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Mayor, councillor not optimistic Special Olympics Oakville mourns loss of dedicated coach and volunteer part of golf course can be saved by Jon Kuiperij Beaver Sports Editor 31 | Thursday, January 8, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com continued from p.30 ning staff indicate there are issues with parksent to him and a discussion we did have face ing and access." Ward 6 Councillor Tom Adams said the to face." However, Burton told the Beaver Monday White Oaks proposal also does not include that it is far too late in the process to change "any sort of business plan" that the Town could respond to. the development plans. "I can sympathize with (people upset "There's a long and complicated way of about losing White Oaks saying it's too late, but for Golf Club). This type of news story purposes it issue comes along with might be easier to say, `It's all the development," said too bad, but those deciAdams, who noted he sions got made before I never wanted to see develbecame mayor,'" Burton opment north of Dundas said, referring to the Town Street. of Oakville's Official Plan "There are lots of peoAmendment 198 from ple who have lived in more than a decade ago Oakville all their lives and that addressed develophave seen tremendous ment north of Dundas change to what Oakville Street. looks like." "That cake got baked. That includes the disapAnd eaten," he added. pearance of golf facilities. Three holes (No. 1, 7 Oakville Mayor Rob Burton Richview Golf & CounOn development north of Dundas Street and 8), the driving range try Club (west of Bronte and the clubhouse were Road, north of Upper located on land White Oaks has leased from Mattamy for the past Middle Road) was developed into a residenseveral years. Mattamy Homes senior vice- tial area 10 years ago, and Saw-Whet Golf president of land Gary Gregoris said includ- Course (east of Bronte Road, south of Upper ing a golf course in the development was Middle Road) was conditionally sold to developers last year. The Family Golf never part of Mattamy's vision. Learning Centre, a practice facil"We're following the rules that ity and mini-putt course, closed have been set out and are in a poin 2011 after the land it was sition, on the table lands, to deleasing from the province (east velop the land. Unfortunately, a of Joshua's Creek Drive, south portion of the golf course and the of Upper Middle Road) was redriving range were all on table zoned and sold for industrial deland," Gregoris said. velopment. "We're almost the innocent There has also been recent bystander in the whole thing... uncertainty about the future of We extended the lease as long as Deerfield Golf Club (between we could, even after it expired, Bronte Road and Third Line, on a year-to-year basis. That was north of North Service Road). my commitment to Gord, that I wouldn't just terminate the The lightly green-shaded Infrastructure Ontario, which lease prematurely. But the day area of this course layout Deerfield leases its land from, would eventually come when it depicts the holes that proposed to develop 60 townwouldn't be premature." White Oaks Golf Club ac- houses along the service road beEmployees of the club have tivists are hoping to retain. fore withdrawing its bid last fall proposed that holes not located | screenshot from following opposition from Buron Mattamy property could re- WhiteOaksGolfClub.com ton and several councillors. Oakville Golf Club -- a private main, a few holes be added in a nine-hole facility on Sixth Line designated flood plain area and a parking lot and clubhouse or pro shop be -- and Glen Abbey Golf Club -- located on Dorval Drive and owned by ClubLink -- are built closer to Ninth Line. An online petition to support the proposal the other remaining golf courses in Oakville (www.savewhiteoaks.com) had received 824 south of Dundas Street. Oakville Executive Golf Club, a 27-hole executive-length public signatures as of this week. "(The) proposals seem reasonable to me course, is located north of Dundas Street on because (they're) talking about the land we Fourth Line. "The biggest group affected is the kids," were using in the valley. It's basically a golf course sitting there," said Cochrane, adding Cochrane said. "Schools used to come out to use our drivhe is no longer interested in operating the golf club but he fully supports any efforts to ing range and golf course. I believe it's the younger generation which is really unfortusave the course. "I don't believe (saving part of the golf nately going to suffer because of the loss (of course) is viable," Burton said, "and my plan- White Oaks)." Those decisions got made before I became mayor. That cake got baked. And eaten. Special Olympics programs on the local, provincial and even national levels lost one of their most active, long-time volunteers with the passing of Oakville's Stu Thomas. Thomas, best known as coach of the Oakville Skywalkers basketball team during his 12 years of service with Special Olympics Oakville, suffered cardiac arrest and died Dec. 28, 2014, at the age of 68. "He was very passionate about his family, and about his work with Special Olympics," said Special Olympics Oakville treasurer Bob Kelley. "The guy did just about everything... He would go out of his way to help anybody if it benefited Special Olympics." Thomas, the 2010 recipient of the prestigious Special Olympics Ontario Male Coach of the Year Award, was the technical coordinator of basketball for the 2012 Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Spring Games and was also part of Ontario's basketball mission staff at the 2014 National Summer Games. He became a certified NCCP facilitator in 2006 in order to teach and mentor other coaches across Ontario, and this year took on the task of being Special Olympics' provincial basketball convener. "Stu's love of sport and particularly basketball, combined with his passion and drive, ensured that every Special Olympic athlete who set foot on his practice court would receive the highest quality of coaching," stated a tribute letter from Special Olympics Ontario. "Always leading by example, Stu knew that success was far more than winning. Stu knew that the best win was in helping empower every athlete to reach their personal goals and dreams. "We would be remiss not to mention how gracious Stu always was to Special Olympics Ontario staff," the letter continued later. "Stu was often our `first call' whenever there was a basketball question. Ever humble and patient, Stu always found the time to answer questions and provide assistance wherever he could." Thomas also donated his time outside Stu Thomas was a long-time volunteer for Special Olympics at the local, provincial and national levels. | Oakville Beaver file photo of the Special Olympics program. He volunteered assistance in groundskeeping and other capacities for Oakville's St. Paul's United Church, despite the fact he wasn't a member. The Skywalkers practised in the church's gymnasium. "He was the kind of guy who just loved to help. I've never met a guy quite like him," said Don Cox, the property chairperson at St. Paul's. "When something needed to be done, he was right there. He was always looking to help other people." Cox added that it was obvious Special Olympics was near and dear to Thomas's heart. "I'd chat with him the odd time when I'd do security checks Sunday nights. I would just shoot the breeze with him, and he was always talking about how fantastic the (basketball team) was doing," Cox said. "He was just an amazing individual." The funeral service for Stu Thomas was held Sunday, Jan. 4 at St. Paul's United Church "The athletes will come out in droves. That's the love and the passion within the Special Olympics," Kelley said prior to the funeral. "Everybody has to say their goodbyes." Convenient, Clean, and friendly. We're oakville's best kept seCret! THE GYM NAUTILUS Est. 1982 Introductory 1-year weIghts membershIp Offer expires January 16th taxes inCLuDeD $49/month 11 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, ON www.thegymnautilus.com 905-844-1610