2023 Community Impact

2023 was a big year for The Meeting Place, and we’re excited about all that we have been able to offer to the community. After taking stock of all that took place, we’re taking a moment to share last year’s highlights and acknowledge those who supported us in making them happen.

 

In 2023:

-We distributed nearly 1,000 Good to Go meal kits, 30% of them were free to families whose ability to access nutritious food is limited by finances.

-We expanded the Tobermory Community Park infrastructure by raising capital funds to build a covered pavilion for events.

-We had our highest level of participation in the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. Our treasurer completed over 100 people’s taxes at no cost to help ensure they would get a timely tax return and avoid interruptions in receiving government benefits. 

-We partnered with Public Health on community harm reduction response to substance use, leading to the availability of Naloxone kits upon community request.

-We are now a satellite location for the Lion’s Head Good Food Box, thanks to a recent partnership. This enables us to bring affordable monthly produce boxes to our northern population. 

-We started a Community Learning Garden program that provides free space, supplies and guidance to teach people how to grow food.

-We completed our Housing Initiative Project, working with property owners to complete renovations of 4 long-term accommodation rental homes. 

-We raised funds for and completed a feasibility study for an E-bike social enterprise project.

-We resumed the ever popular SOAR Afterschool Program for Kindergarten to Grade 3 students

-We participated in the Tamarack Climate Transitions program to prepare our organization to support climate actions in the community.

-We hosted our annual spring concert fundraiser which was enjoyed by the community and supported by many businesses across the Peninsula.

 

Thanks so much to all of our funders and volunteers who helped make this happen!

TMP Annual Fundraising Concert May 13th 2023: The MacKenzie Blues Band is coming to Tobermory

The Meeting Place Tobermory is excited to announce this year’s fundraising concert featuring The MacKenzie Blues Band.

The MacKenzie Blues Band’s live performances encourage the audience to let loose, have fun and enjoy wild electric rockin’ blues, or gritty rootsy unplugged acoustic shows. “Awesome vocals, incredible guitar playing, solid rhythm section and inspired songwriting -The MacKenzie Blues Band successfully touches all the bases…. a band that grabs you out of your seat and wraps itself around you!” (Rick Clark, Lighthouse Blues Festival). In-demand at venues and festivals across the province and beyond, The MacKenzie Blues Band takes the audience to a place where honesty, positivity and joy are on the menu, and to share in a common love for blues music. Founded in 2012, so far releasing Back Road Revelation and Slam Bam! Both to critical acclaim. Check out their music at https://www.themackenziebluesband.com/

Tickets available soon, for more information reach out to The Meeting Place Tobermory at 519-596-2313 or info@tobermorymeetingplace.com

Live Music is Back at The Meeting Place Tobermory

We are happy to welcome back Community Open Mic nights at The Meeting Place. We have had a few very successful evenings so far, and look forward to many more.

Open Mic generally takes place the second Tuesday of the month from 7-9pm.

Long-term Landlord Housing Initiative Update and Charter

The Meeting Place is happy to announce we have selected an Advisory Group for the Long-term Landlord Housing Initiative. Tanis Henderson, Mike Brown, Dominik Franken, and Karen Phillips will be joining Noreen Steinacher and project manager Karla Trudgen to plan and execute the initiative. We have moved into the Project Definition and Planning stage and plan to open applications to landlords for funding in August 2022. Please reach out to housing@tobermorymeetingplace.com with any inquiries.   

LLHI-Charter-1Download

SPARK Housing Initiative: New Funding for Project to Address Housing Stock

In early March The Meeting Place in Tobermory received confirmation from Bruce County that it will receive $110,000.00 in funding for the Long-term Landlord Housing Initiative, a project that emerged out of the Seasonal Workers & Entrepreneurs Spark Ideas (SPARK) working groups that met over the winter of 2019/2020.

A two-phase investigation was conducted in 2021 resulting in two reports which clearly articulated next steps and underpinned the present application to Bruce County. The current funding will take the project into pilot phase. The pilot phase will include the Landlord SPARK Funding Continued from page 1 development of criteria and mechanisms to provide grants for long-term landlord applicants seeing to upgrade or retrofit properties for conversion to the long-term rental market. The pilot will also look at key components of the landlord-tenant relationship and supports that might be developed to foster long-term satisfaction for both parties. A small community advisory group will work with a representative of The Meeting Place Board and a part-time project manager. A further aspect of the new phase of work will be a community information campaign which will begin to roll out within the next month.

Feel free to reach out to info@tobermorymeetingplace.com with any questions or comments, and stay tuned as we roll out this exciting new project.

SPARK Housing Initiative – Phase Two: Problems with Solutions

The Spark Housing Initiative of The Meeting Place Tobermory has undertaken further investigation into the potential for increasing long-term rental housing in the community. This second phase of the housing project explores possible incentives that might motivate landlords to enter the long-term rental market. With a deeper understanding of the positive influence, The Meeting Place hopes to launch a long-term landlord recruitment campaign.

The key points to emerge that could form the basis of a long-term landlord recruitment campaign included the benefits of a stable and growing population to retain and increase services and infrastructure, as well as a healthy social life. It was also agreed that long-term rentals are beneficial for creating a pathway for new community members to transition into long-term community members.

Read the report here:

Spark-Phase-2-Summary-_-Report-1-1Download

NP CoWork Up Date

NP CoWork Returns to The Northern Bruce Peninsula and expands to Tobermory

Northern Peninsula CoWork creates opportunities for working and living well on the Bruce Peninsula. In addition to the Lion’s Head location at the historic town hall, you can now visit NP CoWork here at The Meeting Place in Tobermory.

NPCoWork is offering CoWork space Tuesday through Thursday 10 am – 4 pm on the Northern Bruce Peninsula. Visit the original location Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Lion’s Head’s historic town hall (circa 1870). With a raised stage,  a balcony, a bar and our good friends from the Rotary Club, they’ve got a desk for you. The second location is at The Meeting Place in Tobermory on Thursdays. Relax on their comfy couches and chairs, or for more privacy book our private office or board room. At both locations you can grab a tea or a coffee, take a seat, connect to reliable WIFI and work among friends and collaborators.

If you would like to learn more about NP CoWork @ TMP, reach out at 519-596-2313 or email info@tobermorymeetingplace.com.

Bruce County Housing Support Programs

Bruce County offers a number of housing support programs and services through the Housing Services Division. The Meeting Place is offering application support to make these programs more accessible for those who are struggling with housing security on the Northern Bruce Peninsula. We can provide assistance with the following applications:

The Housing Stability Fund: Provides assistance with rent and utility arrears, first or last month’s rent, and moving expenses.

The Rent Supplement Program: Offers eligible individuals or households a rent supplement or subsidy while they are living in privately owned buildings. The rent supplement or subsidy is paid directly to the landlord. The subsidy is based on the household income and program guidelines which vary by funding streams.

Bruce County Housing Applications: For placement on a waitlist for Bruce County Housing Corporation units, non-profit units, and private rent supplement.

For more information or assistance with applications, reach out to The Meeting Place for an appointment with our Community Coordinator at 519-596-2313 or email info@tobermorymeetingplace.com