A8 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER T hank You F or Supporting Oakville Galleries Oakville Galleries would like to thank the many members o f the business community and individuals who contributed to the 1999 W ine Tasting Gala. Your generous support will allow the Galleries to continue the tradition o f providing high quality, deficit-free public programming. gw Erin Park U S p j LEXUS TOYOTA (jgjfjj) NESBITT BURNS ^ ^ Mimbir of «►>• Bonk of Montrool Group of Componioi The Oakville Beaver C R O U P O F F U N D S Wine Merchants H. H. D. Imports Inc. Hobbs & Co. Wine Merchants J. Cipelli Wines & Spirits Mark Anthony Brands Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd. Regazzi Wines & Spirits Selection Inc. The Russell Woodman Agency Donors Catered Fare Celebrations Event Planning Complete Party Rent-Alls Jake's Live Bait Oyster Bar Jubilee Fruit Market Lewis Nicholson Oak-Land Lincoln Mercury The Russell Woodman Agency John Tait, Manager,Vintages Mississauga Tokyo Bay Japanese Restaurant Trafalgar Brewing Company Woodward Meat Purveyors Participating Restaurants Cognito's Etcetera Etc. La Costa Restaurant La Cucina Ristorante & Pizzeria Oliver's Of Oakville Paradiso Seasons In Oakville Sonoma Country Wine Bar - Grille Trattoria II Timone Water Street Cooker Albirg Creations Avalon Fine Jewellery Barrington's BM W Canada Inc. Bookers Book Store Burrows Clothiers Canadian Art Chapters C ognito 's Cruise Ship Center D avid A . Ball Law Firm Etcetera, Etc. T he G allery Shop G reening's Custom Framing It's About Wine Knowledge of Life Health Centre L 'Atelier Grigorian La Costa Restaurant Auction Donors Catered Fare Chubb Security Inc. Mamie Fleming George Gordon Angela Grauerholz Huttons Images James Lumbers Publishing Ltd. LandCanada Title Insurance Ltd. London Telecom Network Molson Breweries Oakville Audio Inc. Peter Srucken Travel Trust International Winberg Foundation La Cucina Ristorante & Pizzeria Living Wall Garden Co. o f Canada Linda Lundstrom Elsie McCallum John McMullen from Merrill Lynch More Than A G olf Shop Mrs. B's Gift House Oliver's O f Oakville On The Twenty Paradiso Pupazzi Ristorante - Italiano Royal Ontario Museum Seasons In Oakville Sonoma Country Wine Bar - Grille Stoneboats Restaurant Trattoria II Timone The Wine Establishment Limited Thank you to Oakville Galleries' Board of Directors and Oakville Galleries Volunteer Association for their assistance. oakville galleries 1306 Lakeshore Rd E Tel (905) 844-4402 Fax (905)844-7968 Wednesday June 23, 1999 Paraplegic B.C. realtor wheeling into town Friday to raise funds for spinal cord research By Scott M acArthur SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Whistler, B.C.realtor John Ryan will be making a very special visit to Oakville on Friday. Ryan, a 37-year-old paraplegic, will stop in Oakville around 10:30 a.m. Friday as part of his Spinal Cord Regeneration Tour, which is taking him on a summer-long tour of Canada. Ryan, one of Whistler's top real estate agents, became a paraplegic on Nov. 11,1994, when he was thrown from his car only minutes from his house after failing to complete a shaip turn. "I didn't have my seatbelt on," said Ryan. "I feel very lucky to be alive today." The tour, which began on May 1st at Mile "0" of the Trans-Canada Highway in Cape Spear, Nfld., will take Ryan across the country, with a planned ending on Sept. 10th in his hometown of Whistler. Ryan hopes to raise $5 million in support of spinal cord regeneration research in Canada, and has received praise from such notable disabled people as Rick Hansen and Christopher Reeve. Under a grueling schedule, Ryan is riding his three wheel "hand cycle" through all of the provinces on a three day on-one day off schedule. Ryan is succeeding in his quest to travel an average of 96 km a day at a speed of 16 km per hour. The off days allow Ryan to participate in special events, such as talking to a group of kids or visiting a land mark in the area he is visiting. Ryan, who is accompanied on the trip by Jack Ryan (motorhome driver), Sam Brovender (physio therapist), Tom Jackson (mechanic/support), Alan Rae (support vehicle and advance co-ordinator) and Penny McLeod, the woman he recently married, got his vision for the ride a couple of summers ago. "While hand cycling alone in the late summer of 1997,1 was thinking how I could make a difference in the world," said Ryan. "Life has been very good to me -- both personally and financially -- despite being confined to a wheelchair, and now it was time to give something back." Ryan will be greeted in the morning at Town Hall, where Mayor Ann Mulvale and town council lors will welcome him to the town. Members of the Oakville-Milton District Real Estate Board will be on hand to present Ryan with a donation. "We're hoping to make a donation of between $1,500 and $2,000," said Cheryl Lowry, a represen tative of the Real Estate Board. Donations are encouraged as Ryan attempts to reach his goal of raising $5 million. To donate, visit www.regenerationtour.org, call toll free at 1-800- 570-3222, or visit any Royal Bank or Eddie Bauer location. Smith became increasingly reclusive (Continued from page 1) For 30 years, they financed the infirmary them selves, however Smith found herself in a position of financial need when her husband, 91 at the time, went into a nursing home in 1983. Smith, with the help of friends, applied for and received charitable status for her infirmary, which became officially known as the Oakville Wild Bird Infirmary. She also held a Canadian Wildlife Service permit, which allowed her to keep migra tory birds in captivity until nursed back to health and released. "In the spring of any year, there were be a con stant stream of people coming to Pat Smith's house bringing birds, many of them young birds," said Cooper, a local lawyer. Many came from out of town. 'There were groups of kids from schools. Girl Guides, Brownies, and Boy Scouts coming to bring birds, and to see her infirmary. "Hundreds, if not thousands, of people brought birds to Pat Smith." Best known for her dedication to the care of sick and injured birds. Smith was in earlier years, equally recognized for her roses and her garden parties, both in Mississauga and Oakville, said Cooper. Following the death of her husband, Smith grew more reclusive, seldom venturing out "except to buy food for her birds," he said. "Her property was beautifully looked after," said Cooper, adding "I'd see her cutting the grass wearing a pair of old work boots, using a push mower. Her back yard overlooking Lake Ontario was lined with cages." He added Smith main tained her property until she was admitted into hospital. Cooper added "she was an eccentric old lady" whose only passion in life was the care of sick and injured birds. "She was a hard worker, and very strong phys ically and mentally." She was very stubborn." Many of the birds nursed back to health were taken to Mountsberg Wildlife Centre where they were released. However, she kept permanently injured hawks and owls for her presentations at the library and in schools. Smith was known to speak out against injuring birds with pellet guns and the use of pes ticides. Smith, whose trademark line was "You know who I am, I'm for the birds," cared for birds up until she went into the hospital. The remaining birds at her home were removed by the Oakville Humane Society. The house, sitting on a 400-ft. deep lot with a 75-ft. frontage, has been recently sold by the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee in Hamilton for $760,000, said Cooper. Her affairs had been put in the hands of a pub lic trustee, said Cooper. "She died without a will. Pat had asked me to write up her will, but she never got around to sit ting down with me to discuss it." Cooper explained he does not do wills, but was willing to make an exception for Smith although she was not a client. No funeral is planned. SIZZLING SUMMED SIDEW ALK SALE! Have fun this summer and smile a lot... Because you look great And you spent less! DISCOVER THE FASHION EXPERIENCE OF B y Consignment Sidewalk Items 50% off Come inside for 25-50% off Selected Spring & Summer Items SALE RUNS TODAY- SUNDAY JUNE 27TH By Consignm ent UPSCALE, RESALE, LADIES WEAR 115 Trafalgar Road 338-3474 Charters Brenda joined our Chamber 12 years ago and has been responsible for the selling of new memberships, newsletter and directory advertisements and the arranging of our Monthly Business After 5. Brenda is leaving our Chamber to enjoy retirement with husband Rae. Thank You Brenda for all your efforts. WE WELL MBS YOU. To become a member o f the Chamber call 845-6613 O AKV ILLE C H A M BER of CO M M ER C E EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION s m m r s m Always wear your seat belt in the car. www.safety-coundl.org A m essage from the Canada Safety Council. . i,--. Before Before BeforeBefore All of the above cases were personally treated by Dr. Stephen Phelan After After After After A ccredited M em ber American Academy of Cosmetic D entistry® Setting the Standard Thank You Oakville! For voting me as Best Dentist. Your confidence is really appreciated! DR. STEPHEN PHELAN Comprehensive Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry , 1500 Heritage Way • 827-1619 ax cm < / / / Our attention to Esthetic Details enables you to maximize the full potential of your smile. Call today for a personal consultation. T h e Oakville B eaver ^>^JJest Dentist R e a d e r* Selection AWARD 1 t http://www.regenerationtour.org http://www.safety-coundl.org