Is it time to offer the beach life to Callander’s canines?
Percipient pooches perked their ears to hear Callander resident Maurice Malette’s presentation before the municipal council. His mission was simple. Currently, no dogs are allowed on the beach. He wants that by-law changed so that his dog – and other neighbour dogs – can use the beach.
Specifically, he wants dog access to the beach just North of Memory Tree Park.
“A few people agree with me,” he noted, referring to his petition, signed by 107 residents.
"We’re starting to see the need to consider dog-friendly zones” in the community, Councillor Mike Dell said. “I think we need to think about where this happens, specific areas” where dogs are welcome.
See: Woman and her pet dog clean Nipissing shoreline using Sea-Doo
Councillor Jordy Carr clarified that the place Malette is referring to, “isn’t actually a beach, it’s a lake access,” adding that dogs are allowed at lake access points, but “not on the public beaches.” With that, she questioned why this matter of lake access was even an issue.
However, Malette’s presentation opened the conversation about where dogs are welcome. Councillor Dell mentioned, “This is a good time to solidify how we want people to use these spaces,” with their dogs, to avoid any further confusion.
“Now that it’s come up,” he said, “We can figure these things out” for the future.
Council agreed the time was right, and Mayor Robb Noon read a motion to direct staff to prepare a report “to review and clarify the Parks By-law concerning dogs in Municipal parks and beaches.”
Council also added lake accesses to that list. The report will return to council, which will discuss the future of designated spaces for our canine friends – and consider possible beach access as well.
So don’t buy your dog that beach towel just yet.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
