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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday July 7, 2006 - 13 Critical need for new Catholic education centre By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Walls of Hope wish list Walls of Hope, a local charity that heals hearts, transforms homes and restores hope through `Oakville's own Extreme Home Makeover,' is currently helping a single mom and four children with numerous medical conditions and life challenges. This project is taking place in Oakville on July 22 - 23. Walls of Hope's wish list of items required to make this makeover a reality includes: sectional sofa, fridge, stove, three twin mattresses, recliner and laminate flooring. For a complete list of items, see www.wallsofhope.ca. The charity relies 100 per cent on contributions from local businesses and residents. RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AWNINGS, CANOPIES, PORTABLE SHADE STRUCTURES Now that the Halton Catholic District School Board has rejected participation in the Halton Regional Campus Project, it's faced with a new decision -- where to go from here. On Tuesday night, trustees wrestled with related issues involving the future of the Catholic Education Centre on Drury Lane in Burlington, as well as satellite administration facilities scattered across Halton. Some are failing and all are so spread out as to impede the efficient running of the board so, according to senior staff, something must be done. After much discussion, trustees asked staff to forego investigating four available options and focus on constructing a new building at a location more central to the region. Trustees also gave staff the green light to proceed with looking into leasing new "Port-a-Pacs" ­ essentially glorified portable classrooms used for temporary office space ­ to address imminent health and safety issues in an existing Port-aPac at the Catholic Education Centre, as well as overcrowding there. As far as the future of the Centre as a whole is concerned, the October 2005 Central Administration Accommodation Study Report concluded that the needs of the Centre and satellite offices are "critical, such that they must be addressed now. Senior staff recommends that a new Catholic Education Centre facility must be actively pursued at this time to avoid serious functional, financial and operational issues to the Board." At the time, trustees were asked to consider five options, one of which was the Halton Regional Campus. The others included minimal renovation and expansion of the existing Drury Lane site; full renovation of Drury Lane; construction of a new building at Drury and Fairview Street; a new building at a new central location. When the Campus plan was shot down, four options remained, but on Tuesday it was clear that trustees weren't interested in halfmeasures. "Any money we spend on this site (Drury) is a waste." Oakville Catholic school trustee Ed Viana Burlington trustee Bob Van de Vrande got the ball rolling by saying he would not support renovations, but pushed instead for a new building, either on Drury Lane or at a more central site. Oakville trustee Alice Anne LeMay agreed, but went one step further and said she would only support a central location. Oakville trustee Ed Viana also said renovations are out of the question. "Any money we spend on this site (Drury) is a waste," said Viana. Exactly where "central" Halton is located is open to interpretation. Board Chair Al Bailey said Hwy. 25 and Dundas Street would be central to the region's population while Education Director Lou Piovesan said, geographically speaking, Hwy. 25 and Derry Road marks the middle of Halton. Once that's settled, this just leaves the thorny question of where the money will come from to pay for the new building. Bailey went so far as to abstain from voting, saying he can't vote for something for which there is no government funding. Several other trustees -- including Van de Vrande and Milton's Rev. David Wilhelm -- also questioned the money aspect of the plan, prompting Superintendent of Facility Management Services Giacomo Corbacio to state that "the numbers are good." Staff, however, will report back on all financial implications this fall. As for the short term future of the Catholic Education Centre, Corbacio told the Board that mould found on the exterior walls of the existing leaky Port-aPac has been "contained for the time being," but will soon become a health and safety issue for staff. Even if the Campus plan went through or whether a new building is constructed in the future, something must be done, he said. This, Corbacio explained, is necessary not only for the well-being of Board staff, but also to avoid any potential fines and charges by the Ministry of Labour. As a result, trustees voted to reject expensive remediation work and have staff investigate replacing one existing Port-a-Pac with a leased one with a buy-out option, plus a second Port-a-Pac to relieve overcrowding for Special Education and Curriculum staff at Drury Lane. Corbacio ­ who will report back on cost estimates in September ­ said funds would come from working reserves. Enjoy the outdoors relaxing under a Sunguard awning manufactured with your choice of fade proof Sunbrella fabric, and powered by a reliable Somfy remote controlled motor. Call or visit our showroom at: 4090 Ridgeway Dr. #10, Mississauga 905-569-8566 www.sunguardawnings.com Mon.-Fri. 9:30am to 5pm, Sat 9:30am to 3pm Look for your Covers flyer in today's paper Tuesday is Slurpee Day 7-Eleven is celebrating its 79th birthday with one of the largest single-day product giveaways in Canadian history. On Tuesday, July 11, the eleventh day of the seventh month - Slurpee Day - there will be free Slurpee drinks given away to the first 1,000 customers at each of its 490 Canadian stores, including Oakville's 2267 Lakeshore Rd. West 7-Eleven location. To celebrate its birthday, 7-Eleven will be throwing a Slurpee Bash in Winnipeg, Manitoba. For the seventh consecutive year, Winnipeg has won the Slurpee Cup, based on the most Slurpees consumed per store average. The Slurpee Cup will be awarded on July 11 at the 7-Eleven outlet at 1622 St. Mary's Rd. in Winnipeg. 7-Eleven trademarked the name Slurpee in 1965, named after the sound made when the drink comes up the straw. Job Connect Sheridan Has a New Location! · Job Placements with Local Employers · Apprenticeship Information and Placements · Free Information Resource Centre We are now located at 71 West Drive, Unit 29 Clark / West Mall Brampton, Ontario 905-459-7533, ext. 5523 Funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. http://www.sheridaninstitute.ca/services/jobconnect/ Selected Area's