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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, O ct ob er 11 ,2 01 8 | 28 Georgetown's trusted choice for hearing care 360 Guelph St., Unit 44 Georgetown (In the Knolcrest Centre) 905.877.8828 Armstrong Ave Delrex Blvd Try before you buy! At Halton Audiometric Centre, we are committed to your hearing healthcare. To find out if hearing aids are right for you, come in for a complimentary assessment and try the latest digital hearing aids risk free! YOUMAYQUALIFY FORDENTURE CARE AT NO COST *SOME CONDITIONS MAY APPLY* Joshua Kelly, DD Denturist 360 Guelph Street #40 Georgetown, ON 289-924-1378 www.HaltonHillsDentures.ca ODSPandOntarioWorks - Adults currently on these programs. Dental Care Counts - Adults over 65 years that have no dental insurance and the cost of dental treatment would result in financial hardship. Youmay qualify for financial assistance to restore chewing ability and speech. *Conditions apply* No extra billing to the client for covered services. For the past 15 years, Pas- tor Ray Vander Kooij has been a catalyst and connec- tor for those in need in his community. Serving as the pastor of Bethel Church in Acton has allowed Vander Kooij to be involved with members of the church and community in a number of capacities, from providing individuals with networking opportuni- ties, to addressing social is- sues, to fostering together- ness and belonging. The major initiative he has been spearheading over the past few years is the housing task force of the Community Support Net- work, of which he is also a member of the lead team. The network seeks to move forward the social pillar of the sustainability plan of Halton Hills, Vander Kooij says. Vander Kooij has since been maintaining a primary role in addressing the lack of affordable housing in Acton. "It grew in some ways from our church having a re- al heart to see the issues of youth homelessness ad- dressed in the community, but then seeing the whole spectrum of needs in the community in terms of housing," he said. Vander Kooij organizes forums and creates net- working opportunities to provide community mem- bers with the knowledge and resources to be able to see housing through a new lens, he said. This includes familiariz- ing residents with various options when it comes to housing, such as cohousing, homeshares and secondary units. "It's about having actual opportunities to share and having light bulbs go off. Having people in the com- munity see things different- ly and be a loving neighbour, caring for the common good," he said. "There's dig- nity in any living setting and just having that lens, living with the current realities, that's so important." Alongside his duties with Community Support Net- work, Vander Kooij is a member of the Acton To- gether Committee, Bethel Church's Vacation Bible School and the Community Acton Initiative Refugee Sponsorship (CAIRS) team. Vander Kooij says though much of his work is systemic and involves net- working, he cherishes the moments where he gets to work directly with those in need. "I value the opportunities where I do get to connect with people personally be- cause they reach out through the church for help and are in a difficult situa- tion," he said. "To be able to provide some hope and help." Vander Kooij says being named Citizen of the Year re- ally puts the work he does in- to perspective. "For me it's a real humble honour to have the ways that I've been seeking to really reach out in the community and make a difference be ap- preciated and recognized, not that I do this for appreci- ation or recognition, but it kind of indicates that what I've longed for in my heart to be doing, is happening," he said. "In that way, it's affirm- ing, in terms of making the community a better place." Vander Kooij will receive the Citizen of the Year Award at a dinner held in his honour on Oct. 16. The din- ner will take place at the Ac- ton Town Hall Centre (19 Willow St. N., Acton, ON L7J 1Z6). Cocktails will begin at 6:30 p.m. and dinner will fol- low at 7:15 p.m. COMMUNITY 'IT'S A REAL HUMBLE HONOUR': PASTOR RAY VANDER KOOIJ NAMED ACTON 2018 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR VERONICA APPIA vappia@metroland.com Pastor Ray Vander Kooij will receive the Acton Citizen of the Year award at a dinner held in his honour on Oct. 16. Veronica Appia/Metroland