Flynn turns celebration party into fundraiser for Bryce by Michael Gregory Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Friday, November 14, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn and his wife Janice anticipated a community-focused celebration to mark his 30 years of public service and wanted to ensure the event would serve a greater purpose -- helping a local resident with his battle against a brain tumour. On Monday (Nov. 17), residents and supporters will gather at the Operating Engineers Banquet Hall and Conference Centre to toast Ontario's Minister of Labour, and raise funds so that Bryce Smith can continue to receive medication in his fight with cancer. "The response has been tremendous and people have really stepped forward," Flynn said, noting that dinner sponsors have generously covered all the expenses. "Every single penny people donate now will be going towards Bryce." Smith is the son of former Oakville councillor Jim Smith, with whom Flynn served during some of his 18 years as a Town and Regional councillor. Smith has reported positive results to his oncologist at McMaster Hospital after taking Avastin, but the Ontario Health Insurance (OHIP) does not cover the cancer drug. "Bryce and his family decided they were going to try to fund this themselves and see if it did work," Flynn said. "It appears to be working for Bryce, but the problem is, it's very expensive." The drug is currently winding its way through the approval process, and the hope is that funds NDP's David Lewis led to a conversation between a teenage Flynn and the party leader in the basement of the campaign headquarters about the importance of youth political involvement. "I kind of looked around me in the campaign and there weren't a lot of young people... I figured if they're not here, who's speaking up for the young people in the country, or the province," he said. Some years later, Flynn and his wife Janice, who met roller skating as teenagers at The Terrace in downtown Toronto, married at St. Andrew's Church in Oakville and soon after moved here, buying a condo. "I was always active in politics, but in the same way somebody who would volunteer for my team, would be active in politics," Flynn said. The couple had their son Nigel in 1980 and moved from east Oakville to Bronte five years later -- the same year Flynn tasted his first provincial election defeat as a New Democrat. "It was during the Rae years I realized I was much more comfortable in the Liberal Party," Flynn said. "My upbringing was that you were either one or the other, you're right wing or left wing, and I realized I was a little bit of both." see Flynn on p.14 Kevin Flynn Ontario Labour Minister and Oakville MPP | Oakville Beaver file photo Sore Feet, Sports Injury, Painful Ingrown Toenails? Plantar Warts? We can help! Exceptional footcare for all ages. · Routine footcare · Corns & calluses · Plantar warts · Heel/arch/foot pain · Diabetic footcare and education · Thick or ingrown nails · Nail surgery · Sports related foot problems & injuries · Custom made orthotics · Sigvaris® compression stockings · Evenings and saturday appointments available · New patients welcome! J. Richard Werkman chiropodist raised at the dinner can assist the newly-married Smith with some of the costs. Sitting in his constituency office in downtown Bronte, Flynn sips on a green tea as he reflects on his political career, and the influence his father had in shaping it. "My dad was always active, always helping out. If there was someone that particularly appealed to him politically, he'd go help that person out and he kind of instilled that in us," Flynn said. In the early 1970s, his father's support of the Now offering Laser treatment for toenail fungus. located on the north/west corner of maple grove dr. and cornwall rd. 1495 Cornwall Rd., Suite 33, Oakville T: 905-845-4817 www.werkman.ca Show your car some love! Voted Number 1 Financial Planner 11 Years Make yoUR oWn SPeCial!* $ Conveniently loCated at the oakville WinteR CaR loveRS SPeCial $ Any Service or Repair Valued at $75 or more* Call for details. Cannot be combined with other coupons. Offer expires December 31, 2014. 15 oFF Includes: · Oil & Filter Change · Up to 5L of 5w20, 5w30 or 10w30 $ 25 off · Battery and Charging test 3995 + Free Complete InspeCtIon Call for details. Most vehicles. Specialty oils/filters are extra. Plus taxes & disposal fee. Cannot be combined with other coupons. Offer expires December 31, 2014. Peter Watson MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FCSI Certified Financial Planner Since 1991 DIAMOND 220 Randall Street · Downtown Oakville Phone: 905.842.2100 www.peterwatsoninvestments.com Store Hours: 7:30 am - 6 pm Mon - Fri · 8 am -12 pm Sat "At Master Mechanic... you talk to the mechanic" www.mastermechanic.ca 142 Cross Ave · 905-845-0178