Two thousand and nine has been a big year for Whitchurch-Stouffville.

Improvements to the town’s entrance are almost complete; our beautiful arts and cultural centre is up and running; we have a state-of-the-art building for fire and emergency services and a new arena. In addition, two new ball diamonds, a soccer pitch and four mini sports fields will open at Bethesda Park next spring.

On Dec. 17, the Olympic Torch passes through town,  heading out from York Durham Line at 9:04 a.m. with a short community stop at Main and Church Streets at 9:19 a.m., before reaching the end of the run at Hwy. 48 at 9:44 a.m. Everyone is encouraged to come out and cheer on our athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

As the year winds down, we would like to give a big vote of thanks to the hard work and dedication of Whitchurch-Stouffville Chamber of Commerce CEO Helene Johnson, who is retiring at the end of December. Never one to shy away from a challenge, she has given countless hours of volunteer time to promote and support her community.

In an era when many public figures are unwilling to express their true feelings for fear of causing the slightest offence, Helene has always stood by her principals and fought for what she believes in. Her sense of civic engagement puts most of us to shame, and she has done it all in a volunteer capacity.

If you haven’t finished (or started) your Christmas shopping, why not come downtown and check out our local stores? We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: it’s local retailers who support our sports teams and events, provide donations and prizes and volunteer their time for community causes.

From beautiful clothing, unique gifts, top-of-the-line electronics and fine jewellery to fabulous toys and games for children and teens, downtown Stouffville offers many great ideas for everyone on your list.

We wish all our readers a merry Christmas, happy holidays and a joyful and prosperous New Year. 

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