Printed Apr 02, 2024 • Final up to date Apr 02, 2024 • 3 minute learn
Saugeen Shores resident John Mann requested City councillors about their imaginative and prescient for youth actions at Port Elgin Essential Seaside throughout a March 25 delegation to the final committe assembly. Photograph by City web site screengrab
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Whereas there are a lot of diverse youth actions in Saugeen Shores, there’s nothing for youth to do at Port Elgin Essential Seaside in keeping with Saugeen Shores resident John Mann who requested City councillors for his or her imaginative and prescient of seashore youth actions on the March 25 normal committee assembly.
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Mann, a vocal council critic of the City’s public/ non-public partnership with Cedar Crescent Village (CCV) for a Port Elgin Essential Seaside (PEMB) redevelopment plan, requested councillors what plans they’re contemplating for youth.
Mann stated when he heard 5 years in the past that there was nothing to do at PEMB it made him consider his favorite actions – strolling on the sand, sitting and taking all of it in and constructing sandcastles – together with “world famous sunsets” acknowledged by Nationwide Geographic.
He nostalgically listed former seashore points of interest within the space now leased to CCV – the enduring steam practice, mini-golf, carnivals and seashore bingo fundraisers and flea market –and stated they’re all “gone.”
“Private investors now have a lease on the land, and you can’t go there,” Mann stated, including all of the actions at the moment are simply reminiscences.
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Wrapping up his delegation, Mann requested council to do away with its procedural bylaw governing who can communicate to council, and exchange it with seven phrases: “Welcome citizens, how can we help you?”
In response to Mann’s deputation, Deputy mayor Diane Huber stated the City is investing in youth companies and programming, however they should discover out what households, a few of them struggling, and youth need.
“I think we need to regularly just bring youth into the council chambers… I want them to have an experience that creates memories that are different from mine and Mr. Mann’s but (are) still incredibly relevant to the long-term sustainability of our community,” Huber stated.
Mann’s try to reply was reduce off by the mayor who turned the ground over to Coun. Bud Halpin, a former highschool instructor, who listed all of the golf equipment and actions obtainable at the highschool and pointed to all of the City’s recreation youth actions.
“I appreciate that we need to listen, we need to do more but also, kids could just get off their darn phones and go do some of the things that are out there,” Halpin stated.
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Coun. John Divinski stated youth right this moment seem to love paddleboards and volleyball – two actions provided at PEMB – and whereas there’s nostalgia for seashore actions of the previous, just like the on line casino, “it wouldn’t fly,” right this moment as issues have moved on, Divinski stated, including he helps the concept of speaking with native youth, in the event that they present up.
Vice-deputy Mayor Mike Myatt agreed that whereas the City affords many youth actions there’s at all times room so as to add extra and hopes there’s numerous group engagement throughout a Recreation Grasp plan overview subsequent yr.
When Mann tried to reply, regardless of nobody asking him a query, the mayor thanked him for his presentation and stated he was transferring on to the following delegation.
Though the microphone was off, Mann continued to talk, and the mayor patiently repeated “Mr. Mann” not less than 4 instances earlier than Mann lastly walked away from the general public podium.
This was not the primary time Mann refused to observe the talking guidelines – in March 2022, the mayor had police take away Mann from the council chambers when he disrupted a council assembly after being requested to cease speaking concerning the City’s Open Discussion board guidelines.
Final February, an Ontario Superior Court docket of Justice dominated towards Mann, dismissing a swimsuit he’d introduced towards the City on a Constitution of Rights situation relating to the City not permitting him to talk at council conferences, together with on the Cedar Crescent Village challenge.
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