Lots of great improvements were made to Lockwood this year, including the new stage and the basketball court. The court took three kicks to get it right! After the court was finished to our specs, a keen basketball player suggested adding another 7′ to its length creating a full half court. We agreed and he volunteered to do the concrete pad. Amazing. This past week the final work was completed when the fence was built. Thank you Josh Doornekamp, Frank Huth, Joel Kimmel and the rest of the 2014-2018 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and Public Works Supervisor Peter Evans.
Remember, no tax dollars have been used for the improvements to the park. Lockwood Foundation gave a generous grant 4 years ago that required matching dollars to be fund raised by the Village. And the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and others did it! Fantastic Team! Thank you.
Council’s first Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18 @ 6:00 P.M. One of the items on the agenda for discussion is whether Westport “opts” in or out of allowing cannabis retail stores.
The Public is always welcome at Committee of the Whole and Council meetings, however participation is limited to questions at the conclusion of the meeting. I have heard opinions and thoughts from many of you on this topic. If you have questions or wish to discuss, pls call me (9195) or email at rjones@villageofwestport.ca.
When Dancing Moon Gallery and Tea Room told me this summer that they wanted to donate a 13-ton piece of marble to the Village for Lockwood Park, I was thrilled. CAO Paul Snider and I checked it out where it was being stored and we were even more impressed once we saw the beauty that only nature can create.
The past several months have been spent trying to arrange for this amazing 13-ton gift to be transported to the park. Without the strong support of Paul Rodgers and Tackaberry & Sons Construction, that wouldn’t have happened. But it did – on Wednesday this week.
Thank you again, Tara and John. We are hoping to arrange for a sculptor to work in-situ this summer. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
Please join us at Town Hall on January 1 as we celebrate the New Year. I am excited to announce that music will be provided by The Edge, an amazing trio of singers/musicians with our own Ann Savage providing her beautiful soprano voice to the harmonies with her two colleagues.
There will be lots of cheer, food and neighbours! This is our 5th Mayor’s New Year Levee. Please make it our best yet!
Tomorrow is a day to take a sober thought about Canada and how our human rights are enshrined in law, which is not the case in many countries around the world. Let’s celebrate that we live in a country where our standard is “Affirming also that men and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and the rule of law.” Oh yes … shout out loud that we are CANADIAN!
Here is the preamble from our Canadian Bill of Rights, passed in 1960 by the federal government. With this, we are the envy of many other countries. Oh Canada … we are proud and free.
Canadian Bill of Rights
S.C. 1960, c. 44
Assented to 1960-08-10
An Act for the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Preamble
The Parliament of Canada, affirming that the Canadian Nation is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God, the dignity and worth of the human person and the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions;
Affirming also that men and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and the rule of law;
And being desirous of enshrining these principles and the human rights and fundamental freedoms derived from them, in a Bill of Rights which shall reflect the respect of Parliament for its constitutional authority and which shall ensure the protection of these rights and freedoms in Canada:
Therefore Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
1 It is hereby recognized and declared that in Canada there have existed and shall continue to exist without discrimination by reason of race, national origin, colour, religion or sex, the following human rights and fundamental freedoms, namely,
(a) the right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person and enjoyment of property, and the right not to be deprived thereof except by due process of law;
(b) the right of the individual to equality before the law and the protection of the law;
Robin, The Mayor 
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