Mayor's Message - April 2022

It’s been a long two years since we first heard of the name Covid-19 and pandemic in the same sentence. No one ever signed up for governing during a pandemic that we really didn’t know much about. There was no play book. Thanks to Frontline Healthcare workers, Halton Region Public Health, Dr. Meghani and her team, Town and Regional staff and all of you, the Town was able to operate in an efficient matter. It’s too early to take the checkered flag and do a victory lap. Covid-19 is still here so continue to practice safe protocols and remember to be kind.

Things are starting to get back to some sort of normal. The Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce recently held its annual Business Awards night and dinner. This is a huge event to honour so many of our fine businesses with a multitude of categories. Congratulations to all of the businesses and to Lindsay Petch who received the Employee of the Year.

The past two years we have offered the Al Fresco in the Hills Program (outdoor patios) to help support the recovery and resiliency efforts of local restaurants throughout the pandemic. I encourage everyone to show support, if you can, for our community and local businesses by getting out on a patio.

Speaking of support, there are new art exhibitions in the Sisnett Lobby at the cultural centre. In the upper lobby, Albert Gnosill: A Closer Look is featured. Gnosill, a contemporary of the Group of Seven, specialized in landscape painting and this is a rare opportunity to see his work. The exhibition is lent by Ann and Josef Sirka who are donating proceeds from sales of the paintings to the Pomich Ukraini Fund which provides aid to Ukrainian war orphans. 

The work of several local artists is on view in the lower level of the cultural centre in the exhibition Hope/Nadiya. The show includes a variety of styles and media, and artists are donating sales proceeds to charities in support of Ukrainian relief. Both exhibitions continue until May 1, 2022. I applaud the efforts of our local artists and collectors to raise funds for humanitarian aid in the Ukraine, and hope that you will take the time to visit and support these exhibitions.