The Township of Georgian Bay approved $82,000 to install heat pump systems and upgrade the MacTier and Honey Harbour fire halls.
During the Sept. 14 council meeting, Mara Engel, director of operations, presented a report outlining the findings of a 2020 air quality assessment that identified elevated humidity levels at the MacTier fire hall.
Engel said the Honey Harbour Fire Hall has the same design and was built at the same time as the MacTier Fire Hall, so staff addressed both facilities in the report to ensure they received the necessary ventilation and building upgrades.
Due to concerns about indoor air quality and potential mould growth, staff implemented a temporary mitigation measure in 2025 by installing a portable air conditioning unit at the MacTier Fire Hall.
“Neither facility has air conditioning, and we did subsequent testing,” said Engel. “The result was that the air quality was good. So, we’ve identified that air conditioning, by reducing the humidity, has addressed the issues.”
The original project contemplated installing a mechanical ventilation or heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system to improve air circulation and humidity control to fix the issue.
Engel said that based on the findings, staff asked council to install heat pump systems at both facilities rather than addressing ventilation alone, while remaining within the allocated budget.
According to the report, each fire hall currently has an approved capital budget of $41,000 for ventilation and building upgrades.
The report states that ductless heat pump systems are considered the most practical and cost-effective solution for these facilities, which do not have existing ductwork.
Staff said installation of heat pump systems will provide cooling, dehumidification, and energy-efficient heating while eliminating the need for a dedicated ventilation solution.
Additionally, staff recommended replacing the existing carpet at the MacTier Fire Hall with commercial vinyl flooring to further reduce the risk of recurring moisture and mould issues.
As a result, council approved almost unanimously the installation of heat pump systems and upgrades to both facilities.
