‘Stop the 1% taking advantage’: Tiny shoreline debate draws contentious crowd
By: Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: MidlandToday.ca, May 09, 2025
Roughly 200 Tiny Township residents appeared at a recent shoreline management public meeting, with both sides of the issue having their say inside and outside the small municipal chambers.
Tiny is host to approximately 70 kilometres of Georgian Bay coastline with dynamic beaches, with long-time residents and new property owners having challenged how planning and policies are dealt with on a municipal level. In recent years, the township had implemented a rare interim control bylaw to halt development so a shoreline management bylaw could be constructed.
Residents began to fill the back of the municipal building at 130 Balm Beach Road West in late afternoon, with over a third holding onto sheets of paper in preparation to speak to council on their viewpoints.
The crowd was divided on the matter, however, and those who opposed outnumbered those in favour. An impromptu discussion occurred before the doors opened, with both sides escalating their viewpoints and hashing it out.
The chambers opened to allow just over 50 people in the chambers as per the fire code, leaving many to patiently wait their turn, leave in disappointment or watch a citizen-led feed of the live-stream outside.
Inside, Jamie Robinson of MHBC Planning explained the proposed amendments and summarized received comments. Mayor Dave Evans reiterated a code of conduct within the public meeting.
A peak moment in the two-and-a-half hour meeting occurred when Coun. Kelly Helowka addressed a property in Balm Beach which gained notoriety for constructing past the water line in recent years, obstructing pedestrian access along the beach.
“The problem that I’m having,” said Helowka, “is I witnessed a gentleman who lives on Tiny Beaches Road South who brought in a huge machine on a barge, brought it over to his property, and he started putting in steel plates into the beach… and we as a township had no way to battle him on that.
“I’m asking for your help,” Helowka urged, “because I believe 99 per cent of you are reasonable and great stewards of our beaches, but I’m asking you as a community: how do we deal with the one per cent who think they can do that?”
On a suggestion that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry could handle that issue, Deputy Mayor Sean Miskimins countered: “They have no teeth in this.
“After speaking to the MNRF, there is nothing they can do,” Miskimins added. “They said it’s a municipality’s issue, hence why this bylaw has been worked on for two years, to try and get a reasonable solution – not to impact the 99 per cent of people, but to stop the one per cent that are absolutely taking advantage, and as a result degrading the shoreline that you wish your great-grandchildren can enjoy.”
Opposing speakers called what was being proposed an overreach with a lack of clarity. Those in support praised council for getting the tools to fight back on such development.
At the conclusion, Evans stated: “We know that regardless of what side of the fence you sit on, or what your opinions are, always remember that we live here because it’s a great place to live and we all want to make sure it stays like this.”
Resident Drew Ironstone told MidlandToday that he was disappointed that the public meeting wasn’t held in a larger venue to accommodate more voices.
“This is such a large issue with the township,” said Ironstone. “If, in fact, the property values for the owners are affected in the negative sense, that is then going to translate into reduced tax income for the township and the rest of the ratepayers.”
Following the meeting, Miskimins told MidlandToday that a point raised by some opposition on a lack of scientific evidence to support the proposed items, which he said was misunderstood.
“I think some residents may have come into the conversation late or only took a cursory look at what’s been shared publicly since before this council was elected,” wrote Miskimins via email. “Aqua Solutions 5 has provided the ‘science’ behind why this is a necessary step.
“I know that there were many residents who wished to do a deputation in support of the bylaw but felt intimidated by the groups who came to protest, and the behaviour that has been displayed outside and in chambers. It’s sad that a group of people have had this effect on other residents who may wish to share a different perspective.
“No one wants to be intimidated or be ‘cat-called’ within chambers,” Miskimins added. “It’s hard enough for most people to do any public speaking, let alone having to endure this lack of protocol and decorum.”
Residents are asked to submit further comments or questions prior to May 12, where they will be compiled and addressed for the May 26 meeting of council.
Archives of council meetings are available to view on the township’s YouTube channel.