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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 16, 2003 - C3 PRESENTED B Y T H EO A K N L If H i:IIE l! NAME O F YOUR S C H O O L GROUP OR ORGANIZATION: · Send or drop off your collected coupons to: THE OAKVILLE BEAVER. 467 SPEERS RD. OAKVILLE ON L6K3S4 No copies or reproductions accepted | Barrie Erskine · Oakville Beaver M aurice D u ch arm e o f the K nights of C olu m b u s p resents a $2,500 cheque to G erry B arnes and G ordon W illiam son o f the Ju n o Beach C entre to buy a b ric k in the new m em orial cu rren tly u n d e r construction in France. Behind them from left are veterans Gil K eenan. Bob T iernay. L t. Col. Ju stice M ike Clooney, B ernie B rophy and M artin F ran ch etto . G ran d K night Don Collins and Past G ra n d K night Wayne K endall, a n d F o u rth Degree K nights o f C olum bus at back. Knights of Columbus back Juno Beach Centre By Wilma Blokhuis OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Ask Second World War veterans about their willing ness to support the Juno Beach Centre and they'll stand up tall and give their name, rank and role they played during D-Day on June 6. 1944. Ask them why they sup port the construction of a memorial to remember Canada's role in the liberation of France in Nazi-occupied Europe, and they well-up with emotion at the thought of the lives lost among their com rades. Some of those memories came back to life for a handful of veterans at Tuesday's announcement by the Knights of Columbus, Marian Council No. 3881. to buy a brick for the Juno Beach Centre. This centre is the first memorial to be built recognizing the con tributions made at Canadians in the Battle of Normandy. A cheque for $2,500 was handed over to project repre sentatives during a small cere mony at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Marian Council No. 3881 is Oakvile's largest service club raising $90,000 $100,000 annually supporting 26 charities. "We have more than 400 members and a number of them served in the Second World War." said Don Collins. Grand Knight, noting "we will be the only Council to buy a brick for the Juno Beach Centre and we're very proud of it. "A lot of brave men have died at Juno Beach and we're proud to buy a brick." Canada sent one million troops to war and 40,000 lives were lost. He explained supporting this memorial ties in with the four cornerstones o f the Knights of Columbus - chari ty. unity, family and patriot ism. "We're supporting Juno Beach for patriotism. "Our members voted unanimously in favour of buying a brick. Patriotism is a big thing with us." The Juno Beach Centre, a $10 million project, is current ly under construction. The memorial, commemo rating the largest sea. air and land invasion leading to VE Day (Victory in Europe) on May 8, 1945, is scheduled to open on June 6, the 59th anniversary of D-Day. The peaceful scenic sea side resort town of Courseulles-sur-Mer. where about 15,000 Canadian troops first landed on the Normandy coast of France, was one of the first communities to be liberated. It became the head quarters for the Canadians as they fought the way through Normandy and Western Europe. The French resort town has donated a five-acre site overlooking · the English Channel - the site of the actu al D-Day landing - to con struct the 10.000 square foot memorial to resemble a styl ized maple leaf from the air. The project is to cost $10 million, said Collins, noting $9 million has already been raised. "The fundraising for the remaining $1 million is almost complete." Collins noted the cost is higher than first estimated because "a discarded bomb was found at the building site and a dispersal crew had to be called in" and fluctuations in the value of the Euro, among other costs. The memorial was conceived by a group of veterans who had maintained the historic bond between Canada and Holland by arranging exchange visits for Dutch and Canadian students. The centre, the only memorial of its kind, will inform visitors in English and French about Canada's participation in the war, and the role of men and women working tp support the war effort. It will feature education and interactive computer-based experiences for adults and chil dren, with authentic newsreel footage, photos and audio recordings. It will also house items on loan from the Canadian War Museum and a Contemporary Canada exhibit. There will also be a vir tual museum. For information about the Juno Beach Centre, a non-profit venture based in Burlington, call 1-877-828-JUNO (5866) or visit www.junobeach.org. LA-Z-DOY FURNITURE® GALLERIES BURLINGTON POWER CENTO Q.LW & BRANT STREET · (905) 331 -7600 Sal.9 om-6 pm Son. 10 m - 5 pn TiTT iTiTTiT Last Chance For Easter Saving Slop in & check out our great selection of baskets, plush, candy & more! Find out about your... r Women! Find out about... · · · · employment and career options training programs and technology job prospects lor the future balancing work and family Participate in... · · · · panel discussions small group workshops information sessions and displays internet demonstrations Low, Low Liquidation Prices! Brand Available in Clear, Name : Cedar or Natural Finishes Wood &Deck Stain HOT NEW MARKDOW NS! We've taken extra discounts on these 3 designer fragrances COMPARE AT $20 TWO-DAY CONFERENCE Tuesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 12, 2003 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Oakville Conference & Banquet Centre 2515 Wyecroft Road, Oakville (south of QEW at Bronte Road) Pre-registration is required, so call today. Open to women in Peel, Halton and Dufferin at no charge. To register call: 905-825-6000, toll free: 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866) Ext. 4176 or visit: www.optionsconference.ca If required, transportation to Oakville is available. In partnership with: Celebrate Cologne Spray .5 u . EMI de ToNene Compare at $20 /O O ft ....» Vanderbilt Eau de Toilette 1 u Spray Compart at $30 ^ The Centre P Region cf Peel fo* iffit Men' s Polo Extreme Sport 1.7 u . Sprav Compare at $44 ..................................... Skills D eivbpm eni A Ihw vtig Funded in p o rt b y Canada OAKVILLE 1 8 3L A K E S H O R EIN.« K (It OorvaO (905) 815-8811 W O R IJ 2 Presented by: Perris Training and Development -- -- ... An Open Letter to Parents of the Oakville Minor Hockey C Dear Parents, We are a group of parents with kids playing hockey in Oakville. We are faced with a situation highlighting a Minor Oaks Hockey Association (MOHA) process, which could one day have an impact on your children directly or indirecdy primarily due to the lack of accountability and responsiveness that is being demonstrated. For background, the MOHA has decided that an incumbent coach with extraordinary experience and knowledge in the game and one who has unanimous backing of his players and their parents will not be permitted to coach the players next season. This decision was made despite uniformly positive Town Rep Parent Responses as to this · coach and letters submitted by ail of the parents in support of this coach and against the change to his rumoured replacement that started prior to the completion of the selection process. Although the parent letters were submitted after the interview process, they were received by the appropriate individuals prior to the final approval by the Board, but were not shared with them prior to the final approval. Our concern is the letters were never considered by the Coaches' Selection Committee or the Board of Directors before final approval. We have tried to convince the MOHA to review this coaching selection now that they have more information. The MOHA says we are powerless and must accept the change they have made. They have not even explained to anyone their reasons for the change or provided documented action to support the selection based on facts. Our parucular age group and specifically the Minor Peewee AA team have had an amazing experience. All of the kids and parents involved with this team know it and they thrive on it. This coaches' excellent reputation has spread to other teams at various levels within this same age group. So often we hear about the problems that develop on teams. How often do we hear about a coach who has the ability to consistently bring an entire team (kids and parents both) together as a cohesive unit for three years? This coach has managed to maintain a very high level of development and competidveness year after year while stressing teamwork, sportsmanship and the love of the game over winning. Those of us closest to this team cannot find one reason to replace our coach! Does this ring any bells with you at any level of pardcipadon in Minor Hockey? It is time for players' and parents' voices to be heard by the Coaches' Selecuon Committee. Why cause controversy in a situation where there is none? Make changes where changes are needed. We believe that if an entire team is happy with their coach that the coach should have the option of returning to that team. The primary issue here is accountability and transparency of the process within the MOHA and the inability to change their minds when presented with more facts. Would we allow' any other group to do this? Your child's school, for example? This great game of ours is all about kids and fun! Leadership, trust, confidence, relauonship building, etc. are all wonderful qualifies that kids can learn through minor hockey while on their journey into adulthood. A coach can have enormous influence upon a player's hockey experience and personal development. Yet the MOHA conducts its coaching selecdon process and many other things in private, not invidng input from parents in the MORA to any applicant, except through evaluation forms as to the incumbent coach, and puts die control of most decisions in the hands of very few individuals. Moms and Dads like you may have been frustrated with the MOHA system at some point. It is important to stress that this is not a ploy to get our kids a spot on this team or strictly about a coaches' selection. It is about the overall operation of the associadon and its insular approach to responding to its members. The concerns have been raised by a collecdon of parents at this age group and shared by many in the system, we have simply decided that enough is enough and are striving to do something about our situation. Please support us and the momentum for expressing our view's and concerns to the leadership of the MOHA reform by logging on to our website www.oakvillehockeyparents.com or contacting our parent hotline at 905- 339-3560 and making your feelings known. You can help! Bv helping us, you may actually be helping yourselves. - The Concerned Parents o f Peewee Rep Hockey