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Beaver THE OAKVILLE Voted Ontario's Top Newspaper Four Years in a Row - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 52 No. 121 Seeing ghosts AT EERIE ERCHLESS: Ghost walk guides Wendy Belcher, left, as the late Esther Thomas and Francine Landry as the late Mary Jane McDougald, are pictured at Oakville's most haunted house -- the 1858 Erchless Estate.The Oakville Historical Society is leading ghost walks through the downtown heritage district, with all the ghostly gossip about residents past. The one-hour walks leave from the Oakville Historical Society located at 110 King St. Offered at a variety of times from now until month's end, the tours cost $12/adults, $6/child. Reserve at 905-844-2695. Oakville's Vital Signs fall short of an A By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF It was report card day for Oakville, as the 2009 Vital Signs report was released by the Oakville Community Foundation (OCF) yesterday. Like your average student, Oakville received a variety of marks. The town was graded between A and D in 11 categories, each with graded subsections. Although there were no overall A's in any of No Pay for 6 months and Huge Rebates PLUS ­ We guarantee your valuable Manufacturer and Government Rebates and take care of the Paperwork for you. For Deadlines and Complete Details call 905-844-2949 Ask about our excellent Financing and Great Terms. At home at the stable LIVING "Using Communication To Build Better Communities" GRAHAM PAINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER www.oakvillebeaver.com MORTGAGES 905.827.8009 Purchases Renewals Refinances Rental Properties Over 40 Lenders Credit Lines Vacation Properties G R E AT R AT E S PAUL FOLEY AMP MORTGAGE AGENT M08005472 1500 Upper Middle Rd. Abbey Plaza at Third Line HO: 600 ­ 5770 Hurontario St. Mississauga, ON L5R 3G5 Licence #10801 Powered by WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 7, 2009 · 32 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Fare hike steered to budget talks By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A Vital Signs insert will be included in the Thursday edition of The Oakville Beaver the main categories, there were a few in the subsections. A's were assigned to aspects like increasing youth population, trails per capita, owned home value and discretionary income. The majority of the 11 sections and the subcategories fell in the B to C range, meaning the town is making progress, but extra work and investment could go a long way. Some of the major categories in this range were Environment (C+), Belonging and Leadership (B) and Learning (B). Oakville Transit fares will stay at their current rate -- at least for now. Town council voted Monday to refer a motion to increase several transit ticket and pass fees -- not the cash fare, which is already $3 -- to the 2010 budget committee for consideration. The proposed changes would see an adult ticket price go up 3.9 per cent from $2.55 to $2.65, a student ticket increase 2.4 per cent from $2.10 to $2.15, an adult pass go up 5.7 per cent from $88 to $93, a student pass increase 12.1 per cent from $58 to $65 and a Gus pass rise in cost by 13 per cent from $23 to $26. The transit service's $3 cash fare would remain $3. The hike would make an Oakville Transit adult ticket the highest in the GTA with Durham second at $2.63. Oakville Transit Director Barry Cole had previously reported the additional money is needed to assist in covering increasing operating costs and the expansion and enhancement of the transit system, which recently saw 19 drivers added, along with 11 buses. Cole noted hiking transit fares, as proposed, would raise $300,000 annually to ensure the tax levy is not hit with the full costs incurred by Oakville Transit. By delaying the fare hike until after budget talks, it will cost the Town $75,000 on lost potential revenue. During Monday's council meeting, Oakville resident Sandra MacKay said some people ride the bus because they are living below the poverty line and cannot afford a car. She called on council not to burden them with additional costs they cannot cover. "It's interesting you are entertaining the idea of a fare increase during a recession, particularly when the GTA is experiencing double-digit unemployment and poverty in Oakville is up to nine per cent," said MacKay. "You want to raise our bus passes from $88 to $93, See Oakville page 3 See Who page 5 SHUTTERS · Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed · Serving Oakville with Shop at Home Service · Wood & Vinyl Shutters, Supplied & Installed · High Quality at Affordable Prices CALIFORNIA & PLANTATION Authorized Eclipse Shutters Dealer Shop at Home Service FREE SHUTTERS ETC. 905.691.4455 www.shuttersetc.ca