Mi -1 8-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, April 9, 2002 ~V487 Laurier A4ve. 878-28819 im UNRZ «,COGECO 14 finds a new home in Milton Producers say response to move has been terrific By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion "Hey, that parking lot looks awfully familiar." Most Miltonians have no doubt uttered that staternent over the past several weeks when clicking on channel 14. Figured it out yet? It's the parking lot of Laurier Plaza - and just a couple dozen feet away, with a camnera ever poised to cap- ture local shoppers during non-prograrnning hours, is COGECO's new base of operations for community programming in north Halton. Movmng south after a lengthy tenure in downtown Acton, COGECO has set up shop in the old Videoflicks atorefront - which sill features signage of the defunct movie rentaI franchise. For those who've only seen it from a distance, the plaza's east corner might still appear vacant. But look a little dloser and there may juat be a beehive of activity - especially on Mondays at 8 p.m. That's when co-producer Mike Hancock - who runs the north Halton programming line-up alongside longtine cohort Sandy French - hosta SportsZone Live, which since the move t0 Milton has enjoyed a new and intriguing backdrop. New look for SportsZone Live "We decided to shoot it out front so you could see the parking lot behind us," said Mr. Hancock, who bota the show with fellow sports enthusiast Brad Houle. "It kind of gives you a skylmne look like you sec on talk shows. There was some concemr the firat night with people possibly milling around behind us, but for thc most part there wasn't any problems at all." In fact - judging by initial indications - the move has been nothing but positive. Mr. French said there's been a number of benefits, flot the lest of which is access t0 a large pool of high sehool volunteers, who traditionally keep any comrnunity pro- grammning operation plugged in. Said Mr. French, "Now we're able to draw on three high achools instcad of just one (in Acton). It's a lot casier for those Milton stu- dents who can't drive or don't have a car 10 help out. We've had a great compliment of volunteers this semester." Volunteer availability is particularly important for a place like north Halton COGECO - which brings many evening events to its viewers, mncluding council meetings and junior hockey gamnes. But comnnunity involvement isn't lirnited to volunteer camnera- men - or camnera women - at north Halton COGECO. Over Uic years a number of residents have corne forward wiUi ideas for new shows. And Uiat enthusiasm has mushroomed since Uic move 10 Milton. "In Uic st few weeks, we've had a big increase in Uic number of people pitching show ideas," M. Hancock explained. "We've had people corne forward in Uic past, but neyer wiUi Uhit quality and quantity. And it's famniliar faces un Uic commnunity that we're teeing, which we tend to take a litt1e more seriously." Added Mr. French, '1The response has been overwhehning. 1 Uiink a lot of it is Uic accessibility. People walk by or corne in and Photo by GRAHAM PAINE COGECO 14 producera Mike Hancock (left) and Sandy French have been quite pleased wlth the rompons. sinoe their communlty programming operation recently set Up ahop at the Laurier Plaza In Milton. are able t0 sec what wc're domng and Uiat makesthUem fel more a polish and broadst COGECO 14's myriad of shows - which part of it." include everything from SportsZone Live and Plugged Wis 10 Lat but certaissly n01 least in Uic benefits departrnent is Uic actu- Money Wcek, Swap Talk and Optimiat TV Bingo. al location of north Hatton COGECO - which is a litt1e amailer "It's a rimaller building but we're utilizing it a lot better," said Uian in Acton but, according 10 boUi producers, a much better set- Mr. Hancock. up. Added Mr. French, "'The différence is we had iput as 10 this Mr. French and Mr. Hancock now have a more appmopriate facility's set-up, which reaily helpcd. Overall, Uiings have been ýgreen room' wiUi which to greet guesta and walk-in visitors. They very positive." also have Uhir own individual work stations, designated storage Those interested in pitching show ideaa or becoming a volunteer space and a more efficient layout for ail Uic technical toys uscd 10 can cail norUi Halton COGECO aI (905) 878-9306. 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