Lots of summer programs for children (column)

London Community News

The Westminster Ponds are getting even greener. Native wildflowers, trees and shrubs will be planted in a new initiative to protect the Westminster Ponds, an environmentally significant area in Ward 14. Congratulations to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, which has been awarded a $120,000 leadership grant to do this as part of the Blue Water Project. This grant comes from RBC and will improve water quality in the Thames Watershed. I was on hand for this announcement, along with members of the conservation authority, at the Tourist Information Centre on Wellington Road South recently. The Blue Water Project involves $50 million worth of donations to assist not-for-profit organizations that protect watersheds, as well as providing access to clean drinking water. Locally, the program will involve planting more than 40,000 native trees and shrubs that will help natural cover. The plants will also beautify the ponds area and make our summer even more pleasurable. With summer fast approaching, it’s time to think about care for children during the holidays. The ward’s Westminster Youth Centre on Osgoode Dr. has plenty of activities planned for the summer season. The programs run Mondays through Thursday, beginning July 9. Consider enrolling your children in Flash Mob, Art in the Park or International Cooking with Growing Chefs. For more information on the programs, call the Neighbourhood Resource Association of Westminster Park at 519-680-0991. There is also a free summer playground at Wilton Grove Public School, beginning on July 3. At the Pond Mills public library, a reading club will begin on June 23. Keep reading through the summer and you can win prizes. This year’s theme is Imagine! And summer is the perfect time to let your imagination go wild. Once school is out, plan to attend the Canada Day festivities in Summerside, presented by the Optimists on Saturday, June 30. There will be fun for all with events from 3 to 6 p.m. Fireworks will close out the celebrations in the evening. With people riding bikes and going for more walks at this time of year, a thank you goes to Westminster working group members Shawn Sinclair and Horace Krueger, who put together a pathways proposal for part of the ward that was presented recently at city hall. The proposal calls for pathways to connect areas in Westminster, where there are no bike lanes, to main roads. Besides being a safe way for people to get around, the pathways would also promote fitness and help to reduce obesity. The presentation was well received by members of the Community Services Committee. If you have ideas on how to improve your neighbourhood, consider attending a ReThink London “visioning” session. The next session will be held at the London Convention Centre on June 23 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and then 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information or to register, visit www.rethinklondon.ca. The city is hoping to hear from constituents in each ward. With the great weather here, I look forward to seeing some of you out and about this month and throughout the summer. And to all of the fathers in London, I wish you a marvellous Father’s Day as you enjoy a well-deserved day of recognition. Sandy White, councillor for Ward 14, can be reached at sawhite@london.ca or 226-688-9427.