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Wednesday April 19, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A7 COMMENT G i f t o f r e a d i n g o n e t o b e t r e a s u r e d f o r l i f e Here's a good news story: in just six weeks time, 220 local elementary school students read almost 3,000 books. In fact, that's what the kids from Brantwood Public School in Oakville have done for two years in a row. Then they celebrate the terrific response to their six-week school-wide reading expedition, a volunteer-initiated program aimed at broadening the reading tastes of every student from kindergarten right up to Grade 5. It requires literally hundreds of volunteer hours, according to librarian Cathy Lavalley, who said it couldn't be done without the support of parents cut ting out canoes, pasting them on the walls, colouring in names, ordering colourful Canadian posters to tie in with the theme and opening up the library in off times so kids could have the chance to read quietly. Everyone who read a book, or two chapters of a longer chapter book, had a canoe placed on the wall. By the end of the program, the walls of the tiny school were festooned with tiny paper canoes...well on their way on their journey across Canada. This year's Canoe Canada Reading Expedition was kick-started by local canoeist Roman Rockcliffe, who canoed across Canada in 1995. Larry Cain, Olympic gold and silver medalist in canoe, visited the school, read a book to individual classes and spoke a little about what it takes to get to the Olympics. He brought his medals and the students got to see and touch them up close. summit and many adventurous points. Footprints covered the school; canoes covered it this year. The visuals are important, according to the program's organizers. Students want to see something tangible - be it canoes or footprints. And involving the whole school is important as well from the vice-principal Anne Marie Sienna Mayor Ann Mulvale also came to the right into all the classrooms including the school and read to the students. Finally, kindergarten children. Parents were asked to get involved as the music duo Verna and Will played and well and read more and experiment with lead the students in This Land is Your different authors. Land, part of the program's double edged "There aren't that many projects that theme to celebrate reading and learn a lit tle about the geography of the country as involve the whole school so you can do the kids "canoed" from the most east to many things - raise school spirit because the west areas of the school - from the it is very much a team effort and make reading an important part of your daily Maritimes to British Columbia. How did it all begin? Alice Popovich, life," commented Lavalley. She added having a successful athlete one of the library volunteers, explained the school's library committee come to the school and talk about how extended last year's mountain climbing much he likes to read and the importance program and made it into a canoe read of setting goals were also important. "It's not about competition; it's about ing expedition. Last year, the school teamwork and sharing the love of read won an honourable mention award in the Making a Difference for Students Award ing" she added. Older grades were able Program sponsored by the Learning to accumulate points based on groups. From the beginning, the library commit Consortium. According to Alix Scott, Reading tee that initiated the whole plan didn't Expedition `99 provided the students want it to become a hard-nosed competi with a reading list comprised of award- tion. What they wanted was to energize winning titles and other examples of reading and, just possibly, effect some classic children's literature to begin their journey. The school became the moun change in the reading habits of some of tain range complete with a base camp, the children. According to one of the pro gram's founders, Alix Scott, feedback from the parents was positive. She said they mentioned time and time again that their kids had branched out into different kinds of books. And they loved having the opportunity of reading at lunch time. One parent commented it motivated them as a family. This family said that as the children in the family were able to read independently, the parents focused their attentions of the pre school aged children. The program, they said, was a good reminder to spend time reading with all the children in the family. The committee is already looking at next year's tljeme that they think might be concentrated around space. Any astronauts who love to read are wel come to contact the school at any time. DIANE HART Proposed Guidelines for Infill Development Prepared by ATA Architects Inc. The Town of Oakville is in the process of preparing design guidelines to assist those involved in undertaking development work on "infill"sites. The purpose of the guidelines is to inform the proponents in advance of making development applications, of the Town's design intent for infill areas. The guidelines are meant for architects, engineers, landscape architects, developers, builders, resident associations and other professionals and stakeholders who work and monitor development in the infill areas. The following meetings are scheduled to provide more information on the guidelines, to obtain feedback and bring the final guidelines report to Council for consideration: · · · A public information meeting will be held on May 10, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. in the Trafalgar Room. This meeting is to advise interested members of the public and building professionals of the guidelines and to obtain feedback and input. The Site Plan Committee will consider the staff report dealing with the guidelines on June 6, 2000 at 5:30 p.m. in the Trafalgar Room Upon approval by the Site Plan Committee, the report is scheduled to be considered by Council on June 26,2000 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. A copy of the draft guidelines can be obtained from the Planning Services Department. If you have any questions, please call Zubeda Poonja at (905) 845-6601, extension 3171 or e-mail zpoonja@town.oakville.on.ca. D o n 't e v e r b e t a g a in s t M a B e ll M a Bell, the notorious outlaw of yes teryear, the most feared female of the wild west, the cigar smokin', gun totin', bare-back ridin'... oh, sorry, that was Ma Barker. Ma Bell, the notorious corporate rob ber of yesteryear, once the most feared public service provider in all of Canada, the monopoly that got so rapacious the government had to drive a stake through its heart and force it to allow -- here's a word that you're not going to see much of in this decade -- competition, well guest what? SHE'S BACK!!! Many years ago, communication car tels like AT&T in the U.S. and Bell in Canada were forced to release their greedy grip on the North American com munications industry so that today, in the interest of free choice and fair market value, all the actors in Hollywood could have their very own long distance TV commercial. Then, Bell Canada was operating with such arrogance and greed the gov ernment feared there was a real danger of it becoming a bank. Now, the century of the colossus takeover is off and running over every company that's unlucky enough to be in its way. Last week, Bell Canada, dis guised as parent company BCE Inc. kid napped CTV. The abduction in broad daylight, sorry, the corporate takeover of CTV at $2.3-billion means M a Bell, the wound ed monopolist, has been re-bom into the new age of corporate gigantism. She's meaner and much leaner now that she's done a clever joint-venture with U.S.-based Excell Global Services, whereby M a is shifting hundreds of its operators to lower-paying jobs with the new firm. M a Bell is now in the television busi- C o u n c il & S t a n d in g C o m m it t e e M e e t in g s WILLIAM THOMAS A ll The World's A Circus ness. Can you wait? If you think it's annoying when your cable station sizzles and goes black, wait'll you turn on CTV and all you get is a busy signal. Wait until you dial directory assis tance and a recorded voice tells you to stay on line, your call will be answered in sequence as Bell operators are busy at the moment, doing the evening news. But wait -- the deal's not done, until the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approves it. And they're tough taskmas ters, these people who recently approved Ma Bell's ingenious scheme to charge us 750 for directory assistance even if the information they provide is wrong or unavailable. The CRTC has become the rubber stamp for endorsing all really bad ideas in Canada's world of communica tion. Originally created to protect Canadians from unfair business practices and monopolistic gouging, now all we can hope for is when the CRTC deals with us, it uses some kind of protection. I hope I'm not being too hard on the CRTC, a wholly-funded federal agency made up of 13 fair-minded commission ers -- one woman with the power to rea son plus the O.J. Simpson jury. It's not as if the CRTC has no con science whatsoever. Once, when Ma Bell tried to get approval to charge -- I am not making this up -- handicapped peo ple who use directory assistance because they're unable to look up numbers in the phone book, the CRTC said no. Charging 750 for incompetence is a great strategy for building a better future in this country. Teachers: "Although all the informa tion on all your tests were wrong, Jimmy, we're graduating you with honours." Jimmy: "How com e?' Teacher: "Because someday, Jimmy, when you're all grown up, you can go to work for Bell." Jimmy: "No doubt about it. Now do up your zipper and quit picking your nose." Righted and once again sailing the sea of corporate capitalization, we can expect new and bolder ways in which Ma Bell can turn everything including paper clips into a "profit centre." Like Bell's new Phone Booth Bonanza, this new idea allows you to enter a phone booth and dial anywhere in the world, free, and for as long as you want to talk. Then, the operator takes your credit card number and puts a $35 charge on your VISA bill before she presses the button that let's you out Oh yeah, Ma Bell in the television business: Where you'll be able to watch 60 Minutes and be billed for every damn one of them. I hope I don't sound biter about Ma Bell but over the last 20 years, it's cost me $4.45 a month or a total of $ 1,068 not to have my name and number listed in their phone book. If you went to most companies with an idea on how you could save them paper and ink, they might even give you a rebate. But not Ma Bell, no, she's actu ally found a way to make a good buck out of officially treating customers as if they don't exist. Tuesday, A pril 25,2000 Community Services Committee 7:30 p.m. - Oakville Room Administrative Services Comm. 7:30 p.m. - Bronte Room Monday, May 1,2000 Council Meeting Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, A pril 26, 2000 Planning & Development Council Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 8,2000 Planning & Development Council Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. C ouncil & C ommittee T ouchtone P hone L ine 815-5959 Road Closure By-law 2000-035 Closure of Part of Old Mill Road TAKE NOTICE THAT: 1. The Council of the Corporation of the Town of Oakville proposes to pass a by-law pursuant to Section 297 of the Municipal Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter M.45, in order to stop up and close for all purposes part of Old Mill Road legally described as: Firstly: Part of Old Mill Road by By-law 216285 being part of Lots 13 and 14, Concession 3, S.D.S., Town of Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton, designated as Part 4 on Plan 20R-12296, being all of PIN 24816-0083; Secondly: Part of Old Mill Road by By-law 216285 (formerly known as Sixth Line by unregistered Municipal Plan 689) being part of Lots 13 and 14, Concession 3, S.D.S., Town of Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton, designated as Parts 17 and 18 on Plan 20R-11101, being part of PIN 248160084. Pursuant to Section 300 of the Municipal Act, k.S.O. 1990, Chapter M.45, before passing this by-law, Council or a Committee thereof will hear in person or by his counsel, solicitor or agent, any person who claims that his lands will be prejudicially affected by this by-law, provided that such person makes application in writing to the undersigned on or before April 21, 2000, at 4:30 p.m. This matter will be heard at the Council meeting of April 26, 2000, commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. Copies of Plans 20R-12296 and 20R-11101 are available for inspection at the office of the Manager, Realty Services at the address shown below, by appointment by calling 845-6601, extension 3022 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). 2. 3. Maynard Millman, AACI, Manager, Realty Services, Legal Department The Corporation of the Town of Oakville, 1225 Trafalgar Road Oakville, Ontario, L6J 5A6 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF OAKVILLE QUOTATION Q-ll-2000 "EARS" Ty BEANIE BABY! with activation of a phone on a one year term. Please present coupon at time of activation. Valid At: 3105 Dundas S t W., Unit 102 Mississauga (905) 820-0000 270 North Service Rd.W., Unit C6 Oakville (905) 815-1755 1027 Speers Rd, Unit 22 Oakville (905) 842-4280 o As supplies la s t Expires April 22, 2000 -- FOR THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING ROOFTOP UNITS AT RIVER OAKS RECREATION CENTRE, 2400 SIXTH LINE, OAKVILLE AND QUOTATION Q-l 2-2000 FOR THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING ROOFTOP UNITS AT WHITE OAKS LIBRARY AND KERR STREET SENIOR'S CENTRE, OAKVILLE SEALED QUOTATIONS on forms provided will be received by the Purchasing Department, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6 until 12:00 noon, Local Time, on MONDAY, MAY 1,2000 SATURDAY A P R IL 22 is Family D ay! Nokia 5160 DIGITAL PCS is only HANDS-FREE HEAD SET with activation of a digital PCS phone on a one year term. o Limited Time Mail-In Rebated Offer! " T v Specifications, quotation forms and quotation envelopes are available at the offices of the Purchasing Department, telephone (905) 338-4197. NOTE: There will be MANDATORY site visits. Details are contained within the Quotation Documents. The Town of Oakville reserves the right to reject any or all quotations and the highest or lowest as the case may be will not necessarily be accepted. R. J. Coumoyer, C.I.M., P. Mgr. Director, Purchasing and Office Services ·After $50 mai-m rebate. Apptes as a $50 credt on future Rogers AT&T monNy b i. Offer expres April 22,2000. Oiler applies on one-year lenn plans starting from $45/monlh.Applicafcte taxes are extra. System Accesslnitiadon Fees may apply.TMRogere Communications Inc. Used under License flAT&T Corp. Used under Ucanae. 3105 Dundas St. W., Unit 102 270 North Service Rd. W., Unit C6 1027 Speers Rd., Unit 22 Mississauga, Ont. Oakville, Ont. Oakville, Ont. FACE PAINTING. BALLOONS & POPCORN Valid on Saturday April 22,2000 ________Square One Location Only 1225 TRAFALGAR R O A D · OAKVILLE, O N T A R IO · L6J 5A 6 (905)820-0000 (905)815-1755 (905)842-4280