Mayor Ann Lawlor's July 2025 Message

HALTON HILLS, ON – The July 7 Halton Hills Council meeting was our last before a summer break and it was a full agenda! Early in the meeting, I was delighted to introduce special guests – our two federal representatives for Halton Hills – MP Chong and MP Tesser Derksen.

Residents will remember that our riding boundaries changed for the past federal election. We now have two MPs representing Halton Hills. I think that’s great, because we now have two advocates for our community, and we all know that two heads are better than one!

Michael Chong is the Member of Parliament for the riding of Wellington-Halton Hills North and currently serves as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Official Opposition.

Michael has been a long-standing advocate for our community, since being elected to Parliament in 2004. We are pleased to still have the benefit of his representation; he has been very much present in community events and local affairs. His constituency work is thorough and much appreciated. We look forward to continuing to see him, particularly for events in Acton and our rural areas.

I also welcomed our new Member of Parliament, Kristina Tesser Derksen, who represents Milton East–Halton Hills South and is a Member of the Standing Committee of Public Accounts. Kristina brings relevant experience to her role in the new riding, having served for two terms as a Milton Town Councillor. She is very familiar with Georgetown, having worked at Jones Funeral Home, and her four children were born at Georgetown Hospital.

n addition to the constituency work, Kristina will get used to jumping between events in Milton and Halton Hills. Canada Day, Remembrance Day and Santa Claus parade days will be busy!

Council welcomed our federal representatives to continue our tradition of forging strong relationships, and all the benefits that come from collaboration among government leaders.

 Referring to another agenda item, Council also approved a new planning proposal which will permit the construction of two, four-storey residential apartment buildings containing 34 apartment-style units at 16 and 18 Mill Street in Georgetown. The proposed development will include 21 two-bedroom units and 13 three-bedroom units and two levels of underground parking. The staff report noted that the applications originally sought approvals to permit a six-storey, 52-unit apartment building, but reduced the requested height and number of dwelling units in response to comments received from staff and the public.

Addressing the heritage file, Council stated its intention to designate the public property at Prospect Park and Fairy Lake in Acton. Prospect Park is an approximately 25-acre parkland complex, situated on a 14-acre peninsula that extends into the approximately 69-acre Fairy Lake.

The identified attributes that contribute to the heritage value of Prospect Park and Fairy Lake include: the central location within the community of Acton; the existing built features, including the 1926 bandstand and pillars at the park entrance; the 1867 Acton Drill Shed; and the 1934 Pioneer Cemetery Cairn. Natural and human-made features within the landscape include: Fairy Lake and the extant dam; the half-mile former drive track; and the mature deciduous and coniferous trees.

Prospect Park and Fairy Lake represent a significant cultural heritage landscape, meeting 8/9 Ontario Heritage Act criteria for deciding cultural heritage value or interest. The park and lake are jewels of Acton, indeed!

While our municipal services continue, with pools and parks abuzz, Halton Hills Council meetings will adjourn for a summer break until late August. Enjoy the holidays, everyone!