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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNA2010_01_27_incomplete Pressrun 51,400 • 72 pages • Optional 3-week delivery $6/$1 newsstand PICKERING Wednesday, January 27, 2010 NNews ews AAddveverr titisseerrTHE JASON LIEBREGTS / METROLAND PICKERING -- Brenda Holdsworth, left, founded Wedding Saviours with Kelly Newell. They are working together to help marry a cash- strapped couple for free. The deadline for applications is Feb. 28. Pickering firm to throw free wedding DURHAM COUPLES HAVE UNTIL FEB. 28 TO APPLY ONLINE BY KRISTEN CALIS kcalis@durhamregion.com PICKERING -- Financing a wedding is tough at the best of times, let alone when people are cutting their budgets for simple necessities. But a new group called Wedding Saviours hopes to make the cost of a wedding much lighter for a lucky Durham couple. Residents across the region have until mid- night on Sunday, Feb. 28 to apply online for their chance at having the wedding of their dreams - for free. “I’ve been the bride on the budget,” said Wed- ding Saviours co-founder Brenda Holdsworth, also owner of BH Consulting and Design, a creative wedding invitation supplier. She got the idea in September, planning to sell the idea to her colleagues in the wedding See PICKERING page 8 moc.adnohgnirekcip.www 575 KINGSTON RD 905-831-5400 MULTIPOINT Factory-trained Honda technicians will perform an oil change, tire rotation, inspect your battery, brakes, tires, all fl uid levels, suspension components, lights, wiper blades and much more. NSPECTIONIWITH OIL CHANGE $74 88 With Coupon We will perform a complimentary Pre-alignment check with every service. CRIME 3 Arrest made Police charge Markham man in Pickering murders POLITICS 10 Prorogue panned Durham residents take to the streets in protest SPECIAL SECTION 19 Women in business Showcasing the success of eight area entrepreneurs durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 20102 AP source.comwedding Visit the show to see Durham’s leading wedding professionals Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010 11am - 5pm Ajax Convention Centre Sponsored bySpring2010 AJAX PICKERING NEWS ADVERTISER for show vendor info, please call 905-683-5110 ext 230 or email lmccaig@durhamregion.com Durham Region Media Group ETROLAND News AdvertiserTHE AJAX • PICKERING Family court testimony alleged to be perjury BY JEFF MITCHELL jmitchell@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- Police have laid criminal charg- es against a Whitby man, alleging he com- mitted perjury by presenting false profes- sional credentials while testifying in child custody cases. Gregory Carter presented himself as a psy- chologist and dubbed himself a doctor while testifying about the suitability of people to care for children, police and other com- plainants allege. Mr. Carter, who has a long- standing practice in Whitby and associa- tions with agencies including the Durham Children’s Aid Society, was charged Monday with fraud, perjury and obstructing justice. The development came as a relief to one Clarington man who has complained to both police and Ontario’s College of Psy- chologists. The man lost custody of his granddaughter after a 2006 family court trial in which Mr. Carter testified on behalf of the birth father. “I’m quite pleased,” said Mr. B., whose full name can’t be used to protect the child’s identity. “He’s been doing this for years and no one has stopped him until now.” He suggested court cases Mr. Carter has been involved in ought to be subject to review. Mr. Carter, 63, did not return messages left Tuesday at his home and at his Whitby office. The allegations against him have not been proven in court. Mr. Carter is regis- tered with the Col- lege of Psychologists as a psychological associate. According to the college’s web- site, he is authorized to work with chil- dren and families, but is prohibited from independently diagnosing symptoms or disorders, and is required to perform duties under the supervision of a qualified psychologist. The website also indicates at least two complaints have been made, alleging Mr. Carter breached the limitations placed on him. Mr. B. said Mr. Carter presented critical evidence during his family’s custody bat- tle in a Durham family court proceeding, including an assertion Mr. B. is “narcissistic” and hostile towards the child’s father. In explaining his deci- sion, a judge said Mr. Carter’s testi- mony “tips the bal- ance” in favour of the father, accord- ing to a transcript. Mr. B. feels the case was decided by testimony from a witness who wasn’t quali- fied to offer an opinion. The outcome was devastating to him and his wife, he said. “A 10-year-old girl has been forced against her wishes to leave the only home she has ever known and we have been left both emo- tionally and financially ruined in our retire- ment years,” Mr. B. said. He said he and oth- ers have contacted a lawyer about launching a civil suit. In a letter responding to Mr. B’s complaint Mr. Carter indicates he completed a Masters Degree in 1978 and pursued further educa- tion, including a doctorate obtained from Pacific Western University in 1991. Pacific Western, renamed California Miramar Uni- versity in 2007, was the subject of contro- versy in 2004 when American media out- lets alleged the school was a “diploma mill” offering expedited credentials for a price. Mr. Carter operates a practice out of a pro- fessional building on Dundas Street West in Whitby. He is past president of the board of Durham Mental Health Services and has been associated with the Durham Children’s Aid Society. Among his duties for the CAS was carrying out parenting capacity assess- ments, said spokeswoman Andrea Maenza. Such assessments play a role in determin- ing if children remain with their parents or are made wards of the Crown, she said. While performing assessments Mr. Carter had limited access to CAS records, she con- firmed. Mr. Carter’s involvement with the CAS was suspended recently and the agency is await- ing the outcome of the college’s investigation into complaints against him, Ms. Maenza said. “We’ve made no judgment,” she said. “We’ll let the college takes its course ... and then we’ll determine whether or not we’ll pursue any other contracts with him.” Rob Adams, executive director of Durham Mental Health Services, said Mr. Carter has served as a volunteer director, assisting with agency governance and strategic direction. “He had no involvement in the agency’s day to day operations or client services and supports,” Mr. Adams said. Mr. Carter is scheduled to appear in court in March. A police investigation continues; call 905-579-1520, extension 2704. CRIME Whitby ‘doctor’ faked credentials, police allege RON PIETRONIRO / METROLAND WHITBY -- The office of Gregory Carter is in the Dundas-Centre Medical building at 220 Dundas St. W. Mr. Carter has been charged by Durham Regional Police. He’s been doing this for years and no one has stopped him until now. Mr. B. durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 20103 AP Finances Changing? Your Insurance Needs Change Too Call 905 427-5888Call 905 427-5888 1920 Bayly St., Pickering1920 Bayly St., Pickering www.fi rstdurham.comwww.fi rstdurham.com Call First Durham Call First Durham Insurance & Financial Insurance & Financial Today For A No Today For A No Obligation Quote!Obligation Quote! FFIRSTIRST D DURHAMURHAM IINSURANCE &NSURANCE & F FINANCIALINANCIAL Putting YOUR Needs FirstPutting YOUR Needs First - You’re Worth It!- You’re Worth It! Markham man charged BY JEFF MITCHELL jmitchell@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- Weeks after police announced significant developments in an investiga- tion into the deaths of two men found in the trunk of a vehicle in Pickering, a man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Further arrests are expected as the inves- tigation into the killings of Harjinder Singh Sandhu, 28, and Puneet Singh Chhina, 26, continues, Durham police said Friday. John Le, 38, of Markham, was arrested with- out incident Thursday and appeared Friday morning by video in an Oshawa bail court, where he was represented by duty counsel. He was remanded in custody and is sched- uled to appear in court again next week. The arrest comes eight months after the bodies of Mr. Sandhu, of Brampton, and Mr. Chhina, a Nepean resident, were found in the trunk of a car on Pickering’s 4th Conces- sion near Rosebank Road. The men, whose bodies were discovered by cops investigat- ing a report of a suspicious vehicle on the afternoon of May 5, 2009, had been reported missing to Peel police. Media reports following discovery of the bodies indicated Mr. Sandhu had been scheduled to appear in court in Windsor June 1, 2009 to face charges of importing cocaine. In late December, Durham police said they’d recovered DNA linked to a poten- tial suspect. In an appeal for more informa- tion issued Dec. 22, investigators said they’d tracked the movements of the dead men in the hours prior to the fatal shootings and travel of the suspects afterward. Police concluded the men were murdered in the area of Kennedy Road and Sheppard Avenue in Toronto, after which their bodies were moved to Pickering. Durham cops con- ducted a canvass of that area, seeking poten- tial witnesses. According to information released by Dur- ham police in December, the victims trav- elled from Brampton to Toronto May 4, 2009, and were murdered there. The bodies were placed in the trunk of their own Nissan and driven to Pickering, where the car was aban- doned. A second car was also driven east to the area in which the bodies were left, cops said. Police said a cellphone belonging to one of the dead men remained in the second car used by the killers; that vehicle was driven north to Whitchurch-Stouffville, then back south to the Kennedy Road and Sheppard Avenue area. Mr. Le, of Germain Crescent in Markham, is charged with two counts each of first-degree murder, kidnapping and using a firearm in the commission of an offence. The investigation continues. If you have information about the investigation: CALL 905-579-1520 ext. 3270 CRIMESTOPPERS: Anonymous tips can be made to Durham police at 1-800-222-8477 ADULT DAY SCHOOL IN JUST 7 WEEKS NO DIPLOMA?NO PROBLEM! 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Lovell • BIOLOGY • CHEMISTRY • COMPUTERS • COOPERATIVE EDUCATION • DESIGNING YOUR FUTURE • ENGLISH • ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE • GEOGRAPHY • INDIVIDUALS IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY • MATHEMATICS • LAW • ONTARIO LITERACY COURSE • PARENTING • PHYSICAL EDUCATION • PHYSICS • HOSPITALITY PATHWAY - 2 credits • BUILDING MAINTENANCE PATHWAY - 2 credits POLICE Arrest made in killings of men found in trunk of car in north Pickering CRIME BRIEFS Three sought in violent Pickering stick-up PICKERING -- A Pickering convenience store owner and his wife were terrorized by three masked men during an armed robbery Thursday night. The male store owner was struck and suf- fered minor injuries when the bandits, one of them armed with a handgun, burst through the door of the Daisy Fresh convenience store on Rosebank Road at about 9:45 p.m., Durham police said. The victims were robbed of personal prop- erty and the suspects grabbed cash and ciga- rettes before fleeing to a waiting vehicle. They’re described as black men in their late teens or early 20s. If you have information about the investigation: CALL 905-579-1520 ext. 5355 CRIMESTOPPERS: Anonymous tips can be made to Durham police at 1-800-222-8477 Suspect in Ajax ATM heists busted AJAX -- Police have charged a man with a spate of robberies that targeted victims at automated teller machines in Ajax. An arrest was made Friday afternoon after Durham cops caught up to a suspect at a location on Salem Road. He’s believed to be responsible for three armed robberies that took place in Ajax between Jan. 16 and 20. In each instance a victim was confronted while using an ATM and ordered to hand over cash, police said. A search of a vehicle and the suspect’s north Pickering residence led to the seizure of evidence connected to the crimes, police said. Joshua Ibbitson, 31 of Greenburn Place in Pickering faces robbery and weapons charges. Durham cops nab five alleged drunk drivers DURHAM -- Five motorists were charged with impaired driving on the weekend as Durham police conducted RIDE spot checks across the region. Officers with the Durham force’s traffic branch stopped 1,000 vehicles over the two-day initiative. They carried out 20 roadside breath tests. As well, officers handed out a pair of three- day license suspensions, charged one person with exceeding the legal alcohol limit and issued 14 provincial offense notices, report police. durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 20104 AP No serious injuries in Ajax mishap: Police BY REKA SZEKELY rszekely@durhamregion.com AJAX -- A Durham Region Transit bus driver used his onboard fire extinguisher to put out flames when a car flipped and caught fire after colliding with a truck in Ajax Friday. It happened at roughly 10:30 a.m. at the Westney Road and Taunton Road intersec- tion. “Our driver witnessed the accident hap- pen and the car flipped in the intersection and caught fire,” said Phil Meagher, deputy general manager of operations for DRT. The 915 Taunton route driver had his super- visor call emergency services before helping at the scene. “He used his onboard fire extin- guisher to extinguish the fire before emergen- cy services arrived,” said Mr. Meagher. Sergeant Nancy van Rooy of Durham Regional Police said a nearby OPP cruiser also responded. Ajax Fire and Emergency Services showed up shortly after to fully extinguish the fire. Durham police and EMS also responded. Everyone was able to get out of the vehi- cles, though one person was bleeding from the head and was loaded onto a stretcher and taken to hospital. “It doesn’t look like injuries are life threatening and terribly serious,” said Sgt. van Rooy. There appeared to be little damage to the green dump truck, but the burgundy sedan that flipped was crushed in the front and fire damaged. Durham police are investigating the collision. ACCIDENT Bus driver douses flames after car flips REKA SZEKELY / METROLAND AJAX -- A car flipped and caught fire after colliding with a truck in the Westney Road and Taunton Road intersection on Friday, Jan. 22. Victim was beaten, terrorized, jury heard BY JEFF MITCHELL jmithcell@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- Ontario’s top court has upheld the conviction of two Ajax men sentenced to lengthy jail terms for a 2005 home invasion in which a helpless victim was assaulted and terrorized. The decision announced Wednesday by the Court of Appeal means Jermaine Hylton, 24, and 29-year-old Kevin Har- ris, both of Ajax, will not be granted a new trial. They were convicted by a jury sitting in Whitby in 2007. Both men were sentenced to seven years by Superior Court Justice Myrna Lack after a sentencing hearing in the fall of 2007, at which both men made tearful pleas for mercy, claiming they’d turned their lives around. In an appeal heard earlier this month in Toronto, lawyers for Mr. Hylton and Mr. Harris argued Justice Lack had made errors in instructions to the jury that convicted the men. But a panel of appeal court justices found no errors and ruled the convic- tions should be upheld. At the original trial, jurors heard Mr. Hylton and Mr. Harris entered a home on Valley Ridge Crescent in Pickering at about 4 a.m. on July 26, 2005 by remov- ing a basement window. They ambushed a 36-year-old man as he lay sleeping, tying him up and wrap- ping his head in duct tape. The victim was bashed in the head with a hatchet during the ordeal, jurors heard. The bandits fled with property includ- ing the victim’s car; they were bust- ed by Durham police in September of 2005 when they crashed a stolen car in Pickering. Mr. Harris was later implicated in other home invasions, including an incident in April of 2006 in York Region when police shot and killed Shelton McKenzie, 21, of Ajax. COURTS Top provincial court upholds home invasion conviction for Ajax men durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 20105 AP lonestartexasgrill.com 705 Kingston Road · 905.420.3334 Take out offer may vary from dine-in BACK FOR A LIMITED TIME! FAJITAS'".*-: 1lb. of Chicken, Steak or Combo Fajitas with all the fixin’s 1 cup of Queso Fresh tortilla chips and salsa Free Pop for kids 12 & under Family Dessert However, details still need to be hammered out BY KEITH GILLIGAN kgilligan@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- The details still have to be worked out, but Regional officials are pleased with new waste-management proposals being pushed by the Prov- ince. “The Province is finally getting it,” Pickering Councillor Rick Johnson said as councillors reviewed the proposals Tuesday. From Waste to Worth: The Role of Waste Diversion in the Green Economy outlines several initiatives, the main one being extended producer responsibility. This means those responsible for putting products and packaging into the mar- ketplace are responsible for managing the waste associated with them. “This is exceptional news. It’s a huge step forward by the Province,” Regional Chairman Roger Anderson said. “This is putting responsibility for waste back on the producers.” “Staff are concerned about the lack of detail in how it will roll out,” works com- missioner Cliff Curtis said. There are “potentially huge savings” if the new system is put in place, he said, noting the Region could save about $3 million annually. Currently, the Province is gather- ing comments from municipalities and businesses on its proposals. The provincial report lays out when more materials will be diverted from landfills or incineration. Timelines include more electronic and electrical equipment, dubbed ‘everything with a cord’, and construction and demoli- tion materials within two years of the program starting. Within three years, furniture and mattresses would be diverted, and, within five years, vehicles, branded organics, such as diapers and disposable wipes, and small household items, such as toys, disposable razors and disposable water filters. “The concept is a premium will be placed on disposal. If you make some- thing that’s not recyclable, there will be a premium to dispose of it,” Mr. Curtis said. “There will be a surcharge to dis- pose of it in a landfill.” There’s no word yet if there would be a premium to put something into an incinerator, Mr. Curtis added. “This (provincial report) is a very high level. We still have to work out the details,” he noted. “It’s going to be cost driven and the costs will be borne by producers.” “Consumers will be the real driving force to make this work,” Whitby Coun- cillor Gerry Emm said. “For future coun- cils, this will be a great tool.” Ajax Councillor Scott Crawford said, “This is a step in the right direction, but the steps will take so gosh darn long.” Some measures would be five years to start, he noted. “Understand, the earliest the Prov- ince would implement this is 2011. The clock starts ticking after the legislation is passed,” Mr. Curtis said. “Consultations need to take place.” REGION Durham likes new provincial waste plan The Province is fi nally getting it. Pickering Councillor Rick Johnson RICK JOHNSON WE THINK... email responses to newsroom@durhamregion.com & A Metroland Media Group Ltd. Publication Tim Whittaker - Publisher Joanne Burghardt - Editor-in-Chief Mike Johnston - Managing Editor Duncan Fletcher - Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak - Classifi ed Advertising Manager Abe Fakhourie - Distribution Manager Lillian Hook - Offi ce Manager Janice O’Neil, Cheryl Haines - Composing Managers News/Sales 905-683-5110 Fax 905-683-7363 Classifi eds 905-683-0707 Distribution 905-683-5117 130 Commercial Ave., Ajax ON L1S 2H5. Publications Mail Sales Agreement Number 40052657 Member: Ontario Press Council, OCNA, CCNA, SNA. All content copyright Editorial Opinions INTERPRETATION Cartoon not appropriate for Haiti tragedy To the editor: Re: Editorial cartoon, Jan. 20. I was saddened by the inappropriateness of today’s editorial cartoon depicting death having a fondness for Haiti. How terrible for our friends and neigh- bours and loved ones who are grieving, struggling or anxiously awaiting news from Haiti, to have their local media make light of such devastation. Shame on you. Christine Howe Pickering EDUCATION Sign debate waste of time, money To the editor: Re: Durham school board to unify signs, Dec. 17. I cannot believe the school board spent time discussing unified signage for schools. Surely there are much more important issues for the board to address. Thank goodness the guidelines are for new signs only because the price tag of over $600,000 to provide this unified sig- nage for all schools would be a total waste of taxpayers’ money. Wendy Stockton Oshawa S ign spending senseless To the editor: Re: Durham School board to unify signs, Dec. 17 In all other areas in the business world, we are trying to cut back and spend wise- ly. But not here at the Durham District School Board. During the cutbacks to the education- al assistants, DDSB trustees kept com- plaining about not having enough money from the Province to pay for these extra teachers. Low and behold, they pass a policy that will require schools in the DDSB to become a consistent image throughout the Region. If all signs were to be updated or done, the cost would be a staggering $657,900. The board doesn’t say where they are going to get this extra $5,000 per sign from, all they say is it’s going to cost roughly $5,000 per sign. Let’s see a consistent image across Durham for schools: I have to ask at what loss in the classroom. I’m pretty sure there is a consistent image now that tells us that a school exists, that would be the children in the schoolyards and the report cards they bring home to mom and dad! Don’t go wasting my educational tax dollars on signs in an economy like we have today! Scott Templeton Whitby FEDERAL POLITICS There’s nothing new with Parliament being prorogued To the editor: Re: Durham rallies to protest proroguing this Saturday, Jan. 18. While Stacey Leadbetter argues the current government is being disrespect- ful and arrogant by proroguing Parlia- ment I would like to ask where were her protests when the former Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien, prorogued four times? Stephen Burkholder Whitby Facebook members make MPs sit up and take notice Facebook followers unhappy at the pro- roguing of Parliament proved on Saturday they are more activists than slacktivists. With more than 3,000 angry protesters turning up on Parliament Hill and another 3,000 or so showing up in downtown Toron- to, it’s clear there is a willingness to stand up and be counted. Here in Durham, more than 100 came out to Oshawa MP Colin Carrie’s riding office and a similar number showed up at Whitby-Oshawa MP Jim Flaherty’s local office. If somebody had told you a year ago that thousands of people would make it out on a Saturday afternoon to protest because Parlia- ment, of all things, wasn’t sitting, you would have believed they were crazy. Not so. It turns out Facebook, Twitter and other “new” media devices may just be the tools to combat citizen apathy when it comes to political involvement. Consider that if each person who came out to a protest represents up to 20 people who feel the same way, a tidal wave of dissent is sitting out there waiting to be counted. The question is whether the momentum from the prorogue Facebook site can be main- tained once Parliament is sitting come March 3. Will the hundreds of thousands who joined the page be involved for the long haul? Cana- dians Against Proroguing Parliament was still growing and was past the 216,000 mark as of Monday. Another 1,200 had joined a group called ‘Canadians Against Proroguing Par- liament, A Second Wave of Action’, with the intent of furthering the protest beyond Jan. 23. There is clearly an untapped source of ener- gy and engagement out there of all ages. While some have suggested much of the Facebook proroguing momentum is largely the cre- ation of opposition parties eager to latch on to anything that will pressure the prime min- ister, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Many of those who’ve joined admit they’ve never been involved in politics before and are only now getting interested because this issue has them fired up. What to do with all that energy and inter- est is the critical question for further citizen engagement. Members of Parliament who choose to ignore these online activists do so at their peril. Twenty-first century methods of commu- nication could be the tools that allow democ- racy to thrive and rebound from its slide into irrelevance. The days of electronic voting are not far off and the use of Facebook and Twitter, among others, could bring far more people into the democratic tent. And that’s good because an informed populace is one that keeps its elect- ed members listening and doing its bidding. For more information: VISIT newsdurhamregion.com/article/146223 VISIT newsdurhamregion.com/specialreports e-mail letters to newsroom@durhamregion.com / max. 200 words / letter writers are obliged to back up statements with verifiable facts / please include your full first and last name, city of residence & daytime phone number / letters that do not appear in print may be published @ newsdurhamregion.com durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 20106 P WE ASKED I’m sure over the years there have been many times where people have told me to go jump into a lake. I guess it really came as no surprise then when I finally decided to accept one particular invitation and participate in the 5th Annual Ajax Polar Bear Swim that took place on Jan. 1. However, I did make it clear to everyone the only way I’d go in was if people actu- ally paid for me to go in and that their money would be donated to charity. The Ajax Polar Bear Swim has been a fundraiser for the R.S. McLaughlin Dur- ham Regional Cancer Centre. However, with the blessing of organizer Peter Gos, I chose to swim for the Unit- ed Way of Ajax Pickering Uxbridge, with which I am heavily involved. I quickly went viral with the news and put it out to all my contacts through Face- book, Twitter and my online blog. You see, not only did I want to raise as much money as possible, but by putting it out there I wanted more people to hold me to it just in case I felt the urge to call in sick that day. My wife, four children and my video producer all joined me at the beach as well as a number of others I knew. I was amazed when I got there to see so many people who came to participate as well as to watch. I didn’t have much time to ponder what I was about to do since the countdown began soon after my arrival. Despite the fears of what it would be like, running in en masse for the first time was actually quite invigorating. I surprised myself when I actually accepted the invite by Peter Gos and another lady to jump in again. I then cursed myself when I followed my producer’s direction to go in a third time, as he wanted a better camera angle. By the final exit my quads were getting numb and my sanity was now truly in question. In the end over $2,100 was raised for the cancer centre and as of today I am near $300 for the United Way. With 2009 being such a difficult year for many, myself included, I decided to have a year like I’ve never had before, I had to start it off by doing something I’ve never done before. When all things are considered, I’d say both from a selfless and a selfish perspec- tive, we’re off to a great start in 2010. Ajax resident Eric Novak found swimming in icy waters isn’t just for polar bears, especially when it’s for a good cause. You would have to live on the moon, or perhaps in certain sections of Bever- ly Hills, not to have noticed what’s been happening in Haiti recently. Most of us have been greatly affected by the trage- dy. Like the earthquake itself, the shock wave of this news continues to travel and rock the world of anyone exposed to it. And like any great cataclysm, these things are a litmus test of our natures, tending to bring out the best or the worst in all of us. Even those of us thousands of miles from the epicentre may find ourselves wrestling with questions of ethical and moral character as a result of this disas- ter. Should I help? How can I help? Does it matter if I do nothing? What’s the point, anyway? I know that in my small corner of the world we faced our own dilemma. This is typically a dicey time of the year for us, fiscally. A number of financially fore- boding trends inevitably gang up on us at this time of year; the film and TV busi- ness is very slow in the winter, most pro- ductions preferring to shoot in the long sunlit days of the spring and summer, the expenses of Christmas must be met and my accountant usually calls and brings up that annoying tax thing. The upshot is that at this time of the year our P and L statement makes Black Monday look like a tea party. And if we’re not careful, if we lose some precious perspective, our world can get as small as our bank bal- ance. I remember, when my kids were quite young, one of them coming home from school and asking “Dad, are we rich?” I said “What makes you ask that?” He replied that one of the kids at school had said that because I was a TV actor we must be rich. I smiled, then told him to remind his schoolmate that, “your dad is a Canadian’ TV actor.” Then see if you can’t bum some milk money from the kid. The bottom line is that I found myself, this weekend, staring at a request for earthquake aid in my e-mail inbox and, for an ugly little while, hesitating... won- dering. My heart, of course, knew exact- ly what I should do. There was no lack of clarity on its part. But I had this panicked, idiot, number-cruncher in my head who kept warning me to be careful or else. Or else what? Or else I won’t be able to have my six-buck latte this week? Or else I might have to leave one of my two cars at home? Or else I won’t be able to big- gie-size anything? My home is still stand- ing. I have gallons of fresh, clean water to drink. I have a pantry and fridge stocked with enough food to feed a small village. I have clothes in my closet I haven’t worn in years. I have more shoes than the Rockettes. My children are healthy and happy and still here. Or else what? What a sickeningly stupid, cowardly, useless question. Of course, I ended up donating, giving... something. And an interesting and wonderful thing happens the moment you decide to do something, to act, to give, to help. The idiot in the head is suddenly, bliss- fully, silenced. And what you are left with is the peace of the heart. The peace that only comes from the realization that we are truly all one, and as we do unto oth- ers, we most certainly do unto ourselves. Listen to your heart. Durham resident Neil Crone, actor-comic-writer, saves some of his best lines for his columns. Do you think we’re doing enough to help in Haiti? CHRIS AMOS -- ‘Yes, I think Canada has done fairly well with donations averaging over $1 per person. That’s a remarkable figure. The federal government should donate the full $50 million regardless.’ DONNA BRIGHT -- ‘Yes, although the action being taken on the ground is inefficient so it’s hard to tell if anyone is sending sufficient support.’ MAUREEN FOXTON -- ‘Yes Canada is very engaged. We are donating money, sending troops and making medical personnel available.’ KALENEA JOHNSON -- ‘Yes, I think a good effort is being put out.’ Cold dip results in warm-hearted giving JOANNE BURGHARDT Stand up and be heard THE INBOX: “Please make a little effort to hide your Lib- eral bias by putting some balance into your publication views. As a local news service you should attempt to reflect the views of your read- ers however during the last week I totalled 12 of 13 letters published were in support of one political view...Liberal. If some balance is not restored soon I will be cancelling my delivery.” I chuckled when I received this e-mail Sun- day because it came right on the heels of a call I received Friday from a reader who wanted us to change our editorial direction on incin- eration because he didn’t agree with it. In both cases I urged the readers to take pen (mouse) in hand and join the fray by writing down their opinions in the form of a letter to the editor – we’d be happy to consider them for publication. “You can make a difference,” has become my mantra these days. Don’t sit there grousing about it or, worse yet, chastising others for having a different point of view. Step out of your comfort zone and take a public stand. If you don’t like the fact that the letters page is full of readers criticizing the government for proroguing, write a letter supporting Stephen Harper’s decision and balance the scales a bit. If you have something to say about Dalton McGuinty’s involvement in the incineration issue, don’t demand that someone else do something about it -- take matters into your own hands. While I thoroughly enjoyed Friday’s conver- sation with a Clarington reader about every- thing from our editorial cartoons, to Dalton McGuinty and incineration, to Mike Har- ris and dumping garbage in an abandoned mine, I later lamented that in the time he had taken to chastise me, the caller could have penned his own letter, e-mailed it in, and had it published. Folks...if you feel strongly about an issue don’t be afraid to stand up and be heard. Joanne Burghardt is Editor-in-Chief of the Metroland Durham Region Media Group. Follow our Make A Difference campaign at newsdurhamregion.com/specialreports. BE OUR GUEST -- Each week in this space This Week runs submissions from our readers. E-mail your submissions, maximum 350 words, to newsroom@durhamregion.com or mail to This Week c/o Tim Kelly, 865 Farewell St., Oshawa, ON L1H 7L5. For further information call Tim Kelly at 905-579- 4400 ext. 2293 or email him at tkelly@durhamregion.com. Heart wins the day when helping Haiti NEIL CRONE durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 20107 P durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 20108 P world by not only letting them know they’d be helping a couple in need by simply offering their services, but to promote their businesses as well. “It’s about promotion for businesses but also paying it forward for couples who need us,” she said. And she’s had no trouble getting busi- nesses and people involved. One of them was Kelly Newell of Life Shots, who brings a green screen to events for various photo opportuni- ties. And Ms. Newell has jumped right on board, becoming co-chairwoman of the organization. “There haven’t been too many peo- ple who won’t help us,” she said. The dress, flowers, food, venue and DJ are some of the high costs of a wedding that will be covered by Wedding Saviours. Donna-Mae Griffiths has also gotten on board, and has convinced her church to host the Durham wedding, which is now set to take place at the Milestone Christian and Conference Centre in Ajax sometime this October. Ms. Holdsworth explained the aver- age wedding costs between $20,000 and $25,000, and that’s a modest one. “I don’t think there’s anything else in your life that will be this stressful,” she said. And having the costs and the organization covered by Wedding Saviours will not only alleviate the stress for the couple, but for the parents as well. “With a lot of parents, it’s ‘either I’ll put you through university or I’ll get you mar- ried’,” she said. Wedding Saviours had a test run at put- ting a wedding on cost-free for a couple on Jan. 16 at Canada’s Wedding Expo and the Eco Wedding Show in Toronto. They were married at the wedding expo, and they and their 33 guests were supplied with champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and the couple was escorted via limo to an evening at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto. “They were more than happy with it,” Ms. Holdsworth said. And now it’s time for a Durham couple to shine. “We’re all set to go,” said Ms. Newell. The couple has to apply online by submit- ting a creative story telling why they need Wedding Saviours along with a 250-word outline. Submissions could include a video, a blog, a poem or even a drawing with stick figures depicting why they need a free wed- ding. They must also be comfortable with a production team since Wedding Saviours plans to air episodes online throughout the process. Friends and family can nominate a cou- ple as well, but the couple must give their consent if they’re chosen. The top submissions will be pre-selected by a panel of vendors, experts and spon- sors and will be posted on the website. An online voting system will narrow the num- ber of couples down to 10. The panel will then interview and select the winning cou- ple. If all goes well, this won’t be the last cer- emony Wedding Saviours puts on. “I hope this grassroots organization that started in Pickering will be marrying cou- ples all across Canada if all goes well,” Ms. Holdsworth said. Wedding Saviours is still accepting busi- nesses to join the team, and is accepting online submissions now. For more information: VISIT www.weddingsaviours.ca NUPTIALS Pickering company ‘set to go’ with free wedding I’ve been the bride on the budget. Brenda Holdsworth, Wedding Saviours co-founder PICKERING from page 1 Library program advises residents what to eat to stay happy PICKERING -- Those experiencing the winter blues can learn how to lift their spirits through their stom- ach this Thursday. The Petticoat Creek library branch, 470 Kingston Rd., is hosting a free seminar on the best food to eat during the colder weather. Adults and seniors are invited out to learn how proper nutrition can raise their spirits. Registration is required, and the semi- nar begins at 7 p.m. For more information: CALL 905-420-2254 HEALTH Free program to lift spirits in Pickering durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 20109 P %JSFDU"DDFTT   (FOFSBM&ORVJSJFT  4FSWJDF%JTSVQUJPODJUZPGQJDLFSJOHDPN  5 )PVS-JOF  5PMM'SFF  55:  DVTUPNFSDBSF!DJUZPGQJDLFSJOHDPN  DJUZPGQJDLFSJOHDPN Attend Public Meetings at City Hall January 28 Pickering Public Library 6:30 pm February 1 Planning & Development Committee Cancelled February 3 Committee of Adjustment 7:00 pm February 4 Advisory Committee on Race Relations & Equity 7:00 pm February 8 Executive Committee 7:30 pm February 11 Pickering Museum Village Advisory Committee 7:00 pm All meetings are open to the public. For details call 905.420.2222 or visit the City website Date Meeting Time The City of Pickering’s 2010 Annual Accessibility Plan Now Available! Members of the public can pick up a hard copy of the plan at the Customer Care Centre at the Pickering Civic Complex or at the Pickering Public Library. The 2010 Annual Accessibility Plan can also be found on our website at cityofpickering.com Most kitchen fi res occur because people get distracted and leave their cooking unattended on the stove. Keep a close eye on your cooking. If a pot catches fi re, slide a lid over the pot to smother the fl ames, then turn off the stove. And always wear tight-fi tting or rolled-up sleeves when cooking. A dangling sleeve can easily brush against a hot burner and catch fi re. Cooking is the number one cause of home fi res Fire Safety information available online at cityofpickering.com, by email: fi re@cityofpickering.com or by phone 905.839.9968. www.picnet.org Free HR Advice! The Change Agents is a Pickering-based Human Resources (HR) advisory fi rm that is off ering a 30-minute session with the owner to discuss your business concerns, such as best hiring practices. At the Central Library: Tuesday, February 2nd 30 minute appointments from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Space is limited. Call 905.831.6265 ext. 6243. Events @ your Library February 15 Health Club 6 am - 5 pm February 15 Family Day Event 10 am - 5 pm Family Passport $10, includes swim, skate, tennis, squash, raquetball & fitness classes. Call or see the website for specific event times. February 15 Closed Civic Complex (City Hall) 905.420.2222 Recreation Complex, Pool & Arena 905.683.6582 Dunbarton Pool 905.831.1260 February 15 Closed Pickering Public Libraries 905.831.6265 February 15 Closed Pickering Museum Village 905.683.8401 February 15 Closed Holiday Operating Hours The City of Pickering will be presenting Civic Awards to members of the community who We invite and encourage you to submit nominations for individuals, groups, and businesses who you feel are deserving of recognition. have made a significant contribution to the City of Pickering during 2009. Nomination forms are available online, or in City facilities and must be received byThursday, February 11, 2010 at 4:00 pm. For more information please contact the Customer Care Centre. T. 905.683.7575 TTY 905.420.1739 email customercare@cityofpickering.com 2009Cwardsivic Call for Nominations Cultural Strategic Plan The City of Pickering is currently in the process of completing a Cultural Strategic Plan. When complete, this plan will identify Arts, Heritage and Culture priorities for the City of Pickering within the next 10 years. At this stage in the strategic planning process, the City of Pickering is launching the Community Consultation Phase. Community Consultation phase will include a Random Community Household Telephone Survey that will begin on January 18, 2010 and last approximately 2.5 weeks. Pickering residents that are randomly selected will be called and asked to participate. Calls will be made between Monday to Friday and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The survey will seek to identify current participation in cultural activities and understand the needs and preferences of residents. Community Consultation phase will also include a Stakeholders Group Online Survey for cultural organizations and cultural facility owners/ operators that will begin on January 11, 2010 and last approximately 6 weeks. The Stakeholders Group Online Survey will (1) develop a comprehensive inventory of all heritage, arts and culture assets in the area, and; (2) create a community-responsive Cultural Strategic Plan, which will provide municipal and community direction for decision-making, policy development, and capital investment for the next 10 years. For more information on the City of Pickering Cultural Plan or Community Consultation Phase, please visit our website at cityofpickering.com or contact: Marisa Carpino Supervisor, Culture & Recreation Phone: 905.683.2760 ext. 3223 Operations & Toll Free 1.866.683.2760 Emergency Services Department Fax: 905.831.9370 Culture & Recreation Division TTY. 905.831.8604 City of Pickering mcarpino@cityofpickering.com Call for Nominations The City of Pickering is excited to be able to honour one local senior for their outstanding accomplishments. To be eligible for the award, the individual must be over 65 years and has enriched the social, cultural or civic life of the community. Please let us know about the nominee in one page. Nominations are due by February 12, 2010 Mail or drop off nomination to: Supervisor, Culture & Recreation One The Esplanade Pickering, ON L1V 6K7 One senior will be selected and invited to a recognition ceremony in June 2010 as part of the City of Pickering’s Seniors Month Celebration. Submit a nomination today! For more information, call 905.683.6582 ext. 3223 or visit the website at cityofpickering.com Seedy Saturday February 6, 2010, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm East Shore Community Centre, $3 admission Garden Expo with guest speakers, vendors, seedy café and more. For more information, call 905.683.8401 or visit the website at cityofpickering.com/museum 2010 MARCH BREAK ACTIVITIES March 15 – 19, 2010 March Break Camps at the Pickering Recreation Complex Daily camp programs run from Monday, March 15 to Friday, March 19 at the Pickering Recreation Complex. Mini Pidaca Our Half-day camp for children 3 – 5 years of age runs from 9:30 am to 12 noon daily, and operates out of the Creative Centre. Staff at Mini Pidaca have a variety of exciting arts & crafts, music & sing-a-longs, and indoor games planned for the week. Arts Camp Full day programs run 9:00 am – 3:15 pm for children 5 – 12 years of age. Arts camps offers campers the opportunity to participate in a variety of art activities from crafts, to drama and creative games. Swimming Daily. Daily bus transportation to and from camp is provided free for Arts Campers. Sports Full day programs run 9:00 am – 3:15 pm for children 5 – 12 years of age. Campers will learn the basic skills and play fun variations of soccer, floor hockey, basketball and indoor games. Swimming Daily. Daily bus transportation to and from camp is provided free for Sports Campers. Extend-a-Camp ( for Sports and Arts Only) Drop your child off at the Creative Centre between 7:00 am – 9:00 am and pick them up between 3:15 pm and 6:00 pm. Children enjoy a variety of active games, movies, and activities at this before and after Arts or Sports camp. Camp staff are trained and qualified to ensure that your child(ren) have a safe and fun-filled week at camp, learning, laughing, and making friends along the way! Mad Science Camp (Secret Agent Lab) Offered at the West Shore Community Centre (9:00 – 4:00 pm). Camp themes include: At the Scene of the Crime, Organ Trail, Radical Reactions, Chemical counting, and Cell City. Bussing and extend-a-camp, not available. durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 201010 AP Durham rallies among 60 that took place nation wide BY JILLIAN FOLLERT jfollert@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- Amid chants of “Whose house? Our house!” more than 100 people gathered outside the office of Oshawa MP Colin Carrie Saturday afternoon, to speak out against Prime Minister Stephen Harp- er’s decision to prorogue parliament. Some, like 60-year-old Carol Bassett, were there because they’re upset about the 36 bills that died before they had the chance to become law. She’s angry that potential legislation relating to crime and terrorism will now have to start from scratch. “They’re throwing away all this work that was done, it’s a waste of our money, because we’re the ones who pay them,” she said. Doug Woods was recently laid off and said the idea of paying MPs who aren’t in Parliament doesn’t sit well with him. “These guys are on a holiday and I’m paying their salaries when I don’t have a job myself,” he said. “This is an insult to our democracy. It makes me sick.” As protesters chanted and cheered in downtown Oshawa, a similar scene was unfolding in Whitby, where about 100 peo- ple rallied outside the office of Whitby- Oshawa MP Jim Flaherty, who is also the federal finance minister. The local events were among more than 60 anti-proroguation rallies that took place across Canada on Jan. 23. The protests were largely orga- nized through localized Face- book groups that sprang up in response to the main Canadians Against Pro- roguing Parliament group, which topped 211,000 members by the time the rallies got underway. Organizers at the Oshawa protest told the crowd thousands had gathered in Ottawa on Parliament Hill for what was expected to be the larg- est event of the day. Media reports estimated the turnout there at 3,500 just after 1 p.m. Blaine Leal, organizer of the Oshawa rally, said the response proves Canadians are not apathet- ic. “There are people here of all ages, there are people here from all different parties, Conservative, Liberal, NDP and Green Party,” he said. “There are people who maybe aren’t that interested in poli- tics, who don’t vote but this issue got their attention.” The crowd gathered in downtown Oshawa waved homemade signs with slo- gans like “Democracy Now” and “Colin Carrie - Harper’s Puppet” scrawled in black marker, while organizers pro- vided large “pink slips,” bearing the names of local Conservative MPs, for participants to sign. Over the course of the afternoon, the floor was open to anyone who wanted to speak out on proroguing and more than a dozen people took a turn at the mic. Among them was Oshawa Coun- cillor April Cullen, who demanded to know why there weren’t other area politicians and commu- nity leaders in atten- dance, and Dur- ham Labour Council President Jim Free- man, who chastised the prime minister for his “disregard for democracy.” Sid Ryan -- president of the Ontario Fed- eration of Labour and three-time NDP candidate in Oshawa -- got the biggest reaction out of the crowd as he lam- basted Mr. Harper and Mr. Carrie. “Come on, Colin, there’s lot of work to be done. How dare you tell these citizens you support Harper shutting down Parliament,” he bellowed, to thunderous applause from the crowd. Neither Mr. Carrie nor Mr. Flaherty -- nor their representatives -- made an appear- ance at the rallies. POLITICS Hundreds gather to protest proroguing WHITBY -- Chris White held up a sign, showing his dislike of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue Parliament, at a rally opposing the pro- roguing. SABRINA BYRNES / METROLAND WHITBY -- Riona Sutherland and Katrina Leahy held up a sign showing their dislike of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue Parliament at a rally opposing the proroguing Jan. 23. The rally took place in the parking lot of Whitby-Oshawa MP Jim Flaherty’s office. This is an insult to our democracy. It makes me sick. Doug Woods, protester JILLIAN FOLLERT / METROLAND OSHAWA -- A giant ‘pink slip’ for Prime Minister Stephen Harper was signed Jan. 23 at an anti-proroguing rally held at the office of Oshawa MP Colin Carrie. The rally protested the prime minister’s proroguing of Parliament. durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 201011 AP Wednesday January 27, 2010 Ajax & Pickering Locations Flyers in Today’s Paper If you did not receive your News Advertiser/fl yers OR you are interested in a paper route call Circulation at 905-683-5117. Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 - 6:30 Sat. 9 - 1:00 Your Carrier will be around to collect an optional delivery charge of $6.00 every three weeks. Carrier of The Week Remember, all inserts, including those on glossy paper, can be recycled with the rest of your newspaper through your blue box Recycling program. SAVE TIME, SAVE MONEY View Flyers/Coupons At * Delivered to selected households only Today’s carrier of the week is Taylor. Taylor enjoys hockey & hanging with friends. Taylor has received a dinner voucher from Boston Pizza as well as Subway and McDonalds. Congratulations Taylor for being our Carrier of the Week. 8 Salem Rd South Ajax, ON L1S 7T7 *2-4-1 PIZZA AJAX *ADVANTAGE AIR TECH AJAX PICKERING *HOME DEPOT AJAX PICKERING *JYSK AJAX *LOWES AJAX *M & M MEAT SHOPS AJAX PICKERING *MILLWORK AJAX PICKERING *REAL ESTATE AJAX PICKERING *RONA AJAX PICKERING *SALVATION ARMY AJAX *STAPLES AJAX PICKERING *WHEELS AJAX PICKERING 279 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax 260 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax (in Home Depot) 1105 Kingston Rd. Pickering (in Home Depot) 255 Salem Rd. S. D#1 42 Old Kingston Rd., Ajax 465 Bayly St. W. #5, Ajax 1889 Brock Rd., Pickering 300 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax 6 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax Citizenship and Immigration Canada Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada Learn English. Start Today. Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) LINC Day Classes: • All LINC levels run Monday to Friday • Childminding and transportation assistance available to those who qualify • Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering ESL Day Classes: • All levels at various locations LINC Evening Classes: • LINC Levels 1 – 6 run two nights a week • Transportation assistance available to those who qualify • Oshawa, Ajax, Pickering ESL Evening Classes: • Basic to advanced, TOEFL, Conversation at various locations Register now for day or night classes! Permanent Residents, Convention and Government Assisted Refugees are eligible for LINC. All residents are eligible for ESL. Learn English. Start Here. Call 1-866-550-5462 Visit www.DurhamLINC.ca Assessment and Classes provided byFunded by Students across the region raising money to provide relief BY CRYSTAL CRIMI ccrimi@durhamregion.com DURHAM -- As the death toll keeps rising in Haiti, so does the show of support from Durham students. Schools across the region have started various fundraising efforts to help the earthquake-stricken country, where 200,000 people are estimated dead and many remain missing. As the need for support continues, Durham students have been busy collecting coins, hosting hat days for Haiti and sharing information about the tragedy and help needed. At Applecroft Public School in Ajax, students are buying paper bricks to build a mock wall of support around a Haiti display featuring newspaper articles about the disaster. “It’s an initiative that we’ve quickly responded to,” said prin- cipal David Royle, adding it was introduced by kindergarten teacher Laura Heyes. Money raised will go to the Red Cross for relief efforts. And the school’s not alone in its efforts. At St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Pickering, the goal is to raise $10,000 for Haiti aid over the rest of the semester. To support the initiative, students are organizing donation col- lections, poster displays and updating their peers on what’s happening in Haiti with daily announcements. A fundrais- er tracker will also be placed in its front hall to keep track of progress. At R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate in Oshawa, the disaster has increased support for an initiative teacher Lynn Taylor was already working on with Haiti. After visiting the Dominican Republic last summer through Hero Holiday, she met a man named Frantzo whose goal is to build a school in Haiti to help prevent children from becoming street kids in Dominican, which shares an island with Haiti. Back in Canada, she sent him money to acquire a site in Haiti for the school, which is still safe following the quake, she said. Now, Ms. Taylor is about to embark on a project called Frant- zo’s Dream, in which imaginary bricks will be sold through- out the school system to help construct a facility on his site. “In these impoverished villages, they had nothing to begin with,” Ms. Taylor said. Before the disaster, she had people coming into her office to donate to the project, but has found that support has grown tremendously since the earthquake. SCHOOLS’ AID TO HAITI Below is a list of local schools raising money for Haiti relief. AJAX • Lincoln Avenue is running a Haiti relief support initiative from Jan. 25 to Jan. 29. Envelopes will go home with information about donat- ing. • Bolton C. Falby held a pyjama day in which students made a dona- tion of at least $1 to wear their pyjamas and money raised went to the relief effort. PICKERING • St. Mary Catholic Secondary has raised $5,000 to date through its non-uniform days, student collections and community donations to be sent to the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace. The student committee is asking classes for donations and has a goal of collecting $10,000. • Holy Redeemer held a Humanitarian Hats for Haiti fundraiser. • Our Lady of the Bay collected toonies for Haiti. • St. Elizabeth Seton is collecting loose change for two weeks and is having a hat day for Haiti. • St. Isaac Jogues held a hat day for Haiti. • Elizabeth B. Phin on Jan. 20, through the efforts of Grade 8 stu- dents Shayna Bacchus and Emily Flikas, raised $1,200 towards the Haiti relief fund. The girls went class to class sharing information about the disaster and asked students to donate what they could. • St. Marguerite Bourgeoys collected more than $1,300 through a hat day for Haiti. • St. Monica is having hot chocolate for Haiti to raise money to help with relief. EARTHQUAKE DISASTER Durham schools reach out to help Haiti JASON LIEBREGTS / METROLAND AJAX -- Applecroft Public School teacher Laura Heyes explained some of the Haiti earthquake news photos to Darcy D’Souza, Joshua Foster and Kaina Belmar at Applecroft Public School recently. Students are donating money to help the Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti and for their donation, they receive a paper brick they can sign their name on and post around the display. durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 201012 AP CASH In Your Old and Broken GOLD CASH In Your Old and Broken GOLD WE WILL PURCHASE ITEMS SUCH AS: CHAINS • EARRINGS • RINGS • BRACELETS MEDALLIONS • DENTAL GOLD • BROOCHES DIAMONDS • EMERALDS • RUBIES • BROKEN CHAINS CLASS RINGS • GOLD CHARMS We Pay CASH on the SPOT!! (Not cheques like many competitors!) We Beat All Quotes! Check with us before you sell! 905-903-0258 AJAX Onsite at Cash Converters 95 Bayly St. W. (Just West of Harwood) PICKERING Onsite at the Comfort Inn 533 Kingston Rd. (West of Whites) International Go & Jewellery Broke International Gold & Jewellery Brokers DAYS ONLY!! Friday, Saturday & Sunday January 29, 30, & 31, 10am - 5pm 33 PICKERING TOWN CENTRE • UPPER LEVEL • SEARS WING IT’S SALE TIME! We Have Your Size 250 Bayly St., West Ajax Ajax Tel.Tel. 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Trustee In Bankruptcy TrusteeTrustee In In BankruptcyBankruptcy James R. Yanch OSHAWA 215 Simcoe St. N. 905-721-7506 AJAX 50 Commercial Ave. 905-619-1473 Saturday & Evening Appt.’s Available FREE CONSULTATION www.jamesryanch.com Advice on Proposals, Bankruptcy & Alternatives “Lets fi nd solutions together!” Over 20 Years Experience BY APPT. ONLY Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation gives $35,000 DURHAM -- A Pickering councillor and advocate of local agriculture was thrilled to learn of fund- ing for a new initiative in Durham. The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation announced Jan. 22 it was providing $35,000 to the Community Development Council Durham to get the ball rolling on the Durham Region Food Char- ter. The charter, a document that reflects the com- munity’s values and beliefs for food security in the region, was endorsed by Durham Regional council last December. “A cornerstone of long-term sustainability is food,” said Pickering Ward 1 Regional Councillor Bonnie Littley. “So to promote environ- mental, economic and social sustainability, there must be planning for the future use of food.” The funding will allow the CDCD to start formulating a community-based action plan and working group focused on food security and develop- ing the local food economy. Coun. Littley said since the Region and many individu- als work on various aspects related to food and food security, a Durham food policy council will provide opportunities to bring people and their knowledge together to help create positive change. The project will include continuous consulta- tion with farmers and farm groups. “We must look at new ideas of food produc- tion and security and how to achieve it, while at the same time not completely turning our backs to the many tried and proven methods that were employed by our present and past farming com- munities,” said James Blair, co-chairman of the Durham Culinary Association. Twenty-three of the Greenbelt’s farms are locat- ed in Durham, more than any region in the Green- belt. The majority is made up of livestock farms, but there are also fruit and vegetable farms that grow items such as corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, apples and strawberries. AGRICULTURE Durham Food Charter can move ahead BONNIE LITTLEY durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 201017 AP T. 905.683.6582 TTY 905.831.8604 1867 Valley Farm Road. Pickering, ON Gift Certificates from Pickering Recreation Complex Ask about membership rates for youth, students & families! Sweeter than Chocolate, Longer Lasting than Flowers, More Precious than Jewellery ... Good Health,the perfect Graduation Gift for the ones you love. health club group fitness nutrition personal training tennis squash racquetball aquatics skating cityofpickering.com 2009St. Mary Ontario Scholars Jordan Baptiste Chelsea Barradas Kristin Bashford Tricia Bayley Nicole Bermingham Katherine Blake Zachary BoothJanelle Baboolal Daniel Bagg Jennifer Bertram Sarah Bunting Alexander Bunyan Kelsey Burt Nicole Cabrera Melissa Cadman Heather Catania Joshua ChangSamantha Boychuk Jevon BryanLucia Borrelli Maighdlin Carr Paolo Collentes Richard Czapka Nicole D’Anjou Corin De Sousa Briana De Souza Christina Demunda Bianca Di Quattro Jeffrey Clements Graham Clendenning William Chin-Fook Heather Delph Joshua-Ray Elsier Laura Farrell Christine Ferady Alicia Ferroro Brent Foden Janelle Forbes Alexandra Geremia Danielle Douglas Genevieve Eccleston Karlie Doucette Jennifer Foley Andrea Goodwin Jennifer Granata Allison Gray Natalie Guest Sarah Harrison-Edge Lucas Heathcote Andrea Henderin Charlene Gibbons Kristian GilbertGaetana Gianfriddo Virginia Heath Simon Almeida Not pictured Nicholas Longo Matthew Pochwat Veronika Stefanski durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 201018 AP Shannon Jegg Adriana Karailievska Monica Kazmierczak Sarah Kelly Shawn Lalach Michael Laramee Jacqueline Levato Maxine Jagdeo Elaine Jahshan Victoria Lamanna Jennifer McCullum Alexander Melvin Stephanie Mil Joseph Modica Samantha Moore Rebecca Morgan Emma Mackenzie Alexa Lupinacci Brooke McAlister Alex Morra Matthew Morgado Stefani Noehammer Lina Oppedisano Sarah Ovcjak Connor Paterson Andrea Payawal Devyn PetersMichael Multon Breanne Nicholson Christopher Mueller Rajindha Perera Ciara Hill Bradley Riches Daniel Ronco Sherina Sadler Rodney Saint Louis Shannon Suave Tyler Schmitt Muriel Schvartzman Stephanie Sankovic Kimberly Scanlon Jason Smith Anik SomaniJulie Scott Taylor Scrymgeour Meaghan Thompson Saumya Valookaran Laura Taglioni Giancarlo Valente Natalie Van Rooy Brandon Walker Julia Watson Sarah WillisPrashanna Vivekananda Brooke VivianJessica Vella Lucas Pollard Melissa Plouskas Kira Poon Samantha Putos Frederick Qubti Breanne ReelNicole Ponte Ashinie Ratnasingam Claire Wilson Jahnaya Wright St Mary2009Ontario Scholars Michael Larocque durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 201019 AP Women have come a long way in the working world, from taking over men’s positions during the war to shattering glass ceilings on their way to the top. These days it’s not uncommon to fi nd women in positions of power, from managers to CEOs. Many women have also started or have bought their own businesses. The Women in Business feature highlights women from your community who have achieved success in the business world. The following pages showcase some of our community’s successful business women. From managers to owners, each has worked hard to reach the top. Some left steady careers to take advantage of a new challenge or opportunity while others looked for new ways to blend their careers with their family life. Some have taken lifelong passions and turned them into successful businesses. Each has carved their own path to success. Each story is unique and inspiring. Enjoy learning about these women and the businesses they have built. Read through their profi les to learn more about how they are creating their own path and living their dreams, fi nding greater success along the way! Are you considering a career change or opening your own business? Perhaps these stories will inspire you to take the next step forward to becoming our region’s next successful business woman. Advertising Feature Welcome to Women in Business m reach the advantage while Women Make History Every Day In 1868 a woman patented a machine that makes fl at-bottomed paper bags that is still used today. A woman invented COBOL, a widely-used business computer programming language. A woman owns the patent for the development of Kevlar, the material from which bullet-proof vests are made. – Metro Creative Advertising did you know? To promote yourself in our Women in Business Special Feature please contact Donna McNally today at 905.683.5110 ext. 241. durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 201020 AP Jones-Dooley Insurance Brokers and JD Insurance and Financial Services Ltd. is in bus- iness to serve the greater good of the community. Our motto: Personal service makes a difference. Don’t trust the security of your livelihood to an anonymous person in a call centre working solely in the interest of their employer. We focus on each individual. The constant training and experience of an insurance broker is of great value to each individual trying to ensure their insurance needs are cared for. We hold professional & academic designations to ensure the needs of each client are thoroughly addressed. Be confi dent in our knowledge & experience, we are the better choice. Let us help you with your business, commercial, personal and life requirements. Marsha began her insurance career in 1972. She obtained licenses in both life and general insurance in 1972 and later professional accreditations as a Chartered Insurance Professional, a Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker, and an Elder Planning Counselor. Her business has been built one client at a time through personal relationships built on trust. Marsha has always taken pride in being a true insurance advisor and facilitator, not simply an insurance supplier. In spite of the adversities and challenges of the insurance industry in recent years, Marsha has not deviated from her fundamental belief that the most important part of this business is ensuring the needs of her clients are met. As an independent business owner, balancing work and family for over 35 years, Marsha understands the concerns and the pressures that we all face on a daily basis. Being aware of what is most important to each client has helped her business fl ourish, maintain a consistent level of growth and a client retention rate of 94 per cent. As her business has grown in Ajax and Pickering Village, so too has her desire to contribute back to the community. As an active member of the Ajax Rotary Club, Marsha is always looking for ways to reciprocate all that the community has provided for her personally and in business. For free insurance quotes, drop by our new offi ces at 103 Church Street South in Pickering Village, call us at (905)427-3595, or reach us online at www.JDInsurance.ca.Marsha Jones-Dooley Owner - Jones-Dooley Insurance Brokers Dr. Joanna Madej is proud to have a modern, beautiful dental practice in central Ajax. Born and raised in Poland, Dr Joanna Madej excelled in sciences in high school. Her original goal was to become an architect before she realized that her good eye for proportions and excellent manual dexterity would serve her very well in the fi eld of dentistry. “My decision to become a dentist was very straightforward, and I’m very happy with my choice,” says Dr. Madej. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto before enrolling in the U of T Faculty of Dentistry. She graduated with honours in 1995. After graduation, Dr. Madej practiced in several offi ces in GTA gaining an invaluable experience as an associate dentist. She was drawn to Ajax because it’s a growing community with a great potential for expansion. Both Dr Madej and her husband of 22 years, Paul, agreed Durham Region was a good place to raise their family. Thus the practice opened in February of 1998. Lots of young families visit Dr. Madej’s offi ce and her clients range from toddlers to seniors. As the only dentist in her offi ce, Dr. Madej sees every patient personally and is able to establish close relationships with all of her clients allowing her to better diagnose problems and propose the most appropriate course of treatment even in the most complex cases. The practice is dedicated to those who wish to keep their teeth for a lifetime of comfort, esthetics and function. Dr Madej believes that improving her patients’ smiles through a conservative esthetic dental approach has a positive impact on their overall appearance and self- confi dence. Dr. Madej works with a great team skilled at making all of her patients comfortable every step of the way. There is a dental laboratory on site, which means patients can have their prosthetic work done while they wait. Dr. Madej’s practice is located in the Heritage Market Square Plaza at Salem Road and Kingston Road (across from Costco, in the Applebee’s plaza). The offi ce is open six days a week and has evening and weekend appointments available. For more information, please call (905) 619-3112. Dr. Joanna Madej DENTAL CARE 17-145 Kingston Rd. E Ajax ON L1R 2X7 Owner of Dental Care Advertising Feature durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 201021 AP Advertising Feature Karen Davies Thomas has always been passionate about dance. Before opening the Pickering School of Ballet (PSB) in 1989, Karen toured with dance companies in Europe and Japan. She graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours degree and the National Ballet School’s teacher’s training program. She is accredited by the Royal Academy of Dance and the Imperial Society of Dance. Karen taught at the Interplay School of Dance, where she was the Associate Director, and developed a strong modern dance program and created a performing dance company. She became the owner of Interplay in 2006 and is currently the Artistic Director and Principal there. Karen has also taught at the National Ballet School of Canada. Celebrating its 20th anniversary last year, PSB has grown from the 12 students who began there in 1989 to over 400 students today. Karen is the Director of PSB, Director of Cecchetti Ballet Program, Intensive Ballet Program, Profi le Dance Company Director and Choreographer. Karen’s focus at PSB is teaching classical ballet in both the Cecchetti and Royal Academy of Dance styles. She beams with pride when she talks about her student’s accomplishments in dance, such as being accepted into Canada’s most prestigious dance schools. PSB offers classes for ages 2 to adult, including recreational, pre-professional and competitive classes. PSB has two locations in Pickering, at 91 Rylander Blvd. Unit B and 2351 Kingston Road. For more information, please call (416) 284-6784 or (416) 261-9312 or visit the website at www.psbdanceacademy.ca. Karen Davies Thomas Owner - Pickering School of Ballet Liz Opashinov started her career with Revenue Canada and enjoyed her work there. But after having a child, she felt that the commute was taking too much time away from her family. Twenty-fi ve years ago, she joined Diplomat Pools which opened in 1971 and will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year, and learned the business from the ground up. Her position with Diplomat Pools allows her to interact with clients on a regular basis and because she works with clients from the very beginning of the project until it’s completion, she forms relationships that last a lifetime. She is able to watch her client’s children grow up and come in to design their own pools. “I love working with people,” says Liz. “I’m a real people person.” At Diplomat Pools, the team works hard not just to build pools for their clients, but to create paradises and outdoor living spaces. “I enjoy seeing the trans- formation from nothing to a place where memories will be created and where good times and great fun will be had,” she says. Liz has a great team that works with her to ensure that all of their clients are happy with their work. Diplomat Pools also sells an exclusive line of hot tubs and has a certifi ed spa technician on staff. Diplomat Pools is located at 637 Kingston Road in Pickering. The store is open seven days a week from April to November, and fi ve days a week the rest of the year. For more information, please call (905)839-8399 or visit the website at www.diplomatpools.com Liz Opashinov Owner of Diplomat Pools I enjoy seeing the transformation from nothing to a place where memories will be created and where good times and great fun will be had.“ ” durhamregion.comNews Advertiser • January 27, 201022 AP Advertising Feature Gloria Luoma became a professional dancer at the age of 15, and toured as a soloist internationally with the National Ballet of Canada. “I have years of experience for what the stage is about,” says Gloria, “as Shakespeare noted, ‘all the world’s a stage’…and a home is no exception.” Gloria became a licensed Realtor® in 1986, and now with over 20 years of experience, has created a successful real estate career and is a proud member of the Re/Max Platinum club. Throughout her career, she has experienced all aspects of real estate, including new homes, land assembly, resale homes and commercial. She believes that the presentation of a home is the key to selling it. “I believe if the price point is in alignment with the presentation, the house will sell.” Conducting hugely successful open house events with a seemingly uncanny intuition for effective marketing Gloria is committed to making sure her clients’ homes are in front of qualifi ed buyers’ eyes. “With her knowledge of new home sales combined with her drive to succeed, we realized that Gloria was the best person to represent our home on the market the way we would want it to be marketed,” say clients Mike and Leslie. Gloria is currently offering complimentary staging consults to anyone making a donation to the Haiti fund and will match any contribution up to a maximum of $5000.00. For more information, please call Gloria at (416) 486-5588, (905)396-4557 or visit her website at www.glorialuoma.com. Gloria Luoma Sales Representative - Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.Independently Owned and Operated Kim Jimmo-Shields, execu- tive director of Abbeylawn Manor Retirement Home, has 17 years of experience and the support of a strong team. She promotes Abbeylawn Manor Inc. in their mis- sion “Working Towards Better Care, to give respect, display integrity, ex- cellence and compassion.” Starting with an empty shell, Jimmo-Shields’ has had support from the owners in bringing her vision of a comfort- able, warm home to the residents of Abbeylawn. It is Jimmo-Shields’ be- lief that the invaluable staff makes this retirement home unique in this very competitive market. Abbeylawn Manor is a stately build- ing surrounded by the Petticoat Creek Conservation Area. It has a long and varied history, just like its residents. With 57 suites, a pictur- esque location and close proximity to Lake Ontario, it has great appeal for those looking for a safe, com- fortable home for mature individu- als interested in maintaining the independent lifestyle they have al- ways enjoyed. Nominated for Best Retirement Home in Durham Region each year since opening in 2007 has helped Abbeylawn become part of our community in Pickering. Strong ties to relevant local charities is very important to Abbeylawn Manor Inc. and the community’s support has helped us achieve success. Thank you Pickering! Abbeylawn Manor is located at 534 Rodd Avenue, Pickering.905.509.2582 www.abbeylawnmanor.com. Kim Jimmo-Shields Executive Director Abbeylawn Manor Retirement Home Seated at front: Kim Jimmo-Shields, Executive Director Standing left to right: Shelly Rogers, Personal Support Worker Supervisor; Kimberly Barrett, Director of Recreation; Debbie Mahoney, Executive Assistant; Cindy Cozier, Director of Nursing; Jennifer Tough, Director of Housekeeping.