The Canadian Champion, Fniday, March 30, 2007 - A3 Not enough for youths to do in town, say residents By Stephanie Thiessen CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF A lack of activities for youth as well as young people who are involved with drug abuse, violence and racism topped a list of concernis local residents have. This information was part of a report entitled Community Matters recently released by the United Way of Milton. A town hall meeting was held March 6 at Hugh Foster Hall to distnibute the report, diseuss its findings and - hope- fully - corne up wth some solutions. "We found ffiat Miltonians are proud and enthusiastic about their community," said -Susan L.ynch, Communîty Matters co-ordinator. The other priorities revealed in the report, in order of importance, are growth, including communriy facilities, services, traffic issues and economie stabtlity; transportation, particularly for students and seniors, and the lack of out-of- town linkages; multîculturalism and the need for a plan for changîng demographies; communication between "new" and "old" Miltonians; volunteenism; and accessibility to serv- tees. The Communîty Matters project came as a result of a $500,000 grant from the Ontario Tnillium ['oundation to 17 rural UJnited Ways, of which Milton was one. The groups partnered together over 30 months to produce the reports, Lynch explained. "We wanted to gain a better understanding of our com- munîty, to determnine the most pressing social issues and con- cernis factng our residents,' said executîve dîrector Anne Eadie in the report. "We wanted to learn what was considered a pnionty, and most of aIl we wanted to bear what you thought mîght be achievable to improve or make changes to these issues and concerns. The recently-released report is the first of two. The second will incorporate the feedhack expressed at the meeting as well as a meeting beld in Campbellville Marcb 7. The first meeting was oniginally planned for March 1 in town, but had to be cancelledi due to poor weather. The outcome of the project will help guide the United Way of Miltons strategie planning, Lynch explained in ber presentation. The information was compiled as a result of four com- munity priority consultations in 2005 and a survey distrih- uted last year. Residents, husinesses, agencies and more were asked what they thoughî was working well in the communîty, what services could be added and what the most pressing issues are. The purpose of the town hall meeting was to go one step AUTO BODY (ROYAL ATLANTIC) INC. st luthe. iaticipans wcwî dîvUJbJ int group bai-cd on op- îcs and discussed two questions: What is the vision for your community? What mIle can the United Way play in this vision? One person from each group then presented to the larger group. Elaine C.olltns of Big Brothers Big Sîsters Halton reported on ber groups discussion of youth. She said they thougbt it was important that young people feel a part of their commu- nity and that there be more for youths to do around town. "Programs should he developed for youth, but more importantly, by youbh, she said. Kevin Black, wbos witb the Our Kids Network Milton Htîh, reported on bts groups discussion of mulnculturalism. He saîd theres a need to celebrate diversity withîn Milton. sity The Halton Multicultural Council, he said, can be a bridge between service providers and individuals. He also saîd the group talked about the need for transi- tional housing for immigrants, of which there îsn't any in Milton. Growth was a topic that encompassed many elements. The spokesperson for that group was Shelagh Dobson of Halton Region, who said: "Our group felt growth was the number une priority" They broke their discussion into infrastructure and soctal capacity, and discussed the need for a hospital expansion, -see NEW on page Al18 '-S-,- -.-~ - t - SI j. 1,000,000 2007 COROLLA CE STYLE. QUALITY. DEPENDABILITY. AND A BIG RED TAG. M N ANADA [w orol sIIad inCanada Is made in aada and th,,,t$sh tpa, okh,es,, efauc Hghlghts1de class W ., î~ g IIadingtfuel ,ss,,y.advanced dua stage dtooand pasougerag, renst ta od 60/40 fu lxblt an 13 6 For mre on Red Tag tays and the entir Toyota ieup go to jUy1byotlbaloglceIf Ni SECURITY DEPiSIT UN Aii2097 L[USES. 400 STEELES AVENUE, MILTON ILYL1L1U f:1-800417-4025 - Fami (M0) 875-1510 no6uayhcm Sho1afrc of actiities flrimcrv connr itn Conimirntv Matters report BIG RED. LITTLE NUMBER. T OYOTA PURCHASE FINANCING OD/ 0 APR' FOR 36 MONTHS -M