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.

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.

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.