The Acton Quarry as a Town Park?

As we all know the Acton Quarry has been part of the business and social fabric here for over 100 yrs. From the production of crushed lime to the quarrying of rock. A piece of the Acton is in every major infrastructure project in southern Ontario.
The area north of 22 SR is to be completely mined out in about 6 to 7 yrs. Then the rehabilitation process begins. At one time this land was suggested to be a landfill site but after a very expensive legal battle that will not happen.
However, the Town has the formal option to purchase all of the rehabilitated land for 1 buck. It is about 300 hectares or 700 acres of land.

The town has a great opportunity to add significant open space at a low cost. However, we must first look at what our long term costs may be to the Town. There will be pumping required to keep water flowing to 16 mile creek and Black Creek. That maintenance costs needs to be factored in.


We also need to look at any potential liability the town may have with quarry walls about 50 feet high, a lake that is about 30 feet deep.
Also, our vision and that of the community needs to be looked at. What would the land be used for? Passive open space, fresh water fishing, bird sanctuary and naturally trails could all be accommodated.
I hope people will subjectively look at the options we have before us and give us your comments.
Opportunities like this do not come up that often for the Town so we need to do our due diligence.

Federal/Provincial Elections

Last week at my March FCM meeting one of the items we discussed was we could use to get the Municipal message across as a Federal election is lookign more and more imminent.
In 2007 FCM released the report on the Infrastructure Deficit, at that time it was estimated to be 123 BILLION dollars. SInce then during the global meltdown we saw billions spent on Municipal projects. It is felt by many experts that the money spent has not even diminished the amount, but with age and inflation it has actually increaased. This deficit is for water, waste water, roads and bridges in every corner of Canada.
Also we discussed the need for stable long term funding and programs that will allow us to continue to rebuild and build Canada.
It is easy as governments cut deficits to see it impact those who are the quietest but also the most vulnerable. Deficit reductions should not impact those who still need assistance as we recover.
In the late summer AMO will release a platform for Ontario Municipalities as the fall Provincial election gets closer.
Both these organisations work hard to make sure that we let Ottawa and Queens Park know that Municipalities still need asssitance.
No one wants to see us return to the download days of the 90's that our Towns and Cities have nto recovered from.

How to build a better Canada

One of the amazing things that happens when you travel into “smaller town” Canada is the reception you receive from the people there. As I have in the past and present travelled across this great nation, I am always struck by our compassion and good nature.
Where else but a small Canadian City would you walk into a restaurant for breakfast and have all the patrons looking to see who were the new people entering. As they saw you not only were the shop keepers greeting you but the daily group who gather there for a coffee , breakfast and a chat all extend warm acknowledgement.
I am reminded of this today as I am in Corner Brook Newfoundland for meetings with FCM. Our March and September Board meetings move across this great land so we, as Municipal Leaders can learn the experience of our colleagues.
Corner Brook is a city of about 20,000 but is the hub on the western part of Newfoundland for government services.
Last night at an event in a matter of 20 minutes, I met people who had a niece in Georgetown, a daughter in Mississauga, family in Guelph and most amazingly someone who shopped in Acton.
When I said I was from near Brampton and narrowed it down, one man asked if I knew of the “Leather Place with the coats.” Here I was 2500 miles from home having a chat about the olde Hide House and his visit to Acton 15 years ago. He mentioned how he loved the look of the place and how they ate lunch in the restaurant. He said how they loved the jackets he and his wife bought and the time they had.
You can imagine the sense of pride and warmth I felt.
It is but one of the many nice surprises you get when you head out in Canada. You will find people say hello as you walk down the street. Cars stop in mid intersection to allow you to jay walk.
One of the things we are losing in places in Southern Ontario is our desire and drive to do some of those small town things. People shop with their heads down, their eyes not looking directly at people. Trying to avoid it almost seems is the human touch.
We would be well served to get “back to the country” and revisit small town Canada. A place where you will find 2 guys holding the doors open and each saying “go ahead”. A place where people like to hear your story and where you came from as you listen to theirs.
Everyone should, visit a place like Newfoundland, or spend a bit of time in the more rural parts of Canada. If we did we could build a better nation. Whether it is places like Paradise Newfoundland,Thompson Manitoba, Moncton NB, Weyburn Sask, Victoria BC, Oakville Manitoba or Oakville Ontario , our strength lies in our people.

Maybe we would not see the petty sniping politics we see lately in Ottawa, or Queens Park but true nation building.