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9 · Wednesday, August 11, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Making the perfect pizza ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER TAPPING INTO CULINARY SKILLS: Oliver and Bonacini Restaurant in Oakville Place mall opened their kitchen for members of the Teen Adventure Program (TAP) to come in and cook themselves a pizza. TAP is a summer program for teens and young adults with special needs that go on day trips around the GTA. Employee Lei Tam, above, helps Shayne put cheese on his pizza. Chris Oliveira, above right, helps Shayne spread out his dough while Head chef Ben Curtis, right, displays an apron that the camp made for him. Oakville Votes October 2010 Notice of intention to designate 1179 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario Bronte White Oak Tree On Monday, August 9, 2010, Oakville Town Council resolved to pass a notice of intention to designate the Bronte White Oak Tree municipally known as 1179 Bronte Road under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 18, as a property of cultural heritage value and interest. The Bronte White Oak Tree (Quercus alba) is located on the east side of Bronte Road, just north of the QEW and adjacent to the Halton Regional Building. The tree has the characteristic gnarled branches of a mature white oak. At present time, it is a healthy tree standing 19.5 meters above ground with a massive trunk nearly 1.5 meter in diameter and stout far-reaching limbs spreading approximately 25 meters. The designation will apply to the area specified in the reference plan attached in the designation by-law. The Bronte White Oak Tree has cultural heritage value in its physical value as a fine representative example of a mature white oak tree. The broad spreading crown of this oak tree has round-lobed leaves that transform from a silvery pink in spring to glossy green in summer, and then deepen to a reddish brown in autumn where they remain tenaciously deep into winter. The Bronte White Oak Tree also has physical value as a rare example of a surviving old growth white oak tree. While the species of tree is common to southern Ontario, due to the history of intense logging in the province, old growth white oak trees of this stature are rare. The Bronte White Oak Tree has cultural heritage value in its historic associations with the development of the hamlet of Merton, the village of Bronte and the Town of Oakville. The Bronte White Oak Tree is estimated to date back to the 1730s, and therefore pre-dates historical The Bronte White Oak Tree also has cultural heritage value in European settlement in the Oakville area. The Bronte White Oak Tree is through its special associations and relationship with the local one of a very few pre-settlement white oak trees that remain in Oakville. community. Due to its age, size and location, the Bronte White Oak Tree has been recognized by the community as a highly valued Before European settlement, large white oaks dominated forests across natural heritage landmark for many years. eastern North America. However, early settlers recognized that the hard, heavy, tough oak wood was a valuable source of lumber. Numerous In 2006, the Bronte White Oak Tree was preserved due to mills were built across Oakville, Bronte and Trafalgar Township in order community efforts to divert a regional road around the tree and the to process timber. At that time, oak trees were so in abundance in this preservation campaign gained national attention. The `Woodlands part of southern Ontario that the name Oakville was chosen for one of Oak Tree Preservation Committee' was successful in its attempt to the area settlements whose founder, William Chisholm, was also named protect the tree, and although a relatively recent event, in years to come this effort will likely be seen as an important moment for the "White Oak" by the First Nations people. community. The Bronte White Oak Tree has historical value in its association with past owners of the land on which it stands. The tree was once located The Bronte White Oak Tree has cultural heritage value in its on Woodlands Orchards, an estate owned by James White who bought contextual value as it has existed at this location for approximately the land in the 1840s. James White was a sawmill owner, lumber 250 years, pre-dating the European settlement and development of merchant, gentleman farmer, and livestock breeder. He was a major the area. The Bronte White Oak Tree is a community landmark and developer of the timber resources of the Twelve Mile Creek valley, and is well known by its prominent location on Bronte Road. The tree is was also the owner of the horse that won the first Queen's Plate. The a physical reminder of the rural character of this area, which has only land later passed to White's son-in-law, Paul Campbell, who recently experienced intensive development. transformed the 315 acre farm into the best known orchards in the Any objection to this designation must be filed no later than area. September 10, 2010. Objections should be directed to Cathie Best, In 1921, George Chew Atkins bought the property and moved his family from New Jersey. In the 1970s, the property was owned by his son, George Atkins, who was an important figure in Canadian broadcasting. He enlisted the assistance of Erik Jorgenson of the Shade Tree Research Laboratory of the University of Toronto, who identified the tree as one of few remaining old oak trees in Ontario. In 1972, Atkins signed an agreement with the Department of Transportation that ensured that "every possible precaution will be taken to guard the safety of said Tree". Town Clerk, 1225 Trafalgar Road, P.O. Box 310, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6. Any inquiries may be directed to Susan Schappert, Heritage Planner at 905-845-6601, ext. 3870 or by email at sschappert@oakville.ca. Last date to file notice of objection: September 10, 2010 Cathie Best, Town Clerk