A8 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday June 28, 2000 W a t e r t r e a t m e n t f ir m ZENON Environm ental on leading edge of water technologies open s new hom e Feds kick in $10 million in research money that will lead to hundreds of jobs in Oakville facility ipalities such as Collingwood, Milton and Fenelon Falls have installed Zenon membrane-based systems - some for drink ing water, others for wastewater. Next week, the new membrane-based wastewater facility at Fern Resort near Orillia goes on stream, proving how indi vidual commercial enterprises can locate on land not ser viced by municipal sewage systems while meeting environ mental standards. By Howard Mozel "No longer is land development linked by huge invest OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF ments in sewage infrastructure," said Benedek, who started Zenon in 1980 and has seen the company to grow to $100 While Monday's official opening of Zenon million in sales last year. Environmental Inc. was a good news story for Oakville, the A Calgary residential development is installing Zenon company's success is one of truly global implications. systems in order to triple its size without linking to the After all, said chairman and CEO Dr. Andrew Benedek, municipal sewage system. The same goes for a native with safe drinking water rapidly becoming an increasingly American community in California which expanded its casi rare and precious commodity, simple and affordable technol no and entertainment complex and is now able to recycle ogy - like Zenon's ZeeWeed 85% of all its wastewater. ultrafiltration membrane plants As a working showcase for - will be the answer to a lot of ZeeWeed, Zenon's Dundas prayers. Street international corporate "We can put it into sewage headquarters also possesses a self contained water system that and make drinking water," said Benedek. is not linked to the outside Speeches and dignitaries sewage system - the first build aside, the highlight of the open ing of its kind in Ontario. At ing, which also marked Zenon's Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany, the Canadian pavil 20th Anniversary, was ZeeWeed, which resembles ion's water system will be simi nothing more than high-tech larly self contained. strands of spaghetti. These Monday's ceremony was not all membranes, however, contain about technology, however. pores a mere 0.035 microns in Cree Elder Vernon Harper size which act as barriers to who spoke of the planet's four microorganisms which are 10 "scared elements" (earth, air, to 100 times larger. fire, water) - blessed the facility and those who work there. The membranes remove the "Water is our Mother Earth's microorganisms outright - not kill them to leave dead or par blood," he said. "It is life, it is Photo by Riziero Vertolli tially dead organisms in the sacred." Zenon chairman Dr. Andrew Benedek (left) and treated water. ZeeWeed is The building itself marks the effective for everything from Federal Industry Minister John Manley officially consolidation of seven locations open Zenon facililty Monday Cryptosporidium to E.coli. scattered in Burlington now "The world is a factory of creating new and more deadly located on 151 unserviced acres in Oakville, 50 of which parasites," said Benedek. "The only solution lies in technol remain forested. Benedek - who said he looked all over North America for a new home - explained that the site is ogy-" And the stakes are enormous: according to Benedek, suitable for growth and will provide a stimulating environ countless millions of people live in conditions with no sani tation whatsoever and 25 million children die each year from waterborne diseases. Add to this the fact that the planet's population increases by 80 million people each year. "And in some countries, water quality has been so degrad ed that it is not even for basic industrial use," added Benedek, who explained that ZeeWeed technology is in place in more than 30 countries from New Zealand to the Middle East and is even aboard cruise ships and in luxury resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Given the recent tragedy in Walkerton, Benedek's words struck home with additional force. In fact, 11 Ontario munic- ment for employees. (The company made the list of the best 100 Canadian places to work.) To make the day complete, federal Industry Minister John Manley announced a $9.9 million Technology Partnerships Canada repayable investment in a research and development project at Zenon. The investment will allow the firm to proceed with refine ments to its patented technology, creating 58 jobs in the process during the three-year development phase. After that, a further 870 jobs could be added. "At a time when the issue of water quality has never been more important, this project offers a tremendous opportunity for Canada to lead the way with new technology that could revolutionize water treatment in the years ahead," said Manley. "Zenon is truly a Canadian success story." ENJOY YOUR DECK, PATIO OR TERRACE MORE OFTEN Provide Shade from the Sun Wilh a retractable awning. Colours & Options to suit your home decor. 5 Year wairanty included. Jans is a fa m ily business a n d w e knew that the products w e sell not o nly reflect on our business biX also on our fam ily nam e. That is w h y we o nly sell products that w e d be proud to install in our o w n hom es. 'AWNINGS · SUNROOMS · QUALITY WINDOWS & DOORS JANS Aluminum Products A fam ily business since 1966_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4187 UPPER M IDDLE RD, BURLINGTON P P E R M D O L E F O R D *U Q E W 335-3733 u, 2 £ * YES, WE'RE 1 OPEN CANADA DAY JULY 1 9am-5pm C o m m u n ity U p d a te WEDNESDAY JUNE 28 Blood Donor Clinics, Halton Regional Police headquarters, 1151 Bronte Rd., 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and at Croatian Parish Hall, 2110 Trafalgar Road north of Upper Middle, 1 to 7:30 p.m. Oakville Bereavement Centre, service of Halton Family Services and Bereaved Families of Ontario, hosts speaker Dr. Bill Webster, Oakville Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar, Oakville Room, 7 p.m. Topic: Grief - The Healing Journey. Meeting open to public, free. CARP - Canada's Association for the Fifty Plus, Halton chapter, 7:30 p.m., Burlington Seniors Centre, 2185 New St. Speaker: Det. Lee Ann Ansell of Halton Regional Police Crime Stoppers. Refreshments. Call Harry, 335-5717. THURSDAY JUNE 29 Mississauga Parent Watch, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Erin Mills United Church, 3010 The Collegeway, Mississauga, for par ents of children who are sad, truant, abusing drugs, threatening, running away, in trouble with law, or making poor choices. Call Penny Smith, 844-4258. Toronto Blue Jays mascots, Ace and Diamond, visit WalMart, Trafalgar and Hays Boulevard, 5 to 8 p.m., for Fuji Instax Photo Day contest. Win tickets to July 23rd game. Oakville Strutters meets Thursday nights for 60-minute `stress busters' fitness walk. Also new route to Holyrood Park and back, (plus optional half-hour walk through Lakeside Park.) Libation afterwards. Meet at Oakville Central Library main front doors, Lakeshore and Navy, 7:15 p.m. Free. Call Patti Crichton, 338-2751. Halton Central Chapter, BNI, meets every Thursday at the Dynasi Restaurant, 399 Dundas W,, 7 to 8:30 a.m., visitors welcome. For information and reservations, call John Seaga, 257-9463. Toronto Parent Finders, search and support group for adult adoptees and birth relatives, meets second Thursday of each month, 7:30 p.m., Huron Park Community Centre, 2nd floor, 830 Paisley Blvd. W., Mavis-Dundas area, Mississauga Call 416-465-8434. Oakville Parent-Child Centre offers Toddler Time, a dropin program for parents and their toddlers, 12 to 18 months offered every Thursday from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at 1500 Sixth Line. Call 849-6366. Oakville Parent-Child Centre offers Cabin Fever, a drop-in program for parents and caregivers every Thursday morning from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 1240 Old Abbey Lane. Children can interact with other children and parents can resource with other individuals. Call 849-6366. FRIDAY JUNE 30 Enlightenment - realize your full human potential work shop, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Clarkson Community Center (Sheridan Hall) 2475 Truscott Dr. Mississauga. Call Geeta Kissoon 905-829-1943. Program funded by your kind dona tions. Oakville Single/Social Dance every Friday at the Oakville Royal Canadian Legion, Normandy Room, Church and Navy. Admission $10. Proceeds through Branch 114 to charities. Dancing 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Cash door prizes and refresh ments. Dress code. Call 845-6271. Oakville Parent-Child Centre offers Cabin Fever, a drop-in program for parents and caregivers every Friday mornings from 10:30 to noon, at 337 Kerr St. Children can interact with other children and parents can resource with other individuals. Call 849-6366. SATU RD AYJU LYl Canada Day Parade leaves Hopedale mall at 11 a.m. for cel ebration at Coronation Park, 12 to 9 p.m., hosted by Halton Multicultural Council. Greek, Portuguese, Hawaiian, Caribbean dance troupes, Tyrsa Ukrainian Dance Group, Filipino band, Bahamas National Youth Choir, Chinese dance group, among others. Also lots of food. Call 842-2486. Tickets sales at T. A. Blakelock, 10 a.m. to noon for its Millennium Reunion, July 7th and 8th. Meet & Greet Pub on Friday at the Halton Regional Centre, Bronte Road north of the QEW, 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday dance at the Halton Regional Centre, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Each evening costs $15 each or $25 per couple; $30 or $50 for the two-day event. Both evenings are catered, with a cash bar. T H IS W m K S GAY l CRASHURS Im p a tie n s Pink Viqoro ./ ......... 2 how 5 U H jr in i! Geraniums Mini Cascade 21 till W ed. July 5 > f | ft> ftili/e r r \ J rtV /2 hurs. July Wed. July 4 <J 4^ J m m lif e y i / U / j j ^ j J£l 0* w July 19 V A G R A M G arden Centre Open 7 Days a Week O P E N 7 D A Y S A W EEK AGRAM GARDEN CENTRE located on the corner of Highway #5 and 9th Line - Entrance off 9th Line ( 9 0 5 ) 2 5 7 -3 5 7 7 H w y #5 O u r G re e n h o u s e is in Full B lo o m C onveniently lo c a ted off 9 th Llnel U p p e r M id d le All Specials are while quantities last, unless otherwise s ta te d . ^ AGRAM reserves th e rig h t to lim it quantities. ONt-STOP GARDENING «