STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Local woman lauds national cancer support group for young adults PAGE 8 CHEERS! Acton cheerleader part of national team that wins world title in Florida PAGE 22 www.theIFP.ca Thursday, May 10, 2012 Halton Hills' award-winning newspaper serving Acton & Georgetown 56 Pages 50 Cents (+HST) Group launches website to dispel marijuana myths By CHRISTINA COMMISSO Special to the IFP A new website for parents and youth aims to dispel myths about marijuana use. Last week Halton's cannabis awareness strategy group launched www.whataboutweed.org which aims to educate parents about the drug and make it easier to start a dialogue about it with their teens. "What we found when we began meeting is there are pervasive myths about marijuana and our collective goal is to dispel those myths," said Michelle Schwarz, who chairs the group. One of those myths is that weed is not harmful or addictive. See WEBSITE, pg. 11 Steps underway to protect local well supplies By CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer To ensure a Walkerton tragedy never happens here, provincial policies are now being developed to ensure that Halton Hills' groundwater well supply will be safe from contamination in future years. It's part of the steps being taken to ensure the safety of water supplies after the deadly tragedy in Walkerton in 2000, when seven people died and at least 2,500 became ill after the Town's drinking became contaminated with E. coli bacteria-- the result of farm runoff into a community well. From Walkerton, came the Clean Water Act, and one aspect of that is source-water protection-- preserving the land around the well-heads where the water originates to supply the Town's 12 groundwater wells. "What we have to do is develop policies to ensure that significant drinking water threats will not be a problem in the future," said Susan Self, chair of the CTC Source Protection Committee. Nineteen Source Protection committees have been set up throughout the province based on watershed boundaries and the one primarily dealing with this local area is called the Credit Valley, Toronto, Central Lake (CTC) Source Protection Committee. Through technical advice from local agencies and public consultations, the Committee is drawing up a Source Protection Plan that will have to be implemented by the local municipalities. "The policies have all been based on science and have been developed by a local multi-stakeholder committee," said Self. "It's collaborative, locallySee STEPS, pg. 3 Artist at work Credit Valley Artisans held their Spring Show & Sale at Cedarvale Cottage over the weekend. Local potter Frank Pointner checks the measurements of his clay lamp holder to ensure the lamp cannister fits in after firing the clay holder which will shrink 17 per cent during the firing process. Photo by Jon Borgstrom REFINANCING? PURCHASING? 10 YR. FIXED CALL FOR DETAILS. 3.89% FSCO #10259 Division of 1490845 Ont. Ltd. Put some spring in your deck. Get the most out of your deck this summer with Sansin's penetrating Enviro Stains®. Call Bergsma's Paint & Décor at 905-877-4193 or visit bergsmas.ca BOB WOODS, Broker (905) 877-1490 360 Guelph St., Georgetown