Three Musketears Skateboard Park Celebrates 3 Years!

Acton's Three Musketears Skateboard Park celebrates three years since it was opened. The celebration took place on International Skateboard Day. It is hard to believe that this skateboard park has already been open for three years as it just seems like yesterday that it opened. This skateboard park is in honour of three young teenagers who were tragically killed on Sept. 28th 2000 at a rail crossing outside of Acton. Travis Toth, Mark Everson and Rory Dick were avid skateboarders among other sports they enjoyed. Their parents and friends wanted to do something in honour of the boy's legacy. There was already a group of enthusiastic parents who wanted a skateboard park built in Acton. This was the perfect fit.

The total cost of the skateboard park was $265,000 in which $115,000 was raised by the community on numerous fundraising events including the popular Three Musketears Golf Tournament which still continues today. Councillor Clark Somerville, myself, Deb Fendley,Helen Colvin, Francis Niblock, Julie Roehrig did a lot of spade work on a committee called Acton Sports Action Park. There were public meetings we hosted for sites,design of the park as well as brainstormed many fundraising events.

Today the Three Musketears Skateboard park is enjoyed by many skateboarders as well as BMX'rs. Yesterday there were many kids enjoying competition as well as many family members of the boys were on hand. The weather was perfect to celebrate.

You'd be surprised how many kids skateboard. How many of you only thought it was Bart Simpson who skateboarded?

Wasn't that a Party! - Big Daddy Festival a Success

The Big Daddy Festival has now come and gone. After months of planning events the weekend event in Halton Hills was a success. This is the only Festival in all of Canada that is dedicated to Father's Day.

Kudos to all of the volunteers who planned all the events. I saw countless volunteers, you couldn't miss them with their Big Daddy t-shirts, handing out brochures. Beatrice Sharkey and Laurent Thibault did an amazing job quarter backing this event. They were like City Pulse TV, they were everywhere.

The weekend was a blur for my wife Josey and I as there were so many events to go to. We were well fed from the Taste of Acton and the movie in the park was like being at the drive-in without a car. The chill zone in down town Georgetown was also a busy place all weekend.

Of course, Classics Against Cancer was a huge draw as well as the Show and Shine for Autism which featured close to 200 motorcycles.

Councillor Bob Inglis did a great job at the annual Father's Day service in the Glen. Williams Mill was also a bee hive of activity. I missed the father's and son's street hockey game but I heard it went very well. It was a real opportunity to show case Halton Hills.

I know the creative juices are flowing and there will be many more ideas that will come out for next year's event. The brochure listing all of the events and locations was excellent. I can really see this event growing and Halton Hills being the place to be on Father's Day. This well run weekend was full of activities for everyone and can only get better next year.



See you next year!

Halton Hills Hosts the Big Daddy Fesitval this Weekend!

What are your plans for Father's Day? The Halton Hills Cultural Roundtable has been organizaing many amazing events thorughout Halton Hills for the Big Daddy Festival. This will be the only Festival in all of Canada to celebrate Father's Day and it's happening right here in Halton Hills. There will be many events in Georgetown, Acton, Limehouse, Glen Williams over this weekend of June 18-20. It should be fun for the whole family! There will be beer gardens, fishing derbies, movies in the parks, Taste of Acton, Farmers Market, Classics Against Cancer, Show and Shine for autism, walks along the Bruce Trail and boat building. Just to name a few. For more information visit www.bigdaddyfestival.ca.
See you there!

Halton Hills Sports Hall of Fame Inducts Six

One common thread in Halton Hills is its love for sports. Last night, Halton Hills Sports Museum inducted 6 individuals who played a key role in sports in Halton Hills. It was a night of reminiscing glory of yesteryear. Former Toronto Argo, Grey Cup Champion and Halton Hills resident Jim Kardash was the key note speaker.

Inducted in the Sports Hall of Fame were athletes and builders who devoted years in building sports and in Acton and Georgetown and now Halton Hills. Congratulations to Walter Dixon, David Armstrong and Frank Van de Valk for auto racing. They terrorized the racing tracks in the 60's. Paul Robinson, who scored 100 goals in a single season for the Georgetown Jr. C hockey team in 1967-68. Also was Haddy Smedema for best builder in Soccer. Haddy has dedicated 59 years to promoting and building the sport of soccer in Georgetown. Also hockey player Harold Townsley who played for many years and later coached many years in Acton was also inducted for hockey and baseball as best builder both sports. It was a wonderful night and a job well done by the Halton Hills Sports Museum Selection Committee.

Halton Hills Councillors and Mayor going to Jail...for Crime Stoppers

This Friday many of the Halton Hills Councillors will be behind bars at the Georgetown Market Place. So far, councillors Dave Kentner, Jane Fogal and John Duncan have been confirmed along with myself. This a fund raiser for an excellent organization Crime Stoppers. Other community members will also take part in this fun event including former citizen of the year Lois Fraser Former National Hockey League referee and long serving councillor for Ward Two Halton Hills Bryan Lewis will be judge and jury at the event. If anyone would like to make a donation to help the jail and bail please drop by. We know Judge Lewis will be pleased to take any pledges. My crime is that I am a chocoholic. So if you happen to drop by and you happen to have a chocolate please don't hesitate to share.

Again all proceeds go towards Crime Stoppers Halton. We have one of the lowest crime rates in Canada and the Crime Stoppers program is another avenue to preventing crime.

Halton Hills School Crossing Guards Thanked

Halton Hills is fortunate to have so many dedicated school crossing guards. Reflecting on my childhood, besides the home room teacher, I always thought the school janitor or the crossing guard were two of my favourite people while attending Robert Little School in Acton. They knew your name and as a kid that was so important as it showed respect. They knew if you had a bad day and could always make you laugh.

When I first became Mayor, I wanted to honour our dedicated crossing guards. Today will mark our 7th official Crossing Guard Appreciation Day. This event has been held in different schools throughout Halton Hills. Today we honoured our crossing guards at Holy Cross Catholic School. It is always a great event as we honour our crossing guards who are at their post every day whether it is raining, snowing, sunny, humid or freezing temperatures. They are always there for our children's safety. We have some crossing guards who have been do this for over 20 years. Angie Lamoureux has been a crossing guard in the Glen for over 25 years. Now that's dedication.

Our Town Council is very proud of the work of our crossing guards. Thank you once again.

Town's Green Plan Awarded

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not"
Dr. Seuss, from the Lorax

Since 1982, Conservation Halton has been recognizing people and organizations that have made significant contributions to conservation in the Halton watershed. Local environmental champions were recognized recently at Conservation Halton. There are six categories for awards, citizen, corporate, education,parks volunteer and stewardship.

The Town of Halton Hills won an award in the Corporate category. The Mayor's Green plan was set up in 2007 to recognize the importance of keeping the environment first. The Task Force was made up of myself along with councillors Kentner, Fogal, Robson, Somerville and Hurst. Along with Town staff and many from the community including Chamber of Commerce members, industry and local environmental organizations such as P.O.W.E.R. and others. We took the approach that if any Town plan was to get a buy in from the public it had to be PAREE ( practical, affordable, reasonable, enforceable and educational. We had a goal to preserve, protect and enhance our environment.



Hence the Task Force recommendations were approved by Town council and the Town of Halton Hills now has a Green Plan with has over 70 recommendations focus sing on energy conservation, environmental, social economic and cultural initiatives recognizing the importance of sustainability of the community.

It was an honor to receive the award on behalf of all of those who contributed to the Green Plan. At the time we were only about a dozen out of 440 municipalities in all of Ontario to have adopted a Green Plan.

Special thanks to committee members Councillors Kentner, Somerville, Fogal, Hurst and Robson, Wayne Scott (TEAC), Leslie Adams (P.O.W.E.R.),Sue Walker (Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce, Mike Cote (Neilson Dairy),Christine Upton (H.O.P.E.),Emily Dimytosh (Christ the King School student), town staff Dennis Perlin (CAO), Bruce MacLean (Director of Planning) and Damian Szybalksi (Policy Planner).

The last quote I will leave you is:
"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending". Maria Robinson