zorra-now-spring 2024-web

2 Zorra Now | Spring 2024 Zorra Now | Spring 2024 3 2 Message from the Mayor 4 Township Department Information 10 Zorra Municipal & Child Care Centre 15 Zorra Multi-Use Committee Message from the Mayor The new Zorra Municipal Centre is opening this spring! The new office will accommodate staff, comply with accessibility laws, reduce energy consumption and costs, and provide an 88 space licensed childcare to support local families and businesses. Please watch for an open house and drop in and say hi! There are also some big changes to the staff leadership at Zorra Township. While sad to see long time Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Don MacLeod retire later in 2024 (more on that as the day approaches…), I am very happy to announce that the current Director of Finance, Diane Larder, has been selected as the Township’s new CAO. Given the chance to go through a recruitment process or promote Diane, in the end, it was clear that Diane was the best decision for Zorra. Since joining Zorra Township in 2021, Diane has shown commitment and a strong focus on inspiring service excellence, innovation, collaboration, and workplace cultural development. Additionally, there is an organizational restructuring. The Township of Zorra will see In this issue... 20 Township Contacts 21 Community Contacts 23 Township Community Information the number of municipal departments reduced from six to two. This is a proactive step to prepare Zorra for the challenges facing municipal government as fiscal pressures mount on local governments. We are continuing to deliver services while finding efficiencies and opportunities in how we manage new roles and responsibilities. We're respecting the hard-earned dollars of our residents by streamlining operations and setting ourselves up to foster a collaborative and positive open-for-business approach. Under the organizational restructuring, Public Works and Recreation will now fall under the Public Services Department. The Corporate and Protective Services Department will encompass Building/Drainage/By- law Enforcement, Fire & Emergency Services, Finance and Legislative Services. And there are many new faces in the organization from Fire, to Recreation, to Public Works. There is an exciting new team developing to deliver the services Zorra residents depend on. See the website for the full press release. As always, feel free to contact me on any issue: Marcus Ryan Mayor, Zorra Township (and Warden, Oxford County) email: mryan@zorra.ca Phone: 1.519.425.2338 Zorra Now Magazine is published electronically and paper copies are available at all Township Facilities. If you have any questions or comments or would like to advertise in the magazine, please contact: Karen Martin, Director of Corporate Services/Clerk Township of Zorra 274620 27th Line, P.O. Box 306 Ingersoll, ON N5C 3K5 Ph. 519-485-2490 ext. 7228 Toll Free 1-888-699-3868 kmartin@zorra.ca www.zorra.ca Rural Engagement Survey: Help shape the future of Oxford County Library’s rural branches by completing our Rural Community Engagement Survey! Your answers will help us understand how well the library is doing and what we can do to make it even better for you. By taking part, you’ll have a chance to win one of five $40 gift cards to a local shop or restaurant of your choice! This survey is for users of our rural library branches only including Brownsville, Burgessville, Embro, Harrington, Innerkip, Mount Elgin, Norwich, Otterville, Plattsville, Princeton, Tavistock and Thamesford. To complete the survey, scan the QR code or visit www.speakup.oxfordcounty.ca/rural-branches. Oxford Reads: Our 2024 Shortlist titles will soon be announced! Stay tuned to www.oxfordreads.ca for this year’s shortlist and details on how you can vote for our 2024 Oxford Read. New multi-language picture book collection: We have added over 60 Arabic and Ukrainian language picture books to our collection. You can find all of these titles in our online catalogue and place a hold to pick up at your local branch. This collection was funded by the Peg Caffyn Estate. Summer Reading Club: Don’t forget our Summer Reading Club starts in June. All library branches will feature special performers, crafts, and other activities all summer long. Kitchen Library: Need a speciality kitchen item to try a new meal? From small appliances to handheld kitchen gadgets, to any kind of cookie cutter you can imagine! Find it in our Kitchen Library collection on our website. For up-to-date library information and hours call your local branch or visit DISCOVER YOUR OXFORD COUNTY LIBRARY For up-to-date library information and hours, call your local branch or visit www.ocl.net If you would like to receive future issues of Zorra Now by email, send an email to admin@zorra.ca to get added to our list! Hard copies will also be available at our local libraries and arenas. COMMUNITY EVENTS & SERVICES MAGAZINE COMMUNITY EVENTS & SERVICES MAGAZINE 162 Dundas St., Thamesford 519-679-5440 / 1-888-734 8888 www.mcfarlanrowlands.com Let us test drive your insurance options.