County Council Briefs

D.C. BRODERICK RECEIVES SENIOR

AWARD

Warden John Oosterhof presented the Senior of the Year Award to D.C. Broderick, who has served on Council for several years and was also involved with local hockey in Melancthon. Councillor Broderick is currently Deputy Mayor of Melancthon. Congratulations D.C.!

HOSPITAL UPDATE

Bob Baynham, President and CEO of Headwaters Health Care Centre, made a presentation on the update of activities of the Headwaters Health Care Centre.

PROCLAMATION -

AARON DOWNEY

DAY

Council proclaimed June 29 "Aaron Downey Day" in the County of Dufferin. Aaron, raised in Dufferin, is on the Stanley Cup-winning Detroit Red Wings hockey team and he will be bringing the cup to Dufferin on June 29.

ENERGY FROM

WASTE RFP

David Merriman from Genivar Ontario Inc. made a presentation to Council with respect to an update on the Thermal Treatment Facility Development. The Request for Proposals for Energy from Waste are due in September To view this presentation, please click on: www. dufferincounty.on.ca/document_ info.aspx?id=1908

ACCESSIBILITY LEGISLATION, 2008 PLAN

A report was presented on the new Accessibility Legislation to the General Government Services Committee.

Staff was directed to draft the required policies in consultation with the Accessibility Advisory Committee and ensure that the required customer service training for staff is undertaken in accordance with the Accessibility Legislation. On another note, the 2008 Accessibility Plan was adopted and can be found at www.dufferincounty. on.ca/documents/Accessib ility_Plan_2008_-_Draft_ (May_26).pdf

DEVELOPMENT EARLY YEARS CENTRE

Council gave the green light to the development of an Early Years Centre in Grand Valley. Currently, the Ontario Early Years Centre offers satellite programming in Grand Valley and provides services to the families in the neighbouring areas of Waldemar as well as families living in East Garafraxa.

This satellite is located at the Grand Valley and District Community Centre. This OEYC location offers parenting courses, respite care and early learning programs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

With funding flexibility being provided by the province and an opportunity to expand the existing partnership with the Grand Valley and District Community Centre Board, the County of Dufferin has an opportunity to provide programming consistent with that already provided in Orangeville and Shelburne. In addition, the development of this OEYC "hub" is in accordance with our Best Start and Child Care plans and provincial policy. It is anticipated that this project will be completed in Fall 2008.

DUFFERIN OAKS

ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report for Dufferin Oaks was presented to committee at its meeting in May. To view the report, click on: www.dufferincounty.on.ca /documents/CS-DO_2008- 05-28_Agenda_Whole.pdf

BATTLEFIELDS

TOUR PARTNERSHIP

The DCMA has entered into a partnership with Centre Dufferin District High School (CDDHS) in which approximately 30 high school history students are researching World War II veterans from the Dufferin area, based on lists of "candidate" vets compiled by the Dufferin County Archives.

The project involves the students conducting research on-site in the Archives using a variety of sources, as well as conducting interviews with the actual veterans and/or their family members where possible. With each veteran identified and research completed, students will tour key European battlefields and attend a ceremony at Canada's Juno Beach Centre in France in November of this year.

At Juno Beach, each student will make a presentation on his/her veteran, and honour each veteran by presenting individualized commemorative plaques/bricks.

The legacy of the veterans identified and researched for this project - in the form of personal and military history, research notes and oral histories - will be organized, housed, and available in the Dufferin County Archives at the conclusion of the project. Two staff from the Museum will accompany the students.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COMMITTEE'S

VISION

The Economic Development Advisory Committee brought forward the Vision Statement and Strategic Categories, which were approved by Council.