Whether it’s sport, recreation, theatre, the rental of spaces, outdoor amenity areas, or programming for all ages and interests—a community is only as strong as the services that unite it.
“People want to live, work, and play where there are things to do, places to go, and people to connect with,” noted director of community services for the Town of Huntsville, Simone Babineau.
Huntsville’s Community Services Master Plan has been completed following extensive research and input from the community, stakeholder groups, municipal staff, and Council.
The project has been in the works for well over a year. In early 2021, Council approved the hiring of an independent consultant to undertake the process of creating a Community Services Master Plan. The plan will guide future councils as well as municipal staff when it comes to prioritizing and developing services and partnerships aimed at promoting healthy and active living in the community.
The consultants have come up with 90 recommendations, which are weighted according to suggested timelines, cost, and categorized according to the municipal departments they affect such as planning through the integration of community spaces and active transportation in new developments.
“The programs and services delivered by Community Services offer benefits that reach far beyond the positive health effects of physical activity. They provide a generator of social capital and a variety of community and societal goals,” noted Babineau.
While the Town has already started to act on some of the recommendations in the report, other recommendations not only include the type of activities community members want to see but more flexibility regarding when such activities are offered and ensuring they’re affordable and accessible.
The Community Services Division provides a diverse range of affordable inclusive programs and services in the community that enhance quality of life and contribute to resident, newcomer, and visitor well-being. The focus is on providing efficient, responsive, and innovative community-based services that promote a healthy and vibrant community through the celebration and provision of:
- Arts, culture and heritage (includes Algonquin Theatre and Muskoka Heritage Place)
- Recreation and leisure services, and aquatics
- Meetings and special community events
- Customer service
- Parks and outdoor spaces
- Infrastructure and facilities
The plan is part of Council’s strategic plan and will be used along with similar plans involving the waterfront, sidewalks, and wayfinding signage plans as well as a five-year Algonquin Theatre business plan—all of which will be incorporated into the Town’s Official Plan.
“All of these documents are fantastic because they’re going to set our new Council for the election in October with a lot of great data and great visioning support to be able to build a framework for the next ten years,” explained Babineau.
She said the greatest part of having a consultant working on the plan is that while staff and council have provided their input, the recommendations are driven by the community through extensive consultation and data gathered through an independent party. “So, it’s truly a community services plan.”
COVID has brought to the forefront how important community services are for people’s physical and mental health. Community services, such as the ability to use parks, go to events, participate in recreation activities, swim in the municipal pool, take in a show at the theatre or visit Muskoka Heritage Place, are an important part of people’s lives. “What we heard loud and clear was that this was part of their life that they desperately needed to get back to,” said Babineau. “There has to be that social connection, activity, leisure choices, creativity—there was a hunger for that.”
She also noted that the Community Services Master Plan is a living document. “We’re open to hearing any feedback, any updates, any ideas,” she added.
Community members can reach out to the Town’s customer service department at 705-789-6421 x 0 or summitcentre@huntsville.ca.
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