The ice storm on March 29 was one of the most significant weather events in Orillia’s history, resulting in widespread power outages, communication failures, downed trees and hydro lines, and damage to infrastructure. In response, the City declared a State of Emergency and activated its Emergency Operations Centre from March 30 to April 9, 2025, to coordinate relief efforts and support for the community.

“Our community showed incredible strength during the ice storm, and City staff and partners worked tirelessly to respond and recover,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “Now that we are into the recovery phase, it’s important that we take time to reflect and learn. Hearing directly from residents and businesses will help us strengthen our emergency response planning and will directly inform how we plan and respond to future emergencies.”

The City has launched an Ice Storm City Resident Survey to gather feedback. The survey can be found online at orillia.ca/icestorm. Paper copies of the surveys are also available at the Orillia Public Library (36 Mississaga St. W.), Orillia City Centre (50 Andrew St. S) and the Orillia Recreation Centre (255 West St. S.).

Survey questions include:

• Satisfaction with City communications during the emergency
• Effectiveness of services provided
• Unmet needs or expected services
• Challenges faced during the emergency
• Areas of improvement for future emergencies

Feedback will be used to enhance the City’s emergency management planning and improve response efforts going forward. The surveys will remain open until July 15, 2025.

The post Share Your Experience Orillia: Ice Storm Response Survey Now Open appeared first on Muskoka411.

“The City of Orillia is committed to delivering a transit system that meets the needs of our growing community,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “This survey is an important opportunity for residents to share their experiences and ideas, helping us make informed decisions to improve service, accessibility, and efficiency.”

The survey, which will be conducted by Georgian College Research Analyst students on behalf of the City of Orillia, will collect feedback on key transit topics, including:

1. Service frequency and routes
2. Barriers to transit use and areas for improvement
3. Interest in on-demand transit options
4. Potential enhancements to bus schedules and accessibility

“The insights gathered from this survey will directly inform how Orillia Transit evolves to better serve our community,” said Danielle Eves, Manager of Parking and Transit. “We encourage all transit riders to participate and have their voices heard.”

The survey is available online at orillia.ca/transit, and paper copies can be picked up at Orillia City Centre (50 Andrew St. S.) and the Orillia Public Library (36 Mississaga St. W.).

To encourage participation, respondents will have the option to enter for a chance to win a free one-month transit pass, Downtown Orillia Dollars, or a pass to the Orillia Recreation Centre upon completing the survey. Survey responses will remain anonymous, and results will be reported back to the City of Orillia and the Transportation and Parking Working Group to help guide future transit improvements.

“Through this collaboration with the City, our students are gaining hands-on experience in data collection and analysis, while contributing to an important community initiative,” said Richard Rinaldo, Program Coordinator of Georgian’s Research Analyst program. “We’re proud to support research that directly benefits Orillia residents.”

For more information and to take the survey, visit orillia.ca/transit.

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In Desjardins Insurance’s most recent survey, approximately 4,000 Canadians shared their opinions about behaviours and habits on the road, with 60% of the people surveyed pointing to distracted driving as the top risk factor. The largest perceived distractions include things like what’s happening outside of the car (34%), cellphone-related distractions (31%), drivers using a media console or interface (24%), and eating and drinking (22%).

Other top risk factors identified were alcohol impaired driving (59%) and aggressive driving (46%). When asked specifically about aggressive driving, only 6% of Canadians consider themselves to be an aggressive driver, although 71% say they regularly see aggressive driving behaviours when they are behind the wheel.

“This survey is just one of the ways Desjardins is working to be road a safety advocate; to protect and help save lives on our roads,” said Valérie Lavoie, President and COO of Desjardins General Insurance Group. “Distracted driving and aggressive driving put drivers and other road users at extreme risk. The insight we get and the behaviours and perceptions we learn about in the survey are key to having better-informed drivers on the road and safer roads in our communities.”

The survey found that 37% of Canadians are trying to be less distracted behind the wheel, precisely because of the risk of a collision. And while fines and rewards are becoming less effective at countering distracted driving, Canadian drivers are increasingly open to using apps that analyze their behaviour on the road.

The proportion of drivers with safety technologies in their vehicles also continues to see significant growth. Over the past 5–10 years, car manufacturers have rolled out innovations that have had an impact on the number of road-related incidents. Today, nearly half of drivers have vehicle safety technologies in their cars; things like rear-view cameras, or indicator lights that alert drivers to a car coming up to pass or sitting in their blind spot. According to the survey, 47% of drivers say the technology is increasingly helping them prevent collisions (compared to 43% in 2023 and 38% in 2021). It also turns out that younger drivers are more likely to depend on them to help avoid a collision (47% of 16–34-year-olds, compared to 39% of 55–74-year-olds).

Prevention is a priority for Desjardins Insurance. The organization invests over $1.2 million annually in support of road safety initiatives and key partnerships, some going back more than 40 years. The relationships have always had a strong focus on shared road use among motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. The Desjardins Insurance survey shows that support for Vision Zero policies went up over the past two years, especially among young people. More 16–34-year-olds (69% compared to 55% of the Canadian average) support the adoption of a Vision Zero strategy in their region. Young people are voicing their support for stronger advocacy and better road safety infrastructure, like speed bumps, bike-specific lanes, and more. Desjardins Insurance’s continued advocacy and push for better infrastructure are key to making our roads safer and helping put an end to preventable deaths and injury.

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The Learning About the IEP Experience Survey, a SEAC initiative, supports the findings from the Board’s recent Special Education Review. The review took place throughout the 2022-2023 school year and engaged students, families, administrators, community partners, and special education staff. This data gathering process was focused on helping the Board align its actions with its intentions related to equity, inclusive practices, and high expectations. To view the final review report, visit the Board’s Special Education page.

“In TLDSB, we are committed to ensuring that high-quality programs and services are in place for all students with special education needs,” said TLDSB director of education, Wes Hahn. “The Learning About the IEP Experience Survey was developed as a way for TLDSB to gather input about the IEP process, to ensure we are meeting the needs of our students and their families.”

From April 2 to 12, two surveys will be conducted: one for parents/guardians, and one for students. Parents/guardians of a student(s) with an IEP will receive the survey via email and are encouraged to complete one survey per student online. Paper copies are available upon request by contacting your child’s school. Grade 7-12 students with an IEP will receive the survey via email and are encouraged to complete the survey by the closing date of Friday, April 12.

This survey is confidential and anonymous. Individual responses will be compiled and provided to SEAC and the Board with no identifiable information. Along with the Special Education Review and other resources, the data collected throughout the survey will help to inform priorities and next steps to ensure the system has the right programs and services in place to support students with special needs.

“The TLDSB SEAC completed a similar survey in 2018 and 2020,” explained superintendent of learning responsible for Special Education Services, Jennifer Johnston. “The results from past surveys assisted the committee with recommendations that have since been successfully implemented to enhance the student experience.”

Ontario school boards are required to have a SEAC. The role of SEAC is to make representation to the Board in respect to any matter affecting the establishment, development, and delivery of special education programs and services for exceptional students of the Board. Visit the SEAC page on the Board’s website to learn more about the TLDSB committee. You can also visit the Board’s Special Education page to learn more about IEPs and the programs and services available to students in TLDSB.

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A short survey is now available online at orillia.ca. The survey will help the City gather input from website users on their preferences, what they think works well, and what can be improved on the current website.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing digital services for our residents, businesses, and visitors, the City of Orillia will be redesigning its website,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “Whether you have visited the website a few times or use it regularly, we encourage users to take the short survey to help us better understand how our website can best serve our community.”

This information, along with website analytics and feedback garnered through the 2022 Customer Service Review project, will help inform the redesign. The survey is open from Feb. 21 to March 3, 2024.

“The City of Orillia website serves as a vital hub for accessing information about City services, upcoming events, important announcements, and much more,” said Gayle Jackson, Chief Administrative Officer. “We recognize that the website is a crucial tool for residents to engage with their local government, and we are dedicated to making it as user-friendly, informative, and accessible as possible.”

The website redesign was approved through the 2024 budget process and is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2024.

The post Provide Your Feedback To Help Inform The Orillia’s Website Redesign appeared first on Muskoka411.

“Whether it’s adding a sidewalk on Main Street in Dorset or exploring the possibility of a splash pad at the Lake of Bays Community Centre Park, your input can help prioritize these initiatives.” Says Economic Development Officer Stephen Derraugh.

The latest survey, available at lakeofbays.on.ca/cip, builds upon insights obtained from initial public engagement held earlier this year. It focuses on priorities for incentives for businesses, preliminary ideas being explored for the four hamlets, and an open forum for additional thoughts.

Residents are encouraged to take the survey and share the link with family and friends. The survey runs until October 19th and will be the final public engagement until the draft Community Improvement Plan is released for public review.

About the CIP

The Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is an effective planning tool that will guide the Township in creating incentives for growth, enhancing buildings, streets, and parks as well as stimulating private sector development.

Project Timeline

1. First Online Survey (June/July 2023): Captured the community’s vision, concerns, and ideas for improvement.
2. Virtual Public Information Session (July 6, 2023): Presentation and an open discussion about opportunities for improvement and the most significant challenges and issues encountered in each settlement area.
3. In-Person Public Information Session (September 18, 2023): Presentation and discussion of the ingredients for the Community Improvement Plan.
4. Second Online Survey (September/October 2023): Focus on specific input about draft initiatives and concepts for Dwight, Hillside, Baysville and Dorset.
5. Community Review of the Draft Plan (October/November 2023): The community is invited to review and comment on the newly drafted Community Improvement Plan.
6. Council Review of Draft Plan (November 2023)

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To help raise awareness for the survey and the Strategic Plan, the Town of Huntsville will be out in the community over the August long weekend. Residents can learn more and provide additional input by visiting one of the three pop-ups:

Shoppers Drug Mart Pop-Up

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Shoppers Drug Mart in Huntsville – 10 am to 1 pm

Movie on the Docks Pop-Up

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Town Dock Park – 5 to 7 pm

Annual Rubber Duck Race Pop-Up

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Port Sydney Dam – 12 to 2 pm

Residents are encouraged to share the survey with their friends, family, and coworkers. The greater the public input, the better the plan is able to reflect the needs of the community.

“We know Huntsville is a diverse community and what matters most differs from person to person. That’s why it’s so important that residents take the time to complete the community survey,” says Reva Frame, Director of Corporate and Community Strategy. “We want our Strategic Plan to represent all of Huntsville; tell us what matters most to you. We are listening.”

Public consultation will be ongoing throughout the process of developing the new Strategic Plan.

Strategic Plan Project Timeline

1. Community Engagement on Priorities
   • From July 28 to August 25, 2023, the Town of Huntsville is gathering priorities for the new Strategic Plan through a community survey and pop-up events.
2. Development of the Draft of the Strategic Plan
   • Town staff reviews public input from the community survey to select priorities and develop a draft of the new Strategic Plan.
3. Community Consultation on Draft of the Strategic Plan
   • Community is re-engaged to provide feedback on the draft of the Town of Huntsville’s new Strategic Plan.
4. Strategic Plan Finalized and Released
   • Incorporating the final round of public feedback, the Town of Huntsville finalizes the new Strategic Plan and shares it with the community.

Residents can register for project updates on myhuntsville.ca. Hard copies of the survey will also be available at Town Hall, the Canada Summit Centre, the Huntsville Public Library and at the community pop-up events. The community survey closes on August 25.

The post Town Of Huntsville Seeks Public Input On Strategic Plan Priorities appeared first on Muskoka411.

The survey, open until August 10th, 2023, welcomes participation from permanent residents, seasonal residents, employees working in Muskoka, and visitors. Participants are encouraged to provide their insights and suggestions to help guide the District of Muskoka in formulating strategies that effectively address greenhouse gas emissions.

Take the survey and learn more about the project, at https://www.engagemuskoka.ca/greenhouse-gas-initiative.

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In January, MAHC engaged with the community by hosting six in-person and two virtual community open houses to update our progress on the capital redevelopment planning journey to build a new hospital in Huntsville on the existing land, and a new hospital in Bracebridge on new land. Another key component of January’s community consultation was exploring land options in Bracebridge for a new location for the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Site and discussing preliminary criteria for choosing the best location.

“It was great to spend time in so many parts of our community to talk about the future, answer questions and get feedback,” says Board Chair Moreen Miller of the 430-plus people who attended. “We hope to hear from more members of our community through our online survey as we continue through the site selection piece of our planning work to identify preferred land for a new hospital in Bracebridge.”

More than one dozen initial properties were identified in line with the Ministry of Health’s Site Search Capital Planning Bulletin Guidelines, including the size, shape and topography of the land, located within the Town of Bracebridge urban centre boundary, and access to a major road or highway and municipal services. Currently, three properties have been determined to meet the minimum criteria: the Fowler Construction Property at 300 Pine Street, the Muskoka Royale Lands at 1975 Muskoka Beach Road, and a property located between 580 and 690 Highway 118 West.

The online survey at www.mahc.ca/siteselection provides a mechanism for community input on the land options and the evaluation criteria that will be used to evaluate the different land/property options in Bracebridge before making a recommendation to the MAHC Board of Directors.

“The survey also provides a venue for people to volunteer to participate in a user group,” adds President & CEO Cheryl Harrison. “User groups will be an essential part of developing our Functional Program for the Ministry where MAHC team members, patients, family members, caregivers, community partners and stakeholders will help describe the future services, ensure models of care are up to date, innovative and sustainable, and assist in the detailed physical planning as the design process evolves.”

All materials from the open houses, including a video of the open house presentation, are available on the MAHC website at www.mahc.ca/planning-for-the-future.

The survey remains open until February 20, 2023.

In late March, a further round of Community Open Houses will provide an update on the site selection process and progress on MAHC’s Stage 1.3 deliverables.

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