Council Meeting - May 12

Announcements

•  Councillor Tuju:
  • Councillor Tuju noted that on April 30, 2025, the Orillia Public Library hosted its annual Battle of the Books for all the regional elementary schools. The battle consists of the students studying 50 pre-selected books during the school year, and then showing their knowledge during a trivia contest about those books. Rama Central Public School came in first place again this year.
  • On May 4, 2025, Councillor Tuju laid a wreath on behalf of the Township of Ramara at the Barrie Cenotaph, in commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic. She was accompanied by her son, a master cadet of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets.
  • On May 5, 2025, Councillor Tuju attended the Red Dress Day event in the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, to learn more about the vulnerability of Indigenous women to violence. Rama First Nation Chief Ted Williams and Chief Lady Bird (Councillor Nancy King) spoke about statistics, and children from local schools attended, along with representatives from community supports sharing information and resources.
  • Councillor Tuju attended the grand opening of Match Eatery & Public House, the new restaurant at Casino Rama Resort. Councillor Tuju thanked Chief Williams, Gateway Casinos, and the Casino Rama Resort General Manager for putting the event together.
• Councillor Fisher:
  • Councillor Fisher noted the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, which was held on April 29, 2025, and attended by members of Council, the Township's senior leadership team, and many volunteers. Councillor Fisher thanked the volunteers again and stressed the important role that volunteers play within the community.
    • Mayor Clarke also thanked Ramona Hall, who hosted the dinner, even during a power outage.
  • Councillor Fisher also attended the grand opening of the Match Eatery & Public House at Casino Rama Resort.
  • Councillor Fisher attended the Port of Orillia Opening event, which included opening the Port for the 2025 season and a flag raising.
• Deputy Mayor Bell:
  • Deputy Mayor Bell stated that two 2024 Olympic wrestlers recently gave a presentation to the Mariposa Wrestling Club. The Mariposa Wrestling Club also went to the Canada East Wrestling Festival in Renfrew, ON, with a team of 10, five of which were from the Township of Ramara. While they were the smallest team in attendance, they won the most medals for wrestlers, pins, and gold medals, including the girls' Bantam combined trophy for points. Deputy Mayor Bell also thanked Ramona Hall for offering a training location for the summer months.

Committee of the Whole

Below are highlights of what Committee of the Whole recommended at its meeting held on Monday, May 12, 2025. These are subject to ratification by Council at its next meeting on May 26, 2025, unless pulled for ratification on the same day.

Board and Committee Reports

Ramara Public Library Quarterly Report

Elise Schofield, CEO of the Ramara Public Library, presented a quarterly report for the first quarter of 2025, spanning from January to March 2025. Committee of the Whole supported receiving the report as information. Highlights of the report included the following:

• The Library has removed the age requirement for membership, allowing anyone - from newborn babies to adults - to receive their first library card.
• Through a new agreement with Kawartha Lakes Public Library, members of both libraries can now borrow material from each other's collections.
• The Library had 4,282 visitors in the first quarter of 2025, 77 new memberships, and 4,975 physical items checked out.
• In the first quarter of 2025, 90 programs were held by the Library, with 972 program attendees.
• Computer and digital services also remain popular.

View the full Ramara Township Public Library Statistics Report for January to March 2025.

Department Reports

Brechin Outdoor Market

Committee of the Whole supported receiving a report regarding the 2025 Brechin Outdoor Market insurance and rental fees and waiving the 2025 rental fees. In addition, the Committee supported providing a grant of up to $1,000 to the Brechin Outdoor Market to obtain liability insurance for the Market's 2025 operation in the Brechin Ball Diamond parking lot, and waiving the requirement for proof of insurance prior to June 1, 2025.

Council

Council reconvened at 10:14 a.m. Below are highlights of what Council adopted at its meeting on Monday, May 12, 2025:

• Council received as information the completed 2024 annual drinking water report. This report contains a brief description of the drinking water system, a summary of any adverse test results reported and corrective actions taken, flow rates of the water supplied, and beyond. Read the 2024 annual drinking water report. 
• As part of the grant requirements from the Trans Canada Trail, which allowed the Township to build a trail extension from Casino Rama to Airport Road, the Township will be holding an official trail opening. A Mayor’s walk will follow the trail opening, where the Mayor and/or Council would attend and walk a portion of the new trail with residents and trail users of the municipality. Council received a report about the event as information and approved providing parking exemptions on the south side of Airport Road, east of Rama Road, for the duration of the event. More information will be communicated to the public regarding this event.
• Council received as information an overview of the Township of Ramara Official Plan 2025. An Official Plan describes the municipality’s policies on how land in Ramara should be used. It was prepared with community input and helps ensure that future planning and development will meet the specific needs of the community. Learn more about the Official Plan 2025 review.

• Council received as information an application for Plan as Subdivision for File RA-T-2201 (4836 Muley Point Rd.).
• Council approved the files outlined in a recommendation report regarding an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment for Files OP-2/24 and Z 5/24 (3819 McRae Park Rd.). According bylaws were also approved at the May 12, 2025, meeting.
• Council approved a Zoning By-law Amendment for File Z-1/25 (99 Simcoe Rd.).

• Council received as information a report regarding the 2025 Brechin Outdoor Market insurance and rental fees and approved waiving the 2025 rental fees. In addition, Council approved providing a grant of up to $1,000 to the Brechin Outdoor Market to support obtaining liability insurance for the Market's 2025 operation in the Brechin Ball Diamond parking lot, and waiving proof of insurance prior to June 1, 2025.

Correspondence

AMO 2025 Conference Delegations and Registrations

Council received as information correspondence from the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) regarding the request for delegations process for the AMO 2025 Conference, taking place from August 17 to 20, 2025. Council approved two delegation topics (emergency funding and a Health and Safety Water Stream grant opportunity) and requested staff to prepare a report for the May 26, 2025, Committee of the Whole meeting regarding two further potential delegations (expansion of natural gas and acceptance of contaminated soil from provincial highway projects).

Council also approved registration of the following members, with expenses, for the 2025 AMO Conference:

• Deputy Mayor Bell
• Councillor Bell
• Councillor Fisher
• Councillor Gough
• Councillor Tuju

Bylaws

• Council approved the enactment of a bylaw regarding the municipal levy and payment of taxes, the mosquito control service rate, goose control rate, and adoption of tax rates for 2025, in line with the approved 2025 Budget.
• Council approved housekeeping amendments to the Open Air Burning Bylaw. Learn more about open air burning in the Township of Ramara.

Subscribe

Subscribe to receive email updates on Township of Ramara news and notices, media releases, Council highlights, Monthly Ramara Bulletin, community events, and beyond.

Subscribe now 

For More Information

For more details on any of these items, see the full meeting agenda or view the meeting on the Township of Ramara's YouTube channel.

The meeting highlights are prepared to give residents a timely update on decisions of Council. The Council meeting minutes are the official record of the meeting.