The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Chatten bows out in style to make it better for the people who are here." Chatten, in particular, paid tribute to the town staff. In an elegant and gracious speech, Ward 4 "Staff are so committed in this town," he said. Councillor Ron Chatten bid farewell to civic ser- "They work extremely hard, and they work with vice and this community at the last council councillors and they respond to the public." meeting of the 2003-2006 term on Monday Mayor Rick Bonnette referred to Chatten as a night. consummate professional and a real "I spent 35 years in the educaadvocate for Ward 4 constituents, tional system and now 15 in but who also cared for all four corcouncil. So that's 50 years when ners of Halton Hills. people could call you about probWardmate for the past nine years, lems with their children or on Bob Inglis, called Chatten a good council, problems with their dogs friend and great councillor for the ... so I have no hesitation in sayward, who was always passionate ing it's going to be just nice to about the issues. walk away. I'll think about and I'll In a message to his colleagues, miss it, but I won't shed tears," Chatten said, "Just remember the said Chatten. "Every experience general public doesn't take everywe have changes us in some way. thing quite as seriously as we do... ...and I have enjoyed the jourPeople love this town ... people want ney." Retiring Ward 4 Coun- to be safe, protected and you've done Chatten announced that he cillor Ron Chatten bids that." and his wife Elaine plan to move farewell to council Also saying goodbye at Monday's to a retirement community in the Monday while defeated meeting, was Ward 3 Councillor Lake Simcoe area next week. Ward 3 councillor Mike Mike Davis, a one-term councillor "We're really looking forward Davis looks on. who lost his seat to newcomer Dave to it. It will be a change in Kentner. Photo by lifestyle, but we're leaving a wonCynthia Gamble In a statement read to his colderful community that I feel leagues, Davis said, "It's been an we've been part of and we will be coming back interesting and enlightening three years. I've to on a fairly regular basis," he said. learned a lot about how power is used in this In speaking about his fellow councillors, town. Some politicians measure success in being Chatten said, "What you have to remember is, able to keep their seat in an election. I was that you got people here trying to make sensible always more interested in brining forward new decisions who are part-time, and I think that's ideas and speaking up for what I believe in, even the way it should remain. if it wasn't popular. Thanks for the many "We make good decisions and we are mem- debates over alternatives ideas. bers of this community and we live in houses "I have to repeat what I heard during the just like everybody else. We're not here for campaign. Keep Georgetown a small town. Keep money, obviously and we're not, I think, here out the Big Pipe and slow down development." for the power of it. I think the vast majority of people I have served with are here because they (Cynthia Gamble can be reached at care about this town we live in it and they want cgamble@independentfreepress.com) CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer Happy 35th Anniversary to the Best Parents & Friends 2 Kids Could Ask For Happy 19th Birthday Krista Happy 16th Birthday Jimmy Love Mom, Dad & Chelsea MP greets vet Georgetown resident Bruce O'Connor, a Second World War veteran, is greeted by Wellington-Halton Hills Member of Parliament Michael Chong at a Remembrance Day assembly at Georgetown District High School. O'Connor, who served as a rear gunner on a Lancaster bomber, took up painting war art about a decade ago and shared his experiences with the students. Photo by Eamonn Maher