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The council argued that because of Waterloo‘s status as an important centre of business, it should be granted city status despite having a population of only 10,000. â€" _ Before taking the issue to the province, it was taken to the voters in Waterloo. "In my opinion, the ordinary citizens took at least (as much) and maybe more interest in municipal affairs than they do now," Bauer said. "Everyone knew who the mayor was and who the councillors were. There was a lot of citizen involvement." . Mere months after wrapping up celebrations of the city‘s 150th anniversary, Waterloo quietly hit another mileâ€" stone last week. New Year‘s Day marked the 60th anniversary of Waterâ€" loo‘s official incorporation as a city. There were no parades or awards to commemorate this event, but it was an important moment in the city‘s history, said James Bauer, who served as mayor between 1960â€"1965. "In my view, there was a really aggressive and forwardâ€"looking council and community," Bauer said. "They pushed pretty hard to get cityhood." According to an article gii HE ELE PUMANT ELGY in the Chronicle‘s May counczl and 26, 1982, edition, in 1946 2k , " "a group of citizens felt Communlty' that Waterloo was carryâ€" â€"James Bauer ing too large a share of Former mayor of Waterloo the tax burden for the county. As a result, they organized a committee to pressure the provincial government to declare Waterloo a city, authorized to govern its own affairs and decide how tax revâ€" enues should be spent." The citizens and council at the time were very conscious of how their money was being spent, Bauer said. Many had lived through two world wars and the Great Depression, so they knew the value of a dollar. The provincial legislation that created the corporation of the City of Waterloo cites that the area was the "centre of a prosperous agricultural district, (has) many large (factories) located within its limits and ... is an important insurance centre containing the head offices of large insurance comâ€" panies." On Dec. 9, 1946, a referendum on becoming a city was held. Of 2,836 voters, 2,673 voted in favour of applying to the province to become incorporated, while 163 voted against. _ The issue was then taken to Toronto, and the province enacted legislation to make Waterloo a city. Anniversary of city‘s incorporation passes without any fanfare In 1946, Waterloo applied to the province to be incorpoâ€" rated as a city. The population did not meet the 15,000 miniâ€" mum that was used as a criteria for becoming a city at the time, but the council still pushed forward. "Council carefully spent money and the taxpayers money," he said. * _ By Grec MacDonaip Chronicle Staff "In my view, there was a really aggressive and forwardâ€"looking council and community." No high pressure sales, just quality products at competitive prices. www.waterloochronicle.ca WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, January 9, 2008 * 11 sumwutcbclels a & 4 4 6 4 a 4 & a & a & a +