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Lions Club Christmas list grows In four years, the number of Christmas baskets given to fami- lies through the Stoutfville Lions Club project has risen by about 50 per cent. “In the last couple of years, the economy has played a big part of it (and) we have a lot more fami- lies in town,” said Clare Palmer, chairperson of the Lions Club of Stouffville’s Christmas basket project. Last year, 115 boxes of toys were given to local families in need of assistance. This year, Mr. Palmer anticipates that number to be around 140. Part of that increase can be attributed to the Whitchurch- Stoufiville Food Bank no lon- ger handing out toys with their Christmas hampers. “They were abused," said Man'on Wells, co-ordinator of the Wlfitchumh-Stouffville Food Bankofthetoys andgiftcards they would give to people. Donations needed to help 50% more families Every year, small trucks, cars and dolls fill the boxes for young children, but Mr. Palmer is hopâ€" ing more books and board games will be donated this year. It’s an unfortunate sign of the (Sifi'ib une “If the person is néally in need, BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan®yrmg.com See GIFT, page I I HO, H0, H0! SEE YOU AT THE STOUFFVILLE KINSMEN SANTA CLAUS PARADE TODAY AT P.M. SATURDAY, DEC.4,2010 I SERVINGTHECOMMUNI'I'YOFWRCH-STOUFFVILE I 16 PAGES/$1 INCLUDNGGST With the wave of retiring baby boomers starting to come ashore, York Region is working with employers to keep the economy above water. “Everybody’s in the same boat,” Community and Home Assistance to Seniors (CHATS) human resourc- es manager Janet Williams said. Lloyd Knight sings Christmas carols at the Whitchurch-Stoufl'ville Chamber of Commerce holiday luncheon at Willow Springs Winery Thursday. Worker shortage looms in York BY DAVID FLEISCHER dfleischer®yrmg.com MOLLER INSURANCE www.mollerinsurance.com “There are very few organizations that don’t have this as an issue." The aging population is a dou- ble-edged sword for CHATS, which employs older workers and providw services to senior citizens‘ Ms Williams has participated in a series of workshops hosted by the region as part of an 18-month study of the economic impact of an aging workforce. Adding to the problem, the NOT-SO-SILENT KNIGHT region is home to a relativety high percentage of baby boomers and soon-to-be retirees About 100,000 to 150,000 York Region baby boomers are expected to retire in the next 10 years York’s 92,000 seniors accounted for 10 per cent of the population in 2006. Howeve}, by 2031, the region projects 312.000 seniors, about 22 See RETIREMENT, page 4‘ HQME AU.TO BUSINESS u’n: Plans have been presented to the Town ofVVhitchurch-Stoufiville for a convention centre, indoor sports facilities, Main Skeet stores and a development in Gormley. MayorWayne Emmerson broke the news during a Whitchurch- Stoufiville Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday. promising more details when town council is installed for its four-year term Tuesday night. Convention, sports centres in plans: Mayor STAFF PHOTO/SJOERD WI‘I'TEVEEN "Wbs 21mm. '0' V'II