WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4,1978, PAGE 7 w hVVh tbFromPfrg4 AMALGAMATION> RECALLED Time passes quîckly, and it may surprise some Whitby residents that this week marks the lOth anniversary of the amalgamation of The Town of Whitby and Whitby Town.- ship. No other- political event in the history of this com- munity was more hotly debated at the time, and the joining of the town and township was viewed with somne skepticismn by many of the ratepayers. As early as i 963,discussions began between the councîls of the two municipalities about somne form of-arinexation so the town could, obtain some of the towýnship's prime industrial land, and by 1967 the proposed "rnarriage" went under the scrutiny of public hearings and examination bv thle Ontario Municipal Board. Amalgamnation was approved by the 0MB ini July 1967, to takeeffect on Jan. 1, 1968. ,The birth of the new Town of Whitby was heralded by a if00-gun-salute in front of the fire hall at the stroke of mid- night. Mayor Des Newman, Councillor Vernon MacCarl, Fire Chief Warren *Mowat and fire fighters Jamnes Corner and John Heard officiated. Amalgamation was the first change in the boundaries of Whitby since 1855 when the Town of Whitby wasseparated from the townshi~. The town, had a population 'of 1 6,000 and the township-7,000, making the total population of the new town 23,000. On Jan. 1, 1968, new signs reading "Town of Whitby," were erected at the new entrances"of the expanded town, and promptly chopped down by residents of the forn1er township who did not approve of amalgamiation. A better spirit of co-operation prevailed at the inaugural meeting of the first council of the new town. Jan. 6. The council consisted> of Desmnond Newman,, mayor; Gord Hanna, reeve; Bob Attersley, deputy reeve; Jieber Down and Sâïn Hollingsworth, North Ward Councillors; John Goodwin and Bob White, East Warcl couincilors; Vernon MacCarl and Tomn Edwards, Centre Ward councillors; and Hugh O'Connell and Dr.Ken Hobbs, West Ward councillors. .Thirty-seven special guests fromn the provincial govern- ment, the former town and -township, and rieighboring muWQipalitiýs attended the inaugural meeting in the town hall, which is now the library. Judge Alex C. Hall of Ontario County administered the oathi of office to the councillors, and staff. The miunicipal staff of the new town were: John Frost, admninistrator; Bill Wallace, clerk; Forbest McEwen, treasurer; Walter Evans, engineer; Williami Morrîsoil, industrial cominis- sioner; George Thwaites, director of social services; and Alex Craigie, tax collector and deputy treasurer. Father L. J. Austin of St. John the Evangelist Church gave the invocation, and Rev. John McLeod of the Whitby Baptist Church pronounce d the bene diction. One of the first officiai. acts ofý the new council was 10 adopt a new corporate seal. In l-ès inaugural address Mayor Newmni stressed in- dustrial, developrqent, and proposed the construction of a heliport and a sports stadiumn. More was to be heard in laler years about the sports comiplex. Following the inaugural meeting, a reception was hield for the coumcil by the Whitby Historical Society at the Centennial Building, and a symibolic cake was cul by the officiaIs of the new town. Behind ail the fanfare there were ratepayers watching amalgamation with wary eyes. bpst. ila "a of fruz.ri, r.flgutrs,à udbsosds..0ffr' W. dhm & m vin 1- gIitd sMd Fnes d Rmgrtois - Ai rDoi~dones V& ftnsurl Automobile Air C"oaninl 20 QUEEN MTEET RmO<!vw' 1MONTARIO 6855433 Whitby in a future regional governiment. The residents of Brooklin and the hamlets wanted 10 retain their individtial identity wilhin the new town,> and held qj mass protest meeting at the town hall when a.proposai was made to re- move the road'signs aI Brooklin,.,as wel1 as its post office and place in.the telephone directory. At that memorable meeting, Brooklin's",grand old man," Heber Down defended the right of Brooklin toi keep its namne but added: "I am not going 10 get into any argument with the mayor because he went to colilege and 1I only went to public school." The meeting broke into laughter and applause at this remark, and everything was settled amicably. Like any major poilitical' change, amnalgamation was something the people had to get used to. The Corridor residents wanted sewers, and water, but did not gel themn as fast asý they wanted . The North Ward residents wanted to keep their identity, and every r atepayer wondered -how the changes in services would affect the tax rate. In retrospeet, Whitb'y was the first municipality in the future Region of Durham .to- ch ange ils boundaries-and be-, comne a unit in the new regional structure. It was a piope1er, in effecî, way ahead of its neighbors. Brk1irn BesI of the New Year to You! Since it i s still during the holiday season that-thiscolurnn has been written, AIlthei news of comning events was un- attainable. People are stilI vacationling, and 1 was unable 10 reach t11cm. However, Group '74, a womnenis group - to those who are new to our area,- is holding their monthly meeting on Monday, January 9, instead of the 2nd due 10 the holiday The Brooklin Scouts and Cubs will be holding their first 'paper drive' of the year on Satûrday January 14. Again please, only newsprint. The paper drive will be held every second Saturday of the nonth, excepl July and August. My New Year's résolution - in regards-10 the Bylines - is 10 deliver ail informnation ,on events, filrns,special announce- ments, etc. to my readers in good limie and corr.ectly. 1 hope your New Year's resolulion is to be sure 10 cal me with al that information; on limie and correctly. Happenings! Monday ianuary 9 8 p.m. Community Centre Group '74's regular monthly meeting. Saturday ianuary 14, 9:30-10:30 a.m. - Brooklin Cubs and Scouts - Paper Drive. Both togçther do best of al Marie 655-3061. Brooklin study postponed Public mecetings on the frorn the Ministry of Trans Brooklin planning study will portation and Cornmunic, be poslponed indefinitely lions,* and furthcr publii until further clarification is meetings on Brooklin wil obîained regarding lighw.,ay be held up until Ibis clarifica 407. Councillor Tom Edwards lion cornes. told the last meeting of "There will be no humr coLincil. on the determination of th( Couincillor Edwards said Brooklin Study," said Couîi thie town had been infornied cillor Edwards. "More infor that a ruling on the use of mation 10 corne in before w( lands designated in the of- ficial plan for the future Hfighway 407 is expected ironically, however, Whitby's early amalgamnation back- fired when the region was created, for the town got no transitional, grants, because il did not change its boundarîes at the time the regional government was formed. 1 Aithough it was only 10 years ago, amalgamration was one- of the key events in Whilby's history,an event which'is taken for granted-today. There are many new residents of Whîby who do not know- that two municipalities became one a decade ago, creating a «blend of urban and rural life, and by doing so, preserved Whitby as a separate municipali. ty within, the Region of Durhamn. Whatever our feelings at the time ofamgatinw owe a debt (not indollars) to those modern pioneers, some of whom are no longer with us, who created the new Town of Whitby. Without their dedication to make amalgamation work, the changes of the past 10 years might have been much more'difficult. LOOK YDUR LOVELI EST. Heads up for party lime and sensalional! the holidays! It's you'Il want 10 look In a new -hairstyle that's expertly cut and shaped 10 suit no one but you! BÊAUTY LOUNGE 11-9 Greçn St. 668-99262 ------- ......-. l - c Ili a- e ie determine anything on Brooklin." - STOVES $16800 $16800 $9500 Oth'er Models Cawlin uStock Ph rféChbunys, lý MITCHELL BROTHERS MROULINI 655.4991 S ecurity fi rst Whether your need is to borrow or to Iend or to trust, youir first consideration must be security. That is why this old establishied eompany puts prudence first while earn- estly striving to secuire for you -the best financial, advantage. jer-vîng more C people since i VICTORIAaid TRUST COMPANY 1889 GREY KEITH- LAWES 308 1) tmda s Si. W., 668-9324