Refresh MacTier

Refresh MacTier is an initiative focused on enhancing the vitality, attractiveness, and long-term sustainability of MacTier. Through collaboration between residents, businesses, community organizations, and the Township of Georgian Bay, the initiative aims to identify opportunities that strengthen the community while preserving the character and charm that make MacTier unique.

Whether through beautification projects, community engagement, economic development opportunities, or public space improvements, Refresh MacTier is about creating a shared vision for the future.

Together, we're shaping the next chapter of MacTier.

Why Refresh MacTier?

MacTier is a vibrant and resilient community with a rich history and strong community spirit. As the community continues to evolve, there is an opportunity to build upon its strengths while identifying ways to enhance public spaces, support local businesses, attract visitors, and improve quality of life for residents.

The Refresh MacTier initiative seeks to:

• Strengthen community pride
• Enhance public spaces and amenities
• Support economic growth and local business development
• Improve the appearance and functionality of community areas
• Encourage community participation and collaboration
• Create a shared vision for future improvements

Refresh MacTier Advisory Committee

The Refresh MacTier Committee is a volunteer advisory committee established by Township Council to support the goals of the Refresh MacTier initiative.

The Committee works collaboratively with Township staff, Council, community organizations, businesses, and residents to:

• Identify opportunities for community enhancement
• Review and prioritize proposed projects
• Encourage public participation
• Support the implementation of community initiatives
• Provide recommendations to Council

The Refresh MacTier Advisory Committee meets monthly. The agendas and meeting schedule is available by visiting the Council Portal.

MacTier Memorial Arena & Community Centre

Refresh MacTier Town Hall

Date: Friday, July 10, 2026

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Location: Community Hall, MacTier Memorial Arena, 9 Haig Street, MacTier

Key Information

The Township of Georgian Bay will hold a Town Hall on the next steps towards revitalizing the MacTier Memorial Arena & Community Centre.

• Local residents highly value the MacTier Memorial Arena & Community Centre, including its ice surface.
• The Arena is seen as a gathering place that supports children, families, seniors, and the broader identity of MacTier.
• A community-driven meeting attended by about 70 permanent and seasonal residents demonstrated strong support for keeping the ice surface.
• In response to community feedback, the Township of Georgian Bay is committed to keeping the arena and ice surface open.

The upcoming Town Hall will share updates on the Township’s work so far, gather community input on future initiatives, and encourage community action on next steps.

• The Township has a responsibility to provide taxpayers with clear and transparent information about the financial and operational state of the facility. The Facility Audit and Capital costs were reported to the MacTier Arena Advisory Committee (MAAC) in October 2025:
  • The facility requires about $250,000 annually to operate and will require about $390,000 per year in capital investments for the next 15 years.
  • Revenues coming from the use of the Arena are currently less than $40,000 per year.
  • 5-year capital plan to keep the facility in good condition has been approved with investment beginning this year.
• The 2026 budget includes capital work and operational investments, including a recreational coordinator with responsibility for the *Arena and other programming across the Township.
• Township staff are working on a grant application to help fund additional facility upgrades beyond the capital plan.
• Council’s Refresh MacTier Advisory Committee (RMAC) will play a key role in informing the future of the facility. RMAC’s first meeting is on June 22, 2026.

It will take the Township and community working together to create a more vibrant and affordable community centre.

• The community has expressed strong interest in improving the Arena through better programming, events and stronger partnerships that can make the Arena more sustainable and financially manageable over the long-run.
• Working together the Township hopes to find solutions that can address practical challenges in ways that are feasible for the space.
• Investments or future plans will need to balance both the role the Arena plays in community life and the Township’s broader responsibility to manage public funds and infrastructure responsibly.

As part of this work, the Township will listen, share information clearly, and work with the community to look at practical options for the future.

• The Township is committed to a respectful, transparent, and constructive conversation about the future of the MacTier Memorial Arena & Community Centre. The Township recognizes that this is not solely a financial decision — it is a decision about community priorities and pride.
• We know this discussion matters deeply to the community, and we appreciate everyone taking the time to participate.