Dr. Trevor Hancock, a physician, public health author, lecturer, and conâ€" sultant specializing in health promoâ€" tion, healthy cities, and environmental health, acted as facilitator for the day. "Dr. Hancock has been involved in the The involvement of local governâ€" ment, differentiates a health promoâ€" tion initiative from a healthy commuâ€" nities initiative. "The healthy communities concept originated from the World Health Organization," said Lorraine Farrow, OTMH Health Promotion Coordinator. "It requires a multiâ€"secâ€" toral approach in which a diverse group of individuals, including local government, come together to address the question: What is a healthy comâ€" munity?" In keeping with OTMH‘s commitâ€" ment to health promotion, the Hospital recently sponsored a Healthy Communities Workshop hosted by the OTMH Health Promotion Committee. The Committee, established in February 1993, includes both hospital and community members and has been working towards a long term plan that will shift the hospital‘s serâ€" vice role to that of a community health resource. Oakvilleâ€"Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) recently became one of the first hospitals in Canada, and one of a few in North America, to take the lead in establishing a "healthy community". Hospital working on making Oakville a healthy community by Don Wall There‘s an experiment being conducted at the new Crown Books outlet in the Oakville Town Centre II, and all Oakville resident are serving as its subjects. It looks like a sure thing, but Jim Ambrose, special projects manager for SmithBooks, is keeping a wary eye on the project. "We‘re waiting to see what happens here," Ambrose explained recently. The head office of SmithBooks is nearâ€" by, in Toronto, so he will be able to monitor the sales of the new store closely. "If successful, we‘ll be opening others," he said. Crown is aiming to determine whether Oakville citizens will be willing to buy books from the bestâ€" sellers‘ list at prices guaranteed to be 25 per cent lower than in other book stores; and whether they will be willing to accept a 10 per cent discount on all other books sold in the store. Crown Books is a unique operaâ€" tion, Ambrose says â€" a book store operating not in a busy indoor shopâ€" ping mall or on a downtown street but in a strip plaza. The Oakville Town Centre II is the home of such superstores as Michaels Arts and Crafts, Hy and Zels and National Sports â€" excellent merchandisers, certainly, but not typically the neighbours of book stores. But the rent is relatively low at the Oakville Town Centre II, and that is how Crown Books is able to offer its low prices. Aside from sevâ€" eral other marketing innovations, Ambrose notes, Crown offers the same product as other bookstores: "We‘ve got a full line of books, not like discount stores. We‘ve got all the best sellers, we‘ve got a good selection and we‘re going to be improving it." Crown Books ‘experiments‘ with low prices The certificates allow full access to the YMCA Fitness Centre including Stairmasters, LifeStep, Life Cycles and a full range of weightâ€"training machines and free weights as well as access to all the lowâ€"impact and Reebok Step classâ€" es. The 12 day membership certificates are for anyone in Oakville 14 years or older and includes a pass for one person and a pass for a friend. Certificates may be picked up at the YMCA at 410 Rebecca St. or if you call 845â€"3417, they will arrange to have one sent out. This holiday season, the Oakville FAmily YMCA would like to help you experience and give, the Gift of Health. The ‘Y" believes that nothing is more valuable or rewarding to everyday life than a sense of personal health and wellâ€"being. During December and January, the‘¥" is opening its fitness facilities for 12 free days of exercise and classes. Participants spent the morning envisioning an ideally healthy comâ€" munity. The group agreed with the basic premise that health is not depenâ€" dent on medical care or health educaâ€" tion, but rather on access to the basic prerequisites to health. These include: food, shelter, work, education, income, and a stable ecosystem. basic premise that health is not depenâ€" dent on medical care or health educaâ€" tion, but rather on access to the basic prerequisites to health. These include: food, shelter, work, education, income, and a stable ecosystem. A number of priority actions were identified. "The priority that generated "We realize that a project will only succeed if it is community driven," said Dieter Kuntz, OTMH president CEO. "Once the groundwork has been laid and the momentum estabâ€" lished, it is the intent of OTMH to become a partner in the process of developing this initiative." Give gift of health this year In fact, Crown has a huge stock of books. There are 12,000 titles in the store, he noted, 50 per cent more than a typâ€" ical retailer, and as for the bestâ€"sellers, such as Pierre Trudeau‘s Memoirs and Lewis development of the Healthy Cities Projects in Europe and North America," said Farrow. "We were forâ€" tunate to have been able to attract someone of his calibre to the workâ€" shop." Representatives from business, education, social services, recreation, and municipal government attended the dayâ€"long workshop. Peacekeeper, there are over 100 copies in stock at any time. SmithBooks has hired an experienced manager, Oakville resident Kim Brakas, 28, who has been working in the bookâ€"selling business on and off since she was 16. "It‘s wonderful working here, I used to comâ€" mute," she noted. "It‘s nice to be able to start my own store from scratch." An English major, Brakas described herself as having "a real love for literature. It‘s a personal interest as well as a professional interest." She has a number of resources on hand to track down titles, including microfiche and access to the Canadian Book in Print listings. The atmosphere at the spacious Crown Book is decidedly unstuffy â€" bright and airy, there is soft rock music playing over the sound sysâ€" tem. The signage is good, and Ambrose points out the coffee maker and a pair of chairs in the corner. "We encourage browsing," he said. So far, the SmithBooks "experiâ€" ment" is going great guns. Sales have been good since the store opened Nov. 19, especially in chilâ€" dren‘s books. "We‘ve been blown away by the children‘sâ€"book sales," Manager Brakas never runs out of best sellers Ambrose said that book publishâ€" ers and authors are supportive as well. "Offâ€"price" books have been sold for three or four years in the U.S., and overall book sales have jumped. "It‘s substantially increased the sales of books," he noted. Customers seem to be appreciaâ€" tive of the concept, Brakas said, with some typically coming in with plans to buy one book as a Christmas gift and finding they can afford another for themselves. One gentleman, happy that a new busiâ€" ness was opening, told her, "It‘s nice to see people spending money, it‘s nice to get the money flowing." Ambrose reported. "We‘ll be getâ€" ting more in. We‘ll be expanding it." Crown Books is open seven days a week, from 9:30 to 9 Monday to Friday, 9 to 6 on Saturday and 11 to 5 on Sunday. : the most enthusiasm related to the concept of "people helping people" through volunteerism," said Farrow. "It was suggested that the hospital and other institutions promote a "Volunteer Day" to encourage people to help someone else for 15 minutes, modelled after ParticipACTION proâ€" motion. OTMH will be holding a followâ€" up meeting for those interested in establishing a "Healthy Oakville" iniâ€" tiative. YUAAODSIU Christmas Carol presentation by Theatre Sheridan A Cappella Group, in the Towne Square. Brought to you by l‘Atelier Grigorian. Saturday, December 18th, 10â€"5 p.m. For More Information Call 844â€"4520 Bring your letter to Santa to Gift Wrapping Centre and wait for his reply. Extended Hours: Many downtown stores will be open late until Christmas. Call your favourite store for Sunday hours. o7 x2 a 7 0 ts CAvVvIiNY available from participating businesses at 345 Lakeshore Road East. Open to Dec. 23. untilâ€" 9 p.m. weeidays, Saturdays until 6 p.m. and Sundays until 5 p.m. Open Christmas Eve until 6 FREE SATURDAY PARKING in all MUNICIPAL LOTS (excluding the parking garage) and free parking Sundays and evenings after 6 p.m. Free Gift Wrapping: (416) 620â€"7500 or 1â€"800â€"56144235 priced Gift Certificates can be picked up at our Toronto locations.