DBIA survey: Results arevýnin page 21 Mackenzie talks to Whitby students page4 29 Building boom hi Whitby .age 4 Ray hopes to get on a. roll page 25 Scniors' centre expansion approved The Whitby -Seniors' Activity Centre will ho expanded and playground equipment replaced at two parka, under infrastruc- ture projects announced Tues- dase were the projeets appro- yod, undor the Canada/Ontario Infrastructure Works progam from a "shopping list7 suibmittoct hy the Town of Whtb. .The Town had askechor a new fire hall and headquarters on 'Taunton Road and an expanded seniors' centre au the major pro- jects on the list. Aiso roquestod was an expanded library and several road projeets. The expanded seniors' cèntre and playground projects will cost Tenderin g will begin im- mediately for replacoment of payground qupment at the P*ingleCek and Otter Creok Playgounds. Tere was no estimate givon for the start of construction on the seniors' centre, but it was ann*tunced that work should be completed byMay next year. The- Whtby projects were announced by Ontario riding MWP Dan McTeague, Durhamn Centre MPP Drummond White and Whitby Mayor Tom Edwards. The federal, provincial and municipal governnients each con- trihute one-third of the project funding. It was announced in January that Whitby would receive $4. 16 million as its share of the job- sOntario and Canada Infrastruc- ture Works programf. VOLUNTEER JOAN STEPHENS holds her 1994 Mayors Senior Volunteer Award which recognizes her "outstanding service ta the community." See story on page 10. Photo by Ma~rk Reesor, WhiIby Free Press By Mike Kowalski A proposal te convert Whitby General Hospital into a regional rehabilitation treatment centre is causing sonie concern in the community. Questions about the hospital's future raie are being asked in Ilight of a forthcoming study which wiil recommendamjo shift in emphasis for the 25- year-old facihîty. Not only are Whitby General's medical staff and employees con- oerned, but Whitby residents who have been invoived with the hospital in some capacity over the years, aiso have reservations about what the study will pro- pose. Availabiiity of hdalth care ser- vices, job Security and, particu- Ily,fund raised for a planned hospita1 expansion, were chief aong he comments expressed toe eree Press. In fact, somie local service clubs and community organiza- tions which contribuîted money for either medical equipment or the building fund, are demand- ing an explanation before they agree to, make further donations. "There's a lot of bitterness over it,» admitted Jim Hillyard pre- sident of Branch 112 of the tkoyal Canadian Legion. "We have an aging member- ship and they rosenit that Whitby doesn't came inte it (having a general hospital) ho said. Althou h the buham, Region District Health Council study has yet to ho offlcially released, ho$pital officiais last week conÇur- mod what had long been suspec- ted. The $342,000 study of acute care health needs in Durham Region will recommend that Whitby General become a réhabi- litation treatment centre serving the entire region. Services asci ated with a general hospit alwill no longer be offered ini Whitby should the proposal, if endorsed by the health council, be approvèd by the Ontario government. Whitby residents requiring general medical care would be treated at either Oshawa General Hospital or Ajax-Picker- ing General Hospital, the study suggests. Mlthough the health council will hold public meetings prior to debating the study's recommen- dations, Hillyar4 is skoptical about the process so far. "The pub lic has had no input yet. It seems to ho contrvedtto keoping the public's voice down,» ho said. «it seems wer,& being force-fed what's going to happen. (A health council steering com- mittee, led by former -Brock Township mayor Allan McPhail, has heen involved with the study for more than a year. (Ed Bufftsý Whitby General Hospital board chair 15 a mem- ber of the committee.i SEE PAGE 24 ' Bîtterness'9 over proposed rehab role, A home design and improvement feature SEE PAGES 17 TO 20