The Corporation of the Township of Laird
Township Newsletter – December 2021
The Corporation of the Township of Laird De cemb er 2021
Newsletter
Notice of Retirement/Succession
Laird Township Council and Staff would like to congratulate Phyllis L. MacKay on her retirement. Phyllis has been the Clerk-Treasurer for the Township for the past 44 years. We sincerely would like to thank her for her years of service to the community. Her dedication and commitment to her job will be missed.
Jennifer Errington has been promoted as Clerk, Rhonda Crozier as Treasurer, and Brenda Aelick as Administrative Assistant. All persons in the succession plan are very experienced employees, understand municipal governance, and will be positive assets to the Township.
Lakeview Bridge – Opening Soon!
Construction on the Lakeview Bridge is almost complete, the bridge should be open by the end of the first week of December. Council would like to thank the community for their patience during the replacement of the Lakeview Bridge. Council was successful in obtaining funding from both the Provincial and Federal Government to assist with the replacement of the Lakeview Bridge. The project was awarded to North America Constriction 1993 Ltd.
Speed Limits and Community Safety Zones
The Township Office has received complaints about people speeding and concerns for the publics safety for pedestrians walking and/or riding bikes on municipal roads. Council is considering reducing the speed limit to 60 km for the entire municipality. Council is also considering implementing Community Safety Zones for the Hamlets located in Bar River and Pumpkin Point Road along with Finns’ Bay Road North and Neebish Road.
Road safety is a priority, we all play a part in keeping our roads safe. Please abide by the speed limit and take caution when approaching pedestrians.
Christmas Baskets
Laird Recreation Committee is assisting the Echo Bay United Church Outreach Committee by collecting items for Christmas Cheer Baskets. Items can be dropped off at the Laird Township office before December 13, 2021.
Committee is looking for the following items: Tooth paste and tooth brushes, puddings and pudding mixes, cereal, peanut butter, hot chocolate, instant coffee, cake mixes, canned goods and powdered milk. Hats, mittens and socks for all ages. Any new gifts for toddlers to teens are more than welcome.
Donations are greatly appreciated, and sure to help spread some joy and Christmas spirit during this difficult year.
Holiday Landfill Site Hours Wednesday evenings: 3 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, December 25, 2021: CLOSED & Saturday, January 1, 2022: CLOSED
Thank you for your understanding and HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Township Office Closure for the Holidays
The Township office will be closed Friday, December 24, 2021 to Friday, December 31, 2021 inclusive. Phone messages and drop box will be checked regularly. Office will re-open with normal hours January 3, 2022.
Payments received during this time period will be posted prior to year end.
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The Corporation of the Township of Laird
Drivers Needed
The Dr. HS Trefry Memorial Centre is in urgent need of drivers for both the Medical Transportation and Meals on Wheels programs servicing communities between Echo Bay and Thessalon, including St. Joseph Island.
Please contact the Dr. HS Trefry Memorial Centre at (705) 246-0036 or e-mail transportation@trefrycentre.ca for more info, if you’re able to volunteer some time to help them out. Drivers are reimbursed for mileage.
Road Safety
The Road Department and Council are asking residents not to push snow on or across township roads. Ridges and lumps of frozen snow can create a hazardous situation for equipment and operators, as well as others traveling over the roads. Section 181 of The Highway Traffic Act states that no person shall deposit snow or ice on a roadway without permission in writing to do so from the Ministry or the road authority for the maintenance of the road. Please help us maintain a safe roadway by keeping surplus snow from driveways off the municipal roadways. You are also reminded that parking on the roadway during snow season is an offence, and your vehicle may be towed if found impeding snow removal.
Habitat for Humanity SSM Expanding to Entire Algoma District
Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie & Area (HFHSSMA), with the approval of Habitat Canada, is expanding their service area to the entire Algoma District, which includes Laird Township.
Since 2002, HFHSSMA has served families from Sault Ste. Marie to as far as Heyden in the North and Echo Bay in the East. While this area covers roughly 70% of Algoma’s population, the non-profit has recognized that there is a need for safe, decent, and affordable housing across all of Algoma.
The charity met with Laird Township to discuss the appetite for Habitat programs in the area and the potential for recruiting volunteers to form a Habitat Chapter. This chapter will champion the fundraising of new builds, critical repairs, and/or accessibility renovations to ensure members of the community have safe, decent, and appropriate shelter.
Habitat currently operates an Affordable Homeownership Program in Sault Ste. Marie. They don’t give away free homes; rather, their program bridges a gap for families unable to afford a traditional mortgage by providing them with the opportunity to purchase their own home.
Families who apply and are accepted to become Habitat Homeowners finance their home through an interest-free Habitat mortgage, with no down-payment, geared to their income and contribute at least 500 volunteer hours to Habitat.
Once they move in, Habitat homeowners are responsible for maintaining their own home. We help families and individuals prepare for homeownership by providing homeowner education classes, ranging from financial literacy and budgeting to home-repair and maintenance.
If you are interested in making life-changing, long-lasting, and far-reaching impact in your community by forming a Habitat Chapter, please reach out to us or to Habitat directly:
Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie & Area
111 Elgin Street, Suite 303 Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 6L6 (705) 575-0020 info@habitatsault.ca