Municipality of Kincardine Progress Report Highlights Significant Accomplishments in 2023

KINCARDINE, ON – As the community moves in to 2024, the Municipality of Kincardine is taking a moment to review and highlight the significant work accomplished in 2023 with their Integrated Strategy Progress Report.

The integrated strategy is a document that brings together key priorities from across the organization’s strategic and comprehensive plans. It provides a road map that identifies the major initiatives the organization is working on to address the needs of citizens, provide long-term sustainability, and improve the well-being of the community.

The progress report is one way the Municipality provides an update to the community. Quarterly departmental reporting to council and the development of key performance indicators presents more frequent milestones for consideration throughout the calendar year.

Highlights from the four focus areas within the 2023 Integrated Strategy Progress Report include:

Fostering a resilient economy

• Creation of the Kincardine Map Hub and the Development Dashboard, two tools to communicate and track development across the Municipality.
• Undertaking of the 7-million-dollar Downtown Dig which saw staff, contractors, businesses, and special event organizers work collaboratively throughout 2023 to mitigate the challenges presented by the massive infrastructure project. Construction is mostly complete with final elements happening in 2024.
• Implementation of the new e-permitting software CloudPermit which streamlines and improves the development process.
• The hosting of summer special events with community partners aided in fostering a sense of community belonging while also attracting visitors to the community.
• Relocation of the Tourism and Visitor Centre from Highway 21 to the Kincardine Centre for the Arts on Queen Street along with rebranding as the “Welcome Centre.”

Planning for a sustainable future

• Consultation with the community to develop a draft Community Improvement Plan (CIP) began in 2023 and will align to the Spruce the Bruce programs. Further input and finalization are taking place this first quarter of 2024.
• Launch of the Food Cycler Food Waste Diversion Program pilot in 2023 was possible thanks to the combined efforts of the Municipality of Kincardine, the Municipal Innovation Council, and Bruce Power. As a result of this 12-week initiative, the program saw an annual diversion of 62.5 metric tonnes of food waste from the landfill and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking just over eighteen gas powered vehicles off the road per year.
• Review and identification of surplus and underutilized municipal lands with next steps to be the determination of their future usage (i.e. affordable housing or future development opportunities.)
• Installation of bike lanes on Bruce Avenue, Queen Street, and Huron Terrace, further enhancing pedestrian and cycling amenities while improving active and safe transportation networks.

Enhancing quality of life

• Installation of a new playground in Grozelle Park.
• Creation of a Waterfront Master Plan which organizes and prioritizes plans for all waterfront assets with one of the first actions approved by Council to design a new boardwalk already underway.
• A partnership with The Walker House Museum to host Legacy of Hope exhibits from May to September of 2023 in both their facility and the Welcome Centre created awareness of the residential school systems while inspiring actions towards reconciliation.
• Collaboration with community partners to build awareness, understanding, and improvements towards inclusion, diversity, equity, and access through events and training sessions.
• Host of The Rural Medicine Retreat Grey-Bruce from August 25th to the 27th, 2023, where 30 physicians and their families visited and experienced all the community offers.
• A partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police and other community partners to provide community education regarding human trafficking, sexual violence, and harassment.

Providing responsive and effective government

• Consultation and work on the refresh of the Municipality of Kincardine and Kincardine Tourism websites which will launch in early 2024.
• Regular review and assessment of the Municipality’s tax rates, user fees, and development charges throughout the year.
• Cybersecurity improvements including licensing of Microsoft Azure and planning for staff training regarding e-mail safety and security.

"We've been in office as the Municipality of Kincardine Council for just over a year now, and many actions have been achieved since our term began," says mayor Kenneth Craig. "As the elected Council, we will continue to ensure that quality services improving the well-being of the community are provided."

To review the complete Integrated Strategy Progress Report, visit www.kincardine.ca/ISP2023.

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Media Inquiries:
Lorie Fioze, Manager of Strategic Initiatives
Municipality of Kincardine
519-389-1857