Aurora Banner February 18 by Aurora Banner

WOMEN OF YORK REGION NewRoads Invites You to the 6th Annual...

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

THU MAR 10 AT 7:00 PM

Get your tickets online newroadsgno.com Location: NewRoads Mazda 349 Mulock Drive Newmarket Admission $25. 100% proceeds to benefit the Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Centre of York Region.

NewRoads is the proud host-sponsor of this community event.

NewRoads is a proud sponsor of the Newmarket Volunteer Community Ice Rink at Whipper Billy Watson Park. Rink opening soon, watch for it!

newroads.ca C

SPIRIT OF

NEWROADS AN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

NewRoads Automotive family would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and recognize this years winners of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spirit of NewRoadsâ&#x20AC;? award. This award is presented annually to an individual in each dealership who continually exhibits the ability to raise the spirits of those around them.

Jordin Tobin Congratulates Justin Patterson, NewRoads Kia

Jeff Card Congratulates Doug Higgs, NewRoads Mazda

Rino Rizzuto Congratulates Jen Newlove and David Smirle, NewRoads Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC

Michael Croxon Congratulates Leon Verbon, NewRoads Richmond Hill Subaru

Congratulations to our 2015 Winners Justin, Doug, Jen, David and Leon Thank you for your positive outlook, uplifting nature and making us smile throughout 2015.

CONGRATULATIONS TEAM NEWROADS! We are thrilled to recognize the following NewRoads family members for their incredible customer service and sales performance in 2015. Well done! NewRoads Kia

Blake Tobin, Highest Customer Service Index Rob Shedlowich, Top Sales Volume and Sales Achievement

NewRoads Mazda

Warren Harrison, Highest Customer Service Index Gary Maguire, Top Sales Volume Mark Szczucinski, Sales Achievement

NewRoads Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC

Steve Leadbeater, Highest Customer Service Index Stef Zangari, Top Sales Volume Adam Porteous, Sales Achievement

NewRoads Richmond Hill Subaru

Leon Vaksman, Highest Customer Service Index Francis Lee, Top Sales Volume Robert Ruffolo, Sales Achievement

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YORK REGION HOMELESS SHELTERS PAGE A5 SEE INCREASE IN USE

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WHAT’S ON

Winter Blues Festival grows again for year 5 Blues Bash kickoff event moves to Highland Automotive Professionals showroom, accommodating 125 more guests BY TERESA LATCHFORD

tlatchford@yrmg.com

he Aurora Winter Blues Festival continues to grow as it celebrates a major milestone this year. What started 15 years ago as the GushMac House of Blues BluesFest in Helen Gushue and Jamie MacDonald’s Aurora home has flourished into a full-blown community festival that not only celebrates blues music but supports local charities and highlights youth talent. Last year, the festival was included in the Top 100 festivals and events in Ontario and this year, it is celebrating five years of success in its current form. Word of the festival has been so positive that blues bands from across Canada are reaching out to become involved. “This is a huge milestone for us and after this year, we will have to step back and really look at how to grow it further,” festival director MacDonald said. “It really has become a destination for people who want to get out and shake off those winter blahs.”

STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT

Aurora native Alec Sault performed Saturday at a pop-up performance at Aurora Public Library as part of the Aurora Winter Blues Festival.

For more information, visit aurorawinterbluesfestival.ca.

The kickoff event for the festival, known as the Blues Bash, will have some new digs this year. Highland Automotive Professionals has agreed to hold the event in its showroom on Yonge Street in Aurora. The new venue will not only allow 300 guests to attend instead of the 175 tickets it was limited to in previous years, but will also allow the addition of a second stage to showcase performances by local youths alongside headliner Turbo Street Funk. The March 5 bash also features door prizes, live and silent auctions, food and dancing to not only kick off the festival, but also raise funds for CHATS and Blue Door Shelters of York Region. “It has been an amazing journey and it has been just incredible to see how the festival has grown,” MacDonald said. See page A13.

EDUCATION

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Former criminal steers students away from bad choices Man who was once one of Canada’s ‘most wanted’ shares cautionary tale with York Region youths

BY LISA QUEEN

lqueen@yrmg.com

fter hearing the disturbing life story of one of Canada’s most hardened former criminals, Grade 12 student Mitchell Smelser is worried about teens he sees dabbling in destructive behaviour. “It’s really interesting to see something so real and (hear about) some of the things he’s experienced. You see stuff kind of like that at school, but a lot more minor,” the 17-year-old student at Jean Vanier Catholic High School said. “You see people starting to get into stuff like that (drug use) and to see what happens in the end if you keep on that track is kind of scary. I haven’t really felt emotional so much about a presentation before. (I’m) almost uneasy, knowing how dangerous it really is.”

HEALTH CARE

GET CONNECTED ❑

For more information about Truth For Teens, visit truthforteens.com.

Once one of Canada’s most-wanted criminals, Rick “Ozzy” Osborne, a former drug addict who spent more than 24 years behind bars, spoke about his past to about five dozen students from across York Region at a conference on the dangers of drug use and substance abuse at the York Catholic District School Board headquarters in Aurora. “Guys like me don’t exist outside of God’s grace. I’m a Christian and I never apologize for how it works,” said Osborne, 60, who now offers motivational presentations. “If you figure it out when you’re young, you

have a better life. If you wait until you’re older, you’ve got to ask for miracles. I’d rather live in blessing than in miracles. A guy like me is a miracle. You don’t get to go into the (criminal) world as deep as I did and come out without being one.” Although Osborne became only the 17th federal inmate in Canada to earn a university degree when he received a bachelor of arts in psychology from Queen’s University more than 20 years ago, he was a vulnerable young teenager just entering high school when he lost his way in life. A quiet kid who had been bullied and was friendless, the 14-year-old was walking to school the first day of Grade 9 when he encountered a young man who he considered

See page A6.

REGIONAL CHAIR

Elected regional chair issue back on agenda today Several local councils have passed motions calling for elected chair

SUPPLIED IMAGE/SOUTHLAKE

Dr. David Fell, vice-president of patient experiences for the regional cancer and cardiac programs at Southlake, says the cancer centre’s team is “thrilled” about the opening of a fourth advanced radiation therapy suite.

Southlake expands cancer care services BY TERESA LATCHFORD

tlatchford@yrmg.com

ore patients can receive advanced radiation therapy in Newmarket as Southlake Regional Health Centre has opened an additional suite. The Stronach Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake announced the addition of its fourth advanced radiation therapy machine that will allow cancer patients in York Region and Simcoe County greater access to the

treatment they need closer to home. Over the past several years, the centre’s team has been working closely with community partners and Cancer Care Ontario to deliver on the promise to expand cancer services, said Dr. David Fell, Southlake’s vice-president of patient experiences for the regional cancer and cardiac programs. “Today is the next step in that journey,

See page A10.

B B

Bill Jenkins BROKER

BY LISA QUEEN

lqueen@yrmg.com

lthough several local municipal councils have passed motions calling for York Region’s chairperson to be elected, there’s a possibility their pitches could fall on deaf ears when the issue resurfaces Thursday. If regional council actually makes a decision and doesn’t push the matter off again, that is. Local councils in Newmarket, Aurora, Whitchurch-Stouffville, East Gwillimbury and Markham have all voted in favour of having an elected chairperson. That would replace the current system of having the region’s top political job selected by the 20 politicians sitting around the regional council table. However, other than WhitchurchStouffville Mayor Justin Altmann, the mayors of those municipalities voted for keeping the status quo. And it’s the mayors and regional councillors, for those municipalities with more than

For more coverage on this issue, follow: bit.ly/1o9vcgm.

Comments? Email tkibble@yrmg.com.

one representative on regional council, not local councillors, who will be making the decision. For example, in a 7-1 vote, Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen was the only politician on Newmarket council to oppose an elected chairperson when the town’s council dealt with the issue last week. Will he and other mayors whose opinions differ from their local councils endorse the current system or follow the wishes of their local councils? When the issue came up at regional council in June 2012, there was no appetite around the table for change. Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Justin Altmann, Newmarket Regional Councillor John Taylor and Markham regional councillors Joe Li, Nirmala Armstrong and Jim Jones See page A11.

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HOMELESSNESS GROWING IN YORK

STAFF PHOTO/STEVE SOMERVILLE

BY LISA QUEEN

lqueen@yrmg.com

s Tom Johnson gathered together his belongings at Newmarket’s Inn From the Cold before facing another day wandering the streets, he talked about the sexual abuse he suffered as a child that has left him emotionally broken and led to his homelessness. “I have gone through, physically, mentally, pure living hell and to cope, when nobody’s around, I crack open a bottle of wine and I’ll sit somewhere and I’ll drink it,” he said. “I don’t have a drinking problem, but when you get down, you sit and you start thinking, you want to get a bottle of wine just to ease the pain.” Johnson, not his real name, said he was sexually abused by a family member beginning from about the age of 12. Johnson, who has a disability, said his already troubled life took a turn for the worse when his mother died about seven years ago and he found himself homeless. The 49-year-old has spent the last several years in a cycle of homelessness or nearhomelessness, renting apartments or rooms for short periods, couch surfing, staying in homeless shelters or pitching a tent. “I’ve been homeless now for quite some time. I don’t even remember when there has ever been stability in my life,” he said. He receives a government disability cheque of about $1,200 a month, which he has spent on rent for accommodation that never turns out to be long-term, and on living expenses, such as food and clothing. He is now saving much of his monthly benefit to try to secure more permanent housing and bring stability into his life. Johnson sits at a table at the homeless shelter with two young men who say circumstances in their lives, including lack of education, dismal job prospects, financial hardship and family strife, have left them

homeless, too. “For an outsider looking in, it’s very difficult. A lot of people on the outside see it as hard and sad. For me, it’s just life,” said the 20-year-old man, who has been homeless off and on since the age of 16. He is hoping to get his life back on track if he can save enough money to get into a college program. There are many reasons why people end up homeless, according to officials with York Region shelters, who say their facilities have been busy this winter, despite the mild weather. “Homelessness is very complicated. A lot of bad things have to happen to you in your life to become homeless,” said Inn From the Cold executive director Tom Vegh, adding economic , mental health and/or substance abuse problems are generally at the core of people’s challenges. For five months during the winter, Inn From the Cold offers guests a mat on the floor, nutritious food and others services, such as laundry, between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. seven days a week. The shelter has seen its numbers climb this year. “Last year, which was a particularly severe winter, a brutal winter, last year (between mid-November and the end of January), we had 1,049 shelter stays. That represented 134 unique guests — some people stayed here multiple times — and that’s a huge number of homeless in the area,” Vegh said. “This year, with the very, very mild winter, we actually have seen a slight increase for the same period. There has been an increase of 20 stays, so 1,069, which surprised us. We thought that number would go way down, and that represented about 160 unique individuals.” As the region’s population increases, homelessness is growing, Vegh said. Because the homeless are among the most vulnerable members of society, issues such as economic and employment forces

and lack of affordable housing hit them first and hardest, he added. Inn From the Cold and other agencies are hoping to establish a social services hub to address issues such as homelessness, Vegh said. Data gathered from the United Way of Toronto and York Region’s first-ever count of the homeless over a 24-hour period last month, which is expected to be released this spring, will help agencies better plan programs and services, he said.

‘‘

A lot of bad things have to happen to you to be homeless

“We don’t think we will eliminate homelessness — we’re not naïve to think that — but we can certainly bring the numbers way down and, really, our goal should be to prevent homelessness,” Vegh said. While the Richmond Hill Food Bank doesn’t serve many clients who are homeless, it is seeing an increase in demand this year, manager Brenda Ewart said. “We are seeing our numbers, even since January, have started to increase because we do have some Syrian refugees come in and they do have large families. I think we’re going to see an increase over the next little bit with that,” she said. Families struggling to make ends meet after paying high child care costs are also turning to the food bank, Ewart said. The food bank served about 15,000 clients last year, perhaps slightly higher than in 2014, but she expects to see that number climb this year. At Blue Door Shelters, which operates Leeder Place family shelter, Porter Place men’s shelter and a youth shelter, the organi-

zation had people staying at its facilities 435 more nights during the last quarter of 2015 than it did during the same time in 2014. People are staying for longer periods, including larger families who can’t find affordable housing and youths who were not even able to spend time with their families over the holidays because their families were experiencing unemployment, executive director Radha Bhardwaj said. While Blue Doors hasn’t done any research to delve into the reasons behind the trend, she called the increase in demand upsetting. “It is troubling. It’s hard, especially when you see youth who are not actually going home, even over the holidays because it is a time when families get together and they celebrate each other and even if there are difficulties and challenges, people look past that or overcome that even for a short time,” Bhardwaj said. “It’s also really hard to see a lot of little children at the family shelter. In November, we had upwards of 20 children at Leeder Place. It’s hard that so many young people are homeless and are having such a hard start in life.” While Bhardwaj said she is proud Blue Door is there to meet the needs of people needing shelter, she said it’s disturbing the facilities are necessary in relatively affluent York Region, where homelessness is often hidden. “I think homelessness is a problem in York Region. I think homelessness has been a problem for many years,” she said. “I think it’s been very invisible in York Region because we don’t have the spaces for people to be openly homeless.” It is time to come up with real solutions for homelessness in the region, Bhardwaj said. “There isn’t a lot of light shone on it and sometimes it’s easy for all of us to get really comfortable and think it isn’t an issue in our region and, in fact, it is,” she said.

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, February 18, 2016

Osborne was ‘one of Canada’s most dangerous men’ by 19 Speaker went from verge of suicide in prison to drug treatment program and earned university degree in psychology From Front Page.

the coolest guy he’d ever seen working on his car. Osborne, living in Niagara Falls after moving from the United States with his family three years earlier, couldn’t wait to talk to his new and only friend on his way to and from class every day. The first week of October, the week before he turned 15, Osborne was eager to get into the man’s convertible when he was offered a ride. “I’m a 14-year-old boy. You pretty much have to hit me with a hammer to not go for a ride,” he said. “The worst thing I could see in my mind was if I was late getting home, my mom would yell at me.” Sadly, reality turned out to be much worse. He ended up in an apartment where a group of junkies injected him against his will with a “speedball” containing methamphetamine and heroin, a concoction that left him unconscious. When he woke up, he was so high, he couldn’t speak for a day or sleep or eat for three. He found his way to a hostel, where he paid $1 to get a cot and woke up being sexually assaulted. The next night, he met two prostitutes who tried to take care of him. Not knowing how else to help the young teenager obviously suffering from a bad trip, the women went out and scored some heroin for him. “That quickly, I was a junkie,” Osborne said. The incident quickly led to an escalating life of crime and despair, including drug addiction, petty street crimes, being attacked as a 16-year-old by a convicted rapist while in Florida, covering up self-mutilation cuts with

more than 480 tattoos and joining a powerful outlaw biker gang. “By 19, (I was) one of Canada’s most dangerous men and I’m not fooling around when I say that. At 21, I went to the penitentiary. I got (sentenced to) 31 years for robbery times three, weapons times four, assault police and escape custody and possession of narcotics,” he said. Although he was released after 15 years, he soon found himself back in prison. With five other prisoners waiting to kill him, Osborne decided to kill himself. Fortunately, while in his cell ready to commit suicide, he heard the voice of his father. “My dad’s voice came to me like he was standing behind me. There is only one man in this world I listen to, only one man: my dad,” he said. “My dad used to say to me, it was one of my dad’s lines because I was always f’ing up, my dad like he was standing behind me as I am ready to swallow this heroin and give up on life, says, ‘If it’s all lost, ask God’.” Although Osborne was a hardened criminal in maximum security, prison officials took a chance on him and allowed him to enter a drug treatment program. He then began taking university classes, with one of the proudest moments of his life being the day he was allowed out of Kingston Penitentiary to attend his graduation at Queen’s. Osborne now heads a charitable organization called Truth For Teens, aimed at inspiring young people to stay in school and avoid destructive behaviours such as drug use. It offers a number of programs, such as Ozzy’s Garage, an intervention service for youth dealing with addictions who are involved in the justice system, and Helping Hand, which provides care packages for people recovering from addictions as they get back on their feet. To learn more, visit truthforteens.com.

Bizet, Puccini, Gounod, Verdi and Franz Lehar will bring a sigh and perhaps a tear to audiences, but opera music is only as great as the singers, and the orchestra is proud to feature some of the best. A senior faculty member of the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Jennifer Tung is a sought-after pianist and teacher, as well as soprano. As a singer, Tung has collaborated with organizations worldwide, including the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Paul’s Festival Orchestra, and Toronto Sinfonietta,

‘Major’ flood forces school closure for extra day after long weekend BY LISA QUEEN

lqueen@yrmg.com

A “major” flood at Aurora’s St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School could have been much worse, principal Domenic Scuglia says. On Family Day Monday, when the school was closed, bitter temperatures caused a sprinkler head to go off at about 11 a.m., alerting the fire department. When firefighters arrived at the school on Wellington Street, east of Industrial Parkway, they discovered a much more serious problem than a sprinkler that started gushing. A flexible hose in the eye wash area of the science working room on the third floor had developed a hole for unknown reasons and water had been leaking for some time, Scuglia said. The leak could have started any time between Friday evening and Monday morning, he said. “I suspect closer to the Friday/ Saturday window because of the amount of water that had come out of the hose,” he said. Water leaked from the third floor down to lower floors, leaving “the lion’s share” of water on the first and second floors, Scuglia said. “When I arrived Monday morn-

STAFF PHOTO/LISA QUEEN

Rick “Ozzy” Osborne addresses a group of students at York Catholic District School Board headquarters in Aurora.

Love at The Opera concerts coming to Aurora, Richmond Hill Extending the celebration of Valentine’s by an extra week, York Symphony Orchestra presents the most romantic music of the opera, both vocal and instrumental, at their Feb. 20 and 21 concerts in Aurora and Richmond Hill. Following the success of last season’s opera concerts, Maestro Denis Mastromonaco has chosen a program filled with arias, duets and instrumental excerpts from both French and Italian operas, with a little Viennese operetta thrown in. Love at The Opera features songs about the joy of love won — and the pain of love lost — by

Want to attend? Tickets for Feb. 20 (ranging from $15 to $28) may be purchased by calling 416-410-0860; for Feb. 21 (ranging from $15 to $30), call the Richmond Hill theatre box office at 905-787-8811 or go online at rhcentre.ca. Tickets will also be available at the door of both venues. performing works such as Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem, among many others. Tenor Romulo Delgado trained

in Toronto at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Glenn Gould School. His versatility as a performer has enchanted audiences all over North America and Europe, where he has sung in operas by Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Mozart and Bizet. He has been called “one of Canada’s most unique performing artists”. Another performer at the February concerts is also a graduate of the Glen Gould School, soprano Angela Maria Sanchez. She placed first overall in the post-graduate women’s category in the National Association of Teachers of Singing

Competition and was a senior trophy finalist and scholarship recipient at the Toronto Kiwanis festival. The power and range of the York Symphony musicians will be featured in several excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen, as well as the “Bacchanale” from Saint-Saens’ Samson and Delilah, and Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro. The Love at The Opera concerts are Saturday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. at Trinity Anglican Church, Victoria Street east of Yonge in Aurora, and the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St.

STAFF PHOTO/NICK IWANYSHYN

St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School was closed Tuesday after a flood did significant damage over the long weekend. ing, we were looking at half an inch of water (on both the first and second floors),” he said. “I was devastated, obviously. This is a relatively new school and it was a shame that an accident

like this took place on Family Day weekend.” It’s unlikely the weekend’s frigid conditions played any part in the hose malfunctioning, Scuglia said. If not for the sprinkler going

off, the damage from the leaking hose would have been more extensive because the school was closed Monday, meaning the flood would not have been discovered until Tuesday, Scuglia said.

“The two incidents were not related. It was actually just some fate and luck that they (firefighters) arrived and they mobilized. The custodian got a hold of me and then we started the action plan to start getting things in order.” Custodians called in family members to help and within an hour, a team was cleaning up the school, Scuglia said, adding they worked from noon to 11 p.m. Monday and from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Classes were cancelled Tuesday but the school re-opened Wednesday. Insurance and school board officials are still assessing the extent of the damage, so no financial estimate is available yet, he said. The leak caused damage to ceiling tiles and minimal damage to some computers and an interactive white board. Some textbooks were also ruined, Scuglia said. “But I would say, given the amount of water that was leaking, that there was not as much damage as we would have expected from the amount of water,” he said. “I certainly commend the efforts of the board and school staff in getting the school ready for our staff and students for (Wednesday).”

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activities that help preschoolers get ready to read. Contact: Heather Alblas, halblas@egpl.ca, 905-826-6492.

Art at the manor 2015 Ongoing until March 31. Hillary House National Historic Site, 15372 Yonge St. in Aurora. Fourth annual exhibit showcases pieces by local artists who are influenced by the world around them. Visit aurorahs.com to find out more. Features works by Claire D’Aurore, Deborah Campo and Christine Valentini. Contact: Erika, erika.mazanik@aurorahs.com, 905-727-8991.

Photography competitions what judges look for Feb. 24, 8 to 9:30 p.m. Royal Canadian Legion, Aurora, 105 Industrial Pkwy. N. Join Mark Girard (an accredited photography judge) as he discusses what judges look for when evaluating photos. Free for members, $5 for guests. Contact: Jovan Milosevic, jovanmilosevic91@hotmail.com, 905-881-9251.

The Art of Theatre: A Theatre Aurora Community as Curator Heritage Display Ongoing until March 30, various times. Aurora Cultural Centre, 22 Church St. A Community as Curator Heritage Exhibition Behind every great show, is a team of great designers. Take a look at the designs behind the shows of recent Theatre Aurora productions, with artwork and designs from designers including Holly Williamson, Andrew Cleveland, and Resident Artist Thomas Dannenberg. Continuing through March 30 in the Apple Suites Gallery, Main Floor. Admission is at no charge. Contact: Jane Taylor, info@auroraculturalcentre.ca, 905-713-1818.

Newmarket and Area Newcomers Club Feb. 24, various. Call or email for details, Newmarket. Ladies Book Club. Contact: 905-841-4094. Babytime Feb. 25, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.. Holland Landing Public Library, 19513 Yonge St. Birth - 17 months. Share our simple stories, songs, and interactive play with your little one while learning about early literacy for babies. Contact: Heather Alblas, halblas@egpl.ca, 905-826-6492.

Scout Display at the Elman Campbell Museum Ongoing until March 18. Elman W. Campbell Museum, 134 Main St. S in Newmarket. Scouting is being commemorated with the annual display at the Elman W. Campbell Museum. The display will be on view until March 18. Free Admission. Open Tuesdays-Saturdays 10a.m.- noon and 1 to 4p.m. Info: Beth Sinyard, Curator, elmanmuseum@rogers.com, 905-953-5314. BOTTLE DRIVE FUNDRAISER - HELP A CADET VISIT VIMY Feb. 18, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Optimist Hall of Newmarket, 56 Forhan Dr. Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps 221 Patriot asks you to donate bottles and cans to help send a cadet’s trip to France, for the 100th anniversary of Canada’s capture of Vimy Ridge. Drop off times: Tuesdays and Thursdays between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Call 905-895-3038 to arrange for a pickup. Info: www.eftours.ca/educational-tours, 221partiot-118carinthia.weebly. com, www.gofundme.com/cadetsvisitvimy or 647-893-3499. Newmarket Prostate Cancer Support Group Feb. 18, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place, 474 Davis Dr. Meet and greet at 6:30 with meeting 7 to 9 p.m. February speaker Dr. Padraig Warde, Radiation Oncologist with Princes Margaret Hospital will present on latest advances on radiation treatment and virtual knife. Everyone is welcome. To learn more, visit www.newmarketprostatecancer.com. Contact: Walt Klywak, wklywak1@gmail.com, 905-895-1975. Kids Tech Lab Feb. 18, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Holland Landing Public Library, 19513 Yonge St. Ages 6 - 10 years. Register. We are building our own Makerspace and we need help! Come and explore maker culture by building circuits, exploring 3D printing and playing with green screens. Build robots, create new devices, and produce your own movies. February: Green Screen Edition. Contact: Heather Alblas, halblas@egpl.ca, 905-826-6492.

Tomorrow BLOOD DONOR CLINIC Feb. 19, 4 to 7 p.m. Newmarket Community Centre, 200 Doug Duncan Dr. February = Family. Just think, one day it could be you or someone in your family that needs blood. 1900 new donors are needed every week in Canada to ensure hospital patients have the blood they need. Book your appointment to donate on the GiveBlood app or online. Contact: elaine.stpierre@blood.ca, 1-888-236-6283, www.blood.ca

This weekend Short Track Speed Skating Meet Feb. 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Magna Centre, 800 Mulock Dr. in Newmarket. Cookin’ With Gus Feb 18 to 20 at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 there is a 2 p.m. matinee. Royal Canadian Legion, 707 Srigley St. in Newmarket. The Newmarket Stage Company is putting on the food-addicted comedy, Cookin’With Gus at the Newmarket Royal Canadian Legion. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Tickets available at 905-830-0682. Sponsored in part, by a grant from the Newmarket Main St. B.I.A. Contact: 905-898-3844.

Reader Roland Pfeiffer sent us this Your Shot of a pair of mourning doves enjoying some sunshine on a frozen backyard pond. Send us Your Shot. The ongoing theme is Nature & Wildlife. Email your high-quality jpegs to editor Tracy Kibble at tkibble@yrmg.com for a chance to have your photo included in our online gallery and published in the newspaper. Central Region competition features over 100 speed skaters from across the region at the Magna Centre. Free admission! Contact: info@newmarketspeedskating.com, 905-713-2788. FLK Taoist Tai Chi - Beginners Welcome Feb. 21, 10 a.m., Feb. 22 & 25, 7 p.m. and Feb. 24 & 26, 9:30 a.m. Newmarket Branch, 355 Davis Dr. Think it’s too late for a New Year’s resolution? The Year of the Monkey is just beginning! Come out to any of the classes and make the best decision of the year, learn the 108 steps of the Taoist Tai Chi Set and improve your mind, health and spirit. Bring yourself and bring a friend—this is the resolution you will be glad you kept, come check us out today! Contact: Mark Ostler, mostler@rogers.com, 905-836-1219.

Next week Understanding Our Mind: a Buddhist perspective with Gen Kelsang Suma Feb. 22, 7 to 8:30 p.m. St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 227 Church St. in Newmarket. This series of classes is a practical guide to understanding one’s mind. We will learn how to recognize and reduce painful ways of thinking and to replace these with meaningful and beneficial views. Although part of a series, each class is self-contained, and consists of guided meditation, a teaching and time for discussion. Cost: $10 per class or 5 classes for $40. Contact: Betty Whitehouse, epcjampaling@gmail.com, 705-733-5255. Babytime Feb. 23, 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. East Gwillimbury Public Library - Mount Albert branch, 19300 Centre St. Share our simple stories, songs and interactive play with your little one while learning about early literacy for babies. Ages: Birth - 17 Months Free. Shout Sister Choir York/Newmarket Feb. 23, 1 to 3 p.m. St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 227 Church St. Choir always welcoming new members! Shout Sister! takes an unorthodox approach to choral singing. They do not audition and they sing a fun variety of music from pop and Motown, to folk, to a touch of country and blues. Members learn from recorded tracks so they require no reading of music. The method is fresh and fun and we are a warm and welcoming community. You are welcome to attend a practice with no obligation and new members are welcome at any time. For more information about the

February Member Orientation Feb. 25, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Newmarket Chamber of Commerce, 470 Davis Dr. A monthly member orientation session, for new members, new staff of existing members, prospective members and any member interested in hearing about the new programs and services offered by the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce. This is a great opportunity to meet Chamber CEO, Debra Scott, and other chamber staff, as well as board members and other business members. Bring business cards, as there will be a card exchange at the event designed to help you maximize the value of your chamber membership. The membership orientation session provides strategic and tactical suggestions for how the chamber can contribute to your business success. This is a free event, however attendees need to register in advance. Contact: events@newmarketchamber.ca, 905-898-5900.

choir, visit their website at www.shoutsisterchoir.ca. Contact: Oriole Claxton, members@shoutsisterchoir.ca.

Preschool Storytime Feb. 25, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Holland Landing Public Library, 19513 Yonge St. Ages 30 months - 5 years. Drop In. Enjoy books, music, puppets, and activities that help preschoolers get ready to read.

Ones & Twos Feb. 23, 11 to 11:30 a.m. East Gwillimbury Public Library - Mount Albert branch, 19300 Centre St. An interactive program that stimulates the imagination with early literacy activities including books & songs for toddlers. Ages: 18 - 30 months. Free.

Newmarket and Area Newcomers Club Feb. 25, various. Call or email for details, Newmarket. Ladies coffee and chat. Contact: 905-841-4094.

Annual Economic Luncheon Feb. 23, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cardinal Golf Club, 2740 Davis Dr. W in King. Come for the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Luncheon. A fantastic networking opportunity with a guest presentation by Leslie Preston - senior economist with TD. Preston joined TD Economics department in January 2011, and has over ten years’ experience as an economist. Preston conducts economic analysis on a wide range of economic and public policy issues and writes the monthly “Dollars and Sense” publication. She regularly provides economic commentary to the media, and speaks to various internal and external audiences on a variety of economic topics. Leslie holds a Master of Arts degree in economics from the University of Toronto and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Queen’s University. Contact: events@newmarketchamber.ca, 905-898-5900. Ones & Twos Feb. 24, 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. Holland Landing Public Library, 19513 Yonge St. An interactive program that stimulates the imagination with early literacy activities including books & songs for toddlers. Ages: 18 - 30 months. Free. Kids Tech Lab Feb. 24, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. East Gwillimbury Public Library Mount Albert branch, 19300 Centre St. Ages 6 - 10 years. Register. We are building our own Makerspace and we need help! Come and explore maker culture by building circuits, exploring 3D printing and playing with green screens. Build robots, create new devices, and produce your own movies. February: Green Screen Edition. Preschool Storytime Feb. 24, 11 to 11:30 a.m. Holland Landing Public Library, 19513 Yonge St. Ages 30 months - 5 years. Drop In. Enjoy books, music, puppets, and

Theatre Aurora presents Sexy Laundry Feb. 25-27 & March 3-5, 8 p.m. and Feb. 28, 2 p.m. Theatre Aurora,150 Henderson Drive. After 25 years of marriage, Alice and Henry have hit a physical plateau. Armed with a “Sex for Dummies” guidebook, Alice convinces Henry into a weekend of alone time. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. Visit theatreaurora.com for tickets. Contact: tickets@theatreaurora.com, 905-727-3669. DAREarts Second Annual First Roots Feast Feb. 25, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Madsen’s Greenhouse & Banquet Centre, 160 Bayview Pkwy. DAREarts is a charity with the goal of supporting hope for the children and youth in Aboriginal communities. The First Roots Aboriginal Program travels to communities, both in the far north and in cities, to empower youth through the arts. Come for the annual fundraiser to experience song, dance, stories and “Indigenous cuisine with a twist” provided by the Huron Heights hospitality program. There will be a silent auction featuring items and services donated by local businesses and artisans. Cost is $65 per person. For more details, visit www.darearts.com/First-Roots-Feast.shtml Contact: Brenda Norton, bnorton@darearts.com, 1-888-540-2787. GiRLs Inc. - Operation SMART Feb. 25, 6 to 8 p.m. Holland Landing Public Library, 19513 Yonge St. Girls ages 8 - 11 years. Register. Come take a fun hands-on, girl-focused approach to science, technology, engineering and math! Presented by Girls Inc. of York Region. The cost is $2. Contact: Heather Alblas, halblas@egpl.ca, 905-826-6492.

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, February 18, 2016

OPINION

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EDITORIAL

Re-examination of OMB’s mandate, role long overdue

Marney Beck

THE ISSUE: Municipal councillors seek review of OMB’s jurisdiction and greater respect for community plans

Here’s trick to lightning quick typing speeds

hen it comes to reform of the oft-maligned Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), could a meeting in Aurora earlier this month prove to be the start of something significant? On Feb. 6, a group of nine Greater Golden Horseshoe-area councillors, including five from York Region, met for a working session. The topic of discussion? Golf course redevelopment/OMB jurisdiction — in the wake of a recent decision by a developer to take the Town of Aurora to the OMB after the latter failed to deal with a proposed development on a former golf course by the legislated deadline. But a larger issue is at play for this group of elected officials: carefully researched and vetted municipal and regional community plans being continually challenged and overridden upon appeal to the OMB by developers. When precedent is critical to future rulings (on things such as building heights, property setbacks, parking spaces, densities, etc.), each decision that runs contrary to an approved plan can have ripple effects. “We want a say in where we want growth,” says Aurora Councillor Tom Mrakas, who co-hosted the councillor working session. Added Aurora’s Michael Thompson: “We want to have a stronger adherence to the official plans that we create.” There’s also the issue of cost for cash-strapped municipalities to defend their plans. In Ontario, frustration from municipal councils and citizens over the current system governing land use appeals in the province is nothing new. But achieving meaningful change by channeling that frustration? That would be something new. As such, it’ll be intriguing to see how this recent endeavour all goes. For the group, there are plans for a municipal summit in May, a presentation to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) this summer and — perhaps most importantly — hopes of growing the group’s membership. A broad-based coalition of municipal councillors singing from the same songbook seems like a reasonable first step. But let’s be clear: this is a gargantuan task overall. Ontario is a big place and the concentration of significant growth the province is to experience over the next 25 years will largely be centred in places in the Greater Toronto and Golden Horseshoe areas of the province. In this environment, coming up with a cohesive proposal for OMB reform to get the attention of provincial lawmakers and ultimately spur action on the file will take focus, resourcefulness and ingenuity. Not to mention determination. This loose coalition of councillors has a noble-enough goal — but the road ahead will be anything but smooth. Recently — just last month, in fact — we wrote in this space about the need for OMB reform: Measured, careful reform to restore a sense of balance (one that doesn’t seemingly favour any particular interest), but reform nonetheless. There needs to be an appeal mechanism, obviously, for planning decisions, but when an institution intended as a ‘last resort’ is used to the extent that it is, when the costs associated with it deter stakeholder participation, a re-think of the OMB’s role and mandate is most definitely in order. Arm’s length it may be, but the OMB is still a public institution. And we must have trust in our public institutions. That’s not negotiable. Reform, review, re-charge — whatever you want to call it — it’s necessary. Balance must be achieved. It was, and is, overdue.

BOTTOM LINE: Careful reform of OMB is necessary to ensure greater balance between various interests.

I LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Time for new review of potential link between Hwys. 400 and 404 Re. Time to be proactive when it comes to infrastructure – Feb 4 editorial: bit.ly/1SM3SSP I fully agree. The province should revisit its removal of the Hwy. 400-404 link highway from its long-term agenda. The idea of linking Hwy. 400 and 404 has been around in one form or another since the early 1960s. In 1979, the MTO came close to obtaining approval for a highway along the Ravenshoe Road/ Hwy. 89 corridor, but backed off when faced with an environmental assessment hearing. Although all prior and many subsequent studies say the highway should be built as close to Cook’s Bay as possible, the MTO kept its promise to the Ministry of the Environment to never revisit this route location. So, the route we are now looking at is likely inferior, both operationally and environmentally, to the originally proposed route. Provincial highways are intended to serve long distance travel. They are not intended to also serve shorter distance travel as this causes congestion. The municipalities don’t want to spend their money building roads. Hence, they are pushing for a provincial highway. The current approved route location will mix local with long distance traffic, thus ensuring congestion. The Lake Simcoe Protection, Oak Ridges Moraine, Greenbelt and Places to Grow Acts and the major improvements underway for both regional and GO Transit did not exist when this highway was approved. While I hate to see even more studies, these material developments render the existing environmental approval of the 400404 link obsolete. I encourage our politicians, at all levels, to call for a new review by Metrolinx of all potential freeway capacities and route locations. Metrolinx is the only truly independent proponent that can rationally determine the optimal solution for this area, taking into account all forms of transportation and the related needs analysis. We must do all we can to balance our long-term transportation needs against the very significant impacts this new highway will have on our highly sensitive environment. The first step in doing this is to totally remove politics from the decision-making process. We must not allow the design and location of this new highway to be based on jurisdiction or political promises. More than ever before, we are obligated to be diligent stewards

of our fragile environment. Forging ahead with the existing obsolete plan would be an unconscionable mistake.

Bill Foster East Gwillimbury

Commission made wrong call on ID issue Being transsexual is a timeconsuming and arduous journey to complete the transition from one gender to the other. All in all, it takes a good two years and psychiatric evaluations by multiple head doctors. The end, though, is worth it; to be one with oneself. The Human Rights Commission passed a law that shortcircuits the transition phase. What they did was pass a law that would keep any more or less full-time cross-dressers (either genders ) to have all their IDs changed to reflect whatever gender they wanted on their personal identification. No surgery required. Now, having gone through everything aforementioned, I consider myself a fairly open-minded person, but I can’t go along with this ruling. I believe the Human Rights Commission has, without a doubt, gone way too far and let the fox into the hen house. The dictionary meaning of gender is all the differences between male and female, which include emotional, psychiatric and physical. Just because a male wears female attire all the time doesn’t make him female, only a fulltime cross-dresser. The only governable reason for this law is to save someone the possible embarrassment if he or she is asked to present his or her ID. It is not required that he or she be on hormone replacement therapy or invasive surgery. If a person feels so strongly about changing his or her gender, then go all the way or, as they say, go big or go home. Hopefully, this letter will at least get people thinking and talking about the subject, even those I might have angered. Here’s the legislation link: bit. ly/1mo5TWB That’s the view from my saddle.

DAYNA BROADFOOT GEORGINA

Thanks to everyone from Syrian Refugee Family Committee A huge thank you to everyone who participated in our fundraising event at Pickering College on Feb 5. The event was, by all accounts, a wonderful success. It brought community members together, it made connections with Pickering College and it

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added $5,000 to our effort, in addition to the wonderful gift from staff at Pickering College. Jack Lenz and his family generously donated their time, spirit and talent to play for us here in Newmarket. From the moment that first request was made to the school to donate their premises, should they have a hall that was suitable, the event took on a life and energy, of its own. From the headmaster, with his inspiring speech, to the deputy who held open the door for the audience as it arrived, to staff members Stephanie and Julia, to the housekeeping staff, to the Grade 9 students who made and sold goodies and hung up our coats, to the school caterers who donated the liquid refreshments, to the people who bought CDs and raffle tickets for the prizes supplied by Mark MacAlpine of Air Time Express and John Taylor and to the oldest and to the youngest in the audience, the Newmarket Syrian Refugee Family Committee wants to thank everyone. The true spirit of caring that lives in the cities, towns and villages of Canada was on display, in living colour, here in Newmarket. The committee involved in the settlement of the, yet-tobe-identified, family, wants to thank each and every one of you who participated, in whatever way, for coming from wherever you came. Our work is ongoing, energized by your participation on Friday and we invite you to follow us on Facebook (on. fb.me/1QcrfEk). You will find us at the Newmarket Syrian Refugee Family.

Maggie Khaja Newmarket SYRIAN REFUGEE FAMILY COMMITTEE

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t was one of my true regrets when I was younger. A move from another province back to my home province of Ontario when I was entering Grade 9, meant that I couldn’t take music at my Toronto junior high school. Despite several years of piano studies and the ability to read music, the school administration said without proof of Grade 7 or 8 music, I couldn’t register in the music program. “How about taking a typing class?” the school principal helpfully suggested to my mother and myself, noting it was an entry-level program. Typing, I thought sadly, what would I need that for? Fast forward to decades in journalism, and obviously it’s a skill I use every day. My fingers hover knowingly over the “home row” — as those who have been taught touch typing will recognize — and I can watch what I type, not looking down at the keys. In fact, my work keyboard is so worn down by my fingers typing certain keys, that the actual letters are wiped off, some keys now blank. Yet new Finnish research apparently says that with all of us now typing away on phones and other devices, those Grade 9 formal touch typing classes — the Quick Brown Fox Jumped Over the Lazy Dog — do not necessarily mean I type faster than those who weren’t formally taught keyboard typing. Look around you everywhere and you know it’s true. Even before modern devices came into play, I could hear now departed sports editor Fred Simpson pound away at his typewriter (yes, ancient newsroom equipment), then his computer keyboard, two or four fingers stabbing away at the keys. Boy, was he fast. The younger generation has never known a time when there weren’t video games and cellphones in their lives. They’ve learned keyboard techniques for fun and for social connections. And yes, my daughter’s fingers fly over her iPhone. But not mine. “Don’t you use more than one finger?” asked my son the other day, watching me carefully using one finger to type on my iPhone. I told him the screen is too small to engage more than one finger at once and not have ridiculous and sometimes upsetting typos (think ‘cat’ becoming ‘fat’ or work ‘shift’ becoming another word starting with SH). So I did my own small poll on Family Day, asking my nieces, brother and his wife how they type on their devices. Immediately an assortment of android and iPhone devices were brought out to the table, while family members tried to answer my question in exact detail. “I type with both thumbs,” “I type with four fingers” and “I hold it in one hand and type with fingers of my other hand” were some of the responses. But back to the research finding out of the Aalto University in Finland. Findings proved that instruction on keyboarding didn’t make users faster, but the technique of not moving your hands around as you type, did matter. Those who are faster on any keyboard have figured out the technique of hovering in one place over the keys, not wasting motions with hand and finger movements all over the place. So if you want to be faster, that’s the trick, apparently. No more Quick Brown Fox Jumping Over The Lazy Dog required. But thanks, Mr. Pilkey, your typing tips do help me every day.

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, February 18, 2016

COMMUNITY

Cupcake Day supports SPCA A sweet treat could make you a few furry friends. National Cupcake Day, a Canada-wide fundraiser that supports shelters, SPCAs, and humane societies, returns Feb. 29. The event raised more than $550,000 across the country last year. Locally, the Ontario SPCA, headquartered in Newmarket, will participate. Residents are encouraged to host a party and bake cupcakes for co-workers, friends and family. Guests donate to the participating animal welfare charity of choice, in exchange for a cupcake. Proceeds will have a significant effect on the shelters, clinics and animal cruelty inspectors in the community. For more information on the fundraiser, contact info@nationalcupcakeday.ca or 1-844-599-2253. More details on the Ontario SPCA can be found at ontariospca.ca.

Arch Brewing now open There’s a hopping new place to get a frosty beverage in Newmarket. Arch Brewing Company opened its doors Feb. 12. This was a soft opening and a formal celebration will be held later. The brewery features a retail beer store on-site as well as a tasting area where customers can purchase a 12-ounce pint. The store currently offers seven varieties of beer — including blonde ale and imperial stout — for purchase and new products will be

BRIEFS

offered in the weeks ahead. The brewery also has an Oatmeal Red IPA called Dinner Jacket, which is available at local LCBO locations. Arch Brewing will open Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 9 and Sundays from noon to 5. The brewery is at 4-110 Pony Dr. For more information, visit archbrewing.ca.

Vegan potluck meal planned Dr. Tushar Mehta will speak at a vegan potluck meal later this month. The meal will be held at the Aurora Public Library (15145 Yonge St.). Admission is a $10 donation to Aurora’s Animal Rights Advocates, the doors open at 12:30 p.m. and Mehta speaks at 2. Mehta received a Bachelor of Arts and Science from McMaster University and completed medical school at the University of Toronto, doing his residency in family medicine. In addition to family medicine, Mehta also practices emergency and addictions medicine. He believes in a systematic understanding of environmental and animal rights issues. The group hosts monthly vegan potlucks, movie screenings and other events designed to share information about nutri-

tion and plant-based diets.

Windfall giving away rain garden Let it rain in your front yard this year. Windfall Ecology Centre will launch the Win a Rain Garden contest Friday. It is available to Aurora and Newmarket homeowners and one lucky participant will receive an expertly designed and installed rain garden for their front yard. To enter, make a video, submit photos, or tell a story about why you want to win a rain garden and how it would be a natural fit on your property. Rain gardens are specially designed to absorb and filter stormwater running off hard surfaces, like roofs, driveways and sidewalks. They utilize native plants and materials that allow water to slowly absorb into the ground, rather than run off into local storm drains, helping keep pollutants from entering lakes and waterways. “We want people to learn about the local impacts of rain and stormwater runoff, and what individual residents can do help to lessen those impacts,” Windfall’s RAIN Community Solutions program manager, Andrea Bolton, said. “By installing a rain garden, residents can help slow down the flow of stormwater, let excess water slowly soak into the soil to filter out some of these pollutants, keeping our local waterways clean.” The deadline for entry is March 31. For full contest details, application forms or more information on Windfall, visit windfallcentre.ca.

Unit ‘vital’ to meet patients’ needs From Front Page.

and it will be our patients — the ones who need us most — who will reap the benefits,” he added during the official opening of the new suite. “We are thrilled.”

For more information, visit southlakeregional.org.

The state-of-the-art medical accelerator features an advanced treatment head, allowing for more precise shaping of radiation fields, Dr. Fell explained. This means less radiation exposure for healthy tissue and fewer side effects for patients. “Our talented team of cancer professionals has the unique and quite fascinating ability to be both compassionate and patient-centered, while being precise and efficient,” Southlake president and CEO Dr. Dave Williams said. “What we do know, unfortunately, is that the demand for cancer care in our community is on the rise, and the new radiation unit will be vital in enabling us to continue meeting the needs of our patients.”

TO W N O F AU R O R A P U B L I C N OT I C E

NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS

NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS SUBDIVISION OWNER: Hallgrove Estates Inc.

SUBDIVISION OWNER: Daniels LR Corporation

DATE OF ACCEPTANCE: January 26, 2016

APPLICABLE BY-LAW NUMBER: 5811-16

APPLICABLE BY-LAW NUMBER: 5809-16

DESCRIPTION OF PUBLIC WORKS ACCEPTED:

All services referred to in Section 3.01 of the Subdivision Agreement between Hallgrove Estates Inc. and The Corporation of The Town of Aurora for Registered Plan 65M-3974.

All services referred to in Section 3.01 of the Subdivision Agreement between Daniels LR Corporation and The Corporation of The Town of Aurora for Registered Plan 65M-4309.

Description of streets in which Public Works accepted are located as per registered plan 65M-3974.

Description of streets in which Public Works accepted are located as per registered plan 65M-4309. Lewis Honey Drive

Don Hillock Drive Goulding Avenue

The public works as described above are herewith accepted by the Town of Aurora.

Town of Aurora | 100 John West Way, Aurora, ON L4G 6J1 | www.aurora.ca/publicnotices | 905-727-1375

Look Youthful, Look Beautiful, Look Healthy Representing Yourself in Separation/ Divorce: Is There Anyone to Help? Written by Lynn Kirwin, Lawyer Do you want to represent yourself in your separation/ divorce? Makes sense. You can save a lot of money. But you aren’t a lawyer. It can be a bit scary. We can support you in a variety of ways. We can draft documents for you but you go to court on your own thus saving you money. We can offer legal advice and coaching in the background but you do the direct negotiations or represent yourself in court. Alternatively, we can go to court with you for just one or two steps in the process but you don’t retain us for the whole process. Whatever help you need, we can craft a plan that will give you a leg up and save you money. A clearly worded limited purpose retainer agreement is critical to ensure that we, at Galbraith Family Law, know our responsibilities and you know your responsibilities. Together, we agree what services will be provided. You aren’t signing a blank cheque for legal fees but you are getting help so that you can do your best.

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, February 18, 2016

Voters should elect York chair, MPP says voted in favour of an elected chairperson when the issue came up recently at their local councils. Newmarket-Aurora MPP Chris Ballard, who is spearheading a private member’s bill at Queen’s Park that would impose an elected chairperson if regional council doesn’t make the move itself, has said it’s wrong not to have voters elect the regional position. The chairperson, who is paid more than $200,000 a year, oversees a combined operating and capital budget of $3 billion in a region with a population of 1.1 million residents, he said. On Wednesday afternoon, all parties in the provincial legislature unanimously agreed to hold a pair of public consultation sessions on Ballard’s private member’s bill. They will be held at Queen’s Park in Toronto on Feb. 24 and March 2 from 1 to 3 p.m. The deadline to get your name in if you want to speak is Friday at 5 p.m. Written submissions must be received by March 2.

For more information on making a verbal or written submission, contact Ballard’s office at 905-750-0019. Durham, Halton and Waterloo regions have chairs elected by voters, while Niagara and Peel don’t, although Peel is looking at the issue as part of a governance review, York CAO Bruce Macgregor said in a report going to York regional council Thursday. About 750,000 York residents would be eligible to vote for the chairperson if the system is changed, meaning the region would host the third-largest municipal election in Canada in 2018 if Peel does not move to an elected chair, he said. Almost three-quarters of eligible York voters, or 550,000 residents, would come from Markham, Vaughan and Richmond Hill, Macgregor said. Candidates for regional chairperson would likely have to pony up a considerable amount of money to get elected. Based on population projections, the spending limit for the 2018 municipal election could be in excess of $650,000, he said.

Meanwhile, neither the prime minister nor the premier are directly elected by voters, Macgregor pointed out. There is a chance regional council won’t make a decision on electing the chair at all on Thursday.

Candidates for regional chairperson would likely have to pony up a considerable amount of money to get elected. Based on population projections, the spending limit for the 2018 municipal election could be in excess of $650,000. That’s because regional council is also expected to consider terms of reference for a governance review, including the method of selecting the regional chair.

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The review would also look at whether the size of regional council should be changed. At the moment, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Whitchurch-Stouffville and King Township only have one representative, their mayors, on regional council. Meanwhile, Vaughan wants to add a fifth councillor, equal to Markham’s representation. The review would also examine if councillors should be directly elected to the region rather than sitting on both regional and their local councils. Taylor, who asked that the review look at direct elections, said he is leaning toward that structure because it may lead to a greater level of engagement from elected officials whose full-time focus would be on the region. The region’s $3-billion budget covers several necessary services such policing, public transit, public health, water and wastewater, regional roads and regional planning. If approved, the review will be completed by Dec. 15, 2016.

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A12

The Aurora Banner, Thursday, February 18, 2016

STAFF PHOTO/STEVE SOMERVILLE

Did You Live at Any of the Following Institutions or Know Someone Who Did? St. Lawrence Regional Centre between April 1, 1975 - June 30, 1983

L.S. Penrose Centre between April 1, 1974 - March 31, 1977

D’Arcy Place between Sept. 1, 1963 - Dec. 31, 1996

Oxford Regional Centre between April 1, 1974 - March 31, 1996 or in the “Mental Retardation Unit” or “MR Unit” between Jan. 1, 1969 - March 31, 1974

Midwestern Regional Centre between Sept. 1, 1963 - March 31, 1998

Adult Occupational Centre between Jan. 1, 1966 - March 31, 1999

Durham Centre for Muskoka Centre Developmentally Handicapped between between Aug. 28, 1973 - June 30, 1993 April 1, 1974 - Sept. 28, 1986

Prince Edward Heights between Jan. 1, 1971 - Dec. 31, 1999

Northwestern Regional Centre Bluewater Centre between between April 1, 1974 - March 31, 1994 April 1, 1976 - Dec. 20, 1983

Pine Ridge between Sept. 1, 1963 - Aug. 31, 1984

A Lawsuit and Proposed Settlement May Affect You. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice decided that a class action on behalf of a “Class” of people who lived at the above institutions is allowed to go forward. There is also a proposed settlement to end the class action. What is this case about? The lawsuit says the Province of Ontario failed to properly care for and protect people who lived at the Institutions. The Province of Ontario denies these claims. The parties have reached a proposed settlement to end the lawsuit. If you are having a difficult time dealing with these issues you can call 1-866-442-4465 (TTY: 1-877-627-7027). Are you included? You are included in this lawsuit if: • You lived at one or more of the Institutions between the dates listed above and were alive as of June 16, 2012; or • You are an estate trustee of someone who lived at one of the Institutions but who died after June 16, 2012. Who represents the former residents? The Court has appointed Koskie Minsky LLP (KM LLP) to represent the former residents as a Class. The proposed settlement The proposed settlement includes: • an approximately $35.9 million settlement fund; • a paper based claims process that will not require anyone to testify in court; and • a release by class members of all claims against the Province of Ontario stemming from the Institutions. Compensation and legal fees If the settlement is approved by the court, there will be a claims process allowing former residents who are part of the Class to ask for compensation. KM LLP agreed that it would only be paid if there was a settlement or a successful judgment. KM LLP will seek the court’s approval of its legal fees of $3.7 million plus $481,000 for taxes. All payments to the class members will come from the settlement, after payment of legal fees, tax and a mandatory payment to the Class Proceedings Fund of $2.9 million.

Your legal rights and options DO NOTHING: by doing nothing you automatically stay in the class action and wait to see if the settlement is approved on April 25, 2016. You can then make a claim if the settlement is approved. Staying in this Class will not impact the residence or supports received from community based agencies which are funded by Ontario. GET OUT OF THE CLASS ACTION: If you do not want to be part of the settlement and want to keep your rights to sue Ontario individually over the claims in this case you need to remove yourself. If you remove yourself, you cannot get money from this lawsuit. To ask to be removed, send a letter to the Class Action Administrator, postmarked no later than April 15, 2016, that says you want to be removed from Clegg v. Province of Ontario. Include your name, address, telephone number, and signature. You can also get an Opt Out Form at www.schedule1facilities.ca. STAY IN THE CLASS ACTION BUT OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT: If you want to stay in the lawsuit but you don't want the settlement approved, you can object to the settlement. If you want to object to the settlement, you have to write to the Court and tell them why. You must send your written objection to the Class Action Administrator. You can ask to talk at the court hearing on April 25, 2016. Approval hearing The settlement, claims process and counsel fees are subject to court approval. The approval hearing shall be heard on April 25, 2016 at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, Ontario. Class members may attend the hearing. Any class members who wish to object to the proposed settlement should provide written notice of their objection to the Claims Administrator by April 4, 2016. Contact information If you need more information or wish to object, please contact the Class Action Administrator, tollfree, at 1-866-442-4465 or TTY: 1-877-627-7027, write to Schedule 1 Class Action Administrator, 3-505, 133 Weber Street North, Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 3G9, or by email at: schedule1facilities@crawco.ca. Getting Notice to former residents Family members, caregivers and friends of former residents are asked to help in getting information to former residents. Please show this notice to people who are impacted by this lawsuit or their caregivers.

Betty, a great Pyrenees mix, is flanked by Aurora Global Pet Foods owner Scott MacLennan and Clare Forndran of Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary. Until Feb. 28, the Aurora Global store will accept and match donations of $1 or more for Dog Tales.

Global supports dog sanctuary BY TERESA LATCHFORD

tlatchford@yrmg.com

One Aurora business is asking the community to show some heart for animals. From now until Feb. 28, Global Pet Foods Aurora is supporting King Township’s Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary by raising funds to support the organization that has found forever homes for more than 400 dogs since its inception in 2014, when owners Rob Scheinberg and Danielle Eden built it. “Most of these organizations are nonprofit and rely on donations to provide the services they do,” store owner Scott MacLennan said. “I had customers who volunteered with Dog Tales and I was impressed when I went to visit.” This is the eighth year MacLennan has hosted the fundraiser, but the first time the funds will go to Dog Tales. Customers are invited to make a donation of one dollar or more, which the store will match. The rescue sanctuary has 20 hectares of land for the dogs to run in the grass and explore paths through the woods. Defying

For more information, about Dog Tales and adoption opportunities, visit dogtales.ca.

traditional shelter accommodations and shunning metal cages, the rescued dogs are treated like royalty with luxurious beds and even chandeliers in their own bedrooms, according to Dog Tales team member Clare Forndran. “We not only do it for the dogs, but also for the visitors,” she added. “Most people have to emotionally prepare themselves to go into a shelter, but this makes it much easier.” Many of the dogs living at the sanctuary as they await adoption are local surrenders from families or individuals who are unable to care for them any longer; others have been rescued from high-kill shelters and from other countries. Donations will be used to care for the dogs, including veterinary care and training. Visit the store on Bayview Avenue in Aurora to donate or visit globalpetfoods. com/showusyourheart2016.

It is a privilege for me to be your Member of Parliament and to represent your interests in Ottawa. Please contact me at anytime if you have any questions or require assistance with any Federal matters. Constituency Office 16600 Bayview Avenue, Unit 202 Newmarket, ON L3X 1Z9 Tel: 905-953-7515 Fax: 905-953-7527

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Constituency Services • Celebratory Greetings & Achievement Certificates • Assistance with Federal Government Programs & Services • Visits to Parliament Hill & Question Period • Petitions in the House of Commons • Canadian Flags & Pins Email: Kyle.Peterson@parl.gc.ca Website: kpeterson.liberal.ca @kylejpeterson /kyle.peterson.newmarketaurora

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, February 18, 2016

Mayoral matters Mayor Geoff Dawe discussed downtown redevelopment, tax increases and new businesses opening in town during the annual Aurora Chamber of Commerce’s Mayor’s Luncheon, which was held at Oakview Terrace Reception Centre in Richmond Hill Wednesday afternoon. For full coverage of the event, visit yorkregion.com.

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The bash will also help launch the newly created York Regional Festival Alliance, a body that will help festivals drive municipal arts and culture strategies. There will also be information regarding the new Youth Music Summer Festival at the event. The festival, as a whole, features several events including pop-up performances featuring local singers and musicians in public

spaces such as Aurora Public Library. Main performances will be held March 11 and 12 at Theatre Aurora. The March 11 Pound the Keys event features the Lance Anderson Band, Matt Weidinger Band and The Blackburn Brothers Band. The March 12 Raise the Roof event showcases The Maple Blues Revue. Three music workshops are also available March 12: rhythm blues music, youth songwriting and vocals, and youth guitar.

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, February 18, 2016

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yorkregion.com

crime

Predators lure boys with gifts, compliments Culprits find victims online and off BY KIM ZARZOUR

kzarzour@yrmg.com

he darker corners of the Internet include websites and blogs that post disturbing images of teenaged boys in provocative poses, nude or nearly nude, peppered with suggestive and lewd ‘likes’ and comments. One York Region father who discovered just such a page this month wasn’t just shocked – he was infuriated. It felt like he had found the smoking gun. There, on the computer screen, was the name of the middle-aged man who had cast a spell on his teenage son, repeatedly inviting the blog owner to connect with him via LinkedIn. This wasn’t just some seedy “boylove” site in a far away country. It was proof of his worst fear, that his son Jake (not his real name) — who had slipped away from his Richmond Hill home this past summer — was caught up in a dark and disturbing world and he, the dad, was powerless to stop it.

‘They’re pros: grooming, exploitation, alienation against family and friends.’ We have all heard the tragic stories of human trafficking of young girls, but there is another, more hidden story involving teenaged boys. “Absolutely, it is happening with boys,” says Michelle Anderson, human trafficking advocate with Covenant House in Toronto. “I’d say 90 per cent of our cases are girls, but... boys are vulnerable and have been exploited, too. We don’t hear about it because they are historically more reticent about coming forward about exploitation.” According to ECPAT USA, a group working to stop commercial sexual exploitation of children, half of human trafficking victims are boys. It’s not just happening in big cities, either, and it has “most certainly” happened in York Region, says Karen Dean, human trafficking specialist with Women’s Support Network of York Region. Just because you’re in suburbia, does not mean you’re safe, adds Dr. Jacqui Linder, a psychologist who specializes in trauma and founded Chrysalis, Canada’s only national 24/7 human trafficking hotline. Predators can haunt the local mall, coffee shops, high school par-

One Richmond Hill family’s pain over their son’s alienation and appearance on porn sites is evidence of a hidden problem in York Region, experts say. STAFF PHOTO/NICK IWANYSHYN

ties and social media. “They can be very savvy,” she says. “There are even manuals on the Internet to download, telling you how to do it. It’s terrifying. “Eight or nine years ago, human trafficking was the third most lucrative organized crime activity in the world. Now it’s number one. All the work we’ve been doing and it’s actually getting worse. At least we are talking about it now, but the bad guys are working just as hard as the good guys.” Linder says there are different reasons teens — male or female — become susceptible to exploitation. Usually they are marginalized, from homes that have violence, addiction, emotional abuse, arranged marriages or are unaccepting of homosexuality — but that’s not always the case, Linder says. “It’s a very, very complicated topic. There’s the ‘You’re so special’ messages — whether it’s gift giving, offering a seat at the grownups’ table, or induction into a secret club”, and even kids from middleclass families who connect with “sugar daddies” for money, emotional resources and status. “Romancing and luring is very common — an older man befriending the youth. There’s age and power discrepancy and the kid is vulnerable,” Anderson says. Often, she says, another youth, looking to prove himself, elevate his status within the group, or because

COMMUNICATION KEY “Bottom line is open communication. Talk with your kids,” says Jacqui Linder, of Chrysalis Anti-Trafficking Human Network. As children grow older and naturally pull away from parents, they become more vulnerable to outsiders. “Maintain solid communications and get to know their peers, who they hang out with.” If your child’s friend has concerns about your teen, he or she may be more inclined to share with you. Speak up if you think your child’s friend needs help, too, she adds. “This requires a community of adults to pay very, very close attention, whether it’s other children, parents, teachers, coaches,” Linder says. “It takes a village.” CONCERNED? Contact Karen Dean, human trafficking specialist, at 905-8953646 ext. 113 (daytime) or call 24/7 Women’s Support Network helpline at 905-758-5285. For red flags to watch for, visit bit. ly/1KnXAps. he was coerced, introduces the teen to the trafficker. That seems to be what happened with Jake last spring, when he told his parents a new friend had introduced him to a man with all kinds of cool interests and no shortage of cash. As weeks went by, the man gave Jake ever more expensive gifts,

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and demanded more and more of his time. Jake told his family the man thought he was special, a genius with a magical ‘aura’. He wanted to mentor him and had introduced him to a secret society of men. His dad initially thought his 17-year-old son’s friendship with a man 25 years his senior was strange, but not alarming. As his demeanour changed, though, and the once-gregarious boy became more secretive, his parents and siblings all tried to discourage the relationship — without success. Then Jake turned 18, immediately moved out with the man, cut off all ties with family and school friends and abandoned his acceptance to post-secondary school. Unable to reach their son, the family tried to learn more about the man who’d taken over his life and found him in a variety of places online, including websites related to a secret fraternal society, meet-up sites, on a boys’ youth group as a volunteer and on gay and boy-love websites. They found photos of their son, too, online, modelling fashions for teenage boys with links to gay porn. It has left Jake’s family feeling helpless and worried for his safety. Dean says the story of how the teen was lured away is “textbook human trafficking. “This is what they do. They’re

Jake’s story and the private hell his parents and extended family endure. pros: grooming, exploitation, alienation against the family and friends,” Dean says. Jake’s parents say they have contacted York Regional Police numerous times, but their son is now legally an adult and has not made a criminal complaint. “We see this a lot when the youth is legal consenting age,” says Anderson. “When the kid isn’t coming forward saying he’s victimized or says he is not being exploited, then parents may do their best, but it’s very difficult. We can’t even do counselling if the kid doesn’t see it as a problem. They’re so in over their head, scared and overwhelmed, they don’t dare come forward.” Or else they have been brainwashed, says Shae Invidiata, founder of the anti-human trafficking organization Free Them. “It comes from a position of trust and provision,” she says. “They teach them things, give them things their parents can’t. With boys, they may have been heterosexual or confused with gender preference and now they’re afraid to tell their parent. “It’s either so shameful, or they are trying to pay off debts, that it becomes a rabbit hole they can’t escape.”

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Former Oshawa-area arena concession worker charged with luring York boy By Jeremy Grimaldi

jgrimaldi@yrmg.com

Three more people have come forward with allegations to York Regional Police after the service charged a man with luring a 12-year-old York Region boy over social media with a fake Facebook profile displaying photos of a beautiful woman. The boy’s parents discovered his online activities, uncovering the sexual discussions he was allegedly unwittingly having with a 40-year-old Bowmanville man. However, this case is not as simplistic as online grooming, according to police, considering the man was working at concession stands at a number of hockey rinks around Oshawa, including Donevan Recreation Complex, Oshawa Civic, Harman Arena and Oshawa Children’s Arena. Investigators suggest the accused might have obtained boys’ names and information from team rosters posted around the rink or, even more disturbingly, from the boys’ hockey jerseys, which often have last names on the back. York police Const. Andy Pattenden said the allegations are concerning for a number of reasons, including the fact the victim did not know the accused by face. “It’s troubling that he went to that effort to

locate a young boy with a fake profile,” Const. Andy Pattenden said. Neither the boy’s name nor the community where he lives will be published to protect his identity. The players are not the only victim of the scheme, police say. The fake Facebook profile used the name Jennifer Jackson, claiming she was 25. The woman shown in the photograph on the fake profile, which police reluctantly decided to share so other victims would notice her face and come forward, has also now come forward and is distraught by the allegations. The Durham Region woman is said to be angry that her image could be used for these purposes, Const. Pattenden said. When contacted, one man at a rink where the accused used to work said he was sad and surprised to hear about the allegations, saying the accused “was always such a good guy,” he said. Former NHLer Jim Thomson, who now owns the Aurora Tigers Junior A hockey club, said as a father of five and a coach, he will be speaking to parents, coaches and owners about this story. “I feel terrible for these kids,” he said. “It’s one of those things, maybe we don’t have enough education about social media? I have

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an owners’ meeting coming up. I will be putting this on my list to speak about.” Kirk Kelly, interim president of the Newmarket Minor Hockey Association, said his organization already has a number of policies in place to maintain privacy, including keeping the rosters under lock and key and ensuring no full names or unauthorized photos are published online in accordance with the privacy rules of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. “We already did speak to our players about social media and bullying, to make sure players don’t call out their opponents before games,” he said, noting he might consider raising other issues around social media in the near future. Although police didn’t originally share the accused’s photograph, it is now being shared widely over social media. The owners of the concessions where the accused worked and the accused himself did not respond to requests for comment. Donald Richards, 40, of Bowmanville, is charged with two counts of luring a person under the age of 16 by means of telecommunication. He was arrested at his home last Feb. 11 and has been released on bail. He is scheduled to be back in court March 15.

Donald Richards, 40, of Bowmanville, is charged with two counts of luring a person under the age of 16 by means of telecommunication.

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Your Region, Thursday, February 18, 2016

Licensed medical grow-op operators face tough penalties Mandatory minimum sentences mean slight licence violations can lead to jail time

Lawyer Darren Sederoff plans to launch a constitutional challenge to the conviction of a Markham man who worked at a marijuana grow-op.

By Jeremy Grimaldi

jgrimaldi@yrmg.com

hen a Markham father and son’s lease for the medical marijuana site they were maintaining expired, they were forced to get creative and move the operation to the town of Stayner, where the family owned a farm. Despite having a valid licence from Health Canada to grow 1,025 plants — a limit to which they were adhering — and a lawyer’s letter in hand explaining their actions, their farm was busted by cops and the men were arrested in September 2015. Zhangjian and Zheng Min Fan now face three years in prison. According to their lawyer, Darren Sederoff, this type of harsh sentencing for breaking certain parts of the licence has become more frequent since a 2014 court decision took away Canadians’ ability to grow marijuana legally to help with their medical conditions. The so-called Allard decision did, however, rule that anyone previously authorized to produce marijuana would be allowed to continue on an interim basis until the court reaches a final decision. The catch, though, remains that if people deviate from their licences, including where they produce the marijuana, they open themselves up to prosecution. “Some people have no choice,” Sederoff insisted, claiming people can’t live in limbo forever. “These people have authorizations from doctors; physicians are out there promoting this stuff.” Despite this, police continue to bust many of these growers. And once they reach court, Sederoff says Crown attorneys continue to seek mandatory minimums — six months in prison for anyone with more than six plants. Sederoff says Crowns should not be seeking such harsh penalties, especially considering Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won the October election, running on a platform that included legalizing marijuana. “(Former prime minister Stephen) Harper’s not there anymore, but the rules still are,” said Sederoff. “If the government authorizes people to grow marijuana for medical purposes, why are they all of a sudden not allowing people to grow marijuana? I’m running into this everywhere — Collingwood,

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Newmarket and Oshawa.” Sederoff’s comments come as he prepares to launch a constitutional challenge to the conviction of Markham student Wen Wen Li, 28. The expectant father faces three years in prison despite not previously having a criminal record for working at a marijuana grow-op. During the challenge, Sederoff will argue, with the help of a marijuana expert, that weed has no harmful effects and is therefore less dangerous to our health than alcohol and prescription medications. “So, if it’s not harmful, what are we punishing?” he asks. He said the expert will testify in the Oshawa court that besides a minor hallucination, marijuana has no known negative effects and is, in fact, becoming widely recognized as medicine. Sederoff has a host of other clients under similar threat, some of them in pain, including Zhong Zheng, who suffers from debilitating pain following a car crash. Despite the steps being taken by the authorities, Sederoff says there is hope for some movement. In September 2015, a man named Doc Vu, 42, who pleaded guilty to working in a grow op, was sentenced to the mandatory

six months in prison for growing between six and 200 plants. However, after Vu’s legal team challenged the sentence, calling it “cruel and unusual punishment” under the charter, the judge struck down the law.

‘Arresting and prosecuting people for deviating from a standard licensing process can be very tricky because access to medical marijuana is extremely important.’ The ruling explained that a mandatory minimum should not be imposed considering how easy it might be for someone with a valid licence, to accidentally grow too many plants. Laura Berger, a lawyer from Canadian Civil Rights Association agrees that mandatory minimums need to be tossed, considering they are “flawed and lead to disproportionate results”. She further noted that convicting people based on minor variances of their licences is dangerous considering, in the medical world,

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it is considered a form of medicine. “Arresting and prosecuting people for deviating from a standard licensing process can be very tricky because access to medical marijuana is extremely important,” she said. “If someone did possess a licence, I think that person’s moral culpability is much lower if they fail to comply than someone growing large scale marijuana for profit.” Although the Trudeau government hasn’t yet released its plans for the proposed legalization of marijuana or mandatory minimums, in a recent interview, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said she plans to take a second look at mandatory minimums. “It’s definitely going to be the subject of conversation,” she explained in a recent interview. “I recognize the need to empower judges and to uphold the discretion that judges have in particular circumstances. Meanwhile Scarborough MP and former Toronto police chief Bill Blair has been charged with handling the legal pot file. As part of his campaign to free his clients, Sederoff has written to Wilson-Raybould and Health Minister Dr. Jane Philpott, requesting sit downs with each in a bid to explain the issues he and his clients

face. There are a number of controversies surrounding the legalization of pot, one of which includes the countless people looking for pardons from the Trudeau government for pot offences from their youth. In reply to requests for comment, the Department of Justice said there is little they can do until official changes are made to laws. “The legalization and strict regulation of marijuana is one of this government’s commitments as set out in the mandate letters to the ministers of justice, health and public safety,” read the statement. “It would be premature, however, to speculate or comment on specifics or timing of these changes; until such time, existing laws remain in force. Durham Regional Police echoed the justice department’s statements, noting that its officers were enforcing current laws. “The focus of drug enforcement officers is to enforce existing legislation, including all applicable regulations, when it comes to licensed marijuana growing operations,” corporate communications director Dave Selby said. Philpott was unavailable for comment on the case.

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Your Region, Thursday, February 18, 2016

York Region Abuse Program rebrands itself as Cedar Centre Out with the York Region Abuse Program and in with the Cedar Centre. The Newmarket-based organization has announced a name change, effective immediately, to reflect its evolving programs and area of service, executive director Alison Peck said. The new name is one of several significant changes the organization, which began in 1987 and provides services to about 200 clients a year, has seen over the past two years, she said. “Our services were originally focused around providing therapy and support to children, youth and adults who had experienced sexual abuse,” she said. In 2014, the organization shifted its focus

‘Given the large area we cover, we needed a name that wasn’t as regionally limiting.’ to include therapeutic services for all forms of childhood interpersonal trauma. “We wanted to be able to welcome anyone who needed our support,” Peck said. “We’re continuing to provide services to children and youth, but also provide services to adults who have experienced historical trauma.” As part of its broadened mandate, the Cedar Centre now also provides services to

clients beyond York’s borders, board of directors chairperson Kevin Murdoch said. “It serves all of York Region as well as other areas, including north Toronto and south Simcoe,” he said. “Given the large area we cover, we needed a name that wasn’t as regionally limiting.” The centre is using the rebranding as an opportunity to highlight some of the innovative initiatives it has launched, including Dave’s Room, which features a wall-to-wall and ceiling mural, soothing lights and audio visual technology, a national service dog program featuring Vixon, a dog certified to work with people who have experienced trauma, and a sensory experiencing room with soothing lights, sounds and smells designed to

For more information, visit cedarcentre.ca.

support client trauma recovery. The Cedar Centre will hold its annual fundraising Hand in Hand Gala April 30. Last year’s event raised $85,000. The centre receives funding through a number of agencies, including the Central Local Health Integration Network, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, the Ministry of Community and Social Services and the United Way of Toronto and York Region. – Lisa Queen

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Neither Tigers nor Hurricanes riding high in late-season push Aurora likely to start playoffs on road; Newmarket struggling to qualify

t is crunch time. With one more full weekend remaining in the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s regular season, it’s cards on the table now in the North-East Conference, where four teams, including the Newmarket Hurricanes, are playing a game of musical chairs for the final three playoff slots. What a week or so that has just transpired to shake up the conference, where the bottom end of the standings is so tight. Really, to no one’s surprise, either, given the nature of playoff races and teams hovering around the .500 mark over the course of a season. Suddenly, it’s a task for the Hurricanes to reach the playoffs following four straight losses, including two to the hard-charging Stouffville Spirit, winners of six straight games. These rivals fight it out again tonight at the Ray Twinney Complex, the third such clash in the past week. The Spirit has made up three points in the first two faceoffs and is now tied for eight place with the Whitby Fury and within a single point of the Hurricanes in seventh. Did anyone mention the Hurricanes franchise’s 22-season playoff streak that is on the line? Newmarket, should it qualify for the playoffs, could land anywhere from sixth to eighth, but whichever team it draws is going to be tough to beat, especially for a team that has transformed pretty much into the same thing it was one year ago — a young team struggling to reach .500 and hoping for better days ahead. It’s also a softer version of

John Cudmore Cuddy Shark itself from a year ago and a far cry from what a rapidly dwindling fan base might have anticipated as a return to contender status.

‘I think we’re a bit fragile as a team right now. We’re not getting a lot of breaks lately, but we’re not doing a lot of the little things, the detail things, to win games.’ Then there’s the Aurora Tigers — what to make of them? A wildly inconsistent bunch following an encouraging start to January, the Tigers wear all the markings of a team that has not managed to bring it together after a series of player moves intended to make their lineup more unpleasant to play against. General manager and head coach Thomas Milne has consistently maintained it’s all about the playoffs — which, of course, is true. His mantra of “They only remember how you did in the playoffs” may barely get a test given the Tigers seem destined for a playoff date against the Wellington

Dukes. Home-ice advantage remains undetermined but is leaning Wellington’s way, as did a four-game series sweep in regular season contests. The Tigers won five straight in January and looked to be on their way, but with just three wins in their past nine games to fall from the chase for top spot in the North Division (and second seed in the conference for the playoffs) all the way to fifth place, the Tabbies are skittish as a cat on a hot tin plate. Built for the playoffs? Milne, in his general manager’s cap, has moved out players he felt didn’t fit his playoff blueprint. It doesn’t help that he arrived 13 games into the season due to a coaching change, but with yet another goalie dilemma in a long line of playoff netminder oddities in Aurora — rookie Josh Boyko is left to carry the load with Alex Fotinos sidelined for the season with a hip injury — the Tigers’ odds for a series win against the Dukes seem long, despite the fact Boyko’s numbers have shot into the top grouping in the league. That said, among issues to conspire against the Tigers, goaltending isn’t at the top of the list. “I think we’re a bit fragile as a team right now,” said Milne. “We’re not getting a lot of breaks lately, but we’re not doing a lot of the little things, the detail things, to win games.” Trouble with that, of course, is the goals of the regular season are first, make the playoffs and second, fine-tune those details along the 54-game trail. A coach does not want to find out in the playoffs whether or not his team can do those little things effectively. It is ironic both teams have sent away veteran goaltenders and are left with rookies as the No. 1 choices. The Hurricanes sent Connor Ryckman to the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior A Hockey League, while former Tiger Alex Brooks-Potts is at the Junior B level toiling for the Stratford Cullitons. Both have numbers still near the top of the OJHL for their position. There is ample evidence about the impact of veteran goaltending at playoff time, but first things first, the teams must get into the post-season. The Tigers seem certain to be in (pending last night’s result at the Toronto Patriots), but it is no given that the Hurricanes, with three games remaining, will be in the eight-team North-East Conference derby. The Hurricanes squandered a clutch weekend during which the team claimed five points out of six from the top teams in the East Division by following it up with one point in three games. The good news is the Whitby Fury and Cobourg Cougars are also squandering opportunities and a cushion built on the hard-charging Stouffville Spirit is still one point deep. Of that foursome, somebody is going to be on the outside looking in after this photo finish. Tomorrow night’s tilt in Tigertown normally might be one the Tigers would be licking their chops about — a chance to help derail the next-door neighbours’ playoff hopes — except for the fact the Tigers have plenty of issues of their own to figure out. Neither they, nor the Hurricanes, will have much time for anything but the task of winning two points.

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LUC11

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Newmarket Jets host speed skating meet The Newmarket Jets will host the fourth and final Central Regional provincial series speed skating competition this weekend at Magna Centre in Newmarket. The two-day Ontario Speed Skating Association event runs from Saturday morning through Sunday and is expected to attract skaters at clubs from across Ontario. – John Cudmore

Your Region, Thursday, February 18, 2016

sports

Canes squander chance to solidify playoff berth Last Week: Monday — Lost 6-5 (2OT) at Stouffville Spirit … Sunday — Lost 2-1 vs. Trenton Golden Hawks … Thursday — Lost 4-1 vs. Stouffville Spirit. Coming Up: Tonight vs. Stouffville Spirit, Ray Twinney Complex, 7:30 p.m., Friday at Aurora Tigers, Aurora Community Centre, 7:30 p.m. … Monday at Cobourg Cougars (end of regular season). Game Notes: Nathan Hudgin scored with 28 seconds left in three-on-three overtime as the Stouffville Spirit used five goals on special teams — three on power plays, two while shorthanded — to defeat the Hurricanes for the second time in five days. The Hurricanes overcame a 4-2 deficit after two periods with thirdperiod goals by Nicholas Kalpouzos, Owen Ramsay and Max Routledge (shorthanded) to take a 5-4 lead. However, Stouffville’s third power-play goal of the game by Josh Agier with 2:12 to play forced overtime. Marco Bozzo and Mark Rozanov also scored for Newmarket ... Todd Winder’s first-period goal was all the Hurricanes could muster on offence in falling to the Trenton Golden Hawks… Rozanov scored the lone Newmarket goal before the visiting Spirit rattled off four straight goals. Former Hurricane Sam Hu collected two assists The Skinny: Following their best stretch of the season, the Hurricanes picked a bad time to go cold, but picking up just one point from three games, including two contests against a team desperate to gain ground and snuff your own playoff chances, has placed Newmarket in a potentially white-knuckle situation for the

Spartans win silver

Jr. A

NOTES final three games of the regular season, starting tonight against the streaking Stouffville Spirit ... The result is a wicked logjam including four teams separated by two points and fighting for the final three playoff spots in the North-East Conference. Of the other three – the Cobourg Cougars, Whitby Fury and Stouffville – the Spirit are the hottest, riding a six-game win streak. Stouffville has three wins in as many games against Newmarket this season ... With forward Ryan Young sidelined, the Hurricanes have been playing shorthanded in some recent games, dressing just 15 skaters Thursday against Stouffville and 16 Sunday. There are no healthy scratches in the stands ... Newmarket has lost three straight home games ... The loss Sunday assured the Hurricanes won’t finish above .500 for the second straight season. Only a sweep of the final three games can get the team to that level ... It’s the final meeting of the season for the Tigers and Hurricanes Friday night at the Aurora Community Centre. Newmarket has won two of the previous three meetings. The Tigers were looking to clinch fifth place in the NorthEast standings with a win last night at the Toronto Patriots. Record: 23-21-2-5, third in North Division; seventh in North-East Conference. – John Cudmore

STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT

Carina Fiore of the Newmarket IEM Spartans contemplates her next move against Brantford CYO during an atom double-A/triple-A girls’ basketball game Sunday at Sir William Mulock Secondary School. The game was part of IEM’s major atom and juvenile girls’ tournament last weekend. The Spartans won the game 44-29 and made it to the final, narrowly losing 49-44 to Hamilton Transway.

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NewRoads Mazda

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PSYCHIC EXPO READERS • BOOKS • CRYSTALS CR LECTURES & DEMONSTRA DEMONSTRATIONS

FEBRUARY 26, 27, 28

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York Region and its partners are offering a series of educational seminars to provide tips, tricks and advice on water efﬁciency, growing gardens and reducing consumption. All seminars are free, but advance registration is required as spaces are limited. Visit york.ca/seminars for more information. APRIL

APRIL

14 APRIL

21 MAY

MAY

The Hottest Gardening Trends for 2016 Thursday, April 7 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Aurora Public Library - Magna Room 15145 Yonge St., Aurora Free Screening: Award-Winning Documentary “Just Eat It” Thursday, April 14 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Silver City Newmarket 18195 Yonge St., East Gwillimbury The Magic of Rain Barrels: 10 Tips Thursday, April 21 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. King Heritage and Culture Centre 2920 King Rd., King Keep Your Trees Happy & Healthy Monday, May 2 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum & Community Centre 14732 Woodbine Ave., Gormley Go Wild! Make Your Garden a Habitat Tuesday, May 3 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Newmarket Community Centre 200 Doug Duncan Dr., Newmarket Easy Gardening: High Style, Low Maintenance Wednesday, May 4 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Vellore Village Community Centre 1 Villa Royale Ave., Vaughan

MAY

10 MAY

MAY

12 MAY

14 MAY

17 MAY

Container Gardening: Less Room, More Bloom! Tuesday, May 10 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Rouge Woods Community Centre 110 Shirley Dr., Richmond Hill Beautiful Native Plants: Less Work, Less Water Wednesday, May 11 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Oak Ridges Community Centre 12895 Bayview Ave., Richmond Hill Harvesting Rain: The Joys of a Rain Garden Thursday, May 12 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Kortright Centre 9550 Pine Valley Dr., Vaughan Create a Paradise for Pollinators: 3 Easy Steps Saturday, May 14 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Pathways to Perennials 4681 Lloydtown-Aurora Rd., King The Hottest Gardening Trends for 2016 Tuesday, May 17 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Holland Landing Community Centre 19513 Yonge St., East Gwillimbury 20 Easy Plants Thursday, May 26 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum & Community Centre 14732 Woodbine Ave., Gormley

MAY

31 JUNE

JUNE

23 JULY

Vertical Vegetables Tuesday, May 31 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Stephen Leacock Theatre 130 Gwendolyn Blvd., Georgina Edible Weeds: The Good Food We Don’t See Wednesday, June 1 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Newmarket Community Centre, Hall #2 200 Doug Duncan Dr., Newmarket 20 Easy Plants Friday, June 3 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. Southlake Regional Health Centre Medical Arts Building 581 Davis Dr., Newmarket Harvesting Rain: The Joys of a Rain Garden Saturday, June 11 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Markham Museum 9350 Highway 48, Markham Black Gold, Compost Tea & Other Composting Secrets Thursday, June 23 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Aurora Community Garden 372 Industrial Pkwy S., Aurora Black Gold, Compost Tea & Other Composting Secrets Tuesday, July 12 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. T.U.C. Community Garden 25 Elgin St., Markham

for FREE stuff!

www.EspMyFuture.com

GOOD ALL WEEKEND

JULY

16 SEPT

-54

ARS

Guided Edible Tree Tour Saturday, July 16 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Meeting Spot: Northwest corner of Water St. and Doug Duncan Dr. (Riverwalk Commons), Newmarket Canning Made Easy: Local Flavours All Year Sunday, September 18 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. York Region Food Network 350 Industrial Pkwy S., Aurora

SEPT

Fall Cleanup - The Green Way Tuesday, September 20 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Stephen Leacock Theatre 130 Gwendolyn Blvd., Georgina

OCT

Winterize Your Lawn & Garden Thursday, October 13 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Kortright Centre 9550 Pine Valley Dr., Vaughan

OCT

Winterize Your Lawn & Garden Sunday, October 16 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Markham Museum 9350 Highway 48, Markham

20 13 16 OCT

Delicious Harvest Cooking Made Easy Thursday, October 20 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Aurora Real Canadian Superstore 15900 Bayview Ave., Aurora

Your Your Region, Thursday, February Region, Thursday, Feb 18, 18, 20162016

sports

Slumping Aurora Tigers still have outside shot at 4th place Last Week: Last night at Toronto Patriots … Sunday — Lost 6-1 at Wellington Dukes … Saturday — Won 3-2 vs. Markham Royals … Friday — Lost 2-1 (OT) vs. Cobourg Cougars. Coming Up: Friday vs. Newmarket Hurricanes, Aurora Community Centre, 7:30 p.m. … Saturday at Stouffville Spirit. Game Notes: Keegan Matthew notched the lone Aurora goal in the one-sided loss at Wellington. The rookie forward cut the Dukes’ lead to 2-1 in the first period but Wellington put the game away with three second-period goals ... Captain Daniel Mantenuto and Drake Board scored in a 62-second span of the third period as the Tigers roared back from a 2-0 first-period deficit to knock off the North Division-leading Royals ... Against Cobourg, Board’s first-period goal accounted for the Tigers’ offence, as Justin Bennett won it for the Cougars in the third minute of four-on-four overtime.

The Skinny: The clash against Wellington appears to be a likely first-round playoff matchup preview, although home ice is yet to be determined. The Dukes hold a five-point lead on the Tigers, but have played two more games ... The Dukes have swept to wins in all four games between the teams this season, including one overtime triumph. The Tigers have scored just five goals against Wellington in those four games ... For that matter, there is the business of getting clear of the rest

of the bottom four teams in the chase for a playoff spot, including the Newmarket Hurricanes. Prior to last night’s game at the Toronto Patriots, the Tigers were five up on their Yonge Street rivals with two games in hand ... The Tigers have just three wins in their past nine games, yet have managed to remain in control of fifth place in the conference ahead of four teams contending for the final three playoff spots ... Kyle Locke is eligible to return to the lineup for Friday night’s game against Newmarket. His last return was shortlived, as he received his second two-game suspension for head contact in Saturday night’s win over Markham.

It was his first game back from another two-game ban ... Goaltender Alex Fotinos is out for the remainder of the season, according to head coach Thomas Milne. Diagnostic testing revealed a torn labrum in the 20-year-old’s hip that will require surgery. That leaves rookie Josh Boyko as the go-to guy for Milne, with Schomberg Cougars’ (Jr. C) Vince Michelizzi as the main backup ... Both Liam Neuman (hand) and Nolan Dunn (undisclosed) were expected to play last night after missing Sunday’s game in Wellington. Word Play: “It’ll be tough with our schedule overtaking them,” said Milne on catching the Wellington Dukes for fourth place in the North-East Conference standings. Record: 25-16-0-8, second in North Division; fifth in North-East Conference. — John Cudmore

Home Improvement Directory Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm • 905-853-2527 • Toll Free 1-800-743-3353 • Fax 905-853-1765 For delivery questions, please contact 1-855-853-5613

HIRE EXPECTATIONS

JOB POSTING

Jobs • Careers • Career Training

CALL 1-800-743-3353 TO SPEAK WITH A CLASSIFIED REPRESENTATIVE

Join OUR Team this Summer! MEADOWBROOK Golf Club is seeking service

oriented and friendly people for the 2016 Golf Season. We offer competitive wages, flexible hours and golf privileges in a comfortable and cooperative working environment. Positions are Available in All Departments Including: Golf/Pro Shop Operations, Greens Staff, Facility Maintenance, Housekeeping, Food and Beverage Servers, Bartenders and Cooks. Stop by our 2016 JOB FAIR on Saturday, February 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and drop off your resume. Can’t make it to the Job Fair? Forward your resume to: Viviana Mazieres – Food and Beverage Supervisor Vmazieres@meadowbrookgolf.net or fax to (905) 887-5804 Visit our website at www.meadowbrookgolf.net

JOB TITLE: Phone Verifier, Casual Part Time BUSINESS UNIT: Aurora, ON THE OPPORTUNITY: This position acts as the key liaison between the newspaper and the carrier force which delivers our product. From receipt of a customer/ circulation/corporate inquiry, the verification representative must take ownership of the inquiry to ensure the route is verified and results communicated to the appropriate parties. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES • Successfully conduct verification calls to ensure deadlines are consistently met • Handle a high volume of outbound calls per shift • Ensure that FDSA Policy & Procedures are met on a daily basis WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR • Experience with outbound phone calls an asset • Strong telephone presentation skills • Excellent verbal, written and listening skills • Strong computer skills • Solid organizational and time management skills, with the ability to multi-task • Ability to work in a fast-paced deadline oriented environment • Ability to work independently as well as part of a team environment If working for a highly energized, competitive team is your ideal environment, please email your resume to esmyth@yrmg.com by February 28, 2016. Metroland is committed to accessibility in employment and to ensuring equal access to employment opportunities for candidates, including persons with disabilities. In compliance with AODA, Metroland will endeavour to provide reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities in the recruitment process upon request. If you are selected for an interview and you require accommodation due to a disability during the recruitment process, please notify the hiring manager upon scheduling your interview. Thank you for your interest. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

ADULT CARRIERS NEEDED For door-to-door newspaper delivery 1 day per week. Reliable vehicle required Call 1-855-853-5613 ext. 8

CARRIERS NEEDED • Learn skills • Win prizes • Fun carrier events • Bonus point program

IMMEDIATE JOB OPENINGS

For door-to-door newspaper delivery 1 day per week.

for temporary assignments in Newmarket

Call 1-855-853-5613 ext. 8

HCR Personnel Solutions Inc., is accepting resumes

Starting Immediately

SUMMIT GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB JOB FAIR Saturday, February 20th from 10am-2pm POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: • Kitchen • Dining Room • Golf Operations • Men’s Locker Room Attendants • Grounds Maintenance

JOIN OUR TEAM TODAY Please apply today to jobs@golfsummit.com

Automotive Assembly Positions $12.25/hour + 4% vacation pay + $1.00/hour shift premium for night shift Requirements: - 6 months assembly/manufacturing experience an asset - Mechanically inclined - Thrives in a fast paced environment - Focused and detail orientated - Must be able to work 40 hours per week Call, fax or email your resume Phone: (905) 954-0210 Fax: (905) 954-0214 Email: work@hcr.ca • www.hcr.ca Or come in and see us at our new location 17205 Leslie St. (Unit 7) Newmarket L3Y 8E4 (No Frills Plaza)

IT ANALYST TIER 2 The Ontario SPCA requires an IT 2nd level IT support. 2-3 years experience, post secondary education in IT related field, Citrix, and IT certification required. Go to www.ontariospca.ca for full job posting.

Send resume to: resumes@ospca.on.ca

Want to get your business noticed? Call 1-800-743-3353 to plan your advertising campaign today!

BALLANTRAE GOLF CLUB

requires service-oriented individuals for the following positions for the 2016 season: •Line Cooks •Dishwashers •Restaurant service Staff •Beverage Cart & Snack shop •Golf Course Maintenance Labourers •Golf Shop Sales Associates •Marshals & Starters •Back Shop

Forward resume to: Ballantrae Golf Club Fax: 905-640-9481 info@ballantraegolfclub.com Thank you to all candidates who apply. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted

Your Region, Thursday, Feb 18, 2016

Home Improvement Directory Classifieds Gottarent.com Mondaytoto Monday Friday Friday 8:30am 8:30am to 5pmto• 905-853-2527 5pm • 905-853-2527 • Toll Free 1-800-743-3353 • Toll Free 1-800-743-3353 • Fax 905-853-1765• • Fax For delivery 905-853-1765 questions, please contact 1-855-853-5613 Landscape Foreman Wanted May 1. Tues-Sat. $20/hr. 905-939-8680 Pathways to Perennials Badger Daylighting is currently seeking professional HYDROVAC OPERATORS

to join the largest Hydrovac business in North America. Previous hydrovac, trucking, vacuum truck or other related experience preferred. Must be able to work independently and demonstrate a strong customer service focus. A class DZ driver’s license and a clean driving record are minimum requirements for this position. For York Region and Simcoe Please send resume to:jwalker@badgerinc.com For Toronto and Mississauga Please send resume to:jbilecki@badgerinc.com For Durham Please send resume to: cjoseph@badgerinc.com

CUBE VAN DRIVER Laminate counter top cutting station requires a Cube Van Driver to deliver counter tops to GTA and central O n t a r i o . C l e a n d r ive r s a b s t r a c t required, "G" License, heavy lifting involved. Full Time, Tues-Fri

Email h_r@countertopmagic.ca or fax 905-853-3586

Apache Freight Lines Ltd. immediately requires:

CLASS AZ DRIVER Part time local AZ drivers Apply in person or contact James Tel: 905-640-5222 Fax: 905-640-1748 james@apachefreight.com BUSY AUTOMOTIVE SHOP REQUIRES Someone who is good with their hands to assist in the radiator repair shop. Will train the r ight person. Valid Drivers licence required.

Apply in person to York Spring and Radiator Service 60 Industrial Parkway North Aurora

Real Estate Misc./Services

SELLING YOUR HOUSE? Know Your Neighbourhood FREE List emailed to YOU of Home Sales and Current Listings for YOUR Desired Street(s)

STAY UP TO DATE!

RICHLAND ACADEMY

is accepting resumes for a Full time and Part-time Custodian position.

The successful candidate for the position will have the skills and experience to maintain an attractive, sanitary, clean and safe facility for students, staff and the public; while providing technical, mechanical and custodian skills throughout the facility; p r ov i d i n g e q u i p m e n t a n d f u r n i t u r e arrangements for meetings, classroom activities; providing day to day operational tasks such as but not limited to; cleaning of facility, grounds maintenance and repairs and safety inspections in a timely and professional manner; maintaining and record keeping of supplies.

Forward resume and cover letter to: Mrs. Nancy Neumann-Causi, Human Resources at ncausi@richlandacademy.ca

Benko Sewer Service is currently seeking professionals: •Sewer line video inspection (CCTV) truck operators •Sewer flusher truck operators •Apprentice operators. Locations: Toronto, York and Simcoe County Clean and valid "G" class license is r e q u i r e d fo r C C T V O p e ra t o r a n d apprentice positions. Clean and valid "D" class license is required for Flusher Operator and apprentice positions. Operator experience is an asset but will train the right person. Please send resumes to: edtremblay@benkoservice.com

COFFEE TRUCK DRIVER WANTED Route and truck based in Aurora, $14/h to start, full or preferred parttime Mon-Fri 6am-6pm

Call 905-841-8410 or mini-win@hotmail.com

MOUNT ALBERT

IS NOW HIRING FOR OUR MEAT DEPARTMENT We require full time and part time Meat Cutter and Clerks. Some experience required Please email or Fax resume to: 905-473-9231 Matt.miller@sobeys.com

Mortgages/Loans

MORTGAGES OF CANADA Refinancing, Debt Consolidation, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Mortgages, Equity Take Outs, Pre-approvals etc... Call or text Gian Bhamra direct, 416-985-5946. Mortgage Agent LIC # M15001521, Brokerage License #12498.

www.MyStreetDetails.com

Legal Services

Courtesy Brent Hillis, Sales Rep, RE/MAX Hallmark York Group Realty Ltd., Brokerage Independently Owned and Operated. 905-715-2762

CANCEL YOUR TIMESHARE. NO Risk Program STOP Mortgage & Maintenance Payments Today. 100% Money Back Guarantee. FREE Consultation. Call Us NOW. We Can Help! 1-888-356-5248

Firewood

CRIMINAL RECORD? Canadian Record Suspension (Cr iminal pardon) seals record. American waiver allows legal entry. Why risk employment, business, travel, licensing, deportation, peace of mind? Free consultation: 1-800-347-2540

Handy Person

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

NOW HIRING for Magnolia & Vine Home Party Plan, offering customizable snap jewellery & accessories up to 40% commission. Kit purchase required. Contact Linda @ 1-877-717-6744 or snapdragons@rogers.com

25-30hrs weekly The ideal candidate will have knowledge/experience with accounts receivables, accounts payable, sales orders and general office duties. Must be an organized, self-starter with excellent communication skills, both written and oral.

Email: info@brouwersod.com Ph: 905-476-4361 Fax: 905-476-0192

www.mymagnoliaandvine.ca/lindagaborko

GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

Fax resume Attn: Sales Manager 905-953-2895 or email: sales@newmarkettoyota.ca

PART TIME OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPEDITER Ideal for experienced Administrator returning to workforce. 20-25 hours per week. Excellent organizational skills req'd. Confident yet pleasing attitude a must. This work coordinator will be ensuring that procedures are followed - customer contact required. Good computer skills and excellent command of English language a must. $18 - 20/hour + benefits

Require valid G drivers licence, clean abstract. Experience preferred but not necessary. Starting rate $14.00/hr. Benefits available. Email: gary.lapstra@ontduct.ca or fax: 416-292-7600

E-Mail Resume to: Ryckman@vibtech.ca No phone calls please!

TRACTOR OPERATOR

PARTS AND RENTAL ASSOCIATE

for York Region Equipment Centre. Key responsibilities include: parts look up, rental contracts, in store sales, showroom merchandising, generating daily reports. Applicants should have great computer skills, be mechanically inclined and organized.

Sod farm in Keswick has an opening for a tractor driver. Must have own transportation & clean abstract.

Email: info@brouwersod.com Ph: 905-476-4361 Fax: 905-476-0192

Email: rob@yrequipment.com

Legals

Mortgages/Loans

LARGE FUND --- Borrowers Wanted. Start saving hundreds of dollars today! We can easily approve you by phone. 1st, 2nd or 3rd mortgage money is available right now. Rates start at Prime. Equity counts. We don’t rely on credit, age or income. CALL ANYTIME 1-800-814-2578 or 905-361-1153. Apply online www.capitaldirect.ca

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND OTHERS All claims against the Estate of HENRICA (RIEK) GERRITS, late of the Town of Newmarket, Province of Ontario, who died on June 14, 2014, must be filed with the undersigned solicitor for the personal representative on or before March 21st, 2016; thereafter the assets of the Estate will be distributed having regard only to the claims then filed. Dated this 12th day of February, 2016. Damir Vrancic, Barrister and Solicitor 21 Wellington Street E., Aurora, On, L4G 1H4

$$$ MONEY $$$

www.yorkregion.com

Notices (Public)

We offer:

• Drive for success • Strong communication skills • Team spirit

with the right attitude and the drive to succeed. We have immediate positions available. Work in a high volume, state-of-the-art facility. Generous compensation plan. Benefits package and company vehicle plan available. No experience necessary. Willing to train the right individual. Recent graduates are highly encouraged to apply.

DUCT CLEANING TECHNICIAN

NEW CAR SALES

Candidates should possess:

SALES CONSULTANTS

for committed, experienced DRUM TEACHERS for its Newmarket and Aurora locations. Email resume to elise@thepianostudio.com or call 905-895-1844.

FOR

Would you like to be treated with respect? Would you like to have an opportunity to earn what you’re worth, and work in a team atmosphere? Come join our successful organization.

• Top Selling Import • Bonus incentives • Includes company vehicle plan • Medical and dental plan • Established dealer • Centrally located

is seeking

THEPIANOSTUDIOislooking

WE REQUIRE

AUTOMOTIVE SALES REPRESENTATIVES

If you are looking for a challenging career, please contact us to arrange a confidential interview.

COMMITED TO THE COMMUNITY

Fax or email your resume to:

Mark Oliver: moliver@ newmarkethonda.com Fax: 905-898-7955 75 Mulock Dr., P.O. Box 150, Newmarket ON L3Y 4W3

NEW YEAR/NEW CAREER Sales rep both inside/out, based out of Concord. Initiate, track and follow up with leads. Fluency in written and verbal English is very impor tant. Salar y, commission and benefits. Vehicle provided.

Email: rose@nutechfp.ca MASTER MECHANIC in Newmarket is looking to expand. We are looking for motivated candidates who would like to join our team! 3rd/4th year apprentice and licensed technicians are welcome to apply.

Call: 905-830-0789 or email resume to: mmnewmarket@rogers.com

PART-TIME BOOKKEEPER Extensive bookkeeping knowledge Working knowledge of Quickbooks Desktop & Online Is proactive, can work autonomously, attention to detail Resume and cover letter lynne@LAMConsulting.ca

Classifieds

Lifenews.ca Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm • 905-853-2527 Toll Free 1-800-743-3353 • Fax 905-853-1765 For delivery questions, please contact 1-855-853-5613

OH! Look who's turning

40 on

February 24th.

CONSOLIDATE Debts Mortgages to 90% No income, Bad credit OK! Better Option Mortgage #10969 1-800-282-1169 www.mortgageontario.com

Notices (Public)

VERY DRY FIREWOOD

Red Oak & Maple. SPECIAL 1/2 price. Hurry while supplies last. SEE the new mini barns. Please call 905-478-4590, 905-252-2624 Vehicles Wanted/Wrecking

Vehicles Wanted/Wrecking

SCRAP CARS CALL ME!!! 7 days a week!

Mini vans ~ Autos ~ Trucks Picked up.

Top scrap prices paid!!!

905-960-6621

$100-$10,000

Cash 4 Cars

Dead or alive Same day Fast FREE Towing 416-831-7399

CASH PAID - $0-$2,500. Scrap & repairable. Cars, trucks, trailers. Will pick-up. (905)775-4935. Toll-free: 1-888-484-4887. Anytime.

WE BUY used and old cars. $300- $6000. 647-287-1704 WE PAY $325- $3000 for your scrap cars & trucks. 24/7/ Free towing. 705-500-2844 or 905-462-1346 A FREE TOW for your scrap car or truck and cash paid. (905)775-1018 or (905)836-2100 Child Care Available

Child Care Available

STEEL KIDS Daycare, Richmond Hill has infant and toddler spots available. Newly renovated. 905-508-7423.

MOE FIXIT Inc. Handyman. Emergency services. General repair/ maintenance. Remodelling. Plumbing. Painting. Installation. Flooring. Drywall. Honey-Do List, etc. Call Moe 416-841-8607

Home Renovations

HOME RENO. 25 years exp. Basement. Kitchen. Bathroom. Drywall. Painting. Call Cam 647-388-1866 www.hongfuconstruction.com CERAMIC TILE Installations. Bathroom renovations. Backsplashes. Wall & Floor Tile. Expert Workmanship. Low Rates. Call Nino 647-233-3304 Patrick 647-272-7697 www.newstyletile.com

Moving & Storage

PARRIS MOVERS Long/short, big/small, residential/ condos/ commercial. Quality service. Affordable/ reliable. 905-758-2848, 416-677-2848 www.parrismovers.ca

Coming Events

LAKE SIMCOE RED DEVILS U14 GIRLS SOCCER EUCHRE FUNDRAISER

Saturday, March 5, 2016 Doors Open @ 7:00pm • Games Start @ 7:30pm

Kin Community Hall 15 Fairpark Lane, Sutton • Tickets $10.00 each • Food • Fun • Prizes!• For tickets contact: Judy Fulton (705)228-8092 jfulton@yrmg.com Legals

Legals

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND OTHERS All claims against the Estate of WALTER MELVIN MONKMAN, late of the Town of Aurora, Province of Ontario, who died on September 15th 2012, must be filed with the undersigned solicitor for the personal representative on or before March 21st, 2016; thereafter the assets of the Estate will be distributed having regard only to the claims then filed. Dated this 12th day of February, 2016. Damir Vrancic, Barrister and Solicitor 21 Wellington Street E., Aurora, On, L4G 1H4

Jennie Mizzoni

Notice of Public HeariNg aNd aPPlicatioN to ParticiPate Public Hearing forTransCanada PipeLines Limited (TransCanada) Application for the Vaughan Mainline Expansion Project (Application) Look for our ad in the front section of the paper.

Business

Services

Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm • 905-853-2527 • Toll Free 1-800-743-3353 • Fax 905-853-1765

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION AMER SHEIKH ACCOUNTING & TAX Registered & Insured CPA Firm

Aurora based

Eco-Limo

Tax preparation services for Individuals, Small Business and Corporations

Operates Eco-Friendly hybrid vehicles for your

Receive your refund on the spot Affordable…prices start at $25.00

airport transfers Local examples to Pearson Airport: aurora: $80, newmarket: $85

Ph. 416.520.6106 Call now to make an appointment

905.727.8600 • 416.992.3811

Email: Alan@eco-limo.ca • Website: eco-limo.ca

Mortgages & Loans

CALL THE EXPERT New Town Cabinetry Inc.

$750 loans & more. No credit checks. Open 7 days from 8am-8pm

1-855-527-4368 Apply at credit700.ca

Cabinet Closet Sink

Countertop Range Hood Refacing

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ife L stories Your Region, Thursday, Feb 18, 2016

A celebration of lives well lived and people well loved Read more Life Stories on yorkregion.com

Gerry Acton worked so others could play BY SANDRA BOLAN

sbolan@yrmg.com

ind. Generous. Compassionate. Perfectionist. A giver, not a taker. Spiritual. Ask anyone to describe Gerry Acton and these are just some of the adjectives they would use. Gerry died in December after a lengthy illness. He was 89. He left behind his wife of 69 years, Betty, sons Keith and Kevin, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren. “Some people would say this is an even tougher time for this to happen to dad, around Christmas,” son Keith said in his eulogy. “Actually, it is very fitting being so close to Jesus’ birth. Dad had tremendous faith and trust in God. His belief never wavered.” An Uxbridge native, Gerry was the eldest of three children. It was the Depression and Gerry had to leave school in Grade 8 in order to

run his family farm. That work ethic was constant. Gerry became a contractor then a carpenter, who did a lot of work on homes throughout Stouffville. He also worked on the Silver Jubilee building in downtown Stouffville. “I’m not going to put my name to that unless it was perfect,” Keith recalled of his father’s tendency to do things right and only right. Keith got a taste of his father’s work ethic when he worked for him one summer. That summer made Keith, a budding hockey star, realize he’d better skate faster and shoot harder because that was not the career for him. Gerry never played sports, didn’t even boat, swim or fish at the family cottage. But he supported Keith and Kevin’s athletic endeavours. Betty, who he met at a dance at Musselman’s Lake, was a speed skater. The two boys also participated in the sport for a number of years. Gerry, however, preferred to stand in the cold, all day long, at the

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finish line, with a stopwatch in hand, timing the races. He was also a minor hockey manager. “Intense, conscientious manager for the team,” is how Wilf Morley described him. Wilf and Gerry met in the mid-1960s when their boys played baseball and hockey together. Wilf was a pallbearer at Gerry’s funeral. “He wanted to contribute with no desire to be recognized,” Keith said in his eulogy. “He didn’t know a lot about (hockey) then. The only advice he gave to Kevin and I when it came to hockey was don’t smoke, don’t drink and stay away from the puck — you won’t get hurt.” Donations in his memory were made to minor hockey. Along with carpentry and being around his family, Gerry also loved to cut the grass. Wilf recalled there was a day Gerry wanted to cut Keith’s grass. But Keith’s lawnmower was broken. So Gerry had to figure out

GERRY ACTON how to get his rider from Burkholder Street to Mill Street. Wilf suggested he just drive it over. It took some coaxing, but he did it. “From that day, I saw Gerry go up Market to Mill Street to cut the grass,” Wilf said. “It was funny.” His smile and friendship is what Wilf will miss most about Gerry. “Gerry was always the happy guy. I never saw Gerry when he wasn’t happy.” “I heard someone say he never

heard Gerry say a bad word about anybody and I never heard Gerry say a bad word, period,” Wilf said. He was also generous, selfless. On his birthday, Gerry would have someone, who also had a birthday in April, help him blow out the candles. Both Keith and Stouffville United Church’s Rev. Elizabeth Cunningham, recalled times, shortly before Gerry’s death, when they would visit him and Gerry would hold out his frail hand, grasping part of a sandwich, asking that they share it with him. As a former NHL player and coach, Keith knows “champions.” But there is another champion in his life. “There are no ribbons, medals or trophy cabinets. But I’ve never known and will never meet a champion as great as you,” Keith said in his eulogy. That’s because of “your honesty, integrity, work ethic, selflessness, sacrifice, faithfulness, caring and compassion and most of all — your incredible amount of love for all.”

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Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm • 905-853-2527 • Toll Free 1-800-743-3353 • Fax 905-853-1765 • For delivery questions, please contact 1-855-853-5613 MILLAR, Claudette Marie Passed away peacefully on February 10, 2016, at the age of 81. Claudette is survived by her sister Carley Grace Toth, nephew William, niece Catharine and cousin Linda Gay Dustman. She was predeceased by her husband Clare Millar; partner Garth Massey; parents Eleanor Pearl (nee Corrigall) and W. Harvey Hall; brother-in-law Tony Toth; aunt Grace Carley and uncles Angus Adams and Kirk Carley, Lovingly remembered by her second family Paddy, Jerry, Kelsea and Bowen (Josh) as well as friends Joyce, Wendy, Dan and Joan. Claudette was born in Belleville, Ontario but grew up primarily in Kitchener, Ontario. Claudette obtained her pilot's license at age 16. After graduating from Kitchener Collegiate Institute she attended and graduated from Millsap College in Jackson, Mississippi. After working in Ireland, she returned to the Kitchener area and married Clare Millar. Claudette successfully ran for the position of Mayor of Preston and subsequently in 1973 became the first Mayor of the new city of Cambridge. Except for one term, Claudette continued as Mayor until 1988, after which she became a member of the Ontario Municipal Board. Claudette also unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the legislature as a liberal candidate. In 2003 Claudette returned to municipal politics as one of Cambridge's two members of Regional Council. She retired in 2014 to enjoy more time with her friends at her beloved cottage on Sharbot Lake. Claudette will be remembered as a forceful and principled advocate for Cambridge, the environment and as a good friend. A Celebration of Life for Claudette will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016 where friends are invited from 2-5 p.m. at the Bowman Room in the Cambridge Municipal Offices at 50 Dickson St. Cambridge. In memory of Claudette donations made to Lisaard House, Innisfree House or Hospice Wellington would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to Corbett Funeral Home, 519-740-0669

GRIMES, Philip Mason

Born in Augusta Maine August 23, 1920, son of Warren and Ruth Grimes. A World War II veteran and Master Mason. Predeceased by his wife Elizabeth and son William (Bill) and his brothers Donald and Burt. Survived by his son John and wife Tara of Wellington, Florida; his granddaughter Mackenzie; his sister Thelma Steele and her husband James of Woodstock, Ontario; his sister-in-law Jacky Grimes of Newmarket, Ontario and many nieces and nephews. He will be sorely missed by his loving companion Mimi Robichaud and her devoted family and fondly remembered by Barbara and Kent Abraham and their family. Among his many friends around the world he will be missed by his dear friend Charles Zembowski and his family. Special thanks to Lucy Ratto, Phil's caregiver and all staff at the Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital. Phil followed his father and grandfather in the manufacturing of sandpaper and he became a consulting engineer to many companies throughout the world. In 1976 he and his son John founded Gemtex Abrasives and filed several patents. He was an honorary member of the Coated Abrasive Fabricators Society. He was very interested in the environment and formed the Weedoo Greenboat Company in 2000 which builds ecological restoration vessels. A great sports athlete and enthusiastic golfer. A great man that will be missed by many. A service was held at the Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 16, 2016. Interment was at Queensville Cemetery. If desired, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Online condolences at www.roadhouseandrose.com<http://www.roadhouseandrose.com> LUBKER, Liselotte (Lotti) Passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Saturday, February 13th at Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston, Ontario. Born on April 4, 1922 in Blankenburg am Harz Gemany. Lotti immigrated to Canada with her family on July 1, 1958. She has made her home in the Bradford and Bond Head area since 1975. Predeceased by her late husband Helmut. Survived by her children, Elgrid (Nolan), Dirk (Teresa), Rosemarie, Annelee (Doug), Ines (Farley) and Steven. Always a mom to Molly, Gabe and Jane. She was a loving Oma to Michelle (Craig), Scott, Stephanie (Paul), Janine, Jayme, Monique (Jason), Marcus (Naomi), Apr il, Amy, Christopher (Jessica), Jesse and Mackenzie. She was also much loved by her great grandchildren Jacob, Joshua, Kory, Ashleigh, Caden and Ryan. No one ever left Lotti's house empty handed whether it was one of her knitted or crochet works of art, a home cooked meal, marble cake, or just a bit of cash slipped into your pocket. Her capacity for giving was endless, and she will be missed by all who knew her including all her countless feathered and furry friends she helped along the way. If desired a donation can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society on her behalf. A celebration of life will be held a later date.

CLARK, Linda Susan

Linda Susan Clark, born October 16th, 1960, passed away in her home on February 11th, 2016 at the age of 55. L i n d a l o ve d h e r t h r e e c h i l d r e n , Samantha (Andrew), Keith, and Clara more than anything in the wor ld. Dearly missed by her "Sistersieta" Cheryl (Brian) and her brother Doug (Teresa). Beloved daughter of Bud Clark and the late Joyce Clark. L i n d a e n j oye d w o r k i n g a t D i S a l Contracting, and Aurora Computer Technologies as a bookkeeper. She was an avid reader, and spent many joyful days at the family cottage in Muskoka. Linda had a hilarious sense of humour, a wonderful laugh, was independent, strong willed, and loved to argue her point. Her nieces, Ashley, Megan, Tori, and her nephew, Jordan will treasure the fun times with their Aunty Lyn. She fought a long and courageous battle against depression and she is now at peace. We are very proud of her strength and know she is watching over us, along with her Mother and her Uncle Steve. There will be a celebration of her life held for close family and fr iends. Online condolences can be made at www.roadhouseandrose.com .

STOKES, Betty Irene Passed away peacefully at the Mar kham Stouffville Hospital, Markham, on Wednesday February 10 th , 2016, in her 86 th year. Betty will be missed by her loving h u s b a n d o f 6 3 ye a r s R o b e r t Stokes. Also loved and missed by her sons Don Stokes (Barb M i n i e l l y ) , a n d D a r r e l l S t o ke s (Megan). Beloved grandma to Jeff Stokes, Jordan Stokes, Devin Stokes, and Shelby Stokes. Dear sister of Jack Lapp (Shir ley). P r e d e c e a s e d by h e r p a r e n t s B r u c e a n d O l i ve L a p p o f M t . Albert, Ontario and by her brother Douglas Lapp and sister Audrey Pountney (Jack). Arrangements are entrusted to THE HENDREN FUNERAL HOMES- MONK CHAPEL, 6 Helen St., Bobcaygeon. Memorial Donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of one's choice. Friends may send condolences or make donations by contacting the f u n e r a l h o m e a t www.hendrenfuneralhome.com or by calling 705-738-3222.

STICKWOOD, Stanley (Red) Died peacefully with family by his side at Southlake Regional Health Centre on February 15, 2016 at the age of 72. Stanley is survived by his loving wife Kathleen Stickwood (nee Barclay), car ing father of Leah-anne, Tracy, Goldie (Tara) and Katrina (Rick), proud G ra n d fa t h e r t o V i c t o r i a , M a t t h ew, James, Ryley, Cour tney, Quinn and Drake and Great-grandfather to Brealynn. Sur vived by his siblings Chessley, Wayne, Donna, Gloria, Phyllis, Carol, Michael and predeceased by Bill. Visitation is scheduled from 2pm-4pm with funeral and reception to follow on S a t u r d a y, F e b r u a r y 2 0 , 2 0 1 6 a t Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home 157 Main Street South Newmarket. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the caring staff of Southlake Residential Care Village.

BALES, Clare (nee Magee) Passed away peacefully on Sunday Febr uar y 14, 2016 at Newmar ket Health Centre. Beloved wife of the late Allen Bales. Mother of Allen (Michelle), Brian, Bill, Brenda Maureen (Scott Babcock). Proud and loving grandmother of Kris, Kelli, Brendan, and Kieran. Dear sister of the late Mary, Bill, Eleanor, and Theresa. She is sur vived by her brother Bernie. Fr i e n d s a n d fa m i l y m ay c a l l a t MARSHALL FUNERAL HOME (10366 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill), on We d n e s d ay Fe b r u a r y 1 7 th f r o m 6pm-9pm. Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church (10295 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill), on Thursday February 18th at 11am. I n t e r m e n t H o l y C r o s s C e m e t e r y. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Clare's family would like to sincerely thank all staff at Newmarket Health Centre for their excellent care of Clare over the past nine years. CARSON, John Wilbur Passed away peacefully at Southlake Village in Newmarket, on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the age of 87. Loving husband of Doreen for 49 years. Beloved father of Stephen, Sean (Siham Chowdhur y) and S h e l a g h L e Pa g e ( D av i d ) . P r o u d grandfather of Chloe, Sydney and Tara. Predeceased by Sister Joyce McMinn. Son of the late Bethel and John. The family would like to thank the caring staff at Southlake Hospital and Southlake Village. A funeral service will be held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 227 Church S t r e e t , N ew m a r ke t o n T h u r s d ay, February 18, 2016 at 1 p.m. If desired, memorial donations may be made to S t . P a u l ’s A n g l i c a n C h u r c h i n Newmarket, the Canadian Cancer S o c i e t y o r t h e H e a r t a n d S t r o ke Foundation. Online condolences at www.roadhouseandrose.com

Hasenclever, Heather Anne (nee McNaught, formerly Brinks)

Passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at the age of 63 years. Loving mother of Jason (Pauline), Br ian (Cor i) and predeceased by her son Tim. Cherished Nana of Colin, Brayden and Blake. Dear sister of Bill (Bernice), Tom (Lee) and predeceased by her brother John (Cheryl). Heather will be sadly missed by her companion Bill Hasenclever, her long-time fr iend C y n d y, h e r c h e r i s h e d g r o u p o f gir lfr ie nds as well as her nieces, nephews, family and many friends. Memorial Service will be held at the M.W. Becker Funeral Home, 490 The Queensway S., Keswick on Friday, February 19, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until time of service. In memory of Heather, please consider a donation to the Georgina Food Pantr y. Sign an online book of condolences at www.mwbeckerfuneralhome.com

LAMPOLE, Catherine (Cathy) M. Passed away peacefully at home, in Newmarket, on Tuesday, Februar y 2nd 2016 at 62 years of age. Owner of a successful beading business for many years, Cathy was known fondly throughout the community. Loving wife of Bill and proud mother of Jeff and David. Beloved daughter of Jacqueline and the late Richard Toms. Sister of Deborah (Real Arseneault) and Peter. She will be missed deeply by family and friends. The family especially thanks the team of caring nurses and doctors at the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre. Cremation has taken place and a private family service was held at the Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home on Sunday, February 14th 2016. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake Regional Health Centre.

ANDREWS, Grace "Sandra" Suddenly passed away at home in Newmarket on Wednesday, February 10 in her 77th year. Born in Northern Ireland, she was the loving daughter of Kathleen Chapman. Loving wife of Julian Andrews (deceased) for 50 years. She will be greatly missed by her relatives, Jean Wiggins and family, Dave Andrews and family. We thank her wonderful friends and neighbours who were such a great help to her. Sandra and Julian enjoyed many years of travel and made many great friends in the RV community. Friends may call at the Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home, 157 Main St. S., Newmarket on Tuesday, February 23 from 1:00 - 3:30 pm for a celebration of her life. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Newmar ket Humane Society as Sandra loved her dogs.

DENIS; Brenda Ann (nee Blick) ~

On Sunday, February 14, 2016 at the Lakeridge Health Centre, Oshawa, at the age of 63. Brenda Denis was the loved sister of Greg Blick and his wife Paula. Brenda will be fondly remembered by her nieces, and nephew Candace (Chris), Christopher (Heather), Jacqueline and Vanessa (Matt) and their families. Sadly missed by Iris,Anita and her friends at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Lindsay. Predeceased by her parents Robert and June Blick. A Memorial Service was held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Lindsay. A private family interment will be held at a later time. In memory of Brenda, memorial donations to a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to the BensonShields Funeral Homes, 35 King StW., Millbrook (705-932-5300). Online condolences may be made at www.bensonfuneralhomes.com

STEWART, Violet passed away on Februar y 16, 2016, in her 95th year. Loving wife of Andrew Stewart. Beloved mother of Peter Hurst (Sandra). Proud grandmother of Dale Peron (John) and Michael Hurst (Sarah). Great grandmother of Michaela, Jackson, Jonas, Julia. Dear daughter of the late George Henry Hurst. The family would like to thank Dr. Baguio and the nurses at the Renoir Retirement Home. Cremation has taken place. If desired, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Online condolences to www.roadhouseandrose.com

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Your Region, Thursday, Feb 18, 2016

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Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm • 905-853-2527 • Toll Free 1-800-743-3353 • Fax 905-853-1765 • For delivery questions, please contact 1-855-853-5613 CUNNINGHAM, Scott

In Loving Memory of our beloved brother, uncle, friend

In loving memory of our beloved son and brother who passed away February 24, 2003.

JOHN VICTOR STEVEN

October 5th, 1953 - February 21st, 2013 You left us suddenly three years ago at the age of 59. You were and are so very special to us. Our hearts are heavy and our tears keep flowing. We miss you immensely, John! You are irreplaceable! Your legacy includes your selflessness, sincerity, humbleness, sensitivity, passion for life, generosity, compassion, role model, hockey coach, inspiration, family devotion, respectfulness, quick wit, distinguished looks, heart warming smile, and your larger than life personality. Many congratulations to you, John, on posthumously being awarded Hockey Coach of the Year 2012-2013! We are so proud of you! John, you are one of God's greatest gifts and will always live on in our hearts, cherished memories, and prayers. The world is richer because you left your indelible footprints. With much love, respect and gratitude, your loving sister Elaine, loving nieces Karen (Wallace), Nicole (Mark), Lisa, family, and friends Use it with confidence.

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My dearest Scott A s w e r e m e m b e r yo u t o d ay, a n unbelievable 13 years have passed since we last saw you. You are my first thought in the morning and my last thought at night. Our lives will never be the same without you in them, but our lives are greater having known you and loved you so dearly. Dear Scotty, we will always, always wish you were still with us. And we will always always miss you, And we will always always love you. You are the greatest love and loss of our lives. Forever loved and sadly missed By your loving Mother, Brenda and Father Roy (deceased), And by your sisters, Kirsty and Carrie, and your nephews Gavin Scott, and Charlie Roy.

Scott, you are forever in our hearts.

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Apartments for Rent

BRADFORD, BRIGHT Main FLR- 1 Bed Apt open concept + 4 Pc Bath. Nicely UPDT. 1Parking space. Suit mature individual. Credit check required. All inclusive $825./month includes utilities, sat/internet. Call 905 775 6597 after 6 & leave message.

NEWMARKET LARGE, bright 1 bedroom basement, laundry, cable. No smoking. No pets. First and last. $950. Immediate. 416-450-7957

LAUREN/EAGLE 1 bedroom , parking, l a u n d r y, c e n t r a l l o c a t i o n , s e p a r a t e entrance, front and back yard, Separate hydro. Call 905-478-2325

NEWMARKET- QUIET building. Water & heating included. Large 1 bedroom apts. From $950. Non-smoking 647-704-0220.

NEWMARKET CENTRAL Bachelor , quiet building, close to hospital. Parking. No dogs. $900 inclusive. 905-953-9683

YONGE/BATSON Bright, newly renovated 1+1 bedroom basement, laundry, internet, private entrance 1 parking. $1,350 inclusive. 905-503-1569

AURORA VILLAGE CO-OP 2 bedroom garden home. $1212 inclusive. Available April 15th. Common area wi-fi and cable incl. For info: (905)841-7125. www.auroravillagecoop.com AURORA, WELLINGTON/BATHURST, close to GO train, highway and shops, newly renovated, high quality 2 bedroom basement apartment. Brand new stainless steel appliances. Available immediately. TV package included. No pets. $1380+ 20% hydro. Call 416.477.7127 BRADFORD 2 bedroom. Near all amenities. Available immediately. $950 inclusive. No pets/ smoking. Available March 1st. 905-251-6291 BRADFORD- Newly renovated 3 bedroom upper, available immediately. No pets/ smoking. $1400,+60% utilities. 2 parking. Close to amenities. Suits mature adults. 905-830-8007. MOUNT ALBERT, 1 bedroom apartment. Fridge, stove, private deck + parking. No pets. $750+ hydro. First + Last. Available Feb. 15, 2016. 905.852.6263. YONGE/BONSHAW, BEHIND Walmart. Large 2 bedroom walkout basement apartment, laundry, 1 parking, $1200 inclusive. Non-smoking/pets. Available March 1st. First/last. 905-252-1171, 289-221-5517.

NEWMARKET FURNISHED, one-bedroom basement walkout. Sunny. Kitchen/ laundry. Bristol Rd. area. Close to schools/ shopping/ transit. Pool. $1,200. 905-853-5867 WALK OUT BASEMENT APARTMENT Separate entrance, $980, open concept, 2 rooms, laundry, kitchen, 50% hydro & gas, 2 parking. 416-824-0390 2 BEDROOM apartment, above garage. Jacksons Point. New appliances, non-smoking, no pets $1200 inclusive (heat, hydro, cable, a/c, parking, internet). Available June 1st 905-251-4594.

AURORA CENTRAL, 1 bedroom, $1100 inclusive. March 1st. AC, parking, laundry. No smoking/ pets. 905-841-1060. AURORA- 90 Temperance St. 1 bedroom apartment available immediately. Clean, quiet building, near amenities. $1150 inclusive. No smoking/dogs. Feb. 1 & March 1st. 647-321-5930 BRADFORD, LARGE, bright 1 bedroom basement apartment. parking, 4 piece bath, separate entrance, non-smoking/pets. Inclusive. 905-775-4284 BRADFORD- 1 ( $850+ utilities) bedrooms, bright, clean, spacious, private entrance. Parking. No smoking/ no dogs. Immediate. 416-751-3368 between 9am-5pm,

YONGE/DAVIS- House on court, backs onto George St. - 2 bedroom lower $1050+. Separate entrance, laundry and parking. No smoking. No pets. Call 905-235-0861 YONGE/HWY#7, 1 Bedroom ground level apartment in newly renovated semi-detached house. 4 Appliances, parking, $1050 inclusive. First/last. 905-881-4568.

Houses for Rent

NEWMARKET- BEAUTIFUL HOUSES 3 bedroom $1308. and 2 bedroom $1219. VIP cable included for free the first month, utilities not included. H.O.P.E. Co-op, family-oriented community, steps to amenities. NO SUBSIDY AVAILABLE. Visit www.hopecoop.ca for further info/to download application. Please ensure all required documentation is provided with application. Viewings arranged for pre-qualified applicants only. Move-in incentive for new move-ins! Info: 905-853-0049.

DELUXE executive 3 bedroom home with 2 bedroom granny flat, Top part of house $1200. Excellent deal! 905-478-4590, 905-252-2624

Shared Accommodations

STOUFFVILLE, BRAND new townhouse, 4 bedroom, 3.5 baths, 2 car garage, huge deck+ roof top terrace and balcony with terrific park view, non-smoking/pets. $1800+ utilities. Immediately. 905-233-1186.

Shared Accommodations

NEWMARKET- DAVIS /Yonge St. $600. Share home, laundry, internet. No smoking or pets. First and last. Available immediately. Call 647-688-9558

SUTTON- ROOM for rent, $750. Includes WiFi, shared accommodation and parking spot. Close to #48. YRT at doorstep. 15 mins. to 404. On-site laundry. Immediate. 905-596-0115

Cottages for Rent

Travel & Vacations

REAL ESTATE. NW Montana. Tungstenholdings.com 406-293-3714

for Rent/Wanted

SPACE FOR RENT - Trinity United Church, downtown Newmarket, for community group programs or meetings. Daytime/late afternoon availability. Reasonable rates. Please contract 905-895-4851/ dianne.guest@trinityuc.ca / www.trinityuc.ca for more information.

Shared Accommodations

BRADFORD- 3 bedroom upper, bright, clean, spacious, private entrance. Parking. No smoking/ no dogs. $1150+ utilities. Immediate. 416-751-3368 between 9am-5pm.

AURORA-SOUTH. Henderson/ Yonge. 1 room in large townhouse. Mature non-smoking male. All facilities. $530. 416-738-9887

KESWICK LAKEFRONT Two 1 bedroom apartments available $800+. utilities. 2 bedroom $1000 inclusive, Cable. Parking. 1st/last. No pets. 905-989-2469

NEWMARKET- BEDROOM, own bathroom in house for mature person. Shared kitchen and laundry. Non-smoking/ pets. $600. 1st/ last. Available immediately. 905-836-2298

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In loving memory of Pamela Semino (Harrison) June 18, 1970-February 23, 2015 Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure There isn't a day you aren't missed Pamela. Mom, Christine, Larry, Jessica, Nicole, Amy Keith, Kristin, Ellis and Sydney

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