YDHR axes senior staff in bid to get Township back to the table
Conrad Boyce, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Three weeks ago, on its Facebook page, the York Durham Heritage Railway (YDHR) announced that it was reluctantly leaving Uxbridge for what it considered friendlier climes, no longer feeling welcome in the town it has called home since its inception in 1997. Giving up, so it seemed, on any hope of negotiating a new lease with its landlord, the Township of Uxbridge.
On Tuesday, the charitable organization posted another statement on its page, this time announcing a return to its “volunteer roots” by letting go all of its senior staff and undertaking a two-year plan to resolve a formidable debt.
In between the dates mentioned above, the Township took YDHR at its word, and gave notice that the railway would have to vacate the rail yard and cease operations by the end of this month, only being allowed to enter and remove assets until April 30.
At the regular township council meeting on Monday, Jan. 8, Mayor Dave Barton said it was sad to see the end of YDHR in Uxbridge, that instead of emerging from the pandemic determined to do better, its situation had gotten worse. CAO Kristi Honey said the Township had already received numerous expressions of interest in using both the train station and the rail yard, including from operators of other short-line railroads. She said she was “excited to see what’s next.”
Barton said the operation of a heritage railway in Uxbridge was important to the town, but that any new lease on the property would look substantially different from former ones, with a greater emphasis on regular safety inspections, and financial transparency. In response to a question from the Cosmos, he said that future lease negotiations could be held with any organization prepared to abide by the Township’s conditions – including the YDHR.
Following Tuesday’s announcement, the chair of the YDHR board, Michael Jacula, told the Cosmos, “We know that if we have to leave Uxbridge, we would be leaving our greatest asset, the hundreds of volunteers who have made this railway work over the years. We love this town. We also know the Township has a long list of conditions that need to be met if we’re to continue to be able to operate here. We just want the opportunity to sit down and try to satisfy those conditions.”
Jacula said the staff that have been laid off were very understanding of YDHR’s situation.
In the past four years, according to files from the Canada Revenue Agency, the number of paid full-time and part-time YDHR employees has been growing.
In 2019, CRA figures show there were five employees, each earning anywhere between $1 and $39,999. One employee was being paid between $80,000 and $119,999.
The following year, only two employees were making between $1 and $39,999 but six others were being paid between $40,000 and $79,999. One continued to receive between $80,000 and $119,999.
In 2021, total compensation was $903,239, with 18 full-time staff and 93 part-timers. Of the full-time staff, 10 were in the $1 to $39,999 range, six were receiving between $40,000 and $79,000 and two were now in the $80,000 to $119,999 range.
In 2022, the number of staff reduced somewhat, but the overall compensation increased to $915,486. Of that figure, $351,151 was shared among 88 part-timers. Seven full-time staff were paid between $40,000 and $79,999, one was paid between $80,000 and $119,999 and one full-time employee was elevated to somewhere between $160,000 and $199,999.
At the Jan. 8 council meeting, Honey said that to date, YDHR was up to date on its rent, and had satisfactorily vacated the train station by Dec. 31, the end of its lease on that property; the lease on the tracks and rail yard, which the Township leases from Metrolinx and has then sub-leased to YDHR, is on a month-to-month basis. She said, however, that the railway remained non-compliant on the safety front, particularly with the removal of two dilapidated cars from the westernmost track (YDHR told the Cosmos those two cars have not been removed pending their sale to an American buyer).
In response to YDHR’s statement on Feb. 9, the CAO said, “Mayor Barton has mentioned that rail tourism is good for Uxbridge, and should YDHR or another entity bring a viable, safe, reliable and compliant plan forward, we are keen to listen as we investigate ideas to determine what is next for this tourism asset. This will start with discussions with Metrolinx, and our related committees. YDHR has mentioned they have a monumental task in front of them, and we look forward to hearing what is next as they bring the operations back to a volunteer-led organization.”
Here is the full text of the two Facebook announcements from YDHR:
Dec. 21, 2023
“A statement from the Board of Directors at York Durham Heritage Railway: It is with a very heavy heart we announce our tenure in Uxbridge is coming to an end on May 31, 2024. This is almost the end of an era for all who have been involved with the railway over the years, we “grew up” and came of age in this wonderful community. Even though we are very excited about our future and look forward to it, we are very sad to depart from Uxbridge.
This is not a decision we made lightly; however the last few months the Township of Uxbridge Council have shown us they believe with a whole heart we have overstayed our welcome, and made it very clear their insurmountable pressure will continue until we leave.
Our heart is with this community and we have tried and given it our all, however, we are not perfect or in the business of war, and cannot stay when it is so clearly written we are not welcome. We are on a new journey and look forward to the future, our energy and vision is in the new plans and what the future brings.
We certainly look forward to hosting you at our new home in 2024, just as many thousands of people have come to Uxbridge during the past 20+ years, we know many of you will come and visit. Please stay tuned, check our website often for two reasons, enjoy the festivities with us until May 31, 2024 and find out when and where you will celebrate with us next.
We thank you Uxbridge for all you have done for our organization, for your patience and support. You will forever be in our hearts and we will miss you all.”
Jan. 9, 2024
From the YDHR Board of Directors:
Despite our best efforts, the current YDHR business model has not been successful, with unique delays and losses during our non operational years.
Effective Monday Jan 8, we are going back to our roots, a volunteer driven organization. We wish to thank the management team for the years of dedication and service, and wish them well in their future endeavours.
To the hundreds of volunteers that have come to support us during the past almost thirty years, a very sincere thank you, we could not have made it without you. We look forward to having your support for many years to come. The task ahead is monumental, however, we remain optimistic, as we go back to our roots, our priority is to keep growing a strong volunteer base and continue to provide our supporters and new friends, smaller, tamable events with the goal of reducing our debt load significantly over the next 24 months.
Your support is always appreciated. Thank you for continuing to believe in the mission of YDHR to bring Canadian Railway history to life.
With files from Roger Varley and Lisha Van Nieuwenhove
From fanfare to frustration: a railway’s history
On Saturday, Sept. 14, 1996, thousands of residents jammed the Uxbridge and Stouffville train stations for the opening of the York Durham Heritage Railway. For the next 20 years, the railway operated regular weekend runs between the two communities and added special event runs to the mix.
That opening day came nine years after the first recorded meeting of a group of heritage railway enthusiasts in August, 1987. The following year, the Township of Uxbridge purchased the railway station from Canadian National for the bargain basement price of $1 and Canadian Pacific donated a caboose to the railway.
In 1990, YDHR was incorporated as a registered charity, and a year later received tax-exempt status from Revenue Canada. In 1991, Ron Pare built a mini-train that was used to generate funds and interest in the new railway at local community events. Additional rolling stock was acquired over the next few years and volunteers began restoration work. In 1993, CN sold the right-of-way through Uxbridge to GO Transit and the province passed legislation establishing YDHR as an operating shortline railway.
In 1996, Uxbridge and Stouffville leased the railway line between the two communities from GO Transit; the municipalities then leased the line to the YDHR railway. Four months later came the grand opening, which occurred on the 125th anniversary of the old Toronto-Nipissing Railway.
During the next few years, the railway operated several special events, including sending the train to Union Station to bring people from Toronto to Uxbridge for a performance by the Toronto Symphony at Joey Tannenbaum’s Gan Eden property. Crowds gathered in Uxbridge for Lucy Maud Montgomery (portrayed by Dorothy Partridge) arriving in her new home. There were also Lady Dempster’s Victorian teas, Halloween rides and corporate events, including one that involved a gang of wild west bandits holding up the train south of town and “kidnapping” the company CEO. The train and the station were also used by several film companies.
In July 2005, the railway sent its one operating vintage passenger coach to St. Thomas, Ont., to be part of that town’s Thomas the Tank Engine event. In 2007, YDHR staged a Harry Potter night and an Anne of Green Gables event.
In 2015, YDHR staged its first of five annual Thomas the Train events. In 2019, Randall Bird, the newly appointed CEO of YDHR, told Uxbridge council the railway wanted to go “Disney,” and laid out plans for major changes at the rail yard . Bird also announced that YDHR’s annual payroll would be in the neighbourhood of $500,000. Four months later, Bird was let go and John Perks took over as head of the operation.
Council expecting a tough go through upcoming budget talks
Roger Varley
Uxbridge council opened its annual budget discussions on Wednesday, with finance committee chair Willie Popp cautioning that “lots of pressures and headwinds are heading our way.”
Popp said it is too early to say what taxpayers can expect in terms of a property tax increase – or decrease – but offered that council would do its best to be at or slightly under last year’s 5.93 per cent increase.
Budget discussions are scheduled for Jan. 11, 16, 18, 23 and 25.
Tuesday’s session focused on general government, which included council, the office of the chief administrative officer, the treasurer’s department, the clerk’s department and by-law and animal control, and development services. On general government, staff projected an overall increase in expenses of 6.7 per cent, with an increase of 18.9 per cent on revenue. After amortization, the total increase was projected at 4.6 per cent.
One item in the council budget saw most council members agree on the cost. The council budget calls for $5,000 to be allotted to conferences and conventions. Mayor Dave Barton said such events give councillors an opportunity to network as well as learn and the returns far outweigh the expenditure. CAO Kristi Honey said such events allow Uxbridge to lobby senior decision makers, which has resulted in major grants and funds for the township.
New bus route: At Monday’s regular council meeting, it was announced there is a new Durham Transit bus route in town. Bus 605 will travel from Railway and Albert Streets to the Brock/Toronto Street intersection and then south to Douglas Road. From there, it will head down to Walmart and Zehrs before returning to Douglas Rd. The route then continues up past Elgin Park to the Nelkydd Lane area before returning to its starting point.
New storm sewer by-law: Chief by-law officer Hilary Williams introduced a new by-law to address the discharge of waste water into the township’s storm sewers.
In a report, Williams said that Uxbridge does not have a dedicated regulatory by-law for enforcing storm sewer restrictions and requirements. As a result, improper stormwater use, environmental concerns, public safety concerns, and instances of public mischief have resulted in limited enforcement options for the township. The new by-law sets out standards and practices for permitting discharge into storm water facilities and outlines penalties and fines for violations.
Williams said the new by-law won’t affect the average homeowner unless there are oil spills and leaks, such as when someone is changing their vehicle’s oil.
“We’re just filling a gap,” she said.
However, she did note that anyone responsible for an unwarranted discharge into a storm sewer would be responsible for the clean-up.
Township official named project manager for urban park
Conrad Boyce, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Colleen Baskin, the Township of Uxbridge’s communications manager, has been named to a new position as the local project manager for the proposed urban provincial park.
“I have taken the role on a part-time basis,” Baskin told the Cosmos, “as part of a six-month contract to assist the Township and our project partners with moving issues forward to support the Ministry of Environment, Parks and Conservation (MEPC). At the moment, their efforts are about completing the required planning, assessments, consultation, and recommendations so the provincial legislature can review and vote on accepting the proposal to create, through regulation, the Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park. If that proposal is adopted, the planning for the park opening will proceed and the lands that are currently owned by Infrastructure Ontario will be transferred to MEPC, and provincial funding will be released so MEPC can begin to create the park. The park will open some time after MEPC obtains possession of it, and can make it safe and accessible for visitors.”
This new position is not being funded by taxpayers, but is supported by the Schad Foundation and revenues that the township is collecting from conservation lands that have recently be donated to the township. The position may be renewed after six months depending on what work needs to happen in the second half of the year. Baskin retains her regular job for two days a week, and various staff have had their positions tweaked in order to manage the workload of her regular role between them as long as the new job lasts.
“My main role,” Baskin said, “will be to support communications across all the partner groups who are involved with the project, assist with stakeholder and community relations, and to provide project management and administrative support on various specific sub-projects and files. I remain employed by the Township, but am a resource available to all our partner groups. We liaise with the province as they already have many staff dedicated to this project.”
Related to the urban park, township council, at its Jan. 8 meeting, reviewed a letter from Durham Region planning director Brian Bridgeman, forwarding several recommendations to the province about the park. These include:
- That the Region be included in any stakeholder advisory committees and/or working groups related to park management planning, to ensure that regional interests.
- The park may include a number of disconnected parcels. It should be made clear how the province envisions the connections between these individual parcels to be made, as this will likely require coordination on implementation and maintenance between the Region, province, Township of Uxbridge, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and private landowners.
- Some of the lands identified for the park area may be required to accommodate future regional infrastructure projects. Establishment of the park area should not restrict the Region’s potential future use of these lands, if the need arises. The Region requests that the province consult with the Region on potential land rights that may be required to accommodate potential future regional infrastructure projects in the park area.
- The proposed park is located within the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine, and benefits from existing protections. Establishing the area as a provincial park could add an additional layer of environmental protection for various significant natural heritage features on-site and ensures long- term management of the land. It is critical that permitted uses within specific locations in the park be clarified to ensure no negative impacts on these features.
- The proposed park is near other significant tourism locations, including the Rouge National Urban Park, Durham Region Forest, and CN Rail Trail that connects the Township of Uxbridge to Lindsay, and beyond. It is requested that the province, in partnership with the Region and Township of Uxbridge, investigate trail and cycling connections between the proposed provincial park and these other areas to support and strengthen sustainable tourism and active transportation initiatives within the Township and wider region.
Not a happy holiday for the Bruins
Roger Varley
A visit from Santa Claus on Friday, Dec. 22, did not produce any holiday cheer for the Uxbridge Bruins as they suffered a 6-0 loss to the league-leading Clarington Eagles. The Bruins rebounded a week later with a 5-1 win over the Little Britain Merchants, but started the new year with two losses. In those four games, the Bruins were outscored 14-8.
In the Clarington game, the Bruins’ effort was dismal, allowing the Eagles to score three power-play goals. Christian Lambert replaced Andrew Claughton in the net during the second period but the Eagles scored two on him in the third. The Cosmos was hard-pressed to select a player of the game for Uxbridge but settled on Nolan Winter. For the Eagles, the nod went to Kyle Smith.
A week later, the Bruins took on the lowly Little Britain Merchants at the arena and came out flying, scoring three goals in the first two period, including a power-play marker and a short-handed goal, before the Merchants hit the scoreboard. Two more goals late in the third period made up somewhat for the previous week’s effort. Jack Davis was named player of the game for the Bruins and Owen Worsley was picked for the Merchants.
However, last week, playing another Friday night game in Georgina against the second-place Ice, the Bruins were humbled again. Quinn Meek opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period, an unassisted short-handed marker. Georgina then lowered the boom with three unanswered goals in the second and one more in the third. After the fourth goal, the Bruins once again changed goalies, this time with Claughton replacing Lambert.
On Sunday, the Bruins took a trip down Reach Street to meet their arch-rivals, the Port Perry LumberJacks. Port Perry scored a goal in each of the three periods before Owen Shier finally put Uxbridge on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal. Meek narrowed the gap, assisted by Davis and Anthony Lamanna, but the Bruins were unable to tie the game even after pulling the goalie for an extra attacker.
The Bruins’ scheduled meeting with the Chiefs in Lakefield on Tuesday night was postponed because of weather. They play the Merchants again tomorrow (Friday) night at the arena at 7:45 p.m.
As of the beginning of the week, the Eagles retained the lead atop the PJHL’s seven-team Orr Division, but the Georgina Ice have closed the gap, sitting six points behind with a game in hand. The Bruins continue to hold down third place, but the LumberJacks are just six points behind.
Bear pause: Not all was doom and gloom for the Bruins. On Nov. 24, Meek notched his 100th point as a member of the Bruins squad and linemate Lamanna picked up his 100the point on Dec. 16, against the North Kawartha Knights.