Township Newsletter – March 2026

The Corporation of the Township of Laird

Newsletter

BAR RIVER PASTA DINNER: MARCH 28, 2026

Come out and enjoy a delicious homemade Pasta Dinner with friends, family, and neighbours at the Bar River Community Hall !

Good food, great company, and a wonderful community tradition.

Everyone is welcome!

March 28, 2026 —Social hour at 5:00 p.m. dinner at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets go on sale March 15, 2026, $20 each, 5 and under free.

Tickets are limited and available by calling or texting Heather (705) 257-8508 Don’t wait, tickets are limited and this popular dinner fills up fast.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Dog Tags

Property owners with dogs can go to the Township website at www.lairdtownship.ca under Forms and Documents section and request a dog tag, at no cost.

Please remember it is unlawful to have your dog running at large and fines of $100 per occurrence may be levied.

The Control of Dogs By-law #2040-25 was adopted on January 16, 2025, the updated by-law includes procedures for potentially dangerous and dangerous dogs and updated fees. The By-law can be viewed on the Township website or at the Township office.

2025 Interim Taxes The second installment of the 2025 interim tax bill is due April 17, 2026. If you have not received your bill please contact the office at (705) 248-2395.

The Final tax bill will be mailed out in June, due in two installments: July and September.

Registered to Vote

The upcoming year will be a busy one for Ontario voters, with the Municipal and School Board Elections taking place this fall.

Make sure you are on the voters’ list for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Elections on October 26, 2026.

Register online at registertovoteon.ca

FREE ACCESS – Laird Fairgrounds Horse Arena During the summer months, the horse arena at the Laird Fairgrounds will be free to use on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Some rules and guidelines will apply – stay tuned for more details!

Load Restrictions in Effect

Reminder that reduced load restrictions are in effect. Please abide by the load restrictions. And remember to securely tarp all loads, it is the law.

Fire Permits

Fire permits ARE required April 1 – October 31. Go to www.lairdtownship.ca to complete the required form online, there is no cost for this service at this time.

Daytime burn permits must be issued by the Fire Chief.

Sign up to receive NEWSLETTERS electronically by using the link on the lairdtownship.ca website.

Laird Township is Hiring Summer Students

• Heritage Program Assistant: Successful candidate will work alongside staff to upload photos and information for the Township museum.
• Recreation Program Assistant: Successful candidates will work in conjunction with the Township of Macdonald, Meredith, and Aberdeen Additional to plan and implement summer camps for children along with soccer and baseball programs.
• Grounds Keeper Assistant: Successful candidate will work with our Township Grounds Manager performing groundskeeping duties throughout the Township.

More details on the above jobs can be found at www.lairdtownship.ca or by calling (705) 248-2395. Positions run approximately 8 weeks for eligible candidates 15-30 years of age.

Candidates are asked to submit a cover letter and resume outlining their qualifications and experience by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, April 23, 2026 to:

Email: info@lairdtownship.ca Drop off at:

Township of Laird 3 Pumpkin Point Road Echo Bay, ON P0S 1C0

Youth Sports Registration is Open!

Laird Township Recreation and Echo Bay Leisure Services are excited to offer Youth Softball (Mid-May to June) and Youth Soccer (July) programs for boys and girls ages 4 – 18.

• Softball: Registration fee $15 | Team T-shirt $10 | Deadline: April 29
• Soccer: Registration fee $25 (includes team t-shirt) | Deadline: June 17 Register online at www.echobay.ca or in person at the Echo Bay Municipal Office, 208 Church St. (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Volunteers Needed! Programs run with the support of volunteer coaches—get involved and help our kids stay active!

Kids’ Summer Camps – Registration Now Open!

Registration for this year’s summer kids’ camps opened on Thursday, February 19th. These camps are very popular, and some sessions are already filling up!

To learn more about the available programs and secure your spot, visit www.echobay.ca or contact Echo Bay Leisure Services Coordinator Trisha Daynard at tdaynard@ontera.net or 705-248-2441. Don’t wait—spots are going fast!

Friday Exercise Group Join the Trefry Centre’s exercise group every Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Laird Township Hall, 3 Pumpkin Point Road W.

For more information, call (705) 246-0036.

Earth Day Seed Giveaway

In recognition of Earth Day, Laird Recreation will once again be giving away Giant Pumpkin seeds as well as Giant and Dwarf Sunflower seeds.

Stop by the Municipal Office on April 22, 2026, to pick up your seeds and try growing the biggest pumpkin for Pumpkin Fest, or help beautify your neighbourhood with a collection of vibrant sunflowers.

Seeds are available while supplies last, so be sure to stop in early!

Daylight Saving Time Reminder

Although Daylight Savings Time began on March 8, it’s still a good reminder to take care of a few important household safety tasks:

• Change the batteries in your smoke/carbon monoxide detectors and replace expired units.
• Check and update your emergency and first aid kits.
• Safely discard expired or unused medications at your local pharmacy.

Taking a few minutes to complete these simple steps can help keep your household safe year-round.