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economist suntribune consumer news saurday june 22 2002 economist suntribune file photo business will continue at white rose stores throughout york region including the unionville headquarters on hwy 7 west of kennedy road as a search for a buyer of the chain is sought by pricewaterhouse coopers financial woes no surprise for white rose workers by jeff mitchell staff writer friday morning they were still watering plants and sweeping the tiles at newmarkets white rose outlet shoppers still browsed in the nursery or strolled among the shelves of crafts and decorating items but a quiet pall hung over the store and for that matter the entire chain for the second time in four years white rose crafts and nursery sales ltd is on the ropes struggling with financial troubles that threaten the chains continu ing viability the unionvillebased compa ny in debt to scotiabank for more than 73 million and indebted to some 500 other unsecured credi tors to the tune of 129 million once again filed for bankruptcy protection this week news of the developments did not come as a shock for employ ees said one worker at the newmarket store its not a big surprise the employee said i think everybody was kind of expecting it the future of this store and 30 others in ontario including outlets in richmond hill unionville and thornhill remains uncertain according to pricewaterhouse coopers the trustee and receiver named under the bankruptcy and insolvency act pricewaterhouse coopers sen ior vicepresident richard pettit said each store will be evaluated as the search for a buyer for white rose continues business as usual no deadline has been set for a sale he said stores will continue to operate for now tracy dell manager at the newmarket outlet said she and her employees up to 70 local people are employed at the store are taking a waitandsee approach as the latest instalment in the white rose saga unfolds she refused any further com ment im now an employee of pricewaterhouse coopers ms dell said other company officials refused comment referring inquiries to the trustee meanwhile the companys board of directors has resigned the latest developments may mark the end of the line for the company founded in 1957 by gar dener alexandre raab the site of his first nursery established on hwy 7 in unionville is home to a white rose store today white rose has struggled to re establish itself since its brush with bankruptcy in 1998 paring the number of fullscale stores it oper ates from 62 to 31 and withdrawing from the quebec market but theres stiff competition for the weekend gardeners dollar with chains ranging from walmart to canadian tire opening and aggressively marketing garden centres news of white roses latest troubles was met sadly by shop pers i think its terrible said sharon meehan who was brows ing among the plants in the newmarket nursery friday morn ing its a lovely store and ive enjoyed it over the years i hope it will survive she said in the springtime were always at white rose but ms meehan acknowledged the numerous shops and big box stores that have entered the gar dening market are tough company for white rose to outlast its very competitive she said nosmoking bylaw put to test again by jeff mitchell staff writer york regions antismoking bylaw is being put to the test again last week members of the regions health committee voted in favour of a test that could in the long run result in significant sav ings for restaurant and bar owners who must install designated smok ing rooms by june 2004 the canadian restaurant and foodservices association will pay for the test which will see a sophis ticated air exchange system con structed at a restaurant in york region air quality in the restaurant will be monitored and compared to the air in an establishment with an enclosed smoking room as required by the regions bylaw the association isnt quibbling about the necessity of providing a smokefree atmosphere for clien tele said president douglas needham rather it is proposing alternative less expensive technol ogy- system too costly mr needham said the system required by the regions bylaw is too costly for smaller restaurants it will divide our industry into winners and losers haves and havenots the selfenclosed ventilated room required by the region can cost as much as 100000 mr needham said while the air- exchange system his association backs can be installed for about 25000 the technology proposed by the restaurant association has been approved in quebec and british columbia he said committee members agreed to the test providing it results in a fair and accurate comparison we would have to monitor this very closely so we are sure the true facts and information do come from this test said east gwillimbury mayor james young markham councillor tony wong one of the councillors who fought successfully for an amend- ment to the bylaw that benefits the bingo industry said if alternative systems can achieve the goal of smokefree air they should be researched even if the region picks up the tab if they are valid and less expen sive there is no reason not to inves tigate he said the proposal to carry out the tests arose from a presentation mr needham made to the health com mittee in march at the meeting ibp r v vfl wfe i 1 i joyce frustagli0 councillor not willing to alter nosmoking bylaw she championed the committee instructed depart ment staff to discuss the alterna tive technology with the restaurant association so mr needham was dumb founded last thursday when com mittee chairperson joyce frust- aglio claimed the proposal was news to her the vaughan councillor repeat edly told mr needham he had not addressed the committee prior to thursday before being reminded of the large public meeting in march which filled the committee room and attracted tv coverage ms frustaglio chaired that meeting im sorry i dont remember dealing with this presentation ms frustaglio said was i not here mr needham quipped i guess i didnt make much of an impres sion he said the system would take three or four months to install in a local restaurant or pub followed by a monthlong evaluation period mr needham insisted his asso ciation is attempting not to dis mantle the regions controversial bylaw but to find a way for propri etors to obey it without going broke were not asking you to accept the technology were asking you to evaluate it for yourselves he said im not asking you to change your bylaw today and im not ask ing you to change the intent and spirit of your bylaw tomorrow ms frustaglio made it clear at the beginning of the meeting she has had enough tinkering with the bylaw she shepherded from con cept to passage were willing to listen to what you have to say but presently were not revising the ventilation system in our bylaw she told mr needham before he had addressed the committee markham h mmjn july 1st w canada day festivities 2002 come and join in the celebrations at milne park wear red and white canadas colours free canada flags enjoy singers dancers entertainment bands steel drums kung fu demonstrations special hong kong performers old navy contest prizes and giveaways face painting games races prizes clowns refreshments food soft ice cream freezies snacks drinks chinese food booth prizes for bestdecorated bicycle decorate to celebrate canadas birthday peoples parade gather at 330 pm parade starts at heritage rd and mccowan and proceeds south to milne park south of hwy 7 all groups welcome come in national dress- upon arrival flag raising and singing of 0 canada entertainment follows fireworks at dusk park your vehicles at markville shopping centre continuous bus shuttle between markville and milne until after fireworks