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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - A19 Preservinçj the past I ii el'ps keep Mvâiitonis hîstoryA dilVe By Stephanie Hounseil n CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF e [s He may be a bistonian, a but jim Dilîs bas neyer u been one to [ive in tbe îpast. d Ibatfs rellected in everytbing r [rom bow be writes bis stories t0 t bow be spends bis time. And su, even at the age of 76, r Dilîs is proficient on the computera and depends on it to keep ai bisi data secure and organîzed. a Altbougb bes a long-tîme Milton residient, be welcomes the new-comers and said bes neyer met one be didn't like. And, pcrbaps most importantly, Dilîs lives for the moment, not Iet- tîng bis interest in the past squeeze out the joy lrom today "You bave to be careful not to be su enamoured witb bistory that you forget the presenit," Dilîs said. Siting in a roum filled witb windlows lettîng in the day's Sun- shine, Dilîs is besitant about bav- îng an article wnitten about bim. He knows the idea is tu profile notable Milton residents wbo've done a lot for the community in conjunction witb the Town's I SOtb annîversary, and bes not su sure be futs into that category Quite humble 'There are many peuple wbo bave dune su mucb mure," be saîd, bumbly Witb a bit of cajoling, he agrees to an article, realizing be can pro- vide a bistorical perspective un growtb and some of the issues Milton's facing. ",The town bas gone tbrougb many transitions," be said, relax- ing. "We talk now as if it (gruwmng pains) aIl began wben we amrved. But wbat we see nuw is a reflection of wbat happened mucb earlier." Whetber it's complaints about the state of roads or the rapid growtb of Miltuns population, these aren't new issues, be said. Dilîs is the Milton Historical Suciety's fuunding president of 1976, wbicb be insists simply means he was une of many pas- sionate townsfulk wbu wanted to see sucb a gruup take shape. The bistorical suciety bas pro- vided the avenue tbruugb wbicb Dilîs' variuus ventures bave flour- isbed for the past few decades. The gruup's main concern mi- tîally was that the Halton Region- owned county buildings - wbat's now Town Hall Vîciona Park - ot be demolished. They succeed- d in their efforts. The Tlown of til ton bought the buildings for $ 1, nd spent $3 million fixing them p in the '80s, Dilîs said. "The council struggled with the ecision, but finally reached the ight one. We benefit today from heir vision," he said. Foday, the bistorical Society aises money to keep its archives nd the Waldie Blacksmith Sbop ,oing. I t operates the only public irchives the Town has, Dilîs said. "We enricb the archives by col- ecting data generations in the future will want to sec," be said. Dilîs and bis wife, Shirley, came [0 Milton from Acton in 1951 when be was transferred by bis [ather - wbo bougbt the Milton Canadian Champion in 1943 - to publisb the paper. jack of aIl trades "Tîties didn't mean much," Dîlis saîd, explaîning he sold ads, swept the floors and did wbatever else bad to be done. He was on caîl 24/7. Any time be beard a siren, be stopped wbat be was doing and took off to find the news. Shirley, bis wife of 55 years, said it wasn't always easy "It was sometimes bard because business sometimes interfered wben be wanted to be one place but be bad to be somewbere else," she said. The couple bas five adult chil- dren. Two of their sons followed in their fathers footsteps and are in the newspaper business - Mark Dîlîs is director of production for Metroland West, wbile another is an edîtor in Alberta. Jim puhlisbed the Champion until 1978 wben it was sold to lnland Publisbing Co. Ltd. He then became executive director of the Canadian Community Newspapers Associatiçvn. He's been awarded numerous accolades. In 1977, Dilîs received the Queen Elizabeth jubilee Medal and in 1993 be was given the Confedieration Commemorative Medal, to name a few ln the early 1990s, DilIs became an author, writing 'Momenis in History; Reflections of Haltons County Town 1833-1864'. Since then, bes collaborated witb numerous peuple to publisb books about Miltons bentage. His most recent project was witb John Challinor, wbo wrote 'Milton Remembers World War 1: The Men and Women we Neyer that wasn't rewardîng. I've been su blessed I can't believe it. Knew'. Volunteering bas been a big part of Dilîs' life, be it involvemrent at bis cburcb, witb the Chamber, the Rotary Club or with variuus com- mittees bes sat un. "1(Jim) likes tu du wbat be can to belp," Shirley said, adding bes "1very kind, loving and concemred witb tbings guing un." Altbougb ifs clear Dilîs believes in moving forward, there are sume tbings be misses frum the "good old days". For example, there seemed to be mure citizen initiative in tbe past, be saîd. "Everytbing didn't require municipal leadership," be said. "If there was a need, a group formed and accomplisbed it. Thats wbat l'm missing these days. Peuple look at tbings and say, 'The Town sbould du it.' But we're the town." Prugress bas ils downside, be admîtted. "Progress îs sometbîng I always tbougbt was good. But witb all the greenhouse gases, maybe not. Pondering bis accomplisb- ments, Dilîs said tbey've aIl been fulfblling. "I can't tbînk of anytbing bigbligbts of bis career? "I always remnember the peu- ple," Dilîs said. "There are great peuple in Milton." Neyer une to sit idle, Dilîs con- tinues tu bave pru]ects in the works. "There's tbousands of tbings to do," be saîd. "I wisb 1 bad more time, mure researchers, some- thi ng." Stephanîr Hounsell can bc reached ai sîliiessen@ýnîitoncanadi- anchanipion.uoni. C,/n #i4'<~~tU~ Z Ô? eAre you fit for golf? K __ C, inç tii net in shape for the game a Gel growing organically Ibis summer a Ban the tan: health experts advise a What's ail the fuss about tirans fats? * Plus summer salsa and berr heaflhy delights Canada's llealth and Wellness Magazine4 ~4 e e ,> email: info@live-it.ca e www ive-it.ca