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f R E G G IN A bounces in to to w n fo r a v is it Sports B reast cancer research is in th e bag Business 56P ages baier' s For the finest in CUSTOM UPHOLSTERING call Baier's. Makers of fine upholstered furniture. 2333 Wwcrol! Road, I n i 7 j m V B (between BrunieA T h irl Laie) (j b / M W . A M etn > |an d P U blicahon Vo I , 3 8 N q . 6 8 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7,2000 7 5 & n [s G ^ G S 7 ) Town would host Olympic soccer games Oakville is am ong various sites to host in tern atio n al com petitors By Scott MacArthur SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Photo by Julie Fairrie Halton's first Gay Pride Day, held on the weekend at Bronte Creek Provincial Park, was a resounding suc cess. Twin sisters Janel (left) and Jennifer Bascom took in the event with Nikki Pitre. Janel convinced her gay sister and her partner Nikki to take in the event H a lto n Gay Pride Day organizers declare in a u g u ra l event a success Karen Robbins SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Colourful balloons and flags swing in the wind; folk music spills out from large speakers; people are casually chatting on picnic benches, strolling through the park or grabbing something from the barbeque. Halton's first Gay Pride Day, which was held at Bronte Creek Provincial Park, went off without a hitch and even managed to achieve the "family atmosphere" that was hoped for by organizers. About 100 people - young and old, gay and straight gathered in the park area to hear writer Sky Gilbert read from his latest work, to meet the creator of the "A Day in the Life" comic strip, Finnean Cole and to enjoy the sunny afternoon. Event organizer Kim Abbott of the Halton AntiHomophobia Committee said she was impressed by the positive atmosphere. "It's important to celebrate and affirm that we do exist in Halton Region, that one in 10 people are gay or lesbian and we have families and none of us looks any different from anyone who is heterosexual. We just want to have some fun and to enjoy each other's company," she said. Abbott, who was named the "most visible lesbian in Halton region" by Extra Magazine, said having the event in the park worked out better than having a parade - like other regions have done - in terms of safety and alleviating con flict. The committee rented the park space, which was desig nated as private property. If anyone had disturbed the event, they would have been forced to leave. This provided better security than parades, which are put on in public places where preserving participants' safety is much more difficult. Melanie Hannah, a Halton Regional Police Constable stationed in Georgetown and a member of the organizing committee, was at the event on duty to help protect people against harassment. "For the people to feel safe is one of the most important things for us. If they don't feel safe they won't attend, so we don't want that," Hannah said. "There had been some people that weren't too pleased about the fact that it was being held, but I think the majority of people understand that we're just here to celebrate," she con tinued. Creating a positive atmosphere was also a prior ity for the committee. Abbott said they chose {entertainers who are gay Photo by Barrie Erskine positive, which means they aren't necessarily gay or Halton Regional Police lesbian, but they support Constable Mel Hannah was one of the event orga gay and lesbian people and culture. nizers. "You don't have to be gay or lesbian to come here and support the day," Abbott said. In fact she pointed out that some members of the com mittee are heterosexual. Increasing awareness about gay and lesbian issues was also a major theme at the event. Sponsors like the Halton Regional Health Department had display booths providing information about gay issues, such as discrimination and suicide. They also gave out free samples of sunscreen and condoms. "We're not shooting for special attention," Hannah said. "We just want people to become more accepting and to real ize that we are just like everyone else." Hannah also pointed out that the event is a way of giving people who are gay or lesbian in Halton a chance to social ize and develop contacts in the community.' (S ee `D a y' p a g e A 8 ) Area Christians gathered at Coronation Park Saturday for Jesus Jubilee 2000. Organized by St. Michael's Catholic Church and the Upper Oaks Community Church, the proceeds of the event will go to the Kerr Street Ministries drop-in centre and the Salvation Army's Lighthouse homeless shelter. That's Pat Turner leading a group in song including Maurice Gallant (right). JE S U S JU B ILEE: Photos by Barrie Erskine Oakville's participation in Toronto's bid for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games keeps growing. Following last month's announce ment that Bronte Creek Provincial Park will host the archery competition, rep resentatives from Toronto's Olympic bid (TO-Bid) returned, this time to Town Hall, to reveal that Oakville will be one of six soccer venues for the 2008 Games. North Park, currently an undevel oped 350-acre package of land west of Neyagawa Boulevard and north of (S e e `G a m e s ' p a g e A 8 ) Dundas Street, has been chosen as the site for a brand new, 20,000-seat grassN e w c o u n c illo r fo r field stadium. O f that number, 15,000 seats will be temporary. W a rd 2 v a c a n c y The Olympic-sized soccer field, which will be built regardless of TOBy Howard MozeJ Bid's success, will be the centerpiece OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF of a much larger park. There are plans for smaller facilities for soccer, base After two hours and two rounds of ball, softball and other sports. voting Monday night, Ward 2 has a Oakville has committed $1 million new local/regional councillor: lawyer to the development of North Park, a and Halton Multicultural Council pres figure that had already been deter ident Rajneesh Sharda. mined in the town's nine-year capital Sharda was forecast. one of 12 individ "We had put $1 million already in uals who applied our capital budget for this project, so for the seat made between now and 2008 we would have vacant by the May been spending money to develop this 1st resignation of site anyway," said M ayor Ann 14-year council Mulvale. "This will not cost the tax · veteran Kathy payer any more than we had already Graham. He projected, and the town and people will emerged victori get much more bang for their buck." ous from the The decision to include Oakville as m in i-e le c tio n a host for the soccer competition was mandated by the R ajnesh S h a rd a an easy one for TO-Bid. Municipal Act. "We went out to the regions last "I'm quite proud to be given the September and asked them to put for opportunity," said Sharda, whose first ward venues that would be capable of duty as councillor was to adjourn the hosting Olympic sites," said Debbie council meeting. "It's nice to give Low, Director of Sport for TO-Bid. back." "Oakville put forward a number of In accepting the position, Sharda possibilities and it turned out that it had made it clear that he is interested only two very good proposals." in acting as Graham's "interim replace Among other soccer venues ment" and has no intention o f running announced are the Olympic Stadium in for the seat this November. Unlike Toronto, which will also host the open most of those who ran for the job, ing and closing ceremonies, and Ivor though, Sharda is a resident of Ward 2. Wynne Stadium in Hamilton. Three "It's my neighbourhood," he said. more locations in the GTA have yet to Only two other candidates lived in be revealed. the ward: Lorraine Taylor - known for Details regarding the construction helping save Brookdale Pool - and of North Park are still vague, as plans Lakeshore Road resident David Lee, remain in the preliminary stages. who withdrew his name from con tention due to ongoing litigation with the Town of Oakville. Prior to the vote, however, Ward 2 residenfand activist Mary Paul pressed council to select someone who did not have to be brought up to speed on issues - such as the Dorval Drive envi ronmental assessment - but who could hit the ground running, even if that M tn ria k . ....................... A6 meant choosing a candidate from out Fnnie R1 side the ward. Paul said inexperience R7 Busvy*ss would be further compounded by the m fact the winner will also sit on CR Classified Regional Council and face even more Oft complex matters. m Spnrte.... When asked what the major issues Automotive____________ _____ 08 are in Ward 2, Sharda said he has to get up to speed quickly to determine exact Speed Supplements ly what these are. Home delivery: Revy Home, The Bay, "My role will be to learn about K-Net Golf, Hy & Zeis issues as quickly as possible and make P a rtia ld e liv e ry :D o u b leD o u b le ,C a d e tC le a n e rs , sound decisions," he said. W illia m s o nP o n tia c ,C IM SD ru g s ,H o lla n dP a rk , Sharda had stiff competition for the C o n n o n ,W h iteR o s e ,S u n lig h t, C h iro p ra c ticF irs t job from the other candidates, who are Canadian Publications M ail Product Agreement #435-201 (S e e 'N e w ' page A 8 ) The town's ability to build a com plex the size of North Park stems from a 1991 decision to purchase 180 acres of land adjacent to property it already owned. "In 1991 we realized that the amount of parkland that we had dedi cated to the development process was not enough to build all the sports fields that we would ultimately need," said Director of Parks and Recreation Bob Perkins. "At the time I approached council saying that land would never be as inexpensive as it is (in 1991), and when we bought it, we knew it would be our central park for various activi ties." today' s paper -F IN E O U T E R W E A R S IN C E 1 8 1 5 - Do w n to w n O a k v il l e A R A N G O S 209 Lakeshore Rd. 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