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A2 - The Canadian Champion, Tueaday, February 28, 2006 Conservation Halton celebrates 5oth By Melanie Hennessey CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF A haîf century of preserving Haltons valuable natural environment was celebrated Thursday evening at Conservation Haltons (CH) 5Oth inaugural meeting. About three dozen local residents and a handful of dignitaries tumed out for the ses- sion to hear about what CH has accom- plished over the past fixe decades and what it bas in store to mark the anniversary. ",Conservation Halton bas a proud bisto- ry of conservation achievement," CH board vice-chair john Vice told the crowd. "During the past 50 years, we have had eight chair people wbo have guided this organization to what it is today" Vice went on to outline wbat CH acbieved under those chairs, including acquiring lands for its various conservation areas, planting tbousands of trees, construet- ing water management dams and establisb- ing floodplain and headwater regularions to proteet natural watercourses. And wbile be wasn't a former chairman, 92-year-old Burlington resident and original board member Allan Day was recognized at the event for bis help in getîing the conser- vation autbority off the ground. "You and your colleagues had great fore- sigbt to acquire some of the best natural areas in soutbern Ontario," Vice told bim. "These lands bave benebited generations of people and will continue to do so for many more." While Day - who served for about 15 years on the board as an Oakville representa- rive - was modest about bis contributions, bis daugbter, Diane Leblovie, was quick to point out that he was instrumental in acquir- LIESA KORTMANN / CANADIAN CHAMPION MARKING A MILESTONE: Allan Day, 92 - one of the original board members Of Conservation Halton - was among those on hand for 501h anniversary celebrations Thursday. ing the lands for the Kelso Conservation mark nts 5(3tb anniversary, whicb past chair Area and Hilton Falls. jean Williams detailed at the inaugural meet- She also credited ber father for getting bier ing. interested in serving on the board, wbicb she The events include: did from 1985 to 1991. - The launcb of a new community tree "WVhen 1 was younger, my dad would take plantîng program, 'Trees for Watersbed me to a lot of the (CH) properties and we Healtb', April 22 at Kelso Quarry Park - a walked miles," she reminisced. "It was sort new property in Milton CH bopes will be of our outîng on the weekends." dedîcated to it later this year CH bas a variety of festivities lined up to 0 The Conservation Awards of anniverçary Excellence, to be held May 24 at CH's Bnitannia Road office * Parks Day on june 3 to introduce new people to CH's parks and show off its pro- grams and services - The first Halton Childrens Water Festival, co-hosted by the Region, from September 26 to 28 at Kelso Conservation Area. ItîIl teach about 3,000 or 4,000 school children about the importance of water through a hands-on approach. - The officiai opening of the newly-reno- vated Visitors Centre at Mountsberg Conservation Area Uctober 27. Williams also announced CHs plans for its newest community outreach program called 'Stream of Dreams', in which students and community groups will participate in education sessions focusing on creeks and watersheds and then have the opportunity to create 'dreamn fish'. "These are wooden cut-out fish that are to be painted in the most coloufful ways possi- ble," explained Williams, "The dream fisb will then be hung in a wave-like pattern on chain link fences; near creeks in communities; and neighbourhoods throughout the watershed. The goal of this program is to educate communities; about the life and function of their rivers, streams and watersheds, wbile dazzling them witb the cbarmn of community art." The programn will be launched May 24 at the awards ceremony For more information on the 5Oth anniversary events, contact Conservation Halton at (905) 336-1158. Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhen- nessiy@mniltoncanadianchampion.com. Halton Women's Place Presents The 1111 Annual Gala Dinner Dance & Auction Saturday March 4, 2006 The Burlington Convention Centre 1120 Burloak 5:3Opm Wine Reception 6:3Opm Dinner Performance by The Three Tenors MC - Sunni Genso, 102.9 K-LITE FM Auctioneer - Dan Ferrone, Former CEL Star Tickets - $125 per person (sit down dinner and open bar included) LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE! Lait I<aryn R.acher at 9054332-1200, ext 222 to reserve your tickets! lYtan*s to our>' Or - ltana Pharma Inc., Boehringer Tngelheim, Burlington tme" etre, Burlington Tennis for Charity, BMO %~untain of li-ope,-Caai Tire Burlington, Canadian Tire Oakville, CII3C Wood Gundy, lDairy ueen Canada, G»mithKIiM Feundation, Ilona Kopriva, JAAC Corporate Events, Jennifers Kitchen, Liqucd Rubber, Nbýen, Pollard Windows. Royal LePage - Burloak, Rude Native Bistro, Smith Mc- KaylStoney Creek Florists, Union Gas Limnited Media Sponsors CH' 10294 ztan"cbvMnMUI~< SHakoe Woa" Pboe