security,” said Pegahmagabow. “Even though we conducted a food drive about a month ago ourselves, we are starting to get low, so this was much needed and much appreciated.” 

According to Pegahmagabow, the local food bank supports more than 500 people a month, and that number continues to grow. 

Harvest Share’s top needed items include low-sugar cereal, soup, granola bars, Kraft Dinner and coffee. 

“We fill the shelves, but it often goes out as quickly as it comes in,” she said. 

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The Ontario government is adding two new Seniors Active Living Centre Programs in Parry Sound and Bracebridge. 

Raymond Cho, minister of seniors and accessibility, made the announcement alongside Parry Sound/Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith in Foley earlier today. 

The expanded service will include arts and culture programs, lifelong learning classes, recreation and leisure activities and more. 

“Having a new Senior Active Living Centre for the residents of West Parry Sound is exciting,” said Ann MacDiarmid, Mayor of Seguin Township. “Our seniors are very active and having this designation will help provide the support needed to keep them healthy, informed, and ingrained in the community. Seniors are very important as they are one of the largest groups of volunteers here in the Parry Sound area.”   

According to Cho, the new Seniors Connect and Active Living program will serve as a one-stop community connector for seniors, and will improve health, wellness and social engagement. 

These new programs are among the 316 Seniors Active Living Centre programs being run across the province. 

“I’m thankful to the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility for recognizing the need for programing like this for our seniors in West Parry Sound and in Bracebridge,” said Smith. 

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The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) will be relocating its Parry Sound office to the downtown, in order to open up the waterfront property to new opportunities. 

The move was announced by Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith on April 19. 

Smith says moving the MNRF office was best for the town. 

"The location of this office, while functional in many ways and full of great people doing great work every day, is a not so beautiful building in a beautiful location. My thought was I think we can do better here," said Smith. "We need to create an opportunity by taking this office and moving it somewhere else. It is going to unlock potential on the waterfront here in Parry Sound and unlock potential for this area." 

Service Ontario, also located inside the building, will be relocated to a new space. 

All the MNRF jobs the building provides will stay local, according to Smith. 

Parry Sound Mayor Jamie McGarvey said it was a long time coming.  

"We have always seen this as a key piece of property within the waterfront to really shine and make something happen," said McGarvey, who thanked Smith for finally freeing up the land. 

"When I look at what is happening on our waterfront and what is getting into place, this waterfront in five years is going to look incredibly different than it does now." 

The relocation process is expected to take several years. 

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An exhibit celebrating 125 years of curling in Parry Sound is now on display at the Museum on Tower Hill.

According to museum manager and curator Nadine Hammond, the display is all about highlighting curling's deep connection to the community.

Hammond says that curling was first mentioned in the town's history in 1878, long before hockey.

The exhibit features several displays on several local curlers including Raymond Pavlove, Dennis Baskey and visually-impaired curler Bill Liggins.

It will be on display until the end of the year.

For more information visit museumontowerhill.com.

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A Parry Sound woman says she is one of the many who thought they had won a brand-new boat by Rolling up the Rim. 

Corrie Armstrong said Tim Hortons emailed her on April 17 recapping the prizes she had won throughout the contest. It also congratulated her on winning a 2024 Tracker Targa boat and trailer, worth an estimated $55,000. 

Armstrong says she drove to the Tim Horton’s by the Parry Sound mall, showed the manager and was told it ‘looked legitimate’. She adds she excitedly contacted Tim Horton’s, and hours later, was disappointed to hear the prize notification was a ‘technical error.’ 

The franchise confirmed "human error" resulted in a number of customers receiving incorrect prize notifications in recap emails. 

“We developed a Roll Up To Win recap email message with the best intentions of giving our guests a fun overview of their 2024 play history,” stated a Tim Horton’s spokesperson in an email to Moose FM. “Unfortunately, there was a human error that resulted in some guests receiving some incorrect information in their recap message.” 

The franchise emailed out a letter to all customers impacted by the error to explain the situation.  

“We apologize for the frustration this has caused and for not living up to our high standards of providing an exceptional guest experience,” stated the letter. 

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Parry Sound Council will be considering whether or not to make changes at a troublesome intersection.

A letter from resident Rose Pocantos brought the intersection at George and Forest Streets to council's attention during a meeting on April 16, due to sightline concerns for southbound traffic on Forest Street.

"There is a steep hill before the George Street intersection, which makes visibility of oncoming cars not possible," wrote Pocantos in the letter. "Even if you creep closer to the road to get better visibility, you still can't see any cars until you have already entered the road."

According to municipal staff, if that intersection was designed today, a speed limit lower than 50 km/hr would be recommended.

Coun. Doug McCann requested a staff report with information on potential changes the town could make, including a reduced speed limit, or the possible installation of a flashing light.

The report will be presented at a future meeting.

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The Town of Parry Sound will be spending an additional $37,500 this summer to increase access to public washrooms.

According to officials, washrooms at the Uptown, Town Dock and Waubano locations will be open until 8 p.m. seven days a week from June through August - and on weekends from Victoria Day until Thanksgiving.

The Uptown washroom will stay open until 9 p.m. on Tuesdays to accommodate the Downtown Car Show.

Those were among the few service changes made to the Town's budget last week.

Council officially passed the 2024 budget last night. It comes with a 3.6 per cent residential tax increase.

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The Parry Sound District is a ‘childcare desert’. 

That’s according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives as the centre says there are only enough licensed childcare spaces to serve 27 per cent of children in need. 

The Waubeek Early Learning and Childcare Centre in Parry Sound has space for 55 children and 183 children are currently on a waiting list, according to the District of Parry Sound Social Services. 

Local mother Alex Pritchard is frustrated by the lack of urgency in communicating and addressing the region’s childcare needs. 

“I think we are just seen as numbers waiting on a waitlist. Nobody is seeing the human, family and child development cost of this lack of infrastructure,” said Pritchard. 

“It’s like winning the lottery to get into a registered daycare because it is half the price. This summer between camps, needing to maintain just part time hours, and private daycare, I will actually be paying for the privilege to be working.” 

Her situation prompted her to act. 

Pritchard is urging local municipalities to join forces, and work with the District of Parry Sound Social Services to come up with a solution that will address the region’s current and future childcare needs. 

She made a deputation to Parry Sound Council on April 16. 

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Businesses and organizations throughout the Parry Sound Area are highlighting the tremendous role volunteers play in the community during National Volunteer Week, which runs from April 14 to 20. 

In 2023, the Stockey Centre and Bobby Orr Hall of Fame had 74 active volunteers attend 134 events and log a combined 2,674 volunteer hours, according to Kelsey Norris, marketing and program coordinator. 

Norris is grateful for the community's support. 

“It is absolutely incredible that these wonderful people in our community are donating their time to us to help our patrons have a really great experience at concerts and events that we have here,” said Norris. “They help seat our patrons, help them find their seats and just make sure everyone is having a great time.” 

Jamie McGarvey, Mayor of Parry Sound, is grateful for all of the residents who volunteer their time with the various service clubs, organizations and municipality. 

“Thank you to the many volunteers that do volunteer in this community and the area. If it wasn’t for them, costs would be horrendous, or the service clubs wouldn’t survive. We really need to thank those people,” said McGarvey. 

“We are really lucky to have the volunteers that we have, and certainly new volunteers are appreciated.” 

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Seguin Township will be partnering with local businesses to establish and launch four new tourism experiences this year. 

In January, the municipality was awarded grant funds from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, to aid in the development of tourism experiences and excursions that tap into the cruise ship market. 

The municipality has partnered with KLB Consulting and will work with local tourism operators to develop new and customized experiential tourism offerings aimed at encouraging travel, extending stays, cruise ship passenger tours, and reimagining the shoulder season. 

Through an application process, four local businesses will be selected to develop new tourism experience with the assistance of one-on-one coaching and training from consultants. 

More information can be found at letsconnectseguin.ca.  

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Two First Nations in our region are getting nearly $100,000 from the province to better respond to emergencies. 

Moose Deer Point First Nation is getting $50,000 to upgrade communications for emergency responders, as well as purchase household emergency preparedness kits, supplied with items such as first aid, food, water, blankets, and radios. 

Meanwhile, $49,500 goes to Magnetawan First Nation to equip homes with generators, propane heaters, and rechargeable lights. 

The money is part of the $5-million Community Emergency Preparedness Grant set aside for small Ontario communities this year. Officials add $110-million has been earmarked to help emergency preparedness over the next three years. 

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Work will continue this summer on Hwy 69 from Parry Sound to Sudbury. 

Parry Sound/Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith says the project, which is part of a $3.2 billion provincial investment into Ontario Highways, is ‘incredibly important’. 

 “A commitment to four-laning Highway 69, I think is incredibly important. I know when I am in the West Parry Sound area it gets mentioned to me a lot. The province is keen to get that project done. It’s one of the priorities,” said Smith. 

Construction crews have already completed the expansion of a 14-km section of Highway 69 from two to four lanes at French River, including two new interchanges, one at Highway 607 and the other at Pickerel River Road. 

Officials say 84-kilometres of the highway has already been widened, and that engineering and design work is currently being completed for the remainder of the road. 

 Officials also say that additional safety improvements will be made to the two-lane portions of the highway, including resurfacing of lanes, shoulder improvements and other repairs. 

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A $349,000 Ontario Trillium grant will help protect more of Georgian Bay’s unique environment. 

Parry Sound/Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith acknowledged the “important environmental work” done by the Georgian Bay Land Trust during a visit to Carling on April 12. 

“The dedication of the Georgian Bay Land Trust to preserving the natural beauty of Georgian Bay is something I’m proud to see in my riding,” said Smith. “By investing in the conservation of these significant lands, the Ontario Government is showing our commitment to environmental protection and preservation. Thank you to the Georgian Bay Land Trust for their continued efforts.” 

According to Smith, the organization received a three-year grant in 2020 to conduct strategic ecosystem mapping to identify the most important lands for environmental protection. 

Officials say the funds also helped conduct outreach to landowners to inform them of the significance of their land and conservation options available. 

“The preservation of large tracts of unfragmented forests and wetlands is critical to maintaining the long-term health of the Georgian Bay environment,” said Bill Lougheed, Executive Director of the Georgian Bay Land Trust. “Many of these important places are privately owned, and conservation offers a win-win opportunity for landowners looking to protect their land and save on taxes. This support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation has been instrumental in helping us spread the word and protect more important habitats.” 

The Georgian Bay Land Trust is a registered charity dedicated to protecting wilderness lands along eastern Georgian Bay and the North Channel, through strategic conservation planning, land securement, stewardship, research, and education. The Land Trust currently protects 76 ecologically significant properties stretching from Port Severn to the North Channel, totaling over 9,000 acres. 

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Staff have seized more than $70,000 in contraband at Gravenhurst’s Beaver Creek Institution. 

According to Correctional Service Canada, a package which included suspected tobacco, marijuana, and methamphetamine was on its way into the prison on April 10. 

Inside the institution, officials estimate the contents of the package would have been valued at $71,090. 

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The Parry Sound Area Founders Circle presented its annual Founders Choice Awards on April12.  

Georgian Medical Aesthetics won the $10,000 top prize, and A Bushel & A Peck won the $5,000 secondary prize. 

The Founders Circle is made up of community leaders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who have invested funds as prizes to be awarded to individuals or groups with innovative ideas that will help improve the local economy. 

“As a member of the Founders Circle since its inception, I am continually impressed with the number of entrepreneurs in our community and the quality of the business proposals they bring forward.” said founder Clayton Harris.  

Five finalists, including Northern Swine & Steer, Rewind Design Studio and Sound Youth Counselling, pitched their businesses to the founders on March 25 in a “Dragon’s Den” style business presentation. 

Officials say the businesses were evaluated using five criteria, including broad economic impact, innovation and growth potential, profitability potential and demand. 

“It takes a lot of courage to launch a new business. Supporting those that are willing to take the risk is necessary and rewarding. Nourishing the entrepreneurial spirit in Parry Sound benefits all of us, and I am fortunate to serve as a Founder and get a front row seat,” said founder Rob Wise. 

The application deadline for the 2025 Parry Sound Area Founders awards is Oct 31st, 2024. For more information email psareafounders@gmail.com. 

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