Bolton merchants discuss Web site, radio station
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

The preparation of a merchants list, the development of a ShopBolton.ca Web site and the launch of Caledon radio station FM 101.5 were among the topics of discussion at last Monday's meeting of the Bolton Merchants Association held at Chef Talk Bistro.

In addition, the BMA welcomed guest speaker Ken Chartrand from Peel region to discuss the possibility of closing Regional Road 50 on the south hill for a special event like Midnight Madness.

BMA members Jane Collier and Victoria Kaye have spent hours trying to come up with a merchants list. Collier said they should get through the list in another session.

"We have no proper list to say who's in town," Kaye said.

BMA chair Lisa Scale noted when she made a presentation to Caledon council recently she was asked how many businesses there were in Bolton and she couldn't tell them.

She said the list is important to help businesses thrive.

"It's going to be an amazing Excel spreadsheet," Kaye said.

She added they have come up with five different categories. She explained the yellow pages of phone books are out of date when it comes to listing Bolton businesses.

Fab Natale of Chef Talk Bistro noted his business is still listed under Acqua 50 and Country Charm in the phone books.

Rick Sargent updated the group on the progress of the ShopBolton.ca Web site. He said they have a lot of good ideas for a mockup but it will be another two to three weeks before they have something tangible.

"We definitely have some good thoughts," he said.

He added the Web site will include a communication piece and a members' piece, and perhaps a limited public section. He's also working on a map.

Scale explained they're building the Web site so it's interactive. It will include the minutes of the BMA meetings, forms and updated news should a member miss a meeting.

"It's definitely going to be a multipurpose Web site," Sargent said.

He also noted Industry Canada has approved a low power FM radio station for Caledon to be called Radio Caledon FM 101.5. He explained it will be an information station that broadcasts local events, weather, road conditions, school closings, school bus cancellations, sports and community announcements.

"We're going to be the 680 news for Caledon," Sargent said.

He added they're hoping to test the station in a week or two with a full launch in the summer.

Guest speaker Ken Chartrand, a Caledon East resident, noted he's involved in road closures and special events at Peel region.

He also sits on the street naming committee. He explained developers and contractors supply them with proposed names and they look at the spelling, pronunciation and duplication.

"There's too many names that are similar," Kaye pointed out.

"We try to eliminate duplication as much as possible," Chartrand replied.

He added there's a good chance Regional Road 50 could be closed on the south hill for an event like Midnight Madness, although one side of the road would have to be kept open for emergency vehicles.

"There's nothing wrong with trying," he said.

He suggested the group approach Peel region as soon as possible if that's their plan. He explained the region, the utility companies and the people organizing the event would need at least three meetings to get everything organized.

"When that night comes, there's no room for error," Chartrand said.

Scale said the BMA is still just in the thought process right now.

She also raised a concern regarding the lack of a sidewalk in front of Hilltop Plaza.

"I find it's very unsafe to walk through the parking lot," she said.

Chartrand responded normally it's the Town that physically builds sidewalks, but it depends on the agreement the Town has with the region.

"It is a real safety hazard," Scale said. "A lot of merchants have said, 'BMA get us a sidewalk.' "

Last Tuesday the BMA was awarded a municipal grant allocation of $10,000 by Caledon council plus additional support through the Town's economic development and c o m m u n i c a t i o n s department.

The next meeting of the BMA will be held Tuesday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Chef Talk Bistro.