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Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

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AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT

LENGTHY WAITS NOT NORM: SOUTHLAKE Report singles out hospital over triage delays

SEASON TO REMEMBER

BY AMANDA PERSICO

apersico@yrmg.com

Southlake Regional Health Centre is asking for patience after Ontario Auditor General Jim McCarter’s report showed it was one of three hospitals where some patients had to wait more than an hour just to get through triage. “The emergency department is a complicated area,” Southlake interim chief operating officer Gary Ryan said. “The report expected too much change too quickly. “But the report is a baseline measure for us. I want (Mr. McCarter) to come back in two years, audit us again and see our improvement. We can only get better.” Fifteen minutes is the guideline. “But that doesn’t always happen,” Mr Ryan admitted. One of the top priorities in the Auditor General’s report is health care and emergency wait times. The report outlined both the faults and best practices used to reduce emergency wait times. Lengthy triage wait times are not the norm and only occurred in a few instances at the hospital, Mr. Ryan noted. “The emergency department is variable, but predictable,” he said. “It’s just a matter of doing a better job with our resources.” To improve emergency department wait times, the provincial government started two programs,

STAFF PHOTO/SUSIE KOCKERSCHEIDT

Aliyhia Trautman holds an angel to place on the memory tree with her grandmother, Danielle, in memory of Aliyhia’s older brother, James, at the 18th annual memory tree of light service at Pickering College Tuesday.

See NURSING, page A11.

Parents fight new immersion plan BY TERESA LATCHFORD

tlatchford@yrmg.com

Parents across the region aren’t willing to give up, despite the York Region District School Board’s decision to move forward with online registration for coveted Grade 1 French immersion spaces. Interest in the program has tripled here in the past decade, driving up demand for limited slots, especially in Aurora and Thornhill. The public board’s solution, an online registration system that uses a random ranking system, replaces the first-come-first-served process that saw parents lining up at 4:30 a.m. last year.

Despite protests, the board has made it clear it will move ahead with the new system, referred to by parents as a lottery. But the more than 100 concerned parents who attended an information session in Thornhill Tuesday, hosted by the York Region Parents for French Immersion Facebook group, won’t give up that easily. The group formed just two weeks ago and has more than 230 members. “We feel we haven’t been considered in the decision and we want to be heard by the board,” Woodlands See BOARD, page A12.

WHAT YOU CAN DO Visit facebook.com and search York Region Families for French immersion. Circulate a petition in your school and send it to 298 John St., P.O. Box 87532, Thornhill, ON, L3T 5W0. Write a letter to your school board trustee, MPP and Ontario’s education minister. Attend the Jan. 10 school board standing committee meeting.

Seniors ready for close-up CHATS pampers clients with glamour shots BY TERESA LATCHFORD

tlatchford@yrmg.com

Local seniors pumped up the glam for a photo shoot. Community Home Assistance to Seniors, an organization that strives to support the health and well-being of seniors and caregivers at home and in the community, hosted a glamour shots session for clients at the Holland Landing Community Centre. “It feels really good to be pampered once in a while,” Patricia

Redmond said. “I especially like getting my hair done.” CHATS members were treated to a session with a stylist from Forever Young Hair Studio and a make-up session with a local Mary Kay representative. Following the primping and pampering, all donated by the local businesses, each lady had a professional photograph shot. “They really enjoy being the centre of attention, a star for the day,” photographer Kim Dodge said. “It is amazing what a different person they become when See FEATHER, page A15.

AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT

Court wait times decline But critics say drop comes at cost of justice BY JOE FANTAUZZI

jfantauzzi@yrmg.com

The average time it took to deal with a criminal case at the Newmarket courthouse dropped last year to levels not seen in several years. While critics suggest the drop is the result of bargaining away cases

to demonstrate results for a court efficiency project launched in 2008, one legal expert said it is “senseless” to fully prosecute every case. Newmarket, as well as courthouses in Toronto’s north end and London, ON, were chosen as sites to launch the court efficiency program, called Justice on Target, which aims for a 30-per-cent reduction by 2012 across the province in the number of days and court appearances needed to complete a case. A York Region Media Group analysis of the time required to deal

with criminal cases in Newmarket specifically came on the heels of a report this week by the Ontario Auditor General Jim McCarter that said no significant progress has been made in Ontario since Justice on Target was launched. However, according to data from the Ministry of the Attorney General, it took an average of 202 days to resolve a case at the Newmarket courthouse in 2009 (the last year for which full-year data is available), See APPROACH, page A14.

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It took an average of 8.2 appearances to resolve a case at the Newmarket courthouse in 2009, according to Ontario’s Attorney General.

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Grassroots projects lead climate change BY AMANDA PERSICO

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World leaders are in a race against time with the soon-to-be expired Kyoto Protocol. Leaders are meeting in Cancun, Mexico this week to continue climate change discussions from last year’s Copenhagen negotiation session. And local activist and Windfall Ecology Centre executive director Brent Kopperson is there keeping one eye on the negotiations and the other on non-governmental organizations in developing countries.

‘Unfortunately, Canada has lost its stance as a world leader on climate change and is now a pariah among the international climate change community.’

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6 per cent of 1990 levels. While getting an agreeable target on the table is still a hot issue, Mr. Kopperson is looking to other municipalities and regions for step up and make their own commitments. “Our national government isn’t doing anything,” he said. “It’s the cities and municipalities that are. We don’t have a national strategy moving forward. It’s hard to be Canadian at these events.” Canada was one of the only countries to return from the Copenhagen debates last year and weaken its greenhouse gas targets, Mr. Kopperson said. Greenhouse gas emissions have increased by about 30 per cent of the 1990 level, he noted. But there is a shining bright light at the end of it all — community-based projects similar to Windfall’s Pukwis Community Wind Park and the REpower Ontario green sector training program, he said. “We’re looking for climate change solutions that work,” Mr. Kopperson said. “There is a lot more interest in community-based programs. We know all about that.” One of the projects with which Mr. Kopperson hopes other countries jump on board is Windfall’s REpower Haiti program, launched after the island’s electrical infrastructure was destroyed by an earthquake earlier this year. “We want to give really challenged countries an opportunity to leapfrog the industrialized stage and go straight into renewable energy and economy,” Mr. Kopperson said. “Haiti has to rebuild from the ground up. Going back to fossil fuels is unworkable.” There are other spots of hope as well, including China’s recent investment in renewable programs, Mr. Kopperson said. The goal is to reach an agreement. “But the political situation is different. It’s a race.” Mr. Kopperson has also served as an NGO adviser to the federal government at the United Nations climate change treaty negotiations.

Kopperson pushes community solutions at climate summit

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Seeing as Canada did not emerge from Copenhagen as a strong leader, Mr. Kopperson is in Mexico hoping to demonstrate the power of change that can be led by community-based programs. “Unfortunately, Canada has lost its stance as a world leader on climate change and is now a pariah among the international climate change community,” he said. “Windfall will be there to show there is good work being done despite our current government’s position.” While talks have continued between the involved nations, this is one of the last international meetings planned to discuss climate change targets prior to the 2012 end of the Kyoto Protocol, enacted in 2005. The protocol aims to combat global warming by stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Through it, industrialized nations committed to reducing production of greenhouse gases to about

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GOVERNMENT

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

The riding of Oak Ridges-Markham spans four municipalities and has more residents than Prince Edward Island.

York could be in line for more MPs BY DAVID FLEISCHER

dfleischer@yrmg.com

A federal bill that would likely see the addition of more MPs for York Region is moving forward, according to Thornhill MP Peter Kent. The government’s Bill C-12 would adjust the formula for distributing ridings across the country and despite several months lingering in legislative limbo, could be up for debate in the house as soon as next week, Mr. Kent said. “I think the 416 and certainly the 905 area, because of the growth and increased density, would benefit,” he said. “The inequities are enormous,” Oak Ridges-Markham Conservative MP Paul Calandra said. “I represent more people than (there are in) Prince Edward Island.” Though his riding spans parts of four municipalities, he admitted the urban issues in Markham tend to be where most of his resources are spent. The legislation would add 30 seats to the House of Commons, including 18 for Ontario. British Columbia would get

seven more and Alberta five, providing more accurate representation by population. Under the formula adopted in 1985, each of Canada’s territories receives one seat, leaving 305 of the current 308 seats for the rest of the country.

‘I represent more people than (there are in) Prince Edward Island.’ The 10 provinces’ population is divided by 305 to obtain a per-MP average by which the population of each province is divided. Thus, the average in Ontario is different from the average in Alberta. No province can lose seats and, thanks to a deal dating back to Confederation, Quebec holds 75 seats. Following the 2011 census, the formula in C-12 would divide each province’s population by an “electoral divisor” of 108,000. Depending how the lines get drawn, that would average out to nine ridings for York Region, cur-

BY THE NUMBERS 2006 riding populations: Thornhill 131,978 Richmond Hill 122,614 Markham-Unionville 127,191 Oak Ridges-Markham 169,642 Vaughan 154,206 Newmarket-Aurora 121,924 York-Simcoe 120,371 rently home to seven ridings. Between the 2001 and 2006 censuses, most of those ridings posted double-digit population increases. Richmond Hill saw its population climb 12 per cent, Newmarket-Aurora rose 15.1 per cent and Vaughan rose 37.6 per cent. Most Ontario ridings have populations between 100,000 and 120,000 but no York Region riding is within that range. Vaughan’s population of 154,000 and Oak Ridges-Markham’s 169,000

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make them the most populous ridings in the country and thus almost certain to see new MPs as borders are redrawn. “All the parties except the Bloc Quebecois realize it’s something that has to be done,” Mr. Kent said. But Richmond Hill Liberal MP Bryon Wilfert strongly believes a better investment would be in providing more assistance for current members rather than giving them another 30 expensive colleagues. “If I’m going to have more (constituents), I need better resources,” Mr. Wilfert said. At the same time, he said, each Parliamentary standing committee only has two researchers and a clerk and MPs generally don’t have the tools to provide the kind of oversight they should. While acknowledgingYork Region has seen a great deal of growth, he doesn’t think rural ridings should see their representation diluted. In the meantime, he finds his constituency office has become a de facto immigration office and point-ofentry for many residents’ issues. The country is already overgoverned, he said, and it would be

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far more cost-effective to improve what’s already there. Mr. Kent countered that increasing the number of MPs gives voters a greater opportunity to have their voices heard. “There’s always going to be a cost-benefit analysis, but I don’t see why Ontario would want to be underrepresented,” he said. “It’s the cost of democracy.” Mr. Calandra agreed, saying he is sympathetic to arguments more MPs means a greater drain on the budget. “I’m prepared to take the heat so people can get the representation they deserve,” he said. The bill was tabled in April without moving past first reading. The Globe and Mail reported last week the opposition parties had agreed with the government on plans to kill the bill, something the Conservatives quickly denied. The government establishes the formula but Elections Canada will draw the new riding boundaries. The law has to be passed by next year, Mr. Kent said, so they have time to do their work before the 2014 election.

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WELLNESS

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Report backs MP’s online plan BY SEAN PEARCE AND AMANDA PERSICO

spearce@yrmg.com, apersico@yrmg.com

Of the many facets of the Ontario Auditor General’s report, one issue hit home for residents on the organ donation waiting list. There are more than 1,600 Ontarians waiting for organ donations that could save their lives, said Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees, who tabled a resolution calling for an online organ and tissue registry in April and raised the issue again in legislature earlier this week. “That means, we’re lagging behind in donors and people are dying while they wait,” Mr. Klees said.

‘The opportunity to register online will significantly increase the number of potential donors and will save an untold number of lives.’ Ontario Auditor General Jim McCarter endorsed Mr. Klees’ recommendation in his annual report, stating the organ donor card carried by many Ontarians is virtually meaningless and does not constitute consent. “People think signing their donor card and putting it in their wallet is enough,” Mr. Klees said. “But you’re not registered. Sometimes, your family and physician don’t know of your intentions. Your good intentions could go to waste.” Along with the cards, there is also the option to pick up and fill out a donor registry form from Service Ontario offices. Since the form has to be mailed in, it still is not a sure way to maximize the number of donors, Mr. Klees said.

To read the full Auditor General’s report, visit auditor.on.ca “How many people look at the form and ignore it? How many people fill it out and never get around to mailing it?” he asked. “This is straightforward. We’re not reinventing the wheel. The government has to just make a decision to get this done.” According to the report, of the four million Ontario residents who still have the old red and white health cards, only 15,000 are registered organ donors — about 0.375 per cent. Meanwhile, about 27 per cent of residents with photo health cards are registered donors. Online donor registration is in place in eight other provinces, as well as most of the United States, Mr. Klees said. “Given Ontario’s dismal record of donor registrations compared to other jurisdictions, this should be a priority for the government,” he said. “The current system is not working. We live in an online age. The opportunity to register online will significantly increase the number of potential donors and will save an untold number of lives.” An online registration system would be a huge step forward as it would permit more people to volunteer without having to jump through quite so many hoops, Aurora resident Tanis Hargrave said. An online registry is something she and other advocates have requested for some time. “The process they have now is so confusing,” she said. Ms Hargrave knows too well what it’s like to watch a family member languish on the waiting list for an organ transplant. Her son, Dan, who lives with cystic fibrosis, underwent his second double-lung transplant earlier this year.

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COMMUNITY

The Banner/The Era

Aurora lights tree Monday at Town Hall

Festival of Lights kicks off tomorrow

You are invited to share in the magic of twinkling lights, live theatre and an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus at Monday’s sixth annual tree-lighting ceremony at the Aurora Town Hall courtyard from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The official lighting of the tree starts at 6:45 p.m. As the tree is ceremoniously lit, enjoy the traditional sounds of caroling by the Salvation Army brass band. The Salvation Army will also launch its Christmas tree tag program, through which you can purchase a tree ornament to hang on the Aurora tree in support of families in need. Children can help trim the tree with a favourite ornament from home or you can make one at the town hall. Following the tree-lighting ceremony, join Mrs. Claus at the Aurora Seniors Centre open house for gingerbread cookies and a reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. New this year is a live performance by the Canadian Children’s Theatre Company, featuring the life and story of Santa’s elves in The Christmas Toyshop in council chambers. There will also be complimentary Tim Hortons hot chocolate with a non-perishable food item for the Aurora Food Pantry.

The more lights, the more magical a tree. The annual Festival of Lights in Fairy Lake kicks off tomorrow and runs until the end of the month. For the past 10 years, Fairy Lake has twinkled with a variety of holiday scenes, including trees and castles. One of the highlights of the month-long light show is the large CD tree, which used to float of the lake. Now, more than 1,100 shimmering CDs float over the park. More than 10,000 residents walk through the park each December to be wowed by the annual light show, presented in partnership with the North Newmarket Lions Club. Children can also enjoy a ride on the Tim Hortons Express tomorrow to Dec. 20 and Dec. 27 to 30, weather permitting. Take a break from the cold night with free hot chocolate. New this year, the Lions Club will collect non-perishable food items for the Newmarket Food Pantry. The light display will shine nightly from 6 to 9 p.m.

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The Era/The Banner, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Established 1853

OPINION

THE ERA/THE BANNER

Editor in Chief Debora Kelly

www.yorkregion.com 580 Steven Crt., Newmarket, ON L3Y 4X1 250 Industrial Pkwy. N, Aurora, ON L4G 4C3

Business Manager Robert Lazurko

Publisher Ian Proudfoot

Director, Operations Barry Black Director, Regional Products Classifieds, Debra Weller

Director, Advertising, Distribution Gord Paolucci

EDITORIAL

Make sure your council hears your voice Debora Kelly

ISSUE: New councils provide clean slate for you to get involved in decisions that affect you.

We’re getting royally ripped off

ur communities are under new leadership for the next four years. New municipal politicians will be sworn in over the next several weeks as they take vows to lead their communities with honesty and integrity for the betterment of the citizens who voted them into office. These men and women are responsible for some of the most important decisions affecting our lifestyles, which will shape, over the next four years, how our neighbourhoods will look. That responsibility must also be shared by us. Citizens have to hold elected officials to their promises and keep them on their collective toes as they debate where and how our tax dollars are spent. Decisions or initiatives on the environment, transit, roads, growth and recreation are pivotal to a growing number of families who demand more bang for their tax buck. We need to be involved in the budget process and politicians need to make that process more user-friendly and more accessible to the public. For example, do you know how much your town/city pays its library staff each year? Would you be shocked to know it is likely more than $1 million, even for some of the smallest communities? This is just one area of the larger municipal structure and while literacy is a vital component to success, are we getting good return on our money the way it is being used in this area today? These are the kinds of questions we need to ask our councillors as they take on their budgets and set tax rates (hikes) for the next year. In Georgina, for example, so few people know about how their money is spread around, council is thinking of taking budget talks on the road or making the process more interactive on the town website. It’s a great idea and one that could have more impact and more results. But it doesn’t stop at the budget. While the faces on some municipal councils remain the same, others have a slate of new faces, such as in Vaughan and Aurora, where political rifts and personal battles plagued their former councils over the past four years. But whether or not your community’s government is new, journalists have heard throughout this election campaign people want change in the way the municipality operates. For example, in several of our larger, more urban centres, citizens are demanding politicians stop bickering and focus on issues that will improve their neighbourhoods. Vaughan is the perfect example. York Region’s only city has five new politicians, including a new mayor. More than half of the incumbents were turfed. With this new council, there seems to be a good mix of experienced and skilled politicians and civic-minded neophytes well-versed in community issues. There’s no doubt the people were fed up with the past four years and are seeking co-operation among this new group to take on issues such as gridlock, improved public transit and a better growth plan to stop urban sprawl into its outlying communities. And in Newmarket, while re-elected Mayor Tony Van Bynen says he is excited to welcome and work with new councillors, he heard throughout the campaign that residents have seen fit to vote for change, fresh thoughts and new ideas. A change of hands is being welcomed in Aurora as the last term was rife with infighting among councillors, as reported on these pages throughout the last term. While they did get work done, the impression was left that the squabbling stalled the town’s business, as many meetings were taken up with bickering, which even culminated in a pair of lawsuits.

BOTTOM LINE: You need to make your voice heard now, before final decisions are made.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Principals responsible for everything at school Re: Principal not responsible for students’ behavour, letter to the editor by Mark Lukic, Dec. 2. Mr. Lukic made some good points, until he said “Vigilance … crosses boundaries when people start demanding administrators be held personally responsible for the behaviour of every child in the school. Parents need to cool the rhetoric and understand that.” I’m not a parent, but my closest friend’s mildly autistic son suffered terrible bullying beginning in kindergarten. Year after year, regardless of her efforts, nothing was done to curb it. Now 12, in addition to autism, he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. Who is responsible? I believe the principal is responsible for everything that goes on in the school. If things happen that are beyond her scope to manage or solve, then outside help should be brought in. The parent of a child being constantly bullied becomes like a mother bear whose cub is threatened. Left unsolved, you’d better be prepared to deal with the full force of her outrage. Suggesting parents “cool down the rhetoric” is dead wrong. Evidence suggests thousands of children are at-risk in our schools today. Right or wrong, in previous eras, teachers had other forms of consequences at their disposal to deal with bad behaviour. Those options have been removed and teachers are left with few effective options to replace them. The evidence is clear the system is not working. Albert Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” So suggesting parents sit back and allow the system to work is insanity. They’ve been doing that and know it doesn’t work. This is a political problem and political change often requires a revolution. Parents need to not only keep up the pressure, but dial it up. Organize, create petitions, go to meetings, write to the media, call trustees and keep holding principals accountable because they are on the frontline.

LETTERS POLICY All submissions must be less than 400 words and include a daytime telephone number, name and address. The Era/ The Banner reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clarity and space. Write: Letters to the Editor, The Era/The Banner, Box 236, Newmarket, L3Y 4X1

People under constant pressure to change what they can’t change will then apply pressure to the next level.

JANET MATTHEWS AURORA

Protect victims, remove bullies from schools Re: Bullying prompts suspensions, Nov. 25. An open letter to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty: What are your plans to address bullying? I am a grandmother of a seven-year-old boy who was bullied in grades 1 and 2 in different schools and both matters were not handled appropriately by the schools or school board, despite our calls for action. I am seeking one person with the power to make changes to the current system to immediately make bullying victims safe. Remove bullies from schools. I may be incorrect, but my understanding on bullying is it is either a learned behaviour, often familial, has a physiological or psychological origin or it is a desperate plea for help or attention. That being said, the discovery and treatment of such should be completed while removed from the school system to best facilitate treatment and ensure the safety of other students. It also redirects the balance of responsibility to the parents of the bully, working with the school board and, if required, medical personnel, rather than where it currently rests, which is with the parents of the victim. As bullies are drawing attention to themselves via action, then bringing them to the forefront is key. Whatever the reasons for the behaviour, an apology and restitution to their peers, following treatment from outside the school, should start at a group assembly. Let’s get these kids back on

Agree? Disagree? Send your comments and letters to the editor to tmcfadden@yrmg.com or jbower@yrmg.com

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track with a promise to their peers. The more witnesses involved in the process, the better. We have a war going on. Bullies are real, whether in schools, playgrounds, buses or homes. Mr. McGuinty, we do more in schools to protect our children from peanut butter than we do from bullies. We ban peanut butter. When will you change your policy and put an end to bullying?

JANE WATERS NEWMARKET

Millions invested isn’t helping bullied students Re: Bullying prompts suspension, Nov. 25. I have been reading with interest the recent story relating to the Testoni family. I have communicated with this mother, who is now experiencing the same deep hurt and frustrations our family did about four years ago. While our children get to experience a good educational system, it’s very sad to realize prevention has not been built into the system. For the most part, I believe the York Region District School Board has a handle on good citizenship. At the same time, I also believe there is not one Ontario board that effectively deals with long-term aggressive situations. The strategies and policies our school boards have in place are not working for about 140,000 students in Ontario who are at the receiving end of long-term aggression. Every parent who contacts our York Region Anti-Bullying organization for assistance has been caught on a hamster wheel. They go from the teacher, to the vice-principal, to the principal, up to the superintendent and then right back down to the teacher again. They go to their school trustee and then, when nothing changes, they go to the media. I recently had a meeting with Ministry of Education representatives. It is mandatory for principals to receive training on the issue of bullying, but not for teachers. When I asked why, it came down to the fact it would cost too much money.

KAREN SEBBEN HOLLAND LANDING

EDITORIAL 905-853-8888 / 905-727-5178 ADVERTISING 905-853-8888 / Fax: 905-853-4626

Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member

o, what is working in Premier Dalton McGuinty’s government? What value are we getting for the taxes we pour into Ontario’s coffers? Auditor General Jim McCarter answered those questions this week in his annual report: Not much. He paints a grim picture of life in Ontario today. Despite out-of-control spending, we still wait hours to see a doctor. Promised new jobs are just that. Our colleges are crumbling and our schools struggle with bullies. Families are on welfare because deadbeat partners are allowed to skip out on support payments. And you’re likely living in a house that has been incorrectly assessed — if you’ve managed to hang on to it, that is, in the face of rising hydro costs, the HST and a struggling economy. The profligacy of the Liberal government has become epic with the addition of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation to the list of government entities renowned for their lack of accountability and sheer incompetence: eHealth Ontario, the LHINs, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and Niagara Parks Commission. Particularly worrisome is the indictment of our health care system, which accounts for the largest amount of our tax dollars at 40 per cent of the provincial budget. Mr. McCarter highlights an average wait of 10 hours in our emergency rooms, mostly because of a shortage of hospital and long-term care beds, even though an extra $200 million was poured into wait time reduction in the last two years alone. Annual reports earlier this year revealed the Central LHIN, which metes out funding to York Region’s hospitals and long-term care facilities, has failed to meet most wait time targets, while administrative costs rose 46 per cent since 2007. The auditor general further reported more than 50,000 patients stayed in Ontario hospitals longer than necessary because home care wasn’t available. In York, there are 261 long-term care beds per 1,000 residents, well below the provincial average of 313 — ample explanation of why our hospitals’ beds are clogged. Mr. McCarter points out the organ donor system is equally dysfunctional, with high-priority patients missing out on 40 per cent of donations. We didn’t need Mr. McCarter’s report to know things are a mess. We’re living his report. Last month, my neighbour’s 12year-old daughter was told she faced a three-month wait for an MRI of the knee she injured in competitive skating. Frustrated and worried, instead, they went to a clinic across the border, swallowing the $800 fee in the hope of speeding up treatment at home. The province tells us things are improving, slowly but surely, and it’s true our health care system can’t be fixed with a snap of a finger. But the absolute carelessness with which my money is being spent by the Liberal government — which has stretched my paycheque to the limit on top of everything else — leaves me feeling nothing but ripped off. But, wait, I’d be amiss in not giving credit where it’s due. The auditor general did have one good thing to say: the Liberals are great at regulating gambling in casinos. So, whether it’s at the slot machines or craps table, or through a plethora of taxes and fees on everything from cars to electronics and tires, the McGuinty government is great at taking our money. Yet it’s still not enough to run McGuinty’s Ontario — the country’s newest have-not province. The deficit tripled from $5.6-billion in 2003 to $18.7-billion in 2010-2011. I don’t know about you, but in my company, that kind of performance on the job gets you fired.

DISTRIBUTION 905-727-5178 / Fax: 905-727-2909 250 Industrial Pkwy. N., Aurora, ON L4G 4C3

THE ERA/THE BANNER York Region Media Group community newspapers The Era/The Banner, published every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, are divisions of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of 100 community publications across Ontario. The York Region Media Group includes The Liberal, serving Richmond Hill and Thornhill, Vaughan Citizen, Markham Economist & Sun, Stouffville Sun-Tribune, Georgina Advocate, North of the City, yorkregion.com and York Region Printing.

The Banner/The Era Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

BRING MONEY - MAKE AN OFFER! $5M INVENTORY TO BE SOLD

OPEN TODAY It Is The Thought That Counts ... Think Diamonds

TAXES INCLUDED

FANCY SHAPE DIAMONDS

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Princess or Emerald Cut Marquise, Pear, Oval, Radiant

This Is The Place To Spend Your Money Wisely SOLITAIRE PENDANTS

DIAMOND DROP PENDANTS

FANCY COLOUR DIAMONDS

SOLITAIRES • ENGAGEMENT

Many in 1.00ct to 2.00ct Sizes Solitaires • Dinner Rings • Right Hand Rings $ MAKE AN OFFER

Round, Princess Cut, Pear, Marquise White Gold or Yellow Gold From 0.25ct to Over 1.00ct Priced From $300 to $5,000+ $ MAKE AN OFFER

TENNIS BRACELETS DIAMOND STUDS

Over 500 Pairs In Stock

Shop In Person Only From $210 to $10,000+

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO LOWER OUR PRICES. YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY ... JUST MAKE US AN OFFER!

$5M INVENTORY TO BE SOLD!!! ALL REASONABLE OFFERS ACCEPTED The More You Buy • The More You’ll Save! Here are some examples of the thousands of bargains you will find in our showroom ...

14k Diamond Key Pendant Only: 14k Diamond Solitaire Platinum Princess Cut 14k Ruby Band $450 1.00cts, H Colour Centre E-F Colour 1.50cts tw Sale Price: Only: $2,925 Only: $5,400 Only: $450 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Make Offer 14k Diamond Journey Pendant Only: 18k Diamond Eternity 18k Diamond Solitaire $320 3.00cts tw 2.50cts, VS2 Sale Price: Only: $2,700 Only: $12,500 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Make Offer

Emerald Cut Diamond c- 1.55cts, VS2, 18k Only: $10,800 Sale Price: Make Offer

18k Diamond Band 18k Diamond Ring 1.25cts tw, F-G Colour c- 2.00cts, E-F Colour Only: $2,400 Only: $9,600 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Diamond Drop Earrings Only: $870 Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Aquamarine & Diamond Pendant a- 3.00cts Only: $450 Sale Price: Make Offer

All Appraised Jewellery Comes With Its Own Appraisal Certificate From An Independent Gemmologist 14k Pearl & Diamond Circle Pendant Only: $360 Sale Price: Make Offer

18k Diamond Ring c- 1.02cts, VVS2 Only: $4,950 Sale Price: Make Offer

Garnet & Diamond Circle Pendant Only: $225 Sale Price: Make Offer

Platinum Diamond Ring c- 1.13cts, H Colour Only: $3,900 Sale Price: Make Offer

Diamond Trinity Only: $1,200 Sale Price: Make Offer

On The First Day Of Shopping, Your True Love Came To Me

Marcus & Company

THIS IS NO ORDINARY WAREHOUSE SALE!!! C

The Banner/The Era Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

BRING MONEY - MAKE AN OFFER! Why Buy From Marcus ... About Marcus & Company Marcus & Company is now celebrating 17 years in business and 12 years in our Newmarket location. Over the years our buying philosophy has been simple and never wavered. Buy for less, to sell for less! We buy from other dealers and manufacturers … when they are in need of money. We buy what THEY need to sell at a price WE want to pay. We pay right away! Most of our wholesale purchasing is from the USA, and lately the buying has not only been Great, but the exchange rates have been very favourable! Our Estate Divsion has also had a record year of purchasing across Canada and this year our showroom will offer some unique items in our estate cases. We only buy bargains and we only offer bargains. About our “BRING MONEY - MAKE AN OFFER” Sale This year will be our 3rd Annual MAKE AN OFFER Sale. The process is very simple and straightforward. When you find that perfect piece in our showroom you have but two choices. Either pay the low price that is marked or make us a reasonable offer. During the last two Christmas seasons our clients who made fair and reasonable offers found the offers graciously accepted. They left with a bargain. After all they bought what they wanted at a price they wanted to pay! Can you think of a better sale than this? You have the right to value. About VALUE Marcus & Company has always tried to stand apart from the competition. Our wholesale business requires us to maintain a large inventory of QUALITY Diamond and Precious Stone Jewellery. We operate with our own inventory, and are not dependent on any third party for pricing. This gives us control and the ability to offer a great price in a straightforward manner. It also allows us to lower prices if required. We call it VALUE for you our customer. About LOWER PRICES Many retailers have inventory on MEMO or on consignment from manufacturers and suppliers. If they do not own their inventory, they are likely unable to offer lower prices if, for instance, you asked.

Getting Engaged? This Is The Time & This Is The Place To Buy A Diamond! • Go To The Mall To Browse ... Come Here To Buy! ETERNITY BANDS

ROUND SOLITAIRES

MAKE ME AN OFFER!

We accept cash, debit, visa, mastercard or amex

DIAMOND STUDS

ANNIVERSARY RINGS

Round or Princess Cut

Diamond Bands 3 Stone • 5 Stone Round or Princess Cut

TRINITY RINGS

EARRINGS

Round, Princess Cut Platinum, White or Yellow Gold

Diamond Hoops Past, Present & Future

Emerald Cut or Baguettes Yellow Gold • White Gold

1ct, 2ct, 3ct ... White Gold,Yellow Gold or Platinum Half Eternity or Full Eternity 0.50ct tw to 6.00cts tw Priced from $450 to $7,500 $ MAKE AN OFFER

Various Style Settings 0.50ct to Over 3.00cts Diamonds Priced from $1,125 to Over $100,000 $ MAKE AN OFFER

Straight Line • Various Styles Wide Range of Sizes and Prices $ MAKE AN OFFER

Over 500 Pairs In Stock Priced from $180 to Over $10,000 $ MAKE AN OFFER

Channel or Claw Set Priced from $300 to $7,500 Tell Her You Love Her ... MORE!

... im H Or

3 Stone Rings

Round Brilliant Cut Princess Cut Emerald Cut Diamonds $ MAKE AN OFFER

Diamond & Coloured Stone

Pierced, Omega Backs White Gold • Yellow Gold $ MAKE AN OFFER

All Appraised Jewellery Comes With Its Own Appraisal Certificate From An Independent Gemmologist • Taxes Included In All Jewellery Prices DIAMOND PENDANTS

ENGAGEMENT RINGS

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO LOWER OUR PRICES. YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY ... JUST MAKE US AN OFFER!

Yellow Gold or White Gold Diamond Necklace 14k • 18k • Platinum

Diamond Hearts • Diamond Cross Precious Stone & Diamond Priced from $150 to $3,000 $ MAKE AN OFFER

$5M INVENTORY TO BE SOLD!!! ALL REASONABLE OFFERS ACCEPTED

Great Selection Many Styles and Prices With or Without Bands $ MAKE AN OFFER

Need To Buy For More Than 1 Person? ... Buy 3, 4, 5 Items And Save Even More! TENNIS BRACELETS

You have the right to ask for a lower price. About SELLING!!! Marcus & Company owns ALL of our inventory outright. On one hand this is a blessing. On the other hand it forces us to be MOTIVATED TO SELL. We are motivated sellers. MAKE AN OFFER!!! If you are in the market for diamond jewellery, I would encourage you to come in and take advantage of this opportunity. We have a tremendous inventory, great prices, and yes GREAT VALUE! We are now open for the Holiday season every day until Christmas. Our Showroom will close Decembe 24th at 1:59pm and reopen January 11th. Whether you are looking for a special gift, something for yourself or a significant investment item - we have something for you. So come in and ask for me, Marcus!

DIAMOND TENNIS BRACELETS

DIAMOND RINGS

DIAMOND TENNIS BRACELETS

COLOUR STONE RINGS

PRECIOUS STONE RINGS

DANGLE EARRINGS

Ruby • Sapphire • Emerald Drop Earrings Pearl • Tanzanite & Diamond

Great Selection Many Styles and Prices Priced from $100 to $10,000+ $ MAKE AN OFFER

Many Styles of Diamond or Diamond and Coloured Stones Priced from $300 to $5,000+ $ MAKE AN OFFER

Even Lower Prices In Our Estate Selection ANTIQUE & ESTATE JEWELLERY • RINGS, BRACELETS, NECKLACES ...

Topaz • Garnet • Citrine Right Hand Rings

Precious Stone & Diamond

Ruby, Sapphire, Tanzanite, Emerald with Diamonds Wide Range of Sizes and Prices $ MAKE AN OFFER

Amethyst • Opal • Tourmaline

Left Hand Rings

Priced from $300 to $2,500+ $ MAKE AN OFFER

We Have BIG Diamond Tennis Bracelets Many in the 10.00ct tw Range Wide Range of Sizes and Prices $ MAKE AN OFFER

For Women Of All Ages Priced from Less than $100 to $1,500+ $ MAKE AN OFFER

Ladies, Help Make His Christmas Shopping Easier ... Circle What You Want And Leave This Flyer On His Pillow! Be A Friend ... Tell A Friend. If You Know Somebody With Diamonds In Their Future, Bring Them Along • All Reasonable Offers Will Be Accepted!

You Don’t Need A Reason To Buy Her Jewellery, But If You Want One ... Christmas Is Just Around The Corner! • Below Are Examples Of Some Of The Over 4,000 Items In Our Showroom

14k Diamond Wedding Set Centre G-H, VVS2 1.27cts tw Only: $4,200 Sale Price: Make Offer

Princess Cut Diamond Pendant Only: 14k Diamond Stud $1,500 Earrings 0.38cts tw Sale Price: Only: $330 Sale Price: Make Offer Make Offer

14k Diamond Riviera 18k Ruby & Diamond Necklace 11.20cts tw Ring 1.28cts tgw Only: $10,800 Only: $1,725 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Princess Cut Tennis Bracelet 4.50cts tw Only: $3,900 Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Diamond Pendant 0.50cts tw Platinum Diamond 14k Ruby & Diamond Only: $750 3.30cts tw Ring 1.16cts tgw Sale Price: Only: $19,500 Only: $825 Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Diamond Hoop Earrings 0.95cts tw Only: $600 Princess Cut Diamond Topaz & Diamond Ring Sale Price: Studs 0.39cts tw 1.15cts tgw Make Offer Only: $390 Only: $270 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Diamond Pendant 0.50cts tw Only: $600 Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Amethyst & Diamond Pendant a- 13.95cts Only: $1,050 Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Princess Cut Gent’s 18k Diamond Ring Sapphire Ring 1.32cts tw Only: $5,850 Only: $300 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

Princess Cut Diamond 18k Sapphire & Diamond • 3.15cts tgw Ring Centre F Colour 2.50cts tw Only: $3,900 Only: $2,400 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

If You Like Jewellery ... You’ll Like Marcus. If You Hate Paying Retail ... You’ll Love Marcus!

18k Diamond Eternity 18k Diamond Trinity 3.25cts tw 3.01cts tw Only: $4,500 Only $9,300 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Diamond Pendant 0.28cts tw Only: $480 Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Diamond Hoop Earrings 0.75cts tw 14k Diamond Ring 14k Tanzanite & Only: $600 0.81cts tw Diamond Earrings Sale Price: Only: $2,475 Only: $675 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Make Offer Quartz & Diamond Pendant Only: $210 14k Diamond Ring 18k Emerald Cut Trinity Sale Price: c- 2.07cts, E, VS1 2.04cts tw, VS Make Offer Only: $38,000 Only: $6,900 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

Gent’s 18k Diamond Ascher Cut Diamond Solitaire Ring Studs 2.00cts tw Only: $1,275 Only: $13,800 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Diamond Stud Sapphire & Diamond Earrings 0.88cts tw Ring 1.50cts tgw Only: $975 Only: $540 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Diamond Bangle 18k Princess Cut 2.75cts tw Diamond, c- 1.00cts, Only: $3,600 G Colour Only: $5,100 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Diamond Pendant 0.74cts Only: $2,700 Sale Price: Make Offer

Aquamarine & Diamond Earrings Only: $450 Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Diamond Hoop Earrings Only: $690 Sale Price: Make Offer

1131 GORHAM STREET #6, NEWMARKET • Open Now Until December 24th Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm • Saturday & Sunday 10am to 5pm • Showroom Closes December 24th at 2pm

A10

The Banner/The Era Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

BRING MONEY - MAKE AN OFFER! $5M INVENTORY TO BE SOLD Here Are Some Examples Of The Over 150 Diamonds Over 1.00 Carat In Stock That Need To Be Sold! Carat 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.13 1.13 1.16 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.25

Colour E F F G G J F-G G H I J K F G H D D E F H G-H E E G I G-H D E I H

Clarity VVS1 I1 VS2 I1 VS2 SI2 VVS2 VS2 VS2 SI2 VS2 SI2 SI1 SI2 VS2 SI1 SI1 I1 VVS2 VS2 VS1 VVS1 VS2 VS1 VS2 VS2 I1 VVS2 VVS2 I1

Here Are More Examples Of The Over 150 Diamonds Over 1.00 Carat In Stock That Need To Be Sold!

DIAMONDS ARE OUR BUSINESS We Also Have A Large Selection Of Diamonds Under 1.00 Carat To Choose From Round • Princess Cut • Marquise • Oval • Radiant • Cushion Cut • Pear Shape • Emerald Cut

Carat 1.25 1.25 1.31 1.47 1.50 1.53 1.54 1.55 1.62 1.69 1.70 1.77 1.78 1.81 1.88 2.00 2.01 2.03 2.04 2.07 2.10 2.20 2.27 2.30 2.30 2.46 2.70 3.00 3.18 3.64

When It Comes To Portable Wealth ... Nothing Compares To A Diamond!

Colour H J F H F G-H K H-I I K H-I I H-I F I E-F G G-H G E E I Fancy G-H L-M G H-I D H-I H

Clarity VS1 VS2 VVS2 SI1 VS2 I2 VVS1 VS2 VVS2 SI1 I1 VS1 I1 VVS2 VS2 I1 VS1 SI1 VS1 VS1 VS1 VS1 VS2 SI2 SI2 VS2 VS2 VS2 SI1 SI1

Shop In Person Only!

Diamonds Are Forever ... But This Sale Ends December 24th! Ladies Come In For Some Diamond Therapy!

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO LOWER OUR PRICES. YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY ... JUST MAKE US AN OFFER!

$5M INVENTORY TO BE SOLD!!! ALL REASONABLE OFFERS ACCEPTED 14k Diamond Pendant 2.06cts tw Centre F, VVS2 Only: $15,300 Sale Price: Make Offer 18k Diamond Hoop Earrings 2.50cts tw Only: $2,400 Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Amethyst & Diamond Heart Pendant Only: $600 Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Baguette Diamond 14k Emerald Cut Topaz 18k Diamond Necklace Aquamarine & Diamond 14k Emerald & Heart Pendant 49.75cts tw Ring 1.88cts tgw & Diamond Ring Diamond 1.80cts tgw Only: $390 Only: $525 Only: $38,800 Only: $450 Only: $1,080 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

14k Diamond Eternity Sapphire & Diamond Princess Cut Diamond 14k Diamond Ring 14k Princess Cut 4.55cts tw, F-G Colour Eternity 2.50cts tgw Tennis Bracelet 0.50cts tw Diamond 1.00cts Only: $6,300 Only: $1,200 9.79cts tw • Only: $10,800 Only: $450 Only: $3,600 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

Free Draw Coupon Gent’s Platinum 14k Diamond Stud 14k Ruby & Diamond Diamond Ring 1.02cts, Earrings 1.42cts tw Ring 2.00cts tgw VS2 • Only: $7,800 Only: $2,700 Only: $660 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

Over $2,000 in Prizes

14k Diamond Earrings Only: $720 Sale Price: Make Offer

Redeem this coupon for a ballot to enter our free Draw. 3 Weekly Prizes Valued at $350 each 1 Grand Prize Valued at $1,000 to Spend anyway you like at Marcus & Company

14k Sapphire & Peridot & Diamond 14k Diamond Band Diamond Earrings Ring 1.68cts tgw 1.00cts tw Only: $450 Only: $390 Only: $900 Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer Sale Price: Make Offer

Marcus & Company

No Purchase Necessary. Limit One Per Person Per Day. Odds Of Winning Depend On Number Of Elligible Entries Received. Skill Testing Question Required. Draws Weekly Starting 12/10/10 At 1:30pm. Contest Closes 12/24/10. See In Showroom For Details

Free Draw Coupon

Due to the nature of our Business there are many one of, or limited quanities of many items.

GET IN HERE

1131 GORHAM STREET #6, NEWMARKET (North of Mulock Dr., East of Leslie St.)

Open Now Until Dec. 24

Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm • (905) 895-5005 Saturday & Sunday 10am to 5pm • www.marcuscanada.com Open Christmas Eve Fri. Dec. 24th 10am to 2pm C

TSF121110

Hwy 404, Exit Mulock Dr. Less than 2 mins off the Hwy Only 20 minutes north of Hwy 401

www.marcuscanada.com

BEFORE IT’ S TOO LATE!

We are conveniently located in Newmarket. Just 20 minutes north of Hwy 401 ... Way South of the North Pole!

The Banner/The Era

WELLNESS

A11

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Nursing, bed shortages shoulder some of blame from page A1

pay for results and emergency department process improvement program, both of which Southlake recently became a part. The pay for results program provides incentives for hospitals to treat patients within provincially set guidelines — four hours for minor conditions and eight hours to be transferred to an in-patient bed in the hospital. Through the emergency department process program, Southlake receives hospitalto-hospital coaching to help review and create better emergency department policies. Southlake is also looking to improve its fast-track assessment and registration process and change its nurse and physician staffing patterns to better accommodate heavy emergency demand on certain days, such as weekends and holidays, Mr. Ryan said. Another initiative is to stagger nurse and physician start times within the emergency department. By doing an internal audit and analysing data, the hospital noticed an influx of patients to the emergency department

around 11 a.m. and the number of patients increase throughout the day until about 9 p.m., when numbers decrease. The goal is to be better prepared for the influx of patients and have them quickly assessed, Mr. Ryan said. “We want the patients to be ready for the doctor,” he said. “Quick hits. Assess one move on to the other. It should be bing, bing, bing, from one patient to the next.” But emergency department wait times are only part of the problem and result from the lack of in-patient beds in the hospital. If there are no beds available in the hospital, patients are waiting in the emergency department. “It all backs up in the emergency room and the waiting room,” he said. To limit emergency department wait times, there needs to be more funding for alternative care beds, Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees said. “The issue is not the emergency ward,” he said. “The issue is patients who are kept in acute care beds who should not be there.” Lengthy triage wait times could be attributed to several factors, including lack of triage

nurses on hand, a sudden influx of patients or triage documentation not completed correctly. Lack of triage nurses could be attributed to delayed funds from the government to hire specialty trained triage nurses or a sudden major trauma where it becomes an all-handson-deck situation in the emergency department, Mr. Ryan said. Southlake is also looking at how much documentation is needed at the triage process and if the amount of data could be reduced to lessen triage times. If it takes five minutes per patient to be triaged and 10 patients show up at the emergency department, the fourth and fifth patients are more than 20 minutes already, Mr. Ryan said. While addressing emergency wait times is a priority for the government, there hasn’t been significant provincewide progress, the report stated. And that starts at the very beginning when a patient walks into an emergency department to the time he is triaged, a priority-setting assessment by a triage nurse, admitted, treated and discharged.

While the report shed light on triage times, it also gave Southlake a starting point to better improve its emergency services. Earlier this spring, the emergency department at Southlake Regional Health Centre was one of three hospitals audited, along with Hamilton and Scarborough general hospitals, to review hospital policies and procedures regarding patient wait times. Electronic surveys were sent to 40 other hospitals as well as 14 ambulance Emergency Medical Service providers to complete the Auditor General’s report.

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YORK REGION

ANNOUNCEMENT

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Send us your best water-themed photograph – be as creative or artistic as possible and you could win $400 in water-saving home retro ts and have your picture featured on the openwater.ca website. The contest runs until January 1, 2011. Visit openwater.ca for full contest details. The Regional Municipality of York is looking to you to shape how we think about, interact with, protect and use water. Help build our openwater.ca website by contributing your thoughts, pictures and ideas about our water future. Opinions collected could be used towards York Region’s Long Term Water Conservation Strategy. The goal of this strategy is to develop a 40-year plan dedicated to conserving and preserving our water resources.

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Around 700 careers seekers interested in skilled trades in construction attended the Building and Construction Trades Showcase on Saturday, November 27 in Markham hosted by the Workforce Planning Board of York Region and Bradford West Gwillimbury. Thank you to our sponsors for prize donations:

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A12

The Banner/The Era

LEARNING

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Board won’t displace non-immersion students from page A1

Public School parent Jenni Tovich said before the meeting began. “We are going to show the board parents care.” Parents were caught off guard when the change to registration was announced in a media release posted on the board’s website Dec. 1, Ms Tovich said. She and other parents are displeased with the lack of consultation in the decision. However, the procedural change is a staff responsibility that doesn’t require a trustee vote or public input opportunities. Ms Tovich and her husband, Derick, have one child in the French immersion program and another to be enroled for September. As with other parents at the event, the online registration has left them with many questions about busing, having siblings in different schools, which school will house the overflow and why the board hasn’t come up with a permanent solution. “We haven’t even been given a guarantee on busing,” Mr. Tovich

said. “The logistics are still up in the air. If we had more spots, this wouldn’t be an issue.” Tuesday, Brad Dever a parent of a Sir Wilfrid Laurier Public School student in Markham, asked how it makes more sense for the board to send three different buses to his house to take his three children to different schools rather than creating temporary Grade 1 classrooms. The board has a policy protecting siblings, but since French immersion is considered an optional program it doesn’t apply, fellow Laurier parent Wanda Lee said. “They keep telling us it is like the sports or arts schools in the region, but you don’t have to audition or have a talent to learn at a French immersion school.” Parents concerned about the shortage of Grade 1 French immersion spaces at Lester B. Pearson Public School in Aurora had a similar meeting in November to discuss the board’s secondary option to make Devins Drive Public School a satellite school for Grade 1 French immersion students. Now, those students

are enroled at Newmarket’s Mazo de la Roche Public School. Parents of the overflow students will be able to vote on the option when online registration is completed. But parents of children at other York schools have not been given the opportunity to hash out an alternate solution.

‘Granting priority for those who have siblings in the school is discriminatory and is unacceptable in any standard of equity.’ A petition will be presented to trustees Jan. 10. Parents are also being encouraged to write letters to their trustees, board administrators, York Region MPPs and Ontario Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky. The board, however, defends online registration. “We need to have a level play-

ing field and some don’t have the ability to line up to register their children,” spokesperson Ross Virgo said. “Granting priority for those who have siblings in the school is discriminatory and is unacceptable in any standard of equity.” The board has heard from many parents on the issue, he said. The immersion program is an optional program, just like gifted programs, he said, suggesting French immersion schools aren’t necessarily the closest schools to a student’s home. “The reality is other students are bused to school every day and other siblings are split in schools across the region,” Mr. Virgo added. The board did explore adding temporary classrooms, however, there are many considerations to take into account, including the limitations of the school property, impact on the playing field and terrain issues, he added. It was a solution that didn’t make it, much like the suggestion from parents to change nearby schools to French immersion.

“We are not willing to displace students who aren’t in the French immersion program,” Mr. Virgo said. “It would be doing the same thing to other families but to a home school, not an optional program.” Although there is a lack of space to meet demand in a few French immersion schools, there is plenty of room at other schools offering the program. A student not selected for one of the spots at her school of choice will be bused to an overflow school that has the capacity to accommodate her, he said. “That is how we deploy our resources,” Mr. Virgo continued, noting there is an overall decline in enrolment, except for the French immersion program. The reason for the influx in enrolments for Grade 1 is there are six to eight schools feeding into each immersion school as well as students transferring from private schools. Students who have been bused to overflow schools have been migrated back to the home immersion school for Grade 2, with the exception of Woodlands Public School, due to the fact many stu-

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The Banner/The Era

GROWTH

A13

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Upgrading apartment towers could create community hubs BY DAVID FLEISCHER

dfleischer@yrmg.com

The GTA has a unique opportunity to turn its apartment buildings into vibrant community hubs, a new report argues. “What we’re really trying to do is make these buildings part of the conversation,” said Graeme Stewart, co-author of Tower Neighbourhood Renewal in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Prepared as a background document for the province, the report shows the GTA is unique, with high-rise apartment buildings distributed not only downtown, but across the suburbs. Across the region, more than one million people live in such buildings and while the vast majority of towers — nearly 1,200 — are in Toronto, York Region has 22, mostly along Yonge Street through Thornhill and in Newmarket, as well as a small cluster in Markham. The same number can be found in Peterborough, but Halton Region has about four times as many and Peel Region has 10 times as many apartments. You might assume related social issues are only urban in nature, but the need is even more pronounced in the suburbs where buildings are more likely to have populations of recent immigrants and be farther from public transit, Mr. Stewart said. The report was issued by the Centre for Urban Growth and Renewal, a joint venture

of ERA Architects and planningAlliance. Though Statistics Canada defines a highrise as anything taller than five stories, the authors restricted themselves to buildings eight stories and higher, built during the post-war boom of 1945 to 1984. While apartments provide an important source of affordable housing, few new ones are being built and even the youngest are now more than a quarter-century old.

‘Grey, sad neighbourhoods can turn into vibrant, mixed-use places.’ Most are surrounded by empty land, often in a clustered neighbourhood, and are not energy efficient. The good news, Mr. Stewart said, is intensification along transit corridors, addressing social needs and building greener communities are all things that dovetail with the government’s ideals. A key challenge, however, is buildings are largely privately owned by an array of interests. A prime opportunity exists to make this reinvestment about more than just bringing individual buildings into a state of good repair, the report said, noting tower neighbourhood renewal can bring together refurbishment of individual buildings with a pro-

gram for environmental, social and economic renewal of entire neighbourhoods. What owners need to see is there will be a return on their investment, said Paul Smith, chief administrative officer of DMS Property Management. The Tridel subsidiary manages more than 50 GTA properties, including a cluster of buildings near Yonge Street and Clark Avenue in Thornhill. That return could take the form of more marketable units or energy savings and owners are aware our rental stock is aging, Mr. Smith said. Just like you know when its time to reshingle your roof or invest in new windows, apartment buildings also require inevitable, regular repairs. If owners see the potential in new technology, they will take advantage, Mr. Smith said. Potentially beneficial improvements include everything from exterior recladding and turning balconies into enclosed solariums to improving waste management systems. Refurbishing a building can cost $25,000 to $45,000 per unit and while Ontario is cash-

strapped, European governments offered owners low-interest loans to get the ball rolling. With interest rates here already low, that is one incentive not likely to be of use, Mr. Smith said. Mixed-use development — often in the form of condominiums with retail and offices on lower floors — is all the rage now. But most apartments were built with zoning restrictions that prevented those sorts of uses and left potentially valuable surrounding land undeveloped. Loosening up those rules could provide a win-win for developers who will reap the benefits after improving their sites, Mr. Stewart said. “Grey, sad neighbourhoods can turn into vibrant, mixed-use places,” he said. It’s an interesting opportunity for adding density, Mr. Smith agreed. “Building owners are always looking for help in finding those good ideas and incentives,” he said. Delaying the inevitable need for rejuvenation would lead to more expensive fixes down the road, Mr. Smith and Mr. Stewart noted.

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A14

JUSTICE

The Banner/The Era

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Approach working, Attorney General says

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the fewest since 2007. Meanwhile it took an average of 8.2 court appearances to finish a case in Newmarket, the fewest since 2004 and a 12-per-cent drop since 2008, when Justice on Target began. There were 31,747 criminal charges received at the Newmarket courthouse in 2009, more than in any year in the past decade, ministry data shows. The indication from the Justice on Target sites is the approach works, Attorney General Chris Bentley said in an interview yesterday. Charges for offences, including assault, impaired driving, uttering death threats and drug trafficking, have dropped during the past two years at the Newmarket courthouse after judges ruled delays violated the rights of accused people to be tried in a reasonable amount of time. But Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees said he has been told by Newmarket-area lawyers that whatever gains are being made at the local courthouse are the result of plea bargains. And that needs scrutiny, he said, questioning if people are not being held to account in the name of demonstrating efficiencies. He stressed he is not calling into question the integrity of Crown prosecutors assigned to the cases. “What I’m being told is there is a rush here to ensure these caseloads are dealt with,” Mr. Klees said. Mr. Bentley, who said only a small percentage of cases end up going to a full trial, rejected the idea plea bargains are being made in the interest of simply showing Justice on Target works. “The direction is no cutting cor-

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ners,” he said. “No resolutions you wouldn’t otherwise make.” Criminal lawyer Edward Prutschi said Newmarket, which serves all of York Region, has done a better job than most jurisdictions in addressing its backlog. He said he would agree the success of Justice on Target is tied to plea bargaining, but wouldn’t call that a criticism. “Intelligent allocation of scarce judicial resources has got to be at the forefront of a fair and efficient system,” Mr. Prutschi said. “It is both impossible and senseless to prosecute every single case to the fullest extent of the law.” Courthouses should place senior Crowns at the forefront of case screening with a mandate to make “generous offers where appropriate”, he said, adding that would free up resources to strongly prosecute the most serious offences. Trying to fix the backlog of criminal court cases across the province has been similar to “stopping and turning an iceberg around”, Mr. Bentley admitted. He stressed what the ministry has asked for is an honest, accurate assessment of cases. “It’s not about the stats, it’s about the better use of resources,” he said. Mr. Bentley acknowledged while his office wants a 30-per-cent reduction in the provincial average for court case wait times by 2012, some individual courthouses will exceed the average and some won’t. But, Mr. Klees said he believes the province is under-funding justice infrastructure and takes no comfort from the slight statistical declines. “There’s a great gap in the intended outcome and outcome itself,” he said.

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The Banner/The Era

PEOPLE

A15

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT

Bella Newsham is ready for her close-up with Kim Dodge of Kim Dodge Photography. CHATS clients were treated to make-overs and glamour photos at the Holland Landing Community Centre last week.

Feather boas change models For more information on CHATS programs, visit chats.on.ca

From page A1.

you put a feather boa in their hands.” Bella Newsham enjoyed the experience, adding it was nice to be in the spotlight, even if only for a day. She also appreciates having her hair and make-up done since she doesn’t have the funds to do it on a regular basis herself. The glamour shot event attracted CHATS clients from across the northern part of the region and was organized as part of the organization’s regular wellness program, CHATS outreach co-ordinator Deborah Greeley said. “This is so good for their confidence and self-esteem,” she added. “It makes them feel special and it’s nice to see the community give back.” The event was a hit last year with many

participants liking the photos so much, some made copies to give to their families and at least one put it on her Christmas card. The CHATS wellness program is hosted every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help those who may not otherwise be able to get out and socialize. The program consists of a healthy snack, tea and coffee, a half hour of physical activity focusing on a specific aspect, such as balance, and an activity, such as bingo or a bean bag tournament. “They are very competitive and it is so much fun for everyone,” she said. “They also love to learn, so we do health and wellness workshops as well.”

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BEST SHOPPING

READERS’ CHOICE

AWARDS

010

WIN $250 IN GIFT CERTIFICATES Every entry will have a chance to win $200 in Gift Certiﬁcates to Upper Canada Mall.

Antique Store ___________________________________________ Appliance Store _________________________________________ Art Dealer ______________________________________________ Auto Parts Store _________________________________________ Baby Fashions __________________________________________ Bakery Shop ____________________________________________ Bath Store ______________________________________________ Bedding Store ___________________________________________ Bicycle Shop ____________________________________________ Boat Sales ______________________________________________ Book Store ______________________________________________ Bridal Shop _____________________________________________ Bulk Food Store _________________________________________ Butcher Shop ___________________________________________ Camera Shop ___________________________________________ Camping Equipment Store_________________________________ Cellular Phone Centre ____________________________________ Children’s Clothing Store _________________________________ Chocolate/Candy Store ___________________________________ Computer Store _________________________________________ Consignment Shop ______________________________________ Craft Store ______________________________________________ Department Store ________________________________________ Discount Store __________________________________________ Dollar Store _____________________________________________ Drug Store ______________________________________________ Educational Supplies _____________________________________ Electronic Entertainment Store_____________________________ Fabric Store _____________________________________________ Fireplace Store __________________________________________ Fitness Equipment _______________________________________ Florist Shop _____________________________________________ Formal Wear Shop _______________________________________ Fresh Fruit & Vegetables __________________________________ Frozen Food Store _______________________________________ Furniture Store __________________________________________ Gardening Store _________________________________________ Gift Shop _______________________________________________ Glass & Mirror Store ______________________________________ Golf Store _______________________________________________ Grocery Store ___________________________________________ Hardware Store __________________________________________ Health & Beauty Products_________________________________ Health Food Store _______________________________________ Hobby / Collectable Store _________________________________ Home Theatre Store ______________________________________ Home Improvement Store _________________________________ Home Decorating/Accessories ____________________________ Home Medical Supplies __________________________________ Jewelry Store____________________________________________ Kitchen Store____________________________________________ Ladies’ Wear Shop _______________________________________ Lighting Centre __________________________________________ Lingerie Store ___________________________________________ Local Outdoor Shopping Plaza ____________________________ Mattress Store ___________________________________________ Men’s Store _____________________________________________ Movie Rental ____________________________________________ Music Store _____________________________________________ Musical Instrument Store _________________________________ Ofﬁce Furniture Store_____________________________________ Ofﬁce Supplies Store _____________________________________ Optical Store ____________________________________________ Organic Food Store ______________________________________ Outdoor Shopping Plaza _________________________________ Paint & Wallpaper Store __________________________________ Party Supplies Store _____________________________________ Pet Store _______________________________________________ Pet Food Supplies Store __________________________________ Pool & Spa Company ____________________________________ Picture Framing Store ____________________________________ Recreational Vehicle Dealer _______________________________ Shoe Store (Children) ____________________________________ Shoe Store (Adult) _______________________________________ Sporting Goods Store ____________________________________ Specialty Grocery Store __________________________________ Tailor Shop ______________________________________________

Tire Store _______________________________________________ Toy Store _______________________________________________ Used Book Store ________________________________________ Vacuum Store ___________________________________________ Wool/Knit Store __________________________________________ Window & Door Company_________________________________ Window Coverings Store__________________________________ Water Supplier __________________________________________

BEST BUSINESS SERVICE/ SERVICE PEOPLE

Must supply name, company & phone number Accounting Firm _________________________________________ Auto Service ____________________________________________ Auto Body Shop _________________________________________ Bank/Trust Company _____________________________________ Banquet Facility _________________________________________ Brew Your Own Wine _____________________________________ Business School _________________________________________ Carpet/Upholstery Cleaner_________________________________ Car Wash _______________________________________________ Car Rental ______________________________________________ Catering Company _______________________________________ Children Tutorial Education_________________________________ Courier _________________________________________________ Computer Repair ________________________________________ Dance Studio ___________________________________________ Day Care _______________________________________________ Day Camp ______________________________________________ Driving School___________________________________________ Dry Cleaner _____________________________________________ Employment Agency _____________________________________ Fitness Club ____________________________________________ Flooring ________________________________________________ Funeral Home ___________________________________________ Gas Station _____________________________________________ Gymnastics Club ________________________________________ Hair Salon ______________________________________________ Heating & Air Conditioning_________________________________ Housecleaning Company _________________________________ Hotel/Motel _____________________________________________ Insurance Company _____________________________________ Int. Decorator/Designer_____________________Phone________ Investment/Financial Company ___________________________ Local Business Web Site _________________________________ Landscape Company ____________________________________ Laser Hair Removal ______________________________________ Laundromat _____________________________________________ Lawn Service____________________________________________ Limo Service ____________________________________________ Manicure/Pedicure _______________________________________ Martial Arts Club_________________________________________ Modeling School_________________________________________ Montessori School _______________________________________ Moving _________________________________________________ Mufﬂer Shop ____________________________________________ Music Instruction ________________________________________ New Car Dealership______________________________________ Newspaper _____________________________________________ Oil/Lube Change ________________________________________ Pet Groomer ____________________________________________ Pet Boarding ____________________________________________ Pet Training _____________________________________________ Photography Studio ______________________________________ Plumbing Company ______________________________________ Pool/Supplies Company __________________________________ Print Shop ______________________________________________ Private School ___________________________________________ Retirement Home ________________________________________ Rooﬁng Company _______________________________________ Shoe Repair_____________________________________________ Spa/Esthetics Company __________________________________ Storage_________________________________________________ Tanning Salon ___________________________________________ Taxi Service _____________________________________________ Transmission Shop _______________________________________

Simply print your choices beside as many selections as you wish (minimum 25) and mail or deliver the entire entry form to us by December 21, 2010. or

NOMINATE ONLINE @ WWW.YORKREGION.COM and in the site index scroll down to “Readers’ Choice”.

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BEST BUSINESS SERVICE/ SERVICE PEOPLE cont’d Travel Agency ___________________________________________ Used Car Dealership _____________________________________ Weight Loss Clinic _______________________________________ Veterinarian __________ _____________________Phone________ Accountant __________ _____________________Phone________ Barber ______________ _____________________Phone________ Financial Planner _____ _____________________Phone________ Hairstylist ____________ _____________________Phone________ Insurance Agent ______ _____________________Phone________ Lawyer ______________ _____________________Phone________ New Car Sales Person _____________________Phone________ Used Car Sales Person _____________________Phone________

BEST PLACES FOR FOOD & DRINK All-Around Restaurant ___________________________________ Breakfast _______________________________________________ Brunch _________________________________________________ Casual Dining ___________________________________________ Chicken ________________________________________________ Chicken Wings __________________________________________ Chinese Restaurant ______________________________________ Coffee __________________________________________________ Doughnuts ______________________________________________ East Indian Restaurant ___________________________________ Fast Food _______________________________________________ Fine Dining _____________________________________________ Fish & Chips ____________________________________________ Greek Restaurant ________________________________________ Hamburger _____________________________________________ Ice Cream ______________________________________________ Italian Restaurant ________________________________________ Japanese Restaurant_____________________________________ Outdoor Patio ___________________________________________ Pasta___________________________________________________ Pub ____________________________________________________ Pizza ___________________________________________________ Restaurant Atmosphere __________________________________ Salad __________________________________________________ Seafood Restaurant ______________________________________ Steak___________________________________________________ Sports Bar ______________________________________________ Sushi ___________________________________________________ Thai Restaurant__________________________________________

BEST ENTERTAINMENT Billiards/Pool Hall ________________________________________ Bingo Hall ______________________________________________ Bowling ________________________________________________ Children’s Entertainment __________________________________ Driving Range ___________________________________________ Entertainment/Theatre ____________________________________ Live Theatre_____________________________________________ Local Golf Course _______________________________________ Location for Live Entertainment ____________________________ Mini Putt _______________________________________________

BEST HEALTH SERVICES PEOPLE Must supply name, company & phone number

Chiropractor _________ _____________________Phone________ Dentist ______________ _____________________Phone________ Dental Hygienist ______ _____________________Phone________ Esthetician ___________ _____________________Phone________ Foot Specialist _______ _____________________Phone________ Homeopathic Medicine_____________________Phone________ Hearing Centre _______ _____________________Phone________ Hypnotherapist _______ _____________________Phone________ Massage Therapist ___ _____________________Phone________ Optician _____________ _____________________Phone________ Pharmacist __________ _____________________Phone________ Physiotherapist _______ _____________________Phone________ Reﬂexologist _________ _____________________Phone________ Walk-in Clinic ________ _____________________Phone________

1) PRINT your choice beside as many selections as you wish (min. 25) 2) Fill out your name and address below. 3) Drop off or mail THE ENTIRE FORM to The Era and The Banner by December 21, 2009.

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_____________________________________________________________________________ Postal Code: ___________________________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________________________________________ C/O Readers’ Choice The Era and The Banner 580 B Steven Court, Newmarket, ON L3Y 4X1

CONTEST RULES: No purchase necessary. Contest open to Ontario Residents 18 years of age or older. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. One (1) grand prize will be awarded. Approximate retail value of the grand prize is $200.00. Entrants must correctly answer, unaided, a mathematical skill-testing question to be declared a winner. Contest closes December 21, 2010 at 5pm. To enter and for complete contest rules visit The Era and The Banner ofﬁce at 580 B Steven Court, Newmarket or visit www.yorkregion.com

A16

The Banner/The Era Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

INDIAN RIVER DIRECT CITRUS TRUCKLOAD SALE TUES. DEC. 14 1pm-3pm

Newmarket Lions Club Charity Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament Friday, December 17, 2010 Registration at 5:00pm, tournament starts at 7:00pm Ray Twinney Centre, Lounge 1 $40 buy in (all buy-in goes to prize pool) Prizes to the top 10% of players (To a maximum 10 players.) Complimentary Dinner Starting at 6:oo PM Unlimited buy-ins during ﬁrst 3 levels and add-on available at the end of the third level

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PLANET WAVES PWGRA10 10 Ft. Custom Pro Instrument Cable Reg.$29.29

19999

SQUIER AFFINITY STRAT & FRONTMAN 15G Metallic Red, Blue or Black Includes: Fender Squier Afﬁnity Stratocaster Guitar, Fender Frontman 15G, Instrument Cable, Electronic Guitar Tuner, Instructional DVD, Gig Bag, Guitar Strap, Pick Sampler, Stereo Headphones

HOT deal

269

SQUIER BULLET STRATOCASTER ELECTRIC GUITAR Sunburst, Black, Red, Blue, Pink or White HOT deal

STANDARD STRATOCASTERS Assorted Colours

G-400 SG STANDARD Wine Red or Black Electric Guitar

129

36499

LES PAUL STUDIO LPST1

RG350MDX Electric Guitar Reg.$399

529

Sale

Sunburst $549

LES PAUL 100 Electric Guitar Black or Sunburst

With Case Assorted Colours

299

1299

HOT deal

119

RUMBLE 75 1x12 75 Watt Bass Ampliﬁer

309

259

RUMBLE 15 Bass Practice Ampliﬁer

109

CD60 DG8S SQUIER SA100 ACOUSTIC FA130 ACOUSTIC/ELECTRIC GUITAR AND ACOUSTIC GUITAR ACOUSTIC GUITAR PACK GUITAR PACK SA10 AMPLIFIER PACKAGE with Hardshell Case Includes: Solid Spruce Top Guitar, Gig Bag, Includes: Squier Acoustic Includes: FA-130 6-String Guitar, Fender Sa-10 Chromatic Electronic Tuner, Instructional Guitar, Gig Bag, Pitch Pipe, Acoustic Guitar Ampliﬁer, Gig Bag, Guitar Cable, Strap, Black, Natural or Sunburst $ Picks and Instruction Book Instructional DVD, Strings, Picks and String Winder DVD, Strings, Picks and Strap HOT deal $ $ $ 99 HOT deal HOT deal HOT deal

234

109

CD60CE ACOUSTIC GUITAR with Hardshell Case Black, Natural or Sunburst

199

219

F310 ACOUSTIC GUITAR

26499

Sale

SUPER HOT deal

20999

119

MUSTANG II 40 Watt Modeling Guitar Ampliﬁer

219

RUMBLE 150 Bass Ampliﬁer

349

299

FM-100 MANDOLIN PACK includes: Fender Mandolin, Gig Bag, Strings, Tuner, Picks, and Instructional Book

SQUIER AFFINITY P-Bass or Jazz Bass

HOT deal

S6 CEDAR SOLID TOP FACTORY 2ND Reg.$350

149

MUSTANG I 20 Watt Modeling Guitar Ampliﬁer

MG30FX 30 WATT Guitar Ampliﬁer with Digital Effects

229

SPIDER IV 75 Modeling Ampliﬁer HOT deal

339

19999

FB300 BANJO PACK includes: Fender 5 String Banjo, Gig Bag, Strings, Tuner, Picks and Instructional Book SQUIER BASS PACKAGE Includes: Afﬁnity Precision Bass®, Rumble 15 Bass Amp, Cable, Tuner, Gig Bag, Strap, Stereo Headphones and Instructional DVD HOT deal

SUPER HOT deal

MAHALO UKULELE with Bag

SQUIER MA-1

3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar

31999

29 99

Reg.$130

Sale RBX170 BASS GUITAR Assorted Colours

229

9999

STANDARD P-BASS Assorted Colours HOT deal

599

RP55 MULTI EFFECTS PEDAL

E-PACK E835 Mic, Stand, Cable and Clip

P95B 88 WEIGHTED KEY DIGITAL PIANO

28499

YDP-141 DIGITAL

129

PIANO WITH STAND

66999

with Power Supply

PSRE323 TOUCH SENSITIVE

KEYBOARD with Power Supply HOT deal

19499

DGX530 PORTABLE GRAND 88 Keys Includes Stand, Pedal and Power Supply

7599

PSRE423 Touch Sensitive Keyboard with Power Supply

599

29499

H1 PORTABLE DIGITAL RECORDER

HOT deal

HALF STACK Reg.$659

Sale

11499

599

D70W DRUM STOOL Reg.$74.99

1149

MG100HD/MG412A

TA-15 TRANSATLANTIC Lunch Box Amp and Lonestar19 1x12 Cabinet Package Reg.$1370

Sale

1199

HOT ROD DELUXE III All Tube Guitar Ampliﬁer

769

5899

BC900 CYMBAL BOOM STAND Reg.$89.99

Sale

MEINL MCS16CH CYMBAL PACKAGE 14"Hats, 16"Crash, 20"Ride with Free 16"China Reg.$329

Sale

279

7999

DTXPLORER DIGITAL DRUM KIT HOT deal

www.theartsmusicstore.com

274 Eagle St., Newmarket 905.898.7164

Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. C

CB PERCUSSION 5 PIECE DRUM KIT with Cymbals & Stool Reg.$430

$ Sale

399

TARGET “READY SET GO” 5 PIECE DRUM KIT with Cymbals and Stool: Black, Blue or Wine Red Reg.$599

$ Sale

549

FORUM FZ725S 5 PIECE DRUM KIT WITH CYMBALS and Stool, Assorted Colours HOT deal

789

699