Ontario Toronto & GTA
Oct 09, 2025 • Last updated Oct 10, 2025 •
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Skydive Wasaga Beach has been operating in the area for a decade. Photo by Skydive Wasaga Beach/Facebook
The owner of Skydive Wasaga Beach says his lease isn’t being renewed after he raised concerns about unsafe drone activity near an active parachute landing zone – a claim that the town’s administrator denies.
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Leslie Farkas, who has been running Skydive for ten years, mentioned that the drone activity took place on Sunday around 11:30 a. m. over the First Annual Mayor’s Charity RAM Rodeo and Hootenanny Fall Festival.
“The (town) wanted to put the drone up over the rodeo to film from above,” said Farkas.
“They would have had to file for a permit from Transport (Canada) 14 days prior. And then they would require my permission to land in there. And had they applied for one (a Special Flight Operations Certificate), Transport Canada would have immediately seen the air conflict.”
Farkas claims he only received notice about the event happening but never got any word about a request for a drone flight until he was loading an airplane with passengers around 11:30 a. m. “I would have needed a little bit more time to come up with a proper safety plan.”
Wasaga Beach CAO disputes claim
However, Wasaga Beach CAO (Chief Administrative Officer) Andrew Mc Neill disagrees with Farkas’ take on things.
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“The Town believes all proper procedures were followed and a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen, which is essential information concerning flight operations) was not in effect when our small drone was operated,” Mc Neill stated in a message to .
“Prior to this festival , the municipality informed Skydive Wasaga Beach of its intent to operate a small drone for a short duration. During this flight , the Town’s certified pilot kept full visual line of sight along with situational awareness at all times.” p >
Still , Farkas mentioned he went on “high alert” as soon as it hit 11:30a. m. on Sunday , advising one of his tandem instructors “to divert their landing spot.” p >
The end result was four flights involving seven skydivers along with two tandem instructors going off without issues that Sunday. p >
“The Town is looking into Skydive Wasaga Beach’s concerns while fully cooperating with Transport Canada,” Mc Neill added. p >
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Skydive Wasaga Beach informed lease won’t be renewed h3 ><P Monday , Farkas shared his worries via email toward Mc Neill claiming he received back :“Please treat this email as formal notification stating that due to safety concerns you've raised we won't be renewing our lease with Skydive Wasaga beach.” P >< PP F ark as current lease expires December31 ,2025.<P How ever M c Neill states : “T he Town completely rejects any idea that lease decisions stemmed from retaliation regarding safety complaint.”<Fork Neill mentions th is decision reflects larger issues including leasing land below market value while also preparing new events strategy expecting use out of this municipal property.Parker who previously ran unsuccessfully for mayor last year stated he’s always gotten along fine before filing formal complaints w ith Transport C anada alon gside Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System CADORS submission last Monday after receiving Mc Neill’s reply.<P Source link A>