Uxbridge, ON

Habitat For Humanity Day - Monday, October 5, 2009

Last Year (2008) 35,532 REALTORS^® who donated funds to the Realtors Care Foundation helped enable the foundation to donate over 1/4 of a million dollars to shelter related charities in Ontario. The support of 18 Ontario real estate boards and their members who participated in the various campaigns to raise funds for the foundation helped make it possible to donate money to shelter based charities that included; women's, youth's, and men's shelters, Habitat for Humanity in several areas throughout Ontario, Out of the cold programs, hospices, Community Living and many many more.

The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) foundation works to support shelter related charities throughout Ontario in their efforts to provide emergency and permanent housing solutions. It is estimated that approximately one third of the homeless in Canada are aged 16 to 24 that's about 65,000 young adults with out a place to call home.

The Realtors Care Foundation invests 100% of all funds donated through an endowment fund and uses only the income from the fund to support these worthwhile causes, This means there will be funds avialable not only for this generation but for generations to come.

October 5th, 2009, the first Monday in October

The United Nations has designated October 5th 2009 as World Habitat Day with the desire that we will reflect on the state of our communities and the basic right to adequate shelter for all.

One does not need to visit a third world country to see that Poverty and Homelessness are often found hand in hand.

Raising the Roof, a national charity dedicated to long term solutions to homelessness, states that approximately one third of the homeless in Canada are aged 16 to 24 that's about 65,000 young adults with out a place to call home.

Raising Awareness

They are trying to raise awareness of, the Hidden Homeless, the four out of five homeless Canadians who do not live on the street but in church basements or abandoned buildings, in cars or on someones couch. Many of these are children, some are seniorswho can not afford conventional housing on their fixed incomes, others are adults with full time low paying jobs. Raising awareness links are to short (mp3) radio spots that really hit home.

With roughly 80% of the homeless in Canada being identified as The Hidden Homeless here are 10 Facts about the Hidden Homeless and 10 Things You can do to help

What else can You do

Contact Habitat For Humanity in your community and volunteer or determine what it would take for a group from your club, church or social network to help build a family a home.

There is a Misconception that the people who get a Habitat House do not have to pay for it

Remember the recipients of these home are not getting a hand out but a hand up.
They pay for the house based on its appraised value when completed

Find out if your community's development plans include affordable and accessible housing, become an advocate for such housing if necessary.

Donate to local agencies that are working to help the homeless and or the disadvantaged in your community.

By helping to provide a Hand Up Not A Hand Out
We are helping people with dignity.

I would Challenge each and everyone to reach out and touch someonebe it as close as a neighbour going through a hard time to some one half way around the world. Your assistance can vary from donating to a local food bank, a local shelter, to travelling halfway around the world to help, educate, rebuild housing destroyed in a disaster, or offer aid and assistance. we can all do just one do at least one thing, then the world will be better for it and so would we.

No longer will I sit on the sidelines and watch
as a suffering world revolves around me.

This weekend Kathy along with one of our young Grandsons is participating in the Scotia Bank Charity Run in downtown Toronto.

Matthew House is her favorite charity, it is a small shelter for refugees in down town Toronto, that welcomes refugees who arrive with nothing but the shirt on their backs and no where to turn. It has been Kathy's pleasure to be on the board of directors of this unique charity for several years now. You may have heard her talking about it, sharing some of the amazing stories. We have met many wonderful people from many different countries since She became involved with Matthew House.

The core value of Matthew House is to offer hope at the end of the refugee highway by offering shelter and food, help with completing confusing refugee application papers, medical and counseling referrals, orientation to life in Canada, assistance in finding apartments, offering monthly drop-ins, and summer camp.

Could you kindly take a moment and sponsor Kathy as She walks? Just follow this link. You will find it easy to go on line, safely give your donation and you will receive an email tax receipt right away. You too can make a difference in the life of a refugee.

Thank you so much.

Barrie Clulow

The Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts And Studio Tour

The Uxbridge Studio Tour provides a kick off event for the Celebration of The Arts. An open two-day (Sept. 19 and 20 10am to 6pm) invitation to visit the studios/galleries of 29 artists and their 30 guest artists. The tour is free, and visitors drive themselves, following the Studio Tour Map. This is wonderful opportunity to enjoy a local staycation destination

The Celebration of the Arts starts today Sept 17th with the Motley Theatre's dramatic live play reading, by Canadian actor Kenneth Welsh, of Neil Simon's "The Ginger Bread lady" at the Uxbridge Music Hall.

Sept 17, 8 p.m. at the Uxbridge Music Hall
Tickets $20 includes refreshments (with cash bar)

Christopher Chapman- Gala Event
Celebrating the art of filmmaker Christopher Chapman
An evening with the art of this preeminent Canadian Filmmaker - Oscar winner, Order of Canada recipient, and film pioneer.

Sept 19, 8 p.m. at the Uxbridge Music Hall
Tickets $25 includes refreshments (with cash bar)

Saturday lunch-hour concerts
Sept 19 - St. Andrews-Chalmers Presbyterian Church,
"Students of ..." Showcase four star students (2 piano, 2 voice) of local music teachers presenting a varied program demonstrating their unique talents and the richness of the musical training they receive.

Sept 26 - St. Pauls Anglican Church
"Magoo and Saunders" Two well known local artists with a wealth of talent and a variety of instruments. Sure-fire fun and entertainment for everyone.

Oct 3 - St. Pauls Anglican Church
"Duets" No strangers to the local arts scene, 4 vocalists (2 male, 2 female) will provide a mix-and-match repertoire of popular duets of all genres.

Juried art show & kids art show
Town Council chambers, Uxbridge. Sept 22 - 27 - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Opening reception Sept 22, 7:30 pm

School Bus Rules, Regulations and Safety Tips

Uxbridge has a large rural population and busing to school on a daily basis is a way of life for many of our children.

The Labour Day weekend traditionally heralds a return to school with over 800,000 throughout Ontario riding a school bus to school.

Here are a few points to remember regarding school bus safety and the highway traffic act regarding school buses.

IT IS THE LAW

All vehicles traveling in both directions must stop when approaching a school bus with its upper red lights flashing. (the only exception is on a divided highway separated by a median if you are approaching the school bus from the opposite direction)

Penalties For Not Stopping

First offence $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points

Each subsequent Offence $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points
and possible jail time up to six months.

Saftey Tips

Parents and educators are urged to Be bright - Think Right review school bus safety with their children and charges in the ten basic tips for school bus safety provided by Transport Canada.

Elgin Park - Uxbridge - A Stay-cation Destination

Uxbridge is blessed with many natural areas that have been preserved and enhanced for public use with trails and facilities. One such area is the 140 acre Countryside Preserve that sits on the Oak Ridges Moraine, another is Elgin Park.

Elgin Park is home to Numerous events starting early in the season with The Huck Finn Fishing Dayfor kids at Elgin Pond. Elgin park is also home to the Highlands Of Durham Games, RibFest,The Uxbridge Fair, and numerous other events including the upcoming ART in The Park. Hardly a weekend goes by that Elgin park is not home for one event or another throughout the Summer months.

Art In The Park returns to Elgin Park Aug. 15^th & 16^th, 2009

If you are looking for a pleasant way to spend an idyllic summer afternoon, a trip to Elgin Parkin Uxbridge just might fit the bill. Wander about under the canopy of trees as you enjoy the shaded display of a wide range of professional and non professional artists who live and create their works in Uxbridge. In addition many Artist from across Ontario will also be present at Art In The Park.

As a Juried Show the artists and artisans must submit photos or slides of each media they intend to exhibit and sell in order to qualify as an exhibitor. The selection committee or judges will then determine who will be able to present their works in the park based on these submissions.

As you stroll through the park, watch some of the artist at work, talk to the artists or sit and watch the children in the play/art area.

Art In The Park has been an annual event here in Uxbridge since 1995

Elgin Park is located in the south central part of Uxbridge in Durham Region which is about 45 min. north and east of Toronto and can be reached easily from the 401 or 404.

There is plenty of free parking and admission is free but donations are welcome. For additional information contact Bob Armitage (905) 852-4648 E-Mail: lions@uxbridge.com