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Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, August 1, 2007 3 Halton makes push for all-day GO service to Georgetown/Milton MELANIE HENNESSEY Special to The IFP The Region is pushing for several improvements to GO transportation in Halton, including an all-day train service into Georgetown. Halton staff made a presentation to that effect Friday to the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority (GTTA), which will ultimately decide how almost $12 billion in provincial `MoveOntario 2020' funds designated for public transit will be spent. Regional Chair Gary Carr, who also sits on the GTTA board of directors, said that Halton indicated it would like to see an all-day train service in Georgetown and Milton and a third track added to the Burlington/Oakville line. "Amongst the concerns of people in Halton, transportation is one of the big issues," said Carr. In addition, he said Halton asked for a bus rapid transit service on Hwy. 407. No decisions were made at the GTTA meeting on the projects. The authority is expected to finalize its plans and report back to the Province early next year on its longterm strategy for transportation in the GTA, including MoveOntario projects. The GTTA's mandate is to ensure all levels of government work together to develop a long-range transportation plan in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders. The agency is responsible for regional transit and transportation planning, purchasing transit vehicles on behalf of municipalities, the future management of GO Transit and ultimately the operation of the GTA fare card system for Greater Toronto and Hamilton. The MoveOntario 2020 initiative aims to improve transit service in the GTA. It includes 52 projects and calls for 66 per cent of them to be completed by 2015 and 95 per cent of them by 2020. It's expected that the improvements will result in 800 million new transit trips per year and reduce the number of car trips in the GTA by 300 million. Canadian Tire aids hospital Georgetown Canadian Tire store manager Tracey Craig (right) presents a cheque for $50,000 to Georgetown Hospital Foundation board members on Friday that is earmarked to fund equipment needed for newborn and family care. The local hospital does not receive funding from the Ministry of Health to update medical equipment and relies heavily on community support to maintain a high standard of patient care. The $50,000 pledge is the largest gift ever received by the foundation and the locally owned and operated Canadian Tire has been generous in past years, contributing over $20,000 in cash and donating many items that were used as prizes or auction items at hospital fund-raising events. The funds will be used to purchase a baby warmer and resuscitation platform, phototherapy light, transcutaneous monitor and nasal continuous positive air pressure device. Two new obstetricians are expected to begin work at the hospital this year. Also in the photo (from left) are hospital foundation board members Herma Buchanan, Shelley Phipps, John McNally, Cindy McDonell, Ann Photo by Eamonn Maher Lawlor and Paul Armstrong. Police blotter Halton Police are investigating an alleged assault that occurred at West Seven in Norval early Sunday. Police report at about 12:30 a.m. a 21-year-old Brampton man was escorted out of the bar by a bar employee due to a disagreement over payment of a bill. He told police he was assaulted and suffered scrapes to his chin, knee, hip and cheek. ··· Police are looking for two women in connection with a theft of clothing from Winners in Georgetown Sunday afternoon. At about 4:45 p.m. a store employee saw two women huddled over a shopping cart. She thought they were attempting to remove tags from items. When she confronted them the women were hostile. She went to get assistance from other employees and saw the women leave the store with a shopping bag full of merchandise. They got into a four-door beige Honda and drove off. Both suspects are described as black, in their mid to late 30s. One woman was 5'9" with a large build and dark hair with lighter spots on the roots. She was wearing blue jeans, a red top and red bandana on her forehead. The other woman was 5'4" with a petite build and dark hair. She was wearing a blue top and was driving the vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call Const. Geoff Clarke at 905-878- 5511 ext. 2405. Man alleges assault at bar Acton student earns Excellence award An Acton student is among the winners of a to manage the inventory in food banks, thus 2007 Canada Millennium Scholarship facilitating the effectiveness of their canvassing Foundation Excellence Local Award. efforts. In 2005 Querques received the The award recognizes university and col- Microsoft "You Can Make a Difference" award. lege-bound students for their achievements in With excellent grades, above average leaderleadership, innovation, academic performance, ship qualities and a desire to help others, and community service. Joseph Querques hopes to develop more Querques of Christ the King School efficient materials for society by was recognized for his good citizenfocusing on environmental issues ship, fresh ideas and academic excelsurrounding the petroleum and foslence and will receive a one-time sil fuel industries. $4,000 award. "An investment in the education Querques developed a strong of these outstanding citizens is an sense of community at a young age investment in the future of our sociwhen he realized that all of his soccer ety," said Norman Riddell, executive coaches were volunteers. Wanting to director and CEO of the Canada give back to the community and help Millennium Scholarship Foundothers in the same way that he was ation. "These young, and sometimes JOSEPH helped, he volunteered as a camp not so young, individuals have QUERQUES counselor at "Creative Encounters already demonstrated their ability to with Science," a summer youth camp held at change the world around them-- they know the University of Guelph. how to make a difference. The Foundation is Querques has a love and talent for science, pleased to recognize their past successes, but winning more 35 awards for his science pro- above all is proud to help them reach their jects at regional and national levels, and he can future goals." often be found sharing that talent by tutoring The Foundation received some 9,600 appliother students after school or at lunch hour. cations from students across the country. They Constantly looking for a challenge, he devel- awarded 1052 scholarships: 100 national, 241 oped a computer inventory application system provincial, and 711 local. Holding provision removed from project Halton Hills council recently removed the "H" (holding provision) on the Bennett Health Care Centre's proposed retirement residential life lease apartment building-- The Gallery at Bennett Village-- on Princess Anne Dr. This allows the organization to move ahead with construction of the building-- the first in this multi-phase project. what's missing in your backyard? AY DON'T P FOR 6 S! MONTH Backyard Touch 318 Guelph Street 905.873.8835 HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 10 am - 6 pm; Sat. 10 am - 5 pm, Sun. 11 am - 3 pm (FORMERLY BEACHCOMBER) Georgetown