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A 4 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 20, 2002 MOVING SALE - HUGE SAVINGS! M a n n in g J e w e lle r s Take ad vantage o l this truly ONE-TIME, NEVER TO BE REPEATED SALE Provincial letter boosts hopes of proponents for tougher OPA 198 By Angela Blackburn , OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Local environmentalists are hailing a Ministry of Municipal Affairs letter to Halton Region as a coup in the debate on growth north of Dundas St. That growth will be guided by Official Plan Amendment (OPA) 198, which aims to rezone agri cultural land north of Dundas as urban and pave the way for growth. Public debate on OPA 198 began last June and is set to wrap up next Monday when the final public hearing will take place, followed by council debate and voting. Environmentalists and others have been pushing for the inclu sion of a natural heritage system and linkages in OPA 198. Ward 4 Councillor Allan Elgar, who shares similar con cerns with the residents, hailed the provincial letter as positive. "This means something. It's good that the Ministry has taken a stand on it." he said of the letter that also recommended inclusion of the natural heritage system in OPA 198. To date, the Town of Oakville planning department has called for such a system, but hasn't specifically identified it in OPA 198. Town planners say it will be determined at the secondary planning stage. Numerous environmental studies of north Oakville have been completed and continue. The first, the North Oakville Natural Heritage Inventory (LGL), inventoried 1,250 acres of environmentally significant land in north Oakville in 1998. The Town recommended pro tection of environmentally sig nificant land and suggested that the area forests be linked with natural corridors to create an east-west system called "The Natural Heritage System". "Unfortunately, the OPA does not contain a commitment to cre ate the Natural Heritage System. There is not even a firm commit ment to preserve the forests, which is a mere 16% of the entire area. I am lobbying for such a commitment," said the Algar. Last Thursday, a letter arrived at Halton Region from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs that recommended the system be included. "We support the approach OPA No. 198 is taking in requir ing sub-watershed plan(s) and a natural features study prior to approval of secondary plans," reads the letter to senior regional planner Doug Corbett from Victor Doyle, manager of com munity planning in the Central Region Municipal Services office at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. "However, in light o f the amendment's Environment and Open Space objective to estab lish a natural heritage/open space system ... it is recommend ed that the natural heritage sys tem, particularly linkages, be identified," reads the letter. The Town had asked Halton Region to review OPA 198. The Region's report should be ready today or tomorrow. M ayor Ann Mulvale said Monday that although she hadn't seen the letter, the Town was aware o f it and was in the process of getting more informa tion. "We have to wait to see how the Region interprets the con tents in terms of direction to us before we can com m ent" said Town planning and development commissioner David Cash. Part of the Region's review was to gather comments from various provincial authorities, said Cash. And should the Region require the Town to map out the system, the Town will do i t said Cash. Som e Item s CASH & CARRY M a n n in g J e w e lle r s 125 CROSS AVE. TRAFALGAR VILLAGE G O L D S M IT H & D IA M O N D M ER C H A N T 905-844-2668 E N S MwLttfflKhOOsjL-fcOOp C A R M AT OAKVILLEi f ) OXFERENCE & BANQUET CENTRE C Friday March 15 Gourmet 4 Course Dinner, Dance & Show Dana the Night Away with Hintons D.J. Central presents ABBA Mania S t o p q A to * Bee Gees Tribute Visit not part of Golden Jubilee program T tou -W -' 'tvw 't .v GROUP DISCOUNTS 10-19 people -Save 10% 20-49 people - Save 15% 50 or more people - Save 20% O A K V ILLE CONFERENCE &BANQUET CENTRE " Ifyou liked Mamma Mia, you' ll loveAbba Mania/" " Closest thing to Abba anyone has ever seen, "fromthe cast of Mamma Mia " Unbelievable"- Ottawa Grizen Call 905-618-7510 Ext.100 for tickets Door & Cash Bar open at 6:30 p.m. D in n er, D an ce&S how$47.95 per person. Plus taxes. Stow start! Gt S p.m. show only S26.00 per person. Pkn h m . 2515 Wyecroft Rd., Oakville (Bronte at QEW) (Continued from page 1). Councillors also had the option of naming the renovated Town Hall atrium in honour of the Queen's 50th anniversary of reign. Councillors opted, however, to go with the usual public con test for naming. The prince's visit isn't part of the monarch's Golden Jubilee program. Town clerk Cathie Best said the Prince's visit won't cost the Town much, just the cost of a dedication plaque, gift and refreshments. Ward I Councillor Ralph Robinson asked if more time could be arranged for the Prince to spend at Town Hall, however. Mulvale said the Town has no say in his itinerary. "He has an interest in fire pro tection and the seeing eye dogs," said the mayor. The Prince will tour the Oakville Fire Department's new emergency training campus from 9:15-10 a.m. From 10:10-10:25, he will tour the Dogguides Canada facil ity for a demonstration and the introduction o f the previous day's graduation class, both humans and dogs. From 10:35-11:05 a.m., he will stop in at the Kerr Street Seniors' Centre for a tour and a demonstration by seniors of tap dancing, doggers and the choir. Between 11:15-11:50 a.m., the Prince will visit Halton H ealthcare-O akville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital for a wel come in the lobby and tour of the cardiology department. From noon to 12:15 p.m., he will be at Town Hall for a coun cil reception, public reception in the Atrium (if it's ready, said the mayor), and the announcement o f the street naming in his hon our. Bom in 1942 in Iver, Buckinghamshire, the Prince was eighth in line to the throne at the time of his birth. However, under law he had to renounce his right of succession following his marriage because the Princess is Catholic. His children, however, still have a claim to the throne since they were raised in the Church of England. A N N O U N C IN G .. . I w a s a n g ry w ith H im . ...But He Healed My Heart Christine: I grew up attending a traditional church with my wonderful parents and four siblings. lust after turning 18, our family's life w as turned upside dow n. My m other w as diagnosed with a rare neurological illness, a disease that w ould progressively take aw ay her m otor skills, her ability to eat and in a cruelly ironic twist, even her ability to sing. My M om not only had an incredible singing voice but she w as a beautiful person both inside and out. Although she rem ained steadfast in her faith in God, I did not. W hy w as G od doing this to me? I w as angry that m y friends' m others could go places and d o things with them while m ine w as limited as to w hat she could do. The illness progressed and at age 65, in 1998, four days before Christmas, the Lord took m y M om to be with Him. I hid it well but frankly, I resented G od and questioned how a loving G od could allow m y M om to suffer with this horrible disease. W hy did He need to take her? As a young w om an, I needed her a lot m ore than G od did. My anger and resentm ent grew and it had a negative impact on the most important relationships in m y life including m y marriage. I w on hum an rights and journalism aw ards for my investigative reporting but inside I w as desperately unhappy, insecure and bitter. This past sum m er however, I decided to face G od o nce and for all. W hile I w as staying with my lather, he w as diagnosed with lymphom a, a form of cancer. After hearing the news, I w ent upstairs to m y bedroom and I cried out loud to G od that I needed Him. I continued living life and alm ost forgot about my tearful plea to G od. Several w eeks later, I w as visiting a friend in the U.S. I met a m an from a local church that spoke with grace about the healing love of )esus. That night, I com m itted m y life to following the teachings of Jesus Christ. The day that I arrived hom e, I opened m y m ailbox and sitting there w as an invitation card from a new church called The Sanctuary. I now understood that G od had heard my prayer and H e w as answering it. I show ed up that next Sunday and I w as instantly struck by the warm th and authenticity of our Sanctuary pastors and church family. G od has erased m y anger and healed m y heart. My father's lym phom a is also now in remission, thanks to G od. The title of o n e of my M om 's favorite songs reminds m e of the peace I now have in m y heart, thanks to Jesus Christ and m y Sanctuary family-- You'll Never W alk Alone. Join Christine at The Sanctuary this Sunday, February 24th w hen you will hear. Building Together W hen You're Tearing Apart, |>art six of our "Blueprints for Building a Healthy H om e" message series. Enjoy a coffee and a bagel and find out w hat G od has in store for your life. T h e R o s e w a t e r 's S $ c tv f\fQ n (fnete (c o n te n t W IN a California Spa Getaway for two at T he O aks at O jai including: · 6 nights, 7 days double occupancy accommodation (based on availability) 13 gourmet spa cuisine meals per day Fitness programs '/ ^ P · Use of facilities (saunas, whirlpool, % swimming pool) · Evening programs Approximate value: $3,300 U.S. f / s fa m e . ^ /] e < x iu s e Here's how: Come into the spa and fill in the ballot. Tell us what you like best about the Rosewater Spa of Oakville. Drop the ballot in the box. That's it! Random draw will be held: Friday, March 8,2002 Contest rules and eligibility requirements available from our wonderful Receptionist! One ballot per person please. 156 Church Street Oakville (905) 338-SPAH www.rosewaterspa.com 'it-Ji-;-^ r: 'r:/r?'r: J'tirb ;--\'r Christine Hahn o f O akville A Church for Your Heart. Mind &SpIrM S a n c T u a [Y /-- ·The ><>e To read more about h o w C o d has used The Sanctuary to change Christine's and m any other lives in Oakville, visit our web site at w w w .th e s a n c tu a ry .c a Services: Sunday at 10 a.m. White Oaks Secondary School 1330 Montclair Drive Oakville, O N (905) 337-7648 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER North Americas most /Vvarded Newspaper