A year that began with tragedy in Halton Hills was also noteworthy for a couple once-in-a-generation natural events.
While the total eclipse of the sun in April was celebrated, even if the clouds didn’t fully co-operate, a major rainstorm wreaked havoc on the town a few months later with flooding and road closures.
At the council table, the issue that created the most fireworks, was the ban on fireworks. The matter took several months of work and debate before coming to a resolution.
No doubt, 2024 was an eventful year. Here's the 10 biggest news stories we covered.
Man charged with arson after woman dies in Georgetown house fire
The Halton Hills Fire Department responded to an early-morning fire on Victoria Street on Feb. 7. A woman pulled from the fire was pronounced dead at the scene.
Five days later, Halton Police announced that 38-year-old Christopher Dayfoot, who also lived at residence, had been charged with arson, disregard of human life.
While out on bail, he was arrested twice, once for a allegedly stealing items from a vehicle and then again for two alleged break and enters in March.
Cyclist killed on Hwy. 7 near Acton
Georgetown cyclist Mark Heideman was killed in March after being struck by a vehicle just outside of Acton. Heideman was riding on the shoulder of the road when he was hit by an SUV driven by an Acton man.
Two memorials were created for Heideman. The first was a white ghost bike at the scene of the accident, placed there by Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC). The second, created by a local landscaping company, was a giant heart cut into the hill next to the road.
The solar eclipse
After much anticipation and planning, the first total solar eclipse in 45 years arrived on April 8. At 3:20 p.m., the moon passed directly in front of the sun, momentarily casting Halton Hills and much of the province into darkness. Though the weather didn’t fully co-operate, the cloud cover broke just enough for most people to get at least a glimpse of the eclipse.
Rise in home break-ins
A rise in residential break-ins prompted a pair of information sessions in which Halton Police provided residents with tips on how to help prevent them.
Police recommended removing objects like bushes or tree branches that block the view of the front door from the street or landscaping stones that could be used to break a window. They also suggested adding security cameras, outdoor lighting and reinforced door frames.
Fireworks ban
Halton Hills Council banned fireworks, decided to take a second look, and then banned them anyway. But the controversial decision played out over seven months.
Council originally voted 6-5 in favour of banning the sale and discharge of low-hazard fireworks, the type generally available to the public. But when it came time to ratify the decision, council instead opted to get public input, conducting a survey of 450 residents. Though the survey showed only 40 per cent were in favour of a ban, council again voted for the ban, this time by an 8-3 margin.
The ban does not impact the Canada Day fireworks put on by the Acton Firefighters.
Prologis breaks ground
Prologis began construction of a 1.3-million-square-foot logistics complex at Trafalgar Road and Steeles Avenue in July. The development is expected to create between 1,000 and 2,000 jobs.
The first two buildings are expected to be completed early in 2025.
“This is a significant investment in Halton Hills,” said Mayor Ann Lawlor.
July downpour causes flooding
Widespread flooding was reported across Halton Region after what was described as a once-in-every-50-year storm. Halton Hills received 79mm of rain on July 16, more than it usually receives in a month. Rivers and creeks swelled, covering numerous roads.
Three people working in a tunnel on Eighth Line that was rapidly filling with water managed to escape. Halton Hills firefighters also had to help someone who went off the road on Ninth Line escape from their vehicle.
In the weeks that followed, Halton Region received 124 claims for damage as a result of the flooding.
Churches get new tenants
A few local churches have found new life. The former First Baptist Church in Georgetown became the Sri Krishna Brundavana temple in August. The local Hindu community is renovating the building, including plans for a commercial kitchen.
In Norval, the former Norval Presbyterian Church became the new home for St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church. The re-dedication of the church took place in November.
And the future of Hillcrest United Church became a little clearer after the Townsend Smith Foundation unveiled its plans for a 10-bed hospice in north Halton. The new building will incorporate part of the current church into the new building. The foundation needs to raise $25-million for construction, which it hopes could be complete by the end of 2026.
Arnott won’t see re-election
Ted Arnott, Ontario’s longest-serving member of the provincial legislature, announced in October that he would not be seeking re-election. The Wellington-Halton Hills representative at Queen’s Park was first elected in 1990 when he was 27 years old. Though his riding boundary changed over the years, adding Halton Hills in 2007, Arnott easily won re-election eight times. He was elected Speaker of the House in 2018.
“I don’t look back at it with pride as much as a sense of appreciation that I’ve had this chance to serve because of the trust that people have given me through the years,” Arnott said.
The Hide House closing down
Acton’s most well-known institution announced in October that it will be closing. The Hide House, which has been around in one form or another for 165 years, will close its doors once it liquidates its inventory.
Best known in its current form, as a leather clothing and furniture store since the 1980s, it put the town on the map with its advertising campaign that declared, ‘It’s worth the drive to Acton.’ At its peak, the Hide House attracted approximately 300,000 to the town every year.
The decreased demand for leather goods was cited as the main reason for the closure.
