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Thursday, January 7, 2016 - The IFP - H alton H ills - w w w .theifp.ca Page 37 A Family Skate Sunday January 10th 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Mold-Masters SportsPlex Ice Pad Fernbrook Homes 221 Guelph St., Georgetown Everyone welcome. Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott Locations: Georgetown Public Library/Gellert Centre info@unicasolutions.ca • 905-334-7876 NOW - Children Learning Another Language (7-12 yrs. old) (13-17 yrs. old) Spanish & French R&M Construction granted $1.3 million for restoration project The Mill Creek's greatest foe is perhaps man, but that same adversary aims to invest $1.3 million in an effort to reha- bilitate the troubled waterway. Flooding, increased debris, sedi- ment buildup, erosion and changes to the water channel -- these are just some of the challenges facing Mill Creek. Now, Orangeville council has taken a big step towards combatting that fate. During a recent meeting, council awarded the long-planned restoration project to Acton-based R&M Construc- tion for $1.3 million. The highest of the 11 tender bids re- ceived came in at nearly $3 million. At one point, the Mill Creek pow- ered the mills spurring the town's early growth. Yet today, the waterway is losing the fight against urbanization. As Orangeville has become more urban, the water channel has changed due to an influx of water funneling into the creek bed and a number of man- made additions as well. It's a common trend seen in many creeks across southern Ontario. "It's been neglected," said Coun. Sylvia Bradley, chair of Orangeville Sus- tainability Action Team (OSAT), shortly after the town's Mill Creek restoration project was getting started. "It really is a jewel in the middle of town and most people don't know it is there," she added. In addition to town staff, Aquafor Beech Limited, the environmental consulting experts hired by the town to complete an environmental assess- ment of the Mill Creek, recommended council award R&M Construction the contract. In a letter to council, Rob Amos, fluvial geomorphologist for Aquafor Beech Limited, noted the Acton-based firm has more than 30 years experience of undertaking similar types of environ- mental projects. "Aquafor Beech Limited has worked co-operatively with R&M on a number of high profile creek restoration proj- ects throughout southern Ontario," Amos wrote. "The project experience provided by R&M Construction was directly relevant to the proposed works for Mill Creek." By Chris Halliday Metroland Media Group www.nationalbridalshow.com A DIVISION OF HUGE BRIDAL GOWN SALE THE WEDDING CHECKLIST WIN $6,000 IN GIFT CERTIFICATES* DRESS, TUXEDOS, CAKE, HONEYMOON, DJ & PHOTOBOOTH *Full details online JANUARY 22-24, 2016 Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto FreeDestination Weddingand Honeymoon Presentationwith START YOUR REGISTRY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $3,000 TABLEWARE GIVEAWAY PACKAGE from BRIDES TO BE ARE FREE! Register Online YOU COULD WIN A BLUE SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND PENDANT VALUED AT $5,500.00 FROM NEWS Cleo 'catnapped': Skinny kitten at centre of pet store petition stolen Cleo, the kitten at the centre of a con- troversy swirling at a Bramalea pet store, was cat-napped last month, Peel Regional Police have confirmed. Police said the young Abyssinian kit- ten, which set off a public outcry after a picture of her appearing skinny and on display at PJ's Pets in Bramalea City Cen- tre was posted on social media Saturday, was stolen just before Christmas. Police were called by a store em- ployee Dec. 21 at 2:15 p.m. to report the theft, which happened at 9:30 p.m. the day before, 30 minutes before store closing, according to police. Peel spokesperson Const. Bally Saini said the employee gave police a sur- veillance video that showed someone opening a cage, removing Cleo and con- cealing her before walking out the door and meeting up with a second suspect. After viewing the video, police searched the mall and arrested two suspects in the food court. Cleo was found in a house with as many as 11 other cats, according to PJ's Pets spokesperson Amy Young. Young said a vet checked out Cleo after she was returned, and then again on Sunday at the direction of the OSP- CA, which is investigating complaints that the kitten is being neglected. Ac- cording to a letter the Mississauga- based PJ's posted on their official Facebook page, the cat was born on Oct. 23, making it currently 10 weeks old, and is scheduled to be examined again on Jan. 12. "She has lost weight, but that was due to the stress of the situation," Young wrote in an email response to The Guardian. Charged with theft under $5,000 is Brooke Charbonneau, 18, and Dani- elle Chapman, 20, both of Brampton. Cleo was stolen from PJ's Pets in Bra- malea City Centre on Dec. 21. Submitted Photo