Port Carling G8 Signage

Before G8

After G8 Funding

G8 spending was ridiculous

All of us, living in Muskoka at the time, were shocked with the money spent. It was embarrassing, to say the least. Huntsville got a fine building, and the upgrades were incredible.
The fence was the most ridiculous thing ever!
Local folks thought it amusing.
Fencing around the mailboxes, with a pathway leading down to the lake!

Sign before

This being Tony Clement's riding, there was some skepticism.
Mind you, Parry Sound didn't get too much, as the G8 was in Muskoka. Their signage remained the same.

New Bala sign during construction

The Star reports:
Federal cash flows into Parry Sound-Muskoka

Among the non-G8 projects listed in government records:

• $5.2 million for dorms for the Bracebridge campus of Nipissing University.

• $184,000 to put a museum and art gallery in the former South River train station.

• $6.1 million for a civic centre and swim facility in Gravenhurst.

• $500,000 to Niigon Technologies to improve energy efficiency in its manufacturing.

• $100,000 for the Muskoka Community Network to launch a broadband project for E-business and marketing.

• $1.4 million for a bridge in Kearney.

• $22,500 for the village of Sundridge to develop an economic plan.

• $22,500 for a wastewater improvement study in Britt.

• $833,333 to replace a bridge in Burk’s Falls.

• $110,000 for “rehabilitation” of Bracebridge.

• $1.3 million to expand the Parry Sound campus of Canadore College.

• $2.1 million for a fire hall, a sports park and other projects in Huntsville.

North Bay's airport looks like 10 million bucks after getting a huge upgrade in time for the G8 summit. Just one problem: No world leaders will land there.
The Gravenhurst airport had a lot of people and equipment, this is where everyone landed, rather than the airport farther north!

Hidden Valley had a whole fence around it.

Where the money went: The G8 Legacy Infrastructure Funding great 'infographic' from The Globe

 

The signage was the most amazing part.

Muskoka Lakes G8 signage project!

Then the fencing around Huntsville, when people didn't even come up from Toronto to protest, since they were waiting for the G20 in Toronto.
Even the press weren't allowed up into Huntsville.
It was a non-event. And so, after all this redone signage, it wasn't necessary.

The fencing was laughable.

Muskoka Airport flying high

There is excitement everywhere!
Buff boys, not in black, jogging in the morning. RCMP & OPP EVERYWHERE!

We drove to the airport looking for the moving agency, and found only bizarre gear. One couple, walking their lab beside the airport road, had an OPP stop behind them with all lights flashing.

Then, in the field, very strange equipment. Lots of tents and boys and their toys and men in uniform!


The big black helicopters are really incredible, since I'm not at the lake hoping for peace and quiet. I captured one on video, towards the end.

Isn't this contraption kewl???
One dare not venture fare, with limos and escort vehicles hither and yon!

Even saw a perfect vanity plate...
Hubby went to visit a store along the airport road yesterday. As if. Long lines of traffic, black limos with darkened windows along the airport road.

Hubby won't let me get near the place. Spoilsport! We both have security checks. Me- as I volunteer at the penitentiary. Brian was the security manager for the airline from which he is retired.

Meantime, the planes are awfully loud overhead!
FLight plans are mandatory this week. No surprise. There is an 80 km no fly zone.

Nancy writes,  They're Here... and Here's to Them! with a photo of the big, brawny, boys in black (or blue?). Of course they are men and women, but that doesn't alliterate.

Huntsville, G8 & Deerhurst

Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville ready to welcome G8 leaders for June 25-26 summit

Barack Obama, Stephen Harper and the other G8 leaders will arrive at Deerhurst Resort for the June 25-26 summit in Huntsville.

The above is a fabulous Toronto Star article highlighting Deerhurst Resort. (Who's making a buck off of our taxes?!) They are closing for 2 weeks for the duration. Now, me and my retired hubby, on fixed income, cannot afford to visit Deerhurst. We went to Taboo for a glass of wine (me) and a cup of specialty coffee (him) and it set us back $25 and that was about two years ago!

Deerhurst Resort will only offer food to G8 summit leaders that’s photo-op safe, 24/7

This lovely little Hidden Valley ski hill is totally surrounded by fencing. What a hoot!

We are getting great coverage in Muskoka for the G8. Unfortunately, there is little benefit for many and a huge benefit for some. (Fowler, who put in the $3.9 million fencing!)

The wildlife have enough issues with cars and being victims of roadkill, with fencing.

Locals are going to have to bring in groceries and forget small things like getting mail, renewing car licences, going to the bank.


Agencies and businesses have been meeting with the G8 team to determine an understanding of what they need, and to determine the protocols. Medical staff, Family health practitioners, EMS crews, those who work in homes, VON, visiting caregivers, hospice volunteers, -- all will be affected.

 Elementary school busses are cancelled, but students can be driven in if parents can manage that! Of course, I'm sure the teachers have to navigate OPP ans security perimeters to get into the shcool!


Who else will be affected? 
Local municipalities and our local volunteer firefighters...
Moose FM reports that money has come out of its meagre budget to be on standby.

Watch the movie,  filmed at Deerhurst: G8 in Huntsville - The Summit to get a good idea of what it could be like. Filmed in 2007 up here in Muskoka, you will see familiar scenery, as well as Deerhurst Resort. It shows all that can go wrong, of course. 

The Huntsville Mayor and Tony Clement (Local MP) are having a field day with all of this attention. Quite a coo to have the funding to promote and recreate Muskoka! The Huntsville G8 website is filled with info for local residents.

Sanjeev Chowdhury assures all that business owners who may be displaced due to the extreme measures for Internationally Protected Persons (IPP) will be recompensed. But what about those on hourly wages and those cancelling clients, for example, in Huntsville and environs?

The Integrated Security Office showed off the OPP equipment that will be on-site just in case. Also, the ISO has a FAQ page for questions!

This video by TVCOGECO shows the equipment and the Town Hall meeting featuring lots of men in uniform (3:38).
" The Integrated Security Unit shows off the tools they will use to protect world leaders and the community during the G8 Summit in Huntsville."

Muskoka G8 souvenirs

 These are our ideas, aided by my clever politico hubby! The way I coped with being caregiver to both my palliative-care parents was having a sense of humour (and anti-depressants!).

The G8 fences are phenomenal and incredibly out of character for the natural beauty of Muskoka.
 Let's laugh at together and hold hands.

Everyone is having fun. One commenter compared it to the infamous artist, Christo, who actually wrapped fences. Let us hope not!

HuntsvilleOnline - The Silver Fence

If the G8 'Fence' had any relationship to a Christo installation maybe the whole G8 exercise might have some redeeming feature.

Hooray for regular Huntsville folks who are putting up with incredible crap for the politicians (municipal and the feds) who are eager to host this summit.

G8 brings trepidation in Huntsville -

 3 Jun 2010 ... “We have a new tourist site; it's the G8 fence.” On Tripp's street, a steady stream of curious locals drives by, straining for a glimpse of...Tor Star

Some business folks are making a bundle, but the profits are restricted: to Deerhurst, Fowler (who installed in the fence), the 1100-member private security firm they hired, et al, as G8 guests will be limited to Deerhurst. Not even spouses will be attending. Those in the immediate proximity will be severely impacted. The rest of Muskoka breathes a sigh of relief, my heart goes out to my friends who will have to hunker down at home!


Hubby suggested T-shirts:

I was in HV and all I saw was a fence.
I decided to photoshop a sample.
I thought a jacket would be best, as Muskoka can be pretty cold at times of the year.


How about a video:
Iggy and Paul Dewar singing
"Don't Fence Me in!"

Bing Crosby - Don't Fence Me In

 Then there are the songs that can be written...

FRED HAMMOND song: - JESUS BE A FENCE

Oh, Lord be a fence around me everyday / Come help me say, Jesus ... Jesus be a fence.
News Report: 

G8 leaders' spouses won't be going to Huntsville (06/04/2010) It appears the G8 Summit at Deerhurst will be a stag affair. Spouses of the G8 leaders won't be going to the exclusive resort in Ontario's cottage country with their mates, The Canadian Press has learned.

 The fences will be a real tourist attraction. No more worrying about road kill. The animals won't get through!

I was shocked when I saw this t-shirt in Bracebridge, but now I'm not so sure it is so shocking!







This t-shirt I photoshopped, with tongue-in-cheek. Wouldn't be too bad!

I remember the last school day of the year at a middle school. One bus returned because one kid threw his yogurt at his friends. We all lined up and waved as the bus finally left the school parking lot.

Many will be glad to see them go!

Of course, we'll need more signage! These young ladies worked the Cranfest Festival. We are used to crowds in Bala, with 25,000 visitors over a few days! It sure changes the character of a town, however.

Local taxes pay for local fire protection

I have written in support of our Muskoka's Volunteer Firefighters. We regularly visit fundraisers, and laud the work they do on land, and in the water. Our firefighters respond to all events from accidents, to drownings, to fires. They also educate the public, and entertain the kids, teaching them about fire safety.
After a protest by local volunteer firefighters, I wrote about our municipal infrastructure here:

Muskoka Lakes Firefighters

The Banner now reports: Firefighters’ concerns being addressed, says CAO Walt Schmid

SOUTH MUSKOKA - A protest by Muskoka Lakes firefighters last month won’t go unanswered, according to township management staff."
and goes on to say that the Township of Muskoka Lakes will spend $3,500 of its hard-won budget, after requests to cut its budget by $10,000, and firefighters protesting their lack of support as volunteers. All of this, of course, to be ready for the G8 Summit.

One would hope that their concerns will be addressed! As a taxpayer, I know that our volunteers, while they drove vehicles to the local municipal office for the protest, they were at the ready, as they always are, to attend to a fire at a moments notice. It would be nice if we had helicopters, in our location!

Then the reporter goes on to ask if the firefighters will face consequences? What crap. These folks are hardworking VOLUNTEERS. They have no recourse, when their volunteer work is being impacted by budget cuts.

I have seen them at work. I have the video to prove it! EMS Rescue Attempt - Bala Falls, Ontario 

Both at local fires and at incidents like the horrible Bala Falls drowings. They were as weary as the full-salaried EMS teams.

Imagine my surprise when Moose FM reports:
Muskoka Lakes Firefighters "At The Ready" During G8
 MooseFM attended yesterday's council meeting, and reports that "councilor Brian Hare suggested the money could be spent on the purchase of fire department bunker suits instead", but others disagreed.

Of course, we'll have to be at the ready. No question. Firefighters will have to be on standby alert in Port Carling during the G8. Lots could go wrong for both locals, tourists and G8 visitors. But why isn't the Federal government undertaking these costs? They are the ones who refuse to allow reasonable tax deductions for our volunteer firefighters. It is part of the cost of tourism, and being prepared. Again, I question the cost of the G8 to Muskoka and its taxpayers.

My world: is horses

What a grand time: riding horses in the summer sun, with the green hills in the background. With 2000' of shoreline, there is a spot to do everything: swim, fish, ride, canoe and play.


We were on our way to Huntsville on Saturday,  and decided to pop in our our friend after our errand was done.

Nancy and Brian run a resort in the Muskoka, steps away from Haliburton Highlands, and Algonquin Park, as well as the infamous Deerhurst, where the G8 will take place.

A great place to grow plants,  including veggies and ornamentals, as long as you create 6' fencing for the critters that similarly inhabit the place! The bears love the tree and falls for their apples.

Having just visited the G8 fencing, I was amused.

They have a green sense of the world, too. They have installed solar panels.

I knew that Nancy and Brian have G8 fencing for the bears, deer, raccoons and numerous other critters who enjoy their gardens.

Nancy has a green thumb, and her gardens are immense.

She knows her chickens, horses and all the critters you'd expect in the region, as well as the larger Central Ontario area, I remember a photo of a fawn that momma had left in Nancy's able care.

Just a hop, skip and a jump from Deerhurst, the G8 summit HQ, she's battening down the hatches for the duration of the G8.

I love her barn, cool in the heat we've been having. Her beautiful garden well-protected by the 6' G8-type fencing.

 Squeegee, the little guy, is a sweetie.

I videotaped her lesson

[Nancy teaches some riders]

I just love her style: funny and fun, with obvious enjoyment of guests, critters, riders and horses!
Visit her blog post, where she shows off her sense of humour, and her seahorses like to do when a lake is near-by! Her blogs are always witty and droll.

Visit more My World Tuesday posts!