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8- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 12, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Sign of the future for hospital By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 2007 Nominations are open! Presented by the Rotary Club of Oakville West and the Oakville Chamber of Commerce CATEGORIES FOR THE OAKVILLE AWARDS FOR BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: Oakville Entrepreneur of the Year Oakville Restauranteur of the Year Oakville Small Business of the Year Oakville Large Business of the Year Oakville Service Provider of the Year Oakville Environmental Leadership Business of the Year Nomination forms are online at www.oabe.ca/nominations Nominations are being accepted until 5:00 on December 17, 2007 The empty site at the corner of Dundas and Third Line where Oakville's future hospital will be built became less empty on Monday as municipal, provincial and health care representatives gathered to unveil a billboardsized sign, which emphasized the hospital's pending arrival. Halton Healthcare officials said the posting of this sign is a milestone because it celebrates the McGuinty government's transfer of 50 acres of land for the project and serves to commemorate what has been done so far. "There is already a lot of work that has been done," said John Oliver, President and CEO of Halton Healthcare Services. "The functional program is in with the ministry. The master plan has been finished. The land transfer actually came over on Nov. 22." Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn said the land the hospital is expected to be operational on by 2013 could have had a different future if not for the determination of both provincial and local governments. "I think it just signifies the commitment that we've had as a government to make sure that Halton Healthcare president and CEO John Oliver and Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn these large projects take place," said Flynn. "Everybody was talking about expanding an Oakville hospital. Everybody was saying it was a wonderful idea. Everybody was saying the land was available, but nobody was really making it happen." According to Flynn, the commitment continues. "There's a lot of public input being put into the building itself. There's a lot of input being sought from stakeholders, so when the hospital is finally built it's going to be the hospital that Oakville wants," said Flynn. "It's going to be bigger and better than the existing OakvilleTrafalgar Memorial Hospital." Construction is slated to begin in 2010. The new hospital will be a state-of-the-art facility and will provide improved service, as well as reduced waiting times, more beds and a full range of health services including acute care, obstetrics, pediatrics, surgical care, mental health programs and complex continuing care. "I offer a huge thank you to the provincial government for recognizing the great need for a new hospital," said Mags Shorey, Chair of the Oakville Hospital Foundation. "It has been said that Oakville is a unique community and this is a unique opportunity for everyone in this community to come together and support what will be a state-of-the-art, close to home, new hospital for this generation and for the many generations to come. The Oakville Hospital Foundation really looks forward to being a part of this new project and making it a reality." OAKVILLE - Celebrating 150 years! Have aBall this Year! Gift certificates from the Recreation and Culture Department make the perfect healthy holiday present. You can purchase gift certificates in any denomination to be used towards any Town-run recreational program or fitness membership. Gift certificates can be purchased from: The Recreation and Culture Department at Town Hall ­ 1225 Trafalgar Road River Oaks Community Centre ­ 2400 Sixth Line Iroquois Ridge Community Centre ­ 1051 Glenashton Drive Glen Abbey Community Centre ­ 1415 Third Line Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre for Seniors ­ 1565 Old Lakeshore Road at Third Line Oakville Seniors Citizens' Recreation Centre ­ 263 Kerr Street For more information or office hours, call 905-338-4250. Oakville's Pesticide By-law Comes into Effect January 1, 2008 Consolidated Pesticide By-Law 2007-036 (amended by By-law 2007-123) was passed to regulate the use of pesticides within the Town of Oakville effective January 1, 2008. Get a head start on your spring gardening by familiarizing yourself with Oakville's Pesticide By-Law. Visit www.oakville.ca or Town events for your free copy of Oakville's Guide to Gardening Naturally, a booklet packed with valuable information on water conservation, native plantings, proper cultural practices and seasonal activities that will benefit both your lawn and garden. Oakville Transit Holiday Transit Service Notice December 25, December 26, and January 1 Holiday Service: · Zone Express from 8am-8pm and · Regular fixed-route service on Routes 14, 19, 24 & 28 For more information: Ph: 905-815-2020 E: transit-info@oakville.ca W: www.oakvilletransit.com The following service levels will apply over the holiday December 31: Late Night Service will meet the last train season: from Toronto, departing the Oakville GO Station (Cross St. December 24: Regular service, plus some additional "early and Trafalgar Rd.) at 1:50a.m. homebound" trips on selected rush hour only routes. For more information, ask your driver for a holiday flyer. Normal service levels will apply for all dates not shown above. Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!