•The IFP• H alton H ills, T hursday, June 20, 2013 7 GEORGETOWN'S Best Kept Secret! 416-220-2741 46 Armstrong Road, Georgetown ON MiskasWoodProducts.com • Truck Accessories • Upholstery • Heavy Equipment Glass •Window Tinting 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-873-1655 Truck Accesso• T• Trucruck Ak Accesso We handle all insurance work. Visit our showroom COMMENT Promoting Canada's history Across the country, Canadians enjoy July 1 in many different ways, but Canada Day is, first and fore- most, a day to celebrate the country that we all know and love. It is a day to reflect on our shared history and the many achievements that contributed to the united, strong, and free Canada of today. In just four short years, on July 1, 2017, Canada will celebrate the 150th birthday of Confederation and the creation of the Domin- ion of Canada. As we approach this important historical milestone, it is important to note that studies have shown that Canadians lack knowl- edge of our history but desire to know more about it. As co-founder of the Dominion Institute (now the Historica-Dominion Institute), an organization committed to raising Canadians' awareness of history, I have always supported connect- ing Canadians with their history, shared citizenship, and democratic institutions. History plays an important part in understanding how Canada be- came the country it is today, and what direction we should take in the future. Last week, the federal govern- ment introduced a number of new measures to help promote Canadian history, including the first ever Gov- ernment of Canada History Awards. The new measures include the creation of the Canada History Fund, which will connect youth to their history through the first ever Government of Canada History Awards that honours outstanding students and teachers who show an interest in celebrating Canadian history. The government is also partner- ing with the Historica-Dominion In- stitute to create two new "Heritage Minutes" per year between now and Canada's 150th birthday in 2017. In addition, existing programs at the Department of Canadian Heritage will be strengthened to im- prove access to funding for local organizations that wish to promote Ca- nadian history in their communities, includ- ing local museums and youth groups. Starting this year, July 1-7 will become Canada History Week. This will provide an opportuni- ty for Canadians from coast to coast to coast to get actively involved in learning about our country's history. These measures represent an in- vestment of $12 million annually, and will be funded from existing resources. Canadians want to know more about our history, and these new measures will make our history more accessible to all Canadians, and in particular, Canadian youth. To learn more about what the Government of Canada is doing to enhance Canadians' access to their history, visit www.canadianheri- tage.gc.ca. You are encouraged to contact me if you have any ques- tions or comments. I can be reached by phone at 1-866-878-5556 or by email at michael.chong@parl.gc.ca. I hope to see many of you at lo- cal Canada Day events throughout our communities, and on behalf of my wife Carrie, and our three boys, William, Alistair and Cameron, we wish you a happy Canada Day! -- Michael Chong is the MP for Wellington-Halton Hills MICHAEL CHONG The way we were A steam train chugs its way into Limehouse Station in this undat- ed photograph. The Grand Trunk Railroad was built through the village in the 1850s and led to a boom period that saw tons of freight shipped from the village. Passenger trains were eventually added and Limehouse had its own stop on the Toronto Subur- ban Radial Line from 1917-1931. The station was located on Fifth Line. Photo courtesy Esquesing Historical Society Limehouse line 'They're both at fault in this situation and I'm paying for it.' -- Business owner Grant Turner see story pg. 5 Concerned about the plight of African elephants, these Grade 5 students at George Kennedy Public School started a club called Enjoy the Elephants and have held a variety of fund rais- ers. Events included a garage sale, making and selling bracelets and a bounce-a-thon where they bounced on a trampoline for six hours and through sponsorships raised about $500. All of the funds will be donated to Save the Elephants, a grassroots organization working in Asia and Africa to protect and save the elephants of the world. From left are Abby Gray, Evangelia Tintzoglidis, Tori Chandu-Lall, Sara Steckly, Hannah VanLeeuwen, Regan Sinden, Jessica Yeo. Missing: Ashlyn Power and Tanyss Taylor. Submitted photo Got a photo you want to share? Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca. FOR THE ELEPHANTS From our readers 'Quote unquote'