Beaver THE OAKVILLE Voted Ontario's Top Newspaper Four Years in a Row - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 www.carstaroakville.com www.dentistoakville.com 905-8457579 905-847 -2595 2212 Wyecroft Rd. 547 Trafalgar Rd. 905-842-6030 www.brantflorist.com/ob Beaver Trails around Page 20 the world 905.639.7001 HALTON TRANSMISSION (905) 559 SPEERS ROAD, UNIT #3 842-0725 A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 48 No. 77 "USING COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES" THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2010 32 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Skatepark CHAMP-ion steps move derailed By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Confined to seniors' home before his time By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The plan to move the West Oak Trails skateboard facility to Palermo Park is on the verge of being scrapped, but the plan to close the existing park is still moving ahead. The Town's Director of Parks and Open Space Chris Mark spoke before the Town's Community Services Committee Tuesday night stating that Town staff have serious safety concerns about the pedestrian access to Palermo Park along the north side of Dundas Street. Mark said that while there is a signalized intersection located at Postmaster Drive to safely cross Dundas Street, a paved/gravel three-metre shoulder along the north side of Dundas Street represents the only pedestrian access to the park. Mark's report will go before council for final approval on Tuesday. Town staff are concerned about encouraging pedestrians, particularly youths, to walk, cycle or skateboard on the shoulder of Dundas Street in such close proximity to the westbound lanes of traffic. Mark said this section of Dundas Street is not scheduled for upgrading for several years. See Dundas page 3 MICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVER SPECIAL GUEST: Georgetown's Jacob Calvert, 11, from The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) program takes a steps onto the playing field at the Oakville Lawn Bowling Club's annual CHAMP Day fundraiser on Canada Day. CHAMP Day is part of the Oakville Lawn Bowling Club's goal to promote lawn bowling as an interesting and challenging sport for all ages. At some point in her life, Pat Gunn, 76, may have envisioned herself in a seniors' home being visited by her son, Michael. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever imagine the roles would be reversed. But that dream, or rather nightmare, is the reality for Pat, and her 45year-old son, Michael, a patient at Oakville's Northridge Long-Term Care Centre. A severe beating in 2003 left Michael unable to speak properly, walk or even feed himself. His mother Pat, who Michael Gunn also lives in Oakville, believes her son can regain some of his former independence if given the opportunity and is calling on anyone who can help to make it happen. Pat would be the first to admit Michael didn't always make the right choices in life, but she doesn't believe his plight should be dismissed because of his past mistakes. Even before 2003, Pat said Michael's life was not an easy one. Addicted to crack and cocaine, Michael spent a number of years frequenting Toronto's various homeless shelters. Eventually, she said, Michael was able to free himself from his addiction and had begun to give back to society where he could doing volunteer work at some of the homeless shelters at which he had stayed. Pat said Michael had even talked about becoming See Son page 5