The Historic Pushback of Victoria County!

70 Concerned Canadians, Fill Kawartha Lakes City Hall, August, 29 2023

The formerly thriving Victoria County is seeing the final results of its amalgamation into the “City of Kawartha Lakes.”

In 2001, most of Victoria County’s population resided in the rural districts and voted against amalgamation in a local referendum. The municipality amalgamated anyway!

Since that time, population growth has been driven to “settlement areas” like Lindsay, while rural communities have lost its churches, centers, clinics, libraries, schools, service centers and banks.

To read more about this history and how Victoria County was previously governed, read Amalgamation 20 years later: Victoria County’s demise still rankles many rural constituents.

Historic Pushback, A Summary of the Days Events

The Rural Rezoning Bylaw, set to pass August 29, 2023, has Woodville, once a bustling hub downgrade to a hamlet and future food processing facilities restricted.

A large delegation of 70 people supported Angel Godseo in her presentation to the council. We filled the upper and lower galleries and overflowed to the back room.

Everyone who makes an effort to show up in person represents 1,000 people. We represented a majority of the population, which is 78,000.

Upper and lower galleries, filled.

Third Overflow Room, filling up!

The meeting opened with an “Oh Canada,” like the council “had not heard in quite a while.” Followed by a Powerful Presentation by Angel Godseo from Save Our Country, Supported by Dr. Kersten Kelly of Kawartha Lakes.

This historic moment led to a small win. Thanks to Ward 6, Councilor, Ron Ashmore, the Rural Rezoning Bylaws were delayed until September 15 for more public consultation.

The people celebrated with the blowing of the shofar, a symbolic honk and the “breaking of bread” at a local pub.

It was beautiful.

Next Steps

Moving forward, a core team will initiate a public awareness campaign regarding the rural rezoning bylaw and collaborate with inside city staff, municipal law experts and OUR elected councilors.

Meeting Monday, September 4, 2023, Church in Cameron

City Council Committee, 5 PM.

Kawartha Freedom Group, Regular Meeting at 7 PM

Guest speaker Stan McDonald will dive into the Municipal Act 2001 and Bylaws. This knowledge will help us move forward in our work with town councils.

This Meeting is Streamed Live from ZOOM

Meeting ID: 925 900 8609

Passcode: 547803

Next Steps