While in York, Ontario, Joseph received from the Crown, 100 acres of land – Lot 14 Concession 2, Township of Trafalgar in Halton County in the District of Gore – now the town of Milton, Ontario. After moving in, on October 15th 1821, Jasper bought another 100 acres from neighbor John Whitfield for £10. Realizing that the pioneers in that area needed a grist mill, he went to work, and by 1822 he had a grist mill in operation. In 1825 he set up a sawmill and an ashery.

‘It might be said that Milton owes its early existence—from the Canadian Champion Newspaper, January 1955)

The area that became known as Milton in the Township of Trafalgar had settlers as early as 1807. It was covered with forest and marshland. The 16 Mile Creek ran through from the ‘Mountain’ to Lake Ontario. The creek originally crossed Main Street three times but was eventually straightened to its present location. Jasper Martin dammed the creek in 1822 and created the Mill Pond, first by hand digging and then using ox drawn barges.1825 started the Saw Mill.”

In 2019, at about the same time that a volcano in New Zealand erupted, Rick Imus flew there. He stayed there for a while. On the big screen, he played the national anthems of Korea and New Zealand on his guitar for their national football matches (he also played O Canada). While in New Zealand he became aware of the similarities between the historic struggles of the indigenous people of that country and of Canada. Rick discovered that the Maori language was banned in New Zealand not very long ago. Now the Maori culture is respected in that country.

“If we stay alert,” Rick said, “we’ll find so many opportunities for connections with our indigenous people, especially in music.”

The students of the Rick Imus Studio are taught the intricacies of guitar playing; piano; drumming and vocal music. Occasionally students study several of these disciplines.