Current Committees of Council

The Town of Parry Sound is committed to community involvement and provides the opportunity for residents and ratepayers to take part in a variety of Committees of Council. The following are Committees that report to and/or are under the sole authority of the Town of Parry Sound subject to applicable legislation. There are also joint municipal Boards, Committees and Commissions which include representatives from other municipalities including Parry Sound.

Individuals interested in applying to be a member of a Committee(s) are encouraged to complete the application form and submit to Clerk Rebecca Johnson at rjohnson@parrysound.ca. Appointments are typically made for the duration of a 4-year term of Council or to fill a vacancy for the remainder of Council term. 

Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Accessibility Advisory Committee provides feasible and actionable advice to Council on preventing and eliminating barriers to persons with disabilities with respect to access to municipal programs, services, initiatives and facilities, and has an awareness & knowledge of AODA, disability and accessibility issues. Meetings are quarterly.

The Committee meets quarterly and is constituted under these Terms of Reference approved February 4, 2020.

Appeals & Adjudication Committee for: Fence Viewing; Property Standards

Fence Viewers are empowered to settle disputes between two or more neighbours regarding the need for, type of, and cost sharing for installation and ongoing repair or maintenance of an existing property line fence.

Settlement of property boundary and/or title disputes is not the role of Fence Viewers. Fence Viewers meet only when a written request for a fence viewing is filed with the Clerk, or designate.  For more information and forms, please see the Guide to the Line Fences Act.

The Property Standards Committee hears appeals from persons who have been issued a Property Standards Order by the By-law Department of the Town of Parry Sound to repair, clean-up, etc. their property

Members meet on an as-needs basis to deal with either a fence viewing or property standards issue, historically on average 2-4 times over a 4-year term.

Awards Advisory Council for: Order of Parry Sound and others

The Awards Advisory Council recommends the annual recipient for the Order of Parry Sound, the Town’s highest honour for achievement under the motto: They Desire a Better Community. The scope of work of the Council may be expanded to consider other awards. 

Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Exhibition Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee

The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Exhibition Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee is constituted under these Terms of Reference approved November 16, 2021.

Civic Scholarship Committee

With its first award given in 2017, the Civic Scholarship Committee composed of two members of Council and the Chief Administrative Officer, oversees an annual $500 scholarship to a student selected from applicants who meet the eligibility criteria. Watch for details provided in spring, 2023 for the next application intake.  

Committee of Adjustment

The Committee of Adjustment is empowered under the Planning Act to grant Minor Variances, determining if a minor variance application is desirable/appropriate, and if the general intent and purpose of the Zoning Bylaw and the Official Plan is maintained. Five lay members and two members of Council are appointed to the committee.

Community Emergency Planning Committee

This committee provides advice to Council regarding emergency planning issues for the Town of Parry Sound. It ensures that the Emergency Plan remains current, develops training plans, conducts and reviews exercises, reviews the EOS operations and oversees the community awareness plan.

Parry Sound Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee

The Town of Parry Sound is the designated delivery agent for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for the District of Parry Sound. The Advisory Committee's objective is to identify, resolve and convey issues and concerns regarding the District EMS System. It also provides advice on the operation and facilitates improvements to the EMS to meet the needs of the citizens of the District of Parry Sound through their advisory capacity to Council for the Town of Parry Sound.

Parry Sound Downtown Business Association

The PSDBA is responsible for the improvement, beautification, maintenance of municipally owned land, buildings and structures in the downtown improvement area set out in By-law 2013-6238, Schedule "A", beyond such improvement, beautification and maintenance as is provided at the expense of the municipality at large. It is also charged with the full promotion of the downtown improvement area as a business and/or shopping area.

For more information, visit the Parry Sound Downtown Business Association website.

Provincial Offences Advisory Committee

The Town of Parry Sound provides administration, court support and prosecution related to proceedings commenced under the Provincial Offences Act (POA) through an Inter-municipal Service Agreement with the Ministry of the Attorney General on behalf of all the member municipalities. 

Waterfront Advisory Committee

The role of the Waterfront Advisory Committee is to be proactive and provide advice to Council regarding the waterfront, including  environmental stewardship, education, beautification, and opportunities to enhance the waterfront as a people gathering place.

The Committee meets quarterly and is constituted under these Terms of Reference updated February 20, 2024.