Former Mississauga Mayor Ron Searle gave out an award named in his honour Saturday afternoon at the inaugural Lakeview Ratepayers' Association picnic.
Called the Ron Searle Community Contribution Award it was presented to Ward 1 Councillor Carmen Corbasson for her aid to the community in beating back the Hazel McCallion Perpetual Generating Station on the site of the former Lakeview coal-fired plant.
After Searle made the presentation to the councillor, she turned the tables on him by presenting the long-time Orchard Heights resident with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Like so many things in Lakeview, the picnic and the awards were orchestrated by Lakeview ratepayer president Jim Tovey. That's him above on the left in this photo taken by Amanda Farion, with Searle in the middle and Corbasson on the right.
The award winners were presented with a lovely vintage photo montage of the female workers at the small arms plant that once stood at the foot of Dixie Rd. in what will soon be Arsenals Park.
"There was a French-Canadian photographer that the government sent to the munitions factory and there were some terrific photos taken," says Tovey. "The photos are really well-lit and the grain is outstanding. He must have really used a good camera.
We contacted The National Archives and got 60 of the photos. Then we took the top eight and mounted them," for the award presentation," Tovey said. "We figured it was strong women for a strong woman," he said in reference to Corbasson.
Tovey hopes that all of the photos will eventually be part of the "heritage walk" that the association has proposed to be part of Arsenals Park.
Searle is having serious problems with one leg and has some hearing problems but is, "hanging in there" as he likes to say. He was front and centre at the Mississauga South Tory nomination meeting last week, where he voted and held court for all those who came around to chat.
Asked what the ex-mayor was honoured for, Tovey replied: "Just for being Ron." He was largely responsible for the acquisition of the property that became Lakefront Promenade in the early 70s, says Tovey, a member of the City's heritage advisory committee. "He was involved in the purchase and we owe him an eternal debt of gratitude," he added. "Besides, he's such a wonderful man."
After the fun Saturday, it was back to business this morning as the Ontario Municipal Board hearing on the Queenscorp development application to put a 21-storey, 260-unit high rise condo at the northeast corner of Lakeshore Rd. E. and Deta Rd. got underway at the Civic Centre.
"They unveiled their own vision of Lakeview," said Tovey, who helped develop the community vision known as the Lakeview Legacy project. "Their vision is a line of condos on both sides of Lakeshore."
Tovey and the Lakeview residents get their chance to speak to the future of the critical strip along Lakeshore Rd. E. Thursday at 10 a.m.