At year end, Ron Fiorelli decided to step down as president of JCRA. In addition to serving as president, he has been involved in several executive positions of the association over many years. He helped to revive the association this past spring in response to the power plant issue and prepared the association for an annual general meeting and election of an executive for 2010. We are indebted to his selfless efforts and care for our community. Ron remains a Director of JCRA in the honorary position of Past President.

My name is Janet Haslett-Theall and I am the new president of Joshua Creek Ratepayers Inc, which operates as Joshua Creek Residents Association or JCRA. My family has lived in the Joshua Creek area for 18 years. Previously I have been the past Chair and Vice Chair of EJ James school council and a representative on the PARC for Ward 3. I am an independent Human Resources consultant and my interest in joining JCRA comes from belief that resident associations can play an important role in raising community awareness of issues that affect our neighbourhood and Town.

As JCRA worked this summer to get petitions signed against the power plant we also grew our membership and voice with the Town. We are active participants in the Mayor’s Community Leaders Roundtable each month, which provides us with up to date information on potential bylaw or municipal issues (notes from these meetings are posted on our website: Notes of meeting with Mayor Rob Burton on November 6, 2009)

2010 is a pivotal year for our community and Oakville.

The power plant fight remains a key priority. JCRA continues to circulate communication on the Town’s efforts and performance in stopping the plant. The Town Council efforts are focused and their legislative efforts we hope will continue to have an impact. We are encouraged by the decision of the OMB on the Interim Control Bylaw and the emphasis placed on the right and responsibility of the Town to protect its citizen’s interests. Let us know your views on the emission control bylaw at Contact us

We have joined the Resident Association Advisory group of C4CA. C4CA operates distinctly from the JCRA but we are pleased to support their efforts through disseminating information, encouraging letter writing, encouraging members who wish to join their Health, Communication or Government relations committees to do so and to hold our government representatives accountable for their actions. C4CA and the Town are working co operatively on initiatives to address the power plant including demanding a Full Environmental Assessment and concerns regarding PM 2.5. JCRA will communicate more information as the resident associations work with C4CA. Stopping the plant means raising the volume of concern at Queen’s Park: your family and friends need to let their MPS know that building power plants in residential communities is bad policy!

Our community will also face the closure of Chisholm public school in 2010 when the Halton District School Board’s has renovated Maple Grove and completed construction of the new Clearview School. What is to be done with the Chisholm property is a concern for our community. If it is not acquired by another school board (Catholic or French only) then the town has the opportunity to acquire the land at fair market value. What would you like to see done with the property? A community centre, a shared facility that provides services to youth, seniors or sold to developers? The Town will be financially challenged to acquire all of the potential 5 school properties that the Halton District School Board will dispose of. To do this we need ALL of the Town Councilors’ to understand what we desire for our community. Please let us know your thoughts on this issue at Contact us

We learned through the diligence of one of our Directors that Mississauga plans to build a recycling plant on Lakeshore Road East at Winston Churchill by Holcim. We have raised concerns on behalf of the community to our Councilors and Mayor who has committed to find out what can be done to address the potential increased truck traffic into the community, noise, smell, and the restricted access to Oakville residents.

The Town is facing a significant decision regarding the size of financial commitment it will make on behalf of the community for the NEW Oakville Hospital. The Hospital is asking for 200 million. We all value good healthcare and the new hospital promises to be a great facility. Unfortunately the Hospital is asking for an unprecedented amount of money. Towns of a similar size have been asked to contribute 50 – 100 million. Additionally there is concern that the Hospital is not disclosing specific plans for the allocation of the funds. Critical public consultation will occur in Jan/Feb 2010 on whether the Town should agree to a 200 million dollar commitment. Please participate and let us know your views at Contact us

The community has been galvanized by the horrific news of a power plant being built so close to residences and schools. We must remain alert to Requests for Proposal and other government actions that quietly work at destroying the fabric of our neighbourhood. If you become aware of an issue that you see impacting the community please let us know; together we can be informed and work to protect our community.