Kids say the most amazing things

Milton Chrysler Dodge 5
Chudleighs 3

We were close. Our team played an amazing game and as a coach into his second game of his short career, I couldnt be prouder of our group.

Last practice we worked on kicking the ball past the player and running fast to catch the ball. Tonight, they all did a great job doing that. They were even passing the balls to open players.

Anthony scored the first goal of his season as well early in the first half and when he did, I realized how high I could jump. The look on his face when he scored it was priceless and it took me awhile to make sure the cleets on my soccer shoes were firmly to the ground.

Nathan was our first half goalie and he did a great job keeping us in the game with his diving catches. We were tied 2-2 going into half time and it looked like they remembered quite a bit of what we practiced on Tuesday.

It went back and forth for the second half with the other team getting some close goals and they worked really hard keeping the ball in our end. A great job by that team as well. Matthew on our team is a fast runner and a good kicker too and he scored our teams other 2 goals.

The funniest thing happened though near the end of the game. Some of the players were asking what the score was and I said, its close but theyre winning by 2 goals…we need to see if we can get one more goal really quick.

Jordan, our second half goalie, yells up to me … “COACH…we’re still having fun! Isnt that what you told us…have fun?”

Kids blow me away with some of the things they say. That’s all they wanted to do was have fun, and who cares what the score is. Im still blown away.

Milton’s Walk of Fame

I had a quite eventful weekend starting on Saturday. Both Chris Hadfield PS and Hawthorne Village PS had carnivals this weekend. I had made arrangements with a good friend of our running the Chris Hadfield event to help them out and be … er deliver Milly the Millstone to the school. Needless to say being a mascot in a huge costume like Milly’s is quite the challenge.

In between the heat, the fact that the fan inside Milly didnt work and the occasional jab/push/shove/kick from the odd kid or two…it was a great time. Many of the children knew who Milly was or were very interested in learning more about it. Thats a start. The number of people calling it a hockey puck has RAPIDLY decreased over the past few months of Milly’s existence which makes those of us who helped bring her to life feel quite good.

NOW on to something REALLY big…

Its something that every municipality tries to do. Some try it with awards, and some try it with accomadations of some kind. Milton’s celebrating its roots.

Milton will have its own Walk of Fame. Twenty seven Miltonians have been selected to be its first inductee’s to our Walk of Fame. This is quite possibly the most exciting undertaking the Town of Milton has been a part of in recent history.

Each one of these inductees will be given a place in our Walk of Fame which will be physically located in the soon to be built Town Hall upgrade.

Here’s the official press release from the Town of Milton. More to come … so stay tuned!

Milton’s 150th Anniversary Master Committee establishes Walk of Fame recognition program

First 27 inductees to be honoured by community on Canada Day

MILTON, Ontario – The Corporation of the Town of Milton announced today that its 150th Anniversary Master Committee, assisted by Milton Historical Society, has established the Walk Of Fame, a 150th Anniversary legacy program that will honour Miltonians past and present who have earned significant national and/or international recognition through their enduring achievements.

The Walk of Fame will be permanently established along the glass overhead walkway that joins Town Hall to its new addition. Each Walk of Fame member will have his or her own specially-inscripted floor tile along the walkway corrider.

Twenty-seven Miltonians will be inducted during inaugural Walk of Fame ceremonies at Milton Fairgrounds on Canada Day this year. They are:

Bert Stewart (Agriculture) – Mr. Stewart is one of the world’s most successful cattle showmen and judges. He has had 16 grand champion show winners at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and countless winners and champions in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Italy and Brazil;

Harry Barnes (Athletics) –

Bruce Hood (Athletics) – Mr. Hood was a referee in the National Hockey League from 1963 to 1984. During his 21-year NHL career, Mr. Hood officiated 1,033 regular season games, 157 Stanley Cup playoff games, three NHL All-Star games and three Canada Cup games. He was appointed as Air Travel Complaints Commissioner by then Prime Minister Jean Chretien in the Summer of 2000 and served in the role until 2002. He was the author of two books, “Calling the Shots” (198 and “The Good of the Game“ (1999);

Mike Kaszycki (Athletics) – Mr. Kaszycki played more than 200 National Hockey League games between 1977 and 1982 with the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs. Of note, he played on a line with fellow Miltonian John Tonelli in 1979 while both were with the Islanders;

Darlene Kranstz (Athletics) – Ms. Kranstz helped to pioneer the sport of Jiu-Jitsu amongst women around the world. She is a four-time female World Champion in Sport Jiu-Jitsu, having won in 1988, 1992, 1995 and 1996

Bob Kranstz (Athletics) – Mr. Kranstz was instrumental in the inception of Sport Jiu-Jitsu in the 1970’s and is a former three-time World Champion (Senior Division over 40);

Peter McDuffe (Athletics) – Peter McDuffe played 57 games in the National Hockey League between 1971 and 1976 with St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Kansas City Scouts and Detroit Red Wings;

Enio Sclisizzi (Athletics) – Enio Sclisizzi played 77 National Hockey League games during the Original Six between 1946 and 1952 with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks;

Tiger Ali Singh (Athletics) – The son of Tiger Jeet Singh, Tiger Ali Singh was a World Wrestling Federation (WWF) wrestler from 1997 to 2002. Over that time he won the Kuwait Cup Tournament, was a two-time International Wrestling Association team champion and the Asian Heavyweight Champion;

Tiger Jeet Singh (Athletics) – Tiger Jeet Singh fought in the Canadian, U.S. and international wrestling circuits from 1965 to 2005. During that time, he wrestled professionally in Japan for 22 years. He won numerous championships;

Leon Stickle (Athletics) – Mr. Stickle worked as a linesman in the National Hockey League between 1970 and 1997. Mr. Stickle worked in 1,967 regular season games, 250 Stanley Cup playoff games, six Stanley Cup games, two Canada Cups and three NHL All-Star games;

John Tonelli (Athletics) – Mr. Tonelli played 1,028 National Hockey League games between 1978 and 1992 with the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Quebec Nordiques. He won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders and appeared in the 1984 Canada Cup, where he was named Most Valuable Player;

Ed Whitlock (Athletics) – Mr. Whitlock is a long distance runner and the first person over 70 years of age in the world to run a marathon in less than three hours with a time of 2:59:10 in 2003. Mr. Whitlock became the oldest person in the world to run under three hours in 2000 in age 69 with a time of 2:52:47. Since then, he has continued to extend this record, most recently to age 74 with a time of 2:58:40;

Peter Appleyard (Arts & Entertainment) – Mr. Appleyard is one of the world’s best vibraphonists, percussionists and composers. Mr. Appleyard has played on television and radio and toured all over the world since becoming a professional musician after World War II. He has accompanied almost every major band leader, jazz musician and jazz singer over his long and illustrious career. Mr. Appleyard was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 1992;

Albert Casson (Arts & Entertainment) – Mr. Casson is one of Canada’s foremost wildlife artists. Amongst his most celebrated works are At The Edge, artwork depicting giant Panda’s from China, for which he was commissioned by Kodak Canada on behalf of the Calgary Zoo;

Ernie Coombs (Arts & Entertainment) – Mr. Coombs was “Mr. Dressup” on the CBC television network from 1968 and 1996 and was supported in his entertainment of Canadian children throughout those years by his friends, Casey and Finnegan. He was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 1996;

David James Elliot (Arts & Entertainment) – Mr. Elliot was the star of the hit CBS television series “JAG,” which ran from 1995 to 2005. He played the character, Harmon Robb, Jr. Mr. Elliot has played in a number of TV and movie productions, most recently “The Man Who Lost Himself,” based on the true life story of former Canadian Football League player Terry Evanshen;

Lieutenant-Colonel G. Allan Burton (Business & Industry) – Mr. Burton began his career with the Robert Simpson Company, one of Canada’s leading department store retail chains during the 20th Century, in 1935 and retired as Chairman in 1978. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1985;

Colonel F.H. Deacon (Business & Industry) – Mr. Deacon founded F.H. Deacon & Company in 1905, making it one of the first brokerage firms in Canada and one of the first 30 securities firms to have a seat on the Toronto Stock Exchange. He became a millionaire by 1914 and almost lost it all during the stock market crash of 1929. Through financial cunning, perseverance and hard work, Colonel Deacon kept his firm afloat through the stock market crash of 1929, the Great Depression and World War II while most of his competitors closed their doors. He sold the firm to his sons in 1948;

Susan Delacourt (Business & Industry) – Ms. Delacourt is currently Ottawa Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star, a columnist for the Ottawa Citizen, and a regular commentator for CBC Newsworld’s “Politics” show and CBC Radio’s “The House.” She also worked for the Globe and Mail in a similar capacity and has covered national politics for more than 20 years. She is the author of “United We Fall,” an account of the doomed Charlottetown constitutional accord, and “Shaughnessy: The Passionate Politics of Shaughnessy Cohen”.

Jim Dills (Business & Industry) – Mr. Dills served as Executive Director of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association between 1979 and 1987, and played a leadership role in bringing community newspapering in Canada through tough times economically as well as in terms of educating it to better understand the need to incorporate emerging technologies;

Douglas Leiterman (Business & Industry) – A major creative talent of the 1960s, Mr. Leiterman, in partnership with Patrick Watson, created and produced the CBC’s seminal public affairs programme This Hour Has Seven Days, which has repeatedly been cited as the most exciting and innovative public affairs series of its kind in the history of Canadian television;

P.L. Robertson (Business & Industry) – Mr. Robertson is the Canadian inventor of the socket-head screw and the socket-head screwdriver, first produced in his factory, P.L. Robertson Company Limited, in 1908. His firm was the largest employer in Milton for more than 50 years. Mr. Robertson also authored “The Gold Standard.”

Senator Betty Kennedy (Government & Public Service) – Senator Kennedy was appointed a Canadian Senator in 2000 by then Prime Minister Jean Chretien. She is best known as a panelist on the long-running CBC television network show, Front Page Challenge, from 1962 to 1995. She was the author of two books, “Gerhard” (1975) and “Hurricane Hazel” (1979). In 1982, Mrs. Kennedy was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1983, she was elected to the Canadian News Hall of Fame and in 1992 Mrs. Kennedy was elected to the Canadian Broadcasting Hall of Fame;

The Honourable Jim Snow (Government & Public Service) – Mr. Snow was Canada’s longest serving Minister of Transportation, serving almost ten years, from 1975 to 1984. He served as a Member of Provincial Parliament, representing Halton from 1967 to 1985. He wrote an autobiographical account of his life in politics, entitled, “Mr. Jim.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Hadfield (Health & Science) – Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Chris Hadfield was the first Canadian Mission Specialist (STS-74 – November 1996), the first Canadian to ever leave a spacecraft and float free in space (STS-100 – April 2001), the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm in orbit (STS-74 – November 1996), and the first and only Canadian to board Space Station Mir (STS-74 – November 1996);

Dr. John Wallace McCutcheon (Health & Science) -Dr. McCutcheon was one of the five founders of Blue Cross (Ontario) in 1941.

To be considered for Walk of Fame recognition, a candidate must be born in Milton or have spent formative or creative years in the community over a minimum 10-year period. The nominee’s accomplishments must be national or international in scope and must be best-in-class in his or her best-in-class field of endeavour for a minimum two-year period. Inductees will only be added to the Walk of Fame as credentials permit, rather than on an annual basis.

In future years, the program will be administered by the Town of Milton’s Department of Community Services, with nominations provided by Milton Historical Society and the general public.

Roger Peddle

On a more somber note, yesterday I attended the visitation of a good friend from Brampton who recently passed away due to a heart attack. Roger Peddle was well known person and community volunteer who made an impact on the lives of everyone he met.

There were litterally hundreds of people who attended the visitation yesterday and even more came to pay their respects the day before. The walls of the funeral home were covered in pictures and paintings of his well lived life. There was one thing that you couldnt miss in every one of them…his smile. Roger was a guy who was always smiling and laughing with everything he did.

There were visits from many well known Bramptonians such as Lou Duggan, former MPP Joe Spina, Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell and even flowers sent by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen.

Standing in line waiting to speak with his family, I overheard story after story of Roger, his love for life, his love for family and his passion for making a difference in the community. There were lots of tears from people but just as many laughs of those who remembered him and the things he did for that community. For some people, Roger will always be “Mr Brampton.”

Roger Peddle was the Brampton Business Person of the year in 1998 and received a City of Brampton long time service award for 25 years in 1999. He was the current president of the Kiwanis Club of Brampton at the time of his passing.

I knew Roger through my years of being involved in Brampton over the years but I know of many of my friends who were close personal friends with him. He was a great man and he will be missed by many.

We can only hope there are a few more Rogers in the world.

Here is the story from the Brampton Guardian about his passing.

BRAMPTON - Kiwanis president, community leader, businessman and volunteer Roger Peddle died suddenly of a heart attack at his northern Ontario cottage Friday morning.

He was just four days away from his 58th birthday.

Peddle’s wife, Dr. Kathleen Armitage-Peddle, was at home in Brampton at the time. The couple has one adult daughter, Allison, who is attending college in Victoria.

Peddle had gone to the cottage with a friend to open it for the season, as was his custom. The cottage, north of Timmins, had been in his family for a long time.

Times and dates had not been arranged at press time Friday, but visitation will be at Wards Funeral Home next week, and the service will be held at Grace United Church where Peddle was a long-time member.

“He’s like a brother. I’m in shock,” said Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell, a close friend who talked on the telephone with Peddle every night.

“He’s a late-night person, as am I,” Fennell said. She said she would call him after midnight most nights. His first word to her was always “So?” and he always signed off with “Later”. Fennell spoke to him Wednesday night before his trip north on Thursday. She said he wished her a happy birthday– the pair shares the same birth date.

“He was a great person. A great friend. A family man,” said long-time friend and fellow Kiwanis member Joe Harley. “He was a real asset for the city. He was always trying to boost Brampton.”

Peddle was the Brampton Board of Trade’s Business Person of the Year in 1998, and received a City of Brampton 25 year long-term service award in 1999. He is a member of the Brampton Kiwanis Club where he has served as president, director, and vice-president since 1989, and he was a current member of the board of directors for the Brampton Symphony Orchestra.

He was the current president of the Kiwanis Club of Brampton, where he had been a member since 1989. It was his second time as president and he was working on the club’s 50th anniversary celebrations this year.

“He was a great Bramptonian and a great Canadian,” Fennell said. “He was involved in so many things.”

He was proud of Brampton, and often told people it is the best city in Canada. His friends say he will be sorely missed.

Peddle grew up on a farm in Elmwood, which has since disappeared and the land is part of the airport now. He earned a degree in business administration from York University and ran a medical supply business. He started his career in 1972 with United Co-op of Ontario, moved on to Consolidated Foods in 1978 and was director of administration for AB Dick Marketing Controller from 1980 to 1982. From 1982 to 1989 he was executive vice president of Upjohn Pharmaceutical and Health Care Services for the company’s North American operations, and from 1989 to 2004 he ran Peddle-Morton Health Care Services.

Most recently he was a health care consultant and government liaison.

In his spare time, he brought his business acumen to many worthwhile causes in Brampton. He got involved in the city he loved and helped build the community he was very much a part of.

Over the years he has served on the Brampton Fall Fair board, chaired the Salvation Army’s annual Red Shield Appeal, served as president and director of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Peel Branch, and the Arthritis Society, and worked with the Peel Memorial hospital board’s Finance and Property Committee.

He was director and chair of the governance committee for the Ontario Trillium Foundation between 2000 and 2004.

There were other sides to Peddle, too.

Football was his game and he served as a director and vice-president of the Ontario Amateur Football Association (1977-1987), and a director of the Canadian Amateur Football Association (1982-1984).

“He started football in the City of Brampton,” Fennell said.

He was president and vice-president of Brampton Minor Football, owned the Brampton Satellites football team, and served as director and chair of the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame.

He loved other sports, too, and never missed a Brampton Battalion game. He was also a big fan of Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse.

“He was always at the games,” said Excelsiors President Ziggy Musial. “I would see him there all the time.”

Peddle served as president of the Excelsiors and was on the board for about six years. He brought his business sense to the organization and helped with sponsorship programs, Musial said.

“I could always call him if I had a question about anything,” Musial said.

Musial said Friday he was shocked to learn of Peddle’s death.

Peddle also had a keen interest in politics, and was Fennell’s close confidant and advisor. He never ran for office, but kept up to date on municipal, federal and provincial politics locally.
He was a lifelong member of the Conservative Party of Canada and had been a member of the Reform Party-Canadian Alliance Party. He is currently president of the federal Brampton-Springdale Conservative Party Riding Association.

First soccer game

Chudleigh’s 1
Fifth Wheel 6

Our Under 7 soccer team (TEAM CHUDLEIGHS) played its first soccer game tonight against Fifth Wheel over at Kinsmen park. The result wasnt what we wanted but they did play a great game. The final score was 6-1 but at the half we were only down by one goal. Just before the first half was over our team had a breakaway and Matthew took the ball down the field and scored. The referee however, blew her whistle just as Team Chudlieghs heading past mid field. No one heard the whistle and the goal didnt count.

I personally think the kids played a great game, especially for it being quite hot and the first game of the season. At the end of the game as the kids were packing up and getting ready to go home, I asked the all important question “Did everyone have fun?” and 12 kids all in unision yelled out “YAAAAAAAAA”.

Mission Accomplished. Nothing puts a bigger smile on your face when you hear, that despite the big difference in the score, they still had fun! Isnt that the whole point?

I think I like this coaching thing.

I’ll see you on the field.

Signs signs everywhere signs

Well, not everywhere it seems. But in Milton’s Ward 2 things are beginning to heat up for the municipal by-election on June 14th.

The list of candidates has been finalized and they include John Challinor, former Ward 2 councillor (most recently he was the Ward 4 councillor); Peter Haight, who came in 3rd place in November for ward 2; Mike Bugala who is a new comer to the political landscape in Milton; former Regional and Town Councillor Ron Furik who was defeated in November by a returning Colin Best, and Greg Nelson, who ran two previous times in Ward one back in 2003 (placed 3rd) and most recently against yours truly in 2006 where he placed 4th.

The date has been set, the race is under way and the sign “war” has begun. Driving around town this morning I had noticed a large number of John Challinor signs on ward 2 lawns and the early status of front runner hasn’t held him back. Rumour has it that John has been hitting the doors talking to residents outlying his experience both as a Ward 4 and Ward 2 councillor. John has a strong knowledge of the ward and its issues since he both lived in and represented the ward when he first came to council.

Even after the election in November, John has continued working with the town in many different aspects. Most notably he has been helping out the 150th Anniversary Master Committee in starting up the Milton WALK OF FAME. He, along with Bruce Carlin of the Milton Historical Society, will be the hosts of the Canada Day activities where we will officially introduce the first inductee’s of Milton’s Walk of Fame.

Not much is known about Mike Bugala and the issues and experience he’s bringing to the table. You are beginning to see, very quietly, some lawn signs appear on the boulevards of ward 2.

Peter Haight is also in the running, and his site has been recently updated to show the new election date and information on why he is running. Peter came in 3rd place in November behind current Ward 2 councillor Mike Boughton and now former councillor Mark Curtis, who has gone on to be a JP for the province of Ontario.

Ron Furik, taking a page out of the book of yours truly (see, someone IS listening) now has a blog and website he plans to update during the campaign. What is more important to see is if he continues the site after the election is over. I had pledged during the campaign in November that I was going to continue to blog about Milton happenings, issues and keep people up to date on town hall, and Ive done my best to keep it up to date. Having a site during an election is great, but you have to properly use it. Ron’s entries from the November campaign were all erased and hes starting from scratch. As an aside, Ive kept all of my entries from the past and will continue to have them available for everyone to read. (Photo Courtesy of Snap Milton)

Greg Nelson, who lives in ward 2 also has a website with his information and what has driven him to run again for council. I understand there’s a long tradition in his family for public service, which is a noble thing.

What this town needs is real ideas on what needs to be done for Milton, and not generalized statements about what is wrong … we need ideas of how we can make things better. Anyone can point out we have some traffic issues in many parts of town, or growth needs to be controlled, but how can we fix them and what can the councillor for the area do to better the quality of life here in Milton.

Anyone who is living in Ward 2 should do their best to contact the candidates and ask them the hard questions…what have you done for Milton in the past and what plans do you have for Milton’s future? Each of the candidates has to ask themselves why are they running for council. The candidates need to offer the residents a concrete plan of what they will do as councillor and what they will do to improve the quality of life in Milton.

So far, it looks like John Challinor is continuing the trend as front runner in this race. Town council needs his experience and his input on things that Milton are facing in the coming years. Johns level head-ness and common sense has been missed around the table and the residents of ward 2 will be best served by returning John Challinor to town council.

What a weekend!!

This was QUITE the weekend. It started off this Saturday at the Home Depot to sell some Milton 150th merchandise with the Mayor (he was there for awhile). Lots of people seemed to be more interested in getting their gardening tools and supplies than getting a cool looking Milton golf shirt (www.milton.ca and click on the 150th logo for merchandise )

We should be selling merchandise at the Farmer’s Market from now on. Speaking of the Market, Ann Kornuta is there most weeks doing some paintings on the street. For those of us who take in the Market week after week, she can be seen either painting or taking pictures. Her collection of work can be described as fun, bright, and unique. In my opinion, she is an amazing artist and you can check out her work here.

Anthony is almost finished his swimming lessons (I think there’s two more lessons to go) and hes made quite the improvement over the last few weeks. He loves to bob up and down under water and meditate as he calls it. Hes doing really well with the back floats but he’s still having some challenges going forward. All in due time.

***As I type this neighbours are setting off fireworks. Now call me crazy, but isnt it just a tad dangerous setting off fireworks in your backyard with dozens of homes right around you? Especially after 9PM when most kids are in bed. Am I too old now? ***

I am so happy that Milton Executive Fairways is open for the summer as the big Seargent Farms hasnt sold its property yet, which means inexpensive 9 hole golf right around the corner for the duration of the summer. Good for me…I hope they dont ever sell. More golf for me. Had my first round yesterday with Paul Mitrovich (which was his first ever round!) He bought clubs last year and he hasnt had a chance to go out….problem solved. I shot a 55 in 9 holes (which is about where I left off last year) and he shot a 64!!! Not bad for a first round eh? There WILL be more golf to come this year.

Tomorrow is the first practice for our soccer team… sponsored this year by Chudleigh’s and Anthony is looking forward to it. As Ive said before, I’m a bit nervous but there are a few parents who have coached before are will be helping me out during the season…which is a load off my mind.

The challenges we have are to make sure the kids have fun (RULE NUMBER ONE) and also teach them a bit about being competitive and trying hard to win. Many of these kids will be moving on towards rep play in the coming years and you have to make sure they are aware of how GOOD it is to win and now not as GOOD it is to not win (all you English majors, that last sentence was intentional HAHA). I will probably screw a few things up over the course of the season but, as life goes, you roll with the punches and have fun doing it.

I think I have overcome my initial “addiction” to Facebook and its beginning to slow down a bit. I know several people who do almost all their communicating through it. I dont think THATS the main reason for Facebook. I like to use the IM’s like MSN, ICQ, GoogleTalk etc but not off that one page. Email is still the best… mike at mikecluett.ca

I’ll see you on the field!

Coach Mike

Well, I havent quite figured it out what I want the kids to call me, but that seems to be ok. Yesterday was a meeting of all the soccer coach hopefuls for the Milton Magic. Ive now officially become a soccer coach.

For the last 2 years, Anthony has enjoyed being a soccer player. Now that doesnt mean he knows everything about soccer, he just knows to make sure he follows where the ball goes and if hes too tired, he offers to play goal. I have always had a lot of fun helping out the coaches in practices and in games, so I volunteered for the Milton Magic to coach this upcoming season.

Early Saturday morning there were about 60 or so coaching hopefuls in the Memorial Arena to learn a few coaching basics from the head coach of the soccer leauge. We had to learn a few basics, especially those like myself, who have never played the game before.

So with my bag of uniforms, lists of players and balls, I have begun the undertaking of my life…coaching kids. I’ve never done it before and its going to be a learning experience for me to say the least. I just hope I dont fall flat on my face.

Not spending enough money

Let me get this straight. Toronto City Council is investigating 2 of their councillors for NOT spending their budget. Arent they supposed to try to save taxpayers money? I thought they would be rewarded for doing something thats GOOD especially when Toronto is nearing bankruptcy and every penny counts.

I realize that guys like Rob Ford may not be the classic examples of politicians, but he does serve his residents to the best of his ability. He may not be the nicest guy in the world (he was the guy who got hammered and started yelling at people during a Leafs game awhile back) but he is doing the right thing by spending less of taxpayers money.

Here in Milton there have been a few councillors who spend next to nothing of their expense limits. In fact, John Challinor was known for taking LESS than the allotted salary for being a Milton town councillor.

God knows how many Toronto city councillors there are but they should take the lead and try to save taxpayers money without being “investigated”. It seems to me theres a witch hunt and the other “pigs in the trough” are upset and want to do something about it. Seeing how Toronto is on the brink of financial disaster, it seems to me to be more appropriate that they do something other than complain.

Toronto Mayor David Miller is mainly to blame here. He is coming up with excuse after excuse after excuse why their financial problems are everyone elses fault, except HIS and his COUNCIL. Raise parking rates and implement a Toronto Tax and complain to the federal government for lack of funds, and complain to the provincial government for lack of funds…all the while spending like a drunken sailor.

Here’s the link to the investigation story from the Toronto Star and send your ideas for David Miller to stop bankrupting Canada’s “economic engine” stopspendingnow@toronto.ca

Enjoy!

No More Sobeys

Well for now.

This decision boggles my mind actually. With all the new development currently underway in the western side of town, the need for a grocery outlet is desperately needed. Proponents against the development said that it would cause traffic chaos along Derry Road. Maybe right now but when those homes south of Derry and Tremaine Road are built, there will be traffic chaos and congestion.

When homeowners who live in this new development have to go grocery shopping, their choices are rather limited. They can go to the old A&P (reopening soon I believe under Food Basics), the soon to be old Loblaws (reopening as a Price Chopper I believe), the new superstore at Thompson and Main, Food Port at Derry and 25 or the new A&P south of Derry on Thompson.

Notice where all of these stores are located…in the eastern part of town. How will these people get to the stores on the traditional days of shopping on the weekend? Derry Road. They will have to travel east on Derry, past the hospital towards the centre and eastern part of town.

Consider the number of homes being built in that new area. Thousands really. And all of them with no place to shop for groceries other than the central and eastern section of town. Granted Derry Road has now been widened to accommodate the increased amount of traffic, but by not having something at the west end, you will be forcing Milton residents to have to drive out there for food.

The same arguments were made when the new A&P was being proposed a few years ago. More traffic, congestion around the area, cars idling and commuter chaos. None of that has happened. The way it was designed cars can easily enter and leave the mall where all these stores are located. If designed properly it wont be much of a problem.

The argument that it will negatively affect the downtown core doesn’t hold much weight as far as I’m concerned. If anything, not having a grocery centre near the west side might force residents to go up Bronte Street and turn down Main Street to get to the other shopping centres to avoid possible traffic along Derry Road. This is much worse as it will increase the amount of traffic in the downtown core, of which its NOT designed for heavy traffic. People will barely notice the stores along the Main Street corridor like Mikes Barber Shop, Jay’s Ice Cream, the Post Office, the art gallery, and other stores like Main Street Yarns. Many people go to the downtown core because of its ease of being able to walk. With more vehicles driving through, it will make things like crossing the street more of a chore. What happens after that? They simply will not continue to go.

This isn’t taking into consideration the Farmers Market, which is one of Milton’s cherished jewels. If someone has to commute across town using Main Street to get to where the Milton Mall is, the Farmers Market (albeit only during the morning hours) will cause even more commuting problems.

The decision by council to stop this development is very short sighted in my opinion. The town is growing by leaps and bounds, and it seems theres no end in sight. Hundreds of homes are breaking ground as we speak with many more to come in the next few years. We as a town have to be able to accommodate them, to be able to design this town where people DON’T have to cross it to get groceries.

This decision by council will be opposed by the developers and the Town of Milton will end up at the OMB defending this decision under appeal. We shouldn’t be afraid of the OMB by any means, but we need to be able to see past the next 3 years and look 30 years into where we are going to be.

I don’t think its a done deal by any means.

http://www.miltoncanadianchampion.com/news/article/88667

Shopping centre bid gets rejected
Council’s decision met favourably
By Melanie Hennessey
Apr 27, 2007


Town council received a round of applause Monday evening after turning down a shopping centre proposed for the northwest corner of Bronte Street and Derry Road.

In a 6-3 vote, council said no to making an Official Plan amendment for First Capital’s development that would’ve contained a Sobeys store and commercial, retail and restaurant uses on the west-end property.

A group of residents and local developers have long been opposing the plans. Council heard from them, along with people who favour the project, at its session this week before voting the proposal down.

Maggie Lizzi of La Rose Bakery on Bronte Street said she thinks the development wouldn’t give people who are new to town a fair chance to come and explore her family business.

“I’m not in favour of this project,” she said. “I also think it would impact the (business) people on Main Street.”

DEVELOPER DEFENDS PLANS

But First Capital’s representative Patrick Devine pointed to a market impact study that said the development won’t have a negative impact on the planned function of the central business district.

He urged council to adopt the Official Plan amendment for the First Capital site.
Marla Marnoch of the Bronte Meadows Neighbourhood Group also spoke to council to once again ask for them to turn down the development.

“The First Capital location is inappropriate,” she said, noting that Milton District Hospital and a fire station are both nearby. “Obviously the need for quick access of emergency vehicles has to be considered.”

In addition, she argued the shopping centre would cause “congestion and traffic chaos” along Derry Road.

Also speaking against the proposal was lawyer Gerald Swinkin on behalf of Manaman Inc., which owns nearby property at the corner of First Line and Louis St. Laurent and intends to build a commercial development there.

Like last time he appeared before council, he suggested First Capital change its name to ‘First Cannonball’, since he thinks the proposal will blow a hole in the commercial plans already made for the town.

Wrapping up the delegations was local resident Bill Walker from the Bronte Meadows area, speaking on behalf of himself and his neighbours.

He said they’re in favour of the development, noting the southwest quadrant of town needs a full-serve grocery store. Walker also pointed out that with the housing development planned for the west end, it makes sense to eliminate traffic traveling across town to shop.

Council members then went on to express their thoughts on the proposal.

Wards 2 and 4 Councillor Colin Best expressed concern about the fact the town is rapidly running out of serviced employment land, which is what the First Capital site is designated for.
“People who live here have to work outside the community,” he noted. “I think we’re selling ourselves short.”

But Ward 3 Councillor Jan Mowbray argued the preferred place for employment uses is around the 400-series highways. She said she supports the Official Plan amendment because she has heard people say they want a grocery store on the west side of town.

Ward 4 Councillor Paul Scherer said he thinks the development would affect downtown businesses and create traffic congestion in the Derry Road/Bronte Street area.

Fellow Ward 4 Councillor Wendy Schau concurred that the retail centre would have a detrimental affect on the central business area.

On the flip side, Ward 3 Councillor Cindy Lunau said she feels the development could actually help anchor the town’s core, since the downtown area doesn’t offer a food store but First Capital would. “I believe this is actually something that will serve the downtown. We can’t afford to have the population drive out of town for one more day than necessary (to shop).”

Wards 1 and 3 Councillor Barry Lee shared similar sentiments, noting a shopping centre in the west end could get more of the rural community into town to shop, in turn helping the downtown stores.

When the vote was called, Lee, Lunau and Mowbray favoured the development while Scherer, Ward 1 Councillor Brian Penman, Ward 2 Councillor Mike Boughton, Schau, Best and Mayor Gord Krantz voted against it.

Council went on to approve an Official Plan amendment regarding the Town’s retail commercial demand study, which recommends where new shopping space should and shouldn’t be located in Milton.

The study — along with Town staff — recommended against accommodating First Capital’s proposal, but it was pursued further and reached Monday night’s meeting based on the direction of the previous council.

The amendment makes way for several developments, including an expansion of the Crossroads Shopping Centre and a commercial development in Milton Heights near the corner of Third
Sideroad and the realigned Tremaine Road.

Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@miltoncanadianchampion.com.