October 1 meeting: Connie Lauder

We still live in a small City, we can easily walk to many locations. Usually one can travel across the city in 10 to 15 minutes depending how many red lights one encounters. For me I am very involved in Boards, Committees, Fanshawe Choir, music lessons etc. but after attending any of these commitments I can still get across the City in time to take in a few exercise programs at South Gate Centre. We are fortunate to have many of the amenities of a large City but still have the small City feel.

We are so fortunate to have our own community based police force as opposed to an outside force. I served on the Police Board for 4 years. If you ever wish to experience a day in the life of a police officer ask to go on a ride along for a shift, I can guarantee it is quite an experience. While on the Board I also took the opportunity to take the Police Academy course I even got to the shooting range to try my hand at using a gun. Over the past 3 years the crime rate has dropped by 19%. With their consistent visibility they are being very diligent in attacking the drug culture something that probably will never be eradicated but they are trying to control it.

Are we not blessed to be able to boast that Woodstock has a new state of the Art Hospital? Our hospital has attracted many Specialists over the past 3 years. We now have Chemotherapy and IV infusion Suite in partnership with London Regional Cancer Centre treatment, a dialysis satellite program, full service Diagnostic Imaging Centre including Nuclear Medicine, MRI and CT Scan which now allows our residence to be treated here rather than having to make that grueling journey to London or Kitchener or even beyond for treatment. Did you know that the majority of babies born in Oxford County is born right here in Woodstock, last year recorded 788 births.

The Woodstock Hospital Foundation Board which I am pleased to say I serve has raised in excess of $10M dollars, which I am proud to say includes 6 donations of $1 Million or more. (an outstanding accomplishment, even for a BIG foundation)

Monies now raised is used to purchase equipment which always requires updating. This year the Foundation transferred $2M dollars to the hospital to purchase IV pumps, IT equipment and other equipment required throughout the hospital

I am aware of the generosity of this community both from individuals and businesses. When Toyota located here, they donated the house on their land to VON now known as Sakura House hospices an amazing facility in our City. Recently Toyota made another donation paying off the debt for the capital project that had been undertaken.

Speaking of Toyota and it subsidiaries locating in Woodstock, we now have an excellent industrial base of manufacturing. This was a great boon for our City, at the present time Toyota employs in excess of 2800 employees. The recent opening of Sysco with a staff complement of approximately 300 employees brings the food industry to the City. Sysco has additional land for future expansion when and if the time arises. This shows great diversification, no municipality should rely on just one industry. Businesses such as this allows our young people opportunities to work and live right here at home.

As has been reported in the latest Woodstock Economic Report we are located in one of the strongest economic regions in Canada, now is that not something to brag about. Woodstock benefits from access to major markets, the Economic Development email address is “come to the crossroads.com” We are at at the crossroads.

Our industrial and commercial building remains active again this year.
It is great to see the United Way has moved to downtown occupying the former Art Gallery.

I look forward to the possibility of the University of Ottawa campus locating in the downtown.

In September Council gave zoning approval for a Medical Marijuana project to be developed in the old Thomas Bus building on Tecumseh Street.

Our City debt is approx. $7 to 8 M, which for a Municipality our size is certainly within reason and considerably less than our surrounding cities.

In times of need our citizens step up to the plate whether it is monetary or volunteering. For example our South Gate Centre has at least 300 volunteers, being a not for profit charitable facility it could not operate without the hard work of these dedicated people. The South Gate Centre is operated basically by fund raising, membership fees and a Provincial grant matched by the City. There are few such facilities operated in this manner in Ontario. South Gate is near and dear to my heart, I serve on the board, am a volunteer and fund raiser for this amazing facility. This years membership will exceed 800. If you have never been there, drop in enjoy a great meal prepared by our new chef and his volunteers. You can get involved in the exercise programs, golf, ball, cards, crafts, wood working, learning opportunities, social networking just a real happening place to be. While there, do not forget to say hello to our most enthusiastic CEO Chris Cunningham and her compliment of staff. Trust me you will love it.

This brings me to the new and nearly new beautiful facilities Oxford Gardens and Cedarview built for our ageing population. Did you know that within the next 2 to 3 years there will be more adults over the age of 65 than children under 12 years of age? Grey is the new blond.

Over the years we have provided affordable housing which we must still be cognisant of the need for more. The building on Vansittart will be ready for occupation in the near future it will be such an addition to the refurbishing of a beautiful old building in the downtown. I serve on the board of the non profit housing for seniors located on Kent and Canterbury Streets.

We have a great opportunity for building our culture with the Art Gallery, Library, Museum and Theater Woodstock all in our downtown.

ART GALLERY for which I am a member of their Board, adds such an improvement to the downtown. Last year boasted attendance in excess of 16,000 and this year is showing promises of many more. Visitors marvel at the beauty of our Gallery remarking on how fortunate we are to have this beautiful refurbished building. I spoke to a gentleman who recently moved here from Kitchener, he commented on how much he enjoyed visiting the Art Gallery.

The Art Gallery contains in excess of 800 works of art and 250 artifacts with a value of approx $3M. These works are an asset of the City. The Gallery has the largest art works of Florence Carlyle an artist born in Galt in 1864 moved to Wilson Street in Woodstock with her family when she was 7 yrs of age.

The Gallery is enjoyed by all ages there is something for everyone.

LIBRARY: In 2013, there were 413,928 in-person visits to the library, with annual circulation exceeding ½ million for the first time

• This year the Library has launched 2 new online programs adding to the many service offered there

• To add to the beauty of the downtown a restoration of the façade of the building is now underway. This is part of a multi-year project to restore the entire exterior of the Carnegie portion of the building.

My husband and I enjoy taking in the various shows at theater woodstock. Since 1996 Jen and Jason Paquette have worked with young people known as CAST kids. CAST has seen over 100 young people per year take part in it’s programming - which produces six productions per year and includes a summer camp in August.

CAST kids have gone onto some exciting careers - CAST grads are now doctors, teachers, train engineers and more….some CAST grads have chosen to continue their love affair with performing and have been seen on stages in regional theaters across Canada, the US and abroad…including Mirvish Productions, Disney Cruise lines and The Stratford Festival.  CAST grad Kayla James can currently be seen in two principal roles at the Stratford Festival - Man of La Mancha and Crazy For You. What an opportunity for young people.

TRAILS People visiting Woodstock marvel at the amount of green space we have with the 10 km of trails. In September it was announced that Council is talking with the Upper Thames Conservation Authority to take over the maintenance of several acres of land which will result in an additional 11 km of trails to our inventory. I try to get out on Fridays to walk the trails with a group from South Gate.

We have diversified recreational facilities with 2 arenas, soccer fields, skateboard park, ball diamonds, pools, lots of parks (green space) most recent outdoor pickle ball court and tennis courts. Our soccer club had in excess of 2000 registrations this year ages from 3 to adults, there is inside soccer in the winter. For those who do not like to experience our Canadian winters there is a wonderful indoor walking track. Woodstock is aware of the importance of healthy active life style, it is all there for us.

In preparation for this talk I have spoken with the Police Chief, City CAO, Economic, South Gate Centre CEO. How many Municipalities could one go to, to have people like this take time out of their busy schedule to assist me in collecting this information.

This city has a wealth of history, knowledge, diversity and surrounded by bountiful farmland. It is a community that belongs to everyone. It is all of these pieces and more that go together to make it your community and mine, we have it all.

As my business card indicates, I have raised my family, worked and plan to grow old here.

Woodstock is on the cutting edge of so many things, now you know why I am so passionate about this community.

Thank you,

Connie Lauder