The Rotary Club of Innisfil welcomed a very special guest to their weekly meeting on Wednesday, April 10, at the Lakeshore branch of the Innisfil ideaLAB and Library.
Mayor Lynn Dollin discussed Innisfil’s strategic plan, which outlines goals and objectives for the community, council and town staff until 2030, falling under four priorities: Grow, Sustain, Connect and Serve.
“We could not do what we do without the community’s support,” Dollin said, noting Innisfil is known as an innovative, future-thinking town.
Dollin, who first became a councillor in 1994, said the town has changed in many ways over the last few decades.
“The Rotary Club of Innisfil was thrilled to have our Mayor Lynn Dollin attend our meeting today for her annual address,” said club president Susie Parker. "The mayor was kind enough to share updates from the town and this encourages our club to continue our work in the community."
Among those updates, Dollin noted that sustainability goals, while often thought of as purely environmental, also refer to the importance of ensuring the sustainability of resources so the next town council can thrive when they are in office.
She explained that while multiple municipalities sold their utility providers, InnPower remains, which serves not only the residents of Innisfil but those in the south end of Barrie. As such, those dividends benefit the town.
Rotary members and friends were welcome to ask questions at the end of the presentation. Inquiries included whether or not Innisfil will remain a separate entity, questions about the Orbit and GO Transit trains, funds from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), and whether nurse practitioners will be employed locally.
Dollin highlighted the fact Innisfil remains a high-growth town, as it met and exceeded its housing target.
Ongoing construction at Highway 400 and plans for the Orbit, including two train tracks with the involvement of Metrolinx (which operates GO), are designed to be forward-thinking, as what the town accomplishes now will attract investment, businesses and people in the future.
“When they laid out the Orbit plan, they started with green spaces and parks,” Dollin said. She noted that is usually an afterthought, but the “whole thing is centred around public space.”
Because Innisfil is situated between Barrie and Toronto, “we think of ourselves as little Innisfil,” John Trotter told InnisfilToday.
As a friend of the club, Trotter was the first to ask Dollin a question Wednesday morning.
“We are blessed to have her,” Trotter said, noting Dollin's heavy involvement with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario that has included a run as its president. “We have an advocate for our town that walks on the provincial stage.”
As a business owner and farmer, Trotter is very knowledgeable about the town. He is a member of the Innisfil Historical Society and raises funds as a junior volunteer for Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre.
“We look like we’re extremely well-positioned — especially regarding the Innisfil hospital,” Trotter said, who was happy to learn that Innisfil will benefit from having nurse practitioners in the future.
Dollin explained the role of development charges, and how the funds paid to the town from the OLG for hosting Gateway Casinos Innisfil assist in paying for existing residents’ portion of any new growth in the town.
“Mayor Dollin mentioned that one of the pillars of the town’s strategic plan was 'Service' and this aligns perfectly with Rotary’s motto of 'Service Above Self'. We are thrilled to have a strong relationship with the town and enjoy a continuing partnership for the future,” Parker said.
"It is always a privilege to spend time with members of the Rotary club," said Mayor Lynn Dollin. "The members are such an integral part of our community and the great work they do benefits so many."
To learn more about the strategic plan, visit the town's website. Find out more about the club here.
