'AE14, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1982, WHITBY FRE PRESS Iltuddy word next month An Ontario Ministry îHealth official said ist week that an an- ouncement should be tade next monthcon- zrning the proposed 32- ibd expansion of the Dr. .0. Ruddy' General ospital. After last week's teeting 0f the Durham egion Distriidt Health ouncil, Earl Coulson id he hopes the inistry will give ap- -oval to the project. The expansion will re- )en the second floor of the hospital, a facility that hms been dormant for a few years. The 32-beds would be used for chronic care. The Ajax Pickering General Hospital will shift its 18 chronic care beds to Ruddy and wil use those beds for active care. .The district health, council bas, made the expansion its top priority on a long list of suggested hospital im- provements. Re-opening the floor would give Ruddy 97 operating beds. Coulson, the minîstry's' area plan- ning co-ordinator, said that the cabinet is con- sidering the expansion a top priority for the area and ie trying to find thé $380,000 needed -for im- provements. The proposed chron ic care ward bas not only been endorsed by the district health council but by Ruddy'>board 'of directors as well. HOW OFTEN DO YOU REMEMBER TO SAY i Heart fund balloons Ail kids love balloons and these two youngsters are no exception. Stephanie Craddock and Stephen Suwala, both five years old, are students in the morning kindergarten class of Meadowcrest Public Sehool, Brooklin. The ballôonsi that they are holding are to remind evéryone that February is Heart Month. -Free Press Staff Photo 1 Whitby Community Organizations - I The Chamber of Ca'meree EDITOR'S NOTE: The Whitby Free Press is pleased to present the fourth inIi ts feature series "A Salute to Whitby Community Organizations."1 This week we feature the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, an organization dedicated te further- Ing the concerns of local business and their relationshi' p with the peopie they serve. Far too often, the good work done by coin- munity organizations such as the Whitby Cham- ber ofCom merce go unannounced in the' public. press and'. therefore, ite ommunity is flot fuhly Informed about their activities. This "Sainte to Whitby Community Organizations", is an attein- pt to correct this situation. The chamber has made its presence known In Whitby for most of this century and has made a contribution that equals that made by no other group. It represents a vital part of the town's life - business. Its members not only supply empioy- ment opportunities for our residents but provides a host of goods and services to the consumer. But more than that, the chamber Io a service organization and gives that service not only to its members but to the community as a whole as welI. The Whitby Free Press le more than pleased to honor it here. For more than 45 years Whitby has been ser- ved by a Chamber of 'Commerce which has played an active role in the development of the community. Actually, the Whitby Board of Trade was operating in the town as early as 1907. After the First World WAr the Board of Trade ceased to operate, but was revived in 1928. Shortly after setting Up a new Board of Trade, these men decided that the board should be known as the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, and be affiiated with the National Chamber. The first president of the chamber was R.A. Hu tchison, the town 's public sehool inspector. -The new chamber ac- tively sought to bring new industry to the town and offered suggestions on political questions. In 1930, the chamber assisted the town in bringing industry into Whitby, one of these indus- tries was Metcalf foods, now Stokely Van Camp. Another matter of concern to the chamber was developinent of Whitby harbor. With the out- break of war ini 1939, the Chamber continued to operate but by the end of 1941 it had ceased to hold meetings. The chamber was reorganized again in 1945 and in 1947 took a very active part in attracting industry and assistmng in the town promotion. The chamber began a new era in 1953. Starting in 1956 it presented the first Peter Perry Award to Whitby's Outstanding Citizen. This ceremony is still carried on at the County Town Carnival. Ini 1961, the chamber started a serieg of trade fairs lu the town arena to promote the products of local manufacturers. In 1966, the chaznber originated the County Town Carnival as a project that would become an annual event in the town. The first carnival was run by the chaniber and since 1972 the chamber has presented the opening dinner for the carnival. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: *The aim 0of the chamber is "People working together, to mk their community a better place in which to live and make a living". Ex- panding the three elements of that simple defini-' tion gives an action picture of chambers. People - business and professional men and women who share a common intere$t and pride in their 'home town', in what it is, and especially in what it is to be. Working together - meeting as a group or as comm ittees, analyzing problems, proposing solutionfs, initiating discussions, examining related facts, acting in accordance with the ex- pressed will of the majority, constantly striving to improve business and build a better com- munity. A better place to live - where businessman, farmer, industrialist and educator acknowledge a source of pride ... a place that is concerned about progress, where each day is a day for ac- complîsbment and tomorrow holds a promise of better living in a botter community. HOW DO WE DO IT? The Whitby Chamber of Commerce operates as an information and reference bureau for ail members of the community; holds regular meet- ings with speakers and/or discussion on 'timely topics'; publishes a newsletter for -the business community; provides a group insurance for the smal business (which is difficult and expansive to get elsewhere); offers a 'complaint bureau/- consumer liaison" service; provides input to local and regional government; provides input to the Ontario and federal governments througb the Ontario and Canachan Chambers of Commerce. The chamber le now, and intends to bo, active in ail beneficial areas. The chamber currently bas a membership of 136 and needs this membor- ship and more to strengthen it lu dealing with local or regional government or witb the Ontario government through the Ontario Chamber, or even with the federal goverument through the Canadian Chamboer. We believ e there is value in the services and assistance available from the chambor, its office and its directors. The Whitby Chamber of Commerce continues to serve the town in many ways. The chambor hopes to continue to serve the community as it has lu the past, providing a voice for the business and commercial interests of the town. THE FUTURE: The chambor is keen to promote* the town of Whitby. The newly adopted town flower, the marigold, wil receive some special attention. We will bo deeply involved in developmng a town image, and also in establishing %ýhat is hoped ta be a permanent tourist information centre. This latter chambor project was taken over à nd ex- panded by the town in 1981 and proved to be a great success. We hope to actively involve al of our business community, large or smail, lu chamber affairs including the promotion of the town. Citizens' commentà are always welcome. - Our office is staffed most days by Shirley Acker who'can be reached at 668-450 or by visit- ing the Centennial Building on Centre Street I I M .4 .4 .4.4 L~ 1. .4.44.46 .4 J .4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4 ~ ~' ~ . ' '-l~ ~ ~ 4$ *44 * *4 *4,ê *4 I 4 g 4 4 4 4 Salute to " m South. 1 a m