In this week’s installment of TVC22 news show In Your Ward, host Thomas Stockting presents us with yet another engaging interview, this time with Cité de / City of Clarence-Rockland Michel Levert councillor/conseiller Ward/Quartier 7.

Thomas and Councillor Levert’s one on one session takes place at the Hammond Golf Course and Restaurant, where they discuss the former’s involvement in the community during his past two terms of being councilor for Ward 7.

Councilor Levert says that the council is an important aspect of this community, as it educates people and keeps them up to date with recent events. He says his core values are helping people and helping his community.

In the second half of the show, the interview moves outside from the bar to the patio overlooking the golf course. Thomas and Councilor Levert discuss the results of a survey from July 2020 which explores the evolution of covid-19 impacts on Prescott-Russell businesses.

Of the 279 businesses that took part, 9% are laying off workers, 27% are hiring more workers, and 64% saw no change. Councilor Levert touches on how the vaccine rollouts will eventually allow more people to be out in public again, which should result in a surge in business.

He says that it will take some time to regain consumer confidence in the general populace and that getting the vaccine is one way for the public to feel safe supporting their local businesses.

The two of them are then joined by Aaron Markel, the owner of the Broken Stick Brewery, which is attached to the golf course. Thomas and Aaron discuss the new project for the Golf Course, which he calls Canada’s first Eco-Tourism experience”.

The project is the building of 10 mini eco-cottage homes, which will be built in the 50 acres of forest attached to the property of the golf course. Each cottage will be environmentally friendly, using non-toxic building materials.

Their small size will aid in conserving building resources, as well as energy and water usage. With plans to launch the project this coming summer, Aaron hopes that this project will increase business and tourism in the region.