Congratulations to Milton resident Yaanah Rehman who came first place in the Halton Region Spelling Bee representing Milton and 4th place Canada wide!
Milton MP Adam van Koeverden stopped by her house on Saturday December 5th along with Local Milton Town Councillors Rick Di Lorenzo and Kristina Tesser-Derksen to congratulate Yaanah on her achievement.
Halton, ON – It was that time of year again when families were thinking about the holiday season. There are many families that are less fortunate and struggle to provide their children with an enjoyable Christmas, and some who are simply not able to buy their children a toy. This year the struggle was even greater for more families.
2020 has been defined by a disproportionate succession of small changes. Changes in habit, changes to routine, changes to how we function within our everyday lives. More significantly, 2020 has seen movement towards a deepening sense of equality.
Miltonian teen Zainab Azim holds this cause close to her heart. In 2020 she was selected to participate in the United Nations Space4Women Network Mentor program. This mentorship position will allow her to promote STEM and gender equality on a global level.
Driving along Regional Road 25 into the heart of Milton was brightened recently by the lights of Allendale. This has happened due to an outpouring of love and effort from countless extraordinary citizens in a very short amount of time.
It all began one evening in the middle of December 2020. Laraine Goodban was feeling sad. She had been visiting Gordon, her husband of 53 years. Looking at Allendale where her husband was now living, she thought about how the people on the inside (Gordon included) would appreciate some Christmas lights outside their windows. She asked Allendale Administrator Sean Weylie if it was do-able and he said YES!!!
Like most film festivals this past year, the Milton Film Festival is going virtual, streaming all films and guest Q&As online. This new format has allowed the Festival to expand to five days – January 27-31 – and have fourteen screenings, each available for viewing for 3-5 days.
The 8th annual event marks the return of some old friends, including Milton director Jawad Mir, whose documentary ONLY 78 had its Ontario premiere at the 2018 Festival. Now Mir is back with co-director Ahmad Ebrahimi with a new documentary. CITIZEN OF MORIA follows Ahmad after he is forced to leave Afghanistan by the Taliban and winds up in Europe’s worst refugee camp – Moria.
It’s that time of year again when families begin to think about the upcoming holiday season. There are many families within Milton and Halton Region that are less fortunate and struggle to provide their children with an enjoyable Christmas, and some who are simply not able to buy their children a toy. This year we believe the struggle could be even greater for more families.
The Tiger Jeet Singh Foundation (TJSF) is commencing their 12th annual Miracle on Main Street Christmas donation drive. This is also the third year of the merger between TJSF and Halton Regional Police Services campaign (formally Toys for Tots) to collect and distribute funds and toys to families in need throughout the Halton Region. The merger has allowed the organizations to enhance the annual donation drives and to work collaboratively to help more families in need than ever before. Since 1999 the Halton Regional Police Service have supported families through Toys for Tots. All donations collected are distributed to Halton schools, community agencies and families!
The Tiger Jeet Singh Foundation is a Milton-based charity started by wrestling legends, humanitarians and philanthropists; Tiger Jeet Singh and his son Tiger Ali Singh. For the last eleven years, the Tiger Jeet Singh Foundation has organized their “Miracle on Main Street” event which has raised millions of dollars though donations and sponsorships for children, families and local agencies Halton Women’s Place and Salvation Army in our Region and purchased thousands of toys for children admitted over the holidays at McMaster Children’s Hospital and SickKids.
To keep everyone safe, TJSF have had to modify their efforts this year. They are encouraging everyone to donate gift cards and unwrapped toys at designated locations noted on their website. Donations can be made online through www.MiracleOnMain.ca . Given that TJSF does not charge for any administrative fees, therefore 100% of the donations go back into the Milton and Halton community, and every penny raised online will go towards the purchase of a toy!
For further information, or if you are interested in partnering with TJSF to collect or donate gift cards and unwrapped toys, you can contact them by emailing info@tjsf.ca or learn more about making a donation by visiting www.MiracleOnMain.ca.
Downtown Milton was the scene of fiery explosions, gun fights and cars being blown up sky high late November. But don’t worry, this was just Woody Harrelson and Kevin Hart visiting our town for the filming of Man from Toronto.
Miltonians got a rare chance to see Hollywood close up with special effects as well as our downtown being transformed with many storefronts having temporary face lifts for the filming.
Woody Harrelson especially made himself at home in Milton. Each morning he would ride his bike through town. Many residents didn’t realize the man on the red bike who just rode past them was three time Oscar Award Nominee Woody Harrelson.
Harrelson an avid vegan who is also passionate about animal rights and sustainable foods stopped by The Green Eatery in downtown Milton to sample their vegan options and talk to the staff. He also took time to meet several local groups and did not shy away from talking to admiring Milton fans. From autographing an old VCR Tape of “Natural Born Killers” to taking a photo with a Milton Youth wearing a #miltonstrong mask – Woody won the hearts of many in our town during his short stay.
Due to provincial COVID19 regulations and restrictions the annual parade to and services at the Victoria Park Cenotaph in Milton had to be cancelled.
However Milton still had a limited and invitation-only parade and wreath ceremony at the Milton Evergreen Cemetery.
‘It takes a village’ is a truism that’s often heard and for good reason. It sums up the principle that when those most vulnerable in communities are affected, the good will and resourcefulness of those wanting to help revolves around a co-operative spirit.
Covid-19 has exposed the economic gaps and shortfalls in the Milton community and environs. When Chef Ken Samuel and the Milton Optimist Club approached Rosanna Conteduca, President of the Italian Cultural Centre of Milton (ICCM) in April to request the use of its community kitchen to prepare meals for the vulnerable, there was no hesitation recalls Rosanna.
Mayor Gordon Krantz is a busy man, with many meetings, problems to try to solve and responsibilities to fulfil. Some secrets to his success are: to enjoy what he is doing; not to be afraid of criticism; always prove that he is reliable and always remember to leave the T off CAN’T!
“I’m a young 83 !” he said, “Today I was up on our roof putting up Christmas lights! I was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years. I respect the ladder!”
Several Miltonians remember that our Mayor served as a part time firefighter for 20 years from 1960. He owned and operated Krantz Fuels from 1961 to 1980.
He was elected Mayor in the Municipal Elections of 1980, after serving as town councillor from 1965 to 1980. He has been re-elected for a total of 21 terms (8 as councillor and 13 as mayor). On December 1st, 2016 he outdid Hazel McCallion as Ontario’s longest-serving mayor and was decisively re-elected in the municipal election of October 22nd, 2018.