Slater Way becomes Huxted Way

By Janet Kanters Times Editor

The Town of Strathmore has paid homage to local businessman Colin Huxted and his family by naming a road in their honour.
Strathmore’s Slater Way now becomes Huxted Way.
The announcement was made at Strathmore town council March 6.
“There is little doubt that the town has benefited greatly from our relationship and partnership with the Huxteds and their company,” said Strathmore town councillor Bob Sobol. “Colin Huxted clearly believed that a successful business philosophy included being involved in the community and he ensured that this was one of his company’s priorities.”
For nearly 35 years Colin Huxted, his wife Bonnie and their four children devoted their lives to H&H Huxted Enterprises, which included waste and disposal recycling. The company sold to Waste Management Canada in February 2018.
“This company, prior to selling the business to Waste Management, had held a waste disposal contract with the town for 25 years,” noted Sobol. “As well, they took over operations of the town’s recycle yard on contract in 2014. However, it is not well known that Colin actually started our recycle facility. In 1993, Colin approached town administration with the concept of applying for a grant to begin such a facility. The application was successful, and the town began operations in 1995. A council decision in 2013 resulted in the privatization of the recycle yard operations and Huxted Waste was successful in capturing that contract.”
Since that time, said Sobol, improvements in operations, buildings, garages and the sorting facility were built by Huxted. Yard improvements resulted in the recycle facility being considered as one of the best in the region.
“In 2016, council approved the three-year pilot project that led to the creation of a three-acre class one composting site,” noted Sobol. “Once again, this was precipitated by Colin Huxted and his desire to reduce landfill use and as well to create a program that turns waste into a usable product, that being compost. Colin invested considerable dollars and time to ensure that this was a successful project, even returning to school to become accredited as a Class 1 composting facility operator.”
As the compost yard began producing, Huxted felt it was important for youth to become better acquainted with the composting concept. In 2016, he reached out to schools with an invitation for their Grade 4 students to begin taking field trips to the recycling and composting facility, where students were given a tour and then took part in a game exercise in the office boardroom.
“The results were evident, with students becoming the teachers to those not familiar with the concept of composting,” said Sobol.
In addition, as a member of the Town of Strathmore sustainability committee, Huxted offered support and free services to schools that wished to begin their own in-house composting program, a program which continues to this day.
“The idea of naming a road after Colin is a suitable way to demonstrate our appreciation for everything he and his family and his company have done,” said Sobol.