The District of Muskoka is set to establish two boards that will oversee the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachments in Bracebridge and Huntsville.
The boards are mandated as part of the Community Safety and Policing Act. It was originally passed in 2019 by the provincial government but only went into effect as of April 1, 2024.
There will be four community members chosen for the Bracebridge OPP board, representing Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Muskoka Lakes, and Georgian Bay. Meanwhile, two will be picked for the Huntsville OPP board, representing Huntsville and Lake of Bays.
Those interested must follow a handful of eligibility requirements, including what roles they currently or previously held relating to law enforcement.
Among the six responsibilities listed by the district in the application, board members will be tasked with helping to determine objectives and priorities for the detachment, monitoring the performance of the detachment commander, and helping to create a report before June 30 every year.
Applications will be accepted until June 5.
District Chair Jeff Lehman encourages those interested to take part and help to influence the safety and well-being of the area.
“I encourage anyone who lives in a community served by one of the two OPP detachments to apply, especially residents who are able to contribute their previous experience from serving on boards, committees, or local government,” he says.
In Feb. 2024, district council approved the outline for who will serve on the boards.
An oversight board is also being created for the Southern Georgian Bay OPP, however, the recruitment of a community member is being left in the hands of the Township of Georgian Bay council.