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Options for new wards could divide communities Continued from page 1 7 · Friday, December 2, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com the 2014 election. Dr. Robert Williams, the consultant hired by the Town to conduct the boundary review, outlined numerous options, including keeping things the way they are. "If we are going to do a proper review we have to decide `Can we live with what we've got?'" he said. "Maybe the way growth works, it will fix itself in time," he said. Williams looked at the current wards as well as a 2005 Citizens' Task Force Recommendation, which called for six large wards that would run north to south across the entire town. In a north/south ward system, all wards would initially fall within 10 per cent of the optimal size for representation by population. Williams' estimates however that by 2021, Ward 4 would exceed that optimal size by 25 per cent while Wards 1, 2, and 3 would fall well below it. Option 1 would see two wards south of the QEW and four wards in the north -- but would divide areas such as West Oak Trails, River Oaks and the Uptown Core. Option 2 uses Upper Middle Road as the boundary with three wards to the south and three to the north of it. This option would divide Glen Abbey and downtown Oakville. Williams' estimates this scenario would also eventually result in high populations in Wards 1 and 3. Option 3 leaves Ward 3 as it is, bounded to the north by the QEW, but moves the north boundary of Wards 1 and 2 north to Upper Middle Road. This would also divide downtown Oakville along Sixteen Mile Creek and Glen Abbey across two wards. Williams calculates the relative concentration of population in the proposed Wards 1 and 2 will be eased by 2016 and further moderated in 2021 with the residential development in the TrafalgarDundas area creating a new, but still acceptable, shift in population balance among the proposed wards. Option 4 is almost identical Option 3 with some modification of the boundaries of the western wards. It also divides downtown Oakville along Sixteen Mile Creek and spreads Glen Abbey over two wards. In contrast to Option 3, however, the western portion of Glen Abbey is included in a ward entirely north of the QEW. To review the various scenarios and see maps, visit www.oakville.ca. Say Santa! Free photos and videos with Santa! November 20­December 24 Sunday­Monday Tuesday­Friday Saturday Christmas Eve 11am­5pm 10am­8pm 10am­6pm Reservations only* Your memorable experience with Santa will be captured digitally by photo and video, which you can download, print or send to friends ­ all for free! You're also invited to bring your own camera! Donations will be accepted with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the organization Sleeping Children Around the World. Paws & Claus Pet Photos Mondays, 6pm­9pm Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12 & 19 Reservations required* All four-legged furry friends are invited to have a free photo taken with Santa. Donations will be accepted with 100% of proceeds benefitting the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. * Space is limited. In-person reservations only, booked on a first come, first served basis. Visit Guest Services to reserve your time slot. Visit oakvilleplace.com for more information.