WHERAS Mr. Gary Clipperton was a long-time Streetsville and Mississauga resident, with deep roots in the community, who sadly passed away on May 2, 2023;
AND WHEREAS Mr. Clipperton was a dedicated schoolteacher, who inspired and encouraged students at Meadowvale, Lorne Park, Streetsville, Mayfield, and Cawthra schools, in the classroom and through his enthusiastic involvement in school music programs and as a coach for school football teams;
AND WHEREAS Mr. Clipperton was an accomplished athlete, who played varsity football for the University of Toronto, winning the inaugural Vanier Cup in 1965 and going on to play professionally for the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders football team in 1967;
AND WHEREAS Mr. Clipperton was a dedicated and tireless community leader and volunteer, who was one of the founding directors and entertainment chairperson of the Streetsville Bread and Honey Festival—one of the largest festivals in Mississauga and Ontario— and he was also an original director of what was to become the Mississauga Food Bank;
AND WHEREAS Mr. Clipperton had a profound passion for music and the arts and supported the development and promotion of local music and the arts, as founder and director of the Streetsville Musicorp Inc. and its performing vocal section, Justus, which performed throughout Mississauga, Canada and internationally for 40 years, and he also served on the steering committee that created that the Meadowvale Theatre, a local venue for the arts in Mississauga;
AND WHEREAS Mr. Clipperton’s talent and passion for music and his community leadership have been recognized with several distinguished honours and awards bestowed upon him over the years, including the prestigious Bicentennial award for exemplary volunteer work in the community in 1984; named Mississauga’s musician of the year in 1985; and inducted to the Mississauga Legends Row in 2017;
AND WHEREAS Mr. Clippeton’s outstanding achievements and significant contributions to Streetsville and Mississauga, which are indicated above, should be duly honoured and recognized in the Streetsville community, which he loved so dearly and served tirelessly, and where his roots are;
AND WHEREAS the Streetsville Village Square stage should be named in honour and commemoration of the late Mr. Gary Clipperton, to recognize and celebrate his outstanding achievements and significant contributions to the community and so his musical spirit and legacy can live on in the Village he loved;
AND WHEREAS the 2024 Bread and Honey Festival will be held from May 31 to June 2, 2024 and as Mr. Clipperton was one of the founding directors and entertainment chairperson of this Festival for many years, it is fitting that he should be honoured and recognized during the 2024 Festival;
AND WHEREAS on April 3, 2024, Council approved a process to guide municipal asset naming and commemoration activities, which is outlined in the City Asset Naming Policies Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Review Corporate Report to Council;
AND WHEREAS the Asset Naming procedure indicates that municipal assets may be named in honor of individuals with extra-ordinary achievement and/or significant contributions to Mississauga, five years posthumously;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
1. The process outlined in the Asset Naming Report be expedited as follows:
a) Public consultation for the Streetsville Village Square stage naming run in partnership between the Councillor’s Office and appropriate City Staff to inform residents of Streetsville of the proposed naming and that feedback can be provided through heritage.planning@mississauga.ca or at the May 14, 2024 Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting;
b) Staff be directed to bring a report to the May 14, 2024 Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting to have the matter be publicly discussed as outlined in the Asset Naming procedure;
c) Staff be directed to prepare a sign for the Streetsville Village Square stage, so that it may be unveiled at the 2024 Bread and Honey Festival (May 31 to June 2, 2024);
d) If any significant objection is received through the public consultation or at the Heritage Advisory Committee, that the matter be held for further review;
2. Council approve an exemption to the Asset Naming procedure requirement that municipal assets named in honor of individuals with extra-ordinary achievement and/or significant contributions to Mississauga must be done so five years posthumously to allow for the Streetsville Village Square stage to be named after Mr. Gary Clipperton.