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Beaver THE OAKVILLE Voted Ontario's Top Newspaper Four Years in a Row - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Aboutowne Realty Corp., Brokerage Independently owned and operated 905 - 338-9000 www.homesforsaleontario.com The Stars Among Us ARTSCENE EXPERIENCE·EXPERTISE·INTEGRITY Renate Penkett Sales Representative CELEBRATING 25 YEARS! Between Kerr & Dorval YOUR FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS 175 Wyecroft Rd. Oakville 905.845.6653 www.lockwoodchrysler.com A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 52 No. 75 "USING COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES" FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2009 48 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Trustees approve southeast Oakville school closures E. J. James, Maple Grove and New Central remain, Brantwood, Chisholm and Linbrook closed By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF MATTHEW SITLER / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER CALM REACTION: The Hamel family stands outside the Bracebridge Courthouse on Monday, shortly after Andrew Betteridge was sentenced to two years in jail for his role in the 2008 boating accident that killed Steven Hamel. Pictured (from left) are Steven Hamel's aunts Nancy Duffy and Sue Lytle, Steven's mother Jayne Hamel and his father Michel Hamel, and Steven's uncle Peter Smuck and aunt Barbara Hanson. Prison sentence won't bring son back By Matthew Sitler METROLAND NORTH MEDIA GROUP Andrew Betteridge, 25, has been handed a two-year prison term for his role in the 2008 accidental boating death of Oakville resident Steven Hamel. Bracebridge court Judge J.D. Evans made the ruling Monday. Betteridge, a Bracebridge resident, was facing a possible three-year sentence for his role in the accident, which took place on Lake Muskoka, near Bala, last year. He pleaded guilty to and was convicted of impaired operation of a vessel causing death in December. His two-year sentence also carries with it an order to not operate a vessel for five years. Monday was an emotional day for all parties involved as they awaited the judge's ruling. Judge Evans noted that during the trial, Betteridge expressed heartfelt remorse and accepted full responsibility Steven Hamel See Parents page 4 Three schools south of Cornwall Road, a new school in Clearview and the closure of three other schools is the final equation approved by Halton District School Board trustees in an effort to address declining enrolment in southeast Oakville. Trustees unanimously passed a motion Wednesday night that will see E.J. James, Maple Grove and New Central continue to welcome students, while the neighbourhood will say goodbye to Chisholm, Brantwood and Linbrook. The Clearview school had previously been approved. The changes will be implemented for the start of the school year in Sept. 2010. The decision was not the recommended solution, known as hybrid 3, put forward earlier this month by Director of Education Wayne Joudrie. That recommendation would have seen Chisholm stay open, while E.J. James would have been closed. The school con- figurations regarding grades and programming were also different. The majority of trustees voted down Joudrie's recommendation Wednesday night. Several trustees cited concern about closing a large school site like E.J. James, while others talked about the programming challenges of combining French elementary students with English middle students at Maple Grove. Following the trustees' rejection of Joudrie's plan, Ward 3 Oakville trustee Philippa Ellis introduced a set of recommendations based on an alternative known as hybrid 3B previously put forward by board staff. "This community wants and needs a stable public school foundation," Ellis said in her introduction of her motion. "Parents recognize that stability will not come without the loss of some beloved facilities, but they have told us they will accept the loss if their children will gain something better." The approved motion will see See Trustees page 3 Oakville's largest selection of Natural Limestone and Hardwood · Custom Quality Workmanship 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN TILE INSTALLATION LARGEST SELECTION OF WOOD FLOORING OVER 500 SAMPLES ON DISPLAY GRANITE COUNTERTOPS BUY DIRECT FROM THE IMPORTER LARGE SELECTION OF NATURAL LIMESTONE & PORCELAIN TILE Monday to Friday 7:30am-6:00pm · Saturday 7:30am-5:00pm · Closed Sunday 243 SPEERS ROAD, OAKVILLE · 905.338.1288