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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 12 ,2 01 8 | 8 Twenty years ago, de- commissioned trailers adorned the edge of the Credit River in the area where the Willow Park Ecology Centre now sits. It took a local group with a vision to jump-start the plan that made Willow Park the place it has come to be: a nature park and an place for science-based learning, teamwork and environ- mental stewardship. On July 14, Willow Park will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with residents of Norval and the sur- rounding communities. Park director Tunde Otto sat down with the Indepen- dent to look back on 20 mile- stones achieved through- out Willow Park's two-de- cade journey. 1998 The Town of Halton Hills' environmental advi- sory committee first pro- posed the idea for the Wil- low Park Ecology Centre in 1998. The committee soon grew to include 10 members joining forces with the town's parks and recreation department and Credit Val- ley Conservation. The following year, a master plan was prepared to guide the planning and implementation of the cen- tre. A grant was secured to build the park features over a three-year period. 2002 Willow Park Ecology Centre received its first Award of Merit from Credit Valley Conservation. 2002 Willow Park held its first themed event, Riverfest, with a large group of part- ners led by the former Ca- noe Country of Norval. The centre has since of- fered an array of events for each season, which can be found through Willow Park's event calendar. 2003 In 2003, Willow Park cre- ated a five-year strategic plan, with input from the community, to define how the restored park should be used and maintained. Then Willow Park sought and received a sec- ond grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which gave them the oppor- tunity to develop and deliv- er educational program- ming for three years. In 2004, Willow Park first in- troduced its science-curric- ulum-linked school pro- grams. The programs continue to provide age-appropriate learning experiences in na- ture for students from kin- dergarten to Grade 8. The programs are currently available to Halton and Peel schools. COMMUNITY Twenty milestones in honour of Willow Park's 20th anniversary VERONICA APPIA vappia@metroland.com l See SCIENCE, page 10 Visit us online @ theifp.ca 04 26 18 Gary Carr Regional Chair Meetings at Halton Region, 1151 Bronte Rd., Oakville, L6M 3L1 Visit halton.ca/meetings for full schedule. Helping local businesses succeed at any stage NOTICE OF ROAD CLOSURE Winston Churchill Boulevard (Regional Road 19) improvements through Norval 10 Side Rd. to north of Noble Street, Town of Halton Hills Contract Number: R-2464/R-2750 Project Manager: Martin Larkin 905-825-6000, ext. 7614 martin.larkin@halton.ca 07 12 18 Due to road and water infrastructure works to be completed,Winston Churchill Boulevard will be closed from Guelph Street/Bovaird DriveWest to Old Pine Crest Road with access to local traffic only starting Tuesday, July 3, 2018 to Friday, August 17, 2018. Access for local residents will be maintained at all times. O LD PI NE CR ES T RD 10 SIDE RD. DETOUR ROUTE (R EG .R D. 19 ) W IN ST O N CH UR CH IL L BL VD AD AM SO N ST . N . WINSTON CHURCHILL BLVD (REG. RD. 19) BOVAIRD DR. W HE RI TA G E RD WANLESS DR. TE NT H LI NE N. (REG. RD 10) DETOUR ROUTE ROAD CLOSURE LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY PEEL REGION HALTON REGION GUELPH ST. C. N. R. 10 LI NE AD AM SO N ST . S . No Regional Council or Standing Commitee meetings for the rest of the month. Whether you're a start-up, a small business looking to expand or a firm thinking of taking your business global, Halton Region is a one-stop location for your business needs. Our Small Business Centre offers one-on-one consultations, access to start-up funding and mentorship programs. For businesses looking to scale up and go global, our Global Business Centre consultants provide advice to help you navigate the export world. Our team of experts, range of services and commitment to building a strong local economy are some of the many reasons why Halton is a great place to do business. Visit halton.ca or follow@haltonbusiness to learn more and connect with a consultant today. www.leathertownlumber.ca LEATHERTOWN LUMBER LiMiTEd qUANTiTy ON sALE iTEMs. WHiLE sUppLiEs LAsT. LEATHERTOWN LUMBER is yOUR sOURCE FOR WOOdWORKiNG pROJECTs Turboknife® X Utility Knife Comfortable and ergonomic design with hang hole in casing tail. Open and close security button. Camouflage color. Includes 5 blades. 1604289 $5.99 WAS: $11.99 $13.99 WAS: $18.99 946-mL. Glossy polyurethane Dries fast to a hard finish. Protects and beauties interior wood surfaces. 6894596 2 Amp Oscillating Tool Kit 11,000-20,000 RPM. Includes end cut blade, semi circle blade, key, and sanding pad with (3) sanding sheets. 0877878 $39.99 WAS: $59.99 HOT BUY!$39.99 HOT