Year in Review
February

The second annual Great Caledon East Pancake Race was held ShroveTuesday. It started at Trailside Bistro and finished at St. James Anglican Church, where a pancake supper was held. This year's racers included (l to r) Robin McLeod, Kate Bilton, Dana McLeod and Danielle Milik, all from Caledon East.

Town councillors told municipal staff to get the local tax increase down to 2.8 per cent. This was accomplished by waiving a requirement to pay interest in the internal debt for the year.

Mayor Marolyn Morrison had plenty of praise for the job staff had done on the budget, calling it "absolutely phenomenal."

"To bring us a realistic budget that's bare bones, you're to be commended," she told staff.

Councillor Richard Paterak was impressed too.

"We still have money in the bank," he remarked. "We're in a very enviable position."

The tax hike meant another $28.75 in Town taxes for the average home in Caledon assessed at $361,000.

The package approved by council also included a $31.1 million capital component, which was to go mainly toward road work and park improvements. The main chunk of that was earmarked for the Bolton arterial roads.

As well, $2.6 million was set aside for road work in Inglewood. The Town had applied for a grant under the Canada - Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF)for that work, but was a turned down, much to the annoyance of the mayor.

"I thought for sure we'd get it this time," she said. "It sounded very good for us and we got nothing."

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Ali Jordan, 7, of Bolton wanted to do her bit to help people with cancer, so she had 10 inches of hair cut off to be donated to Locks of Love, an organization that provides hairpieces to children with the disease.

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The Dufferin - Peel Catholic District School Board trustees were not willing to take part in provincially mandated co- management, so they found themselves removed from the decision-making process, at least as far as finances were concerned.

Norbert Hartmann, the provincially appointed chair of the co-management team was put in charge as supervisor of finances.

Trustees maintained they were just standing up for their beliefs, as they defended a budget deficit estimated at some $2.5 million, arguing it was the result of provincial under-funding.

"We have the unanimous support of parents," commented Board Chair Bruno Iannicca. "This board has worked hard to make cuts to reduce the deficit, and now it's the province's turn to address the fiscal imbalance."

Previous education minister Gerard Kennedy had gone on the record months before as stating the problem was not with funding, but

with management.

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Valleywood dancer Erinn Brown was making a name for herself. She got the chance to travel to Ireland early in the month to compete in the All Ireland Championships, then she was to go to Glasgow in Scotland at Easter for the

World Championships.

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Students at Robert F. Hall Secondary School heard an inspirational talk from former Ontario cabinet minister Alvin Curling. His appearance, falling during Black History Month, included his recalling the feeling of being the first black member of the cabinet in Ontario (he was Housing Minister in the first government of David Peterson), as well as the first black Speaker of the

Legislature.

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Former Toronto Maple Leaf forward and hockey hero Paul Henderson was on hand at Teen Ranch to drop the puck for a celebrity hockey gala. Proceeds of the event went to benefitting the

Teen Ranch Foundation.

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Efforts were being made to drum up support for a

curling club in Caledon.

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The month included Peel Region welcoming a new medical officer of health.

Dr. David Mowat was appointed late in 2006, and he assumed his new duties Feb. 19, bringing with him an extensive background in public health from the federal, provincial and municipal levels. Most recently, he had served as a deputy chief public health officer with the Public Health Agency of

Canada.

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Nineteen students at Robert F. Hall Secondary School were suspended for cyber bullying, and a Web site containing derogatory comments about the principal

was taken down.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel held their first Bowl for Kids Sake event in

Bolton, and raised $9,175.

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It was announced the long awaited movie theatre for Bolton would be opening in

the summer.

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Caledon Citizen Editor Mark Pavilons was one of the recipients of an award from the Tema Conter Memorial Trust, presented to those making significant contributions to a community's

Peel Regional council passed its budget, calling for a 3.9 per cent tax increase, as well as a 9.2 per cent hike in water and wastewater utility rates.

"Council carefully deliberates its budgetary options to make critical service level decisions," commented Regional CAO David Szwarc. "As a result, the Region of Peel can now work with a budget that is well-balanced, sustainable and focused on providing residents in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga with quality programs and services that will continue to meet their needs, and still remain debt-free."

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Caledon educator and preschool operator Fabi Tempio-Hillier was one of the recipients of the Prime Minister's Award for understanding of critical stress and post-traumatic

stress disorders.

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Peel Regional council voted unanimously to contribute more money to the two local conservation authorities to fight global

warming.

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The Hills of Headwaters Tourism Association received a first-place award in tourism marketing for its visitors guide and map, and another for the Headwaters Golf Trail Brochure, from the Ontario Economic

Development Awards.

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Cold weather hit the area when it was needed in, facilitating the Kinsmen Canadian Pond Hockey Championship at Albion Hills Conservation Area.

Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

The presentation was made by Dufferin - Caledon MP David Tilson at the Caledon Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards night in March.

Paul Coffey's Bolton Toyota was named Business of the Year.

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A health and safety audit was conducted on the Town of Caledon in 2006, and the results reported in March gave the Town an impressive 97 per cent, an improvement over the 2004 score of 86 per cent, and a big gain from the 38 per cent scored in 2002.

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Several local business operators were combining their voices in calls to Caledon council to allow for more growth in the area.