Ella Lestche is the founder of the New Junior Optimist Club of Uxbridge. She joined Jomar for the morning Jo to talk about some of the exciting plans the club has coming up. “Our meetings run from 4 to 5 o’clock and within that time period we discuss ‘how can we improve Uxbridge, how can we (have) a direct impact into our community, how can we serve Youth and how can we just make Uxbridge a better place with youth at the forefront. Like a community garden, a garden that could grow various vegetables and then how can we take that harvest and those proceeds and maybe can we give them to the food bank or how could we distribute our growings into the community and how can we (make and) impact with something as simple as growing some plants?” The Junior Optimists Club meets monthly and accepts members from grade 5-8.

The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation says its memorandum of understanding with the City of Pickering does not mean it supports development in northeast Pickering. The First Nation says it continues to oppose the proposed secondary plan because of concerns about consultation, provincial planning rules, cumulative impacts and potential effects on Aboriginal and treaty rights. Discussions with the city are ongoing, but MSIFN says no agreement has been finalized and its position on the plan remains unchanged.

Uxbridge’s older adults will soon have a new place to stay active and connected, following the announcement of a Seniors Active Living Centre at the Sandford Community Centre. The new Ux55+ program will receive $41,250 in annual funding and offer opportunities for residents aged 55 and over to take part in activities focused on fitness, wellness and social connection. The announcement was made by Uxbridge Council alongside MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy and Minister Raymond Cho.