The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday July 2, 2008 - 5 Workers told Polywheels closed indefinitely Continued from page 1 impending closure of the General Motors truck assembly plant in Oshawa combined with rising gas prices have created substantial problems for the Oakville-based business, resulting in the closure, according to David Pike, director of human resources for Polywheels Manufacturing. "All of our customers have informed the company that they are going to resource their production needs elsewhere," said Pike. "We have American customers and one of our biggest customers is the Oshawa truck plant and our major products that we supply are for big pickups and SUVs. It is the perfect storm, with gas prices, big trucks and the Canadian dollar all adding up." There are 250 hourly and salaried staff employed by Polywheels Manufacturing and all will be affected by the closure, according to Pike. All nine employees at the company's design, engineering and sales office located in Troy, Michigan will also be impacted. Pike said that it is not known if severance packages will be offered, but he did confirm that employee benefits have been suspended. He was not able to provide any insight into whether the plant will reopen as of press deadline Monday afternoon. "We are in the middle of negotiations with them (customers), but we can't bring employees in and produce parts if we don't have customers," he said. "As of today, the union has been made aware that Polywheels Manufacturing of Ontario has filed for CCAA protection." James McKenzie, president, Canadian Auto Workers' Union Local 1256 CHRIS KORNACKI / OAKVILLE BEAVER WITHOUT NOTICE: When workers arrived on the job Monday, June 30 at the Polywheels plant on North Service Road in Oakville, they were told the plant was closed indefinitely. James McKenzie, president of Canadian Auto Workers' Local 1256 union, spent Monday in negotiation with representatives from Polywheels Manufacturing. "As of today, the union has been made aware that Polywheels Manufacturing of Ontario has filed for CCAA protection and we would hope that the company honours the protection language and gets our folks back to work as quickly as they can," said McKenzie. CCAA, which is the abbreviation for the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, is a federal act that gives financially troubled corporations the opportunity to restructure their affairs. This allows the company to avoid bankruptcy and enables the creditors to receive some form of payment for amounts owed to them by the company. Polywheels Manufacturing was founded in 1986 by Frank and Sean Milligan and is a privately-owned family business. It has twice been voted one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies, as well as Oakville's Manufacturer of the Year. ADVERTORIAL Bronte Creek has GPS program Bronte Creek Provincial Park is going high tech with GPS. A new program will teach youths and general visitors about navigating with GPS technology. School groups and visitors will have the opportunity to learn about and use handheld GPS receivers to locate a series of waypoints. "I am very excited to bring this high-tech program to the park visitors," says park communications officer Sheila Wiebe "This program will target Grades 6 to 10 and general family groups. It will encourage youths to learn about this new form of orienteering. I hope that through GPS technology the youths will get outdoors, explore and discover," said Wiebe of the new program. The GPS program has been in the planning and development stage for over a year. The major stumbling block was due to the high price tag of a classroom set of hand-held GPS receivers. Thanks to a donation from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation via the new TD Canada Trust branch in the Burloak shopping plaza and an instore discount from Radioworld and Garmin; the hardware problem was solved. The program will run July 10, 17, Aug. 14 and 28. It will take place from 7-8 p.m. in the Day-use area (accessible off Burloak Drive just north of the QEW). For more information on the program, park events and facilities, call 905-827-6911 or visit www.BronteCreek.org. ALL CASUAL SUMMER CLOTHING 30%-60% OFF Oakville's Answer to What Not to Wear Karen Nano and Kim Carter are Oakville's version of stylists; Stacey and Clinton from TLC's popular television show What Not to Wear. Watch Us Fashions C Why pay over $1.30 per litre? ... ... for 3¢ you can travel approximately 45 km+ Power Assist Electric Karen is the owner of Watch Us Fashions, located in the heart of Glen Abbey at 1131 Nottinghill Gate (905-827-2271) and Kim is the manager. With these two women and their staff, clothes shopping is akin to having a trusted friend waiting outside the changeroom, someone who gives gentle but honest feedback about whether those clothes you've just tried on flatter or fail you. Watch Us Fashions now carries "Not Your Daughter's Jeans" which according to both "Oprah" and "Marilyn Dennis" of City Line, are the most phenominal line of jeans ever made. manufacturer of the famous Oprah Bra to ensure a correct fit. The body slimming Spanx line is as popular an undergarment at Watch Us Fashions. Spanx is the miracle undergarment made famous by the stars for its comfortable and slimming effects. "We've found that just by wearing the OME and clothing a woman proper undergarmentSEE WHY can feel and look up to 10 years younger and 15 pounds lighter." GOLD WINNERS LIMITED QUANTITIES REMAINING Free area delivery or ride it away. Street Legal No License No Insurance Great for Exercise or Leisure Ride Every woman should have at least one pair of these incredibly comfortable and sexy jeans in their closet. They actually lift your butt, flatten your tummy, and make you look a size smaller. "We offer a complimentary personalized consulting service, which especially appeals to the reluctant shopper, but women are certainly welcome to do their own thing in here too," said Kim. Shopping at Watch Us Fashions is retail therapy for the fashion conscious and the fashion faux pas crowd. "Sometimes we need to address how a women looks underneath her clothing before we can recommend an outfit. Underwear is as important as outerwear," said Karen. That is why Karen, Kim and their staff has been trained by the Kim Karen Come In Today For A FREE Test Ride! 539 Speers Road, Oakville, ON "view at mobile ad" Thurs. 10am-6pm, Fri. 10am-8pm: Sat.10am-4pm Celebrity s r r TM Ask for Ron or Stephanie "We're excited to see women leave more confident in the clothes they know make them look and feel really great about themselves," said Karen. To do the best by their clients, Karen and Kim rely on well-chosen lines that include Joseph Ribkoff, the Canadian clothier that has mastered the art of dressing women for 50 years. Watch Us Fashions also carries Tribal Sportswear, Jeanne Pierre, CYC and Nueva. For Karen, Kim and the rest of the staff: Gail, Becky and Tammy, it's great to come to work, not only because of the fun and relaxed atmosphere, but because there is a lot of satisfaction in contributing to the style-conscious streets of Oakville. 905-844-7772 1131 Nottinghill Gate (4th Line) Oakville 905- 827- 2271