2009 — Perseverance in the face of reality

Almost 20 hours of hard swimming came to an end for Jade Scognamillo, as she touched this Kinetico Canada banner on the wall at Marilyn Bell Park in Toronto Aug. 1. At 15, she became the youngest person to successfully swim across. Lake Ontario. The year that just ended was barely half over when some started observing that a number of very prominent people were leaving us.

Such was certainly the case.

Western society lost a pop icon and a political icon. We lost the man who was saddled with much of the blame for the American debacle in Viet Nam, along with the journalist who was given much of the credit for showing just what a mess that really was. We also lost thespians, entertainers and a former heavyweight boxing champion.

There were such losses in Caledon too. A local school principal left us, as did a former trustee and man about town. But we persevered.

Caledon was once again named Canada’s safest community by a national magazine. And we still had all the fairs, festivals, parades and other events and happenings that make this community what it is.

Caledon East Public School Principal Brad Teeter was lining up a shot in a friendly game of “Bump” against other teachers to the delight of the student body. They were all taking part in a warm-up for the school’s Hoops for Heart event in February. But even in the middle of all of that, many of us knew reality. For too many of us, that reality was represented by the loss of jobs, or the fear of such loss. And there were other obstacles to overcome.

Here we are, with 2009 now in the books, and we’re still here, and ready to face 2010.

Let people in Caledon carry the message of perseverance into the New Year. They got a little lesson in that as July turned to August. A soft-spoken 15- year-old girl from Caledon went for a swim in Niagaraon the-Lake, and emerged from the water 19 hours, 59 minutes and 49 seconds later. Jade Scognamillo had successfully swum across Lake Ontario, battling fivefoot swells that would have sent most of us paddling in panic to the nearest boat. Yet she said the biggest fear she had to overcome was having to swim in the dark, early in her journey.

This wasn’t really the Paperatzi, but some students from Orangeville were on hand to add a bit of Oscar flair to the gala opening night of the Reel Cinema for a Real Cause film festival at the Royal Ambassador Events Centre. Seen here are Katie Allen, Robin Blackwell, Meg Squires, Rachel Wilson, Kate Russell and Katie Cartwright, who were helping to launch the event in support of Family Transition Place. The good news is we’ll have the light of reality to deal with as we face the coming year. If we can remember to persevere, then let 2010 do its worst.

Barb Imrie accepted the Environmentalist of the Year Award from CEAC member Cat Cybulski in April. But 2009 in Caledon was more than just problems and finding ways to get through them.

It was . . . January

Caledon only had to wait 18 minutes before welcoming its first new resident of 2009.

* * * * * * *

Family Literacy Day was marked in Caledon by an attempt to get into the Guinness Book of Records for having the most children reading with an adult.

Fire Chief Brad Bigrigg was expressing his concerns to Town councillors over the number of false alarms his department had to deal with.

He pointed out they cause unnecessary risk to the personnel who respond to them, and as chief, he was worried that too many of these needless calls would prompt some volunteer firefighters to resign.

MARS Canada was the key sponsor of the Caledon Chamber of Commerce Home Show in April. Volunteer Kyle Ringer was helping to guide the M&M mascot around the arena floor. Bigrigg reported that in response, he’d directed fire prevention staff to lay appropriate Ontario Fire Code charges against building owners and occupants after the third false alarm of the year. He said that was on top of the the invoices issued according to Town bylaws for false alarms.

* * * * * * *

A good, fun-loving crowd was out for the Town’s annual Winterfest celebrations at Mayfield Recreation Complex.

* * * * * * *

The developers of a proposed Sunoco gas station and Tim Hortons in Victoria had been waiting so long for their approvals that they thought they should get a break on the cash-in-lieu component for parkland. And it looked for a while in January that Town councillors might be sympathetic to the request made on behalf of the applicants.

Retired NHL linesman and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Ray Scapinello delivered an animated talk when he spoke at Hockey Night in Caledon in May, an event held to raise money for Bethell House, the residential facility of Hospice Caledon. * * * * * * *

The year started with Parliament being prorogued (suspended) at the request of Prime Minister Stephen Harper after it looked like coalition of opposition parties might be ale to topple his government and set up one of their own, headed by the Liberal Leader Stephane Dion.

With Parliament set to resume, Dufferin — Caledon MP David Tilson was optimistic that wasn’t going to happen. As things turned out, he was right.

* * * * * * *

The town was still dealing with the question of whether to allow foot-care clinic in a house on King Street in Bolton.

Thirty-seven years after he left the ring, Dr. Ruben “Hurricane” Carter said the World Boxing Council and the World Boxing Association both awarded him championship belts. Students Trevor Meraw and Sam Mantini held them high for all to see when he spoke at Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School about his experiences, including spending some 20 years in prison for three murders he didn’t commit. The proposal was the subject of a rare second public information meeting in January, and opposition seemed to have shrunk from the previous session in June 2008. The addition of a residential component to a proposal to establish a foot-care clinic on King Street in Bolton seemed to have helped settle opposition, at least for the moment.

* * * * * * *

Organizers of the Caledon Chamber concert series received some good news, in the form of $15,900 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Tara and Paige Tohannink of Caledon East jumped in quick to assist Dr. Hugh Smythe and Mayor Marolyn Morrison in unveiling the new stone on Caledon’s Walk of Fame, in honour of Smythe’s father Conn Smythe. Chief raised

The plan was to invest the funds over the next two years into several different initiatives, such as setting up a Web site to promote the organization and its community activities. As well, funds were to be used for marketing and artistic fees, which will help to raise its profile and enhance appreciation for chamber music in the community.

February

Developers of the proposed gas station and Tim Hortons outlet in Victoria had been hopeful they would get a break on their cash-inlieu parkland fees, arguing the fees had increased because of delays that were not their fault. The majority of councillors sided with the staff position that the delays weren’t the Town’s fault either.

Sophie MacRae placed 17th in the senior girls’ high jump at 1.55 metres. She was one of eight Humberview athletes at OFSAA in Toronto in June. Photo by Jon Yaneff * * * * * * *

A 32-year-old man learned it’s not advisable to litter, especially if a police officer is watching. He threw an empty liquor bottle from his car. Police also slapped him with a 12-hour licence suspension.

* * * * * * *

Dufferin — Caledon MP David Tilson was appointed chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee of Citizenship and immigration.

* * * * * * *

After 38 years of dealing with hard-to-handle children, Charlestown Residential School, near Caledon village, closed its doors.

It was a colourful sight around Caledon Central Public School in February for the fund-raising dancea thon, which had a “Hawaiian Summer” theme. Many of the participants were dressed accordingly, as part of the effort to raise $8,140. Parent volunteer Dawn Chodowiec was helping out with the dance-athon, and helping her children Ariel, 7, and Avery, 2, learn the steps. The school had been a

100-acre residential treatment facility that cares for and treats adolescent boys from across Ontario, who have been diagnosed as conduct disordered, aggressive, impulsive and emotionally disturbed,” Charlestown’s Web site had stated.

In an ironic twist to the sad news for the facility and its 35 employees, the end of the school’s existence came within a week of the death of its mascot Zeke, a donkey who had been a friend to the kids and the staff for the entire 38 years of the facility’s history.

* * * * * * *

Peel Regional councillors announced they were calling on the province to speed things up in the GTA West corridor study.

Councillors had previously heard an up-date on the corridor from a representative of the Ministry of Transportation Ontario

MTO), and there were calls, mainly from Councillor Richard Whitehead, that work on the route selection for an east-west road through the area be accelerated.

The motion called on the Province to expedite the environmental assessment process along the corridor in light of heavy development pressures in the area. As well, the Region wanted the province to use its authority “to protect the corridor in a timely manner,” direct the project team to work in collaboration with municipalities in the study area to identify areas experiencing significant development pressures (also known as “pinch-points”) and help support municipal planning there, and to start the route selection work as quickly as possible.

Whitehead stressed the importance of moving quickly on this, stating the corridor issues need to be resolved, especially where they concern pinch-points. He added if a highway is the result of this work, it’s going to be an essential part of the Province’s Places to Grow strategy.

Later in the month, MTO announced it would be hosting public information centres on the study.

* * * * * * *

Members of the Alton branch of the Royal Canadian Legion learned there was an easy way to address accessibility issues in the Legion hall; namely obtain a Trillium grant.

That’s what they were able to do, as Dufferin — Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones was in hall, with a representative of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, to announce grant of $121,200, which to be earmarked for renovations.

The Legion hall, on Queen Street in Alton, was built in 1969, largely through the work of its members, the Ladies’ Auxiliary and the community. After 40 years, was found that renovations were needed. Part of the plan called for replacing the entrance to the building and installing a mechanical lift, making it more accessible.

In addition, renovations were to include the addition of barrier-free washrooms and a wheelchair ramp at the rear of the hall.

* * * * * * *

The Caledon Public Library announced the addition of theatre scripts to its collection, through a donation from the Caledon Town Hall Players (CTHP).

CTHP contributed close to 100 theatre scripts that they previously used or owned.

It was the idea of Andrew Welch, artistic director of

There was more good news for the Coalition of Concerned Citizens in their fight against the Rockfort Quarry proposal. Town councillors voted unanimously against the proposal of James Dick Construction Limited.

“This is the Exxon Valdez waiting to happen in Caledon,” Councillor Doug Beffort declared, “and I do not support it.”

* * * * * * *

Town officials were expecting a rough time when it came to setting a budget for 2009, and their expectations were being realized.

The first draft of the budget that councillors had to deal with projected an overall tax increase of 3.7 per cent, and a hike of 15.7 per cent to the Town’s component.

* * * * * * *

Two men were charged in connection with the murder of 18-year-old Ariel Besley, whose body was found near the corner of Heart Lake Road and Old School Road in May 2008.

David Bruce Davidson, 22, and Gregory Alexander Rose, 26, both of Orangeville, were charged with first degree murder.

Later in the month, another man, Roy Terrance CTHP.

“It was getting difficult to keep track of all of the scripts owned by the group and to make them accessible to members,” he commented, adding CTHP decided to let the library manage the scripts.

* * * * * * *

Blackhorse Village Players hosted a gala evening of entertainment to open their new Web site.

* * * * * * *

Residents fighting the Rockfort quarry proposal of James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL) gained some significant support in February.

The Board of Directors of Credit Valley Conservation

CVC) voted unanimously to oppose the application.

Caledon Councillor Allan Thompson put forth the motion, that was in support of the position CVC staff had recommended. He observed at one point during the discussion that the job of CVC is to protect the environment, not worry about economics.

* * * * * * *

There was bitterness from various sides when it was announced that the annual Tournament of Champions, which had been bringing top equestrian competition, along with national attention to the Caledon area, was cancelled for this year.

The announcement was made that the show was called off for 2009 because organizers were unable to come to an agreement with Equine Management Group

EMG), which operates the Caledon Equestrian Park near Palgrave in time to get the show organized. The tournament had been held at the Palgrave facility for the last several years. March

Rouseau, 24, of Brampton was also arrested and charged with first degree murder.

* * * * * * *

The Reel Cinema for a Real Cause Film Festival went ahead in support of Family Transition Place.

* * * * * * *

For the second year in a row, Caledon was named the safest community in Canada in the annual crime ranking in Maclean’s magazine. The cover story, written by Ken MacQueen, stated Caledon’s crime score was 87 per cent below the national average.

“This achievement was made possible by the strong partnership between the Caledon OPP, Town council and local community groups,” commented Mayor Marolyn Morrison. “Caledon OPP have worked hard to find Caledon solutions to Caledon problems.”

* * * * * * *

Gary Goss, 48, from Orangeville died in March from injuries he received in Feb. 20 accident outside Mayfield Secondary School.

* * * * * * *

Armstrong Hunter and Associates announced their plans for apartment complex at the corner of King Street and Station Drive in Bolton, and many on hand for the public meeting were not pleased with what they were hearing.

The proposal included constructing two six-storey apartment buildings near the intersection of the two roads, with another 78 townhouse units around the rest of the property.

The Town fire officials saw some challenges in terms of rescue and fire fighting, as well as available manpower.

The concerns raised by the public included drainage, local water pressure, the potential impacts on the community, etc.

One man said he moved to Bolton to get away “from riffraff that could possibly occupy that area.”

* * * * * * *

Town council announced Caledon’s intention to take part in Earth Hour March 28.

* * * * * * *

Rebecca Finch had carried the Liberal’s colours in Dufferin — Caledon in the last federal election. But in March, she announced she was resigning from the party, stating she was no long comfortable with partisan politics.

The annual Tournament of Champions might have been cancelled for the fall, but it was announced in March there would be an event held to take its place, called Canadian Show Jumping Tournament CPI, which was to be in September at Caledon Equestrian park in Palgrave.

“The event is more important than anything else,” remarked Craig Collins, managing partner of Equine Management Group, which operates the park. “That’s the bottom line.”

* * * * * * *

It’s part of the corporate culture of Empire Theatres to support the community, and it’s part of the mandate of the Caledon Chamber of Commerce to recognize such efforts.

The result was seen one night in March, as the theatre complex in Bolton was named Caledon’s business of the year.

“We were shocked,” declared theatre General Manager Peter Sardelis. “We think it’s great. We’re really happy to get recognized by the Chamber and all the members.”

There were several other companies recognized at the ceremonies.

The Consumer’s Choice Service Award went to Green Clean Carpet and Duct Cleaning; the Consumer’s Choice Retail Award went to Stray's Landscaping; the Consumer’s Choice Dining Food Services Award went to Tim Hortons, as did the Impact Award, recognizing a business that has mitigated negative social and environmental impacts while creating a positive economic impact; the Community Sensibility Award went to the new Boston Pizza in Bolton; the New Business — Entrepreneur Award was presented to Caledon Dental Clinic; and the Technology and Innovation Award went to Kinetico Canada Inc.

* * * * * * *

It was a large, but intrigued audience that was out at Caesar’s Event Centre to hear what’s being planned by Hi-Lands of Bolton corporation for the Montessori lands on the Caledon — King Town Line.

There were about 130 on hand to hear about the proposals for two residential complexes, along with a hotel and conference centre. The session was hosted by the proponents.

* * * * * * * The Caledon Hawks peewee AE team won the Ontario minor Hockey Association championship.

The local heroes took the provincial crown from the Whitby Wildcats. April

The mood was more pragmatic than enthusiastic as Town council passed the 2009 budget in April.

In the end, various pressures drove up Caledon’s share of the municipal tax bill, on the order of 15.7 per cent. But there were benefits through a reduction in the Regional portion of the tax levy, meaning an overall tax hike of 3.6 per cent.

That was too high for three councillors; Annette Groves, Gord McClure and Jason Payne, as they all voted against the budget. But Mayor Marolyn Morrison and the rest of council supported it.

* * * * * * *

Those opposing the Rockfort Quarry proposal received another boost when Peel Regional council unanimously endorsed a staff recommendation to continue opposing the James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL) application to open quarry on the west side of Caledon.

The staff report’s conclusions included concerns that the proposal does not conform with the intent of the Regional Official Plan to achieve a balance between the benefits of aggregate extraction and protection of the environment and community. The report added that council was not convinced the extraction can take place without significant adverse impacts and risk to local ground and surface water resources.

By opposing the application, the Region joined the Town of Caledon and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC).

* * * * * * *

The Town, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and the Equestrian Management Group (EMG) were notified that Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave had been added to the Bid Corporation’s venue plan, for the 2015 Pan American games.

* * * * * * *

Officials of the Coalition of Concerned Residents and Businesses of Bolton

CCRBB) made another call for Peel Regional councillors to allocate more population for Bolton.

The reception they received was polite, but nothing changed as a result.

* * * * * * *

Palgrave’s Barb Imrie became the 13th recipient of the Environmentalist of the Year award, from the Caledon Environmental Advisory Committee (CEAC).

“I don’t really think of myself as doing that much,” Imrie said. “I don’t like recognition. I like what I do.”

* * * * * * *

The Town was still dealing with a proposal for a foot-care clinic on King Street in Bolton, but councillors elected, with some misgivings, to turn the application down, going against the advice of their planners.

Councillor Richard Paterak observed if this matter ended up before the Ontario Municipal board, the Town’s planners weren’t going to be very effective witnesses.

A major issue concerned the number of parking spots slated for the property. The normal requirement is six spaces for the clinic and two for the apartment, but the applicants proposed a total of four.

* * * * * * *

The town took an evening to recognize the long service of many of its employees, as well as milestones achieved by several of members of the volunteer fire service.

A brief dedication ceremony was held late in April at St. Patrick Church in Wildfield to officially recognized a commemorative monument paying tribute to Father Francis McSpiritt, parish priest from 1887 to 1895 and the driving force behind the construction of the existing church.

* * * * * * *

Caledon Olympian Cameron Sylvester was named the 66th winner of the Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy, at the University of Western Ontario Mustangs’ Athletic Banquet. He represented Canada at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing in the lightweight men’s double sculls.

The Caledon business community put its best foot forward with the annual Home Show, put on by the Caledon Chamber of Commerce.

* * * * * * *

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s anti-gang film, Mouse, captured the title of Best Canadian Short Film at the ninth annual ReelWorld Film Festival in Toronto.

Mouse, a 23-minute antigang film was produced by the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board in association with Peel Regional Police in 2008 in an effort to educate young people, parents and the community about the dangers of gang involvement. May

Trinity Anglican Church in Campbell’s Cross marked its 110th anniversary in May.

* * * * * * *

As federal Liberals were breaking in a new leader in Michael Ignatieff, there was speculation that a federal election might be in the offing.

Not likely, as far as Dufferin — Caledon MP David Tilson was concerned.

“I’m not even so sure the Liberals want an election,” Tilson said.

“It’s crystal ball gazing,” he observed. “My crystal ball tells me there will be no election in the spring.”

* * * * * * *

There was something fishy going on around Forks of the Credit, but it was positive.

Grade 4, 5 and 6 students from Belfountain Public School took turns during the week helping to re-stock Atlantic salmon in the river.

Natural resources Minister Donna Cansfield was on hand to assist with the effort.

The school was also among the organizations recognized for adopting an eco- logical-focus in delivering Ontario’s elementary school curriculum and on-theground projects to restore and enhance the Credit River Watershed.

“It was really an honour,” commented Principal Mike Walmsley. “It was to recognize what the staff has done with the students in terms of educating them in environmental awareness.”

The efforts of the school had been based on an ECO (Environmental education, Conservation and Outdoor education) Focus.

“The kids are probably outside more than they’re inside,” he added.

Also receiving recognition was the Eat Local Caledon project of the Caledon Countryside Alliance.

* * * * * * *

Students at Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School received an upbeat lesson on the importance of never giving up.

Dr. Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, who in his younger years was a top contender for the world middleweight boxing crown, and later spent some 20 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of three murders, delivered an upbeat address, with generous additions of humour.

Carter’s story was the inspiration behind Caledon resident Norman Jewison’s 1999 feature film The Hurricane, which starred Denzel Washington in the title role. He opened his talk by apologizing to anyone who may have entered the school gym expecting to see Washington.

“Denzel Washington can make anybody look good,” he remarked. “I didn’t know how good looking I really was.”

He stressed throughout his talk that being sent to prison was every bit as bad as it sounds, but there was the other part.

“Life has a way of surprising us sometimes,” he said, observing that the world can come together in unexpected ways.

* * * * * * *

The Blackhorse Village Players competed in the 2009 Theatre Ontario Festival in Ottawa, and won.

The local troupe’s production of David Lindsay- Abaire’s Rabbit Hole was named Outstanding Festival Production.

It was named recipient of the Elsie Award for Outstanding Festival Production, and Blackhorse members were also recognized for their individual achievements. The cast of Rabbit Hole (Annette Derraugh, Chandra Mulder, Jo-Anne Pulfer, Larry Hines, and Nicolino De Francesco) were presented with the award for Best Ensemble Performance; Pulfer was cited for Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Supporting Role; Mulder received the prize for Outstanding Performance by a Female; De Francesco was recognized for Outstanding Performance by a Male in Supporting Role; Hines was nominated for the Outstanding Performance by a Male award and Harry Lavigne was named Outstanding Director.

* * * * * * *

Hopes were raised, after 10 years without it, that junior hockey might return to Caledon.

The Golden Hawks Junior C club expressed interest in spreading their wings in town, but there were some issues that needed to be resolved, such as the availability of ice time.

* * * * * * *

The men in the striped shirts in a hockey game often have a hard time winning popularity contests.

But retired NHL linesman and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Ray Scapinello is in something of a league of his own, and he proved it when he appeared in Caledon in May. He was the featured speaker at Hockey Night in Caledon, an event held to raise money for Bethell House, the residential facility of Hospice Caledon.

“I’m sure over the years I’ve screwed your favourite team,” he remarked in his talk that was filled with anecdotes.

* * * * * * *

Norma Trim was named Peel Region's Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services.

Trim had been with the Region since 2003, previously as Director of Corporate Finance and Deputy Treasurer. June

Cheltenham Baptist Church celebrated its 165th anniversary in June.

* * * * * * *

OPP Inspector Rose DiMarco started the month with a new job, namely commanding the Caledon detachment.

“I am proud to be selected as the Caledon OPP detachment commander and I am looking forward to the challenge of providing policing services to the Town of Caledon,” DiMarco said. “I look forward to building relationships with the people we serve.’’

* * * * * * *

Things had been a mess in Caledon village for some time, with all the construction work on Highway 10, and Councillor Doug Beffort wanted Transportation Minister Jim Bradley to know how bad things had been getting.

“Nothing else will suffice,” he declared to a meeting of the Caledon Village Association (CVA). “We need the minister at the table.”

CVA Chair Sal Bellicoso said they were hoping to have a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). The plan was to have representatives from CVA, along with Beffort, Councillor Richard Paterak, Mayor Marolyn Morrison and staff from the Town’s public works depart- ment. Some at the meeting asked for the session to be open to the public, but Paterak said the people from MTO would never go along with it.

“The bureaucrats at the province are allergic to the public,” he quipped. “They want representation. They want (it) orderly. They don’t want to be bushwhacked.”

* * * * * * * Crowds gathered in June to see the unveiling of signs in Palgrave, advising motorists to watch out for frogs trying to cross the road.

“We’ve seen lots of frogs killed trying to cross Pine Avenue,” observed Barb Imrie, member of the Palgrave Environment Committee. “The frog-crossing signs will raise awareness that frogs are on the move, especially during the spring and fall migrations.”

* * * * * * *

The Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation had just about used the start-up money it received from the province, so it was getting ready to shut itself down.

It was created to support partnerships and voluntary efforts to protect the moraine. The foundation was preparing to close its doors in September 2010.

* * * * * * *

Former local MP Garth Turner announced he had been approached by Members of the Dufferin — Caledon Liberal Riding Association to consider seeking the Grit nomination in the next federal election. Turner, who became a Liberal in the last Parliament after being bounced from the Conservative caucus by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said he was considering the move.

* * * * * * * Conn Smythe was always involved with rocks and aggregate, through the pits he ran in Caledon, but his name became associated with another rock in June, namely his stone which was unveiled on Caledon’s Walk of Fame.

His son, Dr. Hugh Smythe, helped unveil the stone.

Mr. Smythe was known not only for his success as a builder, sports entrepreneur, soldier, horseman and gravel baron, but also for his philanthropy. In addition to his tireless fund-raising efforts for several charities, he founded the Variety Village for handicapped youth, built the Ontario Community Centre for the Deaf with Rev. Robert Rumball and created the Irene Smythe Pain Clinic in honour of his wife.

* * * * * * *

Students at Alton Public School came in for some praise from Former NHL goaltender Dave Dryden, chair of Sleeping Children Around the World.

They raised $2,135, which Dryden said will buy 61 bed kits for children in Tanzania. He added it will go further than that, since kids in that country share everything. That means these bed kits will be used by other members of their families.

* * * * * * *

For the first time, the Caledon Agricultural Society held their annual fair in June, offering a great weekend of fun for those who attended.

* * * * * * *

Bolton’s Bob Smith received yet another honour when Mayor Marolyn Morrison and members of Town council presented him with an Ontario Senior of the year Award.

* * * * * * *

Ontario Provincial Police was marking its 100th anniversary in 2009, and the observances included a celebration in Caledon East.

* * * * * * *

Caledon’s new Farmers’ Market opened for the first time in June at the Bolton Fairgrounds.

* * * * * * *

Caledon’s Peter Holland learned he might have a lucrative career some day, with the Anaheim Ducks. the centre with the 15th player picked in the National Hockey League’s Entry Draft.

* * * * * * *

It’s been many years since Bill Davis was Premier of Ontario, but he’s still receiving recognition for his achievements in office.

Member of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation had presented Davis with the Friend of the Greenbelt Award in 2007, and around that time, they decided to honour him further by erecting a series of plaques along hiking trails in the Greenbelt.

The first one was unveiled by Davis himself on the side of Forks of the Credit Road, near Belfountain.

* * * * * * *

There were still concerns, but also plenty of enthusiasm for what is being proposed by Hi-Lands of Bolton Corp. for the former Montessori lands on the Caledon - King Town Line.

About 60 people were on hand for a public information meeting on the proposal.

The prospect of seniors' accommodation appealed to some of the people at the meeting.

* * * * * * *

Foxes at risk on the roads prompted action in Belfountain.

The result was a series of four double-sided warning signs, provided by Gairdner & Associates Real Estate Ltd.