Ilderton Villager
and area
March 2025 Issue 43
Message from the Mayor Hello everyone, We have had some big news at the municipal office!
Celebrating Local Women In Business
Last summer, Council directed staff to apply for funding from a new program offered by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Cor- poration (CMHC) as part of the Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy. The CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) is a $4-billion fund de- signed to help local governments across Canada increase all types of housing supply in their communities. After the first unsuccessful bid, staff applied to Round 2 last fall. We are excited to announce that our second application to the CMHC was successful and that Middlesex Centre (MXC) will have access to $4.25 million from the HAF. In order to qualify for HAF funding, staff prepared an action plan identifying initiatives to reduce barriers and support growth. For example, the MXC plan identified opportunities to
Aina DeViet, Mayor 519.666.0190 x 5234 deviet@middlesexcentre.ca www.middlesexcentre.ca
Photo identifications are on this page. See pages 10 to 13 for more details. Ilderton and Area Villager Issue #43 March 2025 Your local community connector The 100% locally owned and produced Ilderton and Area Villager is published ten times a year with thousands delivered free to area residences, set out at local venues, and posted online at www.villagerpublications.com Publisher: Barb Botten P.O. Box 134, Lambeth Station Ontario N6P 1P9 Barb@villagerpublications.com 519-282-7262 Managing Editor & Advertising: Tami Martin Tami@villagerpublications.com 519-851-0961 All articles written by Tami Martin unless otherwise noted. Graphic Artist: Cathy Wood Copyright @ 2015 Villager Publications. All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Publisher. Information presented has been compiled from sources believed to be accurate at the time of printing however the Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.
speed up processes and timelines, increase density, and encourage affordable housing units. After the first payment comes on March 31, subsequent payments are dependent upon results. Specifically, we need to demonstrate progress on the action plan for the second and third installments, and achieving the housing target is required for the final payment. At the February 12th Council meeting, staff reviewed the initiatives in the application plan that will support our commitment to creating hundreds of new housing units in the next four years. These initiatives include, for example, “Design and Implementation Guidelines for Additional Residential Units (ARU),” “Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP),” and “Increased Process Efficiency through E-permitting and Other Digital Tools.” If you’d like to learn more about HAF, information is available online on the National Housing Strategy: A Place to Call Home (www.placetocallhome.ca) and the CMHC website (www.cmhc-schl. gc.ca/nhs), as well as the CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund staff report presented at the February 12 Council Meeting (www.middlesexcentre.ca/council-meetings). MXC is a growing community and we need to meet the housing needs of all our residents – everyone from young families looking for their first home to long-time residents who wish to stay in the community but want to downsize. Additional Residential Units, either within existing residences or as detached structures and conversion of non-residential buildings to residential use, are just two examples of initiatives that may be used to increase and diversify housing options. As a reminder, if you’re looking for things to do for March Break, check the MXC web page for information on skating and other activities. Spring is just around the corner now, and I think we are all looking forward to a change of seasons after a snowier and colder winter than we’ve experienced in recent years! Enjoy the ever-lengthening days … International Women’s Day March 8th March 8th is International Women’s Day, celebrating women’s global, social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. In this edition of the Ilderton and Area Villager, we have highlighted a few of the amazing local Women in Business who are making a difference. The faces on the cover of this issue, from left to right, are: Anza Arif – Suni’s Convenience; Bonnie Baker Hodgins – Sutton Group Select Realty; Cindy Viner – Community Futures Middlesex; Dr. Christina Douthwaite – Ilderton Pet Hospital; Dr. Kim Anderka – Ilderton Pet Hospital; Gale Costello – Bundles Creative Studios; Hana & Kate Vu – H2 Beauty Nails Salon; Isa Webb – The Bloomin Bog; Janan McNaughton – Proof Line Farm; Jenn Cartwright – Slate Design Co.; Julia Schmidt – Breakwater Accounting; Julie Croker – The Little’s Lucan; Kathy Nixey – Floral Temptations; Katlin Sumner – Fernhill Floral & Design Co.; Kelly Hefford – Sweet Pea Yoga & Wellness; Kelsey Vandewetering – 4 Pizza Sake; Kendra Bloomfield – Bloomers Family Farm; Kristina Courey – New Moon Community Homestead; Lisa Spicer – Sunshine Cake Studio; Mandy Armitage – Little Off The Top; Marilyn Moore – This Oak House; Shannon Lupa-Waite – Dog Daze Pack Plays; Shauna Keene – Lace Boutique; Tami Martin – Villager Publications; Tara McKenzie – MutualONE Insurance Company and Vivian Crump – The Crump Family Farm. Deirdre O’Connor – Rhythm ‘n’ Box Studio; Shannon Lupa-Waite – Dog Daze Pack Plays.
We’d love to hear from you. Cover photo and article suggestions welcome! Contact Tami at Tami@villagerpublications.com
Page 4 Ilderton and Area Villager • March 2025
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