9 · Thursday, July 1, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Students want to raise profile of The Veterans Highway designs of what they would do if they were given the chance to put a monument where people can gather and Students at St. Dominic Catholic pay respects to people and honour Elementary are hoping to give Bronte the Veteran's Highway, as opposed to Road and Canada's war vets the hon- just a sign that exists now. our they deserve. While most people "It's about putting something on know that Hwy. 401 from the Don the highway that's dedicated to the Valley Parkway to Trenton veterans because of the is known as the Highway of lack of recognition that Heroes, few are aware that currently exists." Oakville's Bronte Road is Leah Bleecker, another dubbed The Veterans of MacPhail's students, Highway. says there were a few difThe Grade 7 students' ferent ideas that the stuproposals aim to get dents came up with, Oakville town council to including dedicating a erect more visible memori- John MacPhail park, making gardens and als in dedication to the fallusing monuments and en soldiers. flags. The proposals took place at the "Put up flags inside that represent school on June 18 with Ward 1 Canada and Ontario so that everyone Councillor Ralph Robinson in atten- can remember. (So) that it could be dance. There were 13 groups with more visible to people who are on the two or three students in each one road," said Bleecker. presenting their proposals, ideas and Other towns in Ontario such as sketches on different ways to enhance London have spent money into makThe Veterans Highway to make the ing tributes to the soldiers and that's tributary more noticeable to the resi- another reason why the students dents and visitors of Oakville. wanted to take part. Student Rachael For the past five years, the stu- Kotur said if London can do it, we dents have been making and sending could do it. tribute posters and writing letters to "London has a roadway that they the families of fallen Canadian sol- renamed Veteran's Memorial diers. On June 1, one of the mothers Parkway and the controversy (there) of a fallen soldier travelled to Oakville was just simply putting a sign on the from Owen Sound to pay the children road and naming it after the vetera visit at the school to thank them for ans, (which) was a token effort," said their support. Carol Mitchell is the MacPhail. "They didn't do anything mother of Corporal Robert James in terms of beautification of their Mitchell, who died serving his coun- roadway. There was no monument to try in October of 2006. This is where the veterans. "This was something the idea to help make The Veterans we looked at and said, "Well other Highway a more noticeable tribute to cities are doing this, what more can the soldiers. we do?" If they're going to name a "We felt really good that we helped roadway after the veterans, what can someone out like that. We wanted to they do to really make it special?" do it again so Mr. (John) MacPhail Corey Maillet, student, and his introduced another problem to us," group came up with the idea to dedisaid Krista Jones, a student involved cate a park with a monument to the with the proposals. "Hardly anyone fallen soldiers. knew about The Veterans Highway "Our proposal was to dedicate a and how it should probably be fixed park and we want to see it be put into with something better. " action so that people can see how we John MacPhail, the students respect our fallen soldiers," said Canadian history teacher, has been Maillet. "It's South Shell Park on teaching the subject for 10 years now. Lakeshore (West). This is just my He won the Governor General's idea to rename it and put in a monuaward for Excellence in Teaching ment." Canadian History in 2007. MacPhail Robinson was thrilled and talks about the need for more recog- impressed with the enthusiasm and nition for the highway and how the effort the children put into the prostudents designed their proposals. posals, and their determination to "Currently, they have small, rec- honour the soldiers. tangular signs on the highway, but "I was extremely impressed with there's actually no place where people it. Each group had wonderful ideas of can go to pay their respects or any- their own and every one certainly thing where people can actually know worth consideration," said Robinson. what it is commemorating," said Pauline Houlahan, one of four MacPhail. "Students came up with board trustees, was invited to see sketches (and) computer-aided MacPhail's Grade 7 students' efforts By Nathan Howes OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF for the first time this year and was amazed by the work they've accomplished so far. "They blow me away. It seems to grow with each year of kids. I was so thrilled to be there, not knowing what to expect," said Houlahan, adding she was overwhelmed with the genuine feeling the students demonstrated for our fallen soldiers. "You can see it in the high level of thought and creativity that went into all their designs. It was a very impressive moment for me to listen to them and (see) their presentations." "That's what you love about youth. It's from the heart," said Houlahan. Now that the proposal has been presented to Robinson, once he and the council members and the mayor have had a chance to go through all the presentations, the students and teacher could have an opportunity to present the proposals to town council. "At that point, I am proposing that we bring it before council with a couple of recommendations to have the kids and the teacher to come in and talk to us at council. And hopefully do something with one or two of them," said Robinson. "There's got to be some way to recognize these heroes a little bet- ter and that's what the kids want and at the same time, recognize the kids for what they're trying to do." But Robinson says there is no time frame on when that could happen. "It's almost July now, so I'm not going to be getting anything happening prior to the closing of school," said Robinson. "But I will keep in touch with him [MacPhail] and work on it through the summer. We will get it done." The school and the children's work have been recognized and featured in such media outlets as CBC, Citytv, and the Oakville Beaver. HOPEDALE MALL 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville QEW Bronte Rd. 3rd Line 4th Line Rebecca St. Lakeshore Rd. Large Selection of Summer Seasonal Items! Looking for something to do this Fall? Looking for a great way to meet new people? Why not join a bowling league? Something for everyone - all ages, all skill levels. Call for details and start dates. 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