HomeMy WebLinkAboutNA2005_06_24Group will discuss
building new
northern community
By Danielle Milley
Staff Writer
PICKERING — With the Seaton
landowners pushing to begin de-
velopment by the fall of 2006, now
is the time for Pickering to negoti-
ate the benefits to residents, says
Doug Dickerson.
At the June 6 council meeting,
the Ward 2 City councillor was to
bring forward a motion to form a
working group that would begin
negotiations, but that item was
held over. It has yet to reappear
on another agenda but Coun.
Dickerson and Ward 1 Regional
Councillor Maurice Brenner, who
seconded the motion, said it has
to come back Monday — the last
meeting before the summer re-
cess.
“It’s got to move forward be-
cause if it doesn’t before summer
recess I believe we’re going to
miss a potential net benefit for
the City and its taxpayers,” Coun.
Brenner said. “Everyday that goes
by that we’re not able to discuss
the net benefits puts us at a dis-
advantage.”
Coun. Dickerson said with a
community of this size (plans es-
timate anywhere from 40,000 to
55,000 new residents), the City is
going to need land for such mu-
nicipal items as a fire hall, com-
munity centres, arenas, sports
fields, seniors’ facilities, and
parks.
“These are all things that have
to be discussed with (the devel-
opers),” he said. “What we want
to see is what they’re prepared to
discuss with the City on what its
needs are.”
Seaton is currently owned by
the Province but the land is being
swapped with three main devel-
opers — Lebovic Homes, Mat-
tamy Homes and Metrus Devel-
Pickering wants
its Seaton needs
protected
The Pickering
?? PAGES ✦ Pressrun 48,600 ✦ Metroland Durham Region Media Group ✦ FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2005 ✦ Optional delivery $6 / Newsstand $1
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Jacobson’s credibility
key to jury’s decision
By Jeff Mitchell
Staff Writer
DURHAM — Jurors preparing
to decide the fate of accused
murderer Cosmo Jacobson have
been told their deliberations
hinge on a key point: Whether
or not they believe the defen-
dant, who claims his intention
was not to kill Ajax resident
Roy Jones, but rather to frighten
him.
The lead lawyers in the first-
degree murder trial have begun
their final addresses to the jury,
which began hearing evidence
in early May. As the Crown and
defence square off one more
time, the seven men and five
women on the jury panel are
being presented vastly differing
submissions.
Crown prosecutor Paul Mur-
ray contends Mr. Jacobson is a
liar and a coward who would
resort to anything — including
murder — to avoid a lengthy
prison term.
Defence lawyer Anil Kapoor
said the former Pickering man,
now 29, is a none-too-bright,
small-time criminal whose
plans to intimidate a witness in
a court case against him went
horribly wrong.
Mr. Murray, who began his
final address to the jury Thurs-
day, said all the evidence points
to Mr. Jacobson, also known
as Avi Mundy, as the man who
ran down and shot Mr. Jones,
28, outside his Twilley Lane
Murder trial enters final stage
RETIREMENT SURE IS GRAND
A.J. Groen / News Advertiser photo
PICKERING — What’s not to like about retirement, wonder Jane and Stephen Hiley. The Pickering resi-
dents were out on Frenchman’s Bay yesterday.
NEIGHBOURLY
Community
pitches in
Page 15
REPORT TIME
Chairman, trustees’
grades are in
Page 11
WITCHY WOMAN
Kidman is magical
in new movie
Page 29
✦ See Prosecution page 5
✦ See Councillors page 4
DURHAM — Police closed the north-
bound lanes of Hwy. 35/115 for almost
an hour Thursday morning after a
roll-over accident that sent a Pickering
woman to hospital with head injuries.
The 59-year-old driver, who was not
identified, was airlifted to hospital in
To ronto with head injuries after the ac-
cident, which occurred north of Clarke
Concession 7 just before 11 a.m., Whit-
by OPP said.
Police have not determined the
cause of the accident, which saw the
car go out of control and leave the
roadway. It rolled at least once before
coming to rest in the east ditch, police
said.
The road was closed for about 45
minutes, police said.
durhamregion.com THE NEWS ADVERTISER, JUNE 24, 2005 PAGE 3 A/P
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This
Week
Uxbridge
Times-
Journal
NEWS
ADVERTISER
Canadian
Statesman
BROOKLIN
the Citizen
Second cruiser incident
this week in Durham
By Jeff Mitchell
Staff Writer
AJAX — For the second time in just
a few days, the Special Investigations
Unit (SIU) has been called in to inves-
tigate an accident in which civilians
were hurt by a Durham Regional Police
cruiser.
A boy and girl from Ajax, both 16,
were taken to hospital after being hit
by a cruiser early Thursday. Durham
police said the officer was on patrol
behind Duffins Bay Public School
on Pittman Crescent, in the Westney
Road-Harwood Avenue area, around
1:20 a.m. when the cruiser struck the
teenagers, who were lying in a grassy
area.
The teens were taken to hospital in
Ajax and treated for non life-threaten-
ing injuries. The officer was not hurt.
The incident is being investigated
by the SIU, which probes all cases of
death or injury to civilians involving
the police.
SIU spokeswoman Rose Bliss was
not available for comment. Durham
police do not comment on cases under
SIU investigation.
The SIU is also investigating a crash
involving a cruiser and a car in Oshawa
Monday evening. In that incident, a
Durham Regional Police cruiser col-
lided with a Kia Magentis being driven
by a 76-year-old Oshawa woman.
The woman sustained a neck in-
jury and was transferred to hospital
in Toronto after treatment in Oshawa,
police said. The officer, who also hurt
his neck, was treated and released.
Durham police conducted an in-
vestigation at the accident scene and
called in the SIU Tuesday afternoon.
SIU called in after police
car hits teens in Ajax
A.J. Groen/ News Advertiser photo
A Durham Regional Police cruiser was on scene most of Thursday as the Special In-
vestigations Unit examined the area where two teens were struck by a police cruiser
early in the morning.
Pickering
woman hurt in
early morning
highway crash
DURHAM — Find out how to build a
“China Strategy” at an executive break-
fast next week.
The Durham Region Manufacturers’
Association (DRMA) is hosting “Doing
business with China” on Wednesday,
June 29 with Hao Guangfeng, deputy
consulate of China and Tony Wong,
MPP for Markham and parliamentary
assistant to the minister of economics
and trade.
The meeting is part of a series of
breakfasts on understanding the Chi-
nese market.
Tickets are $20 for DRMA members
and $25 for non-members for the event
at the University of Ontario Institute of
Te chnology business and IT building
at 2000 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa. Call
905-434-1412 ext. 222 to reserve your
spot.
P PAGE 4 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, JUNE 24, 2005 durhamregion.com
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NEWS
ADVERTISER
opments — in exchange for the land
they own on the Oak Ridges Moraine
in Richmond Hill. The developers
made a commitment at the beginning
of May to donate $7.5 million to the
Rouge Valley Health System Founda-
tion for the Ajax redevelopment, but
the gift is depen-
dent on them re-
ceiving building
permits within
16 months.
W ith that
timeline in mind,
Coun. Dickerson
wants to get the
w orking group
going now so it
can meet during
the summer.
Coun. Brenner said if the working
group is decided Monday — it is to
have three members of council and
three senior staff — it should be pre-
pared to meet the next day.
“That’s how urgent it is,” he said. “If
you don’t start meeting immediately
how are you going to sort stuff out?”
In addition to the need for land
for municipal services, the financial
impact of Seaton is also a big concern
for the City.
“(There is) no way the taxpayers
of Pickering should be on the hook
for growth in Seaton,” Coun. Brenner
said.
✦ Councillors from page 1
Councillors worry
time is tight
for planning
Durham executives can put some
bite into their ‘ China Strategy’
Doug Dickerson
home on the night of Feb.
4, 2001.
“All of the independent
physical evidence points
irrevocably, incontrovert-
ibly to Cosmo Jacobson as
the murderer of Roy Jones,”
Mr. Murray said.
Among that evidence
are items, including Mr.
Jacobson’s car keys, found
in close proximity to shell
casings at the murder
scene, he said.
“This is a simple case
that really boils down to
the credibility of Cosmo Ja-
cobson,” Mr. Murray said.
Mr. Kapoor, meanwhile,
urged the jury to accept
Mr. Jacobson’s testimony
that he never intended to
harm Mr. Jones, but mere-
ly sought to intimidate him
the night he and his best
friend, Sean Hall, went to
the Ajax neighbourhood
with a semi-automatic .45
calibre handgun. Mr. Ja-
cobson testified Mr. Hall
shot Mr. Jones, delivering a
final, execution-style shot
to the back of the head,
w hen Mr. Jones fought
back.
The defence lawyer said
it made no sense for Mr. Ja-
cobson, who faced a heavy
prison term on charges re-
lating to a home invasion
robbery, to take the risk of
committing a murder for
which he would automati-
cally be the lead suspect.
“Why would he trade a
5- to 8-year sentence ...
for life in jail?” Mr. Kapoor
said.
“Why would Mr. Jacob-
son kill Mr. Jones when he
knew the penalty for first-
degree murder is life in
prison with no possibility
of parole for 25 years?”
Mr. Kapoor urged the
jury to acquit Mr. Jacobson
on charges of first-degree
murder and conspiracy to
commit murder, and con-
vict him for manslaugh-
ter. Mr. Jacobson tried to
plead guilty to manslaugh-
ter when this trial began,
a move rejected by the
Crown.
Mr. Jacobson admits
he went to Ajax with the
intent of confronting Mr.
Jones, and that his actions
led to the man’s death, the
lawyer said.
Mr. Jones, a security
guard at a Pickering flea
market, saw Mr. Jacobson
use bank cards stolen in
a home invasion robbery
in an ATM at the market
on June 16, 2000. When
Durham Regional Police
traced the cards to the
Metro East Trade Centre
they spoke with Mr. Jones,
who identified Mr. Jacob-
son, an acquaintance from
high school days in Picker-
ing.
Mr. Jacobson testi-
fied that he and Mr. Hall
hatched the plan to con-
front and frighten Mr.
Jones to keep him from
testifying. Mr. Jones died
just days before he was to
appear in court.
The Crown rejects Mr.
Jacobson’s story. Mr. Mur-
ray said again Thursday
that Mr. Jacobson plotted
to kill Mr. Jones, and that
he, not Mr. Hall, was the
shooter.
Mr. Murray’s address
continues today. It is ex-
pected the case will go to
the jury early next week,
after a charge from Supe-
rior Court Justice Donald
Ferguson.
durhamregion.com THE NEWS ADVERTISER, JUNE 24, 2005 PAGE 5 A/P
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✦ Prosecution
from page 1
Prosecution, defence offer different theories about Jones’ murder
Roy Jones was shot dead
out front of his Ajax home
in 2001, just days before he
was to testify in a Pickering
home invasion.
A/P PAGE 6 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, JUNE 24, 2005 durhamregion.com
EDITORIAL
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Second Chance needs
a second chance
No one’s likely ever questioned the large shadow Joyce
Smith casts over the Durham community.
And if they have, they shouldn’t any longer given the
response in the last week since a building at Ms. Smith’s Sec-
ond Chance Wildlife Sanctuary was left in bad need of repair
following a fire.
There have been many phone calls and e-mails to the News
Advertiser, among others, with supporters imploring Ajax, Pick-
ering and all Durham residents to help the centre in any way
possible. The stories seem so similar — each detailing the good
works Ms. Smith, the centre’s founder and president, has car-
ried out for so many animals over the years, and all on a limited
budget.
The fire struck on June 15, killing two kittens and a rabbit, and
it left another 200 animals in a temporary building that doesn’t
provide the necessary long-term protection from the elements.
With the aforementioned limited budget, Ms. Smith had no
fire insurance, explaining the animals always seemed to need
something else and as a result coverage kept getting pushed
aside. Fire officials estimate damage to the sanctuary building
at $10,000 and Ms. Smith and her growing number of support-
ers are turning to the public for help in rebuilding the home
and keeping the good works ongoing. Along with dollars, there
is always the need for volunteers to help with the clean up and
regular care for the animals.
Ms. Smith has spent a lot of years helping animals and mak-
ing a difference from her north Pickering sanctuary for animals.
And many residents from across the region have been the ben-
eficiaries in the form of their family pets.
Now it’s the communities’ turn to return the favour and offer
a deserved helping hand. Monetary donations can be made at
any Bank of Montreal branch, made out to the Second Chance
Wildlife Sanctuary, account number 29978100655.
Teachers make a difference in so many ways
To the editor:
Re: ‘Our teachers are just incredible,’ Tony Doyle column,
June 12.
Wow, what a treat to read an editorial that allows and ac-
knowledges that teachers are not villains and enemies of the
state, that they do good, honourable work, and that they like
their jobs and care for children.
After years of politically initiated and driven-teacher bashing,
how nice to hear that not everyone thinks teachers are drains on
society.
I retired from a 32-year teaching career in 2002, feeling con-
tent and satisfied that I helped children, be they vulnerable,
gifted, newly arrived in the country, sick, average, etc. I loved the
job, in spite of those who suggested that teachers were overpaid,
underworked, and whatever else was the buzz of the day.
Most teachers take on their classes or their assigned students
and treat them as family, worrying about them and advocating
for them. Over these last 12 years, they’ve been doing this in a
very harsh, difficult educational and political environment.
Ye s, teachers feed, clothe and otherwise nurture those chil-
dren entrusted to them. They buy books needed for programs,
which school budgets don’t cover. Traditionally, teachers just
did these things, and no one knew. Now since things appear to
have become confrontational, perhaps people should hear what
has gone on and does go on.
Thanks for the kind words, for those who have gone before,
and for those to come in teaching.
Mary Ja ne Prebble,
Pickering
NEWS ADVERTISER
Metroland Durham
Region Media Group
Tim Whittaker, Publisher
Joanne Burghardt, Editor-in-Chief
To ny Doyle, Managing Editor
Duncan Fletcher,
Director of Advertising
Andrea McFater,
Retail Advertising Manager
Eddie Kolodziejcak,
Classified Advertising
Abe Fakhourie,
Distribution Manager
Lillian Hook, Office Manager
Cheryl Haines,
Composing Manager
Janice O’Neil, Composing Manager
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Grade 8 graduation
an important milestone
Y oung men and women from ele-
mentary schools across Ajax and
Pickering have been preparing
frantically over past weeks to celebrate
an important milestone.
Grade 8 graduation is upon us, most
taking place this week. At many house-
holds, including mine, the event has
been circled on the calendar for some
time now. In the lead up to the big
day, it’s been a whirlwind of activity,
mainly related to fashion — the never-
ending trips to every clothing store
between Oshawa and Pickering for my
wife, sorting through every prospective
dress and picking out just the right one
for my stepdaughter as well as choos-
ing a suit for my son, and making sure
it’s pressed and hemmed.
As we all know, Grade 8 graduation
marks the closure of one chapter in
their educational lives and the open-
ing of a new, exciting one. It signifies
the end of days in the tight-knit, almost
insular world of elementary school
and the beginning of their incorpora-
tion into the much larger, somewhat
impersonal secondary school realm.
Whereas they’ve risen to the top as
Grade 8 students, they’ll be at the bot-
tom of the pile in the secondary school
pecking order and lovingly referred to
as ‘minor niners’.
As parents, this evening reminds us
of how time flies. We remember our
two in what seemed like interminable
years in diapers and now they’re teen-
agers on the cusp of high school. It
takes me back to my Grade 8 gradua-
tion. It was like yesterday, really, that
I was with friends, looking forward to
moving on, yet feeling a tinge of sad-
ness that this phase of our lives was
over.
We didn’t know it, but we suspect-
ed that henceforth our world would
change, our friends would change, we
would change.
My overriding feeling of that eve-
ning was of amusement, seeing friends
arrive decked out in all their finery,
whereas on school days, they’d be
walking around looking mostly dishev-
elled and slovenly. I recall, following
the awards ceremony, the DJ blaring
Stevie Wonder’s ‘Sir Duke’ and the
realization suddenly hitting us that we
were supposed to dance. For the first
hour, everyone made like wallflowers,
standing shyly around the gym’s pe-
rimeter. Then someone took a chance
— they got up and out on the dance
floor. With the ice broken, everyone
joined in — it was officially a party.
To all graduates, enjoy your evening
because it’s important to celebrate
life’s milestones and your successes.
And, for Pete’s sake, don’t wait an hour
to dance.
Al Rivett’s column appears every third
Friday. E-mail arivett@durhamregion.
com.
A wonderful end and beginning
Al
Rivett
sports editor
EDITORIALS & OPINIONS
infodurhamregion.com
durhamregion.com THE NEWS ADVERTISER, JUNE 24, 2005 PAGE 7 A/P
Mon-Fri 9-9 pm
Saturday 8-7 pm
Sunday 9-6 pm
4038 Hwy. 7
905-479-2480
UNIONVILLE
PICKERING
Mon-Fri 9-9 pm
Saturday 8-7 pm
Sunday 9-5 pm
This sale starts Friday, June 24th at 9am. Many
items are one-of-a-kind or limited and are on a
fi rst come, fi rst choice basis. Includes: Annuals,
trees, shrubs, fountains, gifts, soils, mulches,
trellis’, pots, pond plants, fertilizers…
Save up to
Pine Ridge
SALE STARTS: FRIDAY, JUNE 24th
2215 Brock Rd. N.,
905-683-5952
This once a year SALE - STARTS FRIDAY…FIRST COME - FIRST CHOICE… DON’T WAIT60%60%
sale
Comes Alive… With The Gardening Experts!
12th Annual Summer Sale
startsnow
OFF
hot summer
12th Annual Summer Sale
Parkway Retirement Residence
Call 905-426-6603
our services include
FRIENDSHIP &
COMPANIONSHIP
The opportunities for friendship happen every day.
www.chartwellreit.ca
STRAWBERRY SOCIAL
Tuesday, June 28th • 2pm - 4pm
You are invited to join us for live
entertainment and strawberry treats.
1645 Pickering Parkway
Pickering, ON
WE’VE GOT YOUR SIZE
Sizes 4-15
Widths AA-EEE
PICKERING TOWN CENTRE • UPPER LEVEL • SEARS WING
#ALL OR STOP BY TODAY
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Whitevale women
DURHAM — The first North Durham Relay for Life event was
held recently at Mill Run Golf Club in Uxbridge. Representing the
Women of Whitevale team were, from left, Heather Armstrong,
Reid Williamson, Sharon Armstrong, Jan Lock, Tricia McCallum,
and Donna Culbert.
A/P PAGE 8 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, JUNE 24, 2005 durhamregion.com
900 Champlain Ave.,Oshawa
1-800-642-4561 or (905) 723-5211
OSHAWA
Floor Model Sell Off
Store Hours :Mon.- Wed.9:30 a.m.- 6 p.m.Thurs.& Fri.9:30 a.m.- 9 p.m.Sat.10 a.m.- 6 p.m.Sun.11 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Does not apply to previous sales.
Limited Quantites - First Come First Served!
40%40%OFFOFF Store Wide
on all instock merchandise
• Loveseats• Sofas
• Chairs• Recliners
• Accessories • Pictures
• Tables • Lamps
• Area Rugs
Everything must be sold to the bare walls!!!!
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* Includes 40% discount
May not be exactly as shown
* See store for details.
* Includes discount
May not be exactly as shown
Recliner Rockers
$299 99*
as low as
Genuine Leather
Rocker Recliner
Reg.$1479.99
$799 99*
NOW ONLY
durhamregion.com THE NEWS ADVERTISER, JUNE 24, 2005 PAGE 9 A/P
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