"Councillor Peter Dykie Jr. has been busy, helping to spruce up Bradford for the Sesquicentennial celebration this year. In particular, he has made it his project to raise the funds to restore the Town's murals, in time for the 150th Anniversary - starting with the historic mural on Holland St. Eact, painted by artist Bill Lewotchko to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Yonge St..."
The mural of Yonge Street's 200th anniversary restored for Bradford's Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary). "After: From left, sponsor Larry Timbers of Home Depot, Mayor Doug White, Councillor Peter Dykie Jr., Artist Bill Lewotchko, and assistant Rick Mackay (Home Depot) in front of restored mural."
"It's graced Barrie Street for over 118 years, but last week, the "Old Convent" met the fate it had evaded for so long and fell to the wreckers. Built in 1876, as the home of attorney and Reeve of Bradford, John MacLean Stevenson, it was one of the few Italianate villa-style Victorian buildings left in Canada. ..."
"Every year, Bradford's Trinity Anglican Church holds the largest charity auction in Bradford West Gwillimbury. Items up for bids range from the sublime - a diamond ring, donated by Universal Gems; a hot air balloon ride donated by Hugh Adams - to the downright silly. Last year, under the direction of auctioneer Allen Homer, bidding was fierce for the right to shave off the beards of two hirsute volunteers. This year, the event will be raising funds to install a handicapped access ramp and an elevator at the church. The auction takes place Friday, May 13th, 7:30 p.m. at the Bradford Arena. There is no admission charge. Refreshments can be purchased."
"Item 58 may have been bidding on himself. One of the more interesting items up for grabs at the Trinity Anglican Church auction, a pet lamb, made more noise than a table full of bidders on Friday night. The yearly auction, held to raise money for the planned addition to the church, featured 155 items ranging from peanut butter cookies to a hot-air balloon ride. A smart bidder could have walked away from the evening never having to mow a lawn or make dinner ever again. Local auctioneer Allen Homer kept the crowd's attention with his unique mix of humor and quick-paced auctionese. Homer donates his time each year to help the church raise funds. Plans for the addition include an elevator, a handicapped washroom and parking spaces, outdoor ramps and a parson's study."
"Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Pat Storey (with shovel) helps to turn the sod at trinity Anglican Church in Bradford. Sod-breaking ceremony, for new addition & handicap access, took place Sunday."
Art Janse has been involved in the Holland Marsh all of his life, as a resident, a farmer, a Town employee for 45 years, and drainage superintendent for Bradford West Gwillimbury and King Township. Janse is retiring due to the response from many of the farmers to his ideas for the Holland Marsh Drainage Scheme improvements that would also improve the safety for motorists. The project has a high price tag of bout $17 million but Janse has won the right to assess upland residents a share of the cost, and has made the case for contributions from municipalities, OMAFRA, Transportation, Natural Resources and Environmental Ministries, and Conservation Authorities.
A proposed drainage scheme to relocate the drainage canals in the Holland Marsh will cost an estimated $8.7 million. This sum is too great for the Marsh farmers alone so they are attempting to extend the assessment area to 65,000 acres of upland property in Bradford West Gwillimbury, King Township, New Tecumseth, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, and Caledon but this idea has been met with legal challenges. Due to the legal fees surrounding this the Holland Marsh Drainage Committee has asked the province for $2 million in extraordinary funding for the scheme. After being completed in 1930 the 17.5 miles of canals that ring the Holland Marsh have been dredged several times, and after Hurricane Hazel were even widened and deepened. Although, recent studies show that the canal is almost filled in at certain points. Studies have also shown that due to south canal being filled in so much the north canal is handling four times the flow of the south canal. Relocation of the canal is the preferred solution to this problem.
