FAIRPORT BEACH NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION annual general meeting

I attended the Fairport Beach Neighbourhood Association annual general meeting recently and I was impressed.

Most neighbourhood associations are viewed as being loose gatherings of a bunch of neighbours convening for a coffee clatch about their neighbourhood, probably a vestige of the old-time neighbourhood watch groups. Not the FBNA.

The FAIRPORT BEACH NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION is a sophisticated, well-developed group, residents of the Fairport Beach area located in south Pickering on the shores of Lake Ontario.

The association was established in the early 1900’s and has developed and grown into a sophisticated advanced association of neighbouring residents.

Though their original goals may have been about neighbourhood events and issues, the FBNA has developed into much more today. It integrates itself with its larger municipal community, generously donating time and money to various groups in Pickering from hospital donations to food bank and homeless assistance.

Its long-serving President, Paul White, has been fortunate to have a passionately dedicated and committed group of residents who have served on the FBNA executive board for many years. The FBNA has collaborated with numerous City Councillors on waterfront projects and numerous safety and security improvements enhancing the neighbourhood residential area.

Recently, I was invited to speak to the association about the Internet and digital services available to Pickering residents. The City, amid planned website changes, promotes web use noting that an increasing number of communities and corporations are basing their services on the web and Internet. Soon, it may become the norm for all business and municipal services. I concluded that people who are not using such services now, need to consider learning it and making use of it as it will soon become the standard mode of operation everywhere.

Councillor Maurice Brenner, FBNA Pres. Paul White, FBNA V.P. Phil Warne

Regional Ward 1 Councillor Maurice Brenner
The FBNA annual general meeting also had a presentation by Ward 1-Regional Councillor Maurice Brenner covering many aspects of the City of Pickering. With his excellent recall, the councillor talked knowledgeably about a surprising number of topics. He praised the FBNA as a model for other associations. He continued by explaining about property taxes and the shortfalls impacting such services as Durham Rapid Transit. Brenner expanded with comments about crime and the Durham Police Services. Again more money is needed, to modernize and develop the police services. He talked about traffic safety and speeding problems on residential streets and how the FBNA helped fund its speed control street devices. Brenner talked about city community well-being services dealing with the homeless and the food shortage stressed drawing attention to the unique community service known as DARS. Casino revenues explanation brought Brenner to his conclusion: very high praise for the FBNA and how it could be a model to all other neighbourhood associations in Pickering.

A personal comment
Attending the FBNA AGM was an eye-opening moment: I have been exposed to talks by Councillor Brenner at various functions from Town Halls to neighbourhood gatherings. He is a surprising fount of information recalling an amazing number of details about the City. The problem is residents of Pickering do not hear him, do not see his valuable and informative presentations and explanations. The same can be said about other City Councillors and even the Mayor who recently held a coffee house information session. Sadly, too few Pickering residents attend these information opportunities. The City and its Councillors are not to blame for the poor turnouts at these information sessions. What is disappointing is that Pickering resident are not getting the information, information that would demonstrate to them the dynamic and exciting development of their city. Pickering is much more than a bed-room community. Hopefully, the new city website and the encouragement of web use by more residents may change this situation soon.