Up-date June 2011

Greetings NHCHS members.

Since our last up-date, we have continued the process of liaison with a number of local heritage organizations.

On Dec. 4, Anne and Lloyd attended a meeting of the Heritage Foundation Of Halton Hills. We were at the time seeking some operational funding for activities to sustain our marketing activities. March 7 we received a response from them and, as might be anticipated, this group would require a secure agreement with the owner of the property before advancing funds.

In April Lloyd and Kate attended a meeting of the Credit Group and provided information regarding the native site adjacent to Fallbrook. We are positioned to be included in any further listings of cultural heritage sites this group may undertake. The potential exists within this process for the Credit to become a Nationally Designated River. The implications of this are not entirely clear at this time, but we will keep you posted.

April 2, Anne and Lloyd attended the First Annual Halton Heritage Conference. Among a number of items on the agenda, Professor Gabriel Scardelato from York University spoke on the importance of oral history. This certainly confirms that the Ballinafad Oral History project is on the right track.

All of this activity of course has the secondary benefit of keeping us established as a viable organization on the local scene. It does not however address the fundamental problem of the impasse between Council and Credit Valley Conservation Authority, wherein CVC has adopted a policy not to sever or lease any lands affiliated with Fallbrook. Currently Kate has composed and delivered to the Mayor on our behalf, a letter requesting a re-opening of negotiations on this front.

By way of keeping our own house in order, our Constitution specifies a minimum of two general meetings a year, with the Annual General Meeting, including election of officers, in November. Considering the wide area encompassed by our members, please regard this up-date as our virtual Spring meeting. A current financial report is attached along with minutes of our last general (inaugural) meeting. Although there are no matters requiring a vote at this time, one need identified by our core group is some additional help. As our affiliations with other groups increase and the Summer market season approaches, we could certainly use some additional volunteers, even if only in a specialized role such as liaison with one particular group. If you are in a position to assist, don’t hesitate to speak up.

As this is an anniversary of sorts of our present group, it represents a time when we might review our progress and situation over the last months and years. Your comments and suggestions along these lines would be most welcome and appreciated.

Bill McKay for NHCHS