As we look back over the last few months we as Miltonians have a lot to be proud of. From the daily heroic actions of our front line workers, to the hundreds of businesses in town who despite immense challenges to keep their businesses afloat still kept focusing on giving to others, and the thousands of people who volunteered to help out, we should all be very proud.
I have never been more proud to be a Miltonian and a member of this community. We are at an incredibly important part in the history of this town – it is a period of time that we will be talking about for years and years from now. Canada Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary actions of our community members – Our neighbours, our friends and fellow Miltonians.
The challenges we have faced together over the last few months have only made this community stronger. We have been put to the test, and we have risen to the occasion.
Thanks to the collective efforts of the people of Milton and Halton Region we are beginning to reopen and people are getting back to work. Since this all began in March, The Town of Milton immediately worked towards assisting both businesses and residents with help by offering a deferral of property taxes for those who needed it most. Our senior management team produced a work plan that helped ensure business continuity at the Town. Permits continue to be processed, park and boulevards continue to be maintained albeit at a slower rate and essential services provided by our staff continue to be completed.
With the leadership of the Milton Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations and with the cooperation of both our MP and MPP, regular meetings and updates with residents and businesses were set in place to make sure Milton residents were kept up to date on the rapidly changing events during COVID19.
Milton continues to work with our business community as evidenced by the Patio 2020 program that helped cut red tape and streamline the process for our local restaurant owners and small businesses to move quickly to Stage 2 after we received approval from the province.
We’ve come a long way since the middle of March and there is still a long way to go. We are getting through this and while our summer time events have been cancelled physically, our celebrations will continue. The Town of Milton has a list of fun events that are being held throughout the day and you can find that schedule at www.milton.ca/canadaday
It is unfortunate that many of the events in Milton have been postponed or outright cancelled. The world renowned Downtown Street Festival, our Classic Car Show, the Strawberry Fair that supports the Milton Hospital Auxillary, our Milton Fall Fair and dozens of fundraising events have not been allowed to happen. All of these and more make Milton the great community it is.
Normally on Canada Day my daily routine would be to head to Victoria Park at Town Hall and enjoy our Veterans Breakfast. Thanks to our friends at the Knights of Columbus, this annual event has been held in support of our local veterans. Branch 136 of our local Royal Canadian Legion helps prepare a celebration at the cenotaph and then we march with our veterans to the Milton Fairgrounds to kick off the Canada Day celebrations.
It is unfortunate that we cant do this in 2020 but it is for the best. We have and continue to persevere through this COVID19 situation and we’ll do whatever it takes to get back to normal, whatever that new normal will look like.
So today at some point, take a moment and thank our veterans, the ones who fought and died to make Canada free and the best country in the world.
I ask you to enjoy your celebrations for Canada Day this year as safely as possible. Lets keep doing what we have been doing so well over the last few months….
Washing hands
Maintaining physical distancing
Limiting unnecessary travel
Wear a mask when in public spaces especially when physical distancing cant be maintained.
And if you don’t feel well, please stay at home.
So, on behalf of my family, I’d like to wish you and yours a very Happy and Safe Canada Day. Lets celebrate what makes us the best town of the best province of the best country in the world to live in. Although we wont be face to face, I’ll hopefully “see” you at many of the virtual events that will be held across Milton today.
All the best … take care … and we’ll see you soon.