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A14 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, August 25, 2006 Teacher helps craft history curriculum resource UKAMAM M'AINE I LANADLAN CHAMPION Local educators Yaw Obeng (Ieft) and Charles Leskun traveled to China this summer to research the Second Wordd War atrocities inflicted by the Japanese Impenials. 20 Side Road (Regional Road 34) Realignment from Milburough Line to First LUne, Town of Milton Class Environmental Assessment Study The Regional Municipality of Halton is initiating a Class Environmental Asssent ta consider safety and traffic operational options for transportation corridor improvements on 20 Side Road (Regional Road 34) from east of Milburough Uine ta west of Flrst Une, in the Town of Milton (see map below). In order ta best address operational deficiencies along the 20 Side Road corridor, a number of road improvernent alternatives will be examined as part of the study induding realignment of the roadway, cross-sectional elements, driveway improvements, and over-ali traffic operations, as well as the impact of such improvements on the social and natural environments. ibis notice signais the commencement of the Class Environmental Assessment a study wliich will define the problern, identify and evaluate alternative solutions, and determine a prefeered solution in consultation with the Town of Milton, regulatory agencies, and the public. The study is being conducted in compliance with Schedule C of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (June 2000), which is approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. A key component of the study will be consultation with interested stakeholders (public and regulatory agenciesl at two Public Information Centres (PIC). The PICs will provide stakeholders with an opportunity ta meet the Project Team, review rie study scope and discuss issues related ta rie projeet including alternative solutions, environmental considerations and evaluation criteria. The first public meeting will be held in October 2006. Details regarding the forthcoming PICs will be advertised as the study progresses. Information requests or questions may be directed to: The map below shows the approximate Mr. Jeffrey Reid, C.E.T. limits of the study area. Project Manager . ,, The Regional Municipality of Halton 1151 Bronte Road Oakville, Ontario L6M 3125I Phone: 905-825-6000, ext. 7170 Toîl Free: 1 -866-442-5866Q (1 -866-4HALT0N> n Fax: 905-825-8822 0 - Email: jeffrey.reid@halton.ca Mr. Michael Wilson, C.E.T. t) Projeet Manager u aGR 4 Chisholm, Fleming and Associates s ra 317 Renfrew Drive, Suite 301 m 0 tdyAe Markham, Ontario L3R 9S8r Phone: 905-474-1458 0 Fax: 905-474-1910 z .7I Email: mike.wilson@ChisholmFIeming.com O ofa This Notice first issued on August 18, 2006. www. ha Iton. ca/cu rrenttAprojects By Melanie Hennessey CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Recent trips to China have opened Miltonian Charles Leskuns eyes to the horrors experienced by those decades ago at the hands of the Imperial Japanese army Now, the local teacher is hoping to make the rest of the province aware of it tbrougb a recently-released resource guide he helped craft - wîth informa- tion gathered abroad - thats expected to, be used in many Ontario classrooms as part of the high scbool history cur- riculum. Entitled 'The Search for Global Citizenship: The Violation of Humnan Rights in Asia, 1931-1945', the book takes students back to a time before and during the Second World War wben Imperial Japanese forces occu- pied China and committed almost unspeakable crimes against humanity. "Somne of it was so beinous and so overlooked in history," be said. "You can't imagine this type of brutahity" Take tbe story of Madam Lui, an eld- erly Chinese woman who, Leskun and thse study tour group he was with met and talked to this summer. As a child, Lui worked in what was called a comfort house, which was in essence a brothel filled with young women and girls establisbed for the Japanese soldiers. At age 14, Lui was forced to start working as a comfort woman. From then on, ber lufe became one of a sexu- ai slave. w&iC Wd' djcd 1t.'Pc.itcdl) caci h LIa> and she ended up becoming sterile," said Leskun. Lui's story also touched Yaw Obeng, a Milton resident and supervising prin- cipal with the Toronto District School Board wbo accompanied Leskun on the recent study tour. Obeng highlighted the fact Luis sit- uation ix unique because she found sol- ace at the end of ber hon-ufic journey She went back co ber bometown, located ber mother, got married and adopted a cbild wbo bad been aban- doned by bis parents. "Tbey (Lui and her son) built on eacb otbers courage,' Obeng said. "Her son encouraged ber to speak out about ber ordeal." But not every comfort womans story bad a happy ending. Obeng noted tbat many women were sbunned by their families, witb some neyer disclosing what happened to, tbem. until now. "You feel like you're opening old wounds, but for some it was cathartic," be said. "In their culture, tbere was a lot of shame around it. It takes a lot of courage to come forward." And according to, Leskun and Obeng, most of the former comfort women, wbo are now in their seventies and eigbties, are living in poverty today. "Tbey're still suffening because of the atrocities," Leskun said. The tour group also, went to, Nanjing, whicb was the site of a brutal massacre in 1937, and Manchuria, where a biochemical agency of the esee ATROCMTES on page A16 ~J~ m s o o Vu