Councillor Robert (Bob) Bernie has lived in Kenora for over 38 years. He came to Kenora in 1984 to work at the Kenora Jail, later joining the Kenora Police Service in 2000, and patched over to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in 2009, when the two police forces amalgamated. Councillor Bernie received the OPP Accolade Award as Officer of the Year in 2011 for his role in adopting the Mobilization and Engagement Model of Community Policing into the community. This term will be his first on Council. Mr. Bernie was born in Fort Frances and later moved to Rainy River and went to high school there. His father worked on the pipeline in Kenora and the surrounding area. When he was young, our family would spend the summer months staying in tourist camps to be with him. Kenora was always the most vibrant and exciting community, and he'll always have fond memories of those days. Mr. Bernier returned to Kenora in 1985 to work at the Kenora Jail and made it his home. He became a police officer in 2000 when the Kenora Police Service (KPS) hired him. He worked extensively with the public and served as the Community Services Officer with the KPS. The Kenora Police Service amalgamated with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in 2009, and he worked as the Community Mobilization Officer (CMO) from 2010 until he retired from full-time policing in 2020. Until recently, he worked on a casual, part-time policing contract with the OPP post-retirement. He had the unique opportunity as CMO working with community partners on a wide range of projects, including the Kenora Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, the Kenora Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force, the Kenora Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition, Drug Treatment Court, and the RISK Table (situation table), as well as many other important initiatives. He believes this work has been informative and will enable him to work effectively as a member of council. Mr. Bernie's wife, Tracey, is from Kenora and has worked as an English teacher for the Kenora Catholic School Board her entire career. They have two children, Emily and Jack. Emily is a speech pathologist at the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre and resides in Thunder Bay. Jack is attending school and pursuing an education degree in Kelowna, BC. He is also playing collegiate hockey there. He says Kenora has been very good to him and his family.
That Council hereby authorizes a new Keeping of Animals Bylaw which regulates the keeping of certain animals within the City of Kenora; and further That bylaw number 150-2010, 137-2011 and 42-2019 be hereby repealed.
That By-law number 142-2026 and bylaw numbers to 165-2026 be now read a First & Second Time and approved in their present form and presented for Third & Final Reading.
That Council hereby approves the assumption of Acheson Way shown on Registered Plan No. 23M-973, and the transfer of full maintenance and operational responsibility to the City of Kenora; and further That Council hereby authorizes City Administration to take all necessary steps to implement the assumption, including updating municipal records, mapping, and any related administrative notices; and f
That three readings be given to a by-law to permanently close a portion of the highway known as Spence Street, Plan M-35, legally described as part of PIN 42168-0105 and registered as Part 1 on Plan 23R-15305 and hereby declare the subject lands surplus to municipal needs; and further That notwithstanding any provision of the City’s Sale and Other Disposition of Land Policy approved by By-law 158-
Whereas Ontario public health units and agencies provide a vital service to Ontarians that keeps people healthy, out of hospitals and out of the acute care system; and Whereas rural-urban equity in Ontario’s public healthcare delivery is essential for a thriving provincial economy that keeps people at work and contributing; and Whereas Ontario’s public health units & agencies sector has received a
That Council hereby approves Application No. D14-26-05 to amend Zoning By-law No. 101-2015, as amended, for the lands municipally known as 444 Rabbit Lake Road which amends the zoning of the subject lands from R1 – Residential First Density Zone and RU – Rural Zone to R3 – Residential Third Density Zone with site-specific provisions; and further That Council adopts the implementing Zoning By-law s
That this Motion be deferred to July 14, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting.
That all items listed under the heading of Public Consent Agenda for the City Council Meeting dated May 12, 2026 be hereby adopted as recommended.
That Council hereby approves an Official Plan Amendment for the properties municipally known as 1060 Lakeview Drive and 832 Lakeview Drive (the “Subject Lands”) to: Amend Schedule “A” of the City of Kenora Official Plan, 2015 to redesignate the Subject Lands from “Industrial Development Area” to “Established Area”; Permit the future development of a mixed-use Campus of Care, including institutiona
That By-law numbers 70-2026 to 86-2026 be now read a First & Second Time and approved in their present form and presented for Third & Final Reading.
That Council adopts a new Whistleblower Policy #HR-2-9 that forms part of the City’s Comprehensive Policy Manual; and further That three readings be given to a bylaw for this purpose.
That Council hereby approves a Zoning By-law Amendment for the properties municipally known as 612 Ninth Street North, 608 Ninth Street North, and 9 Mellick Avenue (the “Subject property”) to: Add “Automobile Gas Bar” and “Car Wash” as site-specific permitted uses within the LC – Local Commercial Zone; and Introduce site-specific setbacks, buffers, and queuing requirements to facilitate the propos
That By-law number 69-2026 be now read a First & Second Time and approved in its present form and presented for Third & Final Reading.
Whereas decisions on operational policing by the OPP are all made independently without any consultation from the City which makes it extremely difficult to ensure policing services are delivered according to Council and The City of Kenora’s priorities; and Whereas this lack of Council input creates a policing model that is not responsive to community needs; and Whereas Council has continued to ad
That Council hereby approves a Zoning By-law Amendment for the properties municipally known as 612 Ninth Street North, 608 Ninth Street North, and 9 Mellick Avenue (the “Subject property”) to: 1. Add “Automobile Gas Bar” and “Car Wash” as site-specific permitted uses within the LC – Local Commercial Zone; and 2. Introduce site-specific setbacks, buffers, and queuing requirements to facilitate the
That Council hereby approves a new Regulations Concerning Signs bylaw within the City of Kenora which provides a modernized, plain-language regulatory framework for signs within the City of Kenora; and further That By-law Number 115-2010 be hereby repealed.
That Council hereby receives the Municipal Policing Study as developed by consultants MNP.
That By-law number 30-2026 be now read a First & Second Time and approved in its present form and presented for Third & Final Reading.
That Council hereby approves the 2026 Municipal Capital Budget, as presented; and further That Council hereby directs staff to actively proceed with the projects included in the 2026 capital budget in accordance with the provisions of the City procurement bylaw; and further That in accordance with Notice Bylaw 160-2022, public notice is hereby given that Council intends to adopt the 2026 Municipal
That By-law number 170-2025 be now read a First & Second Time and approved in their present form and presented for Third & Final Reading.
That Council hereby approves an application for a variance to the sign by-law 115-2010, seeking relief from section 8.1.2 (a) and Table E, which permits only non-illuminated or externally illuminated signage within the Harbourtown Centre and limits the size of wall mounted signs to 0.8m vertical height and an area of 0.5m 2 per linear metre of the wall or 10m 2 whichever is lesser.
Whereas Northern Ontario’s economic and social well-being depends on safe, reliable east–west and north–south transportation corridors, particularly Highways 11 and 17, which form the Trans-Canada Highway system across the region; and Whereas these highways carry significant volumes of commercial and passenger traffic, yet remain largely two-lane corridors that face frequent closures and safety ri
That By-law number 166-2025 be now read a First & Second Time and approved in its present form and presented for Third & Final Reading.
That Council hereby approves an addition to today’s agenda to consider the following item: ROMA Delegation Requests
That Council hereby authorizes an amendment to the Tariff of Fees and Charges bylaw to reflect increases to the winter ice candle program as follows: Ice Candle Pickup - $11.00 per candle Place and Light Candle - $13.00 per candle Sale of Wax Candles Only - removed; and further That Council hereby authorizes an appropriation in the amount of $9,578 from the Ice Candle/Parks Beautification reserve
That Council authorizes an application to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) under its Rural Enhancement Funding Stream for the addition of AODA compliant ramps to the play structures at Central Park, and the Rocking Boat feature at Norman Park; and further That Council approves any cost overruns associated with this project.
That Council hereby gives three readings to a new By-law to License and Regulate Private Vehicles for Hire and Drays which will modernize the City of Kenora’s approach to regulating taxis, limousines and rideshare services; and further That Bylaw Number 19-2022 be hereby repealed.
That the following By-laws be now read a First & Second Time, and approved in their present form and presented for Third & Final Reading:~ July 24, 2025 Special Council Meeting Minutes 3 #114-2025 - Permanently Close and Declare Surplus Parts of Roads and Lanes on M-39 #115-2025 - Declare Lands Surplus and Authorize the Sale of Lands to the Ministry of Infrastructure through Infrastructure Ontario
That Council hereby directs Administration to proceed with a Municipal Policing Study with MNP Community Safety and Wellbeing Division in the amount of $95,000 + HST to be funded from Contingency Reserves; and further That Council hereby authorizes a budget amendment in the amount of $95,000 + HST to fund this special project; and further That in accordance with public notices bylaw #160-2022 publ
That By-law numbers 84-2025 and 86-2025 to 99-2025 be now read a First & Second Time and approved in their present form and presented for Third & Final Reading.
That Council hereby directs Administration to proceed with a Municipal Policing Study with MNP Community Safety and Wellbeing Division in the amount of $95,000 + HST to be funded from Contingency Reserves; and further That Council hereby authorizes a budget amendment in the June 24, 2025 Regular Council Meeting Minutes 6 amount of $95,000 + HST to fund this special project; and further That in acc
That By-law numbers 84-2025 and 86-2025 to 99-2025 be now read a First & Second Time and approved in their present form and presented for Third & Final Reading. June 24, 2025 Regular Council Meeting Minutes 10
That Council hereby appoints the following members to the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan Implementation Committee for a term at the pleasure of Council: Darcia Curtis Shannon Bailey Anita Cameron Logan Haney Denise Forsyth Sara Dias Kristen Cool Allison Crewe Lisa Doerksen Claudine Longboat-White Sheri Norlen Alicia Rogerson Michelle Spencer Kendall Trembath Dr. Kit Ngan Young Hoon *Jim Neil
That By-law numbers 66-2025 to 71-2025 be now read a First & Second Time and approved in their present form and presented for Third & Final Reading.
May 20, 2025 Regular Meeting of Council Minutes 9 That Council hereby appoints the following members to the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan Implementation Committee for a term at the pleasure of Council: Darcia Curtis Shannon Bailey Anita Cameron Logan Haney Denise Forsyth Sara Dias Kristen Cool Allison Crewe Lisa Doerksen Claudine Longboat-White Sheri Norlen Alicia Rogerson Michelle Spencer
That Council hereby approve the Collective Agreement between the Corporation of the City of Kenora and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 191; and further That three readings be given to a bylaw to execute the Collective Agreement.
That Council hereby approves an amendment to the Ice Allocation Policy #CS-1-1; and further That the amended Policy forms part of the City’s Comprehensive Policy Manual; and further That three readings be given to an amending by-law for this purpose; and further That bylaw number 161-2023 be hereby repealed.
That By-law numbers 34-2025 to 45-2025 be now read a First & Second Time and approved in their present form and presented for Third & Final Reading.
That Council hereby mutually appoints with the Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, Andrew Poirier, to the District of Kenora Homes for the Aged Board of Management to represent Area 1, Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls-Kenora for a term no later than November 14, 2026.
That Council hereby adopts the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan for the City of Kenora; and further That Council directs Administration to request support from community organizations and partners demonstrating their commitment to the success of the plan.