City of Port Colborne

Residents and visitors come to city hall for a variety of reasons.

Here's a record of recent guests to the mayor's office...

On May 6, 2011, the Senior Kindergarten Class, with their teacher, Ms. Gillespie, dropped by City Hall.

Mayor Badawey presented framed keepsakes to the young artists whose Port Colborne-themed drawing and paintings were chosen for his 2010 Christmas card. From left are Kathryn Mullins, Bradley Taylor, Mayor Badawey, Katie Ruzycki, and Austin Warner. Amanda Adams' art was also chosen, but she wans't able to attend Monday's council meeting. In addition to the framed keepsakes with bronze nameplates for each child, the children were special guests on the Mayor's Christmas card float in the Santa Claus Parade. Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks so much to all the children who used their creativity to come up with wonderful original art work.

Photo courtesy Eddie Chau, The Leader

 Bronx boy brings breath of fresh air

Rahsheem Green dropped by to see his buddy Mayor Vance Badawey, who he met four years ago when he came to Port Colborne as one of a group of New York City children sponsored by the Fresh Air Fund. Mayor Vance noticed right away how tall Rhasheem had grown, and how he wasn't so shy as he was when he was 11, the first time he toured city hall.

Marylou and Larry Whittie have welcomed Rahsheem to their home four consecutive summers as part of the Fresh Air program, which pairs inner-city children from New York with families in towns and cities across Ontario. "He really is a breath of fresh air," Larry Whittie described his young friend, who helps with chores around the house on Kent Street as well as joins the family on outings Rahsheen might otherwise never have the opportunity to experience. He's here for nine days this time, instead of the typical two weeks of oast visits. Rahsheem lives in an apartment in the Bronx with his mom. His name means "brave soldier."

"I wanted to drop by and say hello, just for a few minutes," Rahsheem said. "Mayor Vance was so nice to me before, I'll always remember him. I don't get to meet too many mayors." Rahsheem told the mayor his best subjects at school were English Language Arts and science. His favourite music is hiphop; his favourite music artist is Alicia Keys.

"Great to see you again," Mayor Badawey told him. "Come back anytime. You are always welcome."

Mayor buffs a shine for Cystic Fibrosis

Typically the Shinerama volunteers polishes the shoes,
but Wednesday afternoon in his office on the third floor of city hall, Mayor Vance Badawey turned the table, and the bucket, to buff the boots of Nicole Savage. Nicole and photographer  Jordan Hallawell  are Brock University students and Shinerama volunteers who dropped by July 21 to receive
the mayor's donation to the fundraising drive. They are raising money all summer across the region, visiting mayors and business leaders in advance of the major event, Shine Day at Brock Sept. 11.

Raising money and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis is near and dear to the mayor's heart, he told Nicole and Jordan, as CF was the cause supported by the Port Colborne Kinsmen for many years. The mayor described the community reunion event known  as Kinfest for many years and the tens of thousands of dollars raised by Kinsmen and friends for CF.