P.O. Box 129, 1 Bailey Street, Port Carling, Ontario P0B 1J0 Website: www.township.muskokalakes.on.ca Phone: 705-765-3156 Fax: 705-765-6755 THIS IS THE LIFE For immediate release January 11, 2008. Township launches innovative BizPal support for businesses PORT CARLING: The Township of Muskoka Lakes is proud to introduce an innovative business tool for new, expanding and relocating businesses. BizPal is an online service that simplifies the process of obtaining business permits, licences and other regulatory requirements for entrepreneurs, governments, and business service providers. “People who are interested in starting or expanding a business simply have to answer the online questionnaire and they will receive a list of all the permits and licences they will need from the Township of Muskoka Lakes, the District of Muskoka, the Province of Ontario and the federal government,” says Mayor Susan Pryke. “It’s convenient one- stop shopping.” Muskoka Lakes Township is the first municipality in Muskoka to partner with the federal and provincial governments to provide this service. The initiative was recommended by the Township’s Economic Development Committee, as a result of the report from the citizens’ task force on improving government processes. BizPal can be accessed in the “Our Community” section of the Township website www.muskokalakes.ca. —30— P.O. Box 129, 1 Bailey Street, Port Carling, Ontario P0B 1J0 Website: www. muskokalakes.ca Phone: 705-765-3156 Fax: 705-765-6755 For immediate release February 1, 2008 MAYOR’S TOURNAMENT TO BENEFIT BLISSYMBOLICS LEARNING CENTRE PORT CARLING: The Blissymbolics Learning Centre will be the beneficiary of the Mayor’s Golf Classic, to be held September 15, 2008. Funds raised will support an instructional program for non-speaking students to further their communication, literacy and computer skills. “I have been a proud supporter of this organization since they opened their doors in Bala in 2002,” says Mayor Susan Pryke. “The Blissymbolics Learning Centre helps profoundly disabled, non verbal adults with Cerebral Palsy gain independence, but its presence in our community helps us all better understand the abilities and needs of persons who cannot speak.” Ensuring the learning centre has the funds necessary to continue its good work is an ongoing challenge. “We are very grateful to the Mayor for selecting The Blissymbolics Learning Centre as the recipient of proceeds from this year’s Mayor’s Golf Classic,” says Executive Director Mara Smelters-WeIr. Once again ClubLink Corporation has offered the Lake Joseph Club facilities in Port Sandfield for the charity event. “ClubLink has been most generous in its support of community projects,” says Pryke. Sponsorship is critical to the success of this event and the organizing committee is now working to make this their most successful event to date. For registration and information about sponsorships please contact Mara Smelters-Weir at (705) 762-0028 or [email protected] —30— P.O. Box 129, 1 Bailey Street, Port Carling, Ontario P0B 1J0 Website: www.township.muskokalakes.on.ca Phone: 705-765-3156 Fax: 705-765-6755 For immediate release February 18, 2008. Township of Muskoka Lakes joins Earth Hour challenge PORT CARLING: At 8 pm on March 29, the world will turn off its lights for just one hour – Earth Hour – to show their support for taking action on climate change. The Township of Muskoka Lakes will be participating in Earth Hour by turning off its non-essential lights and computer monitors and encouraging staff, councillors, businesses and residents to do the same. Climate change is the biggest environmental threat to our planet and the number one concern for Canadians. We are already seeing its impact. “Participating in Earth Hour is a simple way to show that you want to be a part of the solution. Together we can make a difference,” says Mayor Susan Pryke. “Personally, I have registered my commitment at www.earthhour.org and I would encourage you to do the same.” Last year more than two million residents in Sydney, Australia participated in Earth Hour and more than 2,000 businesses, which resulted in a 10.2 per cent energy drop. This was double the anticipated energy savings and represents a reduction of 24.86 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking 48,613 cars off the road for an hour. We would love to know if you are participating. Email your commitment to Mayor Pryke at [email protected]. MUSKOKA BID COMMITTEE MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 12, 2008 MUSKOKA WANTS THE 2010 ONTARIO WINTER GAMES! The Muskoka-wide Bid to host the 2010 Ontario Youth Winter Games was submitted to the Sport Alliance of Ontario in early February. As part of the evaluation process, representatives of the Sport Alliance of Ontario will be conducting a site visit on March 19th , 2008. The bid committee is looking for assistance from our community organizations and businesses to demonstrate that not only is Muskoka capable, of hosting the event, but that “MUSKOKA WANTS THE ONTARIO WINTER GAMES 2010!” If successful, the Ontario Youth Winter Games would attract up to 4000 athletes, coaches and officials to our region to participate in over 20 events. The Bid Committee has suggested that our hosting dates would be February 24-28, 2010. According to Cheryl Kelley, a representative of the bid committee and Director of Economic Development for the Town of Bracebridge said, “we are calling on our communities (Muskoka-wide) to hang posters in their windows that say ‘MUSKOKA WANTS THE 2010 ONTARIO WINTER GAMES!” “As well”, she added, “businesses that have changeable signage are asked to add the same message to their signs”. Kelly Haywood, also a member of the bid committee and Manager of the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce suggests, “these messages from the business community and Muskoka-at-large will go a long way in showing that our residents are enthusiastic about the Games. This will demonstrate to the evaluation committee that we are excited about the potential of hosting this event in Muskoka “. The Ontario Youth Winter Games is held every two years and brings together athletes, officials, supporters and volunteers. In the 2008 event, which ended on March 9 th the participants numbered over 3200. The communities of Collingwood and surrounding area hosted 23 sports over 5 days of competition. The Winter Games helps the province's amateur athletes hone their skills for future national and international events. -30- For further information about this Media Release please contact: Cheryl Kelley, Town of Bracebridge, 705-645-5264 Kelly Haywood, Town of Huntsville/Huntsville-Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce, ____________________________________________________________________________________ For further information about the Muskoka Bid, please contact: Cheryl Kelley, Town of Bracebridge, 705-645-5264 Kelly Haywood, Town of Huntsville/Huntsville-Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce 705-788-5847 Jody Somerville, Town of Gravenhurst 705-687-6774 x 27 Walt Schmid, Township of Muskoka Lakes, 705-765-3156 Renee Germain or Susan Levesque 705.674.4455 ext. 4434, City of Sudbury/Sudbury SportLink Marianne Braid, Southeast Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce, 705-756-4863 Jennifer Schnier, Lake of Bays 635-2272 x229 Robert Huter, Mount Saint Louis Moonstone 705-835-2112 2010 WINTER GAMES COMMUNITY/EVENT ROSTER EVENT HOST VENUE HOST COMMUNITY 5 Pin Bowling Sudbury Plaza Bowl Sudbury Badminton BMLSS Gymnasium Bracebridge Biathlon Red Leaves Resort Township of Muskoka Lakes Boxing Red Leaves Township of Muskoka Lakes Curling Gravenhurst Curling club Gravenhurst Diving Laurentian University Sudbury Fencing Bracebridge Sportsplex Bracebridge Figure Skating Jack Bionda Arena Huntsville Gymnastics Bracebridge Sportsplex Bracebridge Hockey-Men Gravenhurst Centennial Centre Gravenhurst Hockey-Women Baysville Community Centre Lake of Bays Judo Riverside Public School Huntsville Ringette Bala/Port Carling Arena Township of Muskoka Lakes Air Rifle/Pistol Shooting Huntsville Gun Club Huntsville Skiing-Alpine Mount St. Louis Moonstone Georgian Bay Township Skiing-Freestyle Mount St. Louis Moonstone Georgian Bay Township Skiing-Cross Country Arrowhead Provincial Park Huntsville Speed Skating Countryside Arena Sudbury Squash Deerhurst Resort Huntsville Synchronized Swimming Bracebridge Sportsplex Bracebridge Table Tennis Deerhurst Resort Huntsville Weightlifting Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre Gravenhurst Wrestling Dwight Community Centre Lake of Bays L:\economic development\Sport Tourism\2010 Winter Games\COMMUNITY ROSTER.doc MEDIA BACKGROUNDER MUSKOKA BID COMMITTEE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 10, 2008 MUSKOKA WINS THE BID TO HOST 2010 ONTARIO WINTER GAMES! Ce communiqué est aussi disponsible en francais The Sport Alliance of Ontario announced today that Muskoka has been unanimously chosen to host the 2010 Ontario Winter Youth Games. This announcement comes following the lengthy bidding process that included a formal bid submission and the successful site visit, which took place on March 19th. “The Ontario government is pleased to have Muskoka as our partner in these Games, which will showcase great competition and tremendous community spirit,” said Ontario Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best. “Congratulations to the leaders and volunteers of the Muskoka bid. I look forward to the Games in 2010.” “The Muskoka Region submitted a very thorough and comprehensive bid,” said Blair McIntosh, Site Selection Chair for the 2010 Ontario Winter Games - Youth. “The pride and enthusiasm of the communities during our site evaluation was a true reflection of their abilities. It solidified for us that the care and comfort of the participants will be a priority and that they will do a great job in organizing and hosting the 2010 Ontario Winter Games.” Speaking on behalf of the Bid Committee, Kelly Haywood, General Manager – Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce said, “The Muskoka bid committee is thrilled to receive the news. We believe that positive relationships were formed with the Sport Alliance of Ontario when Huntsville and Lake of Bays hosted a very successful inaugural Paralympic Winter Championships in 2006.