Hi everyone,
It's been a hot minute. While we didn't necessarily get our way with the bylaws in McNab Braeside, they were eventually changed to something I can at least live with, and the call to remove my bees from the township was rescinded. 

But a new and larger threat has emerged: the mayor of McNab Braeside, who treated me so horribly during the entire affair, has now been appointed to the Renfrew County Agricultural Economic Committee. Please join myself and other concerned citizens in letting the County know that her appointment is neither appropriate nor appreciated. My letter is below, and you can send yours to:

Gwen Dombroski

gdombroski@countyofrenfrew.on.ca

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to express my concerns with the appointment of Lori Hoddinott to the Renfrew County Agricultural Committee. I have had the misfortune of crossing her in her official capacity as mayor of McNab Braeside on an issue of agricultural importance and do not wish for others to have to experience what I did. She was dismissive of my concerns both in public and on social media, called me names on social media, and, based on the timeline of events, I believe that she personally contacted bylaw enforcement about my livestock on a property in her municipality or asked someone else to do so on her behalf. I have also watched her dealings with other farmers in her municipality and do not believe that she is qualified to make decisions about agriculture or agri-business.

In April of 2025, I learned that some of my bee hives placed in McNab Braeside did not meet zoning bylaws, and that the zoning bylaws were being changed. As a board member with the Upper Ottawa Valley Beekeeper’s Association, and someone who keeps bees within that municipality, I felt that it was within my rights to approach the council to point out the logical fallacies contained in the new and old by-laws, and the best time to do it before the changes were made permanent. I did my research, checked into OMAFRA regulations, consulted with other beekeepers in the area to gain insight into what beekeepers across the county were doing, and spoke with representatives at the Ontario Beekeeper’s Association before making my delegation. I was greeted with outright hostility by Ms. Hoddinott at the meeting, but pressed on to get my point across for the good of all beekeepers in Renfrew County, since the bylaw had actually been drafted by the county planner’s office and could be applied to other townships in the near future as they update their bylaws. There is a video of this meeting available online to be viewed, but with her microphone turned off and the camera not entirely facing her, the observer can’t see how she rolled her eyes and audibly scoffed at many of my statements during the meeting, though you can see how she interrupts me at less than the halfway point in my delegation. The meeting date and time was changed at the last minute, so I was unable to get supporters to join me on short notice (though I have a petition with several hundred signatures in my favour), and I’d been told by staffers that I should aim to arrive at 10am for my part of the meeting. I arrived on time and was told that I’d kept them waiting. Later, on social media, the mayor said it reflected badly on me that I was late and had no supporters (later, she deleted this comment). I also had a visit from bylaw at the farm in question in McNab Braeside immediately following the meeting. Upon further investigation, I discovered that the complaint had been made by a non-neighbour before the meeting occurred. In fact, the complaint was made the day that I submitted my presentation to the municipality office ahead of the meeting. At this time, knowledge of my bees’ location was not public knowledge, and even the little information given in my presentation would not be enough for an observer to make sense of. It contained a vague screenshot map of the property in question and was meant to show that bees placed in that space on that property were not in violation of Ontario level laws. Someone at the township office extrapolated from that map the location of my hives and put in a request for service from by-law. I suggested in my own Facebook post that Ms Hoddinott had made the bylaw complaint herself, at which time she called me a liar (then deleted the comment). I am able to provide supporting documentation and screenshots upon request.

I feel that these are not the actions of someone who is best suited to represent farmers and agribusiness within our county. She shows a lack of decorum both in person and online that is not appropriate for someone in her position, is inflexible in her positions and views, and does not seemingly do anything for the agribusinesses in her township except cause strife. It is my hope that you will reconsider her appointment and find someone more suited to the demands of the position for the good of all farmers in our county.

Sincerely,

Tauney Stinson

Forager Bee Apiary
Renfrew