Beaver THE OAKVILLE Voted Ontario's Top Newspaper Four Years in a Row - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com MORTGAGES 905.827.8009 Purchases Over 40 Renewals Lenders Refinances Credit Lines Rental Vacation Properties Properties G R E AT R AT E S All eyes on Tavares Sports PAUL FOLEY AMP MORTGAGE AGENT M08005472 1500 Upper Middle Rd. Abbey Plaza at Third Line HO: 600 5770 Hurontario St. Mississauga, ON L5R 3G5 Licence #10801 Powered by A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 52 No. 142 "USING COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES" WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009 64 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Catholic faith at odds with Ontario's equity policies As of the beginning of February, all of Ontario's school boards will be required to have policies that ensure they provide positive school environments for students of all races, religions and sexual preferences. The Equity and Inclusive Education policies will outline how boards deal with issues of sexism, racism, homophobia and other forms of discrimination. While that may sound like a laudable goal, it's raising some thorny issues for the province's Catholic school boards, particularly with regards to sexual orientation and religious accommodation. "These are issues that perhaps conflict or raise concerns for us as Catholics because they conflict with our faith," admitted John Langill, superintendent with Halton's Catholic school board. The issue of how Catholic school boards deal with homosexual students hit the headlines in 2002, when a Catholic high school in Oshawa refused a 17-year-old male student permission to bring his boyfriend to the prom. The Ontario Supreme Court eventually ruled that the board could not deny the student the right to Santa Claus comes to town Crime spree ends with coffee shop takedown By Tim Whitnell METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER See Policy page 7 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL: Santa Claus greets his fans, young and young-at-heart, at the end of the annual Oakville Santa Claus parade. For more photos, see pages 17 and 23 and 27. A crime spree and police chase through Burlington and Oakville last weekend has landed one woman in hospital and resulted in a slew of criminal charges against her and an alleged accomplice. A pair of women accused of stealing two cars and painkillers led Halton Regional police officers on a chase through Oakville and Burlington Sunday morning before officers subdued the women outside an Oakville coffee shop. Halton police say the chain of events began when a 1991 white Honda Accord was stolen from Caledon early Sunday. A Longo's supermarket at Trafalgar Road and Dundas Street in Oakville reported someone stealing shampoo, razors, condoms and gum around 10:30 a.m. that day. Shortly afterwards, the Metro grocery store at Eighth Line and Upper Middle Road in Oakville had several boxes of Tylenol and Advil stolen from its shelves. The alleged thieves were seen getting into a white Honda. Burlington detective Steve Metelsky said Halton police began a pursuit of a white Honda up Trafalgar Road, but called off the chase near Hwy. 407 out of concern See Women page 3 SERVING OAKVILLE FOR 26 YEARS! 175 Wyecroft Rd. Oakville 905.845.6653 Between Kerr & Dorval No Pay for 6 months and Huge Rebates PLUS We guarantee your valuable Manufacturer and Government Rebates and take care of the Paperwork for you. For Deadlines and Complete Details call 905-844-2949 Ask about our excellent Financing and Great Terms. VISIT OUR ALL NEW WEBSITE YOUR FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS! www.lockwoodchrysler.com