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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 3THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 20182 By: Alex Hilson Local historian and volunteer f i ref ighter Alan Scott presented "Acton Volunteer Fire- f i g h t e r s -- P a s t a n d Present" at the Acton Town Hall Centre this past Sunday during a Heritage Acton event. Scott led event goers through 125 years of his- tory regarding the efforts of the Acton Firefighters and brought along an- tiques from the force's many years of service. Scott, who has been a full-time police officer for 29 years and a vol- unteer firefighter for 13, wasn't much of a history buff initially. "I went to Acton High, and I really wasn't very good at it , and it was only when I got on the fire department that I grew interested in history." I n l a t e 2 0 0 7 , t h e Studebaker, the antique fire engine at the Acton Fire Hall, had its engine blow. Scott became part of the group to restore the truck and his interest developed from there. Kathleen Dills, a board member for Heritage Ac- ton and one of the people who made the show hap- pen Sunday, said, "One of the things the Town Hall has been really good at is being living history. So, we had Johnny Ac- ton when we opened the hall, and last year we did a Beardmore event where we had all the Beardmore employees come back." Dills added, "Bringing history to life is some- thing that's been popular here and firefighters are the natural next progres- sion because Al's done so much work with the history. It's just great to bring together the com- munity. We try to be the heart of the community at the Town Hall and talk about commonal- ities and issues, and it's just nice to not do it on social media and be live. Bringing people together is very important." DENTAL HYGIENIST / DENTIST / DENTURIST Spa Dent, Chairside Whitening - Special Introductory Price! Saturday and evening appointments available Kelly Kirk, Registered Dental Hygienist Also available: Michael Fijolek, Denturist and Alexey Osipenkov, Dentist, Erin only Also Pearly Whites 49 Waterford Dr. Erin 519-833-9788 ToTally RenovaTed office Direct Insurance Billing Services include: Teeth Scaling, Polishing, Chair Side Whitening We also have: Custom Sport Guards, Dentures, Same Day Denture Repairs & Free Dental Consults Happy 50th Birthday Mike Nellis "KEEP YOUR STICK ON THE ICE" Love and Best Wishes From Your Family & Friends By Alex Hilson The Acton Arena and C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e opened 20 years ago this month. The Arena, which took 10 years and $5.1 million to build, had a week long set of celebra- tions to mark its opening. Since then, many things have changed. The 1998 building in- cluded a new Seniors Centre. The previous centre started in the old arena at Prospect Park in 1995, but moved when the old arena was de- commissioned. In 2014, renovations forced the centre into the Acton Branch of the Royal Can- adian Legion and the Boathouse in Prospect Park for three months. During the same year, the Seniors Centre changed its name to the Hillsview Active Living Centre; the name it still holds today. A second rink was add- ed to the Acton Arena in November 2015, and in September 2016 the pads were named after Harold Townsley and Ron McK- night--two exceptionally involved volunteers from the Halton Hills sports community. McKnight, who had his name given to the newer pad, was actually the MC at the Celebration on Ice during the opening of the arena 20 years ago. Also at the Celebra- tion was then Councillor Rick Bonnette, before be- coming Mayor of Halton Hills in 2003, who joined the All Star team playing against the Acton Juven- iles. Bonnette had more to do with the opening than just playing on a hockey team. "The Acton arena was an exciting time for Acton- ites. Councillor Norm Elliott was the chair of the building committee and I served as vice chair. Also, I got morphed as chair of the fundraising committee which had a goal of rais- ing over $200,000 for the project. And we success- fully reached our target." Another member of Bonnette's team was Jon Hurst before his success- ful bid for council, also in 2003. "Many who came to the arena said it had the 'wow factor'," con- tinued Bonnette. "There were many positive com- ments like 'I can't believe this arena is in Acton'. It was ahead of most com- munities for arenas. It was built on budget and on time." 20 Years ago'New' Arena and Community Centre opened 20 years ago Acton Volunteer Firefighters--Past and Present