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BUICK COULD BE YOURS, IF YOU’RE LUCKY
Cheap gas prices take toll on public transit Fuel costs 44% less today than in 2014
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BY LISA QUEEN
lqueen@yrmg.com
ower gas prices are putting the brakes on transit use, York Region’s commissioner of transportation services says. Cheaper prices at the pumps mean some people who would have jumped on public transit are choosing to drive their own vehicles instead, Daniel Kostopoulos said. YRT/Viva’s fourth quarter ridership numbers from October to December were 5.75 million, a dip of 168,200 or 2.8 per cent compared to the same time in 2014. Overall ridership in 2015 was 22.1 million, a decrease of 321,500 riders or 1.4 per cent compared to 2014. There are a number of factors that influence transit ridership,
For a Q&A on transit in York, follow bit.ly/1H6h5dK. Comments? Email tkibble@yrmg.com
including weather, the job market and changes in transit service, such as the opening of the Davis Drive bus rapidway Nov. 29. But cheap gas appears to be the single biggest reason why ridership numbers are down, Kostopoulos said. “What we’re experiencing is not unique among GTA municipalities … ridership decreases we’ve seen across the board (are) largely driven by lower fuel prices,” he said. “Significantly lower gasoline prices are, we believe, the biggest factor that may be influencing people’s decision in riding transit See page A10.
WHAT’S ON
STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT
The “Verano For Southlake” car raffle was launched Tuesday at Highland Automotive Professionals, which donated the vehicle for the cause. The raffle will be run by the Newmarket Lions Club. Tickets are $75. Here, Southlake Foundation president Neila Poscente approves of the prize. See the story and details on page A8. TOURISM
Town’s Arctic Adventure returns this Family Day BY TERESA LATCHFORD
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tlatchford@yrmg.com
ake an Arctic adventure in Aurora this Family Day. On Feb. 15, Aurora will be holding its annual Arctic Adventure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Aurora Town Park, located at the corner of Wells and Mosley streets. The event features a whole host of activities for children to enjoy, including bouncy castles, snowshoeing, mini snow tubing, body zorbing and more. Outdoor skating will also be part of the festivities.
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For more information, email sware@aurora.ca, call 905726-4762 or visit aurora.ca
Live entertainment will showcase a First Nations presentation, Fat Cat Jamboree, Taekwondo demonstrations, healthy kids community challenge kick-off, battle of the chainsaws, Paddling Puppeteers and winter animals. This year will also feature children’s crafts inside the Aurora Armoury and a soup for smiles tasting event
Sinking loonie boosts York’s tourism Region’s hotspots thank drooping Canadian dollar for surge in business
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BY LISA QUEEN
lqueen@yrmg.com
ork Region’s tourism hotspots are thanking a Canadian loonie wavering in the 70-cent U.S. range for a surge in business. “The lower Canadian dollar is definitely help for us in the tourism business,” said Hugh Sibbald, general manager of The Briars Resort and Spa on Lake Simcoe just east of Jackson’s Point in Georgina. The resort is starting to take more summer bookings from Americans looking for couples, family and family reunion getaways, he said. Canadians tend to book their summer vacations last minute, but already
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some are calling to say they will be shying away from U.S. destinations this summer and are scouting out prices for staycation spots, Sibbald said. Meanwhile, despite the lack of winter weather, The Briars, which traditionally offers activities such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sleigh rides, ice fishing and nature walks in the snow, has seen visits this season from residents of the Greater Toronto Area, who would normally have headed south. “It fills my heart with joy,” Sibbald laughed.
See page A10.
DAVE PHILLIPS: Wonderland’s vicepresident, marketing and sales, looks forward to busy season.
LEARNING
GO shuttle could be boom or bust for commuters Private school producing
Y
BY LISA QUEEN
lqueen@yrmg.com
ork Region is considering Aurora’s request to fund a shuttle bus service for GO train commuters after the town suggested bankrolling the service from an additional $15 million the region received in gas tax revenues from the provincial government. It’s an idea that could dovetail with a key plank of the region’s proposed updated transportation master plan, expected to be STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT approved later this year. The plan, which includes creat- The Town of Aurora wants York Region to fund a shuttle bus operaing a “world-class transit system,” tion to take its commuters to and from the area GO station due to a is trying to find ways to accommo- parking shortage that is only expected to worsen with growth. date the “last mile” of commuters’ journeys so they don’t drive their serve would encourage commutcars to train and bus stations. ers to leave their cars at home, But while overflowing GO he said. commuter parking is a problem Aurora’s existing public tran❑ For more stories on this issue: in most municipalities, a shuttle sit, provided by the region, is not bit.ly/1SHdqhl. Comments? could be a bust, said King Townmeeting the needs of commutEmail tkibble@yrmg.com ship Mayor Steve Pellegrini, who ers, he said at a town council said a similar idea failed in his meeting in November. community a couple of years ago. in adjacent neighbourhoods such “When you ask why these In Aurora, commuters who find as around Town Park, commuters don’t take public the GO parking lot at the train staAurora Councillor John Abel tion on Wellington Street west of told regional councillors. Industrial Parkway full are parking Providing an efficient shuttle See page A10.
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prosthetic hands for kids St. Andrew’s College puts 3D printer to good use BY TERESA LATCHFORD
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tlatchford@yrmg.com
local school is giving back to the community by using its 3D printer to produce prosthetic hands for children. St. Andrew’s College computer science teacher Terry Prezens took to Google hoping to find something to help students give back to the community. Each year, he challenges his Grade 12 computer engineering students to come up with a product or service that will help those with special needs, especially children. During his search, he stumbled upon Enabling The Future, an organization that matches prosthetic hands with those in need. “We have the means, so let’s take advantage of that and use it for good,” Prezens said. “If there is a kid who needs a hand, I want to give it to them.”
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For additional information, about the Enabling the Future Organization, visit its website at: enablingthefuture.org
Prezens has now received word from the organization that the prototype hand he submitted has passed inspection and will be entered into the database to match with recipients. The prosthetic is made of ABS plastic and takes about six to seven hours to print. The organization provided Prezens with the design for the hand. When fully assembled, cables, fed through the contact points on the fingers and hand, allow the hand to close when the wrist is bent. Traditional prosthetics can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $40,000 and, considering the rate at which
See page A4.
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