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Thomas Wells Opens School

The new Bradford District High School was officially opened by Education Minister Thomas Wells last Tuesday in a ceremony involving dignitaries from the province, the county, and the town of Bradford.

About 400 people braved the cold and blowing snow to attend the event, highlighted by a policy statement from the education minister, a tribute to Bradford resident Tom Gardner, and a key presentation from architects Adamson Associates and contractor C.A. Smith to principal Alex Taylor.

A moment of silence was also observed for Simcoe County Board of Education superintendent of planning Syd Owens who died the previous Sunday of a heart attack.

Trustee Sam Neilly said of Mr. Owens, "He was one of the most important men in the planning and design of this school. His sudden passing leaves us saddened."

Addresses followed by MPP George McCague (Dufferin-Simcoe), West Gwillimbury Reeve John Fennell, Bradford Mayor Roy Gordon, and York-Simcoe MPP Arthur Evans who introduced Mr. Wells.

Principal Alex Taylor gave a brief history of education in the Bradford area, which began in 1852 with the opening of a grammar school in Bond Head.

After the railway was opened to Bradford in 1859, Mr. Taylor said, the growth of Bradford warranted the establishment of a school there, and the grammar school was loaded onto wagons and moved to Bradford.

He joked that it was the first portable in the county.

Another school was built in 1890 which burned two years later, and a new brick school was built in 1893, but it too was destroyed by fire in 1923.

In 1923 Bradford District High School was constructed (now the Fred C. Cook Senior Public School) which served as the high school until last year.

Bradford's 1976 citizen of the year Tom Gardner, a long-time member of the school board before his retirement, was honored by the chairman of the Simcoe County Board of Education, C.W. Brown.

Mr. Brown called Tom Gardner "Mr. Education," and described his life-long efforts on behalf of education in the country.

He then presented Mr. Gardner with a plaque naming the resource centre in the school "The T.H. Gardner Resource Centre."

Mr. Gardner received a standing ovation from the assembly, and called the tribute "the highlight of my life."

Director of Education Jack Ramsay pointed out to Mr. Wells that the pressure would soon be on for the go-ahead to an extension for the new school next year.

He laughed, "We are optimistic that there will be no delay for that since Mr. Wells is present here."

Trustee Sam Neilly told the audience that today was Mr. Ramsay's birthday, and everyone promptly broke into a rendition of Happy Birthday.

The program concluded with a guided tour of the new high school.

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.

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.

From the reverse of picture:
"On September 28, 1958, an historical plaque commemorating Sir William Mulock was unveiled in the village of Bond Head, Simcoe County. This plaque is one of a series being erected throughout the province by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario. Shown standing around the plaque, left to right, are Mr. Herbert Hughes, Councillor of West Gwillimbury; Mr. C.T.S. Evans, Q.C.; Mr. Arthur Evans, warden of Simcoe County; Mr. Percy Selby, Reeve of West Gwillimbury Township; the Rev. C.R.P. Hearn who dedicated the plaque; Mr. William T. Mulock, great-great-grandson of Sir William; the Hon. W. Earl Rowe, M.P.; Prof. T.F. McIlwraith, a member of the Historic Sites Board; Mr. Thomas H. Mulock, great-grandson of Sir William; Mr. George Lisk, Reeve of Tecumseth Township; and Mr. Murray Mills, Chairman of the Tourist and Industrial Association of Simcoe County."

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.

"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." ..."

"Council Hears Veterans' Delegation - Consider Fixing Up Town hall Basement As Banquet Room

The April meeting of the Village Council was held in the Council Chamber on Friday evening las with reeve Evans and Councillors Compton, Evans and Wood in attendance. Bills and accounts were passed for payment as follows ...

Messrs. A.O. Davey and Geo. Morton, representing the Veterans, suggested to Council that the town erect a new municipal building on the site of the present fire hall property to accommodate the village Clerk's office, police office, Utilities office and warehouse, fire hall, gaol, etc., on the first floor, with the second floor to be designated as a memorial and recreation quarters for the Veterans." ...