"Do Not Enter" Gone For Good

It’s been bugging me for a couple of years. And, maybe you never even noticed it, but subliminally it may have had an effect. If it did, it was the incorrect message for our Town Hall.

What am I talking about? The “Do Not Enter” sign in front of Pelham Town Hall!

You see, last week Charter Commercial Contractors of St. Catharines began work on the addition / renovation to Town Hall. And, last Thursday, Dean Allison, our Member of Parliament, Don Ward, Charter’s President, all of Pelham Council, and I ceremonially broke ground on the 1,200 square foot addition to Pelham Town Hall.

We are extending the life expectancy of our municipal building to ultimately provide better, more efficient service to you and your neighbours.

How?

While the addition will become the Town’s new Council Chambers will also allow for a multi-use meeting space. This flexible, fully-accessible area will be available for community groups to use to the fullest. Since it will be easily adaptable, it could be used for public meetings, open houses, workshops, training sessions, small group discussions, and a multitude of other gatherings.

The renovation will convert the former Chamber into three offices and another meeting room. While we re-organized and renovated most of the rest of Town Hall over the last two years, this final renovation will ultimately create the space for a couple of much-needed and fully-budgeted staff. The first, a Construction Inspector, will oversee Town infrastructure projects and residential developments to ensure they follow all Town guidelines and rules. The second, a Computer IT Specialist, will help bring our computer systems into the 21st Century.

Finally, the addition will allow for the construction of a second floor on top of the Chamber in case it will be required in the future.

The project will cost an estimated $380,000 of which $160,000 is provided through the federal government’s Community Adjustment Fund (CAF). The funding will help provide work for local workers and provide a boost to Niagara’s economy over the period of construction.

But what about the “Do Not Enter” sign?

Well, the addition will extend the building to the North, and will remove the sweeping, curved driveway around the building. You will recall that that driveway was “One Way Only.”

With that driveway gone, we will also remove the “Do Not Enter” sign. Now, the message will be correct for your Town Hall – “Please enter.”

Presentation to Provincial Committee

A couple of weeks ago, I had the honour of being re-elected as the Co-Chair of the Corporate Services Committee at the Region. The committee is one of four “standing committees” (a permanent, legislative committee) and members oversee the Region’s financial management and planning, human resources, information technology, facilities, and legal services.

As a Committee Co-Chair, occasionally I am called on to be the Acting Regional Chair. This Monday, Chairman Partington asked me to represent him and Regional Council at the Province’s Pre-Budget Consultation at the Standing Committee of Finance & Economic Affairs. Travelling across Ontario, this Provincial Committee is seeking input on the Government’s 2010 Budget.

For your information, here are my speaking notes for my submission:


Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Pre-Budget Consultations (Ontario)

Submissions of Regional Municipality of Niagara
Dave Augustyn, Acting Regional Chair & Mayor, Town of Pelham

Introduction
• Self-Introduction – Acting for and bring greetings from Regional Chair Peter Partington
• Also introduce Mike Trojan, the Region’s Chief Administrative Officer
• I am here this morning representing Niagara Region, but also as the Mayor of the Town of Pelham, one of Niagara’s 12 lower tier municipalities. (A little bit about Pelham).
• A warm welcome to Niagara. Understand that you have already heard from my colleague Mayor Ted Salci to welcome you to Niagara Falls earlier this morning.
• I compliment your Committee for traveling – bringing provincial decision-makers closer to the people. Something we strive to do across the Region.
• We are circulating a short slide deck that provides the committee a “Coles Notes” version of my presentation. and of course, I will leave a copy of my notes with the Clerk.

OVERVIEW
• The purpose of our presentation is to give you a Niagara flavor that hopefully will be considered I the preparation of the next provincial budget. Specifically:
o To provide a quick overview on the state of the economy here in Niagara as context
o To stress the importance of predictable and sustainable funding for infrastructure and social programs
o To thank the government for your on-going assistance in this regard, and
o To recommend that the government work harder to control provincial arbitrator decisions – need to limit escalating arbitration awards to Police and Fire services.

State of Economy in Niagara
• While the Niagara area ranks number one in Canada as a tourist destination, I regret to remind you that Niagara ranks number 2 overall in Canada for unemployment. At 10.8%, we rank 2nd only to the City of Windsor at 13.3%.
• Our citizens tend to be older on average, tend to have greater health problems and are worse off economically than the rest of the province on average.

• Between 1997 and 2007 Niagara economy grew 26.3% while the overall Ontario economy grew by 37.8%
• During same period we experienced employment growth of 12.9%, in contrast to the Ontario average of 27.6%
• We have been particularly hard it with the loss of manufacturing Jobs – the closure of John Deer plant in Welland, Dana Corporation in Thorold, Atlas Specialty Steel, Cangro Foods and the downsizing of General Motors to name only a few.
• In general our household incomes are lower and our youth are having to leave Niagara to find good paying jobs.
• Despite our number one rank as a tourist destination, but I can tell you that even tourism is lagging due to the downturn in our economy and in the U.S.A.
o But we hope that will return…………….
• Some realities that show hope and how we need to position ourselves for the future
o Niagara is above the provincial average for producing college graduates – who are workforce ready
o Niagara is strategically located because we are within a truckers daily drive to over 50% of the North American Market, and popularity of Niagara border crossings increasing surpassing that of Sarnia and Windsor combined in 2008.
 This trend supports the need for GTA to Niagara Corridor (or previously known as the Mid Pen Peninsula) to proceed.
o We are a region of entrepreneurs with diverse business growth – in fact we have an above average number of small to medium sized businesses (SME’s)
 Brock Bio-Science Centre is helping to incubate new business
• Niagara is working to create niche markets – see real potential in alternative energy and renewable energy – perhaps we will see Niagara emerge as “Ontario’s cradle of renewable energy”
o Niagara Falls and “Big Becky” are huge successes in renewable energy generation
o Niagara has formed a partnership with the Rankin group to form “Wind Niagara” – a small corporation looking to attract and grow wind power components. Our geographic positioning makes Niagara a perfect location to grow renewable energy businesses.
o The Abitibi Paper Mill is building a $500M Co-Generation system that will make the Thorold Mill totally energy self sufficient producing about 250MW of poser the majority of which will be fed back into the grid.
• Just to name a few examples………….

THANK YOU for Recent Investments in Niagara:
• I need to acknowledge the many examples of provincial assistance we are benefiting from in Niagara. So please accept our thanks for:
o The millions of dollars of investments over the last few years under various infrastructure programs that have resulted in improvements both regionally and within local municipalities as well including major road rehabilitation and expansion projects; water and waste water system improvements and critical bridge repair work;
 The Province alone has invested approx. $62 million in the 12 local municipalities, and another $30 million in Regional projects.
 Together with the municipal and Federal share, this means approx. $281 million of infrastructure improvements.
o Your on-going commitment to the widening of Highway 406, for rehabilitation and expansion works necessary to make the Niagara District Airport more commercially viable;
o For your assistance in making the Niagara Convention and Civic Center a reality that will help bring more investment to this City and the Region
o You have also helped in the creation of the Vineland Research and Innovation Center; Niagara Ambulance Communication Pilot; and
o Uploading -- We need to also thank the government for not to choosing to balance their budget woes through the delay in uploading the cost of social services – with case loads peaking now due to the recent recession the continuation of this upload as planned is critical. We would ask that you continue with negotiated and scheduled uploads.

But, the Need for On-going, Predictable Investments Continues
• Ladies and gentlemen we realize the current state of the economy provincially and the province’s fiscal situation (pushing $25B) deficit and we realize that most of this deficit is because of the significant infrastructure stimulus funding the government has been invested in municipalities to help create local jobs.
• We want to thank you for those investments and your focus on jobs.
• The need for continued and for stable infrastructure funding is critical to better connect Niagara internally and with our trading partners.
• Long term stable infrastructure funding is our largest area of need – [not unlike the rest of the Country]
• Members may not yet be familiar with the survey just released last week through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. This survey of Canadians indicates that 96% of Canadians want the government to maintain or increase spending for local infrastructure.
• Canadians feel that we are lagging behind in infrastructure improvements and see that as a threat to their future prosperity.
• Survey says “do not balance your books by cutting much-needed investments in our community infrastructure”
• In Niagara we estimate our longer term infrastructure needs – to bring our existing infrastructure to optimal state of repair and to grow our system to match our anticipated growth -- to be approximately $1.6 billion dollars for the next 10 years.. Then there are the needs of the 12 lower-tier municipalities.
• In contrast, we estimate that Niagara’s taxpayers can afford to pay for about $1.3 billion over 10 years. This leaves a $300 million funding gap.
• I say “Niagara Taxpayers” because we use an “ability to pay” philosophy – we endeavor to tax well below the average annual increases in household income.
• We agree with the province that infrastructure spending is one the best and quickest ways to stimulate the economy, get people back to work, and increase government revenues.
• When people are working there is less strain on our jointly funded – by Province and by Region -- social programs as well.
• Niagara is also currently debating whether to and how to integrate the existing transit systems in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, and Welland into a Regional transit system.
• Good transit could better serve students, employees, and those looking for work. It could also better link tourist features and the recently expanded GO Transit to Niagara.
• We know this is a focus of the Provincial Government and that you provide Gas Tax revenues for vehicle replacements. We encourage you to maintain that investment.

Arbitrated Settlements
• I am going to change course now and talk about an issue that is of growing concern not only to Niagara but to many other municipalities across Ontario as well – and that is the desperate need for a clearer direction to Provincial Arbitrators with regard to settlements for Police and Fire services.
• [If you need some history I can give it to you during questions, however] It is becoming financially prohibitive for all municipalities to keep pace with arbitrated settlements.. Our police forces and fire departments play a vital role in our communities and we have to have them – but their arbitrated wages settlements are becoming unsustainable and unaffordable.
• Too often, Arbitrators look to other jurisdictions to guide their settlements. Unfortunately Arbitrators are not considering “ability to pay” of the local area – even Windsor has lost that battle with Police and Fire
• This is creating two tier classes of employees – and we are seeing growing pressure from other employee groups for greater recognition of their work as well
o Public works employees in confined spaces and trenches
o Utility workers (proximity to gas, electricity)
o Nurses, Personal Support Workers in the homes
o Your own correctional workers………….
• It is creating compression issues within municipalities (for example Fire Officers making more than our Finance and Public Works Directors with larger span of control / complexity).
• I tabled a motion that was supported by Regional Council last Thursday night that will asks the Government to require that arbitrators take into account a municipality’s – hence our taxpayer’s -- ability to pay and the health of the local economy.
Conclusion
• In conclusion Mr. Chair – I want to thank you for the opportunity to give you some food for thought as the government prepares for its next budget.
• On behalf of Niagara Regional Council I would like to thank this committee for listening and the government for listening
• It is critical to us to keep infrastructure dollars flowing and we are truly thankful for provincial funding programs.
o Keep the gas tax coming; turn programs like Investing in Ontario, Building Canada, ISF funding, Bus replacement programs and others into long term stable and sustainable funding.
o We are pleased with the outcome of the Provincial Municipal Service Delivery Review results and the uploading of the costs for social services – we need that to continue.
o And finally – please help us to stabilize wages through provincial direction to more strongly consider ability to pay in terms of arbitrated settlements.
Thank you

Seeking to Revitalize Downtown Fenwick

I have some more news regarding the revitalization of Pelham’s Downtowns.

You will recall that in late 2008 the Town applied for funding from the Federal and Provincial government to revitalize both Fonthill’s and Fenwick’s Downtowns. The $7.1 million application envisioned major infrastructure enhancements: water, waste-water, and storm-sewer improvements; burying of hydro cables; road improvements; and proper streetscaping – better parking, brickwork, decorative lampposts, benches and planters.

In early 2009 we heard we were successful in achieving two-thirds funding to revitalize Downtown Fonthill. Those designs are in the final stages and work will be starting this spring. However, the improvements for Fenwick were deemed a second project and ineligible for that funding.

But, in December the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario announced a second “intake” for the Community Adjustment Fund. To be eligible for funding, the projects must be for community organizations, small-to-medium-sized businesses, or municipalities and completed by March 31, 2011.

While the $128 million fund is available for business to expand production capacity, technology, or access to markets, it also supports the “revitalization and development of downtown core” areas.

Following a Resolution at a Special Council meeting last week, the Town applied for $2.3 million of funding from the Federal Government for the revitalization of Fenwick’s Downtown. The $2.7 million project would provide help “calm” traffic by creating urban design features – like pedestrian crossing treatments or gateways – that work with the road design to slow traffic. The works would help to visually distinguish the downtown core, provide decorative roadway and pedestrian lighting to improve safety, and widen sidewalks to help make it more walkable.

What about the flagpole at the intersection of Maple Street and Canboro Road? People seem to have strong feelings about what to do with the historic structure. Some suggest the status quo. Others envision the flagpole in the middle of a roundabout which could help reduced speeds and enhance the perception of the downtown core.

The Town, via an engineering consultant, has already started formulating the design for Downtown Fenwick. Rest assured you will have a chance to comment as they present design concepts for a revitalized downtown.

If you would like to support the Town’s application, please write to:
Community Adjustment Fund
151 Yonge Street, 3rd Floor
Toronto, ON M5C 2W7

and reference the Town of Pelham’s application to Revitalize Downtown Fenwick.

You may also want to encourage our Member of Parliament, Dean Allison, to continue to invest in Pelham. His address is:

Dean Allison
Niagara-West Glanbrook MPP
4994 King Street
Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0
or email at info@deanallison.ca.

"Taking Stock" on Property Taxes

As a New Year begins, many of us like to “take stock” on our personal and professional lives. Many find it a good time to review the last year and to ask, how and what can we improve.

On the professional side, this review got me thinking about one of the major yardsticks for residents of Municipalities – property taxes.

Now, it is too early to talk about the 2010 Operating Budget and its impacts on the 2010 Property Tax Levy; Council will start reviewing the Budget in February.

You will recall that Pelham Council did approve the 2010 Capital Budget on November 30 – the earliest ever. In fact, Staff has already started tendering capital projects in order to get ahead of other municipalities, and to (hopefully) get better pricing.

Property Tax Calculation:
You will recall that I have written here often about property taxes, about how we prudently invest your taxes in the Town, and about how it is calculated.

The amount of property tax you pay to the Town of Pelham, to the Region, and to the Province (for Education) is based on the Market Value Assessment of your property multiplied by each of the tax rates.

Despite your tax rate being set by each entity for their services, the Town collects the tax and distributes it.

Your assessment is solely set by MPAC. The Town and the Region cannot change any element of this assessment process.

From 2004 to 2009:

You will remember that Pelham’s final 2009 property tax increase of 1.8% was the second lowest increase in Niagara Region last year.

But, what about over a longer period of time? Let’s compare this term of Council so far with the last term of Council.

The average increase of property tax on the Pelham portion of your tax bill for the last three years was 3.8%; for the previous three years it was 12.2%. If you “take stock” on the entire tax bill – Pelham, Region, Education – the past three year’s average was 2.1% compared to 5.9%.



Pelham staff has diligently followed this Council’s direction to ensure minimal impact on you and other property tax-payers without decreasing the current level and quality of services. Staff found efficiencies, ways to work smarter, and stayed focused on service to the community.

I am pleased with our record and look forward to 2010 Operating Budget deliberations in February.

Pelham Welcomes Olympic Torch

Here are the notes for my speech at the Royal Bank in Fonthill, welcoming the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay to Pelham.

Thank you and good afternoon everyone!

On behalf of Pelham Town Council,it is a great honour to welcome you today as our community welcomes Canada – and the world – with open arms and glowing hearts.

The Town of Pelham is proud to be one of the one-thousand Canadian communities to host the Olympic Flame.

As the Flame is passed along through our streets, you’ll see a glow of excitement as our community shows our Olympic Spirit and Canadian pride.

From hockey trials and figure skating this morning, to the pre-torch parade, to activities in Peace park this afternoon, we are sharing in the Olympic spirit.

And while the flame is in our community for only a few minutes, I hope you will celebrate for hours, and remember this event for many years!

Special thanks to each the volunteers who worked hard to ensure this was a memorable and magical event.

And, congratulations to all the torchbearers who have been selected to run through Pelham’s streets.

It’s just 53 days now until the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The sea of red and white here in Pelham shows we are ready to celebrate with the rest of our country.

Thank you, congratulations, and enjoy the rest of today!

Next Steps Taken in New Firehall

Town staff erected a yellow sign last Friday at 766 Welland Road. The sign, which indicated that the property has started the process of being rezoned, says “to permit the development of a Fire Station.”

You see, the Town recently finalized the agreement of purchase and sale for the 4.9 acre property that is required to replace for Pelham Fire Station #2 at Welland and Canboro Roads in Fenwick.

You will recall that in August 2008, Council established a Fire Station #2 Replacement Committee. The Committee determined that the Town needs a new Fire Station for several reasons: the current vehicle bays do not have enough room for future vehicle requirements; parts of the 60-year-old building are structurally inadequate and are cracking and deteriorating; there is not enough on-site parking for the volunteer firefighters during calls; there are significant safety concerns with as firefighters backing-up vehicles into the bays after each call.

The Committee also determined that the required improvements cannot occur on the current site. An additional vehicle bay attached to the current building would eliminate vehicle parking for the volunteer fire fighters, for example.

The Committee developed a “site criteria matrix” to help establish the best location. Using the matrix, the committee evaluated existing public lands. Those lands ranked less than 55% of the requirements for an ideal site.

In December 2008 and January 2009, the committee invited public landowners to submit options for a new site; these sites were evaluated with the same site criteria matrix.

The 766 Welland Road property received the highest score – well-above all other properties.

The northern portion of the site, which is in the “Urban Boundary”, will accommodate the new ±10,000 square foot Fire Station, most of the parking, and the driveway.

The southern portion – approximately 2.6 acres – is adjacent to Centennial Park and could provide much-needed emergency access to the Park.

The Federal and Provincial investments of $990,000 each make the $2.9 million project possible.

Following the re-zoning of the property, the Town will need to hire an architect to design the facility for this specific property.

A Site Plan will also have to be approved. The Site Plan will ensure that the property’s uses fit as well as possible to the uses of surrounding properties. This Plan will likely make use of fencing and landscaping to minimize any impact on neighbouring properties.

Construction could begin in the spring of 2010 with completion in late-fall.

Unprecedented Capital Budget: Turning Years of Wait into Month of Action

You will note that I use the word “unprecedented” when letting you know about our 2010 Capital Budget. Why?

First, Council adopted your Capital Budget on Monday, November 30. That’s both the earliest ever for the Town, and the first in the Region. Since we are ahead of the rest, I hope the Town will again save money on our early tendering of projects.

Second, this Capital Budget is the largest ever for Pelham. Why is this year’s $14.5 million budget nearly three times more than last year’s $5.4 million? This budget will utilize the unprecedented investments that the Federal and Provincial Governments have promised to Pelham.

Those unprecedented investments mean unprecedented improvements for Pelham in 2010. These include revitalizing Downtown Fonthill, reconstructing Haist Street, replacing Pelham Fire Station #2, renewing and making accessible nine playgrounds, and adding-on to Town Hall.

Some of these projects have been years in the waiting. These investments will turn years of wait into months of action.

You will recall that a capital budget plans for the acquisition or rehabilitation of major infrastructure and equipment that have a long life. Such capital assets include municipal buildings, arenas, trucks and vehicles, roads and sidewalks, and water/sewerage pipes.

(The operating budget provides for the “day-to-day” expenditures such as salaries, wages, benefits, heat, hydro, and routine maintenance of buildings and infrastructure.)

So, what else is in the budget?

In addition to the projects I listed above, this Capital budget will build a better community:
• New Town Website: to improve interactions between staff and residents;
• Upgrade to Town Information Technologies: seeking Federal investment to integrate the Town’s systems;
• Investments in Recreation: including a new ice resurfacer, and significant upgrades to Centennial, Harold Black, and Marlene Stewart-Streit Parks;
• Renovations to Old Pelham Town Hall: seeking Federal investments to improve the condition of this important historic facility;
• New Library automation system;
• Engineering of Pelham Street South of College: advancing by two years this first step in reconstructing the road and adding sidewalks South of College;
• Replaces a 1988 backhoe and two trucks;
• Renews nine other streets.

Thus, your 2010 Capital Budget will continue our Town’s revitalization through the further progression of our infrastructure. Thanks to the unprecedented investments of the Federal and Provincial governments, the budget supports community spirit, prosperity and growth. It also provides responsible, well-planned, and future-focused investments in Pelham.

Next Steps in Downtown Revitalization

Since I am a perpetual booster of all things Pelham, you will not be surprised that I am excited about the upcoming revitalization of Downtown Fonthill!

You see, just last week we took another step closer to a shovel in the ground on the $2.5 million revitalization of downtown Fonthill from College Street, across Regional Road #20 to Broad Street.

How?

The company hired to finalize the detailed engineering design held a “public information centre” regarding the street reconstruction and streetscaping improvements.

Don’t worry in case you missed it; the information is posted on the front page of Town’s website at www.pelham.ca and they are inviting your comments until December 11.

Within the study area and based on significant average daily traffic counts (of approximately 8,000), Pelham Street functions as a local arterial road. In the development of the design options, the consultants considered the need to provide some level of safety for cyclists, to maximize the pedestrian realm, to provide on-street parking, and to ensure adequate fire vehicle maneuverability.

They suggested a standard 3.5 metre lane width “based on the volume and nature of traffic and the need to meet provincial and local engineering standards for a safe roadway.” After looking at three other options, they recommended “Option 2: On Street Parking (both sides)-No Bike Lanes (except from
College Street to Church Hill Street).”

Their reasons? The design (which is also available in detail on the Town’s website) provides for the same number of on-street parking spots, expands or improves the pedestrian realm, complies with recent planning studies (like the Community Improvement Plan and Urban Design Guidelines), links with the Regional Bikeway Network, and provides additional boulevards to enhance business frontage.

I was impressed that the picture boards also included a graphic representation of how the revitalization might look. It included an image of the current situation and an image of how that area could look with the preferred design. It not only included a new road and sidewalks, but the images also removed the overhead hydro and telephone poles, added decorative lights and trees, and delineated parking spaces.

The consultant suggested that following streetscaping design review meetings in January / February 2010, the detail design should be completed in “Winter 2010”. The construction could be tendered in the spring and should be completed next fall.

And so, it will be gratifying that the vision that so many have worked on for so many years will become a reality during the next year.

"Be Nice, Clear Your Ice"

Do you remember the cartoonist Ben Wicks? If so, what does he have to do with the proposed sidewalk clearing bylaw for Pelham?

Ben Wicks was a British-born Canadian cartoonist, illustrator, journalist and author. Very topical and witty, his cartoon, The Outcasts, was syndicated by 84 Canadian and more than 100 American newspapers.

In the early 1980s, Toronto promoted sidewalk clearing using an animation by Mr. Wicks. “Be Nice, Clear Your Ice” encouraged people to clear the sidewalks in front of or alongside their property within 12 hours of the end of a snowfall or ice event.



But what does this have to do with Pelham, you ask?

Last year, the members of the Pelham Active Transportation committee suggested that the Town enact a bylaw to compel owners and tenants to clear ice and snow from the sidewalk surrounding their properties. The Committee gave research showing how it would help make Pelham a more walkable community.

Also last year, the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council asked Council to pay for the removal of snow from sidewalks to that they would be clear for local students when walking to and from school.

In February of 2009, Council approved nearly $20,000 to the budget to clear an additional 633 metres of sidewalks in front of Town-owned properties like parks. We also asked for staff to develop a snow clearing by-law for implementation in November.

When that draft bylaw came back to Council in July, Council asked that it be posted on the Town’s website for comment.

At our regular meeting on November 2, General Committee received those 17 public comments, debated an amended bylaw, and approved it.

The bylaw called for property-owners or tenants to clear ice and snow from sidewalks in front of or along side a home or business within 24 hours of a snowfall. It proposed that if the Town must clear the ice and snow the costs will be charged to the property-owner.

Staff recommended that the Town inform all residents about the bylaw, its purpose and enforcement details through the next set of water bills and with newspaper inserts. Further, it was recommended that until January 31, 2010, staff would remind people with a note and give a grace period to clear the ice and snow.

That bylaw came to Council for consideration on Monday, but was not adopted. Given recent feedback from the community, Council referred the bylaw back to staff to add more flexibility.

If enacted, I hope that a sidewalk snow clearing by-law will lead to safer, more pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods throughout our Town. As I shovel this winter, I will remember Ben Wick’s advice: “Be Nice, Clear Your Ice.”

With Our Hearts

It was a very gentle gesture that was so filled with meaning.

Four children offered poppies to the veterans and members of the Royal Canadian Legion.

But these were very special poppies. You see, not only were they hand-made, but they were constructed from four, cut-out hearts that were joined at the base.

This gift to our veterans was during a “Moment with the Young” and part of a special Remembrance Day Service at the Fonthill Baptist Church on Sunday. The heart-poppies tied so beautifully with Rev. Russ Myers’s theme for the service: “See with your heart what they saw with their eyes.”

That’s the point of Remembrance Day, isn’t it?

Remembrance Day is the time for us empathize with and give thanks for those brave men and women who served, and who continue to serve, our country during times of war, conflict and peace.

Remembrance Day is about honouring their courage, their commitment, and their devotion to our community and to Canada.

The men and women of the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan are fighting still, for the principles of peace and justice. Indeed, it is right to remember their sacrifice and determination too.

On the cenotaphs in Fenwick, Ridgeville, and Fonthill and on the bricks at the Veteran’s Park, we can read the names of some of those from Pelham that were killed in battle or who acted in our service.

It is right for us to remember those who served from Pelham. They gave their lives for us. They gave their lives for our children. They gave their lives for future generations yet to come.

They gave their futures so that our future might be one of peace.

The gentle action of the children during the special Remembrance Day Service calls us to engrave their names and their sacrifices not only on cenotaphs or bricks but also on our hearts.

The freedoms that so many of us might take for granted – to express ourselves, to participate in cultural, religious, and political activities, to come and go as we please, to pursue a safe and happy life – are all due to the sacrifices of Veterans and those who today follow in their footsteps.

And so, on this Remembrance Day 2009, let us be thankful. Let us rededicate ourselves to peace. And let us never forget.