On March 9, the Port Credit Business Improvement Association (BIA) held its annual general meeting at Art Trax Gallery on Queen Street to review the previous year's finances and their budget proposal summary for 2010.

The BIA approved an operating budget of $642,577 (with a levy of $405,000 to businesses) for the upcoming year to promote and beautify the village, as well as hold several anniversary events. Highlights of the budget include:

> Continued financial support for festivals and events in the village

> A massive P.C. 175th Anniversary Canada Day celebration in conjunction with Paint The Town Red

> Continued sponsorship for the Mississauga Marathon, which now ends at Port Credit Memorial Park

> The highly successful Port Credit Farmer's Market, which runs once again this year

> An increased online presence through the Portcredit.com website and social media

Two new members were also voted onto the BIA board of directors: Ralph Schwengers, the general manager of the Waterside Inn, and Claudette Edwards of Edwards Veterinary Clinic.

For more information, visit www.portcredit.com.

The Downchild Blues Band is ringing in 2010 with a new CD and a cross-country tour celebrating 40 years of blues music.

Formed in 1969 by lead guitarist Donnie Walsh, Downchild is one of the most well known blues bands in Canada. The band has released 22 CD's over the past 40 years and inspired countless other blues musicians. The current lineup, comprised of singer Chuck Jackson, tenor sax player Pat Carey, drummer Mike Fitzpatrick, bassist Gary Kendall, and pianist/organist Michael Fonfara, have performed together for the last 15 years. The group have also won many music awards, including a Juno nomination for 2005's “Come On In”.

For their newest record, I Need A Hat, they brought in some heavy hitters in the blues scene, including long-time friend and musician Dan Aykroyd on harmonica, roots music veteran Colin Linden on guitar and Memphis Horns trumpet player Wayne Jackson.

Last year's anniversary tour included a special performance at the Palais Royale in Toronto, where the band (and special guests) brought the house down with their soulful sounds.

The concert was a very memorable experience, said Jackson, who has helmed the band since 1990..

“It was an amazing night,” he said. “When we looked out into the crowd, it was like a family reunion. We knew every face in the audience.”

A former resident of Port Credit, Jackson is also the driving force behind the Southside Shuffle Blues & Jazz Festival.

Over the years, the band has hit many career highlights, he said, and have made their mark on the blues industry not just in Canada, but all over the world.

The success of Downchild lies in the fact that all of the members still love what they do, Jackson said. “It doesn't matter if we play for 35,000 people in a stadium or 200 people in a bar. We still love making music and playing it after all these years.”

Writing material for I Need A Hat was a very collaborative process between Jackson and Walsh. Many songs on the album, including “This Must Be Love”, “Down In The Delta” and “Those Thoughts Keep Marching”, were drawn from personal experiences and memories.

When asked what lies ahead for the band, Jackson was very optimistic. “We'll keep playing until we can't anymore,” he said.

Downchild will continue their 40th anniversary tour this year with a performance at the Vancouver Olympics Ontario Pavilion on February 13.