As of Wednesday, July 21, access to the collection shelves, computers, study tables, children’s areas, and public washrooms is open to the public at all four Clarington Public Library branches. Clarington Museums & Archives has also resumed in-person research services and self-guided exhibit tours by appointment at the Sarah Jane Williams Heritage Centre. Masks and physical distancing are still required at all locations. 

“It’s wonderful to welcome the community back through our doors,” says Linda Kent, Clarington Public Library, Museums, & Archives CEO. “The response has been tremendously positive; people are very happy to be able to come back into the space to explore the collections and exhibits in person.” 

Throughout the pandemic, the Library and Museum offered a variety of electronic services. “Our staff pivoted rapidly to offer a variety of programs and services, which were available virtually over the internet and offline by way of phone and mail. We expanded and improved our electronic collections of books, magazines, and newspapers to meet the demand online,” continues Ms. Kent. “We also introduced new initiatives to keep our community connected, such as Borrow by Mail and loanable mobile WiFi hotspots. As we progress through the Province’s Roadmap to Reopen, we will continue to adjust our service model in order to meet community needs and address safety regulations, by maintaining a blend of virtual and in-person services.” 

The Library’s virtual Summer Reading Club will continue throughout the summer. Children can sign-up today to beat the summer brain drain by participating in virtual reading programs and activities and enjoy virtual author visits in August. For outside family fun, check out the latest Storywalk® at the Bowmanville Westside Conservation Area of How to Find a Bird by Jennifer Ward, presented in partnership with Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). 

For more information about Library services, please visit the Library’s website at www.clarington-library.on.ca, or contact Member Services at info@clarington-library.on.ca or 905-623-7322 ext. 2712. For more information about Museum research services and exhibits, please visit the Museum’s website at www.claringtonmuseums.com, or contact Museum staff at info@claringtonmuseums.com or 905-623-2734. 

The Planning and Development Services Department will release the annual Growth Trends Review report for 2020 by the end of June. This report identifies emerging development-related issues and trends within the Municipality of Clarington. Building permit activity and other related data are used as indicators of housing and employment activity within Clarington, the level of local investment, and economic performance.

Highlights from 2020:

• Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Clarington’s building activity rebounded from the significant decline experienced in 2019.
• Clarington’s total building permit value increased by 206 per cent in 2020, from $130.3 million in 2019 to $398.3 million.
• Clarington’s residential building permit value and residential unit permits issued were above their five-year average by 10 and 23 per cent, respectively.
• Clarington doubled its share of Durham’s building permit value from 6.6 per cent in 2019 to 13.9 per cent in 2020, the second-highest per cent growth in the Durham Region.
• 994 new residential unit permits issued in 2020; that’s the third time since 1993, that more permits were issued.

Despite the disruption due to COVID-19, building permit value rebounded, resuming its previous trend. The real estate market fell in 2019 due to several factors, most notably new Building Code requirements and stricter mortgage tests leading to extra housing supply. However, the market began to recover in late 2019, and this continued into early 2020.

As a result of the emergency order in March of 2020, construction was on hold, but permit activity remained strong. Housing demand increased, and the GTA saw record sales in the fall months. COVID-19 accelerated the trend of moving away from city centres toward suburban areas, further driving local demand. Consumer behaviour has changed as households are seeking more space to work from home.

Clarington is anticipating further growth as Highway 407 and Highway 418 gain popularity. The proposed GO Transit Lakeshore East line expansion will provide a solid connection to the GTA. As well, major economic drivers such as the OPG headquarters relocation, EastPenn relocation, and Toyota Eastern Parts Distribution plant will provide jobs to Clarington’s growing population and drive demand for housing.

The 2020 Growth Trends Review will be available at the end of June on the Municipality’s website.

Clarington is proposing that a portion of the road allowance on Given Road west of Rudell Road
is closed and declared surplus to sell the lands to the adjacent property owners, 2103386 Ontario Limited, 2353235 Ontario Limited, Wilmot Creek Developments and Louisville Homes Limited, for fair market value. The Municipality is the current owner of the lands located on Lot 31, Concession 2 in Newcastle, and has determined that the road segments are no longer required for Municipal purposes.

Staff Report PWD-018-21 regarding this matter will be submitted to Council at a General Government Committee meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 31, 2021, for consideration. The agenda, including copies of Staff Report PWD-018-21, will be available at www.clarington.net/calendar before the meeting.

How to participate
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a virtual meeting will be held to maintain physical distancing. A link to watch the meeting via livestream will be available at www.clarington.net/calendar shortly before the start of the meeting.

To participate as a delegate, please register at www.clarington.net/delegations or contact the Clerk’s Division at 905-623-3379 no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, May 28, 2021.

Delegations will participate online or by phone. For more information, please contact Karen Richardson at 905-623-3379 ext. 2327 or krichardson@clarington.net.

The Municipality is seeking public comments before making a decision on a proposed Amendment to the COVID-19 Community Improvement Plan.

Proposal
The Municipality of Clarington is proposing to amend the COVID-19 Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The purpose and effect of the COVID-19 CIP Amendment are to revise the existing COVID-19 CIP, which Council adopted in October 2020. The proposed revisions would modify the COVID-19 CIP, including the Financial Incentive Program general eligibility and means test criteria to better support qualifying local businesses with COVID-19 -related improvements, in accordance with the goals of the CIP.

Property
The existing COVID-19 Community Improvement Project Area includes all lands within the Municipality of Clarington.

How to be informed
The draft of the revised COVID-19 CIP and additional information is available for review no later than May 18, 2021, at the Planning and Development Services Department and on our website at www.clarington.net/FinancialSupport.

Questions?
Please contact Sarah Allin at 905-623-3379, ext. 2419 or sallin@clarington.net.

How to provide comments
Our procedures have changed as we continue to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. As mandated by Public Health and to maintain physical distancing, this meeting will take place virtually and can be viewed at www.clarington.net/calendar.

Date: Monday, June 7, 2021
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Electronic Teams (Microsoft) using an online device or phone.

If you wish to speak at the public meeting, please pre-register, and you will be provided with further instructions.

You can pre-register by completing the online form at www.clarington.net/delegations or contact the Clerk’s Division at 905-623-3379 ext. 2109 or clerks@clarington.net by Friday, June 4, 2021, at 3:30 p.m.

If you are unable to participate electronically, please contact the Clerk’s Division, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

We encourage you to submit your written comments for Committee’s consideration to Sarah Allin at sallin@clarington.net or by mail or drop box to 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, ON  L1C 3A6 before the date of the public meeting.

File Number: PLN 37.6

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
The personal information you submit will become part of the public record and may be released to the public. Questions about the information we collect can be directed to the Clerk’s Division at 905-623-3379 ext. 2102.

Accessibility
If you have accessibility needs and require alternate formats of this document or other accommodations, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131.

Appeal Requirements
If you do not speak at the public meeting or send your comments or concerns to the Municipality of Clarington before the by-law is passed: a) you will not be entitled to appeal the decision to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal; and b) you will not be able to participate at a hearing of an appeal before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, in the opinion of the Board or the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to do so.

Notice of Recommendation Report to the Planning and Development Committee
File Number: COPA2021-0001
Special Study Area 2 – Greenbelt Expansion

The Municipality has gathered feedback from the public regarding a Draft Official Plan Amendment (OPA) that would delete policy 13.3.12 and Section 17.3 Special Study Area 2 – Greenbelt Expansion from Clarington’s current Official Plan.

After extensive public input and the Statutory Public meeting on April 26, 2021, a recommendation report regarding Special Study Area 2 is scheduled for consideration at the upcoming Planning and Development Committee Meeting on May 17, 2021, at 7 p.m.

A copy of the Recommendation Report will be available on the afternoon of Thursday, May 13, 2021, by contacting Lisa Backus at 905-623-3379 ext. 2413 or visiting www.clarington.net/SpecialStudyArea2.

Planning and Development Committee Meeting 

Date: Monday, May 17, 2021
Time: 7 p.m. 
Place: Electronic Microsoft Teams meeting using an online device or phone

Our procedures have changed as we continue to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. As mandated by Public Health and to maintain physical distancing, this meeting will take place virtually using an online device or phone and can be viewed at www.clarington.net/calendar.

To speak as a delegation at the Committee Meeting, fill out the delegation request form or contact the Clerk’s Division at 905-623-3379 by 4:15 p.m. on Friday, May 14, 2021.

If you cannot attend the Committee Meeting, you can register to speak as a delegation at the Council Meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. on May 25, 2021.

Questions?
Please contact Lisa Backus at lbackus@clarington.net or 905-623-3379 ext. 2413.

The Durham Environmental Advisory Committee (DEAC) has developed a new Resident’s Guide to Climate Resiliency with practical information on what we can do to build climate resiliency into our day-to-day lives, to contribute to a cleaner and healthier region.

The Guide consists of eight sections: Your Home, Food, Waste, Health and Wellness, Transportation, Water, Energy and Businesses. Each section highlights some of the choices we can make to play our part in improving climate resiliency.

Where: The Guide is available online at durham.ca/DEACguide.

Why: The Guide provides readers with general information on the impacts of climate change, how it affects us as residents of Durham Region and offers some suggestions on how we can respond through the choices we make in our homes and in our day-to-day lives.

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

Thank you for everything you are doing to help stop the spread of COVID-19 across our community. Unfortunately, we find ourselves at a very critical time during this third state of emergency and provincial Stay-at-Home Order.

Now, more than ever, we depend on a shared commitment to the provincial directives to get control of this virus.

Our hospitals are experiencing extreme pressure on critical care capacity. We are witnessing the highest case counts of COVID-19 in Ontario, widespread community transmission of the virus, and more critical care admissions than at any point during the pandemic. Closer to home, at Lakeridge Health, critical care and medical admissions in Durham Region are higher than at any point in Wave 1 or 2. Alarmingly, these admissions continue to rise.

But despite the strain of the pandemic, we are finding solutions. Our staff and physicians – who are also parents, partners, siblings, sons and daughters – show up every day to provide high quality and safe care with compassion and kindness. As a system, Ontario hospitals are working together to share resources and transfer patients between facilities, when required. Additionally, we are working with our local health partners to get as many Durham Region residents vaccinated as quickly as possible.

Ensuring our ability to provide Urgent and Emergency Care

The pandemic situation is evolving quickly, and Lakeridge Health is making real-time decisions to ensure the safety of patients, families, and staff.

At this time, emergency surgeries will continue, as well as prioritized non-emergency and time-sensitive surgeries, such as cancer surgeries. But we are curtailing all non-urgent and non-emergency services to protect our ability to provide urgent and emergency care. This ramp down also includes services such as X-rays, bloodwork, rehabilitation, and other outpatient procedures.

In doing so, we are creating more capacity in our hospitals – space and staff to serve the patients we currently have and those we expect to see in the weeks ahead.

We know the ramp down of non-urgent and non-emergency services will be disruptive for many people. However, we are assessing our capacity needs daily and are hopeful we can resume these services soon.

Book your Vaccine Appointment

The provincial Stay-At-Home Order requires everyone to stay at home except for essential purposes – trips to the grocery store or pharmacy, going to health care appointments, exercising outside, and going to school or work that cannot be done remotely. We urge you to follow these instructions.

We also ask that you receive the vaccine when eligible. Getting vaccinated is crucial to fighting this pandemic. For more information about who is eligible and how to book a vaccine appointment, visit durham.ca/vaccineappointment. More vaccine information can be found at durham.ca/covidvaccines.

Book a COVID-19 Test if Symptomatic

If there is a chance you have been exposed to COVID-19, please get tested without delay. If you or anyone in your household feels unwell, we urge you to immediately book a COVID-19 test at Covidswab.lh.ca.

Delaying a COVID-19 test increases the risk of unknowingly spreading the virus. Once you book your appointment, please isolate until you have your result. Again, you may inadvertently spread the virus before knowing your test results. Testing is easy, quick, and there are many testing locations in Durham to choose from – check locations at www.lh.ca.

Do not let your guard down

Please continue to follow public health guidelines, including consistently washing your hands, wearing a mask when outside your household, and practicing physical distancing. Together, our efforts made a difference during the earlier waves of the pandemic when we were successful in bending the curve.

We are counting on you and we know we can do it again!

Your actions and decisions over the next four weeks during the Stay-at-Home Order are critical and will directly impact the health of our community.

Thank you for listening and more importantly, for taking action. Lakeridge Health is working around the clock to save lives, offer comfort, and keep our community healthy and safe. Please support us by doing your part.

Best regards,

Cynthis Davis
President & CEO

Dr. Tony Stone
Chief of Staff

The Region of Durham will conduct its spring test of the nuclear alerting system on May 3 and 4. The system warns people in the unlikely event of an emergency at the nuclear generating stations in Clarington or Pickering.

The test will take place during daytime hours over two days:

On May 3, an auto dialer will call listed landline phone numbers within 10 kilometres of the nuclear generating stations. The calls will show as coming from 905-666-6291.

On May 4, the outdoor sirens will sound for up to one minute. The sirens are within three kilometres of the stations and will be heard by people who are outdoors and in that area.

Cell phone, radio and TV alerts will be tested by the Province of Ontario on May 5.

Learn how you will be alerted by looking up your address at durham.ca/AlertMap.

This is just a test, and you don’t need to do anything if you get an alert. In a real emergency, hearing the sirens means you should go indoors and tune into local media outlets or official government channels for instructions.

The next test is scheduled for fall 2021.

For more information, visit durham.ca/NuclearPreparedness, or call the nuclear alerting information line at 1-866-551-5373.

The Municipality is proposing to close and sell Given Road in Newcastle.  The portion of the road runs west of Rudell Road and north of King Ave. West in Newcastle.  The road will be sold to the adjacent property owners and the develop of the property.  The land will be redeveloped are part of the subdivision planned for the area.  ie. Where the trees have all be cut along King Ave across from the fire hall.

Virtual Public Meeting scheduled for Monday, March 29 at 7 PM via Clarington.net/calendar

To participate, register via clarington.net/delegations