Learning Discovering Achieving U
U U U U
A co-ed camp for youth aged 10-16 with learning and behavioral needs Camper staff ratio 2:1 4 or 8 week sessions available $3,500 per 4-week session Contact Pauline Williams 416-368-4896 x 2694
Camp Magnetawan www.campmagnetawan.com
Youthdale
MY OFFICE HAS MOVED 9401 Jane Street Unit 115 Vaughan, ON L6A 4H7 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday to Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Saturday Phone: 905 303 5000 Fax: 905 303 5002 Email: fantij@parl.gc.ca
Looking forward to serving you.
Julian Fantino
MP for Vaughan
www.resultsforvaughan.ca VAUGHAN ToDAY MARCH 2011
francis crescia/vaughan today
VAUGHAN VIPERS hockey cards contain community-positive messages.
It’s in the cards By Tristan Carter
J
ason Fortier demands a lot from his team. But these days it’s okay if his players are a little flat. Vaughan Vipers junior hockey team and York Regional Police have teamed up again this year to produce and distribute a series of hockey cards that feature community-positive messages and police photos along with the usual player photos. Head coach Fortier says he’s happy with the way his players have worked with their new teammates. “I think the Vaughan Vipers and the York Region Police have done a great job,” he said, shortly after the Vipers card pack was unveiled at Al Palladini Community Centre. “There’s been a lot of communication back and forth and we’re always willing to help with any ideas that they have if they’d like to get the message out to some of the hockey fans.” Head shots of Vaughan players appear on one side of the cards, with photos of various police detachments, like the K-9 or marine units, on the reverse. Slogans such as “Always swim with a buddy” and “To get respect you must give it” are imprinted on both sides. The program, which started with Newmarket Hurricanes in 2008, sees cards given out to fans at home games. Seven other teams in the Ontario Junior A Hockey League also receive cards to give away to their fans. The cards for this year’s Vipers team were unveiled on Jan. 24, prior to a game against Toronto Canadians at Al Palladini Community Centre. New police chief Eric Joliffe dropped the puck for the ceremonial face-off. Constable Johnny Campuzano was on hand, along with Morris the Moose, one of the York Regional Police mascots. “This initiative is a positive way to continue building relationships with our community members and at the same time recognizing those teams and players who are being positive role models in our community.” Campuzano said afterward. The response from the community has been so positive in seasons past that the teams often ask for more decks and the police quickly run out, Campuzano noted. Young Vipers fans often ask the players to autograph their cards, but the fans aren’t the only ones who like them. Coach Fortier says they’re also popular among the players themselves. “The young kids that get them, they like receiving the hockey cards and the players themselves like the recognition, so I think as a whole it’s been a great project,” Fortier said.