Volunteers can register via e-mail for the upcoming Ancaster Community Food Drive, slated for Saturday, Feb. 20.
Volunteer drivers are still needed to cover about 20 routes for the town wide, door to door canvass. E-mail ancastercommunityfooddrive@gmail.com or contact Ancaster Community Services at 905-648-6675 to volunteer your time.
Launched 19 years ago by the Ancaster Ministerial Association with local citizens, businesses, schools and community agencies, the food drive supports eight Greater Hamilton foodbanks.
Volunteers are needed to distribute information flyers on Feb. 13 and to collect, load and sort donations on the following Saturday. All donations are delivered to St. John’s Parish Hall to be sorted and shipped to the individual agencies.
Last year’s food drive collected a record total of 79,000 pounds of non-perishable food. Food collection takes about three hours and most routes produce a car load of food.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Apartment plan set to challenge height, density bylaws
A new multi-unit residential development is expected to test the limits of Ancaster’s height and density bylaws.
An application for a 39-unit, three storey apartment development at 95 Wilson Street West will be presented to Hamilton’s committee of adjustment on Jan. 7.
The applicant, under an agreement of purchase and sale, is seeking an amendment to increase the maximum density by six units. The application also requests a height amendment of 19.2 metres at the rear of the building, instead of the maximum permitted height of 10.5 metres.
A minor variance application has been submitted by a numbered company. A corporate profile report lists Michael J. Corrado and David Eccles as company administrators. Neither could be reached for comment.
A public meeting is slated for 1:40 p.m. in the Hamilton Convention Centre, room 207.
The development site, located at the corner of Wilson Street West and Dunham Drive, has been previously rezoned for multiple residential purposes.
The property, which is just 0.25 hectares, is one of the last undeveloped land parcels with frontage on Wilson Street.
The development is planned to include 49 parking spaces, 35 of which are underground.
A 33-unit condominium development was previously approved in April, 2008 by city staff. But the project, referred to as Terraces on Wilson, never materialized. The property was then put back on the real estate market.
An application for a 39-unit, three storey apartment development at 95 Wilson Street West will be presented to Hamilton’s committee of adjustment on Jan. 7.
The applicant, under an agreement of purchase and sale, is seeking an amendment to increase the maximum density by six units. The application also requests a height amendment of 19.2 metres at the rear of the building, instead of the maximum permitted height of 10.5 metres.
A minor variance application has been submitted by a numbered company. A corporate profile report lists Michael J. Corrado and David Eccles as company administrators. Neither could be reached for comment.
A public meeting is slated for 1:40 p.m. in the Hamilton Convention Centre, room 207.
The development site, located at the corner of Wilson Street West and Dunham Drive, has been previously rezoned for multiple residential purposes.
The property, which is just 0.25 hectares, is one of the last undeveloped land parcels with frontage on Wilson Street.
The development is planned to include 49 parking spaces, 35 of which are underground.
A 33-unit condominium development was previously approved in April, 2008 by city staff. But the project, referred to as Terraces on Wilson, never materialized. The property was then put back on the real estate market.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Check your records, says Landmart
If neighbourhood green space is a priority, Meadowlands residents should check the city’s zoning plans before purchasing a home, said a Landmart Homes executive.
The Ancaster home builder drew criticism earlier this month following the approval of the latest phase of development on Chambers Drive and Raymond Road. Hamilton councillors approved a draft plan of subdivision which includes a community church, 28 street townhouses, five lots for single detached homes and three condominium blocks.
But residents said a Landmart Homes salesperson assured them the lands to the north would remain protected green space when the lots were sold in the fall of 2007.
“All of the information that we handed out did not show any green space there,” said Landmart vice president of sales and marketing Darlene Fraser. Fraser did not work for Landmart in the fall of 2007.
Fraser said some of the lots on Chambers are deeper and wider, which command a premium price. Premium pricing also includes options such as oak stairs or granite counter tops.
“I can’t speak to what was said,” Fraser said. “I can speak to what is in writing.”
In a letter to city staff, Chambers Drive residents David Di Stefano and Deborah Carvalho said they paid for a premium lot with the understanding that lands to the north would remain as green space.
“We are opposed to the zoning amendment application because we paid an increased price for our lot since it backed out onto green space and there would not be any development,” their letter states.
Fraser said residents should always check the city’s records before purchasing a home.
“I know that the opportunity for verification has always been there for each and every purchaser,” she said. “This town house block is not a secret. It’s been there for a long time.”
Fraser said homes backing onto a community park on Fair Street and Lampman Drive may have been sold as premium lots. But the same arrangement was not applied to Chambers and Raymond.
Seven residents of a condominium at 400 Stonehenge Drive also signed a letter of objection, arguing the townhouse development threatens a wooded green space backing onto their units.
In an e-mail to city staff, Chambers Drive residents Peter and Lucy Filice stated they were misled by the homebuilder when they paid a premium price for their home. They argue “there were no plans for future development” to the north of their properties.
Fraser said she was surprised that residents did not research the community plan for the area before purchasing their homes.
“The opportunity was there to go and check the zoning,” Fraser said.
Marketed as The Masters of Ancaster, the latest phase of the Landmart development is slated for completion by the spring of 2011.
The Ancaster home builder drew criticism earlier this month following the approval of the latest phase of development on Chambers Drive and Raymond Road. Hamilton councillors approved a draft plan of subdivision which includes a community church, 28 street townhouses, five lots for single detached homes and three condominium blocks.
But residents said a Landmart Homes salesperson assured them the lands to the north would remain protected green space when the lots were sold in the fall of 2007.
“All of the information that we handed out did not show any green space there,” said Landmart vice president of sales and marketing Darlene Fraser. Fraser did not work for Landmart in the fall of 2007.
Fraser said some of the lots on Chambers are deeper and wider, which command a premium price. Premium pricing also includes options such as oak stairs or granite counter tops.
“I can’t speak to what was said,” Fraser said. “I can speak to what is in writing.”
In a letter to city staff, Chambers Drive residents David Di Stefano and Deborah Carvalho said they paid for a premium lot with the understanding that lands to the north would remain as green space.
“We are opposed to the zoning amendment application because we paid an increased price for our lot since it backed out onto green space and there would not be any development,” their letter states.
Fraser said residents should always check the city’s records before purchasing a home.
“I know that the opportunity for verification has always been there for each and every purchaser,” she said. “This town house block is not a secret. It’s been there for a long time.”
Fraser said homes backing onto a community park on Fair Street and Lampman Drive may have been sold as premium lots. But the same arrangement was not applied to Chambers and Raymond.
Seven residents of a condominium at 400 Stonehenge Drive also signed a letter of objection, arguing the townhouse development threatens a wooded green space backing onto their units.
In an e-mail to city staff, Chambers Drive residents Peter and Lucy Filice stated they were misled by the homebuilder when they paid a premium price for their home. They argue “there were no plans for future development” to the north of their properties.
Fraser said she was surprised that residents did not research the community plan for the area before purchasing their homes.
“The opportunity was there to go and check the zoning,” Fraser said.
Marketed as The Masters of Ancaster, the latest phase of the Landmart development is slated for completion by the spring of 2011.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Committee will study deer population
The Hamilton Conservation Authority has agreed to strike a stakeholders committee to examine an overpopulation of deer at Iroquoia Heights Conservation Area.
The Six Nations Confederacy, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and Hamilton City Council are expected to be among the key stakeholders, HCA board chair Chris Firth-Eagland said.
The HCA plans to form the committee in February, after a final report on the deer population is submitted by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
HCA ecologist Shari Faulkenham said property owners have been overrun with deer in the Old Mohawk Road and Scenic Drive area.
“People have had up to 30 deer in their backyard,” she said.
An over abundance of deer threatens the ecosystem, Faulkenham said. When deer cannot find sufficient food they are prone to spreading disease. A high deer population also increases the frequency of vehicle collisions, she said.
An aerial study of 66 hectares surrounding Iroquoia Heights showed an estimated tally of 102 deer where there should only be 10-12 deer, Faulkenham noted.
The HCA plans to study a variety of options to mitigate the deer population including a controlled hunt, a cull or relocation.
Faulkenham said 73 per cent of the census area included urban land where hunting is not permitted. But along the urban/rural boundary of Highway 6, researchers found a “huge congregation” of deer on the north side where hunting is forbidden, and a lesser amount on the south side where hunting is allowed.
Iroquoia Heights presents a unique challenge for deer, Faulkenham said, because the conservation area is like an island, land-locked between highways and urban development.
The stakeholder committee is expected to determine whether the Six Nations Confederacy, the traditional government of Six Nations, will participate in a controlled deer hunt at Iroquoia Heights sometime next year.
“Six Nations Confederacy has come out with a recommendation that they are willing to help and I think that’s commendable,” said Firth-Eagland.
But Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson said he will oppose any plan that seeks to permit hunting at the urban park.
“I hope the message given tonight is that we have not given permission to hunt,” he said at the HCA’s Dec. 3 board meeting.
Faulkenham said in accordance with the province’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, deer cannot be transported more than one kilometre from where they are captured. Relocation can cause extreme stress in deer, Faulkenham said, leading to a fatal condition called white muscle disease.
The Six Nations Confederacy, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and Hamilton City Council are expected to be among the key stakeholders, HCA board chair Chris Firth-Eagland said.
The HCA plans to form the committee in February, after a final report on the deer population is submitted by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
HCA ecologist Shari Faulkenham said property owners have been overrun with deer in the Old Mohawk Road and Scenic Drive area.
“People have had up to 30 deer in their backyard,” she said.
An over abundance of deer threatens the ecosystem, Faulkenham said. When deer cannot find sufficient food they are prone to spreading disease. A high deer population also increases the frequency of vehicle collisions, she said.
An aerial study of 66 hectares surrounding Iroquoia Heights showed an estimated tally of 102 deer where there should only be 10-12 deer, Faulkenham noted.
The HCA plans to study a variety of options to mitigate the deer population including a controlled hunt, a cull or relocation.
Faulkenham said 73 per cent of the census area included urban land where hunting is not permitted. But along the urban/rural boundary of Highway 6, researchers found a “huge congregation” of deer on the north side where hunting is forbidden, and a lesser amount on the south side where hunting is allowed.
Iroquoia Heights presents a unique challenge for deer, Faulkenham said, because the conservation area is like an island, land-locked between highways and urban development.
The stakeholder committee is expected to determine whether the Six Nations Confederacy, the traditional government of Six Nations, will participate in a controlled deer hunt at Iroquoia Heights sometime next year.
“Six Nations Confederacy has come out with a recommendation that they are willing to help and I think that’s commendable,” said Firth-Eagland.
But Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson said he will oppose any plan that seeks to permit hunting at the urban park.
“I hope the message given tonight is that we have not given permission to hunt,” he said at the HCA’s Dec. 3 board meeting.
Faulkenham said in accordance with the province’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, deer cannot be transported more than one kilometre from where they are captured. Relocation can cause extreme stress in deer, Faulkenham said, leading to a fatal condition called white muscle disease.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Hortons appeal hearing cancelled
Tim Hortons appears close to reaching an agreement in its appeal against air emission rules imposed by the Ministry of the Environment for a new Ancaster coffee roasting facility.
A negotiated settlement could help Tim Hortons open its $30 million facility in the Ancaster Business Park later this fall.
Evangeline Berlie, case manager for the province’s environmental review tribunal, said a preliminary hearing slated for Monday has been cancelled. Berlie said counsel for the appellant, Fruition Manufacturing Limited, a Tim Hortons subsidiary, is close to reaching a settlement with the ministry of the environment.
A teleconference between the company and the ministry was slated for this week.
Tim Hortons launched an appeal against the ministry air emission restrictions earlier this year, arguing the conditions were excessively onerous. Tim Hortons has been pursuing mediation with the ministry over the last several months in an attempt to avoid a lengthy hearing process.
A negotiated settlement could help Tim Hortons open its $30 million facility in the Ancaster Business Park later this fall.
Evangeline Berlie, case manager for the province’s environmental review tribunal, said a preliminary hearing slated for Monday has been cancelled. Berlie said counsel for the appellant, Fruition Manufacturing Limited, a Tim Hortons subsidiary, is close to reaching a settlement with the ministry of the environment.
A teleconference between the company and the ministry was slated for this week.
Tim Hortons launched an appeal against the ministry air emission restrictions earlier this year, arguing the conditions were excessively onerous. Tim Hortons has been pursuing mediation with the ministry over the last several months in an attempt to avoid a lengthy hearing process.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Hunting problem over. Or is it?
Ward 12 Councillor Lloyd Ferguson is also confident that hunting has ceased at the conservation area. At a fundraiser last night he noted that 'no hunting' sings are posted at Iroquoia Heights and violators can be prosecuted under the city's bylaw which prohobits hunting in an urban area.
Illegal hunting can be reported to police or to the Ministry of Natural Resources enforcement hotline at 1-877-TIPS-MNR.
But personally, I know First Nations treaty rights are a slippery slope. We've seen how governments and law enforcement have backed away from First Nations issues, in fear of the broad-reaching political ramifications.
In related news, it's clear there is a problem with overpopulation of deer at Iroquoia Heights. CAO Steve Miazga is still weighing the conservation area's options, which could include a cull or a relocation of deer. An areial census of the conservation area in January showed 102 deer. An ideal number is 12 or fewer.
Illegal hunting can be reported to police or to the Ministry of Natural Resources enforcement hotline at 1-877-TIPS-MNR.
But personally, I know First Nations treaty rights are a slippery slope. We've seen how governments and law enforcement have backed away from First Nations issues, in fear of the broad-reaching political ramifications.
In related news, it's clear there is a problem with overpopulation of deer at Iroquoia Heights. CAO Steve Miazga is still weighing the conservation area's options, which could include a cull or a relocation of deer. An areial census of the conservation area in January showed 102 deer. An ideal number is 12 or fewer.
No charges in Conservation area hunting probe
Iroquoia Heights Conservation Area has reopened to the public after Hamilton Conservation Authority staff received assurances from Six Nations officials that deer hunting has ceased at the urban park.
“As a result, it’s our understanding that hunting has stopped in the area,” said Steve Miazga, chief administrative officer for the HCA.
Claims of illegal deer hunting earlier this month prompted the closure of the conservation area for more than a week. Miazga said conservation authority staff began investigating after deer remains were found at the park in early November. Miazga said bow hunting was reported on Nov. 6 and Nov. 10. Deer entrails were found scattered in various locations.
“Some of the entrails have been spotted by myself and staff but we don’t know who the hunters are,” Miazga said.
Ontario’s natural resources minister said no charges will be laid after the ministry received reports of illegal deer hunting in the conservation area.
“We take this very seriously,” Donna Cansfield said. “This is a violation of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.”
Cansfield said ministry investigators lacked sufficient evidence to pursue charges. The ministry has since completed its investigation.
Conservation authority officials have met with representatives from the Six Nations Confederacy and band council.
Leroy Hill, secretary for the Haudenosaunee Six Nations Confederacy Council, said the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 includes perpetual hunting rights for Six Nations people in Southwestern Ontario. But he could not confirm whether Six Nations hunters were invoking their treaty rights to hunt in the conservation area.
“That’s not my file,” Hill said. “I’m not authorized to speak to that.”
Hill directed questions to Chester Gibson, a wildlife representative appointed by the Confederacy council. Gibson was not immediately available for comment.
Mr. Miazga said Six Nations residents have been conducting a chronic wasting disease study on deer, but the study does not include killing the animals. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, chronic wasting, a progressive, fatal disease of the nervous system, has been reported only in Saskatchewan in elk this year.
The Confederacy council is the traditional government of Six Nations, although the council was stripped of its formal governing authority by the federal Indian Act of 1924.
Cansfield said illegal hunting can be reported to the ministry’s enforcement hotline at 1-877-TIPS-MNR.
Any discussion on First Nations treaty rights should be directed to provincial Aboriginal Affairs minister Brad Duguid, Cansfield said.
“Our perspective is we consider this a private land,” Cansfield said. “I’m not going to comment on treaty rights.”
The conservation area is located off Old Mohawk Road, north of the Lincoln Alexander Parkway between Highway 403 and Scenic Drive.
Hamilton Police Superintendent Ken Bond said police received reports of hunting on Nov. 2 and Nov. 9. Bond said anyone who witnesses hunting can also contact police. If police confirm the names of people hunting illegally, they will forward the information to the Ministry of Natural Resources. It’s up to ministry staff to lay charges under the Fish and Wildlife Control Act for trespass to property for the purposes of hunting, Bond said.
“It’s in an urban-based park, so it’s not a good idea to be hunting there,” Bond said.
“As a result, it’s our understanding that hunting has stopped in the area,” said Steve Miazga, chief administrative officer for the HCA.
Claims of illegal deer hunting earlier this month prompted the closure of the conservation area for more than a week. Miazga said conservation authority staff began investigating after deer remains were found at the park in early November. Miazga said bow hunting was reported on Nov. 6 and Nov. 10. Deer entrails were found scattered in various locations.
“Some of the entrails have been spotted by myself and staff but we don’t know who the hunters are,” Miazga said.
Ontario’s natural resources minister said no charges will be laid after the ministry received reports of illegal deer hunting in the conservation area.
“We take this very seriously,” Donna Cansfield said. “This is a violation of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.”
Cansfield said ministry investigators lacked sufficient evidence to pursue charges. The ministry has since completed its investigation.
Conservation authority officials have met with representatives from the Six Nations Confederacy and band council.
Leroy Hill, secretary for the Haudenosaunee Six Nations Confederacy Council, said the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 includes perpetual hunting rights for Six Nations people in Southwestern Ontario. But he could not confirm whether Six Nations hunters were invoking their treaty rights to hunt in the conservation area.
“That’s not my file,” Hill said. “I’m not authorized to speak to that.”
Hill directed questions to Chester Gibson, a wildlife representative appointed by the Confederacy council. Gibson was not immediately available for comment.
Mr. Miazga said Six Nations residents have been conducting a chronic wasting disease study on deer, but the study does not include killing the animals. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, chronic wasting, a progressive, fatal disease of the nervous system, has been reported only in Saskatchewan in elk this year.
The Confederacy council is the traditional government of Six Nations, although the council was stripped of its formal governing authority by the federal Indian Act of 1924.
Cansfield said illegal hunting can be reported to the ministry’s enforcement hotline at 1-877-TIPS-MNR.
Any discussion on First Nations treaty rights should be directed to provincial Aboriginal Affairs minister Brad Duguid, Cansfield said.
“Our perspective is we consider this a private land,” Cansfield said. “I’m not going to comment on treaty rights.”
The conservation area is located off Old Mohawk Road, north of the Lincoln Alexander Parkway between Highway 403 and Scenic Drive.
Hamilton Police Superintendent Ken Bond said police received reports of hunting on Nov. 2 and Nov. 9. Bond said anyone who witnesses hunting can also contact police. If police confirm the names of people hunting illegally, they will forward the information to the Ministry of Natural Resources. It’s up to ministry staff to lay charges under the Fish and Wildlife Control Act for trespass to property for the purposes of hunting, Bond said.
“It’s in an urban-based park, so it’s not a good idea to be hunting there,” Bond said.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The latest word on Archmill
Archmill House Limited is rising from the ashes.
Just eight days after a devastating three alarm fire destroyed the company’s Osprey Drive manufacturing facility, the company was slated to resume full operation at a temporary facility on Nebo Road on the east mountain.
“We’re hoping by (Wednesday) we will be working at almost full capacity,” said Curtis Drew Buchan, a manager at Archmill.
Mr. Buchan said more than 50 friends came together last weekend to help the company emerge from the fire that burned for more than 12 hours in the Ancaster Business Park. He said the company managed to salvage vital reports and documents from its administrative office, which assisted the transition back to full production.
Mr. Buchan said Archmill has crafted architectural millwork for several long-term care facilities, including Amica at Dundas. The firm has also worked for several universities including McMaster, hospitals, churches and upscale restaurants.
The company hopes to rebuild its Ancaster facility over the next 18 months, Mr. Buchan said.
Archmill recently expanded its Ancaster operations, with a 14,000 square-foot addition completed in January, 2008. The firm has about 35 employees.
“We were extremely busy and it’s only increased,” said Mr. Buchan. He estimates the company lost less than five days worth of production following the fire.
“We’re working longer hours to make up for lost time,” Mr. Buchan said.
Archmill House is an established full service manufacturer of commercial and institutional architectural millwork and case goods. The company’s products include architectural millwork in plastic laminates, natural woods and veneers, combined with architectural metals, acrylics and fabrics.
Archmill completed a foyer project for Casino Rama Hotel and entertainment centre near Orillia, under general contractor Vanbots Construction Corp. The high-profile project included wood veneers and a reception desk in a cherry basket weave façade.
Just eight days after a devastating three alarm fire destroyed the company’s Osprey Drive manufacturing facility, the company was slated to resume full operation at a temporary facility on Nebo Road on the east mountain.
“We’re hoping by (Wednesday) we will be working at almost full capacity,” said Curtis Drew Buchan, a manager at Archmill.
Mr. Buchan said more than 50 friends came together last weekend to help the company emerge from the fire that burned for more than 12 hours in the Ancaster Business Park. He said the company managed to salvage vital reports and documents from its administrative office, which assisted the transition back to full production.
Mr. Buchan said Archmill has crafted architectural millwork for several long-term care facilities, including Amica at Dundas. The firm has also worked for several universities including McMaster, hospitals, churches and upscale restaurants.
The company hopes to rebuild its Ancaster facility over the next 18 months, Mr. Buchan said.
Archmill recently expanded its Ancaster operations, with a 14,000 square-foot addition completed in January, 2008. The firm has about 35 employees.
“We were extremely busy and it’s only increased,” said Mr. Buchan. He estimates the company lost less than five days worth of production following the fire.
“We’re working longer hours to make up for lost time,” Mr. Buchan said.
Archmill House is an established full service manufacturer of commercial and institutional architectural millwork and case goods. The company’s products include architectural millwork in plastic laminates, natural woods and veneers, combined with architectural metals, acrylics and fabrics.
Archmill completed a foyer project for Casino Rama Hotel and entertainment centre near Orillia, under general contractor Vanbots Construction Corp. The high-profile project included wood veneers and a reception desk in a cherry basket weave façade.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Archmill back in business: Report
Archmill House Limited has reportedly resumed production at a new temporary facility, just six days after a devastating fire destroyed its Osprey Drive location in the Ancaster Business Park.
A commercial photographer who works for the architectural millwork firm said Archmill employees were called back to work on Monday at a temporary location at 1386 Sandhill Dr. The facility, located just around the corner from the Archmill site, operates as Workplace Design Inc., an office furniture manufacturer.
The photographer said he is not at liberty to speak for the company. Comments on the Archmill House temporary facility are posted in a blog at www.dewimagery.com/blog
Employees who responded to a reporter’s visit at Workplace Design on Monday morning declined to comment. Archmill senior partner Steve Buchan was not immediately available to comment.
According to its web page, Archmill House is an established full service manufacturer of commercial and institutional architectural millwork and case goods. The company’s products include architectural millwork in plastic laminates, natural woods and veneers, combined with architectural metals, acrylics and fabrics.
The Aug. 25 fire that burned for more than 12 hours, required more than 60 firefighters and 18 pieces of apparatus to extinguish.
A commercial photographer who works for the architectural millwork firm said Archmill employees were called back to work on Monday at a temporary location at 1386 Sandhill Dr. The facility, located just around the corner from the Archmill site, operates as Workplace Design Inc., an office furniture manufacturer.
The photographer said he is not at liberty to speak for the company. Comments on the Archmill House temporary facility are posted in a blog at www.dewimagery.com/blog
Employees who responded to a reporter’s visit at Workplace Design on Monday morning declined to comment. Archmill senior partner Steve Buchan was not immediately available to comment.
According to its web page, Archmill House is an established full service manufacturer of commercial and institutional architectural millwork and case goods. The company’s products include architectural millwork in plastic laminates, natural woods and veneers, combined with architectural metals, acrylics and fabrics.
The Aug. 25 fire that burned for more than 12 hours, required more than 60 firefighters and 18 pieces of apparatus to extinguish.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Councillor urges better air monitoring
Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson will ask the city’s board of health to purchase real time air monitoring equipment to notify the public in the event of an industrial fire.
Mr. Ferguson said the city’s fire service performed admirably to extinguish the 12-hour blaze and safeguard neighbouring businesses and residents. But he called the environment ministry’s delay in providing air quality information “unconscionable” after a huge plume of black smoke billowed across Ancaster in the early morning hours.
Malfunctioning test equipment was blamed for the delay in receiving air quality data. The first air quality samples were not recorded until 12:30, nearly 10 hours after the fire began.
“There wasn’t a sense of urgency with them,” said Mr. Ferguson, addressing the ministry delay. He plans to address the issue at the city’s board of health meeting next month.
A Ministry of the environment official downplayed air quality concerns following Tuesday’s fire at Archmill House Inc., a woodworking facility in the Ancaster Business Park.
Ministry spokesperson Jennifer Hall said the fire produced particulate matter, benzene and butadiene, chemicals associated with the burning of building materials. But early tests have concluded chemical levels do not pose serious health effects, she said.
“There are no concerns for air quality impacts,” Ms. Hall said on Tuesday afternoon. She said test results showed air quality remained within acceptable ministry guidelines, even at the height of the early morning fire.
Ms. Hall said air quality levels at a Mountain index station at Vickers Road and East 18th street showed an air quality index of 48 at 7 a.m. An air quality reading is considered poor when it reaches a level of 50. By 7:30 a.m., the air quality returned to a normal level, Ms. Hall said.
Ms. Hall said douse water used to contain the fire was collected by vacuum trucks which minimized the impact on a nearby storm retention pond. Water samples from the outfall were collected for testing.
The ministry’s spills action response unit was notified at 4:23 a.m. Ministry crews were dispatched from Hamilton and London.
Ms. Hall acknowledged that delays occurred in air quality monitoring due to malfunctioning equipment.
Initial tests showed no results for air emissions, an obvious sign the equipment was not functioning properly.
Sophisticated equipment from the London office used to measure air quality in real time was already in use in Sarnia. The upgraded monitoring equipment finally arrived at 11:45 a.m.
Ms. Hall said the ministry regularly inspects its equipment. She could not explain why the equipment malfunctioned.
“It’s unfortunate and not something we would have expected,” she said.
Mr. Ferguson said the city’s fire service performed admirably to extinguish the 12-hour blaze and safeguard neighbouring businesses and residents. But he called the environment ministry’s delay in providing air quality information “unconscionable” after a huge plume of black smoke billowed across Ancaster in the early morning hours.
Malfunctioning test equipment was blamed for the delay in receiving air quality data. The first air quality samples were not recorded until 12:30, nearly 10 hours after the fire began.
“There wasn’t a sense of urgency with them,” said Mr. Ferguson, addressing the ministry delay. He plans to address the issue at the city’s board of health meeting next month.
A Ministry of the environment official downplayed air quality concerns following Tuesday’s fire at Archmill House Inc., a woodworking facility in the Ancaster Business Park.
Ministry spokesperson Jennifer Hall said the fire produced particulate matter, benzene and butadiene, chemicals associated with the burning of building materials. But early tests have concluded chemical levels do not pose serious health effects, she said.
“There are no concerns for air quality impacts,” Ms. Hall said on Tuesday afternoon. She said test results showed air quality remained within acceptable ministry guidelines, even at the height of the early morning fire.
Ms. Hall said air quality levels at a Mountain index station at Vickers Road and East 18th street showed an air quality index of 48 at 7 a.m. An air quality reading is considered poor when it reaches a level of 50. By 7:30 a.m., the air quality returned to a normal level, Ms. Hall said.
Ms. Hall said douse water used to contain the fire was collected by vacuum trucks which minimized the impact on a nearby storm retention pond. Water samples from the outfall were collected for testing.
The ministry’s spills action response unit was notified at 4:23 a.m. Ministry crews were dispatched from Hamilton and London.
Ms. Hall acknowledged that delays occurred in air quality monitoring due to malfunctioning equipment.
Initial tests showed no results for air emissions, an obvious sign the equipment was not functioning properly.
Sophisticated equipment from the London office used to measure air quality in real time was already in use in Sarnia. The upgraded monitoring equipment finally arrived at 11:45 a.m.
Ms. Hall said the ministry regularly inspects its equipment. She could not explain why the equipment malfunctioned.
“It’s unfortunate and not something we would have expected,” she said.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Fire sends smoke billowing through town
A thick plume of smoke blanketed Ancaster and the surrounding area Tuesday morning as firefighters battled an industrial blaze in the Ancaster Business Park.
The three alarm fire broke out around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning. Hamilton fire safety officer John Verbeek said the building was fully involved when firefighters arrived. Dozens of firefighters continued to douse the blaze throughout the morning, as thick smoke billowed from the building’s roof. A portion of roof on the north side of the building collapsed, forcing firefighters to combat the blaze from the building’s exterior.
“We decided to take a defensive stand,” said Mr. Verbeek.
Archmill House is a high end manufacturer of industrial millwork and office furniture located at the corner of Osprey and Sandhill Drives. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. No injuries were reported and no one was in the building when the fire began.
Mr. Verbeek said the building contained about 4,000 aerosol cans containing a flammable glue product. As bad as the blaze appeared, it could have been worse. Mr. Verbeek said the building had propane tanks at the rear that were safely vented. Witnesses indicated a loud explosion, possibly a propane tank at 6:15 a.m. The building also contained flammable polyethylene mouldings, wood products and flammable liquids such as laquer and paint thinner.
Mr. Verbeek said efforts were made to contain potentially harmful douse water.
“Water is running off into a cistern and it will be vacuumed out,” he explained.
Firefighters also dispatched a foam truck from Hamilton Airport to contain the fire by mid-morning.
Hamilton fire service advised all area residents and businesses to shut windows and doors to avoid smoke inhalation.
Bill Mallett, operations manager at a nearby manufacturing facility, said morning shift workers heard the exploding propane tank at 6:15 a.m. Workers were advised to evacuate the building, but the 5 p.m. night shift was expected to resume as usual.
Archmill House is registered with the environment ministry to handle hazardous industrial waste and liquid industrial waste.
Ministry staff were on the scene to conduct random air sampling.
The thick plume of smoke could be seen from the Lincoln Alexander Parkway at Rousseaux Street, the Ancaster Village Core and throughout Hamilton Mountain. Police closed several highway ramps as a precaution, but most reopened by mid-morning.
Local resident Jason Cassis thought something was wrong with his house when he woke up at 4:30 p.m. to the strong smell of smoke and several loud popping sounds, presumably when the aerosol cans ignited.
“It’s a thin, narrow, really toxic smell,” said Mr. Cassis, who lives about two kilometres from the scene. Several residents gathered to watch the fire near a police tape at the corner of Osprey and Sandhill. Patrons from the nearby Egg and I Restaurant also gathered on a hill to watch.
Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson arrived at the scene by 9 a.m. to assess the impact.
“The firefighters have done a great job responding to it,” said Mr. Ferguson. “I’m just worried about the plume.”
Andrew Janssens, owner of anDea Chocolate at 1252 Osprey Drive was worried about his $750,000 worth of inventory.
“If there’s smoke in the building, you can write off the whole inventory,” Mr. Janssens said.
A brief timeline of events
3:15 a.m. Firefighters arrive at the Archmill House facility, finding a fully involved fire at the rear of the building.
4:23 a.m. The ministry of the environment’s spills action hotline is notified. Ministry officials are on the scene by 6 a.m.
4:30 a.m. Local residents report loud popping sounds, presumably the sound of exploding aerosol cans.
6:15 a.m. Workers at a nearby manufacturing facility report a loud explosion, reportedly a propane tank at the rear of the Archmill building.
8 a.m. Smoke can be seen from several kilometres away from the Lincoln Alexander Parkway at Rousseaux Street.
9:30 a.m. By this time fire crews and police have advised most neighbouring businesses to evacuate. At least one neighbouring facility reopened by 5 p.m. for its evening shift.
10:30 a.m. Firefighters are getting the upper hand on the blaze as ministry of the environment staff and the fire marshal continue the investigation.
11:45 a.m. Ministry of the environment testing equipment that was delayed en route from Sarnia arrives at the scene. Canister samples are taken to a lab for testing.
2 p.m. The fire is reduced to a smoldering smoke cloud directly above the building. The smoke smell persists in the immediate area.
The three alarm fire broke out around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning. Hamilton fire safety officer John Verbeek said the building was fully involved when firefighters arrived. Dozens of firefighters continued to douse the blaze throughout the morning, as thick smoke billowed from the building’s roof. A portion of roof on the north side of the building collapsed, forcing firefighters to combat the blaze from the building’s exterior.
“We decided to take a defensive stand,” said Mr. Verbeek.
Archmill House is a high end manufacturer of industrial millwork and office furniture located at the corner of Osprey and Sandhill Drives. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. No injuries were reported and no one was in the building when the fire began.
Mr. Verbeek said the building contained about 4,000 aerosol cans containing a flammable glue product. As bad as the blaze appeared, it could have been worse. Mr. Verbeek said the building had propane tanks at the rear that were safely vented. Witnesses indicated a loud explosion, possibly a propane tank at 6:15 a.m. The building also contained flammable polyethylene mouldings, wood products and flammable liquids such as laquer and paint thinner.
Mr. Verbeek said efforts were made to contain potentially harmful douse water.
“Water is running off into a cistern and it will be vacuumed out,” he explained.
Firefighters also dispatched a foam truck from Hamilton Airport to contain the fire by mid-morning.
Hamilton fire service advised all area residents and businesses to shut windows and doors to avoid smoke inhalation.
Bill Mallett, operations manager at a nearby manufacturing facility, said morning shift workers heard the exploding propane tank at 6:15 a.m. Workers were advised to evacuate the building, but the 5 p.m. night shift was expected to resume as usual.
Archmill House is registered with the environment ministry to handle hazardous industrial waste and liquid industrial waste.
Ministry staff were on the scene to conduct random air sampling.
The thick plume of smoke could be seen from the Lincoln Alexander Parkway at Rousseaux Street, the Ancaster Village Core and throughout Hamilton Mountain. Police closed several highway ramps as a precaution, but most reopened by mid-morning.
Local resident Jason Cassis thought something was wrong with his house when he woke up at 4:30 p.m. to the strong smell of smoke and several loud popping sounds, presumably when the aerosol cans ignited.
“It’s a thin, narrow, really toxic smell,” said Mr. Cassis, who lives about two kilometres from the scene. Several residents gathered to watch the fire near a police tape at the corner of Osprey and Sandhill. Patrons from the nearby Egg and I Restaurant also gathered on a hill to watch.
Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson arrived at the scene by 9 a.m. to assess the impact.
“The firefighters have done a great job responding to it,” said Mr. Ferguson. “I’m just worried about the plume.”
Andrew Janssens, owner of anDea Chocolate at 1252 Osprey Drive was worried about his $750,000 worth of inventory.
“If there’s smoke in the building, you can write off the whole inventory,” Mr. Janssens said.
A brief timeline of events
3:15 a.m. Firefighters arrive at the Archmill House facility, finding a fully involved fire at the rear of the building.
4:23 a.m. The ministry of the environment’s spills action hotline is notified. Ministry officials are on the scene by 6 a.m.
4:30 a.m. Local residents report loud popping sounds, presumably the sound of exploding aerosol cans.
6:15 a.m. Workers at a nearby manufacturing facility report a loud explosion, reportedly a propane tank at the rear of the Archmill building.
8 a.m. Smoke can be seen from several kilometres away from the Lincoln Alexander Parkway at Rousseaux Street.
9:30 a.m. By this time fire crews and police have advised most neighbouring businesses to evacuate. At least one neighbouring facility reopened by 5 p.m. for its evening shift.
10:30 a.m. Firefighters are getting the upper hand on the blaze as ministry of the environment staff and the fire marshal continue the investigation.
11:45 a.m. Ministry of the environment testing equipment that was delayed en route from Sarnia arrives at the scene. Canister samples are taken to a lab for testing.
2 p.m. The fire is reduced to a smoldering smoke cloud directly above the building. The smoke smell persists in the immediate area.
Friday, August 21, 2009
New phone number
Please note that our Dundas office is closed as of August 20. All editorial, sales and composing staff for the Ancaster News, Dundas Star News, Stoney Creek News and Mountain News are now based at 333 Arvin Ave., Stoney Creek.
Please call 905-664-8800. My extension remains 332.
Please call 905-664-8800. My extension remains 332.
Coffee roasting prompts concerns
Canadians who crave freshly brewed coffee may not appreciate the smell emitted by coffee roasting facilities.
Coffee roasting plants have generated odor complaints across North America, including Henrietta NY, a suburb of Rochester, where a Tim Hortons facility has operated since 2002.
The odor limit is a key point of debate as Tim Hortons prepares to open its $30 million coffee roasting facility in the Ancaster Business Park. Announced with much fanfare earlier this year, the facility is expected to create about 50 new jobs.
Fruition Manufacturing, a Tim Hortons subsidiary, is appealing the environment ministry’s certificate of approval conditions for air emissions.
The plant, slated to open by the end of this year, will have the capacity to roast 3,000 kilograms of green coffee beans per hour.
Tim Hortons spokesperson David Morelli has declined to comment on the pending appeal.
Environment ministry spokesperson Kate Jordan said the coffee roasting operation will emit nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and acrolein.
Emission limits are not specified in the Certificate of Approval, but the facility is designed to include three catalytic oxidizers with a natural gas fired stack, often referred to as “after burners.” The after burners work in conjunction with three cooling cyclones to reduce harmful emissions before they enter the atmosphere.
Ms. Jordan said emission limits are established at levels deemed acceptable to human heath.
Odor limits are a point of contention between the company and the ministry.
Ms. Jordan said odor complaints from coffee roasting operations are often subjective.
“It’s mainly from a loss of enjoyment of outside activities,” she said. “What bothers one person may not bother another.”
Fruition is appealing the requirement to calculate and gather odor data, as specified in the certificate of approval. The company has been instructed to record the 10-minute average odor concentrations in the surrounding area. In its appeal documents, Fruition argues the certificate of approval conditions “are onerous considering that the facility is located in an established industrial park and is using the latest technology to deal with stack emissions from coffee roasters.”
If the ministry still receives odor complaints, Ms. Jordan said the ministry can work with the company to improve odor abatement using scrubbers or filters.
Fruition is also appealing a condition to notify the environment ministry’s district manager within two days of an environmental complaint, arguing the requirement is unnecessary.
Fred Ross, a code enforcement officer in Henrietta, NY, said the town has received a few isolated complaints from residents about the coffee roasting plant located in an industrial district on Mushroom Boulevard.
“It’s a combination of both odor and a smoky, burnt coffee smell,” Mr. Ross said.
The town has not received any complaints in several months, Mr. Ross said.
“It’s just been one here and there,” he said.
Henrietta has not taken any enforcement action against the facility.
Other jurisdictions including Ventura County, California have issued orders against coffee roasting facilities. In 2007, a Ventura County court concluded odors emitted from a Stir Crazy Coffee facility created a public nuisance. The county air pollution control district ordered the company to cease roasting operations after complaints were lodged by the surrounding neighbourhood.
In Salt Spring, BC, residents including Merv Walde successfully fought to keep a coffee roasting facility out of their rural neighbourhood. Last summer, the Salt Spring Coffee Company applied to the Islands Trust for a zoning amendment to permit a 13,000 square-foot coffee roasting, packaging and distribution centre. The application was rejected amid opposition from residents.
Mr. Walde, who lives within 300 yards of the proposed site said he’s not opposed to coffee roasting facilities as long as they are contained within an industrial park setting. Mr. Walde toured other coffee roasting facilities on Salt Spring Island, as well as the mainland, and said the operations emit a distinctly foul smell.
“It’s a very unpleasant smell,” said Mr. Walde. “It’s not a nice, perked coffee smell.”
Coffee roasting plants have generated odor complaints across North America, including Henrietta NY, a suburb of Rochester, where a Tim Hortons facility has operated since 2002.
The odor limit is a key point of debate as Tim Hortons prepares to open its $30 million coffee roasting facility in the Ancaster Business Park. Announced with much fanfare earlier this year, the facility is expected to create about 50 new jobs.
Fruition Manufacturing, a Tim Hortons subsidiary, is appealing the environment ministry’s certificate of approval conditions for air emissions.
The plant, slated to open by the end of this year, will have the capacity to roast 3,000 kilograms of green coffee beans per hour.
Tim Hortons spokesperson David Morelli has declined to comment on the pending appeal.
Environment ministry spokesperson Kate Jordan said the coffee roasting operation will emit nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and acrolein.
Emission limits are not specified in the Certificate of Approval, but the facility is designed to include three catalytic oxidizers with a natural gas fired stack, often referred to as “after burners.” The after burners work in conjunction with three cooling cyclones to reduce harmful emissions before they enter the atmosphere.
Ms. Jordan said emission limits are established at levels deemed acceptable to human heath.
Odor limits are a point of contention between the company and the ministry.
Ms. Jordan said odor complaints from coffee roasting operations are often subjective.
“It’s mainly from a loss of enjoyment of outside activities,” she said. “What bothers one person may not bother another.”
Fruition is appealing the requirement to calculate and gather odor data, as specified in the certificate of approval. The company has been instructed to record the 10-minute average odor concentrations in the surrounding area. In its appeal documents, Fruition argues the certificate of approval conditions “are onerous considering that the facility is located in an established industrial park and is using the latest technology to deal with stack emissions from coffee roasters.”
If the ministry still receives odor complaints, Ms. Jordan said the ministry can work with the company to improve odor abatement using scrubbers or filters.
Fruition is also appealing a condition to notify the environment ministry’s district manager within two days of an environmental complaint, arguing the requirement is unnecessary.
Fred Ross, a code enforcement officer in Henrietta, NY, said the town has received a few isolated complaints from residents about the coffee roasting plant located in an industrial district on Mushroom Boulevard.
“It’s a combination of both odor and a smoky, burnt coffee smell,” Mr. Ross said.
The town has not received any complaints in several months, Mr. Ross said.
“It’s just been one here and there,” he said.
Henrietta has not taken any enforcement action against the facility.
Other jurisdictions including Ventura County, California have issued orders against coffee roasting facilities. In 2007, a Ventura County court concluded odors emitted from a Stir Crazy Coffee facility created a public nuisance. The county air pollution control district ordered the company to cease roasting operations after complaints were lodged by the surrounding neighbourhood.
In Salt Spring, BC, residents including Merv Walde successfully fought to keep a coffee roasting facility out of their rural neighbourhood. Last summer, the Salt Spring Coffee Company applied to the Islands Trust for a zoning amendment to permit a 13,000 square-foot coffee roasting, packaging and distribution centre. The application was rejected amid opposition from residents.
Mr. Walde, who lives within 300 yards of the proposed site said he’s not opposed to coffee roasting facilities as long as they are contained within an industrial park setting. Mr. Walde toured other coffee roasting facilities on Salt Spring Island, as well as the mainland, and said the operations emit a distinctly foul smell.
“It’s a very unpleasant smell,” said Mr. Walde. “It’s not a nice, perked coffee smell.”
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Respite home eyes expansion
Judy Opar was running out of options.
Her seven-year-old autistic son, Nicholas, a playful, talkative youngster, suffers from recurring seizures. He needs constant care. And while she’s happy to provide the attention Nicholas needs, the stress of caring for Nicholas and her two other children soon became overwhelming.
When Nicholas turned four, Ms. Opar knew she needed help. She turned to a support agency. A worker said if she couldn’t care for her son, she should turn him over to the Children’s Aid Society.
“I was absolutely stunned,” said Ms. Opar, an Oakville resident.
An ongoing search for respite care led Ms. Opar to the Gregory School for Exceptional Learning in Ancaster. In response to a growing need for respite care, the private school for special needs students launched St. Nicholas House. The home is named for the patron saint of children.
Located at a residence in the Meadowbrook Drive area, St. Nicholas House offers round-the-clock respite care. Today Nicholas is the home’s only client, but Gregory School principal Angeline Sarabura said the new respite home could support four or five special needs children.
Ms. Sarabura said the respite home provides one-on-one care and attention, while teaching important life skills. For parents who feel stretched to their limits, respite care is often the best alternative.
“It’s like dealing with a two-year-old at age seven,” Ms. Sarabura said. “Some parents are always dealing with that.”
Nicholas spends three or four nights a week at St. Nicholas House. Ms. Opar said the time off has helped her spend more time with her other two children.
“Both of the kids said ‘we miss Nicholas, but we’re glad to have you,’” said Ms. Opar.
For Ms. Opar, respite care provides not only a much needed break, but peace of mind in knowing that Nicholas is receiving 24-hour care from trained professionals.
To help St. Nicholas House expand, the Gregory School is holding a comedy cabaret evening, called A Little Light Music. The event will be held Aug. 29 at the Old Firehall Arts Centre, 334 Wilson St. E.
Currently located at 91 Carrington Court, just steps away from the Ancaster Town Plaza, Ms. Sarabura envisions a pastoral setting for the future of the Gregory School. She would like to find a farm property that could include both a school and a respite home. But for now her goal is to raise the needed funds to hire more staff at St. Nicholas House. With a steady need for one-on-one interaction, the home would require three of four staff members to accommodate five students.
Today Ms. Opar is coping thanks to the help of St. Nicholas House. After searching unsuccessfully for 24-hour respite care in her community, she now commutes to Ancaster.
“It’s very hard to find a break,” said Ms. Opar. “There’s lots of families in this situation.”
Ms. Opar said fees for the respite program are about half of what she would pay for a similar program in Oakville. But 24-hour care was unavailable in her community.
Financial barriers are still a concern for Ms. Opar, who receives about $2,400 a year from the province’s Special Services at Home program. With increased community support for the Gregory Foundation, Ms. Opar hopes other families can overcome the financial barriers to access quality respite care in their community.
A comedy cabaret evening
A Little Light Music is a comedy cabaret evening in support of St. Nicholas House, Aug. 29 at the Old Firehall Arts Centre. The event begins at 8 p.m and tickets are $20. Performers include school principal Angeline Sarabura and her husband, Philip, director of the Brantford Symphony Orchestra and organist at St. Ann’s Church, Ancaster. Jazz pianist Peter Clements is a special guest. Performances include show tunes from Chicago, Annie Get Your Gun, and music from composers George Gershwin, and Cole Porter, plus Monty Python, Flanders and Swann and comic opera. A piano request auction is also planned. Admission includes an assortment of cheeses, dessert and coffee. A cash bar is available. For tickets call 905-304-9269 or e-mail gregoryfoundation@gmail.com
Her seven-year-old autistic son, Nicholas, a playful, talkative youngster, suffers from recurring seizures. He needs constant care. And while she’s happy to provide the attention Nicholas needs, the stress of caring for Nicholas and her two other children soon became overwhelming.
When Nicholas turned four, Ms. Opar knew she needed help. She turned to a support agency. A worker said if she couldn’t care for her son, she should turn him over to the Children’s Aid Society.
“I was absolutely stunned,” said Ms. Opar, an Oakville resident.
An ongoing search for respite care led Ms. Opar to the Gregory School for Exceptional Learning in Ancaster. In response to a growing need for respite care, the private school for special needs students launched St. Nicholas House. The home is named for the patron saint of children.
Located at a residence in the Meadowbrook Drive area, St. Nicholas House offers round-the-clock respite care. Today Nicholas is the home’s only client, but Gregory School principal Angeline Sarabura said the new respite home could support four or five special needs children.
Ms. Sarabura said the respite home provides one-on-one care and attention, while teaching important life skills. For parents who feel stretched to their limits, respite care is often the best alternative.
“It’s like dealing with a two-year-old at age seven,” Ms. Sarabura said. “Some parents are always dealing with that.”
Nicholas spends three or four nights a week at St. Nicholas House. Ms. Opar said the time off has helped her spend more time with her other two children.
“Both of the kids said ‘we miss Nicholas, but we’re glad to have you,’” said Ms. Opar.
For Ms. Opar, respite care provides not only a much needed break, but peace of mind in knowing that Nicholas is receiving 24-hour care from trained professionals.
To help St. Nicholas House expand, the Gregory School is holding a comedy cabaret evening, called A Little Light Music. The event will be held Aug. 29 at the Old Firehall Arts Centre, 334 Wilson St. E.
Currently located at 91 Carrington Court, just steps away from the Ancaster Town Plaza, Ms. Sarabura envisions a pastoral setting for the future of the Gregory School. She would like to find a farm property that could include both a school and a respite home. But for now her goal is to raise the needed funds to hire more staff at St. Nicholas House. With a steady need for one-on-one interaction, the home would require three of four staff members to accommodate five students.
Today Ms. Opar is coping thanks to the help of St. Nicholas House. After searching unsuccessfully for 24-hour respite care in her community, she now commutes to Ancaster.
“It’s very hard to find a break,” said Ms. Opar. “There’s lots of families in this situation.”
Ms. Opar said fees for the respite program are about half of what she would pay for a similar program in Oakville. But 24-hour care was unavailable in her community.
Financial barriers are still a concern for Ms. Opar, who receives about $2,400 a year from the province’s Special Services at Home program. With increased community support for the Gregory Foundation, Ms. Opar hopes other families can overcome the financial barriers to access quality respite care in their community.
A comedy cabaret evening
A Little Light Music is a comedy cabaret evening in support of St. Nicholas House, Aug. 29 at the Old Firehall Arts Centre. The event begins at 8 p.m and tickets are $20. Performers include school principal Angeline Sarabura and her husband, Philip, director of the Brantford Symphony Orchestra and organist at St. Ann’s Church, Ancaster. Jazz pianist Peter Clements is a special guest. Performances include show tunes from Chicago, Annie Get Your Gun, and music from composers George Gershwin, and Cole Porter, plus Monty Python, Flanders and Swann and comic opera. A piano request auction is also planned. Admission includes an assortment of cheeses, dessert and coffee. A cash bar is available. For tickets call 905-304-9269 or e-mail gregoryfoundation@gmail.com
Carluke Hall sustains minor flood damage
The Carluke Community Hall sustained minor flood damage in late-July when heavy rain rocked the city.
Bill Atanis, city recreation manager said flood water got into the furnace area of the community hall, located at 435 Carluke Rd. W.
No dollar estimate was available, but flood damage is believed to be minor. No events have been booked at the hall until mid-September. Mr. Atanis said previously booked events should not be affected by the recent flooding.
Bill Atanis, city recreation manager said flood water got into the furnace area of the community hall, located at 435 Carluke Rd. W.
No dollar estimate was available, but flood damage is believed to be minor. No events have been booked at the hall until mid-September. Mr. Atanis said previously booked events should not be affected by the recent flooding.
Community remembers Philip Morden
Family, friends and co-workers gathered this week to remember Philip Morden, an Ancaster native who died last weekend after a boating accident on Lake Muskoka.
Mr. Morden, 33, graduated from Ancaster High School and the University of Western Ontario before moving north to pursue a career as an associate advisor with RBC Dominion Securities in Orillia.
Mr. Morden was on route to meet friends when his 19-foot powerboat flipped over just after 6 p.m. on Aug. 8.
Bracebridge OPP Inspector Ed Medved said while the cause of death has not been determined, Mr. Morden sustained injuries as a result of being ejected from the vessel.
“Speed was a contributing factor,” Insp. Medved said.
Insp. Medved said Mr. Morden was wearing “a racing type” life preserver vest at the time of the accident. Rescuers from Muskoka Lakes Fire, Ambulance and the OPP responded almost immediately, Insp. Medved said.
Mr. Morden was unconscious when witnesses pulled him out of the water. He was airlifted to hospital in critical condition and died hours later.
Mr. Morden was an avid powerboat racer. According to Scream and Fly, High Performance Powerboating online, he was one of the top competitors at the 2006 Rumble on the River Rally in Carrollton, Kentucky.
“The Canadians ended up taking highest honors when Phil Morden pushed his STV to a screaming 115 mph,” a story on the Web site explains.
Carol Ivey, vice president and director of the Ivey Group, RBC Dominion Securities, said the Orillia office is devastated by the news of Mr. Morden’s passing.
“Everybody loved him,” Ms. Ivey said. “We found him a delight to work with as a co-worker.”
Ms. Ivey said Mr. Morden had a dry sense of humour and an uncanny ability to make people laugh.
“He’d have us all in stitches,” she said.
By Monday morning, clients had flooded the office with calls of condolence. Ms. Ivey said the entire office staff planned to attend Thursday’s funeral at St. John’s Church in Ancaster.
Mr. Morden lived in Milford Bay, Ont., north of Orillia with his girlfriend and dog.
High school classmate Sarah Galashan remembers Mr. Morden’s bright red truck and booming stereo that could be heard several blocks away from his home on St. Margaret’s Road. He enjoyed surfer movies and soon earned the nickname Spicoli, after fictional character Jeff Spicoli from the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
“He was easy-going that way,” said Ms. Galashan, who is currently Whistler bureau chief for CTV British Columbia. “He liked to have a good time. He liked life.”
Mr. Morden could also charm his way out of trouble, Ms. Galashan recalled.
After convincing Ms. Galashan to take Calculus, a course that forced her to seek a tutor, Mr. Morden got caught copying some answers from one of her assignments.
“He immediately took the blame and charmed his way out,” Ms. Galashan recalled.
After university, Mr. Morden took a job in Toronto. But Ms. Galashan suspects a keen sense of adventure attracted Mr. Morden to the Muskoka Lakes region.
“He was someone who needed a bit more adventure in his day,” Ms. Galashan said.
Despite moving north, Mr. Morden still loved Ancaster, giving it the nickname the Axe in the Hammer, Ms. Galashan said.
“It’s so hard to believe I won’t see him again.”
Longtime friend Josh Doan played hockey with Mr. Morden as a teenager in Ancaster. Recently he visited Mr. Morden in Muskoka about once a year. Whether he was riding a powerboat, skiing or snowboarding, Mr. Morden loved the outdoors, Mr. Doan said. As boys, Mr. Doan and Mr. Morden honed their snowboarding skills in the Spring Valley area. Mr. Morden spent two years in Fernie B.C. after graduating from university, where he continued his love of skiing and snowboarding.
When it came to fixing a small engine, installing a stereo or fixing anything mechanical, Mr. Morden was the one you could count on for help, Mr. Doan said.
“He could just get along with anybody,” said Mr. Doan. “He was that guy you would call for information.”
Mr. Morden, 33, graduated from Ancaster High School and the University of Western Ontario before moving north to pursue a career as an associate advisor with RBC Dominion Securities in Orillia.
Mr. Morden was on route to meet friends when his 19-foot powerboat flipped over just after 6 p.m. on Aug. 8.
Bracebridge OPP Inspector Ed Medved said while the cause of death has not been determined, Mr. Morden sustained injuries as a result of being ejected from the vessel.
“Speed was a contributing factor,” Insp. Medved said.
Insp. Medved said Mr. Morden was wearing “a racing type” life preserver vest at the time of the accident. Rescuers from Muskoka Lakes Fire, Ambulance and the OPP responded almost immediately, Insp. Medved said.
Mr. Morden was unconscious when witnesses pulled him out of the water. He was airlifted to hospital in critical condition and died hours later.
Mr. Morden was an avid powerboat racer. According to Scream and Fly, High Performance Powerboating online, he was one of the top competitors at the 2006 Rumble on the River Rally in Carrollton, Kentucky.
“The Canadians ended up taking highest honors when Phil Morden pushed his STV to a screaming 115 mph,” a story on the Web site explains.
Carol Ivey, vice president and director of the Ivey Group, RBC Dominion Securities, said the Orillia office is devastated by the news of Mr. Morden’s passing.
“Everybody loved him,” Ms. Ivey said. “We found him a delight to work with as a co-worker.”
Ms. Ivey said Mr. Morden had a dry sense of humour and an uncanny ability to make people laugh.
“He’d have us all in stitches,” she said.
By Monday morning, clients had flooded the office with calls of condolence. Ms. Ivey said the entire office staff planned to attend Thursday’s funeral at St. John’s Church in Ancaster.
Mr. Morden lived in Milford Bay, Ont., north of Orillia with his girlfriend and dog.
High school classmate Sarah Galashan remembers Mr. Morden’s bright red truck and booming stereo that could be heard several blocks away from his home on St. Margaret’s Road. He enjoyed surfer movies and soon earned the nickname Spicoli, after fictional character Jeff Spicoli from the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
“He was easy-going that way,” said Ms. Galashan, who is currently Whistler bureau chief for CTV British Columbia. “He liked to have a good time. He liked life.”
Mr. Morden could also charm his way out of trouble, Ms. Galashan recalled.
After convincing Ms. Galashan to take Calculus, a course that forced her to seek a tutor, Mr. Morden got caught copying some answers from one of her assignments.
“He immediately took the blame and charmed his way out,” Ms. Galashan recalled.
After university, Mr. Morden took a job in Toronto. But Ms. Galashan suspects a keen sense of adventure attracted Mr. Morden to the Muskoka Lakes region.
“He was someone who needed a bit more adventure in his day,” Ms. Galashan said.
Despite moving north, Mr. Morden still loved Ancaster, giving it the nickname the Axe in the Hammer, Ms. Galashan said.
“It’s so hard to believe I won’t see him again.”
Longtime friend Josh Doan played hockey with Mr. Morden as a teenager in Ancaster. Recently he visited Mr. Morden in Muskoka about once a year. Whether he was riding a powerboat, skiing or snowboarding, Mr. Morden loved the outdoors, Mr. Doan said. As boys, Mr. Doan and Mr. Morden honed their snowboarding skills in the Spring Valley area. Mr. Morden spent two years in Fernie B.C. after graduating from university, where he continued his love of skiing and snowboarding.
When it came to fixing a small engine, installing a stereo or fixing anything mechanical, Mr. Morden was the one you could count on for help, Mr. Doan said.
“He could just get along with anybody,” said Mr. Doan. “He was that guy you would call for information.”
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tim Hortons coffee plant appeals ministry restrictions
A Tim Hortons subsidiary has filed an appeal against the Ontario Ministry of the Environment that could delay the launch of the company’s new 74,000 square-foot coffee roasting facility at the Ancaster Business Park.
The appeal argues the ministry’s certificate of approval conditions place unfair restrictions on the plant’s day-to-day operations.
In its grounds for appeal filed last week, Fruition Manufacturing Limited calls the certificate of approval conditions “onerous considering that the facility is located in an established industrial park and is using the latest technology to deal with stack emissions from coffee roasters.”
Fruition, also referred to in appeal documents as Maidstone Coffee Canada, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tim Hortons operator TDL Group Corp.
David Morelli, Tim Hortons director of public affairs, declined to comment directly on the appeal.
“We think it would be inappropriate to comment on something that is before the appeals board right now,” he said.
Mr. Morelli was also unsure whether the appeal will delay the facility’s opening, which is planned by the end of the fourth quarter of 2009.
“We just want to wait for the decision on the appeal,” Mr. Morelli said. “We’re not making any assumptions.”
Fruition is appealing a condition to notify the environment ministry’s district manager within two days of an environmental complaint, arguing the requirement is an unnecessary, duplicative administrative burden. The appeal also takes issue with the ministry’s prescribed odour limits and the broad definition of “sensitive receptors,” which could include neighbouring homes, day-care facilities, schools, parks, commercial plazas or office buildings.
When fully operational, the new facility is expected to supply Tim Hortons stores across Canada. The plant will include three drum coffee roasting machines each with a capacity to roast up to 3,000 kilograms of green coffee per hour. Emissions will be controlled using three catalytic oxidizers.
Production will run in two eight-hour shifts per day.
Fruition purchased 3.9 hectares of land on Cormorant Road from the City of Hamilton earlier this year for $1.8 million.
The appeal argues the ministry’s certificate of approval conditions place unfair restrictions on the plant’s day-to-day operations.
In its grounds for appeal filed last week, Fruition Manufacturing Limited calls the certificate of approval conditions “onerous considering that the facility is located in an established industrial park and is using the latest technology to deal with stack emissions from coffee roasters.”
Fruition, also referred to in appeal documents as Maidstone Coffee Canada, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tim Hortons operator TDL Group Corp.
David Morelli, Tim Hortons director of public affairs, declined to comment directly on the appeal.
“We think it would be inappropriate to comment on something that is before the appeals board right now,” he said.
Mr. Morelli was also unsure whether the appeal will delay the facility’s opening, which is planned by the end of the fourth quarter of 2009.
“We just want to wait for the decision on the appeal,” Mr. Morelli said. “We’re not making any assumptions.”
Fruition is appealing a condition to notify the environment ministry’s district manager within two days of an environmental complaint, arguing the requirement is an unnecessary, duplicative administrative burden. The appeal also takes issue with the ministry’s prescribed odour limits and the broad definition of “sensitive receptors,” which could include neighbouring homes, day-care facilities, schools, parks, commercial plazas or office buildings.
When fully operational, the new facility is expected to supply Tim Hortons stores across Canada. The plant will include three drum coffee roasting machines each with a capacity to roast up to 3,000 kilograms of green coffee per hour. Emissions will be controlled using three catalytic oxidizers.
Production will run in two eight-hour shifts per day.
Fruition purchased 3.9 hectares of land on Cormorant Road from the City of Hamilton earlier this year for $1.8 million.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Online voting underway for Miss Teen Canada World
Now is your chance to vote for Ancaster resident Terri Faloney as she vies to become the next Miss Teen Canada World.Online voting is now underway.
Visit http://www.missteencanadaworld.com/ and become a VIP by clicking on the top right corner, in bright blue.
Click on Miss Teen Canada finals and Miss Teen Canada finalists. Select your favorite candidate and vote for a contestant on the right side of their profile.
The contestant with the most votes is automatically accepted into the top 15.
The July 25 Miss Teen Canada World pageant at Toronto’s John Bassett Theatre is hosted by Paul Brancati and Adam Ruggeiro, stars of Degrassi: the Next Generation. Canadian Singers Divine Brown and Gary Beals will also perform.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
Cool rides at Cruise Night
There were 146 cars at Tuesday's Cruise Night hosted by the Optimist Club of Ancaster at the Canadian Tire parking lot.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Be honest to yourself, says Miss Teen Canada hopeful
As she prepares to compete for the title of Miss Teen Canada World, Terri Faloney plans to stay in shape and continue her charity work with Free the Children.She’s making final preparations for an evening gown and swimsuit competition, featured during the July 25 pageant at Toronto’s John Basset Theatre.
If she’s lucky enough to advance from a field of 52 to the final five, Terri will take part in a live interview segment. For pageant contestants, it’s the make or break point, when the winner emerges from the field.
But when it comes to the all important interview portion, Terri isn’t doing any rehearsing at all.
“I like to be myself,” said Terri. “I can see when other girls just practice their lines. Being 100 per cent honest will hopefully set me apart from everyone else.”
Last Saturday, Terri and her friends from Hillfield Strathallan College held a charity car wash at Thornberry, Outlaw and Associates on Wilson Street East, raising $270 for Free the Children. Terri already rose over $1,000 for the organization before the event. Founded in 1995 by 12-year-old Craig Kielburger, Free the Children fights child poverty around the world.
Terri, a recent graduate of Hillfield Strathallan College, hopes to launch an acting career. She’s studying once a week at John Robert Powers School of Acting in Toronto. She’s been accepted by two universities, but plans to take a year off from school next year to travel and work on her career. She’s already earned the title of Miss Teen Ancaster World.
Terri is also the granddaughter of legendary Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bernie Faloney. Terri has raised awareness of colorectal cancer, a disease that claimed her grandfather’s life in 1999.
Tickets to the July 25 Miss Teen Canada World pageant are available through Ticketmaster.
Follow Terri Faloney’s run at the Miss Teen Canada World pageant by checking her blog at http://www.terrifaloney.onsugar.com/
Honouring excellence
Sometimes we don't always have enough space in the paper to give a story the coverage it deserves.
Here's a special tribute awarded recently at Ancaster Meadow School.
Memorial award debuts at Ancaster Meadow
As a child, Bill Dehal always looked up to his father, Atma Singh Dehal.
As a mentor and father, Atma believed all students should put forth their best effort at school.
“He always was a believer in education,” Mr. Dehal said.
Atma passed away on April 17, 2006. But today, a new award has been created in his honour for graduates at Ancaster Meadow School.
Jordan Nelson and Justine Swan are the first recipients of the ATMA award, which also stands for Attitude, Team Player, Morale and Academics.
The award is designed to set a positive example for younger students and to encourage graduates to become better students and community citizens.
The award is presented to one boy and one girl at graduation. Each student receives $500, with the stipulation that $100 is donated back to the school for the purchase of supplies or athletic equipment.
The Dehal family has been actively involved at Ancaster Meadow since the school first opened in 2005. At the June 12 Spring Fling, the family handed out free Frisbees, courtesy of Mr. Dehal’s business, It Works Promotions.
As a mentor and father, Atma believed all students should put forth their best effort at school.
“He always was a believer in education,” Mr. Dehal said.
Atma passed away on April 17, 2006. But today, a new award has been created in his honour for graduates at Ancaster Meadow School.
Jordan Nelson and Justine Swan are the first recipients of the ATMA award, which also stands for Attitude, Team Player, Morale and Academics.
The award is designed to set a positive example for younger students and to encourage graduates to become better students and community citizens.
The award is presented to one boy and one girl at graduation. Each student receives $500, with the stipulation that $100 is donated back to the school for the purchase of supplies or athletic equipment.
The Dehal family has been actively involved at Ancaster Meadow since the school first opened in 2005. At the June 12 Spring Fling, the family handed out free Frisbees, courtesy of Mr. Dehal’s business, It Works Promotions.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Outdoor pool is where it's at
The summer of 2009 should be an especially busy one for the Ancaster Lions Club outdoor pool. The outdoor pool will accommodate public swimming, swimming lessons and Waterfit programs while the Ancaster Aquatic Centre is closed for an extensive renovation.Ancaster firm Bestco Construction was awarded the contract earlier this spring for more than $850,000 in upgrades. The pool is expected to remain closed until October 18.
Renovations includes a new roof, structural foundation improvements, boiler and dehumidification upgrades, new lighting, acoustic ceilings and lockers facilities. The project is the largest renovation the building has received in its 30-year history.
Public swimming at the Lions Outdoor Pool is available on weekdays from 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. and on weekends from 1-4 p.m.
Visit http://www.myhamilton.ca/ for complete program listings.
Friday, June 19, 2009
A three minute glimpse of Heritage Days
Check this link for our Heritage Days slideshow: http://slideshows.metroland.com/Heritage_Days_2009/
It features 70 photos from last weekend's events.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Ancaster set to become Soccer Central
In just five years, the Ancaster Heritage Days soccer tournament has grown nearly as big as the festival of the same name.
More than 5,000 soccer players aged eight to 18 and 10,000 spectators will fill virtually every soccer pitch in Ancaster beginning tonight.
Ancaster Soccer Club president Jim Bethune said this year's tournament features 255 teams who will play nearly 500 games in three days.
About 40 teams were turned away this year, but organizers now have three additional fields to play with thanks to the newly added park site at the former Jerseyville Road landfill.
The new fields were unveiled on Thursday, just in time for the tournament.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
A safe return from Afghanistan
The threat of enemy insurgents was just another part of the daily routine for two Ancaster reservists who recently returned from Afghanistan.Sergeant Bradley Lofchik and Corporal Derk Dunford served an eight month tour of duty in Kandahar, Afghanistan with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada.
Sgt. Lofchik and Cpl. Dunford provided security for government representatives as they toured Kandahar province in Southern Afghanistan. They were part of a Canadian contingent estimated at 2,700. Canadian troops are expected to remain in Afghanistan until 2011 according to current federal government plans.
On Monday morning, Sgt. Lofchik and Cpl. Dunford gave a presentation to students at CH Bray Public School, where Derk’s father, Doug Dunford, serves as principal.
Sgt. Lofchik, 30, who once attended CH Bray, said most Afghans he met appreciated the involvement of Canadian Forces who are helping to provide peace and stability.
“The country still has a long way to go, unfortunately. But all I hear from the locals is nothing but good things.”
Sgt. Lofchik said several key areas were targeted by enemy insurgents, including the local Afghan police headquarters and a jail.
Cpl. Dunford, 19, said it was not uncommon to hear loud explosions that would shake some of the buildings in their area. Just one week before their departure, the governor’s mansion in Kandahar province was targeted by a suicide bomber. No Canadians were involved.
“Every day there would be something new,” Cpl. Dunford said. “It just became normal. It was life.”
When it comes to fixing Afghanistan’s social, political and economic problems, Sgt. Lofchik said the only solution is time.
“Like any other country, there’s no quick fix,” he said.
Just a few hours after the reservists’ visit to CH Bray, Canadians were reminded of the heavy toll the country has paid during the Afghanistan mission. By Monday afternoon, the Canadian Press had reported the death of Private Alexandre Péloquin, 20, of the Royal 22e Regiment, based at CFB Valcartier near Quebec City. The Canadian Press reported Pte. Péloquin was killed by a makeshift bomb while on foot patrol in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province. Pte. Péloquin’s death marks 119 casualties for Canadian Forces since the combat mission began in 2002.
After showing students a slide show of photos from their mission, Sgt. Lofchik and Cpl. Dunford fielded questions from CH Bray students.
Sgt. Lofchik described the Taliban as “the bad people” who have access to guns and impose their will with brute force.
“They’re people who don’t agree with the beliefs of the other people,” said Sgt. Lofchik.
As CH Bray Principal Doug Dunford explained, the Taliban seek to ban girls from attending school.
The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and still control several key areas.
The slide show included photos of various buildings that have been protected and maintained by Canadian forces. A new Kandahar City University is a recent addition, along with several new schools. Canadian troops helped to rebuild a retaining wall at a local jail that was damaged during an attack. An abandoned hospital was also surveyed in the hope it can be reopened. The presentation also included shots of armed soliders in military fatigues, soldiers handing out supplies to Afghan children, scores of supporters lining the Highway of Heroes and reservists hoisting cups of Tim Hortons coffee. A photo of a soldier seated on Santa Claus’ lap prompted laughter from the students.
One student asked the reservists if they had fun during their mission.
“It’s not meant to be a fun experience,” said Cpl. Dunford, so it’s not as fun as you might think.”
Cpl. Dunford was one of the youngest reservists ever accepted for an overseas mission by the Argylls. Like the rest of his colleagues, he underwent a one-year training program at CFB Petawawa before being dispatched into the field.
Now that their tour of duty is complete, both reservists are looking forward to new careers. Sgt. Lofchik plans to attend teacher’s college. Cpl. Dunford hopes to become a paramedic.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Community honours Travis Carter
Every few weeks, Derek Carter gets an e-mail that brings a tear to his eye.Parents around the world have contacted the Carter family seeking more information on Batten’s Disease, a rare, fatal degenerative neurological disorder with no cure.
“It makes you cry because I already know what’s going to happen to them,” Mr. Carter said.
On May 30, 2008, Mr. Carter’s son, Travis, lost his courageous battle against Late Infantile Batten’s disease at age 10. But today, thanks to Travis’ legacy, more people understand the devastating effects of childhood Batten’s disease
and the continued search for a cure.Last year, Travis’ parents hoped to return to China for a second stem cell treatment. Travis responded well to his initial treatment in 2006. Derek and Jenny Carter hoped a second treatment would help prolong Travis’ life. But Travis took a turn for the worse. He was taken off life support and fought for two days before succumbing to the ravaging effects of Batten’s disease.
In the months that followed, Travis’ parents took some time to consider a tribute to their son. After consulting Ward 6 councillor Tom Jackson and city parks staff, the Carters decided to support new, handicapped accessible playground equipment at Meadowlands Park, using the money that was supposed to send Travis to China.
“Out of all the things we could have done, this was the next best thing,” Mr. Carter said.
Three new pieces of accessible equipment have been added to the park, directly across the road from Holy Name of Mary on Meadowlands Boulevard. The new equipment is designed for children who use a wheelchair or youth with limited mobility.
The newly refurbished Meadowlands Community Park was unveiled on May 29 in a special ceremony honouring Travis Carter. Travis’ family joined hundreds of students from Travis’ school, Holy Name of Mary, along with city representatives at the official dedication ceremony.
“This is an emotional day, more emotional than I thought,” said Mr. Carter. When city crews were working to install the new equipment and related landscaping, Mr. Carter visited the site on a daily basis.
“Going to school was Travis’ greatest joy,” Mr. Carter told students and school staff at the dedication ceremony. “You allowed him to be a normal boy, even though it was only for short years.”
Today the Carter family is continuing to help other families deal with the devastating effects of Batten’s disease. The Carters recently helped a 10-year-old Italian boy receive the same stem cell treatment Travis received in 2006. Using their knowledge of the Chinese medical system, the Carters have helped other families explore stem cell therapy, a procedure that is unavailable in North America.
The Carters’ charity, Travis’ Battle, is no longer raising money. But the Carters hope to create a national Canadian foundation for Batten’s Disease that would promote research and awareness. Travis was just the 48th Canadian child to be diagnosed with the disease.
As an infant, Travis lived a normal life. He sat up at six months, said his first words and crawled at nine months and took his first steps shortly after his first birthday.He amazed his parents by assembling a 10-piece shape toy at 18 months. He learned to swing a golf club at age two.
On Canada Day, 2001, Travis endured his first seizure during an afternoon nap. He was rushed to McMaster Children's hospital and eventually diagnosed with childhood epilepsy. At age four, Travis was diagnosed with Late Infantile Batten’s disease.
Travis’ parents continue to maintain a website at http://www.travisbattle.com/ with information on Travis and Batten’s disease.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Residents shocked by retail energy contracts
A special report
Part One
A knock at the door leads to long term commitment
When Linda Barrett signed a contract with Universal Energy she hoped to insulate her family from rising electricity bills.
Instead, she unknowingly agreed to pay more for hydro service and she’s now locked into a five-year contract.
Today Ms. Barrett is calling for government action to protect consumers from so-called price-protection plans that can often result in dramatically higher energy costs.
An independent study shows that since 2005, Ontario consumers who have opted to purchase electricity from a retail supplier have paid more than the regulated rate available from the local public utility.
Last year, Ms. Barrett was sitting down for dinner when she was summoned by a knock at the door. A salesperson from Universal Energy began discussing the rising costs of electricity and told Ms. Barrett she could protect herself from the higher rates.
“I remember thinking what a fool I would be to not protect myself from the rising rates so I signed a five-year contract to purchase my electricity from Universal Energy at a rate that would be guaranteed not to increase for the next five years,” Ms. Barrett said.
On May 22, she was shocked to see her bill jump from about $185 to $293.
She called Hydro One and was told the increase was due to the fact she buys her electricity from a retailer instead of a local distribution company.
Although her bills are still issued by Hydro One, Ms. Barrett pays a locked-in rate of 8.69 cents per kilowatt hour that has so far resulted in higher costs.
“My rate with Universal Energy is $115 per month more than what I would have been paying with the government supplier, Hydro One,” Ms. Barrett said.Ms. Barrett said she received a follow-up telephone call after signing the contract. She said the caller asked whether she had read the fine print.
“I informed the caller that I had not read over the small print of the entire contract because I was satisfied with the salesperson's answers to my concerns,” she said.
When Ms. Barrett called Universal to terminate the contract she was told she must pay a fee of more than $1,000. Today she’s calling on the government to do more to protect consumers. She’s also filed a letter of complaint with the Ontario Ombudsman.
“At this point I kind of feel that I’ve been duped,” Ms. Barrett said. “But it may have been my own fault because I didn’t read the fine print.”
Ontario has had a competitive, deregulated market for electricity since May, 2002. The natural gas market has been deregulated since the mid-1980s.
Today, instead of purchasing electricity or natural gas from a local public utility, consumers can sign up for a locked in rate with an energy retailer, such as Universal.
Universal Energy vice president of marketing Jan Nybida said door-to-door salespeople do not guarantee savings.
“Purchasing your energy from us is very similar to locking in your mortgage rate - some months you may save money and others months you may not,” she stated by e-mail. “There is no guarantee of what the rates in (the) market will do - there are historic figures that we reference; however, much like a fixed rate mortgage, the market over the length of your contract will dictate whether you save money or not.”
According to statistics from energyshop.com, Universal Energy currently offers a five-year fixed rate of 7.88 cents per kilowatt hour for residents of Ancaster’s L9K 1P7 postal code. The current regulated price from the local provider is 5.7 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 1000 kilowatt hours per month during the winter, and the first 600 kilowatt hours during the summer.
Ms. Nybida said Universal must collect cancellation fees because the company buys energy from a wholesaler up-front once a customer signs the contract.
“On the contract and in the terms and conditions we clearly state that we are securing their energy for a specific term (typically 5 years) and that we pre-buy this energy on their behalf. Similar to a mortgage, there are penalties for cancelling the contract early and those penalties are assessed based on length of term left and any set early termination charges that are in the contract,” she stated.
When Stoney Creek resident Holly McGilvery called to cancel her natural gas contract with a retail provider back in 2002, she believed everything was in order. But as the months and years went by, Ms. McGilvery realized she was still getting significantly higher gas bills than her neighbours.
She recently called Union Gas and was shocked to discover the retail contract she signed five years ago with Direct Energy had been renewed without her knowledge.
The company claimed it never received a written cancellation notice. Since then, Ms. McGilvery has paid 49.9 cents per cubic metre for natural gas. According to energyshop.com, most residential customers in Southern Ontario are currently paying about 24 cents per cubic metre under the regulated Union Gas cost structure.
Ms. McGilvery has another opportunity to cancel her contract on Oct. 31. This time, she plans to fax a copy of the cancellation notice, place a recorded call to the company’s office and send a registered letter.
“I don’t know what else I can do,” said Ms. McGilvery, who estimates she has lost $7,000 to $10,000 by purchasing natural gas from an independent retailer.
Part 2
Government response and ways to shield yourself
They were promised “price protection” from rising electricity and natural gas rates. But Linda Barrett and Holly McGilvery ended up with skyrocketing energy bills after signing a contract with a retail energy company.
Today they want governments to do more to protect consumers. And help from the province appears to be coming.
A new bill aimed specifically at energy retailers recently passed second reading in the provincial legislature.
Private member’s Bill 131 by Liberal MPP David Ramsay seeks to amend the Ontario Energy Board Act to ensure contracts are worded in plain language. The proposed legislation would require the energy retailer to state on the first page of the contract that the company is not affiliated with the government or a local distributor. The contract would also indicate the agreement only covers the cost of the electricity or natural gas and that other costs, such as delivery, are not included.
Retailers would be required to list cancellation fees should the consumer request to terminate the contract early. The price per kilowatt hour for electricity or per cubic metre of natural gas would also be required on the contract’s first page.
The bill, if passed, would require energy retailers and marketers to provide a reaffirmation letter to the consumer that must be signed and returned to the retailer.
Michael Wilson, parliamentary assistant to MPP David Ramsay, said Bill 131 is currently under review by parliamentary committee.
“We had quite a few complaints in the riding that dealt with misconduct at the door,” Mr. Wilson said.
Mr. Wilson said he anticipates a comprehensive bill from the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure that will adopt some of Mr. Ramsay’s recommendations later this fall. Mr. Ramsay represents the Northern Ontario riding of Timiskaming-Cochrane.
Residents, including Linda Barrett of Ancaster, have complained about unfair marketing techniques used by door-to-door agents. For Ms. Barrett, promises of “price protection” led to a 63 per cent increase in monthly electricity costs after she signed a contract with Universal Energy.
Universal Energy vice president of marketing Jan Nybida said the company has specific training that all agents must pass before being dispatched into the field.
“As well we have OEB regulations that heavily influence any kind of guarantees or promises made at the door to customers,” Ms. Nybida said.
Since 2005, anyone who has signed up for a retail electricity contract has ended up paying more than the regulated rate from a local distribution company, according to figures from energyshop.com.
Energyshop.com founder Ian McClellan said weather patterns and a sagging economy have combined to reduce demand for energy. Subsequently, homeowners who continued to buy energy from a regulated public utility enjoyed stable rates, while those who used an energy retailer paid more.
“For the last three years, the market price for electricity has been gradually declining,” Mr. McClellan said.
Demand for energy spikes during periods of intense heat or extreme cold.
“We haven’t really seen that over the last three years,” Mr. McClellan said.
Mr. McClellan co-founded energyshop.com in 1999 as an independent database of energy rates comparing local distribution companies and retail suppliers. By submitting a postal code, visitors can instantly compare all the available rates in their area.
Universal Energy has continued to grow despite the economic downturn. Operational revenue from natural gas and electricity has grown from $69 million in 2006 to $406 million in 2008 according to the company’s 2008 annual report.
Universal Energy is a licensed member of the Ontario Energy Board and a publicly traded company.
Universal Energy also has a history of consumer complaints and administrative penalties levied by the Ontario Energy Board.
As part of a formal review initiated in September 2007 the board found that in 57 recorded calls with low volume electricity consumers, Universal contravened section 88.4 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, by engaging in an unfair practice as defined by regulations, by making false, misleading or deceptive statements to consumers. According to the board, Universal representatives indicated that the government is cancelling the regulated price plan in May 2008. Universal representatives also said consumers will become subject to the true cost of power and will pay market prices for electricity starting in May 2008.
In January, 2009, the OEB issued a motion for an administrative penalty of $200,000 against the corporation.
Paul Crawford, an OEB spokesperson, said Universal Energy agreed to pay a penalty of $127,500. The company voluntarily agreed to re-train its customer service representatives and entered into a voluntary compliance agreement with the OEB.
The OEB issued a second $60,000 administrative penalty against Universal on April 23. Mr. Crawford said Universal agreed to pay the fine one day later. He said the second penalty came as a result of a CBC Marketplace documentary which recorded door-to-door salespeople using hidden cameras.
Universal Energy says it’s taking provincial regulations seriously.
Ms. Nybida stated Universal currently participates in an agent registry set up by the Ontario Energy Association. The registry tracks agents and allows Universal to record any agent conduct in the field.
“We have very strict training and testing that every agent must take and also pass. We are regulated by the OEB and are also active members of the OEA. Recently the OEA has provided optional training to its members and also additional testing that we participate in as well,” Ms. Nybida stated.
In a January 7, 2009 Toronto Star article, Universal Energy Corporation President and Chief Operating Officer Nino Silvestri downplayed claims of wrongdoing made by the OEB.
"They reviewed about 450,000 calls between 2007 and 2008 and over that period they found 57 were inappropriate," Silvestri is quoted as saying in the Star article. He also noted that of the 57 inappropriate calls, only seven contracts were set up.
While many consumers are calling for tighter regulations, Mr. McClellan said consumers can safeguard themselves by taking the time to understand their contract.
“Any time you sign your signature on anything, you should read everything,” he said. “People don’t realize they’re making about an $8,000 commitment when they sign up.”
Part One
A knock at the door leads to long term commitment
When Linda Barrett signed a contract with Universal Energy she hoped to insulate her family from rising electricity bills.
Instead, she unknowingly agreed to pay more for hydro service and she’s now locked into a five-year contract.
Today Ms. Barrett is calling for government action to protect consumers from so-called price-protection plans that can often result in dramatically higher energy costs.
An independent study shows that since 2005, Ontario consumers who have opted to purchase electricity from a retail supplier have paid more than the regulated rate available from the local public utility.
Last year, Ms. Barrett was sitting down for dinner when she was summoned by a knock at the door. A salesperson from Universal Energy began discussing the rising costs of electricity and told Ms. Barrett she could protect herself from the higher rates.
“I remember thinking what a fool I would be to not protect myself from the rising rates so I signed a five-year contract to purchase my electricity from Universal Energy at a rate that would be guaranteed not to increase for the next five years,” Ms. Barrett said.
On May 22, she was shocked to see her bill jump from about $185 to $293.
She called Hydro One and was told the increase was due to the fact she buys her electricity from a retailer instead of a local distribution company.
Although her bills are still issued by Hydro One, Ms. Barrett pays a locked-in rate of 8.69 cents per kilowatt hour that has so far resulted in higher costs.
“My rate with Universal Energy is $115 per month more than what I would have been paying with the government supplier, Hydro One,” Ms. Barrett said.Ms. Barrett said she received a follow-up telephone call after signing the contract. She said the caller asked whether she had read the fine print.
“I informed the caller that I had not read over the small print of the entire contract because I was satisfied with the salesperson's answers to my concerns,” she said.
When Ms. Barrett called Universal to terminate the contract she was told she must pay a fee of more than $1,000. Today she’s calling on the government to do more to protect consumers. She’s also filed a letter of complaint with the Ontario Ombudsman.
“At this point I kind of feel that I’ve been duped,” Ms. Barrett said. “But it may have been my own fault because I didn’t read the fine print.”
Ontario has had a competitive, deregulated market for electricity since May, 2002. The natural gas market has been deregulated since the mid-1980s.
Today, instead of purchasing electricity or natural gas from a local public utility, consumers can sign up for a locked in rate with an energy retailer, such as Universal.
Universal Energy vice president of marketing Jan Nybida said door-to-door salespeople do not guarantee savings.
“Purchasing your energy from us is very similar to locking in your mortgage rate - some months you may save money and others months you may not,” she stated by e-mail. “There is no guarantee of what the rates in (the) market will do - there are historic figures that we reference; however, much like a fixed rate mortgage, the market over the length of your contract will dictate whether you save money or not.”
According to statistics from energyshop.com, Universal Energy currently offers a five-year fixed rate of 7.88 cents per kilowatt hour for residents of Ancaster’s L9K 1P7 postal code. The current regulated price from the local provider is 5.7 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 1000 kilowatt hours per month during the winter, and the first 600 kilowatt hours during the summer.
Ms. Nybida said Universal must collect cancellation fees because the company buys energy from a wholesaler up-front once a customer signs the contract.
“On the contract and in the terms and conditions we clearly state that we are securing their energy for a specific term (typically 5 years) and that we pre-buy this energy on their behalf. Similar to a mortgage, there are penalties for cancelling the contract early and those penalties are assessed based on length of term left and any set early termination charges that are in the contract,” she stated.
When Stoney Creek resident Holly McGilvery called to cancel her natural gas contract with a retail provider back in 2002, she believed everything was in order. But as the months and years went by, Ms. McGilvery realized she was still getting significantly higher gas bills than her neighbours.
She recently called Union Gas and was shocked to discover the retail contract she signed five years ago with Direct Energy had been renewed without her knowledge.
The company claimed it never received a written cancellation notice. Since then, Ms. McGilvery has paid 49.9 cents per cubic metre for natural gas. According to energyshop.com, most residential customers in Southern Ontario are currently paying about 24 cents per cubic metre under the regulated Union Gas cost structure.
Ms. McGilvery has another opportunity to cancel her contract on Oct. 31. This time, she plans to fax a copy of the cancellation notice, place a recorded call to the company’s office and send a registered letter.
“I don’t know what else I can do,” said Ms. McGilvery, who estimates she has lost $7,000 to $10,000 by purchasing natural gas from an independent retailer.
Part 2
Government response and ways to shield yourself
They were promised “price protection” from rising electricity and natural gas rates. But Linda Barrett and Holly McGilvery ended up with skyrocketing energy bills after signing a contract with a retail energy company.
Today they want governments to do more to protect consumers. And help from the province appears to be coming.
A new bill aimed specifically at energy retailers recently passed second reading in the provincial legislature.
Private member’s Bill 131 by Liberal MPP David Ramsay seeks to amend the Ontario Energy Board Act to ensure contracts are worded in plain language. The proposed legislation would require the energy retailer to state on the first page of the contract that the company is not affiliated with the government or a local distributor. The contract would also indicate the agreement only covers the cost of the electricity or natural gas and that other costs, such as delivery, are not included.
Retailers would be required to list cancellation fees should the consumer request to terminate the contract early. The price per kilowatt hour for electricity or per cubic metre of natural gas would also be required on the contract’s first page.
The bill, if passed, would require energy retailers and marketers to provide a reaffirmation letter to the consumer that must be signed and returned to the retailer.
Michael Wilson, parliamentary assistant to MPP David Ramsay, said Bill 131 is currently under review by parliamentary committee.
“We had quite a few complaints in the riding that dealt with misconduct at the door,” Mr. Wilson said.
Mr. Wilson said he anticipates a comprehensive bill from the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure that will adopt some of Mr. Ramsay’s recommendations later this fall. Mr. Ramsay represents the Northern Ontario riding of Timiskaming-Cochrane.
Residents, including Linda Barrett of Ancaster, have complained about unfair marketing techniques used by door-to-door agents. For Ms. Barrett, promises of “price protection” led to a 63 per cent increase in monthly electricity costs after she signed a contract with Universal Energy.
Universal Energy vice president of marketing Jan Nybida said the company has specific training that all agents must pass before being dispatched into the field.
“As well we have OEB regulations that heavily influence any kind of guarantees or promises made at the door to customers,” Ms. Nybida said.
Since 2005, anyone who has signed up for a retail electricity contract has ended up paying more than the regulated rate from a local distribution company, according to figures from energyshop.com.
Energyshop.com founder Ian McClellan said weather patterns and a sagging economy have combined to reduce demand for energy. Subsequently, homeowners who continued to buy energy from a regulated public utility enjoyed stable rates, while those who used an energy retailer paid more.
“For the last three years, the market price for electricity has been gradually declining,” Mr. McClellan said.
Demand for energy spikes during periods of intense heat or extreme cold.
“We haven’t really seen that over the last three years,” Mr. McClellan said.
Mr. McClellan co-founded energyshop.com in 1999 as an independent database of energy rates comparing local distribution companies and retail suppliers. By submitting a postal code, visitors can instantly compare all the available rates in their area.
Universal Energy has continued to grow despite the economic downturn. Operational revenue from natural gas and electricity has grown from $69 million in 2006 to $406 million in 2008 according to the company’s 2008 annual report.
Universal Energy is a licensed member of the Ontario Energy Board and a publicly traded company.
Universal Energy also has a history of consumer complaints and administrative penalties levied by the Ontario Energy Board.
As part of a formal review initiated in September 2007 the board found that in 57 recorded calls with low volume electricity consumers, Universal contravened section 88.4 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, by engaging in an unfair practice as defined by regulations, by making false, misleading or deceptive statements to consumers. According to the board, Universal representatives indicated that the government is cancelling the regulated price plan in May 2008. Universal representatives also said consumers will become subject to the true cost of power and will pay market prices for electricity starting in May 2008.
In January, 2009, the OEB issued a motion for an administrative penalty of $200,000 against the corporation.
Paul Crawford, an OEB spokesperson, said Universal Energy agreed to pay a penalty of $127,500. The company voluntarily agreed to re-train its customer service representatives and entered into a voluntary compliance agreement with the OEB.
The OEB issued a second $60,000 administrative penalty against Universal on April 23. Mr. Crawford said Universal agreed to pay the fine one day later. He said the second penalty came as a result of a CBC Marketplace documentary which recorded door-to-door salespeople using hidden cameras.
Universal Energy says it’s taking provincial regulations seriously.
Ms. Nybida stated Universal currently participates in an agent registry set up by the Ontario Energy Association. The registry tracks agents and allows Universal to record any agent conduct in the field.
“We have very strict training and testing that every agent must take and also pass. We are regulated by the OEB and are also active members of the OEA. Recently the OEA has provided optional training to its members and also additional testing that we participate in as well,” Ms. Nybida stated.
In a January 7, 2009 Toronto Star article, Universal Energy Corporation President and Chief Operating Officer Nino Silvestri downplayed claims of wrongdoing made by the OEB.
"They reviewed about 450,000 calls between 2007 and 2008 and over that period they found 57 were inappropriate," Silvestri is quoted as saying in the Star article. He also noted that of the 57 inappropriate calls, only seven contracts were set up.
While many consumers are calling for tighter regulations, Mr. McClellan said consumers can safeguard themselves by taking the time to understand their contract.
“Any time you sign your signature on anything, you should read everything,” he said. “People don’t realize they’re making about an $8,000 commitment when they sign up.”
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Spring Valley Arena targeted for closure in city plan
A twin pad for Morgan Firestone Arena coupled with a rejuvenated Spring Valley Arena is still the best plan for Ancaster Minor Hockey League.
Although no time line has been set for the planned expansion of Morgan Firestone Arena, when the new twin pad facility opens, it is expected to force the closure of Spring Valley Arena on Orchard Drive.
Diane Lapointe Kay, city recreation director, said the city will streamline its operations by closing Spring Valley. A feasibility study for the Morgan Firestone Arena twinning has already been completed.
“The ideal situation would be to close Spring Valley Arena for hockey to amalgamate the uses at one facility,” Ms. Lapointe Kay said.
Meanwhile, the timing of the Morgan Firestone expansion plan remains uncertain. Last week, Hamilton councillors voted not to include the arena expansion among a list of projects eligible for government stimulus funding. The total cost of the twin pad is $13 million.
Dean Morrow, president of the Ancaster Minor Hockey League, wants to continue using Spring Valley Arena after the Morgan Firestone expansion is complete. With some minor roof upgrades and renovated dressing rooms, Mr. Morrow believes the aging arena would still have plenty to offer. The AMHL has long advocated for greater access to ice time in Ancaster, to mitigate the need to rent ice time outside the community.
“What good does it do anybody to close one arena and open another?” Mr. Morrow said.
Last year, an independent consultant recommended closing Spring Valley Arena, coupled with the a second ice surface at Morgan Firestone, as part of a long-term renewal and construction plan for Hamilton's recreational facilities. The report suggested a timeline somewhere between 2012 and 2016.
Spring Valley Arena has a long and storied history. Built decades ago by a local community group, the arena was transferred from the Spring Valley Community Association to the Town of Ancaster in 1966. Following amalgamation in 2001, ownership reverted to the City of Hamilton. Today the Spring Valley Community Association still operates a canteen and sponsors sports teams.
Although no time line has been set for the planned expansion of Morgan Firestone Arena, when the new twin pad facility opens, it is expected to force the closure of Spring Valley Arena on Orchard Drive.
Diane Lapointe Kay, city recreation director, said the city will streamline its operations by closing Spring Valley. A feasibility study for the Morgan Firestone Arena twinning has already been completed.
“The ideal situation would be to close Spring Valley Arena for hockey to amalgamate the uses at one facility,” Ms. Lapointe Kay said.
Meanwhile, the timing of the Morgan Firestone expansion plan remains uncertain. Last week, Hamilton councillors voted not to include the arena expansion among a list of projects eligible for government stimulus funding. The total cost of the twin pad is $13 million.
Dean Morrow, president of the Ancaster Minor Hockey League, wants to continue using Spring Valley Arena after the Morgan Firestone expansion is complete. With some minor roof upgrades and renovated dressing rooms, Mr. Morrow believes the aging arena would still have plenty to offer. The AMHL has long advocated for greater access to ice time in Ancaster, to mitigate the need to rent ice time outside the community.
“What good does it do anybody to close one arena and open another?” Mr. Morrow said.
Last year, an independent consultant recommended closing Spring Valley Arena, coupled with the a second ice surface at Morgan Firestone, as part of a long-term renewal and construction plan for Hamilton's recreational facilities. The report suggested a timeline somewhere between 2012 and 2016.
Spring Valley Arena has a long and storied history. Built decades ago by a local community group, the arena was transferred from the Spring Valley Community Association to the Town of Ancaster in 1966. Following amalgamation in 2001, ownership reverted to the City of Hamilton. Today the Spring Valley Community Association still operates a canteen and sponsors sports teams.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Ancaster High 50 Years of Royalty slide show
We had a technical hiccup that delayed the release of this slideshow, but here it is.
For the latest slide show, Fifty Years of Royalty at Ancaster High, click
http://websrvr91va.audiovideoweb.com/va91web25089/HCN_ANCASTERHIGH_09/index.html
For the latest slide show, Fifty Years of Royalty at Ancaster High, click
http://websrvr91va.audiovideoweb.com/va91web25089/HCN_ANCASTERHIGH_09/index.html
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Take a tour of the new fairgrounds
If you missed last weekend's open house at the new Ancaster Fairgrounds, click here for a 90-second virtual tour.
To get the full experience, visit the Ancaster Fair's Champage and Carousels Gala, May 22 at 6 p.m. They will actually bring a full-size carousel right into Marritt Hall.
To get the full experience, visit the Ancaster Fair's Champage and Carousels Gala, May 22 at 6 p.m. They will actually bring a full-size carousel right into Marritt Hall.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Fire hall of the future
The fire hall of the future is here today.Ancaster’s new Emergency Services Station 20 has all the comforts of home with money-saving efficiencies that are sure to impress local taxpayers.
Station 20 has a primary response area that includes the Meadowlands and part of the West Mountain. A brand new, $750,000 tanker truck will also respond to high priority structure fires elsewhere in the city. The station is on the cusp of the former Ancaster Fairgrounds at Garner Road and Kitty Murray Lane. Soon the site will include more than 300 new homes built by the Mattamy Corporation.
Hamilton fire staff offered The News an exclusive tour of the new facility this week. Station 20 has been fully-operational since March 19. A formal grand opening is planned for late June.
Station 20 includes exercise and training facilities, sleeping quarters, offices, locker rooms and a full kitchen in an innovative setting that minimizes the need for lighting. The front façade has a heritage look with its natural stone finish. Steel panels along the east wall help insulate the building, On a sunny day, the clear storey windows provide nearly enough light for the entire building. The block wall design offers added insulation from the elements, along with spray foam insulation.
“It’s much like a house,” explained Jim Doyle, deputy fire chief. “(The firefighters) are actually living here and working 10 or 14 hour shifts.”
Four platoons, each with five firefighters are on call 24-hours a day, along with a small complement of EMS staff. Unlike a typical fire station where firefighters slide down a pole to an awaiting tanker truck, everything is arranged on a single ground floor.
“I like the design,” noted firefighter John Hardwick. “It’s different.”
“It’s functional,” added firefighter Greg Brown. “The natural light makes a big difference.”
The building’s LEED silver designation is accented by LED lighting. During construction, all wood, brick and cardboard waste was recycled. By using brick instead of drywall, the building will enjoy increased longevity, Mr. Doyle noted.
Even the doors on the vehicle bay are different. Instead of the usual glass design, the new metal doors with smaller windows offer better energy efficiency.
Both fire and EMS staff have access to state-of-the-art fitness equipment, including treadmills and weights.
Although Station 20 has been fully operational for nearly two months, there is still some work to do before the official grand opening.
“We’re in discussions for the official opening,” explained Fire Safety Officer Bob Simpson. “We wanted the whole station complete.”
Along with new sod and rear fencing, a naturalized valley area will run along the east side of the building, facing Kitty Murray Lane. The low-lying area will contain a catch basin to prevent flooding, along with a grassy knoll and five or six ornamental pear trees.
After searching for a new location for several years, Hamilton’s emergency services division finally settled on the Garner Road site, even though it wasn’t ideal at the time.
But with more than 1,000 residents expected to move into new housing units on Kitty Murray Lane and Southcote Road over the next five years, the site selection looks like a good fit.
“It was a little farther out than we wanted it,” Mr. Doyle said. “But I think it will turn out to be in a very good spot with all the development.”
Monday, May 11, 2009
Some random shots
There was lots of reminiscing at Friday's pub night and Saturday's dinner/dance at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Saturday's events started off with a fun run at the Ancaster Community Centre and alumni sports, followed by a special tribute to Coach Bob Wynne.Here's some random shots from a member of the organizing committee.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
A tribute to Coach Wynne
Bob Wynne came to today's open house at Ancaster High expecting to reunite with some old friends and share a few memories.
He was somewhat overwhelmed by the tribute presentation organized by the school's athletic department and some of his former players.
Bob has coached the senior boys basketball team for 35 years now. During that time, he's helped no fewer than 16 players move on to play university hoops.
And he's led the Royals to several championship wins.
Bob plans to retire in the coming years, but will continue coaching until 2012.
Friday, May 8, 2009
A Royal Welcome
New Fairgrounds have WOW factor
I took part in a media tour of the new Ancaster Fairgrounds today. Perhaps the most impressive feature is the 28,800 square-foot Maritt Hall that can be divided into three smaller rooms. There's also a new air-condited concession building, perfect for special event rentals. There's more room for livestock shows, educational displays and there's enough room to park about 5,000 cars.
The spacious Marritt Hall is definitely work a look. It has to be one of the biggest conference facilities in the Hamilton area and I'm sure it will attract a lot of interest. The natural stone columns in the design and metal roof are nice touches.
I'll be posting a slide show of the new fairgrounds in the coming days in our multimedia section at http://www.ancasternews.com/
Contact the fair office for rental inquiries at 905-648-6198.
Familiar faces reunite
This morning's golf tournament was a chance for many familiar faces to reunite. About 190 golfers came out to Flamborough Hills to kick off the 50th anniversary celebrations for Ancaster High School. Members of the powerhouse Ancaster Royals football teams of the early 70s were among those in attendance.It was a homecoming of sorts for former football standouts Bob Frackleton, Rick Labenski, Bob Cameron and Bob Smye. Rick, Bob Cameron and Bob Smye also pla
yed together at Acadia.
yed together at Acadia.It was a great day for golf.
Stay tuned for more updates...
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Little League wins reprieve for 2010 Championships
Ancaster Little League has been awarded an extension until the end of June to secure financing for a new clubhouse for the 2010 Canadian Little League Championships.
At Monday’s Ancaster Community Committee meeting, Councillor Lloyd Ferguson said the extension will help the organizing committee raise the needed funds after their request for a Trillium grant was denied.
Ancaster Little League past president Mark Strongman has estimated the organizing committee needs about $150,000 to build forced waste water mains that would connect to the Spring Valley sanitary sewer system. The proposed clubhouse, which includes washrooms, can be built with the club’s existing revenues.
Although the 2010 tournament, set for August 4-12, can be staged with temporary clubhouse facilities, Mr. Ferguson said the city will do all it can help.“The city will make sure Hamilton is not embarrassed,” he said.
Mr. Ferguson also disputed a city staff report that stated the Little League Park redevelopment on Jerseyville Road is 95 per cent complete.
“Right now, it’s only 45 or 50 per cent complete,” he said.
At Monday’s Ancaster Community Committee meeting, Councillor Lloyd Ferguson said the extension will help the organizing committee raise the needed funds after their request for a Trillium grant was denied.
Ancaster Little League past president Mark Strongman has estimated the organizing committee needs about $150,000 to build forced waste water mains that would connect to the Spring Valley sanitary sewer system. The proposed clubhouse, which includes washrooms, can be built with the club’s existing revenues.
Although the 2010 tournament, set for August 4-12, can be staged with temporary clubhouse facilities, Mr. Ferguson said the city will do all it can help.“The city will make sure Hamilton is not embarrassed,” he said.
Mr. Ferguson also disputed a city staff report that stated the Little League Park redevelopment on Jerseyville Road is 95 per cent complete.
“Right now, it’s only 45 or 50 per cent complete,” he said.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Another name drop
Thanks to the anonymous poster who pointed out former Tiger-Cat linebacker Mike Robinson also went to Ancaster High. Does anyone know what he's up to these days? I was only 9 when the Tiger-Cats won the cup in '86, but my dad still has that game somewhere on a VHS tape and I've watched it several times. I can't find any information for Mike Robinson on the Tiger-Cats website (his profile is blank) and he doesn't have a Wikipedia page. The Tiger-Cats site shows that he played from 1986 to 1988 and that sounds right.
Wouldn't it be nice if their defence was as tough now as it was then? Now that was a defence that struck fear in their opponents. Then again, I met current defensive tackle Darrell Adams at last month's Cops and Cats game and he looked pretty tough to me.
I'm not sure if Mike is on the Ancaster High sports wall of fame. Can anyone confirm that?
Wouldn't it be nice if their defence was as tough now as it was then? Now that was a defence that struck fear in their opponents. Then again, I met current defensive tackle Darrell Adams at last month's Cops and Cats game and he looked pretty tough to me.
I'm not sure if Mike is on the Ancaster High sports wall of fame. Can anyone confirm that?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Royal Lion ready to roar
Ancaster High alumnus Dan Black, who now acts as Pigskin Pete for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, will be on hand next weekend for the 50th anniversary of Ancaster High School. Dan, who has also served as Stripes and Hamilton Bulldog mascot Bruiser, dropped by the school recently to meet with students who will be helping out at the reunion. The school has just acquired a new lion costume thanks to the school council and it will be unveiled during the reunion weekend, May 8-10.
Thanks to Joan Millard for the photos.
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