"More than 250 well-wishers and dignitaries filled the auditorium of the Bradford and District Community Centre Sunday to honor Tom Gardner, Bradford's Citizen of the Year for 1976. Mr. Gardner, who operated a hardware store in Bradford for 56 years and represented residents on the local school board for 28 years, received gifts from the Chamber of Commerce, Mac Lewis on behalf of the Bradford Lions Club, the province of Ontario, and the congratulations of his friends and neighbors. Mayor Joe Magani paid tribute to Mr. Gardner and his wife Rita for their contribution and presented Mrs. Gardner with a bouquet of flowers in recognition of her patience and support. Councillor Bob Sturgeon congratulated Gardner on behalf of West Gwillimbury Township Council, and MPP Art Evans presented the guest of honor with a plaque from the province. On accepting a silver tray engraved with his name and honor from Gerry Barker, representing the Chamber of Commerce, Gardner acknowledged that his wife deserved the honor as much as him. The citizen of the year also appealed to those present to support the Newmarket and District Association for the Mentally Retarded which he has worked for devotedly. This year, he said, the association finds itself in need of funds. Brock Evans and Rev. Bob Chapman both reminisced about their acquaintances with Gardner."
"At the first conference of employees in the Consumer and Commercial Relations Ministry, the Honourable Sidney Handleman presented a survey of consumer attitudes taken in North Bay recently. Aside from revealing that the vast majority of consumer protection law, the most startling revelation concerns the attitude of young people towards the business. That concerns me. It should concern small business people even more. What is even more startling is the result of the question, "How much profit out of each dollar do you think food chains make after taxes"? The answers covered the gambit from nothing to $2. One food chain in its 1976 annual report stated that "earnings per dollar of sales were less that 8-10 of a cent, compared with one cent per dollar in the same period last year..."
"Arthur Evans' 17 years in the Ontario legislature-now coming to an end-were not without disappointments. The position of cabinet minister has always eluded the Simcoe Centre MPP, and he frankly feels it was because he supported the loser in the progressive Conservative leadership race of 1961. "Politics being what it is, I guess I could have been a cabinet minister if I had supported John Roberts. I supported Bob McAuley," Mr. Evans said in an interview. During that critical leadership race, John Robarts approached Mr. Evans for support. "He indicated to me that I would have a chance of getting into the cabinet if I would support him." ..."
Telephone operator who saw bandits flee was Wilma Hansford, at left. Next is A.L. Veale, manager; and Phylliss Hunt of staff. Arthur Evans witnessed gunfight and Raymond Thoms, 12, was on street as bandits fled. J. Harvey, right, dodged shots.
Photograph of Art and Audrey Evans with their children. The photograph is found on the front side of a campaign card for Art Evans. Evans was running for a seat as an MPP.
This photo of Audrey Evans, wife of Art Evans, Bradford's first Mayor and MPP, appeared in the Bradford Witness along with the announcement of her death after a sudden and serious illness.
Article summarizing Cpl. Reg. A.C. Wilson of the Bradford OPP detachment duties in Bradford; also includes his farewell party and information on his wife's efforts in town.
