Presentation to council of a building plaque for the new Township of West Gwillimbury Administrative Building on August 12, 1989. The Councillors sitting behind the desk include Jim Corneau, Frank Jonkman, Charles "Bud" Brown, Art Janse, Frances Reid and Ron Simpson.
The building was designed by architect R. Myles Allison from Barrie, and replaces the offices built in 1951. The building and adjacent works garage cost $820 000.
Audio of an interview with Art Janse on November 13, year unknown. He is interviewed by George Jackson with Dawn Saunders also present. Art discusses the Holland Marsh, his family and his career (politician, Holland Marsh Drainage Commission). See the Related Descriptions below for summary.
Due to length, the audio is split into three parts (see related descriptions below for links).
Summary of an interview with Art Janse on November 13, year unknown. He is interviewed by George Jackson with Dawn Saunders also present. Art discusses the Holland Marsh, his family and his career (politician, Holland Marsh Drainage Commission). See the Related Descriptions below for audio.
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.
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.
"The Schomberg River dredge was finally launched last Tuesday after an abortive effort the day before. The ponderous machine, built by Louis Devald, slid slowly into the water near Wanda Street, and to the relief of everybody it not only floated, but operated like a charm. Celebrating the event with a bit of the bubbly at right are Art Janse (left) Louis Devald, and John Rupke. The dredge has its work cut out, clearing tons of silt from the Schomberg River."
