Regional Council convened it's first meeting of a new year in this the last year of this term of Council and also celebrated the first meeting of our 40th anniversary year - truly a year to celebrate our many achievements and the difference the Region has made in the lives of our residents and in the health and vibrancy of our communities.
Bowl For Kids Sake is a Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraising event that will be taking place throughout Niagara Region on Saturday, February 20th, 2010 and Sunday, February 21st, 2010.
To register your team or to obtain further information, please visit your community's Big Brothers Big Sisters website.
Regional Chair Peter Partington announced that he would not be seeking re-election, therefore, this will be his final year as Niagara Region's Regional Chair and as a member of Regional Council.
Regional Council congratulated the following Standing Committee Co-Chairs, Chairs and Vice-Chairs, who were elected for remainder of the 2006-2010 Council term:
Integrated Community Planning CommitteeMark your calendars with the 2010 Touch a Truck event which will be held Saturday October 2nd, 2010 at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus of Niagara College. Proceeds from this biennial event and the annual contribution of the Regional Chair Charity Golf Tournament will continue to support this initiative and more importantly investment in our future prosperity - our 0-6 population.
Regional Chair Partington urged all Niagarans to give generously to ensure those affected by the earthquake are given the food, shelter and medical supplies they need. Donations can be made to the Red Cross and other disaster relief organizations.
Regional Council approved offering needed resources and funding up to $50,000 for projects that may include those identified by humanitarian agencies, partnership opportunities with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and initiatives already established and supported by Niagarans. These projects or project will focus on improving the quality of life and the well-being of the children of Haiti. Regional staff will be reporting back on the options and any potential partnerships that my arise.
Regional Council extended its appreciation to Mr. Steve Butz, CEO, YMCA of Niagara for his assistance in making a YMCA in West Niagara a reality with the $12 Million of federal and provincial government infrastructure dollars.
Regional Council will be receiving a presentation and considering a staff report on Inter-Municipal Transit at the January 28, 2010 Committee of the Whole meeting to be held in the Council Chamber commencing at 6:30 p.m.
Boys & Girls Club of Niagara will be hosting their 12th annual "Sweep for the Kids" Bonspiel on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at the Niagara Falls Curling Club.
To register or to obtain further information, please visit our site.
The Regional Chair Early Years Niagara Literary Award truly supports Regional Council's endorsement of the Niagara Children's Charter. The literary award acknowledges Regional Council's contributions with leadership from the Regional Chair to building momentum in Niagara Region for the Early Years and the positive impact this achievement has had on improving the lives of thousands of children and reducing the stress and isolation many parents experience.
Â
The 2009 award winning children's book is "Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes" written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, contains rhyming text compares babies born in different places and in different circumstances, but they all share the commonality of ten little fingers and ten little toes.
Â
Two hundred copies of the winning book will be distributed across the Niagara Region to Family Resource Centres, Ontario Early Years Centres, Regional Child Care Centres and licensed Child Care Centres. It's important to note that since the awards inception, over 2,600 Children's books have been placed in the community. A thousand of these have been the annual award winning book.
Regional Headquarters
For further information contact the Regional Clerk's office at 905-685-1571 or 1-800-263-7215 www.niagararegion.ca
Please Note:
That this will be the last version of the Council Highlights in its current format, the Council Highlights will now be included in the e-Newsletter and we would encourage you to visit the Niagara Region's website at www.niagararegion.ca to sign up for the "Our Niagara" e-Newsletter, to stay informed!