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Wednesdsay August 25, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A3 McConnell award winner Breanne Perkins (19) with Rosemary, Ena, and Peter McConnell at the Colborne Rec Centre. Photo by Ron Kuzyk C om m unity involvem ent leads to h o n o u r for B reanne Perkins Breanne Perkins, this year's recipient of the Ray McConnell Memorial Award, was honoured Monday evening during a ceremony at the Sir John Colborne Senior Centre. Perkins has been active in the Town of Oakville's "Summer Sizzler" and March Break programs for four years and is described as "committed, caring, concerned and in control" by award organizers. Perkins has also devel­ oped creative and unique program plans, including "Earth Explore" and "Junior Newsletters." The award is presented annually in memory of Ray McConnell who was an outstanding leader in the Summer Activity Centre Program from 1979 through 1981. McConnell was killed in a senseless accident in 1982 when his motorcycle was struck by a drunk driver who ran a red light at Trafalgar Road and White Oaks Boulevard. McConnell had celebrated his 19th birthday only days before. McConnell was looking forward to attending Sheridan Ray McConnell Memorial Award College for a year to improve his portfolio for acceptance at Waterloo University where he hoped to realize his ambition to be an architect. According to Parks and Recreation staff, Perkins' enthusiasm is contagious while her readiness to share and willingness to listen and help out have made her very effective in her role as senior leader. Perkins' dedication and positive approach to life also extends beyond the Oakville commu­ nity: earlier this year she volunteered at an ani­ mal rescue centre in Costa Rica. Nominees for the award have completed at least one summer working in a leadership capacity with one of the Parks and Recreation Department's children's programs. Winners will be individuals judged to have made a major contribution to the community through his or her leadership abilities. A variety of criteria are covered in selecting the winner, including quality of work, attitude, initiative, judgment and overall ability to effectively perform assigned duties. F ive c h a rg e d * in G ST fra u d Complex case involves phantom car dealerships and vehicles Five Oakville men were among 15 people arrested this week by investiga­ tors from "Project Phantom," a special joint forces operation tracking $10 mil­ lion dollars worth of defrauded. GST refunds. The suspects were rounded up between Aug. 16th and 20th in a probe that focused on a complex scam involving a number of phony dealer­ ships and vehicles. Customarily when a vehicle is sold, a dealer receives a GST refund from the federal government and when the vehicle is re-sold by another dealer, GST is collected again. Project Phantom found that dealer­ ships sold non-existent vehicles and collected GST refunds then declared bankruptcy to evade an audit. Project Phantom began in October 1998 as a result of a fraud investigation into an unnamed Oakville car dealer­ ship. At that time, the Criminal Investigation Service of Ontario approved funding for the investigation which involved Halton Regional Police, RCMP, OPP and the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council. In February, the Hamilton Investigations Division of Revenue Canada became part of the joint forces operation and supplied a full-time investigator. Revenue Canada, Toronto West, became involved in April with the addition of a second full-time investigator. On May 25th, investigators execut­ ed seven search warrants in Mississauga, Etobicoke, St. Thomas and Toronto. On June 2nd another seven search warrants were executed in Oakville and Niagara Falls. A total of 35 investigators - including RCMP and OPP computer experts - seized more than 78 boxes of files and docu­ ments plus the contents of eight com­ puters. The Oakville suspects facing charges are as follows. Ewaryst Prokoftew, 39, of Lakeshore Road West - 15 counts of fraud over $5,000, two counts of con­ spiracy to commit fraud, one count of tax evasion and two counts of conspir­ acy to commit tax evasion. Thomas Marling-Howes, 44, of Sandlewood Crescent - six counts of fraud over $5,000, one count of con­ spiracy to commit fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit tax evasion. Gregory Postnikoff, 51, of McCraney Street - four counts of fraud over $5,000, one count of conspiracy to commit fraud, one count of conspir­ acy to commit tax evasion. Benny Spatafora, 44, of Clearview Drive - six counts of fraud over $5,000, one count of conspiracy to commit fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit tax evasion. Andrew Tulloch, 37, of Prince John Circle - six counts of fraud over $5,000, one count of uttering a forged document. The accused will appear in Oakville Court on Sept. 21st. Further information on the investi­ gation cannot be released due to a pub­ lication ban placed on the proceedings during Monday's bail hearing in Milton. Run supports cancer hospice Mark down Sunday, Sept. 19th on your calendar to take part in a special f u n d r a i s i n g m e m o r i a l walk/run to sup­ port Ian A n d e r s o n House. R eg istration begins at 10 a.m., followed by the event itself at 11 a.m. Participants can enjoy either a 4 km or 8 km dis­ tance. Ian Anderson House is Ontario's first f r e e - s ta n d in g cancer hospice which provides quality pallia­ tive care free of charge in a home-like set­ ting for resi­ dents of Halton and Peel. The walk/run starts at 2635 Lakeshore Rd. in M ississauga (where there is also parking) and ends at the hospice, located at 430 Winston Churchill Blvd. in Oakville. For more information and pledge forms, please contact D a n i e l l e Olscamp at 845- 2696. P a rtic ip an ts will receive free t-shirts courtesy Hanes Canada and a barbeque after the event on the front lawn of Ian A n d e r s o n H o u s e . H a m b u r g e r s , hot dogs and r e f r e s h m e n ts will be served. Prizes will be awarded at the barbeque. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more. Q Q Concord O A K V IL L E D O D G E C H R Y S L E R JE E P Sale of the M illennium E V E N T C O N T I N U E S No reasonable offer refused. Best deals of the century! Lê S make 0 Deal!! 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