Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, May 9, 2007 7 Keeping the region's doctors is as important as recruiting new ones Halton residents are very fortunate to have access to quality medical care-- skilled and dedicated physicians and support staff, four excellent hospitals and numerous after-hours clinics. However, Halton, like the rest of Ontario, faces a shortage of family physicians. The Halton Physician Recruitment Initiative has had an important role in helping to maintain the quality of life we enjoy through its very successful efforts at encouraging new family doctors to establish practices here. Halton is a safe and healthy community and a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family and retire, and physicians considering setting up practice here have a broad scope of opportunities available to them. Since the Halton Physician Recruitment Initiative began in 2003, more than 60 new family physicians have set up practice in Halton. Fourteen full-time permanent family physicians have been recruited to the Town of Halton Hills with 13 establishing practices in Georgetown and one in Acton. Keeping doctors in Halton is just as important as recruitment, however, and that is why we recently celebrated Halton Physician Appreciation Week (April 30 to May 4). For the past five years, Halton has dedicated the week as an opportunity to say `thank you' to the doctors who practise here and to let them know how Gary Carr Come to the Country Garden Centre for all your garden needs much we value and appreciate the care they provide. As the population of Halton increases, the Halton Physician Recruitment Initiative will continue the work it is doing. The initiative is a collaboration between Halton Region, the Halton Hills Physician Recruitment Committee, representatives from the local municipalities of Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville, local physicians, senior area hospital staff and other community partners. If you would like to find out more about Halton Region's Physician Recruitment program, contact Angela Sugden Praysner, Physician Recruitment Co-ordinator, at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-4HALTON, TTY 905-827-9833 or go to www.halton.ca Gary Carr is the chair of Halton Region local residents to write as well; details will be posted on the Town website, www.haltonhills.ca 10th Anniversary 10% Off All Nursery Stock Mother's Day Hanging Baskets ·SHADE TREES ·EVERGREENS ·FLOWERING SHRUBS ·FLOWERING TREES ·FRUIT TREES ·ROSES TRAFALGAR RD. NORTH BALLINAFAD DOORN GARDENING ·ANNUALS ·CEDAR HEDGING ·BASKET STUFFERS ·BULK GRASS SEED ·LAWN & GARDEN FERTILIZER Town supports Cogeco Halton Hills council will send a letter of support on behalf of Cogeco TV to the Canadian Radio & Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which is reviewing the local cable company's licence. Cogeco requested the letter of support. Ward 2 Councillor Bryan Lewis described Cogeco as "extremely hands on" that does a lot for the council and this community. He encouraged First quarter building stats In the first quarter of 2007, the building department has issued 231 permits of which 194 are building permits totaling $487,000, 31 are portable sign permits ($2,800) and six are pool enclosure permits ($1,300). The building permits include 194 new home construction. · OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK · 14177 Trafalgar Rd., (Ballinafad) 905-877-4915 (North of Hwy. #7, 3 mins. from Georgetown) WINSTON CHURCHILL TO ACTON TRAFALGAR RD. SOUTH You love outside, Eventually you have to go in... HOME DECOR HOME CONSULT SERVICE HW Y. 7 GEORGETOWN HWY. 7 STEELES AVE. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 265 Guelph St., Georgetown 905-873-2753