For so many of us, Georgian Bay is a special place representing family, history, nature, memories – that is a bond and a legacy worth protecting and preserving. The West Carling Association (WCA) Board of Directors (Board) and its volunteers work incredibly hard to resolve the issues that matter most to our members and their families to preserve the use and enjoyment of their properties, but as we move forward, we could really benefit from some extra help.
The WCA has openings on its Board as well as opportunities for volunteers in several areas including municipal engagement, membership, and social events. No formal board experience is required, just the desire to make a difference! Contribute your skills, provide support, collaborate with a group of motivated individuals who share your passion for the Bay – and learn about the issues we face:
The WCA’s ongoing activities include monitoring and providing feedback on the Township of Carling Council activities and decisions, water level and water quality monitoring, educating, and communicating with our members on topics of interest through our e-newsletter, website and email, arranging social events and recruiting new members. To learn more about us check out our website at: westcarling.com.
If you are a member of the WCA or want to become one, and have some time, skills, and energy to give the WCA please let us know. Our Board meets approximately eight times per year by Zoom.
If you are interested, please send us a brief bio or résumé and tell us why you are interested in joining WCA’s Board. Expressions of interest should be sent by July 21, 2023, to: info@westcarling.com
Elections to the Board will occur the morning of July 29th at WCA’s Annual Meeting of Members at the Township of Carling’s outdoor arena.
If you have questions, please get in touch with Daryle Moffatt (416) 500-3451 or Donna Tucker (416) 414-8833
*Founded in 1921, the Georgian Bay Association (GBA) is an umbrella organization for 18 community associations along the east and north shores of Georgian Bay, representing approximately 3,000 families. GBA has been advocating on behalf of our land-owning members for over 100 years and estimate that GBA reaches and influences around 30,000 residents of Georgian Bay. GBA’s mandate is to work with our water-based communities and other stakeholders to ensure the careful stewardship of the greater Georgian Bay environment.
Help us keep our beautiful community clean and green!
We're inviting everyone to take part in Carling Clean-Up Day on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to Noon.
It’s a great opportunity to come together, clear litter from our roads, and make a visible difference in our Township.
Pick-up Supplies:Stop by the Township Office to grab garbage bags, safety vests, and gloves before heading out.
Celebrate Your Efforts!After the clean-up, join us for a BBQ lunch at 12:00 p.m. at the Township of Carling Rink—a small thank-you for all your hard work!
Whether you come with friends, family, or solo, every helping hand counts. Let’s make Carling shine!
Read the Spring 2025 issue of Shorelines here
GBB's annual Native Plant Fundraiser is back with over 50 species of wildflowers, shrubs, and trees to choose from! New species this year include harebell, New Jersey tea, and wild crab apple. Order by May 26th and pick up your order in either Parry Sound or Port Severn on Saturday, June 7th. All order proceeds support our programs. Thank you! Order Plants Here!
Spend Your Summer Working at Killbear Provincial Park! Looking for the ultimate summer job? Killbear Provincial Park is hiring students for the 2025 season! If you have a summer residence or cottage in Carling or the Parry Sound area, this is your chance to work in one of Ontario’s most stunning parks. Why work at Killbear? ✔ Gain valuable experience with Ontario Parks ✔ Work in a beautiful outdoor setting ✔ Be part of an amazing team ✔ Make the most of your summer in nature Apply Now! Applications must be submitted online through the Ontario Public Service Careers portal by April 5, April 29, or June 2. Apply Here NOTE: Limited staff housing is available—students with local accommodations should mention this in their application. Help us spread the word! If you know a student looking for a great summer job, share this opportunity with them. For more information, feel free to reach out to: Louise Seymour | Senior Park Clerk Killbear Provincial Park, 35 Eddie Ramsay Parkway, Nobel, Ontario, P0G 1G0 P: 705-342-5492 C: 705-774-2475 W: OntarioParks.com
Join us for the Carling Family Frost Fest! Celebrate winter with fun activities for the whole family at the Mike Konoval Community Hub on February 16 and 17, 2025. Sunday, February 16, 2025 Pancake Breakfast: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Start your day with a hearty breakfast! Marksman, Turkey & Skeet Shoot: 8:00 AM – Registration 9:00 AM – Shoot begins Compete in this exciting outdoor event for all skill levels! Trail Hike with Parry Sound Forest School: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Enjoy a scenic winter hike. Snowshoes are provided free of charge by White Squall (limited supply). Feel free to bring your own or hike the trail without them. Hot Chocolate & Campfire: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Warm up by the fire and enjoy a delicious cup of hot cocoa! Monday, February 17, 2025 U11 & U13 Outdoor Hockey: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM Watch the future stars of hockey compete in an outdoor tournament. Bimaajitoon Search & Rescue Polar Dip: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Dare to take the plunge? Teams can register for $100 (including lunch). All proceeds support Bimaajitoon Search & Rescue training and equipment. To register, email: bimajiitonesar@gmail.com Don't miss out on these amazing activities! We look forward to seeing you at the Carling Family Frost Fest—a perfect way to enjoy the winter season with family and friends. View the Carling Frost Fest Poster Here
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 6:30 p.m. at the Konoval Hub, 2 West Carling Bay Road Pizza and Dessert, Coffee, and Tea will be served at 6:30 p.m. Community Meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. You are invited to meet the Carling Health Hub Board members and local Healthcare Organizations. Are you interested in the Carling Health Hub and Primary Healthcare status in Carling Township? Are you looking for a Primary Healthcare Provider closer to your residence in Carling Township? Do you want to know about Healthcare Services available in or near Carling Township? Would you like to learn more about the West Parry Sound Ontario Health Team? If you are unable to attend in person, please join us via Zoom at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81484710567?pwd=zy3wZVblMScrVZydRg6i7j0gUr7BOs.1 Meeting ID: 814 8471 0567 Passcode: 513285 OR Dial by your location: +1 780 666 0144 Canada OR One tap mobile: +17806660144,,81484710567#,,,,*513285# Canada
Read the Winter issue of Shorelines here.
The West Carling Association expresses concern over the Council's recent unanimous decision to guarantee a loan for the regional pool project. With a projected shortfall and unclear funding terms, the financial implications for residents are significant. Transparency and community consultation are essential as we navigate this situation. Many thanks to our members who wrote to Council to express concerns about financing the regional pool project. The West Carling Association is disappointed to report that Council voted unanimously on December 10 to guarantee a bridge loan/line of credit (LOC) that has: No defined term – project completion is scheduled for May 2026, but the LOC will extend beyond as the grant money is paid only after expenses are submitted to the funder. No publicly disclosed amount, but rumoured to be $13.5MM. A reported variable interest rate of .65% below prime. Council agreed to the LOC without discussing the total funds required to complete construction and the funds available to cover the costs. Originally, between the government grant and the contributions of the municipalities, the project had $32MM to work with. Adding two lanes to the pool raised capital costs from $32MM to $36MM, to be covered by $5MM in fundraising. Fundraising is at less than $1MM, and the project is over budget by $3.5MM for a total cost of $39.5MM. The construction shortfall remains unknown but will likely be $8MM at a minimum without delays or overruns. When asked about the plan should the loan default, Council said there is no plan. The municipalities and, therefore, taxpayers are liable for any shortfall. The municipalities are responsible for the interest (at 6.5%) as funds are drawn from the LOC and full repayment of those funds at the completion of the project. When asked why Council changed its mind about guaranteeing a LOC now (having previously declined in April 2024), Mayor Murphy said borrowing wasn't the issue but rather how the LOC would be structured. Council did not want to tie up reserves. Also, Council was concerned about the accounting complexity of each municipality taking out individual loans. The Pool Board has now arranged a single LOC, but it is unclear what the impact will be on Carling's reserves. Whitestone and McKellar municipalities have withheld additional funding. It is not known how Whitestone’s and McKellar’s unpaid share will be covered, but as Carling is responsible for 10.5% of all obligations, it is likely that, at a minimum, another $65,000 will have to come from Carling. This figure will rise proportionally if there are cost overruns. At the December 10 meeting, it was revealed that the previous Council passed a resolution in 2019 to spend up to $1.5MM to build a regional pool. Council is now offering this resolution as the justification for providing funds beyond the $900,000 capital commitment Carling made in 2021. We are now told that any amount spent on the pool less than $1.5MM is “good news” because we haven’t spent $1.5MM yet. With fundraising at less than $1MM and a minimum $8MM shortfall, Carling’s share of the capital funds now needed to complete the project will likely be greater than $800,000 (without the gap left by Whitestone and McKellar) on top of the $900,000 already paid to the project. This exceeds the 2019 resolution unless fundraising picks up significantly. Additionally, Carling recently provided $157,500 as an interest-free loan to the Pool Board to assist with cash flow to be repaid once the LOC is in place. When the 2021 agreement was signed, residents were told that Carling’s obligation was 10.5% of $8.5MM ($900,000). Why are we only hearing now that spending up to $1.5MM is okay because the previous Council declared it so? WCA has asked for years how much Council is prepared to spend on the pool. Is $1.5MM the actual number in play from Council’s perspective? Is this why it is now okay to risk spending more on the project by backing an unknown LOC? Does the $1.5MM cap set in 2019 include the funds spent on purchasing the land jointly with Parry Sound intended for the pool site? If so, Carling will far exceed the $1.5MM cap. In response to whether Council is forever obligated to follow the decisions of previous Councils, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) McLlwain responded to WCA by email that Council must honour agreements made by previous Councils due to potential liabilities. The current project is not as described in 2019, and the pool agreement was signed after this resolution in 2021. Does the 2019 resolution stand? Has Carling sought a legal opinion on whether the 2019 resolution is valid? When the question was raised at Council whether the $1.5MM cap will be adequate to cover Carling’s obligation, there were two “good news” answers from CAO McLlwain: 1. Reserves are being replenished yearly by $50,000 from the Henvey Windfarm project ($1MM over 20 years), so there is little burden on the taxpayer. Taxpayers were told the Henvey funds could only be used for recreational purposes and were earmarked to fund the pool. An email from the CEO of the Henvey project reveals that the Henvey project did not dictate this but is a decision made by a previous Council. Was there a resolution? Has our current Council confirmed this decision by a formal resolution? Is this a decision that Carling residents support, or would they rather have had a reduction in taxes? 2. Funding for any shortfall can come from financing, reserves and levies. Funds for financing, reserves and levies come from tax dollars. How is this not a burden on the taxpayer? Carling residents have already paid ($900,000) through reserves built up over three to five years drawn from our tax revenue. The bottom line is that Carling has agreed to guarantee an LOC with unclear terms for who knows how much. Carling taxpayers are in for at least $10.5% of whatever the Pool Board tells us must be paid to rescue this project. Would any of us run our personal finances relying on neighbours to tell us how much we will be spending? Carling has no real say in decision-making regarding the pool, with one vote at the table. Now that the choice to support the pool has been made on behalf of Carling residents, what projects and services are going on hold, or will our taxes go up to cover the costs of the pool? WCA will continue to advocate for transparent information about the pool's costs and a consultation with Carling residents to determine whether continuing to spend money on the pool has community support.
GBA has an opening for a Project Coordinator to support our Vision 2050 project. We are offering a six-month, part-time contract position that requires a commitment of 15-20 hours per week. This vital role offers the opportunity to actively participate in a major, forward-looking initiative that aims to protect Georgian Bay’s eastern and northern coasts for generations to come. The project coordinator will work with the Vision 2050 Steering Committee, comprised of a senior team of experts and seasoned GBA volunteers. You will also liaise with other Georgian Bay partner organizations and stakeholders. Responsibilities include supporting the project’s management and organization, participating in and organizing project meetings, developing communications materials and supporting outreach about the project, working on environmental policy notes, and participating in project activities. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual with strong organizational, administrative, and communication skills for this role. Knowledge of the Georgian Bay region and a background in the environmental or planning fields, whether through educational or professional experience, would be considered valuable assets. For more information on Vision 2050, see https://georgianbay.ca/georgian-bay-vision-2050-project/ If you are interested in applying or would like to know more, please contact: Allison Needham at executivedirector@georgianbay.ca