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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.

Council Chambers in the new Administrative Building for the Township of West Gwillimbury 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. Simcoe South MPP Bruce Owen is standing off to the right side.

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.

Ribbon cutting of the new Administrative Building for the Township of West Gwillimbury on August 12, 1989. (L-R): Ron Simpson, Frank Jonkman, Jim Corneau, Frances Reid, Bud Brown, Harry Adams, Bruce Owen.

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.

Town Receptionist Ann Smith sitting at the front desk in the new Administrative Building for the Township of West Gwillimbury on August 12, 1989.

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.

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.

Description : Naunheimer, and to Zima, who donated approximately 1 acre of land to be added to the property, for lawn bowling, bocce ball and similar activities. Both Naunheimer and Zima received standing ovations.
There was also praise for Sylvia Luxton, who advocated for a seniors' leisure centre; for Steering Committee members who helped plan and organize; the new Bradford West Gwillimbury Seniors' Association; Bradford West Gwillimbury Parks & Recreation; and members of Council.
Luxton noted that in the 6 years since she had retired, "I have discovered that we have some of the most generous, hard-working volunteers."
Among the donation - a large screen television set from Shoppers Drug Mart, a Billiard table from Jamie Vins of Vins Plastics, an organ from the Newmarket Seniors Meeting Place, and 100 packs of playing cars, donated by Casino Rama.
The Scottish Evening, organized by Sandra Hudson on April 3rd, raised $1500 for the operations of the new Leisure Centre, which will be "run by seniors, for seniors."
"We have to take one step at a time. This place will grow and develop into the kind of place you want it to be," Luxton said. "You are the people who have built Bradford and put it together, and we felt you deserve it."
In addition to Mayor and Council, invited guests included MP Aileen Carroll, who described the sense of celebration that came with "accomplishing vision, accomplishing dreams but first you have to dare to dream," and MPP Joe Tascona.

Description : Over 250 people packed the former Danube Countries
Community Centre, to participate in an historic event - the opening of the Danube Seniors Leisure Centre, on Saturday, April 25th. The event was also a "thank you" to the members of the Danube Countries Unity Club, and John Zima of Luxury Homes Ltd., whose donations, made the Leisure Centre. The German Club built the Hall 27 years ago, as a venue for its monthly dances and special events, but over the years, the members found it more and more difficult to maintain the facility. "So many parties and weddings, we really couldn't handle it any more," said Club president Matthias Naunheimer. The kitchen, for example, was equipped with huge pots - "not the easiest thing to lift!" Last year, the Danube Countries Unity Club approached the municipality, and offered to donate the Hall, with all of its furnishings and equipment, for use as a Seniors' Centre. It took months to finalize all the legal requirements, but last Saturday, the final hurdles were cleared, and the keys handed to the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury. Mayor Frank Jonkman called the donation "the most wonderful gift that this municipality has ever received." Mayor Jonkman noted that the agreement still needs to be ratified by Council, but is basically "a done deal". Even so, he said, the facility is "just an empty building" - until the members of the community participate. He hinted that a "little greenhouse" would be donated and added to the facility. The Mayor thanked all of those involved and presented plaques of appreciation.

Trucks outside of the Public Works garage on the same land as the new Administrative Building for the Township of West Gwillimbury, opened on August 12, 1989.

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.

Bradford high school principal Alex Taylor (right) accepts the official government of Ontario plaque from education minister Tom Wells commemorating the opening. Over 400 people were on hand to witness the official opening ceremonies.

Official opening event for the new Bradford Public Library on November 6, 1988.

Seated against the wall (L-R): Ada Watson (Women's Institute), Brenda Fuss (Bradford Progress Club), Lawrence Sturdy (President of the Bradford Lions Club), Padre Ormond Hopkins (Bradford Trinity Anglican Church), Bruce Owen (MPP Simcoe Centre), Valerie Ridgeway (Ministry of Culture & Communications), William De Peuter (Mayor of Bradford), Adrienne Price (Bradford Library Librarian)