Mayor reflects on Whitchurch-Stouffville's accomplishments in 2021

Regardless of disruptions brought on by COVID-19, 2021 was filled with emotions of accomplishment, progress and enthusiasm, says Iain Lovatt, mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville.

In wanting again during the last 12 months, the city’s chief says a lot was completed, regardless of the menace that is pressured bi-monthly council conferences to be held on-line.

“Constructing relationships had been made tougher due to isolation,” he says, “leading to detrimental influence.”

Regardless, he states, many vital choices had been finalized and initiatives accomplished that may set the stage for an equally beneficial 12 months forward.

The mayor cites the next:

• The branding of an modern and vibrant city image is now seen on all new automobiles. Resulting from value, present indicators will stay as is, to be enhanced solely when changed. “Legally, we’re nonetheless Whitchurch-Stouffville,” the mayor mentioned.

• A toboggan hill has ben professionally constructed in Stouffville’s Memorial Park. “All we want is extra snow,” he famous. As well as, an ice-skating monitor can even be constructed within the park.

• The lengthy awaited refurbishing of Stouffville’s downtown will hopefully start in 2023, the mayor acknowledged. Previous to this, a public assembly will he held to listen to options and proposals.

• Stouffville has welcomed a number of condos and townhouses, with extra beneath development. “We’re attempting to determine a steadiness,” Lovatt acknowledged. “Beforehand, the city featured primarily single-family properties.”

Lovatt is hopeful development will start in April on a six-storey, 97-unit authorities sponsored condominium, on the former Richards’ web site on Predominant Road West. Seventy per cent of house can be funded and 20 per cent market priced.

Essential, says Lovatt, is the creation of a diversity-inclusive committee he initiated. This group will work carefully with individuals of all backgrounds “to make them really feel at residence.” This program comes beneath the top of the city’s Neighborhood and Leisure Companies Division.

Expanded pc web service is at the moment in progress within the rural areas of Lemonville, Vivian and Vandorf.

The following municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 24, 2022. Lovatt will search reelection.

RECEIVES SERVICE AWARD

Fran Sainsbury, former councillor and mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville, has been honoured by Ontario and the City of New Tecumseth with a coveted long-standing service award.

The presentation was made not too long ago by New Tecumseth Mayor Rick Milne and Deputy Mayor Richard Norcross.

The plaque’s inscription, signed by MPP Hon. Steve Clark, the minister of municipal affairs, reads: “On behalf of the Authorities of Ontario, thanks to your 25 years of excellent service in Municipal Authorities in each Simcoe County and the Area of York. Congratulations and greatest needs for the long run.”

For the reason that inception of this award, solely 289 individuals have acquired this type of recognition out of 444 municipalities.

Sainsbury, 85, now resides in Alliston.

Sainsbury’s document of service consists of Whitchurch-Stouffville Ward 4 councillor from 1982 to 1985 and mayor from 1985 to 1994. She later served as mayor of Clearview Township and a Simcoe County councillor. Following her transfer to Alliston, she has served as a Ward 4 councillor in New Tecumseth since 2010.

It was whereas dwelling in Bloomington, north of Stouffville, that Sainsbury led a profitable battle towards the driving’s Progressive Conservative occasion in an effort to have an area rubbish dump closed because of feared run-off into to the city’s water system.

In 1981 she was named Stouffville’s Citizen of the Yr.

Jim Thomas is a longtime Whitchurch-Stouffville resident and a former newspaper editor. His 'Roaming Round' column seems weekly. To succeed in him, e mail thomas-jim@rogers.com.