Tara Sales

I wanted to share a part of my family history with the active rain community. My great uncle Alf bought me my first coin in 1976 for my coin collection before he passed away.
My grandfathers sister Edna was Alfred's wife. This shop has been around for a very long time and The Milton Historical Society , Town of Milton and The Waldies made it possible to keep it as a museum for folks to visit today. Currently my aunt Marsha still lives next door.

For more information on the shop please visit: http://www.miltonhistoricalsociety.ca/Events/Programs/Historic%20Buildings/Waldie/index.html

Waldie Blacksmith Shop

The Waldie Blacksmith Shop is a post and beam timber structure with rubble stone infill walls built by James Waldie in 1865. It is rare that a blacksmith shop structure still exists in its original urban location as most shops have been lost or moved to a museum setting. The building has been lovingly preserved and restored on its original site over the past 3 years under the auspices of the Milton Historical Society.

James Waldie Sr.
(circa 1855)

Alfred Waldie
(circa 1967)

The Waldie Family

James Alfred Waldie was born in Scotland in 1832. He completed his apprenticeship as a blacksmith in Scotland by 1853 and as a young man came to Canada eventually taking over a blacksmith business in Acton. By 1865 the Waldie family had moved to Milton establishing a blacksmith business that would operate in the same building at 16 James Street for over 100 years.

The blacksmith shop, built by James Waldie Sr., employed a painter, trimmer, two woodworkers and five blacksmiths from dawn to dusk during its peak period in the early 1890's.

Three generations of Waldies:

	James Sr. (1832-1900)
	James Jr. (1871-1948) and
	Alfred (1905-1980)

shoed horses, repaired wagons and manufactured farm implements and horse drawn carriages for the local community. Alfred was the last member of the Waldie family to operate the blacksmith shop which he closed in the early 1970's. His dream to have the blacksmith shop restored is now a reality thanks to the efforts of the Waldie family, Milton Historical Society, Town of Milton, Province of Ontario, and the community.

Restoration of the Waldie Blacksmith Shop preserves an important link to one of the earliest-and most vital-businesses in the history of Ontario. The blacksmith's role was crucial in keeping horses, oxen and mules capable of tilling the soil, drawing wagons, sleds, and carriages both on the farm and in towns and villages.

Did you select the right person to work with?

Lately I have been really trying to put myself into the shoes of a buyer or seller, what qualities would I look for in my Realtor? What would I want them to be like? Have similar interests, live in the area I'm looking in, listen to my needs. There are so many qualities to consider. Would I look for someone who seems to have all the listings and is dominating the area, best marketing message, does loads of advertising. How would that help me? Does a realtor that has a large profile do a better job then one who doesn't? These are questions that I would have. After all these thought provoking questions I was driving myself crazy.

My belief on this subject is that you should interview realtors and ask some very serious questions. Ultimately, when selecting someone to work with you should ensure they listen to you and answers your questions. You should be compatible and enjoy your working relationship. I think that selling or buying should be a fun process and hopefully you build a lasting relationship with whomever you chose!

Something I have done to help clients get to know me better is to have my previous clients participate in a video testimonial. Which is available on my website, please click the link below: http://www.tarasalesrealestate.com/ClientTestimonials.ubr
I know alot of realtors have client testimonials on their websites in writing, having the video is more interactive and gives you a personalized feel to how I am.

Halton's municipalities have done quite well in the current round of federal and provincial infrastructure funding, with $320 million approved so far for projects in the four communities.

The most recent announcement was the allocation of $10 million to Halton Region to repair and retrofit social housing. Regional staff are now developing applications to request available government funding to construct new assisted housing units for low income seniors and disabled people, according to a report presented at council's health and social services committee last week.

Along with the money for social housing, the most recent federal budget included a new Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, an allotment for the repair of recreational facilities, and a commitment to speed up the allocation of money in the two components of its already existing Building Canada Fund. The provincial government has stepped up to match the federal dollars.

Through the four funding envelopes, the governments of Canada and Ontario have committed $310 million for infrastructure projects in Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills, a figure slightly above what would have been expected if the money had been distributed based purely on 2006 census popula- ion figures - which it wasn't. In total, the governments have so far announced just under a combined $7.2 billion in funding for projects in Ontario.

The assistance from the two upper governments was most noticeable in the biggest ticket item to receive funding - Halton Region's $158 million rehabilitation of the Burlington Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant. The three governments will split the cost evenly.

Earlier this year, the Region submitted the project for consideration under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which requires that all projects applied for can be completed by March 31, 2011. But when projects under this fund were announced, Skyway didn't get the cash. However, a week later, the two upper levels of government announced the project would indeed receive funding, but under the Building Canada Fund - Major Infrastructure Component (BFC-MIC), which doesn't carry the strict construction deadlines.

"We weren't actually given a reason (for the switch in funding envelopes)," said Halton Region's Treasurer, Jane MacCaskill. "And it didn't really matter to us, to be honest."

MacCaskill said the municipality last year asked for money from the BCF-MIC but it never heard back on that request. That was why it re-submitted the project under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, she explained.

Burlington MP and Conservative GTA Caucus Chair Mike Wallace confirmed the project had been moved under the Building Canada umbrella because it was felt there was a "pretty slim chance" the Region would complete the project by March 31, 2011. The former Burlington councillor said he'd been working on securing funds for Skyway since he arrived in Ottawa as a rookie MP three years ago.

There is still an estimated $1.2 billion in provincial and federal dollars under the stimulus fund still to be allotted to Ontario municipalities, based on a notional per capita allocation.

The combined $5.5 billion BCF-MIC also has an estimated $1.8 billion left in the pot, though some of that money will be going to the revitalization of Union Station as per the federal budget, a project that would benefit Halton commuters indirectly.

The two other major infrastructure funding envelopes - the $1.13 billion Building Canada Fund for Ontario communities with less than 100,000 people and the $380 million Recreational Infrastructure in Canada Fund (RInC) are subscribed, meaning all the money has been committed to applications.

The $310 million committed to projects include:

• In Burlington, $132 million, including the Skyway rehabilitation, $5.5 million in GO Transit station projects, and more than $22 million in various infrastructure projects;

• In Halton Hills, $33.5 million, the most notable being the $30 million widening of the railway bridge crossing the Credit River to allow for more frequent GO Train service to Georgetown;

• In Milton, $44 million, including $17 million for improvements to three recreational centres, $16 million for a new library and arts centre and $10 million for the widening of Tremaine Road

• In Oakville, $100 million, including $30 million for a new transit facility, $34 million for a new GO Station parking facility and snowmelt systems at Bronte Station, $33 million for the Region's upgrade of the Oakville Southwest wastewater treatment facility, and just over $2 million for upgrades to some recreational facilities.

Conservation Halton also received $353,054 to upgrade its trails network.

For futher details please visit http://www.oakvillebeaver.com/news/article/267561

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I have met some wonderful and helpful people on this site and just wanted to say a big Thank YOU! to the creators.