WOW -- What's On Woodstock

Art gallery and museum exhibits, autumn leaf pick up, public skating schedules . . . 

Compiled by MARK SCHADENBERG

The October issue of the What's On Woodstock magazine should be in your super mailbox and it's another super edition.

The cover story is about efforts by the City's works department to prepare for winter, including a (weather permitted) schedule for road-side leaf pick up, updates on happenings at the works yard on James Street, and tips on composting and mulching.

Between the Reeves Community Complex and Civic Centre Arena these busy venues have set schedules for FREE public skating, but sometimes there are exceptions to the rule, so consult the listing before grabbing your Bauer blades. Also, there are times specifically for adults (over 18), but there is also family shinny time. Check out the schedule to note the local sponsors paying for the ice time. 

Current exhibits at the art gallery (WAG) and Woodstock Museum are described in WOW. The gallery has a show depicting Woodstock artist Betty McArthur known for being exceptional at sketching. She actually published a book many years ago of notable local homes and landmarks. Another famed (late) Woodstock artist with a display is Florence Carlyle.  Furthermore, a fibre art exhibit called Delights debuted today. 

The museum is often a temporary home of a travelling exhibit, including the current The Suitcase Project. I've included a portion of the City's press release to explain the collection and its historical significance to British Columbia.

The haunted house escape room at the museum is a challenge for you and your family or friends.

WOW is also your destination in October for profiles on the Woodstock Fire Department, community volunteerism, options for all ages at the Woodstock Public Library, a modification to Woodstock Transit routes, and the always-informative COW Tales trivia feature.

What's happening at Theatre Woodstock, with the Wolverines youth football program, Sea Cadets / Navy League, the Elite Dance Centre, plus so much more. For example, do you know what the library's Local Author Fair in November is all about?

There are 23,500 copies of WOW distributed around Woodstock to residences and businesses, so it's jammed with details and is a go-to resource. The magazine is published at least 8 editions throughout the year with the November - December issue covering 2 months. If you read that introduction page (Page 3), you will see the name of the local layout and creative company which truly is called the Flying Squirrel -- Andrew Norris. For more information on contributing copy, you should contact Colleen Collins from the City's marketing group at (519) 539-2382.

www.cityofwoodstock.ca

www.mywpl.ca   

www.woodstockartgallery.ca 

www.woodstockmuseum.ca

www.cityofwoodstock.ca/wfd

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Woodstock Hospital releases September newsletter

Share Your Voice, Shape Your Care

By MARK SCHADENBERG

It was Nov. 10, 2011 when patients moved from the Riddell Street site of the Woodstock hospital to the new location on Juliana Drive.  The new campus is just a dozen years old, but many upgrades have already occurred under the watchful eyes of CAO and president Perry Lang.

Fundraising lotteries have been integral. The system of monthly 50/50 draws have raised dollars for updating equipment such as mammography machines, a brand new CT scanner, a mobile fluoroscopy camera, and many more items. 

Currently, a $3 million fundraising project is underway to enhance services in cancer care, including chemotherapy and IV Infusion clinic.

The hospital also raises money through its annual Dairy Capital Run and a golf tournament, but pledges from industry and families are certainly welcome. 

Share Your Voice, Shape Your Care:  Patients, volunteers, staff and citizens in general are all invited to participate in a strategic planning process as the future and / or horizon must always be prepared for and in this case its writing a 3-year plan: 

https://www.woodstockhospital.ca/media-releases-2024/

https://www.woodstockhospital.ca/strategic-plan/

As a member of Woodstock City Council, I know the importance of the local hospital even though I'm not on the board of directors. From surgeons, department doctors, emergency room staff, a crew of dedicated nurses, the organizing of out-patient care, food services and all other employees, the hospital is certainly proud of its team.

I would write more, but this truly is an invite to read the latest newsletter -- released for fall -- with many updates and special announcements. 

www.woodstockhospital.ca

https://www.woodstockhospital.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/September-Newsletter-2024-Final-Copy.pdf

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Mark Schadenberg

Woodstock City Council

Email: mschadenberg@cityofwoodstock.ca

(519) 532-2068

13 stories about 13-storey building

Tiffany Developments have land-breaking plan for Alberta & Juliana

A Woodstock developer has received zoning approval to go where no construction project has ever went in Woodstock -- a 13-storey apartment building.

You could say there are 13 stories attached to this project, but I can add no timeline has been finalized for bulldozers and concrete trucks.

1. The 13 floors represent and increase of 1 floor over the previous application, but it can be added that the 13th floor will be an activity space for birthday parties, potluck dinners, and even pickleball. As comparison, down the 401 in London they have recently approved 45-storey buildings in the downtown core.

2. The developer is Walter Broos, who has been quite busy in the south end of Woodstock for many years, including the Mary Brown's / Starbucks plaza near the 401 and Norwich Avenue. Ayr, Drumbo, Hanover and Goderich are also Tiffany residential sites. 

3. Originally -- in 2022 -- a 12-storey structure had been approved for high density zoning.

4. The new building will be located immediately behind the Cedarview retirement home, across Juliana from Maranatha Church, and across Alberta Avenue from vacant lands owned by the TVDSB.

5. Modern building and fire codes require fire suppression capabilities on every floor.

6. There will be up to 213 units.

7. There will be a total of 1.4 parking spots per unit.  All these numbers include accessible parking in the drawings. 

8. Parking will be both 2 levels in the building and on-surface (outdoor) parking

9. The developer was required to conduct studies pertaining to traffic, storm water management, utility servicing, and shadow analysis. The developer will be responsible for landscaping and a street sidewalk.

10. The apartment rental building will obviously include close proximity to the Woodstock Hospital, Reeves Community Complex, and St. Mary's High School.

11. The total land is 1.95 acres (0.79 hectares). Zoning allows for 109 units per acre.

12. Next month, the new Provincial Planning Statement will take effect -- as law from Queen's Park. The PPS stresses the utilization of all vacant lands with residential purposes as part of Ontario's Bill 23 - More Homes Built Faster Act. Woodstock's housing pledge is 5,500 new units by 2031.  

13. The expected address will be 335 Juliana.

https://www.broos.ca/woodstock-south

https://webresources.oxfordcounty.ca/documents/planning/22416_2_OP23-10-8_ZN8-23-16_WDSK_rpt_plates_accessible.pdf

 

Topic / Idea: Bird Friendly City

Should Woodstock pursue the concept / title ?

By MARK SCHADENBERG

Did you know that municipalities like London, Barrie, Windsor and even Toronto have done their homework and are now qualified to call themselves a Bird Friendly Community. It's an evaluation and process created by the sanctioning group Nature Canada (Formerly called Canadian Audubon Society).

This past week, a Zoom meeting was established by the Woodstock Environmental Advisory Committee - WEAC with Autumn Jordan of Nature Canada as moderator.

It's early days -- no eggs have hatched yet -- but the meeting included several WEAC members, a Woodstock Field Naturalists Club member, an avid local nature photographer, Harold DeHaan who is the City's engineering department manager, and (2) City Councillors in Kate Leatherbarrow and myself.

The checklist is not insurmountable and Nature Canada has three different levels to attain or advance to.

Speaker Autumn Jordan knows the stats for bird populations of all breeds, and showed the committee some charts through a power point, including an increase in water fowl numbers in recent years, but a significant reduction in other birds ranging from aerial insectivores to grassland birds and everything else gliding on the horizons and perching on your backyard feeders. Cities require more trees, and an interesting point made by Jordan -- fewer feral cats.

To gain the moniker Bird Friendly City, the criteria range from bird safety and bird watching groups, but also to organize events to recognize the importance of birds, promoting pollinator gardens, and policies to protect urban birds.

Woodstock declared a proclamation last year during National Bird Migratory Day. Local bird watchers conduct species counts around Christmas annually.

After reaching the accreditation, Nature Canada will re-assess each community every 2 years. This WEAC sub-committee plans to continue its promotion of the idea.

Your thoughts?

www.naturecanada.ca/bfc

www.birdfriendlylondon.ca

www.woodstockfieldnaturalists.org

Blog writing for a member of City Council can be 

quite difficult as I believe it's more important 

to inform citizens about topics, events, local history, 

bylaws changes and building proposals, then to offer

my opinion on these items. However, a suggestion

would set a bad / incorrect precedent, I will explain 

both sides of the argument and gently suggest why I think 

which direction is the preferable way to go.

Mark Schadenberg

Woodstock City Council

(519) 539-2068

Email: mschadenberg@cityofwoodstock.ca

First elected in October of 2018

       

Instagram: Councillormarkschadenberg

Facebook: Mark Schadenberg

  

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Update On My Great Children

Maeghan is now in first year at Laurentian University in Sudbury. It's about a 7-hour drive, but with 'face time' on the computer, it seems like she somewhat close to home. I'm very proud of this 18-year-old. Maeghan's bursaries included recognition from the City Of Woodstock and Lions Club of Woodstock.

My son Spencer is 15 and in Grade 10 at Notre Dame high school in Woodstock -- as he continues beyond Ecole Ste. Marguerite Bourgeoys. The school is French all day -- a good challenge and like Maeghan will result in being a fully bilingual graduate and thereby completely Francophone.

 

On Sept. 27, 2024, Nicole and I celebrated our 21st Anniversary