Since its inception over 25 years ago, Rockwood's residents have many times demonstrated they believed it to be a community worth standing up for and our wins have far outnumbered our losses. While triumphs in every battle would have been ideal, surely achieving the diversion of Highway 403 away from Rockwood and compelling responsible development of the former "McLennan lands" compensates somewhat for Pearson Airport's continuing unbridled and irresponsible expansion.
While most of any ratepayer group's smaller day-to-day accomplishments go unheralded and largely unnoticed, they make the biggest difference precisely because they tend to add up. A host of "little" things such as, getting streets paved ahead of initial schedule, pro-active stewardship of nearby ravine lands coupled with proper concern for environmental matters and - especially for our children's safety - the monitoring of and insistence upon appropriate address of ever-growing traffic volumes.
When Rockwood's all-time greatest champion, the late Lorrie Mitoff, founded our organization eight years ago it joined two similar ones East of Dixie and close to ten others across Ward 3. One by one, these groups have all fallen prey to an aging population, public apathy and a host of other causes.
Some ask: "Does organized advocacy make a tangible difference in the quality of life within my community?" The answer lies in merely looking around the City and, with the possible exception of The Mayor's personal bailiwick in Streetsville, attempting to find a neighborhood now in any better state of overall repair than Rockwood. The conclusion reached will be that either, for some unknown reason, Mississauga elects to especially smile on one relatively small area on its periphery or that a diligent "squeaky wheel" - your Homeowners' Association - achieves remarkably positive results.
Beyond a few spare hours each month and belief that working for the greater good is its own reward, it requires little else to make a very real difference in your community. Don't wait! - if you're interested or wish further details - the welcome mat is out and you need only contact any current RHA Board Member.
