In Focus, February, 2011 4 Letter from In Focus "Mon pays, ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver" - Mon pays by Gilles Vigneault Generally speaking, we Canadians are a peaceful, easy-going bunch, but there is one topic that really fires us up. No, it's not talk of Senate reform or debating the merits of the Leafs versus the Canadiens. I'm referring, of course, to winter. Though hockey and lacrosse are the official sports of our fair country, complaining about winter is definitely our unofficial national pastime. But as much as we whine and moan about the cold temperatures and mountains of snow we face every year, it's also a source of pride. Let's be honest: Canadian winters aren't for sissies. And who among us hasn't had a laugh when we hear of major international cities being shut down by a dusting of snow? The weather that causes their schools to close, commerce to grind to a halt and newspaper headlines to scream "SNOWMAGEDDON!" and "SNOWPOCALYPSE!" is par for the course in the Great White North. As much as we may dislike our never-ending winters, it's part of our Canadian identity. It's ingrained in our literature, art, music and, most importantly, sports. After all, without snow and ice there would be no hockey and without hockey...well, what would we watch on Saturday nights? So embrace the winter, my friends! Take time out from your busy hibernation schedule to go tobogganing or skating or cross-country skiing. And take comfort in the fact that we've almost reached the best part of winter: the end of it. Now it's your turn. How do you feel about winter? What is your favourite wintertime activity? Do you have an event coming up? Let us know! Happy February! Historic Halton Hills Did you know that... ... St. Alban's Drive in Acton was originally a farm lane leading to the homestead of Rufus Adams, one of Acton's first settlers? ... Georgetown's Memorial Arena, built in 1922, was originally an outdoor rink thatwas later enclosed? ... McKenzie-Smith Bennett Public School in Acton is named after three former Acton Public School principals: Minnie Z. Bennett, Garnet W. McKenzie and W.D. Elmer Smith? ... Timothy Eaton worked in Glen Williams before moving to Toronto and opening the first department store? ... William, Joseph and James Streets in Georgetown are named after the Barber brothers, who owned a mill in town? ... Acton Baptist Church was struck by lightning a year after it was built? The roof and tower were damaged and the leaded glass windows melted, but the structure was otherwise unharmed. ... The Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre was a sawmill, a flour mill, a power plant and an apple processing plant before becoming the renowned artists' studio it is today? ... The Acton Town Hall housed the municipal council, the fire department and the town constabulary, whose lockup cells are still there today? February 2011 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 2 IN FOCUS is published 12 times per year by the The Independent & Free Press A Division of Metroland Media Group Ltd. The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 29 Georgetown, Ontario, L7G 4B1 Telephone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398 Publisher Ken Nugent Special Features Co-ordinator Andrea Lefebvre 905-873-0301, ext. 236 alefebvre@ independentfreepress.com Advertising Sales Representatives Felicia Fasulo 905-873-0301, ext. 241 ffasulo@ independentfreepress.com Amy Sykes 905-873-0301, ext. 237 features@ independentfreepress.com Design/Production Dolores Black, Mary Lou Foreman, Shelli Harrison, Kevin Powell The contents are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved and commercial use is prohibited. 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