Pat Warren on change in Kawartha Lakes: growth, challenges, and a vision for the future

This is the first in an anticipated eight-part series where Kawartha Lakes Weekly is sitting down with councillors from all eight wards about the issues most important to their residents.

Pat Warren has been on and off city council for the last 20 years and through that time she has been able to witness many changes in Ward 2, which includes Bobcaygeon, Kinmount and Rosedale.

She’s found that one major change she’s seen is the changing population. “Bobcaygeon used to be a really seniors oriented place, but I think it’s changing. More younger people are coming and they’re having families. So, we need to have more activities for kids.”

Sitting down at Kindred Bobcaygeon, she thinks about how the ward can appeal to this younger demographic. “The Boys and Girls Club have … a soccer league here, but there needs to be more to keep little kids busy. I think it’s really a good investment.”

She also points to health care as being very important, they’ve recently lost a couple of doctors that are retiring. “In all these small towns, it’s really a challenge,” she said, hoping that one day residents will have more choices than Ross Memorial for a hospital.

Along with being councillor of Ward 2, Warren is also vice chair of Conservation Ontario and has always been interested in environmental issues. One aspect of the environment she especially cares about are the lakes. “Through Kawartha Conservation, we have all sorts of different initiatives to protect the shore. That’s a big initiative that I’ve been working on for over 20 years,” Warren said.

One big environmental affect many felt was the ice storm in March. Warren said that event was an eye-opener for her. It made it clear that emergency shelters need to be placed in every ward. “This is what I’d like to see in all these places, is emergency buildings,” she said. “I’m thinking the legion would be really good, because they already have a kitchen and bathrooms.” She’s also been looking at connecting with Trent Lakes up in Kinmount where they have Galway Hall.

Along with these emergency buildings, the storm was an indicator that drainage needs to be improved. “I’m hoping to get Canal Street … resurfaced and actually engineered, so new drainage, water and sewer, and hoping that’ll be done this year,” she said.

Despite there being things that need to be addressed, Warren says she loves her ward, and the things they have to offer. “(There’s) always something going on at Settlers Village, the Boyd Museum has events all the time and our library system is fabulous. We have a new library here. The library system has so improved over the years. It’s unbelievable.”