I he udKvme tieavei, w e u i lesaay o a o o e i I'd, / u u j - > o Ward 5 regional contest sees battle between two council veterans By Angela Blackburn 0 /\KVILLE BEAVER STAFF Way to G o ! T o w n e C h e v r o l e t Two veteran Ward 5 coun cillors are hotiy contesting the race for the ward's regional/local seat in the Nov. 10 municipal election. Town council representa tive for the past six years, Janice Caster, is challenging Jeff Knoll who has been the Ward 5 regional/local council lor for the last three years. Ward 5 includes the com munities of College Park. River Oaks, Oak Park and the rural community north of Dundas Street. "My main reason for run ning for the regional position is that I believe that all Ward 5 residents deserve fair and equal representation at both levels of municipal government," said Caster, 49. Knoll admits he'd prefer not to be challenged by his former council peer, but says he's happy to participate in the dem ocratic process. Caster, a science graduate of Western University and a busi ness graduate of Sheridan College, began her political career 20 years ago when she joined the executive of her local community nursery school. With two, now adult, daughters. Caster has volun teered over the years with Block Parents, the Canadian Cancer Society, school parent councils and the River Oaks Association of Residents (ROAR). In 1997, Caster received the River Oaks Resident of the Year Award. Since being on council. Caster has served on Town of Oakville committees dealing with transit, parking review, the Uptown Core and parks and recreation. She's also a member of Speak-Out-Canada, an organi zation that promotes Canadian unity. Caster began her business career with Burlington Carpet Industries, working her way through the ranks to senior management. The Oakville resident also spent a number of years in sales before establishing her own business and cuirently works with her husband. Bob, in their own corporation. Caster Medical Systems, a company that specializes in anesthesia and blood salvaging. Defending his regional council seat against Caster is Knoll. 39. who had been a new comer to Oakville politics three years ago when he first ran. However, Knoll also boasts a broad range of public service and political experience at all three levels of government hav ing first become involved in the Jeff Knoll political scene as a youth. Knoll and his wife, Michelle, live in Oak Park with their five children - David, Dylan, Evan. Sarah and Bryn. Having majored in political science and communications at the University of Windsor, Knoll is now a principal with the firm, Film.Ca Inc., which operates Movie Experts at the River Glen Mews Plaza in Oakville and Encore Upper Canada Place Cinemas & Caf6 in downtown Burlington. His public service and polit ical experience ranges from distributing literature and help ing in campaign offices for can didates as a youth to serving as a political aid to federal and provincial members of parlia ment. Over a period of 25 years. Knoll has served in numerous volunteer and paid positions within the political process including as an assis tant to members of provincial parliament, members of parlia ment and cabinet ministers. Caster was first elected in 1997 and was acclaimed in 2000. "As a local councillor, I have represented the residents at meetings hosted by the Region of Halton on issues affecting Ward 5. It is now time to be in a position to influ ence the decisions that will be made at Halton Regional Council," said Caster. Health and environment are two key issues that will crop up during the next council term. "Although important to the Town of Oakville, decisions that influence those issues will take place at Halton Regional Council. Transit and trans portation are also high on the list of priorities to address the gridlock and frustration faced by the citizens of Oakville and the Region of Halton today," said Caster. As the Town council repre sentative on the Transit Advisory Committee, Caster initiated a transit system review. The findings of the review documented a need to re-introduce Sunday Service. The review also supported a change to improve response time by moving to half hour service, which is being imple mented. Caster was a key member of Janice Caster the team developing the strate gy that amalgamated environ mental and developmental issues for growth. Caster believes she's able to bring consensus and closure to important issues affecting her constituents and the greater community. Caster said she was also responsible for assuring that a new hospital site in north Oakville is reflected within the Town's Official Plan. It was during the Town debate about north Oakville growth that many discovered decisions had already been made at the regional level about how Oakville would grow. Caster said she has the ded ication. honesty and proven record to offer accountable rep resentation. Knoll said he wants to see through many issues that he believes are important to his constituents. Knoll believes growth, though it may be inevitable, should be properly managed. He would prefer taking a leadership role rather than abdi cating responsibility to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) to "put an Oakville face on what development will look like in the future." The largest mass of land yet to be developed in Oakville is in Ward 5, said Knoll who believes strongly that growth shouldn't impact residents now living in Oakville or change their lifestyle. Another project near to Knoll's heart is improving local services for kids and youths. Responsible for securing a youth centre on Cross Avenue in central Oakville. Knoll said he'd like to expand on that suc cess, particularly in the area of health by reducing youth smok ing. Knoll said he's also like to ensure that the Uptown Core develops as it was originally intended with no intrusions of big box retailers or auto parks. Every decision should also be benchmarked against how it affects the environment and what can be done to reduce negative impacts, said Knoll. O l d s m o b i l e The Oakville Beaver jo in s United Way of Oakville in salu tin g Towne Chevrolet Oldsmobile for their o u tstan d in g United Way fundraising cam paign. Towne Chevrolet Oldsmobile is to be congratulated on a very successful United Way cam paign. Not only have they increased th eir participation rate from 26% in 2002 to 51% in 2003, b u t th ey 've also m ore th a n doubled the am o u n t of m oney raised over last year - a n d the cam paign is n 't even finished! Thank you Towne C hevrolet Oldsmobile! W ith o u t y o u , th e r e w o u ld b e no w ay. Meet the Ward 5 candidates Nov. 5 The Oak Park Residents' Association (OPR A) and The River Oaks Association of Residents (ROAR) Are hosting a Ward 5 all-candidates meeting on nov. 5. The "Meet the Candidates in Oak Park" meeting will be at the Tribute Sales Centre (215 Glenashton Drive) from 7-9 p.m. Ward 5 Candidates for both local and regional councils; as well as candidates for the public and separate school boards will be present. Starting at 7:30 p.m. each candidate will be provided the opportunity to give a timed two-minute address to all of the voters in attendance. W IL L O W G L E X M O NTESSO RI SCHO OL Located in the Glen Abbey West section o f Oakville, Wiltowglen Montessori School is a nondenominational co-educationalschoolfor children from 2-1/2 years old through Grade 3. The fu ll Montessori curriculum is augmented by the addition o f music, ·computers and French language instruction. Field trips, spring concert, book clubs and charityfundraising are among the activities which contribute to the positive, nurturing atmosphere o f this community school OPEN HOUSE Saturday, November 1st, 10:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. W ido w g L en W W illow glen M o n te sso ri S ch ool 2690 Westoak Trails Blvd. . 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