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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 3, 2013 | 10 Making the NHL playoffs has re-united Leafs Nation by Aaron Hamilton Grade 10, T.A. Blakelock H.S. I t has been nine years since a playoff ticket was printed for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and at that time I was only six -- too young to remember any games at all. Now it's 2013 and for first time since I've started following hockey, the Maple Leafs have clinched a spot in the postseason. The first year I started to follow hockey was the '06-'07 season, and I'm certain that it's ending was unforgettable and emotional for all Leaf fans. After beating the Montreal Canadiens in dramatic fashion to conclude their reg- ular season, the Leafs' playoff hopes relied on the New Jersey Devils beating the New York Islanders, but the Islanders ended up winning in a shootout to grab the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. I remember watching the New York and New Jersey game at my Nana's apartment, and I felt despair and depressed the whole night. That year was the closest the Maple Leafs had gotten to the playoffs, not only during their drought, but from my memory as well. I'm 15 years old now and I can say I've been as patient as anybody else in Leafs nation. I was very optimistic about the 48 game season that just ended because of the style of play I was noticing from the blue and white, although with the amount of physicality and aggression, they're looking more like the Bay Street Bullies. Since they are focusing on intimidation, it has given them an edge over their opponents and making the games more exciting to fans. With these changes to their game, the atmosphere has completely changed from previous seasons from a naively optimistic fan base to the loud and rowdy crowd we've become. What I loved about this short season is the Leafs have a huge monkey off their back by making it into the postseason, and with that, all of Toronto can exhale. But it's not over yet. There is still work to be done and Leaf fans everywhere know that. We have been waiting for this time to come for nine years. Give us excitement, remind us of what playoff hockey feels like; the suspense from the opening faceoff to the final third period horn. Let us cheer from the top of our lungs, erupting the Air Canada Centre with the chant of "We Want The Cup" while sporting our favourite players' jerseys whether it's Kessel or Sitler. It's the passion that unites us all, and without that, hockey wouldn't be the same in Toronto. I'm hoping this year's playoffs will not only be exciting for Toronto, but that it can show the rest of North America what the Maple Leafs are really capable of doing. We're tired of being called the `Maple Laughs', we're the best franchise in the world, and we will always be Maple Leaf fans, loyal and proud. If you are a teacher or student interested in participating in an upcoming Kids Speak Out - School News column featured in the Beaver, please e-mail Tom Dykes at ellergreen58@gmail.com. The Regional Municipality of Halton Please contact us, as soon as possible, if you have any accessibility needs at Halton Region events or meetings. NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE Class Environmental Assessment Study Dundas Street (Regional Road 5) Transportation Corridor Improvements Neyagawa Boulevard (Regional Road 4) to Oak Park Boulevard, Town of Oakville PR-2550A Comments If you are unable to attend the Public Information Centre and would like to provide comments, please forward them by Friday, May 31, 2013 to either Project Team member (below). For more information on this project, please visit the project website at www.halton.ca/EAprojects: Mr. Jeffrey Reid, C.E.T. Senior Transportation Planner Halton Region 1151 Bronte Road Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 Telephone: 905-825-6000 x. 7920 Fax: 905-847-2192 Email: jeffrey.reid@halton.ca Mr. Neil Ahmed, P. Eng. Project Manager McCormick Rankin Corporation 2655 North Sheridan Way Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2P8 Phone: 905-823-8500 Fax: 905-823-8503 Email: nahmed@mrc.ca Study Halton Region is undertaking a Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) Study for road improvements along the Dundas Street (Regional Road 5) corridor from Neyagawa Boulevard (Regional Road 4) to Oak Park Boulevard, within the Town of Oakville. To best address the travel demand along Dundas Street, a number of road improvement alternatives have been examined as part of this study, including the long-term provision for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). This study provides an opportunity to develop multi-modal transportation improvements along Dundas Street which includes enhancement as an attractive corridor for pedestrians and cyclists, integrating new and existing land uses with heritage and natural features. The map below shows the approximate limits of the study area. Process The study is being conducted in compliance with Schedule C of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (October 2000, amended 2007 & 2011), which is approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. Previous Public Information Centres were held to obtain public input on June 23, 2011 and November 24, 2011. and the implementation strategy for improvements including the provision of curb lane High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/transit operations in the interim and the long-term transition to BRT by 2031. Public Information Centre Date: Time: Location: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 Drop-in 6:30 p.m. ­ 8:30 p.m. 030513 Oakville Town Hall ­ South Atrium 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville