Next year, Halton Hills will be 50 years old, and the Town is getting ready to celebrate the occasion.
Town staff has proposed a variety of activities to mark the milestone, which were endorsed in principle by council members this week.
Legacy grant money, art exhibitions and a lecture series, among other things, are being planned as part of the 50th festivities, subject to final approval during the Town's budget season.
"I'm a firm believer that we can't just look back at history. It is important to be making history as well," said Councillor Joseph Racinsky, who's leading the charge on the initiative at council. A working group with various Town departments has also been established.
The theme for the year will be "Recognizing the Communities of Halton Hills."
"We are multiple communities united and served by one municipal government, but nobody lives in Halton Hills. You live in Georgetown, you live in Acton, you live in Norval, Stewarttown, Limehouse, the Glen," said Racinsky during Monday's meeting. "I think it's a really great theme for the year."
Some of the planned programs include:
- A lecture series at the John Elliott Theatre led by the Halton Hills Public Library, with a special lecture and anniversary year kick-off reception Jan. 10. The library will promote its local history collections and develop a virtual exhibit telling the town's story through photos and archival records.
- A one-time legacy grant of $10,000, up to a maximum of $2,500 per project, will be made available for public art, trail or park-related projects, outdoor furniture and more.
- Up close and personal experiences with special anniversary events for Culture Days and Doors Open in 2024.
- A Locally Grown exhibition with a 50th anniversary theme at the Helson Gallery.
- A new commemorative Town logo. A temporary exemption to the flags and proclamations policy will need to be granted so that the flags with the new logo can be flown at Town facilities.
The Halton Hills Fire Department also has a number of activities planned, but nothing set in stone. A barbecue, golf tournament, bonspiel, commemorative shirts and decals for fire vehicles are all being considered.
Racinsky suggested that council should have final approval over the legacy grant projects. He also asked for the 50th anniversary to be the theme for the public art reserve in the 2024 budget, which was supported by his fellow council members.
The municipality's half-century began on Jan. 1, 1974. Georgetown, Acton and a portion of Esquesing Township were blended together through an act of provincial parliament under Premier Bill Davis.
Before this, Acton and Georgetown had their own leaders. Tom Hill, a former reeve for Esquesing, was elected the newborn municipality's first mayor.
For more information on how Halton Hills came to be, check out Scott Brooks' piece on the history.
