Mayor's Report
Recent Winterfest was another big success
By Marolyn Morrison

I would like to start off 2008 by wishing everyone a very happy, safe and prosperous New Year.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Caledon Citizen for allowing me to write a column that informs the residents of Caledon of important issues and provides information that keeps them up to date.

It is amazing the number of residents who appreciate this opportunity that the paper has afforded me. I appreciate it and thank the Caledon Citizen very much for understanding the importance of this.

We had a very successful Winterfest recently. When I became the Mayor, I changed the way that the Town we brought in the New Year with an open house for residents. In the past it was done on New Year's day and it was very apparent to me that staff had to work New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to make the Levee happen. I felt very strongly that Christmas and New Year's was for families to spend time together and enjoy each other, so I changed the Levee to the Sunday after New Year's and we call it Winterfest.

Winterfest is an opportunity for the whole community of Caledon to come out and enjoy swimming, skating and friendship together, along with the mayor and members of council. This year was a huge success, and I want to thank everyone who came out, whether to just enjoy each other's company or to swim or skate. We had a ball.

Councillors enjoyed skating also, such as Councillor McClure, who took a few turns around the rink with his grandchildren. Other Councillors, such as Councillor Paterak, Beffort, Whitehead, deBoer and Thompson, enjoyed the camaraderie and friendship of greeting many of the residents who arrived to enjoy the afternoon. I didn't see any of the councillors in the pool. Maybe next year.

We had a record number of residents attend. Over 100 more this year than last year and the winner of the gift was a lovely lady from Bolton. Residents came from all over Caledon and we had a great time meeting and greeting everyone.

Thank you residents of Caledon for making it such a wonderful day and especially thank you to the staff who made all of the arrangements, decorations and served the food.

Isn't Caledon a wonderful place to live!