Don’t count your chickens just yet
by Roger Varley
Almost a year-and-a-half after council received a deputation on the subject, the by-law department provided council with a report on Monday regarding the keeping of chickens in urban backyards.
As manager of by-law services Kristina Bergeron’s report states, Michelle Arnold appeared before council on May 6, 2019, asking that urban residents be allowed to keep chickens. At that time, council asked the by-law department to look into the issue and report back. In the following months, the township conducted a survey of residents to receive their feedback on the idea.
Bergeron noted in her most recent report that of the 591 residents who responded to the survey, almost 70 per cent were in favour of backyard chickens, although with restrictions. She also noted that those who were not in favour were “strongly opposed.” She added that, based on the results of the survey, “respondents in more densely populated urban areas do not overwhelmingly support the keeping of hens in their neighbourhoods.” For example, one respondent from the survey said “Chickens should be kept only on country properties with acreage, NOT in residential areas. Residents would not be educated and aware of the time, effort (cleanliness) and expense looking after chickens. I am STRONGLY opposed to this crazy idea!”
Some respondents offered solutions as to what the necessary by-law(s) should include, such as: “set back should be minimum 250 feet, ie. only very large yards would qualify and none in new subdivisions would qualify,” and “I’m recommending a permit to help off-set the cost of inspections to the township, however I don’t expect this monitoring, or cost will be over the top. I would hate to see … cost & restrictions drive so much red tape that the benefits gained from having the chickens in the first place is lost.”
Bergeron pointed out that five complaints concerning the keeping of livestock in residential areas were received during the period of 2019 until present. Three of the five complaints concerned chickens specifically.
The report said that if residents in the urban areas were allowed to keep chickens, changes would have to be made to zoning by-laws as well as the by-law covering prohibited animals. Bergeron said that if council “has an appetite for introducing the allowances of urban hens,” the project should be added to the prioritized list of by-laws requiring review. She recommended that council not proceed with amending the zoning bylaw and Prohibited Animals by-law to allow the keeping of hens in residential areas with appropriate restrictions.
Council decided to put off further discussion until early in February.
Township traffic safety still being studied
by Roger Varley
Council received not one but three different reports from Luke Gillham of the roads department regarding traffic throughout the township and how to make roadways safer for all users.
In his first report, Gillham noted that the Uxbridge Active Transportation Committee (UXACT) is asking council to determine whether there are cost-effective measures to address the clearing of snow from sidewalks. Specifically, UXACT wanted council to look at the issue of inadequately cleared sidewalks on regional roads and windrows that block intersections on regional roads.
In a second report, Gillham said township staff, with the assistance of a consultant, are working on a traffic calming policy for the township. He said some of the measures being considered for Uxbridge roads are raised crosswalks, raised intersections, curb extensions, roundabouts of various sizes, rumble strips, lane narrowing, flexible posts installed along centre lines and chicanes. A chicane is a series of bump-outs from the curb which force traffic to zigzag along a street. Perhaps the most famous chicane is Lombard Street in San Francisco.
Gillham’s report said the design and implementation of the traffic calming measures would be determined by public works or a consultant that specializes in traffic calming.
Finally, in his third report, Gillham listed a number of intersections in the urban area that could see traffic safety measures installed, including all-way stops and pedestrian crosswalks.
Four intersections – Herrema Blvd. and Barton Lane, Nelkydd Lane and Brownscombe Cres., Young Street and Second Street and Centre Road and Maple Street – would see the installation of all-way stops at a cost of $500 each. Eight intersections could see pedestrian crossings put in place at a cost of $1,000 each. Six of those intersections are on Centre Road and two are on Bolton Drive.
Gillham said the costs are estimates but said the crosswalks would require line painting, warning signs and the cost of labour. He added that the intersections are still being studied by a consultant.
All three reports were received for information.
Music festival on hold until next spring
by Lisha Van Nieuwenhove
The Springtide Music Festival announced on the weekend that it will not be holding a festival in 2020, thanks to the situation that the COVID-19 pandemic presents.
Springtide is a two-day celebration that features a wide range of musical talent from Uxbridge and beyond throughout various downtown venues. In a statement released Saturday, organizers said that they were “sad to formally announce that we are unable to present Springtide 2020 in the way that we had planned. Our hope to deliver a modified Springtide this October is not possible given the restrictions created by health and safety regulations put in place to keep our communities safe.”
Springtide 2020 was originally slated to take place on May 8 and 9, but the COVID-19 lockdown forced organizers to push the dates to October 16 and 17, hoping to have a “much-needed community outpouring” then. Now, with COVID-19 infection numbers on the rise again and provincial regulations stating that groups of people cannot number more than 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors, the Festival is all but impossible to mount, even in a modified format.
In the earlier days of the lockdown, Springtide quickly offered the “Springtide Self-Isolation Weekly Roundup,” which was a “stay-home guide to connecting with artists, local businesses and each other.” Now that the October event has been called off, it’s working on “Springtide Presents” – what it calls a “simple plan that supports local artists and venues in their efforts to bring the gift of music back to our little town. Live music events will run for several weeks, late September through October, giving us all a little taste of what we’ve been missing.” Details, they say, will follow on social media.
Springtide does anticipate having a 2021 festival, saying “we all need it more than ever.”
For more, visit springtidemusicfestival.com
Schitt’s Creek cleans up at 2020 Virtual Emmy Awards
by Justyne Edgell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Schitt’s Creek, the wildly popular comedy series that was partially filmed in Goodwood, made history this past Sunday as it took home not seven, as popularly reported, but nine Emmy Awards.
Schitt’s Creek, which finished off its sixth and final season earlier this year, began with a “slow start,” said show co-creator, writer, producer and actor Eugene Levy during an interview with Jimmy Kimmel back in January. “Then our fan base really became quite rabid!”
While popular with its Canadian audience from the beginning, the sitcom didn’t garner much attention internationally until Netflix picked it up in early 2017. Then, in 2019, it won four Emmy awards.
During this weekend’s virtual awards show, Schitt’s Creek picked up metal in the following categories: Outstanding Comedy Series; Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama series; Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series; Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series; Outstanding Contemporary Costumes; Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Eugene Levy; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Catherine O’Hara; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Annie Murphy; and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Daniel Levy.
These nine Emmys surpass the record of eight set in 2019 by Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.
The Emmy Awards recognize excellence in the television industry.
Pandemic pumpkin-picking still a possibility
by Justyne Edgell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
For many, nothing is more exciting than a trip to pick-your-own pumpkins or apples to kick off fall festivities. Luckily, this year most of the local farms will still be welcoming visitors despite a few new safety precautions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many local farms, such as Cooper’s Farm in Sandford and Apples of Glasgow towards Stouffville, will be open and accepting visitors by online appointment only in order to ensure lower volumes of guests.
“It looks like it’s going to be a busy year!” says Dawn Wallman, owner of Apples of Glasgow. “Our booking page opened on Wednesday, Sept. 9, and we were already almost booked up for Saturday and halfway booked for Sunday before Friday!” exclaimed Wallman.
She also explained that everyone working at the orchard attended a webinar that was hosted by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs. The webinar was put on to help farmers create new procedures for this year.
“This was very helpful. Some speakers included pick-your-own strawberry farmers who had already experienced our “new normal.” We reached out to Public Health with our initial ideas, received some feedback and came up with our 2020 opening plan,” said Wallman. “We are limiting the size of groups and there will be no apple taste testing or rest areas available. We’re still hoping to have an idyllic apple picking experience.”
Brooks Farms in Mount Albert will also be open with limited entry. Tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis, and the farm will close when it reaches capacity.
Lisa Cooper, owner of Cooper’s CSA Farm and Maze, also says this year will be a bit different.
“All of our visitors will be pre-booked online. Our maze, mini maze and pumpkin patch will be open, but we’ve had to close all other activities like hayrides and slides, to limit the number of frequently touched surfaces.”
Before visiting any farms this season, be sure to check your destination’s website before your visit, as opening hours may be different and procedures may be updated as local pandemic circumstances change.
Adjusted Studio Tour deemed a success
by Justyne Edgell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Gorgeous weather and pandemic-understanding art lovers seem to have made this year’s Uxbridge Studio Tour an apparent success. Because of COVID-19 regulations, visitors on the tour had to either make appointments with their artists of choice, or tour outdoor galleries.
Artist and chair of the Studio Tour, Colin Whitebread, said his site tours went well.
“I had two busy days and the people were fantastic. Everyone was on time for their scheduled visits and they put their masks on as soon as they hit the driveway.”
Whitbread estimates about 130 people visited his studio over the weekend.
Although he says it’s too early to tell, Whitbread says the feedback from the public was beyond satisfactory, with many glad to have a positive reason to get out of the house.
“There was lots of appreciation for us taking the chance and continuing to hold a 2020 tour, despite all that’s going on in the world right now. Guests said they felt very safe and I’m looking forward to a get the full update from the rest of the team at our next meeting.”