New Acton Library Tour

On Thursday, members of Council were given an opportunity to tour the construction site also known as the New Acton Library.

The tour began in the current library that was built in the 1960's. One could immediately see the problems inherent in the design of the existing facility. The stairs are the biggest problem. Parents with strollers are really challenged and anyone with mobility issues would find access to any part of the library very difficult. The cramped space is also clearly a problem.

In contrast, the new library pictured above is on one level and is airy and welcoming. Although there is lots of finishing work to be done, it already looks terrific. The natural wood ceiling, stone accent walls, gas fireplace and natural light flooding the entire space combine to give a warm ambiance throughout.

It is expected that the new library will be open to the public at the end of February. I expect that this will become a new cherished focal point for the people of Acton. The only problem I see is that more people will want to come and just stay by the fireplace. I bet that applications to work there will also skyrocket.

Minister of Transportation in Halton Hills

On Friday afternoon we had the privilege of having Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation for the Province of Ontario visit Halton Hills. She was primarily here for a "Meet and Greet" organized by the Wellington-Halton Hills Liberal Party. However, in advance of that event we were able to book a meeting with the Minister at our town hall in order to present the Minister with our point of view on several local transportation issues.

Pictured here is Minister Wynne in the centre of the table. Also in attendance were members of the senior management team and Mitch Zamojc, Commissioner of Public Works at Halton Region. Councillors Somerville, Johnson, Kentner, Robson, Lewis and myself were part of the discussion that was led by Mayor Bonnette.

Approximately 10 issues were covered including the GO Transit Expansion to Acton, increased funding for ActiVan, Active transportation issues, and perhaps most important - our position and concerns with respect to the preferred route for the Greater Tororto Area West Corridor - a proposed new 400 series highway.

I was very impressed with the Minister and her almost instantaneous grasp of the issues. It must be extremely difficult to put herself into the local context when she visits municipalities all across Ontario. Her responses are always reasonable given that she can't simply make up new policies on the fly. However she will tell you if she can help or she can't help. It is very much appreciated that we get a straight answer so that we don't have false hope or start down a pathway that won't lead anywhere in the end.

As part of our meeting I was able to raise the issue of how the Ontario Highway Traffic Act needs to be brought in line with the new emphasis on Active Transportation, particularly as it relates to encouraging pedestrian activity. I have been thinking about this for a couple of years. It was frustrating when Main Street Georgetown was reconstructed with obvious crosswalks that pedestrians could not be given the priority many thought they had. Many people assumed that they had the right of way at the crosswalk whereas in fact the cars have the right of way. We, as a municipality do not have the authority to give the pedestrians the right of way unless we put up those huge, over the road, flashing lights such as they have in Acton.

I have observed in other countries and provinces that municipalities can create situations where pedestrians have the right of way and I would like to have the option here. The Minister was quick to say that this is definately something that they are hoping to address and would welcome further input. Commissioner Zamojc also indicated that this is subject of that the GTA Commissioners are also exploring. I was very encouraged and I will be pursuing this further with the Ministry.

The Minister graciously allowed me to get a picture of the two of us. The Minister is on the right side.

If you have comments about pedestrian priority or any other transportation issues I would like to hear your point of view or suggestion.

Magic on Main Street

Congratulations to the Georgetown BIA for organizing a great Christmas event in Downtown Georgetown. Throngs of children swarmed Santa who was wearing his very best suit for the occasion. As you can see, Santa had a castle created and donated by Blake Smith of Lasting Impressions. Blake is super creative with his balloon art and is now an international award winner. I am always delighted to see what he comes up with for occasions such as this. Santa himself was absolutely charming with the children.

Mr. Nutcracker roamed the streets and chatted with anyone who was willing to look up, look way up.

Another huge hit was the horse drawn wagon ride which attracted a steady line up of eager families. Even Santa couldn't resist the opportunity and was given the special privilege of sitting up front.

There were lots of activities for children in the stores and treats for everyone outside. The bells at Knox church set the tone and later the Georgetown Choral Society enlivened the street with their rendition of favourite songs of the season. Kids, old and young were roasting marshmellows over hot coals and elves were dashing about handing out candy.

This was the third espisode of Holiday Magic on Main and it was by far the most successful in terms of attracting participants and keeping them entertained for several hours. It was blessed with perfect weather - invigorating would be a good description. I recall the first year as bone numbing and challenging. This was a great beginning to the Christmas season downtown. Thanks to the BIA for providing such a great family event for the enjoyment of the community.

Quarry Expansion Public Meeting

Last night I attended the second public meeting for the Dufferin Aggregates application to expand their licenced extraction area at the Acton Quarry. Dufferin submitted their application in March 2009 and are expecting to have a decision made by next summer.

There were only about 25 members of the public in attendance which was surprisingly few given the huge public response to applications in Caledon and Burlington. Perhaps there are significant differences amongst the 3 applications that make them unique.

Public comments last night centred on vibration and private well disturbances from the existing quarry. There were virtually no comments about the affects from an expansion of the operation. In fact the term expansion is misleading as what is being requested does not boost the daily operation but rather, it extends the life of the quarry by expanding the area that can be extracted.

Haul routes are always an issue but in this case there are no new haul routes proposed. The routes that are currently in use are certainly troublesome to those who own houses along the routes. The route along Maple Avenue to River Drive runs right through the middle of residential Georgetown and we would dearly love to eliminate that. This could be done if there was a reasonable alternative available. Unfortunately we don't have one at this time.

For me there are 2 important issues in considering the Dufferin application - perpetual water pumping and the World Biosphere.

The first issue came to light last night via a casual comment. It would seem that part of the plan may involve a need to perpetually pump water in order to balance the water in the 2 watersheds the quarry sits atop. The quarry is on the great divide between the Credit River (Black Creek) and the 16 Mile Creek watersheds. Once the excavation goes deep enough it disturbs the distribution of water so that it is thought that too much water will go to Black Creek and not enough to 16 Mile Creek. The solution is to pump the water back to where it naturally goes now. The catch is that this is no temporary measure. If it is required then it will need to continue forever.

In my opinion forever is something that is hard to contemplate. When we think back in history, the Romans had an empire 2000 years ago and the world has been in constant turmoil ever since. That amount of time is a flash in the pan compared to "forever". Think of what can happen in a 1000 year time span - things that can disrupt economies and nations such as world wars and the plagues. If our part of the world experiences a major disruption will the pumping continue on?

Should we be concerned about how this is going to work so far into the future? I think the answer is yes and so this possibility of requiring perpetual pumping concerns me. The need for perpetual pumping is being studied and I will certainly be watching for the recommendation.

My second concern is about the World Biosphere known as the Niagara Escarpment. It strikes me as strange that we, as a province, take the Niagara Escarpment seriously enough to have it protected through the Niagara Escarpment Plan and yet there is absolutely no limit to the amount of quarrying that can take place there. Incrementally it is being eaten away. Is the plan to let it all disappear except for the face? Or will there ever be a limit to the extraction at which point we say 'enough is enough'?

We use aggregate to support growth and the case is always made that this aggregate is close to market making it the cheapest source. Also, it is noted that the shorter the distance to market, the less fumes go into the atmosphere from the trucks. However, not every growth centre has a convenient escarpment in its back yard and yet they seem to overcome the economics of longer haulage routes. It is all really just a question of priorities.

I don't know when this question will be dealt with but at some point I believe we, the people of Ontario, will say enough is enough. The government will never act on its own. It will be up to the people to express their will.

If you have comments about the Dufferin application they should be addressed via email to nancy.mott-allen@ontario.ca She is the planner leading the joint agency review team (JART). The report is available on the Niagara Escarpment website. http://www.escarpment.org/applications/amendments/proposed/index.php#acton quarry

Your comments or questions are always welcome via this blog.

Local Jazz and Dinner Sold Out Performances

This past weekend the Bach Chorale made a musical leap from Bach to jazz and show tunes. The performance was a lot of fun for the sold out crowd. The Bach Chorale is under the leadership of Georgetown resident and concert pianist Ron Greidanus. Ron is in the centre picture playing the piano while a choir member performs an outstanding version of "Cry Me A River".
The evening features dinner prepared by local resident Yvonne Oldaker and is served by members of the choir. Throughout the dinner various members stop serving and start singing. All of this takes place in a truly unique older home on Main Street South in Georgetown. It is a casual setting with tables set up in 3 different rooms. The audience is encouraged to wander back and forth between rooms to mingle with other attendees and catch various performances.
Dinner itself began with champagne and appetizers. Multiple courses followed including a choice of Coq au Vin or Boeuf a la Julia Child.
Pictured below are desserts from one of two differnt dessert trolleys.
This particular evening was an unusual one with respect to the musical selections. However, the same type of evening happens at Christmas and features music from the group's
classical repertoire. At Christmas the house itself is sumptuously decorated and is a visual treat all by itself.
I would recommend the Bach Chorale to anyone who appreciates classical music and enjoys the gift of live performance.
For future opportunities to hear the Bach Chorale please visit http://www.georgetownbachchorale.com/.

Election Over and The Work Begins

On Monday the Ward 3 councillors, Moya Johnson, Dave Kentner and myself, Jane Fogal were all returned to office with strong endorsements from the electorate. Congratulations to my colleagues on their very robust election campaigns. The hard work obviously paid off.
Now that the Election is Monday's news, we are right back to work. We all talked to many people during the campaign and numerous issues were raised.

For example the pictures on the left are of the railroad underpass at McNabb/John Street, the town owned land at the corner of McNabb and Mill Street and the disappearing sidewalk on McNabb Street. Residents have raised these 3 locations as safety issues that they want the town to address.

Councillor Kentner is organizing a meeting of staff, councillors and concerned residents that will likely happen on November 16th in the morning. Any resident is welcome to attend this meeting and should confirm the date and time by contacting Councillor Kentner 905 877 6710.

This is one example of how councillors work with staff to address resident concerns. Yesterday I attended a similar meeting at Gardiner
Public School with the Ward 4 Councillors and the Mayor. In that case we were investigating the possible need for an additional crossing guard.

These are typical concerns that are raised by the public during an election campaign and throughout the term. If you have a concern you can call the Town directly or you can contact any of your councillors.

Election Day in Halton Hills

Today is Election Day in all municipalities across Ontario. For candidates the last month has been intense, as they all rush to get information into the hands of the electorate.

As a candidate for the position of Regional Councillor representing Wards 3 and 4 (Georgetown) I either delivered or had volunteers deliver 12,000 brochures to residents' doors.

I have heard some complaints that residents received their brochure but the candidate didn't knock on the door. What the resident doesn't realize is that it would require starting the campaign in June for the candidates to knock on all the doors at a time of day when people might actually be home. For new candidates who are working full time this would be impossible. The compromise is to find helpers and then do as much door knocking as possible in order to find out what is on people's minds in different parts of the town.

My own door knocking revealed that growth is still the primary concern. Residents perceive the town to be growing quickly and fear where we are going in the future.

I chose this particular picture to illustrate the point because it seemed that people were really saying they valued the small town atmosphere surrounded by landscapes such as the one pictured.

This attitude stands in stark contrast to the attitude found in Milton where the growth is more welcome.

At this point Town Council and Halton Regional Council have approved growth for Georgetown to take place in the timeframe 2021 to 2031 that will add 20,000 new residents to a 1000 acre block bounded by Main Street South, 15th Sideroad, 10th Sideroad and Trafalgar Road. However, this growth area will be challenged at the Ontario Municipal Board by landowners south of the 10th Sideroad. They will argue that we need to approve more land for development.

The approval by local Council for this growth was a strategic decision based on knowledge that we would be taken to the OMB regardless. It was felt that by taking some growth we could avoid having massive growth, perhaps tripling what we have accepted. I believe that this was a sound decision.

I also think that we now need to be working on a strategy to further protect the farmland around Georgetown in anticipation of the next growth plan to be thrust on us by the province.

I would be interested in your comments on growth in and around Georgetown.

Delrex Bike Lane and Parking

The recent addition of what appears to be bike lanes on Delrex has led some to believe that parking has been impacted. The picture of the cyclist was taken on Delrex near Maple Ave. In fact there has been no change to the parking permitted on Delrex as a result of the painted lines.

Although the lines effectively move the traffic to the centre of the road and provide a safe refuge for cyclists, these are not official bike lanes. You will not see any signage indicating that it is an official bike lane.

Prior to the lines being installed, all of the residents of Delrex Blvd. were sent a letter by the Town explaining the role and function of the lane markings.

Parking is still permitted in the lane and cyclists will have to go around parked cars. However, the reality is that there are very few cars parked along Delrex and so the lanes do function as if they were official lanes most of the time.

The result is that it is much safer for cyclists and as a bonus, the traffic tends to go slower with the narrower lane for cars.

On Danby Road in Georgetown South there was more room in the road allowance and staff were able to paint both a bike lane and a parking area. This is illustrated in the photo taken on Danby Road with a car parked next to the curb and a bike lane beside the car.

These are the first 'on road' bike lanes to be added to Georgetown streets and represent the first steps in implementing the Halton Hills Cycling Master Plan. The rest of the draft plan can be viewed at http://www.haltonhills.ca/cycling/index.php

Georgetown Farmer's Market Wraps Up Successful Season

This morning was the last day for the Georgetown Farmer's Market. Everyone agrees that this has been another very successful season.

The strength of this market is that it is truly a farmer's market and not a flea market. The food is produced in Ontario and much of it is organic. As a result, it has gained a reputation throughout the region as an authentic fresh food source and now people are coming here from Oakville and beyond to buy their fresh produce.

The bottom picture features entrepreneur chef Jenny Allen and the Market Manager Kim Falls.

Jenny is an amazing young entrepreneur who previously owned and operated Canterbury Gourmet Foods on Main Street Georgetown. In 2009 she sold the business due to the pending birth of her son Emmett. However, nothing can get in the way of Jenny's passion to cook and so she has begun a new business called Jentree Whole Foods. The food is healthy and delicious and is produced in her home kitchen, which is fully inspected. The packages of granola pictured here at the Farmer's Market are also available at Foodstuffs on Main Street Georgetown.

Jenny shares her passion for food by running cooking classes in the kitchen above Foodstuffs. She has classes scheduled for Oct. 25th, Nov. 7th and Nov. 15th. and you can register by calling Foodstuffs at 905 877 6569. Give them a call and you too could be whipping up a dish of Smoked Salmon Canapes with Cucumber and Wasabi Mayo"

The Jentree website is www.jentreewholefoods.com.

Sustainability??? The Natural Step?

Sustainability is a buzz word that pops up in many conversations but is very poorly understood. The fact that people are talking about it indicates that it is important but some people are actually making fun of it because they don't understand it.

On the other hand, if you ask people if they think that the forests are disappearing faster than they are being replaced or if they are worried about farmland disappearing, then they intuitively say yes. There is an obvious link between their worries and the concept of sustainability.

Two people who have done a great deal of thinking about sustainability were at Sheridan College today for the kick off of Sheridan's Sustainability Week and appear in the photo. On the left is Mayor Ken Melamed of Whistler, B.C. and beside him, the founder of The Natural Step, Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert. Dr. Robert was the guest speaker to a full house of students, faculty and community leaders.

Dr. Robert is a very engaging speaker who attempts to explain this very complex topic in a manner that can be understood by lay people such as myself. The Natural Step was founded in 1989 in Sweden and was first used to help businesses analyse their business model in terms that would sustain them over the long haul. The principles have now been applied more broadly and have been embraced by communities such as Whistler.

I attended the lecture because I am one of those people who worry about running out of farmland. I see the population going up and up and up whereas I understand that resources are limited. To me, when there is an apparent endless abundance of resources then we use them with abandon. However, when resources are perceived as limited then an entirely different mindset kicks in. We have only to look at the cod fishery to see what happens when we think only of today and fail to manage our resources with the future in mind. To me, sustainability is simply about good management with a long term vision of what we want the world to be like in the future. The actions we take today must match the vision we have for the future.

Dr. Robert has provided the world with a framework to help us to think about the future and to help us figure out how to manage our resources so that we can both prosper today and improve our environment for the future. In the coming term of council this will be a theme that will be heard regularly as we attempt to manage our piece of the planet, the Town of Halton Hills.

Old Seed House Garden Fall Planting

Volunteers, pictured to the left, spent the Saturday Oct 16th sprucing up The Old Seed House Garden. Regular volunteers with The Friends of the Old Seed House Garden were augmented with community volunteers and students from Christ the King High School. This was the autumn blitz to get the Garden ready for winter and spring.

The formal garden had the lavender tidied up and squared off. The beds were cleaned out and replanted with tulips for the spring. The fish pond was winterized and perennials were thinned.

In the foreground of the top picture you can see one of two delightful bronze sculptures donated by Fred Helson. The stone pillars were donated by local stonemasons, Gerry and Ryan Inglis and the installation was courtesy of Artcast.

I am a regular volunteer with The Friends and help out every Tuesday morning during the growing season. We have a small group who faithfully weed and keep the Garden looking attractive. I really enjoy my time in the Garden. It is such a pleasant change from my regular job that usually involves either sitting in meetings or reading reports. Chatting with friends while making a public space more attractive is most gratifying.

We would be very happy to have more help and anyone who is interested in lending a hand can either just show up on a Tuesday morning or contact me for more information.

$8 Million Upgrade to Sewage Treatment Plant

I arranged to have a tour of the Georgetown Waste Water Treatment Plant on Friday morning. The plant is getting a number of upgrades that will ensure there is capacity for Georgetown within the existing urban boundaries. This upgrade will not meet the capacity needs of the new growth planned for the 2021 to 2031 timeframe.

The plant is located in Hungry Hollow just east of Mountainview Road. Because it is in a heavily wooded area it is difficult to see even from the trail immediately across Silver Creek.
Under certain conditions the plant causes odour problems for the residents living along the edge of the ravine, particularly in Georgetown south. Many of the upgrades are intended to reduce odour impacts.

The top photo shows the progress with the new digester. Friday was the last day that concrete was being poured and it is expected that the digester will closed in prior to winter settling in.

This is a Halton Regional Facility and the upgrades will cost the Region $8.25 million.
My tour included all of the processes and odour reducing features.

This plant could be described as 'state of the art' although there are some plants in the world that actually produce potable water at the end of the process. In this case the water that is discharged into Silver Creek is more pure than the water in the Creek. The middle picture shows the outlet and it certainly looks clean.

This plant must produce clean water because it is going into a creek. Plants that discharge into Lake Ontario are not required to meet this standard because they have much less impact on such a huge body of water.
The bottom photo shows the UV tubes being worked on by a maintenance worker. When he is finished the bank of tubes will be lowered to a rack under the floor where the water flows through the tubes for final purification/disinfection. This process replaces chlorination and is a superior process as there is no chemical residue.
Regarding odour control, some of the measures include misting with masking agents, carbon filters that absorb odour, and increased enclosure of processes including a new cone over the sludge removal area. This area will be under negative pressure to capture the odour causing molecules before they can escape to the atmosphere.

Sewage treatment is generally not a topic of conversaton. However, if the plant should ever stop working perfectly then it immediately becomes a top of mind issue. We expect it to simply work all the time. These plants are quite sophisticated and represent a significant part of your Regional tax bill. Sometimes people say to me that they don't get anything for their tax dollars but this just reveals that most of the time what they are paying for is working so well they don't even think about it.

How Many New Houses Can We Expect?

In a previous blog I wrote about water allocation and the fact that the Town now has water that can be allocated to new housing. On Monday September 27th Council allocated water to 4 housing developments that have been planned and waiting for years for this water.

Water was allocated to the following developers:

Halton Hills Village Homes will build 384 single detached homes east of Saint Catherines of Alexandria school on Barber Drive in Georgetown South

Fernbrook Homes will build 107 single detached homes and 40 townhomes west of Mountainview and north of 10th sideroad

Eden Oak will build 142 townhomes on Main Street north at Carruthers Road

Menkes will build 50 single detached homes and 80 townhomes on the former Upper Canada College

The Eden Oak development is from the Residential In Fill pool and the other 3 developments are from the Residential pool.

There is still water left in reserve to permit further development of residental, in-fill residential and non-residential.

Just Cupcakes Opens in Downtown Georgetown

Yesterday was the official opening of a unique new business in downtown Georgetown. Just Cupcakes is a new business that morphed out of an old business.
Up until a month ago 98 Main Street South was the home of Canterbury Gourmet Foods, a business that served lunch and specialized in frozen entrees. Canterbury was originated by gourmet chef Jenny Allen. However when Jenny decided to retire from business, the current owners of Just Cupcakes took over the business.
I asked what made them switch business models. Apparently they had added cupcakes to the menu and couldn't keep up with the demand in addition to preparing all of the other foods. The idea of a cupcake business had been on their minds for years so they decided to drop everything else and just do cupcakes.
Apparently cupcakes are just fun and they like having fun.
The interior has been remodelled by the 3 owners, Debbey, Rosey and Arlene with assistance from their husbands. This is a family affair with 2 sisters and 2 sisters-in-law in the trio.
So far business has been very good and today they booked their first wedding.
The complete menu can be found on their website www.justcupcakes.ca

Hospital Walk Raises $30,000

Last Sunday was a lovely day for a walk around the hospital district in support of the Georgetown Hospital Foundation. The Mayor's team was filled out with councillors. The picture shows from left to right, Mayor Bonnette, Councillors Jane Fogal, Dave Kentner, Moya Johnson and Bob Inglis. Missing from the photo is Councillor Jon Hurst. It was understandable that he missed the photo as he was out of town and actually did the walk in North Bay. He told us that it was much hillier than the course in Georgetown. Jon is a Board member of Halton Health Care and a staunch supporter of the hospital, so simply being out of town was insuffient reason to not participate.

The photo below shows the extraordinary group of people who did the 5 km walk. Doing the walk is one thing. Doing it while pushing an adult in a wheelchair is quite another. I am very impressed with those who managed to complete the 5 kms in this manner.

The purple people in the front of the photo are Paul's Peeps, the team from Armstrong Insurance. They raised the most money of any team with a total of nearly $8000. Paul Armstrong is a former Georgetown Citizen of the Year in recognition of his generosity both financially and timewise. I have personally worked with Paul on the Board of Cote Terrace Seniors Apartments and have seen his leadership and dedication first hand.

Congratulations to the Hospital Foundation for raising $30,000 for help pay for equipment that is not funded by the Ministry of Health.

Water and development in Georgetown

This is a quick overview of the water situation in Georgetown.
All of the water used in Georgetown comes from 3 wells: Lindsay Court, Princess Anne, and Cedarvale. These wells are all rated by the province for the maximum amount that can be pumped out of each one without harming the surrounding environment such as wetlands and streams.
The maximum amount allowable is determined through pumping tests that have to be done throughout the 4 seasons of the year.
Once the maximum allowable has been reached then no new development can be approved. All new development requires a water allocation.
For the past several years the town has not been able to allocate any new water and therefore could not approve any new development, whether that was houses, commercial development or institutions such as schools or seniors housing.
During this period the Region of Halton has been conducting a search for a new well field. You may have seen this testing in the area south of the 15th sideroad and east of Trafalgar Road.
Also, further pumping tests have been conducted on the Cedarvale well.
The province recently approved a new rating for Cedarvale that would provide enough water for 1200 new single detached homes also referred to as 1200 SDEs.
It is up to the Town to allocate that water.
The Town of Halton Hills divides up that water into 3 categories in order to balance development. The following categories and allocation were approved at Monday's Council meeting: Residential 750 SDE's, In-fill Residential 250 SDE's, Non-Residential 200SDE's.
When this water is used up then we will be back in the situation where development will stop unless there is another re-rating of a well. However, we have been told to expect that another 1200 SDE's will be approved by the province in the next couple of years.
My experience is that it always takes longer than suggested.

Councillors Support Rotary But Who Pays?

The photo shows several members of Halton Hills Council at the Georgetown Rotary Club annual fundraising dinner last night. Pictured seated are Councillors Joan Robson, Bob Inglis and Jon Hurst, and standing Moya Johnson, Dave Kentner and myself, Jane Fogal.

Councillors attend many fundraising functions throughout the year but I am sure that many people wonder who is really paying. The answer is that councillors pay their own way. We do not have expense accounts to draw upon at the Town.

There is the odd time when we are invited by the organization and are given free tickets by the organization. But that usually happens when they want us to play a role in the event, ie they want us to be a speaker.

The expense accounts of Toronto City Councillors is a topic in the Toronto election but there is no comparison between their situation and ours, even though we do the same job. For example, when constituents call me they often apologize for calling me at home. I tell them that is okay because they have reached my home office. We do not have town offices or administrative assistants. We are given laptops and blackberries by the Town and then we are on our own. We schedule our own appointments, pay for our own paper and internet costs, and do our own filing. This is not the case in larger municipalities such as Oakville and Burlington. We run a very lean operation in Halton Hills.

There are some expenses that the Town covers such as mileage and expenses associated with conferences if the Town has approved our attendance.

I was amused a few years ago when the Harris government advocated that municipal governments should be cutting back the number of councillors as a great cost cutting measure. The cost to the municipality for a local councillor is very minimal in the overall budget and any cut would hardly be noticable on your tax bill.

Local Councillors in Halton Hills are considered part-time and are paid $22,330 per year. Regional Councillors are full time employees who act as both Regional and Local Councillors and are paid $65,134.

I hope this helps to clarify the councillor's expenses in the Town of Halton Hills.

Cycling Summit Draws Star Speakers

On Monday and Tuesday of this past week I attended the Ontario Cycling Summit in Burlington. I was very impressed with the quality of the speakers and the opportunities for interaction with people who make policy decisions in Ontartio.

The first picture is of Sam Adams, Mayor of Portland Oregon. He was an incredible speaker and talked about the success that Portland has had since it began to plan for the future by changing how people move around the city. They have integrated thinking about carbon reduction, economic success and healthy lifestyles and invested in changing the infrastructure and land use planning to support it.

Portland has been transformed from a city that was failing to a vibrant, economic powerhouse that people love to work and live in.

A huge part of the vision was accomplished through focusing on cycling as a mode of transportation. As Mayor Adams put it, "cycling is now part of our DNA." There isn't a message that goes out about the city that does not reference cycling.
Portland's 'Green Dividend' is estimated at $2.6 billion per year. Yes that is billion. Portland has reduced carbon emissions on a real bases, not per capita, from 1990 levels!
Residents of Portland are also the 7th fittest in the U.S.
The economy has taken off and it is largely focused on outdoor gear, sports equipment and all things related to sports and recreation.
Portland built its entire 300 mile cycling network for the same cost as a single mile of urban freeway. It is clear that taking cars off the road reduces the need for more miles of freeway expansion or repair. It is obviously a great investment for everyone, regardless of whether you are the one on the bike or the one in the car on a less busy road.

One cannot help but see the contrast between what Sam Adams has done in Portland and what the mayoralty candidates in Toronto are advocating.

The second photo is of the Minister of Transportation, the honorable Kathleen Wynne. It shows the change in attitude at the provincial level when the Minister agrees to speak at a bicycle conference. The Minister was very knowledgeable and well spoken. She brought with her many of her senior policy staff and they also made a presentation and asked for input from the delegates at the conference. It was pleasantly surprising to see this kind of two-way communication at the ministerial level built into the summit format.

The third picture is of Marcus Gee, Globe and Mail columnist and Eleanor McMahon, Executive Director of Share the Road and conference organizer. Marcus was scathing in his comments about Rob Ford, Toronto mayoralty candidate. Gee remarked that Ford fails to get his facts right and yet people seem to love him. Marcus Gee is someone who does get his facts right so it makes the Ford popularity all the more perplexing.
The conference was packed with insightful speakers and people who get thing done. There were many examples of success stories in municipalities across North America where cycling has been promoted and where the quality of life has improved in concert with that effort.
In Halton Hills we have just completed our first cycling Master Plan. It will soon be coming to council for approval. I hope to be involved in the implementation as we start to make Halton Hills a cycling friendly community.

My Racquet Club Celebrates 35 Years of Fun

Last Saturday the Georgetown Racquet Club celebrated 35 years of fun, fitness and friendship. I have personally been an active member of the club for 32 of those years.

The Club is off the beaten track so you have to be looking for it to find it. It is located on Armstrong Avenue, in our Georgetown industrial area, and is just east of the Sinclair intersection. This doesn't sound like an appealing area but the surprising thing is that as soon as you turn into the driveway you are transported to an entirely different landscape. You instantly find yourself in a wooded paradise nestled in the Credit River Valley.

The first picture illustrates the point. It shows the 2 lighted tennis courts carved out of the wooded valley. I have personally watched deer wander by as I was playing tennis. It is an idyllic place to relax and enjoy a spirited game of tennis with friends.

The second picture shows a visitor to the open house as he tries one of the skills tests that were set up for anyone to try. There are 2 American courts and 2 International courts at the club. They have different dimensions but it is still the same game and players use both courts depending on what is available. The club also has an exercise room and saunas in the locker rooms.

I can honestly say that the club has played a very important role in my life. I have developed some of my best friendships at the club. We have celebrated together and supported each other throughout the years. I certainly had no such expectations when I joined all those years ago.

Of course playing squash is also important to me as part of my fitness program. I find that I can totally lose myself in the game and forget how hard I have to work to get to the ball. It is a fun way to work up a sweat while having a lot of fun. I feel really fortunate to still be playing this game at my age.
There are opportunities at the club for all skill levels and all ages. It is indicative of a great club when there are young players who develop into great players and that has happened here. Melanie Jans and Andrew Jones both started in the junior program went on to great national and international prominence. Melanie is our first Olympic star. Andrew came back to the club for the 35th anniversary and played an exhibition match to show all of us just how the game is supposed to be played.

If you are interested in more information about the club, just call 905 877 0333 or email me if you prefer.

United Way President's Ball

This photo was taken Saturday night at the United Way 12th Annual President's Ball. As you can see the Campaign Goal is $325,000 which is the highest ever.
Surrounding the campaign sign from left to right is MP Michael Chong, Councillor Joan Robson, Mayor Rick Bonnette, Chris Cooke, Chair of the Campaign Committee, Councillor Moya Johnson, Councillor Dave Kentner, Janet Foster United Way Manager, and Councillors Bryan Lewis and Jane Fogal

The Event was held at The Club at North Halton and was well attended. Congratulations to the organizers who put together a very enjoyable evening. There was an extensive Silent Auction all to help the cause. Bidding was fairly brisk so it appears that the United Way of Halton Hills is off to a great start.
The United Way is also very well supported by Town staff. There are many events at the Civic Centre and satellite locations throughout the year in support of the United Way. You will notice on Fridays that staff who participate in the payroll deduction plan can participate in Casual Fridays.
The United Way funds a long list of agencies in Halton Hills and I hope everyone will remember to "Give Where You Live."