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Celebrate your community

June 10, 2009 17:06

Alliston: The Village on the Boyne with Sir Frederick Banting Square.

Beeton: Horticulture and Honey.

Tottenham: Bluegrass Traditions and Canadian Railway History.

You may recognize these inspiring themes from the 'Downtown Enhancement Master Plan' commissioned by New Tecumseth council. The plan recognized the importance of the heritage of the individual communities of Tottenham, Beeton and Alliston.

This recognition of our "distinctive history and sense of place in each of the former communities" is consistent with the vision and objectives of the New Tecumseth Official Plan.

I was proud to be a member of the committee that drafted the original Official Plan for New Tecumseth in 1994. The OP vision was shaped by a huge community outcry voicing a fear of losing their identity.

It reads "New Tecumseth will embrace its small town values and heritage." Note that the vision is not that of a 'melting pot' to blend and amalgamate smaller communities into one large urban centre. Instead, one significant OP objective is "Preserving Community Heritage."

The role of the umbrella municipality is to support the small town community vision through leadership and well managed municipal services. New Tecumseth is unfolding as it should. Consequently, each community is still identified by its own development plan, community centres, churches, fire department, sports teams, fairs and festivals, clubs and organizations.

Appropriately, this new Downtown Master Plan is consistent with the town objectives. The vision of this new document is "Stronger Together."

It envisions the town as a "single recognizable entity that capitalizes on the distinctions of the three communities and as a result becomes stronger as a whole."

An analogy can be made by viewing New Tecumseth as the parents of a functional family with three proud siblings. Each sibling is unique and special, and our individuality is fostered and celebrated. Yes, there may be squabbles and rivalries, but they care about each other and support each other and prosper in a changing world. Stronger together! There are no weak sisters.

I'm from Beeton, and we're proud of the efforts of the Honey Festival Committee in producing another quaint but dynamic and growing event. Next we can enjoy the Tottenham Bluegrass Festival, then the Alliston Potato Festival, then the Beeton Fall Fair.

Encourage your friends to participate in our community festivals. Cheer on our small town sports teams. Endorse council's efforts as they support our small town vision, resist urban sprawl and continue to develop our communities concentrically.

This was the vision of the founders of New Tecumseth in 1994.

This is the vision in our Official Plan.

This is the vision that will make the communities in the municipality of New Tecumseth the envy of Central Ontario.

Stand up and support your heritage and celebrate your small town community spirit!

Ray Lisk,
Beeton

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