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THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ MARCH 9,2005 ♦ PAGE 7 durtiamregion.com program upgrades skills of municipal staff BY CARLY FOSTER Staff writer DURHAM -- A training program developed by the University of Ontario Institute of Technology for the Region is making work quicker and easier for fnunicipal managers. The master's certificate in municipal management, called an "executive education education program," is aimed at senior managers managers who want to update their skills, said Terry XVu, director of the management management development centre at UOIT. "The Region of Durham has realized that some of their managers need some training in different areas, especially in leadership, writing business cases, in problem-solving," he said. Many managers, when they were initially initially hired, may have been in other roles that did not require those skills or business business degrees, Mr. Wu said. They may have had social work or history degrees. "Now that they're in the management position, they need some training," he said. 'That's why we created this program, specifically for those people." The 16-day program is held on Fridays, Fridays, and teaches classes such as coaching, coaching, negotiating, project management and public-sector reforms. There are 24 managers attending, including staff from the local municipalities and Durham Regional police. In competition, pigeons race distances of up to 900 kilometres The program has provided some "alternate "alternate thinking" for Ingrid Svelnis, the director of parks, recreation and culture for Uxbridge Township. "You have a chance to look at what you're doing and a chance to see how someone else may handle it," she said, adding that project planning has been her favourite course so far. "We're getting to that time of year when we're looking at capital projects and it's nice to be able to do bigger ni mu imimt min tllim thinking on it... especially when you have multiple projects to manage." Stress management and coaching are a hit with Shari Stefflcr, an area manager in the income support division of the Region's social services department who was initially hired as a case worker. "It makes work quicker," she said. "It's (the courses have) never been packaged together." The management program students will graduate June 10. justice for our From page 1 descendent of messenger pigeons com- ^pnlX^ed-by , Part 1 iOshawa ► Community r Health Centre "YourWdlnm, Our Minion" Oshawa Community Health G ' UJ ---^>-,uife^.part:time.J2 days" u^.„.,Lunev part-time,,[4, aav I distance;^r'.'Mamrv eXpTdins. 1 here are numerous? opinions on how the pigeons accomplish this feat; an internal mechanism mechanism that functions like a GPS tracking system is one of many theories. But one thing is for certain, they never get lost, he says. "It's important for people to realize that racing pigeons are a specific breed, not like the ones that hang around parks and mess all over the cars," he stresses. Sometimes neighbours can get a little nervous when a pigeon loft goes up next door. However, the Courtice resident is quick to point out homing pigeons fly high and fast with one goal in mind, "They want to return to their home loft," he explains. "They don't stop to eat •french fries down by the lake and they 'don't park themselves on the roof of a ihouse, making a mess. ! "I fly my birds for exercise and to iget them in condition to race," he adds. i"Their instinct is to fly home and they do jnot stop." • Caring for the birds is a year-round endeavour. Breeding takes place in late winter and training begins when the hatchlings are 28 to 30 days old. The young birds are first acclimatized to the area around the loft and gradually Mr. Martire takes them farther a field -- a block, then two kilometres -- slowly increasing the birds' training distances to a maximum of 80 kilometres. 'I fly my birds for exercise and to get them in condition to race' There are two series of competitions in the pigeon racing circuit. The races are sanctioned by the Canadian Racing Pigeon Union, an organization that sets standards and rules governing the sport. Old birds, pigeons over a year old, race every Saturday from April until the second second week of July while the young bird circuit (birds bom after Dec. 31 of the previous year) round out the season from August through Thanksgiving. All races are weather-permitting since the birds will instinctively fly around stormy weather, a path that could take the flyers hundreds of kilometres out of their way and put them in danger of exhaustion as they make their way home, Mr. Martire explains. Races vary from 200 to 900 kilometres. The night before a race, all the pigeon racers in the local combine (pigeon lingo for club) load their birds into a specialized specialized trailer. An authorized club representative representative drives through the night to the race starting location. At the appointed time, the pigeons are released, with the owners waiting anxiously for their speedy return to home lofts. When the bird reaches home, the time is recorded by scanning a band attached to the bird's leg or by stamping the band using a union-sanctioned union-sanctioned print clock. In the end, the winner is determined by distance travelled divided divided by travel time, Mr. Martire explains. "The fastest bird wins," he says. Although the average pigeon can reach speeds of 75 to 80 kilometres per hour, Mr. Martire says he has seen birds clocked at 120 kilometres with a good tail wind. Although the pigeon fancier . wouldn't brag about his birds, he did say the combine does well in competition and "my birds generally do quite well.", It's now a quiet time in the aviary. However, with breeding season on the horizon (he normally keeps 50 adults and 70 youngsters in a season) there will soon be a new clutch of hatchlings to nurture and train. Like all pets, the birds require good food, exercise, fresh air and a clean environment to keep them happy, healthy and flying high and fast. The club welcomes new members, no experience required. 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For the latest Information, visit us at ^Çii^t^VBoîfJw^R^^Têquired^Annuâi""^ o| a bo 1 rrovSDg t o"4!4%/2.9% per annum. Option to pmcho A so 0 aHoaTond la ottorsln this advertisement. «Based on starling from price of 2005 Colorador Base, Regular paymonVtrade 1 ; Example: $10 000 a! 0% APR, rmollî^menî lÆSB lor^Xmoltcos, Çffi ofg Is $0 *P« CALL: DELDYKSTRA/ DEBBIE DYKSTRA-MURRAY 905-697-3300 _ _ . -- w , „ FINANCIAL LTD. D E LTD M 'v' MORTGAGES Notice of Liquor Licence Application Ontario The following establishment has applied to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario for a liquor licence under the Liquor Licence Act: Application for Additional Facilities Hanc's Chicken & Ribs Restaurant 89 King Street East Bowmanville (outdoor area) Any resident of the municipality may make a written submission as to whether the issuance of the licence is in the public interest having regard to the needs and wishes of the residents. Submissions must be received no later than April 4, 2005. Please include your name, address and telephone number. If petition is submitted to the Commission, please identify the designated contact person. Note: The AGCO gives the applicant copies of any objections. Anonymous objections are not considered. The personal information gathered is collected under the authority of the Liquor Licence Act. The principal purpose of the collection is to assess eligibility for the issuance of a liquor sales licence. Copies of all,objections are given to the applicant. The information may also be disclosed pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Questions about this collection should be directed to the Manager, Licensing and Registration, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of, Ontario at the address, telephone numbers or e-mail address listed below. Submissions to be sent to: Licensing and Registration, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, 20 Dundas Street West, 7 lh Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 2N6. Tel: 416-326-8700 OR Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-522-2876. Fax: 416-326-5555. E-mail: licensing@agco.on.ca he Comfort lane by Glenn Trider This Week: Extreme Barbecues! New Vermont Castings Dream Machines VCS5005 Gas Barbecue Grill 62,500 BTU Five Straight - Stainless Steel Main Burners: Stylized Stainless Steel Rolltop Hood and Cast Iron End Caps; Porcelain Coated Base Oven w/ Stainless Steel ' Lip; Easy Action Stainless Steel Handle; Stainless Steel Sear Plates; Electronic Ignition System; Stainless Steel Front, Sides and Black Back; Double Stainless Steel Doors, Stainless Steel Control Panel with plastic knobs and chrome-, bezels, Condiment Bins, Side Shelving, Porcelain on Cast Iron Cooking Grates; Warming Drawer; Side Burner (15,000 BTU); 830 Sq. in. Total Cooking Area (600 sq. in. Primary/230sq. in. Secondary); Heavy Duty Casters; Stainless Steel Infrared Rear Rotissorie, Burner (20,000 BTU), Split, MotorBrackets, Back Lit Console & LED nite Console l-ffifip- All this and a 10 year warranty to back up a great product. Come see this new beauty down at our show room. Next Week the VCS50I0 Limited Edition. ®Ije fflamfnrt j&ljnpp 160 Baseline Rd. E. Bowmanville SIGNATURE (905) 623-2956 Hours: Mon.• Frl.8-6,Sat. 10-4 Closed Sundays webslte:www, comfortshoppe.com Email: glenn@comfortshoppe.com i -1 j ÜL