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THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday March 3,1999 Celebration followed approval (C o n tin u e d fro m p a g e 1) The bells from both churches could be heard across the downtown area. "It was a cacophony o f joyful noise," said Elsie Ball, one of the organizers along with MacRae of the bell ringing at St. John's. That church circulated a petition in November 1995 to ban the use of landmines, which was signed by 150 people - members and adherents - which was forwarded to Ottawa via Oakville MP Bonnie Brown's office. That petition states civilians are being injured and killed by land­ mines left behind in the aftermath of wars, and "that the injury or death of innocent civilians, trying to go about their daily life, by these anti­ personal land mines is unacceptable by persons of conscience." The peti­ tion also objected to the manufac­ ture and use of landmines. St. John's called upon the Canadian government to initiate this international ban on landmines, to stop Canadian production, to sup­ port landmine removal programs, and support landmine victims with financial aid and medical care. The anti-landmine law, originally signed in December 1997, legally obligates countries to stop using landmines and to care for people injured by them. They are now also legally obligated to destroy mine stockpiles and remove all landmines and destroy them. The removal and destruction of landmines will be monitored in each of the 67 coun­ tries ratified this treaty and passed their own legislation. About 21 of these countries joined in the cele­ bration of this treaty becoming international law. A total of 134 countries had signed the treaty with the intent to pass their own legisla­ tion to ban landmines. It has, however, not been signed by about 50 countries including the United States, Russia, China, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Egypt, Vietnam, Turkey, Cuba, plus North and South Korea, among others - all countries known for their produc­ tion and use of landmines. It is not known how many landmines are still in the ground around the world, says a spokesperson from Mines Action Canada, which organized the bell ringing across the country. Photo by Peter J. Thompson T O P S P E A K E R S : The Bronte Legion held a speech makers com­ petition Sunday at the Legion Hall. The winners of the big turnout were (foreground/left) Marissa Brennan and Katie Gorman and (back- ground/left) Boris Bogdanovski, Stephanie White, Jennilee Dunwoody and Maggie MacFarlane. Suit filer says no one wants to take responsibility (C o n tin u e d fro m p a g e 1) But while an Ontario court judge expressed sympathy for Pettey's frustration with the sys­ tem, he dismissed the case for "lack of reasonable cause for action." While parents and students have come to expect teachers to be involved in extracurricular activities like tutoring and coaching, the judge found there is nothing in the Education Act requiring them to do so. Pettey, who represented him self in court, believes his loss is partly due to the money the school board and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) spent on legal fees. But he is still disappointed with the result. "I was expecting them to pull out all the stops, but the unfortunate thing is, there is no responsi­ bility," he said. "The message was, 'Hey, it's not our fault.'" He says his son's grades dropped dramatically during the labor dispute, and he was prepared to transfer him to a public high school if the teach­ ers and the board hadn't reached an agreement before the start of the second semester. But with two younger daughters heading for high school, Pettey isn't convinced his troubles are over. When the current three-year deal between the board and its high school teachers expire, his daughters will be in Grades 10 and 11. "The first day this rhetoric starts, they'll be gone," he says. "Next time, we're not going to wait five months." Pettey has also joined the newly-founded Parent Action Group, which represented parents during the labour dispute, and he says the group intends to continue meeting on a monthly basis. "Two-and-a-half years from now -- look out. The same stuff better not happen again, because we won't be sitting on our hands," he said. Civic Scene Wednesday, March 3rd: Halton Regional Council meets in the regional council chambers at 9:30 a.m. at regional headquarters, 1151 Bronte Rd. LACAC (Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee) meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Trafalgar Room of the Oakville Municipal Building, 1225 Trafalgar Rd. Oakville R.E.A.C.T. meets at 7 p.m. in the Bronte Room of the Oakville Municipal Building. The Traffic Advisory Committee meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Oakville Room of the Oakville Municipal Building. The Halton District School Board meets at 8 p.m. at the J.W. Singleton Education Centre, 2050 Guelph Line, Burlington. Monday, March 8th: The Oakville Planning and Development Council meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Oakville Municipal Building. Tuesday, March 9th: Oakville's Community Services Committee meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Oakville Room of the Oakville Municipal Building. Oakville's Administrative Services Committee meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Bronte Room of the Oakville Municipal Building. Oakville's Committee of Adjustment meets at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Oakville Municipal Building. Wednesday, March 10th: Oakville's Parks, Culture and Recreation Advisory Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. in the Bronte Room of the Oakville Municipal Building. Thursday, March 11th: The Halton Small Business Advisory Group, meets at 9 a.m. in the Oakville Room of the Oakville Municipal Building. L I NC OL Professional E xpertise with a Consistent and D isciplined A pproach to M eeting Y our Investment O bjectives Paul Hartford Investment Advisor Tel: (905) 337-2030 Fax: (905) 337-2033 M em ber V NESBITT BURNS M*mbif of tha Bank of Montraal Group of Companiaa Ihrihfan IIIIIMcGOW ANInsurance Services Ltd. Th e O akville B eaver S u p e r C h i b s Bentley"1* - To purchase y o u r tickets w ith Visa, M astercard or A m erican Express please call Don o r Ju lia at (905) 257-4135 • GRAND PRIZE - Caribbean Cruise with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. One week, two people, air from Toronto. • SECOND PRIZE - SuperClubs, Breezes Golf & Beach Resort, Runaway Bay Jamaica. One week, two people, all inclusive, air from Toronto. • THIRD PRIZE - Antigua, Royal Antiguan Beach & Tennis Resort. One week, two people, all inclusive. • FOURTH PRIZE - SuperClubs, Puntarena, Cuba. One week, two people, all inclusive, air from Toronto. • FIFTH PRIZE - SuperClubs, Breezes Nassau Bahamas. Three or four nights, two people, all inclusive, air from Toronto. Number of Ticket* Printed 15,000 Licence No. M555818 • MARCH 18,1999 • Sun Care Gift Basket • Weekend Car Rental Remainder Draws - May 13,1999 Tickets $10 available from: Lions Club Members & Community Partners Draws will be held at the Burloak Canoe Club at 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on the following dates: Early Bird - January 21, 1999 March 18,1999