We’ll build trust through transparency by being open and honest every step of the way.

How We’ll Achieve This

• Keep the process clear, simple, and easy to follow: All materials, timelines, and updates will be shared in plain language so the process is easy to understand and follow.
• Communicate openly about what we know and what we’re learning: Updates will be shared through Township channels, my.scugog.ca/fairgrounds, and Council reports to keep the community informed as new insights emerge.
• Share updates and progress regularly: “What We Heard” summaries will be published outlining key themes, actions, and next steps.
• Be upfront about challenges, opportunities, and next steps: We’ll acknowledge what’s still being explored and what’s guiding future steps.

Everyone deserves a fair chance to be heard. We’ll make participation open and accessible for all.

How We’ll Achieve This

• Create spaces (in-person and online) that invite participation from all voices: Engagement will meet people where they are, from pop-ups and community events to the online portal, making it easy for people to participate wherever they are.
• Ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate and be heard: Multiple formats, flexible hours, and accessible locations will ensure a wide cross-section of citizens can contribute.
• Welcome diverse experiences and perspectives, and create space for meaningful dialogue where all participants can contribute on equal footing: Facilitation methods and reporting will consistently reflect all viewpoints, ensuring decisions reflect a balance of community priorities.

This is your Fairgrounds, and your ideas will help shape its future.

How We’ll Achieve This

• Listen first: The first round of engagement focuses on learning from the community before any concepts or plans are developed.
• Reflect community stories, history, and aspirations: Local quotes, stories, and ideas will be featured in materials, reports, and displays to make community voices visible throughout the process.
• Connect themes and translate insights into clear direction: What we hear will be summarized into key themes and tested with the community before any recommendations are finalized.
• Ensure decisions reflect a balance of community priorities: We’ll aim for a thoughtful balance between diverse interests, long-term needs, and what’s possible, ensuring outcomes reflect shared values.

We’ll listen with respect and empathy, even when perspectives differ.

How We’ll Achieve This

• Approach every conversation with empathy, openness, and a willingness to learn from others: All sessions will begin with clear ground rules for listening and respect, creating safe spaces for dialogue.
• Create spaces for open, honest dialogue where different perspectives can be shared safely: Facilitators will model inclusive practices that encourage participants to speak candidly and feel heard. We recognize that different perspectives can strengthen the process and lead to better outcomes.
• Ask questions to understand the “why” behind people’s ideas, concerns, and experiences: We’ll probe respectfully to ensure we understand the reasoning and emotions behind people’s perspectives.
• Reflect what we hear with care and accuracy, ensuring all voices are acknowledged and treated with dignity: All summaries and presentations will attribute ideas accurately and show how they’ve informed next steps.

Scugog Council will be deciding whether or not to hire a consultant for this project at the September 15 Special Council Meeting, starting at 4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Interested parties can also view the meeting through our online livestream. To access the livestream, follow these steps once the meeting begins:

1. Visit our Council & Committee Calendar
2. Click on the 'Special Council Meeting' block on the September 15 date
3. Click 'View Livestream' in the bottom left of the pop-up window

Please note, the livestream link will only appear once the stream/meeting begins.

Recently, Scugog Mayor Wilma Wotten addressed misinformation surrounding this project.

“We have maintained from the beginning that a key stakeholder in the exercise is the official Agricultural Society. We look forward to receiving their ideas,” said Scugog Mayor Wilma Wotten. “There is some confusion in the community, where some think the consultant will bring their own ideas for the grounds. That is untrue. They will be presenting some potential plans for the grounds, yes, but these ideas would come from the community. They would be plans for how we can bring your vision to life, not theirs, and not mine. My hope is that if we facilitate a visioning exercise this fall, residents will participate in a positive and constructive way.”

Quick Facts

• There are currently no discussions being held about selling the grounds, nor have there been any discussions with developers about building on the site.
• If a consultant is awarded, they will be creating a vision based on your input, not their own.
• The Port Perry Fair will continue as long as the Port Perry Agricultural Society is willing and able to run it. Whether it will continue on the current site will be determined by the visioning exercise.
• Options for the site will be determined by the community. Even if the current use of the space changes, it may still be a public area.
• One of our requirements for a consultant is that they connect with the Port Perry Agricultural Society directly when gathering feedback for the vision.
• Staff do not have the capacity to conduct a full consultation on this project. Given the value and pride the community has in the lands, we need to ensure the whole community is as represented as it can be.
• The lands have not been deemed a heritage site. As directed by Council, this was procedurally referred to staff for consideration as part of the upcoming Official Plan review, which will be completed after the visioning exercise.

You can view the full article through our web news reel.

The Township and the Port Perry Agricultural Society (PPAS) met the evening of July 21 to discuss the Township’s plan to move forward a community visioning exercise for the future use of the Fairgrounds site.

Through the visioning exercise, the Township will retain a consultant to facilitate a collaborative discussion to garner proposals and ideas from across the community, with the PPAS as a key stakeholder. The goal is to achieve a vision for the site, based on the ideas and proposals received, that will provide an array of positive benefits for Scugog. A Request for Proposal to choose a consultant is now live, and the visioning exercise for the Port Perry Fairgrounds is expected to commence in the fall of 2025 and conclude by June 2026. In the meantime, discussions about a lease renewal will be paused until the completion of this visioning exercise. The Township has assured the PPAS that the Port Perry Fair can continue on the Fairgrounds in 2026.

The current lease for the Port Perry Agricultural Society (PPAS) is up for renewal next year, June 2026. PPAS has come to the Township in advance of their lease expiring to request a renewal and discuss new terms.

The nature of the lease agreement and aspects of the property were discussed in a closed session of council, which is an option for Ontario Municipalities under certain circumstances, as outlined in the Municipal Act, 2001. This is normal practice for Council when discussing buying, selling, or leasing land, and allows a full conversation without the risk of breaching confidentiality.

Following the closed session earlier in July, staff were directed to continue discussions with the PPAS for their request and to collaborate on outreach to the Scugog community on a vision exercise. This exercise will be conducted to gather input from stakeholders (i.e., residents, businesses, PPAS, etc.) to better understand the community's vision for the future of the area as a whole.