"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..."
"BWG Council passed a Bylaw appointing the members of the new Sesquicentennial Executive Steering Committee - a committee of Council set up to oversee decisions on the celebrations for the 150th Anniversary of Bradford. Councillor Del Crake was appointed Chair of the Committee; members are Councillors Jeanny Salmon, James Leduc, and Mark Contois. The Committee will work with the Recreation Department, and with residents, organizations and groups interested in hosting events or getting involved in the Municipal celebration, which will take place from Oct. '07 to Sept. '08. Among the suggestions: a Celebration Logo Contest, a re-enactment of the inaugural meeting of Council, a Winterfest, Super Picnic, Fireworks, sports tournaments and Civics awards. A New Year's Gala on December 31st, 2007, will be a major fundraiser for an "artifact of object" to be unveiled on July 1, 2008. The next meeting of the Committee is on February 12th. Any community group or organization interested in getting involved in the Sesquicentennial should contact Manager of Recreation Nick Warman,.... "This is going to be a very exciting time for our town," said Mayor Doug White. "It's going to be one great, great year." "
"The long-awaited Heritage Assessment of the Armstrong - Van Voorst home on the 6th Line was presented to Bradford West Gwillimbury Council, in Committee of the Whole on May 2nd. Prepared by Su Murdoch Historical Consulting of Barrie, the Assessment was carried out as a condition of draft approval for Christina Homes Ltd.'s proposed 66 unit subdivision on the 10 acre property." ...
"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. ..."
When the WEGWHIST Team launched Governor Simcoe Slept Here last December, we underestimated your response. Hindsight, which always has 20/20 vision, indicates that we should have printed more copies, but by the same token, we didn't anticipate that many of you were going to buy 4 or 5 copies. All 1,023 copies have found a home, and many of you asked if we are going to do a reprint. We have considered this request, and we have decided to do a reprint that will be available about Aug. 15, 2006. Some factual errors have been brought to our attention, so we are preparing a correction addendum that will be included with the reprint, and will be available to all who have already purchased a book. Pre-publication sales of the reprint will begin July 1st. The pre-publication price will be $65, the post-publication price $75.
A 30,000 sq. ft. Administration Building, with a Council Chamber that could double as an Arts Center. A 14,000 sq. ft. South Simcoe Police Station, that shares an atrium-style public entry with the Administration building. A separate courthouse - and possibly, an Ambulance station. All of it to be paid for through development charges, reserve funds from the sale of the municipal electrical utility, contributions from the County of Simcoe, and the sale of surplus properties - with no impact on the tax rate. ...
The WEGWHIST team has bowed to public demand, and will reprint Governor Simcoe Slept Here, the Legacy of West Gwillimbury. The reprint of the 2-volume set should be available mid-August, 2006. Some factual errors in the first edition will be printed in an addendum to be included with the reprint, and available to all who have already purchased a book. Pre-publication sale of the reprint is underway. The pre-publication price will be $5, the post-publication price $75.
"It seemed like a reasonable idea, a good idea: in this, the 50th anniversary of D-Day, to recognize some of the municipality's most highly decorated veterans, by renaming duplicate street names in their honour. The list of names, compiled by the Royal Canadian Legion with the assistance of Bradford West Gwillimbury Police Service researchers, included Gunner JohN Douglas Breeze, recipient of the Military Medal for bravery, and Squadron Commander Brad walker, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. The idea was to honor the war veterans, while they were still alive; to eliminate the risk of confusion of street names in an emergency, by changing similar names; and perhaps, to untie the Municipality in a gesture towards its veterans. Instead, it re-opened old wounds, and contributed towards new grievances. ..."
A newspaper article about the creation of the Gwen Taylor Memorial Library as a community library in Newtown Robinson. The library was conceived after the Newton Robinson branch of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library was closed.
"The Gwen Taylor Memorial Library is an example of what a community can achieve, when it pulls together. The community library in Newton Robinson was opened by residents of the hamlet, after the local branch of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library was closed by the Library Board..."
