Town Highlights - September 2026 Edition

Residents of Wasaga Beach,

As we approach the end of this term of Council, it is a good opportunity to reflect on how much has changed in our community over the past four years — and on the work that happens behind the scenes to turn priorities into results.

At the beginning of this term, Council established 84 strategic priorities based on what residents said mattered to them. Today, 100 per cent of those priorities are complete, ongoing or underway.

That is an important milestone for our organization, and one I am very proud of.

Council sets the direction, but it takes people across the organization to move that work forward. Behind every funding announcement, construction project, partnership and service improvement are staff developing plans, preparing budgets and business cases, working with other levels of government, solving problems and keeping projects moving.

We have seen the results of that work throughout this term.

Construction is underway on Wasaga Beach’s first high schools, creating more than 2,100 student spaces in our community. The new K–12 Catholic School and Community Hub will also include childcare, a community theatre, track and field facilities and opportunities for post-secondary learning.

We have worked to bring healthcare closer to home by reopening the medical clinic and after-hours clinic, recruiting three new family physicians and supporting expanded access to primary care.

A new 288-bed peopleCare long-term care home is moving forward, while the reconstruction of Beach Drive is creating a more climate-resilient waterfront and putting the infrastructure in place to support future investment and development.

We have also welcomed major private investment, including Costco, a Marriott hotel along Beach Drive, and more.

At the same time, we have continued investing in parks, trails, roads, sidewalks, recreation programs and community facilities.

Since 2023, approximately $506 million in major public and private investment has been committed to projects in Wasaga Beach. Those investments are expected to support more than 1,700 jobs. That’s record breaking in this community.

Investment at that scale does not happen by accident. It reflects four years of planning, strong business cases, strategic partnerships and an organization that is ready to act when opportunities emerge.

That same approach is helping shape the next chapter for Wasaga Beach through Destination Wasaga.

The Destination Wasaga Master Plan is creating a clear, long-term vision for this community’s waterfront and downtown — one that protects the beach and natural environment, improves public spaces, strengthens our tourism economy and creates greater certainty for future investment.

We are already seeing what that kind of planning can generate.

Earlier this year, the Town went to market to explore interest in a potential signature aerial attraction. That process has since led to a Letter of Intent with Doppelmayr Canada to explore potential gondola and aerial transportation opportunities, along with discussions with Ecotrek about nature-based attractions.

These are still early conversations, and no gondola, route or attraction has been approved. But the interest itself is important. When a community has a clear vision for its future, it gives potential partners and investors confidence to take a closer look.

That is the kind of momentum we want to carry forward.

At the same time, big projects and major announcements are only part of the story.

Every day, Town employees are delivering the services residents count on.

They plow and maintain our roads, operate water and wastewater infrastructure, inspect buildings, review planning applications, care for parks, trails, beaches and facilities, deliver recreation programs and community events, respond to fire emergencies, enforce municipal by-laws, issue permits and answer questions from residents.

Behind those frontline services are employees managing our finances, technology, communications, workforce and day-to-day operations.

And all of that work has continued while staff have taken on some of the largest and most complex projects in Wasaga Beach’s history.

That is what I am most proud of.

As CAO, I get to see how much work goes into the things residents see — and how much goes into the things they may never see. I see staff working across departments, finding solutions, adapting to new challenges and stepping up when something needs to get done.

So, as we mark the progress made on all 84 Term of Council priorities, I want to thank our staff for the role they have played in getting us here.

There is a lot to be proud of when we look back over the past four years, but our focus is also on what comes next.

There are new schools to open, Beach Drive to complete, new healthcare and long-term care services to welcome, businesses and investment coming to town, and a Destination Wasaga vision that we will need to turn into action.

While we prepare for a new season, staff remain laser-focused on the fundamentals: delivering good service, managing public resources responsibly, planning for growth, and supporting decisions that will serve Wasaga Beach well over the long term.

Andrew McNeill
Chief Administrative Officer

View the full September 2026 Edition - Town Highlights newsletter