July 12: Councillor VanderBeek speaks to Dundas Valley Sunrise

 
Guest Speaker: Arlene VanderBeek, Councillor City of Hamilton Ward 13 Dundas
Topic: Projects and Commitment to Dundas
Introduction by: Carl Fraser
Thank you by: Harold Gruneberg
 
Summary:
 
  • Councillor VanderBeek has a long history of public service and is proud to be the councillor for Dundas
  • She indicated that her job challenges include the numerous meetings she has to attend at city hall and elsewhere – sitting on approximately 19 different committees/sub-committees, board/tribunals and/or agencies; the multitude of emails her office receives on a daily basis – sometimes numbering as many as 500 per day; all this time while, abundantly important and necessary, takes away from her local constituency office time
  • Current Projects of Interest:
    • Service Club Sign – working on having existing boards replaced/updated
    • Governor’s Road – will be completed in three stages, starting this year
    • J. L. Grightmire Arena – this is a major project (approx. $7 million) that has taken extensive planning and the cooperation of the Hamilton Conservation Authority due to flood plain issues surrounding the arena property; construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2017 and will take approximately 18 months and therefore require the temporary relocation of several user groups including Dundas Minor Hockey, Dundas Junior “C” Blues Hockey Club, Real McCoys Senior “AAA” Hockey Club etc.
    • Hamilton Air Force Club – is currently experiencing difficulties and if sold leaves the possibility of no entrance to the Butterfly Park as this land is zoned industrial
    • Dundas Driving Park Rock Garden – this garden has been part of the Park’s landscape for decades; during that period it has gone through many maintenance issues; it is now being brought back to its intended splendor by “The Dundas Rock Star Volunteers”; from personal experience, it is worth the visit and The Rock Stars are to be congratulated for their tireless work
    • Cootes Drive and Our Beloved Turtles – more fencing to be erected to prevent turtle crossing mishaps
    • Parkside H.S. Property – as well known, council has purchased this property and designated it as an extension to Grove Cemetery; it should be noted that this property has always been designated for this purpose