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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, October 7, 2016 | 4 Trustees quizzed on cost of trip Celebrating Small Business Week by Kathy Yanchus Metroland West Media Two Halton Catholic trustees are being taking to task by some fellow board members for using taxpayer money to fund an upcoming trip to Holocaust-relevant sites in Europe and Israel. At the invitation of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies (FSWC), Oakville trustees Helena Karabela and Anthony Quinn will represent the Halton Catholic District School Board on the Nov. 5-15 tour of Germany, Israel and Poland. The cost of the trip is $5,750. FSWC subsidizes $2,500 with the rest from trustees' "discretionary" budgets. "I was quite taken aback and appalled by the whole idea, that taxpayer money be used to subsidize the foreign travel of a sitting school board member. There is no justifiable reason why any school trustee should feel so entitled to expense a trip to Europe or anywhere else outside of Ontario, ever," said Oakville trustee Anthony Danko. "I fail to see how this proposed junket would benefit students in our classrooms." The annual FSWC Compassion2Action Holocaust Education Program, begun in 2010, invites influential Canadians from different backgrounds on a journey to better understand "the tragic consequences of hate." Past participants have included politicians, educators, police and other community leaders. "It is an educational event for people who can make a difference with policies that relate to antiSemitism and remembrance of the holocaust so it's a great opportunity for Helena and myself to attend on behalf of our board," said Quinn., noting trustee budgets do need board approval. Karabela said she was assured by both board chair Jane Michael and director of education Paula Dawson spending on this "educational mission" was within boundaries of her trustee expense account. The public entrusts board members to be stewards of the public purse, said Oakville trustee Paul Marai. As chair of the board's policy committee, he called this expense "bad judgment," and said at next week's policy committee meeting he will ask for a ban on international travel (for trustees). Marai said while the FSWC is a "terrific initiative," there would be no value for students. Not so, said Quinn. "We are planning a live Skype for Remembrance Day into classrooms to give students a real time experience at or near one of the concentration camps," said Karabela. The pair will also produce a blog about historical sites such as Nuremberg, (the site of Nazi war criminal trials), said Karabela. Last December, Karabela and Quinn received the FSWC's Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education, for their work in getting a motion passed at the board to recognize the UN's International Holocaust Awareness Day on Jan. 27. Oakville residents are invited to Celebrate BDC Small Business Week with the Oakville Chamber of Commerce. The activities begin Monday, Oct. 17 with a kick-off breakfast with Julia Hanna, the founder and owner of Ristorante Julia. Hanna will share her most interesting tales about life, in and out of the kitchen. That event runs from 7:30-9 a.m. Tickets are $35 for members and $45 for non-members. · · · The special week continues with a Business After Hours Tradeshow, which will take place Wednesday, Oct. 19. Those interested in showcasing their organization to more than 400 expected attendees can register as an exhibitor for $199 for members and $275 for non-members. Electricity for an exhibit costs an additional $15. Those looking to simply attend the trade show can do so for free. The event runs from 5-8 p.m. · · · The week continues with Lunch & Learn: Change Your Hiring Practices & Get Better Results ­ presented by Tim Brennan Friday, Oct. 21. Brennan, co-founder of Fit First Technologies, has become known for delivering bold, fresh ideas to executives, managers and human resource professionals on how they can find, hire and keep the right people and improve their bottom line. This event runs from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tickets are $35 for members and $45 for nonmembers. · · · All events take place at the Oakville Conference and Banquet Centre at 2515 Wyecroft Rd. 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