Neighbours Nov 21

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Our community is filled with peoplewho care.

A world renowned CEO, a collectionof hardworking parents, and a schooltrustee committed to building a thriv-ing education system for students,are just some of the dedicated com-munity members LFP Neighbourscaught up with this week.

We stopped by Clara Brenton publicschool for a milestone celebration.This year marks the schools 50th an-niversary. While none of the studentswho packed into the schools gymna-

sium for the party were around backin 1963 when the school first openedits doors, that didnt stop them fromhaving a blast. The Clara BrentonHome and School Association has

events planned all year. Check outPage 4 for a quick Clara Brentonhistory lesson and some detailsabout the schools 50th anniversarycelebrations.

This issue also features a candid in-terview with Goodlife Fitness founderDavid Patchell-Evans, known affec-tionately by most as simply Patch.While over the past 30 years, Goodlifehas grown into Canadas largestfitness chain, Patch has kept thecompanys roots in London. The headoffice is downtown on King St., andPatch splits his time between British

Columbia and the Oakridge homehes lived in for the past 15 years.Patch opened up to LFP Neighbours

about the accident that inspired hisfitness career, Goodlifes early daysand why he says the company willalways be based in London. Find outwhat he had to say on Page 3.

This issue also features a conver-sation with London District Catholicschool board trustee Linda Steel.Elected as trustee for Wards 8,9and 10 in 2010, Steel is no newbiewhen it comes to education. Shes anoutspoken parent whos passionateabout making sure our local schoolsare safe and fun learning environ-ments for kids. She opened up to LFP

Neighbours about the two new Catho-lic schools in west London and whyparents should be hands-on when it

comes to their kids education. Herinterview can be found o n Page 8.

As always, our goal each week withLFP Neighbours is to keep readers in-volved and engaged in their commu-nity. West London is changing rapidly.As new businesses open and residen-tial developments spring up, we wantto make sure our readers know whatshappening in the neighbourhoodsthey call home.

To do this we need your help. Ifyoure hosting a community event,have a great story idea, or know aneighbour worth recognizing, reach

out. We want to hear from you.Send us an e-mail [email protected]

Serving Byron, Oakridge, River Bend and Hyde Park

PROUDLY PRINTED IN LONDON, ONTARIOThursday, November 21, 2013

A Special Zoned Section published by the Advertising Department

WEST LONDON

Driven by passionTHIS ISSUE

NEIGHBOURS

ALEXWEBER

lfpress.com

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Theresa Handrigan demonstrates some of her karate moves on the steps of her high school, St. Thomas Aquinas. The 16-year-old flew to Italy in October to represent Canada in the 5th annual World Kickboxing Coun-cil World Championship.

who says


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BRENT BOLESNeighbours

Winding his way between the rows ofsofas and cabinets that dot the floor atPryde Furniture, owner Randy MacLeoddoesnt hesitate to point out all of thestock he personally enjoys.

Thats one of the dangers of beingin the furniture business. Sometimes itshard because you see something you like,but you cant have everything, MacLeod

joked. So instead he puts them on hisshowroom floor for other homeownersto buy and cherish.

Its a task hes undertaken since March2010, when the store, bearing his wifesmaiden name, was launched. MacLeod

works behind the scenes but leaves theday-to-day operations to his wife, Darla.We felt London didnt have a storelike ours, said MacLeod.

MacLeod said that London was alreadyhome to well-established venues that serveclientele looking for either high or low-endmerchandise. He saw a gap in serving themiddle market that he thought he could filland opened up shop at Hyde Park andFanshawe Park roads.

Our goal for marketing was to be oneof three stores that people shop at.But 2010 wasnt an easy time to break intothe furniture business. MacLeod said thelast good year for furniture in Ontario was2008. Th ats true for many industries thathave taken a beating in the tough economicclimate, but MacLeod said its taken aparticular toll on his trade.

(People) dont want to spend moneyon furniture, he said. Furniture is belowgetting a car in peoples lives. It wasa challenge MacLeod tackled head on,despite not having a retail background.

He came to the business having workedin marketing and life sciences and doinga lot of analytic work. Still, while otherbusinesses have faltered and closed shop,Pryde Furniture has become a mainstaydespite the difficult industry conditions.Were doing something right, he said.

Pinpointing the reason why is difficult,but MacLeod said that its in part becauseof their emphasis on customer service.I mean, (customers) arent pressuredwhen they walk in the store, he said.If they have questions and want to walkdown a pathway, we help them out That

means navigating styles that range fromtraditional to contemporary and everythingin between.

In one corner of the store sits a collectioncalled Old World, with heavy woodenchairs, rich dark rugs and a bed that sitsunder a canopy. The collection wouldntlook out of place in a coastal villa. MacLeodsaid that London has a diverse and vibrantmulticultural community and he triesto stock a selection that reflects thatand appeals to people with any numberof backgrounds. They learned to like

something, he said of the customers.The point is, were focused on London.

But a challenge of being in the businessof dishing out love seats, chesterfieldsand cabinets is that the store is only onestep in a chain that puts the product inthe customers hands. It also has to beshipped from the manufacturer anddelivered to the customers living room.If any part of that chain goes wrong,it reflects on the store. If it goes really well,they blame us. If it goes really poorly they

blame us, he said.MacLeod said all of the products are

inspected before being sent out and hesworked hard to find movers that arecareful with the merchandise.

Fortunately for MacLeod, he saidhes heard lots of positive feedback.

I get letters, I get e-mails fromcustomers that say, I love your store.

2 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013 NEIGHBOURS

RANDYMACLEOD

Pryde Furniture stocksmerchandise for London'sdiverse and vibrantmulticultural community

Family Pryde

Pryde Furniture1422 Fanshawe Park Road W, London

BUSINESS PROFILE

News you and yourneighbours want to know.

Finding its way into more than 17,000 homes in Byron, Riverbend,Oakridge and Hyde Park, LFP Neighbours connects the com-munity to the news, businesses and issues affecting daily life inLondons northwest. Blending local news stories with regular busi-ness features, lifestyle content and community sports coverage,LFP Neighbours delivers the news that hits close to home.

TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENTToll free: (from 519) 1-800-265-4105, ext. 5480Email: [email protected]

Display Advertising: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - FridayPhone: 519-667-5480 Fax: 519-667-4523

Community Event? Story idea?Interesting Neighbour?News, tips & press [email protected]

Neighbours in Business

Neighbours in Schools

Neighbours in Sports

Your Neighbour

Follow us on twitter @LFPNeighbours

Neighbour Homes

Around theNeighbourhood

Neighbours Politics

DIRECTORS:Publisher and CEO,Digital and Print:Susan Muszak, [email protected]

Special Section & Project ManagerChris Kubinski, [email protected]

lfpress.com

WEST LONDON

Director of Advertising:Lisa Catania, [email protected]

thequote

Pryde Furniture has

become a mainstay

despite the difficultindustry conditions...

"We're doing

something right."

Randy MacLeod has led Pryde Furniturethrough tough economic times by empha-

sizing customer service.

A D{ TS27 266 37}

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London, ONN6J 1Y1Phone:519-657-3120 | Fax: 519-657-0368

Email: [email protected]

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013 NEIGHBOURS 3

No Money Down. No Enrolment!*

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BEFORE

AFTER

A D{ TS26 906 06}

It started with an accident.A young business student

at Western University, DavidPatchell-Evans was whizzingdown Windermere Rd. on hisHonda 350 when a driversignaled left, but turned right,smashing into his motorcycle.

His upper body wastorn apart. His bones werebroken. His muscles seriouslydamaged.

The insurance company toldPatchell-Evans hed be disabledfor the rest of his life.

But, while receiving physio-therapy treatment at theFowler Kennedy SportsMedicine Clinic, Patchell-Evanshad a wake up call.

He became enthralled withthe elite athletes who workedout at th e centre. Watchingthem train was inspiring andPatchell-Evans becamedeeply fascinated with the me-chanics and resilience ofthe human body.

I asked the trainer if I wentharder and longer would it makea difference? He looked at melike I had two heads, Patchell-Evans said. The trainer said ofcourse, so Patchell-Evans uppedhis exercise regiment.

Soon he was working out atFowler for four to five hourseach day. After seven months hewas back to normal.

When his insurance companytold Patchell-Evans he qualifiedfor disability, he told them hedidnt need it.

I said Im not really disabledany more. Then I got a job asa lumber jack that summer, Ifigured it would really shape meright up.

To help heal his shoulderPatchell-Evans also started row-ing. He has fond memories row-ing along the Thames River withWestern University and eventu-ally with the Canadian NationalRowing Team with whom he wonfive championships.

It requires you to combineyour intellect with your body,Patchell-Evans said about row-ing. Its hyper aggressive, butstill subtle. Its beautiful.

To keep in rowing shape,Patchell-Evans bought a gymmembership at one of Londonsonly fitness clubs. It was at thecorner of Cheapside St andAdelaide St.

In 1979, he took a risk andbought the gym with moneysaved from a snowplowing busi-ness he started in university.

Patchell-Evans based his gymon a totally new concept: Get-ting people in shape.

What I was selling was fit-ness. I was getting you in sh ape.Most of the other gyms werespas, he said. I said Im goingto solve your problems. Imgoing to help you look better.Im going to help you live longer.Im going to make you strong.Im going to make you healthy.I saw myself as the health caresystem.

The first GoodLife Fitnessclub was born.

Over thirty years later,Patchell-Evans workout kickhasnt slowed down one bit.

Hes made it his lifes goalto inspire all Canadians to livehealthy and active lives, and heswell on his way to achieving it.

Today, there are more than300 GoodLife Fitness clubsacross Canada, with one inevery 45 Canadians a GoodLifemember.

During the recent economic

downtown, GoodLife thrived,growing by a remarkable 60% in2009 alone. Its been recognizedas one of Canadas 50 bestmanaged companies, has beennamed one of Canadas mostadmired corporate cultures andhas been the recipient of numer-ous consumer choice awardsacross the country.

It feels strange and scary,

Patchell-Evans said about thecompanys success. You donttrust your good fortune. Youreonly good if you keep peoplehappy so that keeps me moti-vated.

Patchell-Evans also runs twocharities: The GoodLife KidsFoundation, which was createdto help kids stay health andactive; and the Kilee Patchell-Evans Austism Research Group,which promotes and fundsautism research and educationall over the world. The charityis named after Patchell-Evans'teenage daughter, Kilee, whowas born autistic. In 2007, hewas awarded the CanadianMedical Association Medal ofHonour, for his support of au-tism education and research.

Despite the companysunprecedented national suc-cess, GoodLife still calls Londonhome. Its national headquartersis downtown on King St. andPatchell-Evans splits his timebetween his homes in Oakridgeand Victoria, B.C., where helives with his partner, Olympicrower Silken Laumann, and theirchildren.

Keeping GoodLifes roots inLondon is important to Patchell-Evans. He sees the city has anincubator for small businessesand credits it with allowingGoodLife to grow and flourish

over the past three decades.Goodlife is proud to be a part

of the community, as am I. Itwas those smaller city valuesthat helped us expand acrossthe country, he said. We start-ed here and Ive never thoughtabout taking it anywhere else.

Crash fuelled gym founder's dream

ACHIEVEMENT: London-based GoodLife Fitness has more than 300 clubs across Canada

Patchell-Evansrunning with theOlympic Torch priorto the VancouverOlympics onChristmas Eve2009.

YOUR NEIGHBOUR

RIGHT: Patchell-Evans greets guests at the 2010Grand Opening of the GoodLife Talbot Village on Southdale Rd.

Patchell-EvansandhisSt. Bernard,

Bliss,

attheirhomeinOakridge.


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YOUR SCHOOLS

MILESTONE:Pupils at Clara Brenton public school treated to surprise party for 50th anniversary

And what better way to celebratea milestone anniversary than with asurprise birthday party on the 50thday of school.

Pupils from kindergarten throughGr. 8 gathered in the gym on Nov.

13 thinking they were attending anaverage school assembly. When theyarrived, they learned it was a partycomplete with cake,music and short his-tory lesson into theschools past.

The event wasorganized by the ClaraBrenton Home andSchool Association aspart of a yearlong lineup of events designedto celebrate the publicschools 50th anniver-sary.

We really just want-ed to get the kids excit-ed about their schoolsbirthday, said RichardTetreault, a member ofthe Clara Brenton Homeand School Association.Without actually payingattention to these things,they fall by the waysideand get forgotten.

Each year the ClaraBrenton Home and SchoolAssociation picks afundraising project at theschool. Last year they upgraded allof the classroom electronics. Thisyear theyre raising money to installa new playground to accommodatethe growing number of full-daykindergarteners at the school.

The birthday party is a kick-off toa variety of fundraising events theschool is holding all year culminat-ing in a silent auction and gala

dinner on May 10.Theyre also putting together

a yearbook for alumni filled withschool history and anecdotes.

During the birthday party pupilslearned about Clara Brentonshistory, did 50 exercises as agroup and were treated to surpriseperformance by the Western Mus-

tangs marching band.And of course, there were cake and

cupcakes for all.The schools former principal, Les

Horwath, attended the birthday partyand was tasked with cutting the big

yellow and blue cake.

The Clara Brenton Home andSchool Association is asking for anyalumni interested in partaking in thisyears celebrations or who want tocontribute to the 50th anniversaryyearbook to email info@clarabrenton-

homeandschool.com

of makinglearning fun...

A half century

The Western Mustangs marching band treat students at Clara Brenton public school to a special performance to mark the schools50th anniversary. TOP RIGHT: The cake prepared for Clara Brenton public schools 50th birthday party.

Clara Brenton public school is turning the big 5-0 this year.

The Cougar, Clara Brentons mas-cot, gets bombarded by hugs aspupils gather in the gym for thepublic schools 50th birthdayparty.

Les Horwath, principal at Clara Brenton from 2001 until 2011, helps the Cougar cut thebirthday cake.

FACTSabout Clara BrentonfunThe land the school sitson was purchased in 1962for only $250,000.

The school openedits doors in 1963.

In 1981, Gr. 1 teacherReba Normille brought a bath tub tothe schools library as a unique placefor her pupils to curl up and read.For years it was called The Tub of Knowledge

Astronauts Jeremy Hansen andDave Williams have visited the school,as has OlympicdecathleteDamian Warner.

In 1973, Mrs. GeddesGr. 5 class raised 12

ducklings before givingthem to Storybook

Gardens. The class also had 28guppies, five kangaroo rats,

a frog and a toad as pets.

Portraits of past students linethe hallsat Clara Brentonpublic school.


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athleteweekof the

THERESAHANDRIGANAGE:16GRADE:TWELVEST.THOMASAQUINASSPORT:KARATEthe

quoteI love seeing the potentialin kids and helping them

get better at karate."

SPORTS:Theresa Handrigan recently competed in World KickboxingCouncil World Championships in Italy

Karatekidis

Theresa Handrigan launches into a karate pose, black-belt securely fastened around her waist,

at St. Thomas Aquinas secondary school.

he might be asweet 16-year-oldstudent at St. ThomasAquinas secondaryschool, but

Theresa Handrigan packs amighty punch.

Armed with her second-degreeblack belt, Handrigan represent-

ed Canada on the karate worldstage in Italy last month.

She spent 10 days in Taranto,Italy, at the 5th an nual WorldKickboxing Council World Cham-pionships as one of 100 members

from Team Canada.It was really exciting, Hand-

rigan said. It was pretty awe-some because Id never been toEurope before.

It was the first internationalcompetition for the karate vet-eran. Shes been competing andpractising locally for 11 years.

Her style of karate is calledShorin Ryo, which Handrigan saidstands for little pine forest. Itfocuses on natural breathing andstances, as opposed to directmovements.

growing up She spends six to seven daystraining each week at the FamilyKarate Centre on Wharncliffe Rd.In May, she finished in the topfour at the Canadian nationalcompetition, qualifying for theworlds in Italy. Her father, Nor-man, also qualified and joinedhis daughter on the trip. Hewas inspired to take up the artafter watching both his son anddaughter compete.

In Italy, Handrigan nabbedone second-place finish and twothird-place finishes, one in thecreative weapons category for

her work with th e bow staff.You just really have to focus,

Handrigan said about competing.She also left Italy with a group

of international friends. Throughthe competition she met peoplefrom all over the world, and evenfound some tight knit pals fromOntario.

When shes not studying orpractising her karate, Handriganis teaching young children theancient artform. She works at theFamily Karate Centre teachinga little dragons class for kidsaged four and up.

I love seeing the potential inkids and helping them get betterat karate, she said.

Handrigans karate journey hassparked an interest in health andfitness.

When she graduates in Jun e,Handrigan plans to attend Bres-cia College at Western University

in London to become a dietitian.While she knows it will be dif-

ficult to keep up with her strenu-ous competition schedule inuniversity, Handrigan says therewill always be a place for karatein her life.

S


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A dark home can be dreary anddraining. Thanks to daylight savingsthe days are darker and shorter now,meaning less natural light in the

home.Natural light has the power to make

a person feel energized. It can alsobuoy spirits and prevent the winterblues. Some people experienceserious mood changes in the wintermonths. Dubbed Season AffectiveDisorder (SAD) this condition can beeffectively treated with light therapy.Light can alleviate fatigue, sadnessand anxiety.

Not to mention it reduces relianceon interior lights, bringing downenergy bills and lowering you homescarbon footprint.

Here are some ways to maximizethe natural light your home gets dur-ing the winter months.

Bigger is better. Steve Watson,owner of Cameron Window and Door,

says the best way to boost n aturallight is to install large windows. Thebigger the window, the more naturallight youre going to get, he said.

Invest in skylights or solar tubes. Skylights or solar tubes both enablelight to enter a h ome from above.According to Watson, bathroomsand kitchens are popular places forskylights and solar tubes, as depend-ing on the size, its generally hard tokeep them bright. Skylights are largerand require considerably more workto install, while solar tubes are morelow-profile and can be put into roomsthat do not abut the roofline, suchas those obstructed by attic space.The tubular cylinders are installedbetween the roof and the ceiling andcarry light through a reflective tube to

the room below. Diffusers on tubularday-lighting devices scatter the raysso the light doesn't cast harsh shad-ows, and UV filters can help protectfurniture from discoloring.

Keep the drapes open.Openingblinds and curtains as far as they

will go allows as much light to shinein without having to do major homerenovations or spend any money atall. Homeowners concerned about

privacy can install a window film thatallows viewing from the inside only.

Clean the windows.Dirty windowsobstruct sunlight from entering thehome. They also can make a homeappear unkempt. Spend a free daycleaning the windows so that they'lllet ample light in.

Install seamless or low-profilewindows and doors. Seamless slid-ing doors enable a large amount oflight to enter the home. Such doorscan replace an entire wall to brightenup a dark area of a home. The morewindows and doors a home has, thebrighter it will be.

Take inventory of dark spots.Aroom may be dark because it simplydoes not have a layout conducive to

brightness. Is a wall blocking lightfrom reaching a portion of the room?Think about changing the room'slayout or even making structuralchanges to improve light distribu-tion. The addition of a small windowon a south- or west-facing wall cangreatly improve natural light. Usingmirrors can also reflect light where itis needed.

Trim shrubs and trees. If treesand bushes are blocking light fromentering your home, trim them to en-able dappled light to come through.Deciduous trees that will naturallylose their leaves come autumn can beplanted on sunny areas of the prop-erty. This way in the summer monthsthey will shade the house and keep itcooler, while in winter more sun will

stream in when the leaves are shed.

Create a three-season room.Make a spot in the home where sunwill be at a premium. A solarium orgreenhouse attached to the homecan be a warm and sunny spot.

Its been a banner year for real

estate in Byron.But that could mean a flat year is

around the corner, real estate expertswarn.

The average housing price in Byronthis October was $300,300 up froman average of $259,210 in October2012, representing a 16% increase inone year.

The prices of residential homesincreased 18% to $337,278 from$284,919. Condominium prices wereup 8% from $207,790 to $224,944.

October was a good month in whathas been a great year for real estatein Byron.

Prices are typically at their lowestat the start of the year, rise to theirhighest in the spring, fall off again inthe summer and rise again in the fall,

but not as h igh as in th e spring, saidSteve Baarda, sales representative

with Royal LePage Triland. You would

have done best had you sold in thespring.

When compared to the rest of thecity Byron is booming.

Overall prices were up by 14%when comparing January to October2013 with January to October 2012.In 2013, the average price of a Byronhome is $322,583 compared to$282,921 in 2012. Thats a huge jumpwhen taking into account the factthat house prices throughout Londonincreased only 2.64% during thesame period.

But, Baarda warns such largeincreases are not su stainable.

I would expect next year to be flat,and would not be shocked if pricespulled back a bit in Byron next year,he said. I would expect buyers to be

seeing better value in other neigh-bourhoods.

HOMES:Smart use of light can cut down utility bill and boost spirits

Let there

Large windows create a wall of light. Install them to brighten your home on even the chilliest of winter days.

YOUR HOMES

be

Natural light has thepower to make a personfeel energized. It can alsobuoy spirits and preventthe winter blues."

REAL ESTATE:Housing prices soar, making 2013 a banner year in Byron

Byrons booming, but is it sustainable?

By the numbers: Jan-Oct 2013:$322,583Jan-Oct 2012:$282,921

Oct 2013:$300,300Oct 2012:$259,210

BYRONAverageHomes Prices*

AVERAGE HOMES PRICES* UNITS SOLD

2012 2013

LONDONAverageHomes Prices*14.02%15.85% 2.64%

Jan-Oct 2013:$247,467Jan-Oct 2012:$241,112

*includes residentialand condominium.

YEAR-BY-YEAR COMPARISON

30 27

Statistics Courtesyof Steve Baarda,sales representative atRoyal LePage Triland.He can be reached at519-878-5566.

One of the homes for sale in Byron along Griffith St .

A birds eye view of Byron as seen from Lookout Crt.


7/12


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A wet, rainy fall means water levelsalong the Thames River are up.

The Upper Thames River Conserva-tion Authority (UTRCA) has issueda handful of safety bulletins this fallwarning people to stay away from theriver due to its high water level andswift current.

Heavy rains in September andOctober, coupled with November rainand some snow, means the waterlevel is up by 50 cm in the Thames,

said Mark Helston, a water resourcesengineer with UTRCA.

While London hasnt seen a badflood since its worst in 1937, each yearthere is a 1% chance the city couldflood again.

In April 1937 nearly 15 cm of rain fellon Southwestern Ontario in five days.Five people were killed, 1,100 homeswere ruined, and $3 million worth ofdamage occurred in London becauseof the flood, which saw water levels in

the Thames rise over seven metres.While its unlikely the city will

ever see a flood like that again, wetweather means minor floods are morecommon.

Its not catastrophic flooding, butthe kind that can get into basementsand parks, Helston said.

The lower paths in Springbank Parkand along the Thames near Wonder-land Rd. are at risk of flooding duringheavy rains. And because the ground

is already holding so much moisturefrom earlier rains and the Novembersnowfall, any more precipitation couldcause a spike in water levels.

People who live along the Thamesor who walk along the paths regularlyshould make sure they check theUTRCA website for the latest waterlevel postings. The conservationgroup publishes a warning any timewater levels pose a threat.

High water levels often go hand in

hand with fast moving, swift cu rrentsmaking fishing and other water activi-ties dangerous. Even standing nearthe river can be a risk.

You shouldnt be standing near thebanks, Helston said.

For up to date safety bulletins andwater level data visit www.thames-river.on.ca

WEATHER:Upper Thames River Conservation Authority posts regular water level updates online

YOUR RIVER

Water levels are up by 50 cm all along the Thames River, including at t he Springbank Dam.

OCTOBERSEPTEMBERAverageAverage

48mm

98mm

155mm

112mm

20132013

Fall PrecipitationLevels

Measurements in milometres

Soggy fall

poses

flood riskIt's not catastrophic flooding,but the kind that can get intobasements and parks."

Mark Helston~Water Resources Engineer UTRCA

PhotoscourtesyoflocalhistorianKenMcTaggartToday, itsagolf green,but morethan120yearsagothe17thholeattheThamesValleyGolfCourseofRiversideDr.washometotheWardsHotel.MikeWardbuiltthesummer hotelin1880onthenorthbankoftheThamesRiver.Itwashubforsummer sportsandaregularportofcall forsteam-boatschuggingupanddowntheThames. Thecitypurchasedthepropertyin1896andthehotelwastorndownin1923.

THEN NOWThames Valley Golf Course

Ward'sHotel,1880.


8/12

At last month's board meet-ing, London District Catholicschool board trustees heardthe board's plan to tackledeclining enrolment in areaCatholic schools. It was

discovered that enrolmentis down by 2,531 studentsacross the board. What do

you think accounts for thedeclining enrolment?

A:Enrolment in almost every schoolboard across the province is declin-ing: French, English, public andCatholic. The baby boomers are nowlargely grandparents and the worldtheir adult children now live in haschanged greatly. In most families to-day both parents work. We see veryfew large families. Economics playan active role in the planned familysize and marriage life-style . . . Welive in a world where it is acceptable/appropriate to have (short) quality

time with our children. Couples areencouraged to set date nights tokeep their relationships alive. Theaverage citizen is constantly con-cerned about what they can afforddaily, how they can save for thefuture, and how they can meet theimmediate needs of their family including extended. As a feminist, Ifeel women are particularly affected,primarily responsible for their chil-dren, primarily responsible for theiraging (and often ill) parents, runningthe home and earning an income.Quite simply, with all those chal-lenges, we are not having as manychildren.

Despite a decline in num-

bers, the LDCSB openedSt. Andre Bessette Catholicsecondary school in thenorthwest and is expectedto open a new Catholicelementary school in RiverBend next September. Allwhile the board considersclosing three elementaryschools in the east end. Why

are new schools going upwhile other schools are clos-ing their doors?

A: Funding for new schools follows avery strict Ministry of Education ap-

proval process and criteria. Boardsmust demonstrate a clear needfor a new school. The money doesnot come out of boards operat-ing funds, it comes through as aseparate capital grant designatedspecifically for each project from theministry.

Our new schools have opened(and) will open based upon existingover enrollment in those neighbour-hoods and the need to eliminateportables. Students are supposed tobe taught in their school not i n iso-lated temporary buildings. At the el-ementary level, the board must alsoprovide new accommodation forthe full-day kindergarten program,which could not be accommodated

in existing schools. Similarly, St.Andre Bessette was constructed dueto overcrowding of existing Londonhigh schools and the large numberof portables that had been in use formany years. As a result of this newconstruction, the use of portableshas been significantly reduced inLondon. We were also pleased to seethat St. Andre Bessette enrolmenthas exceeded our original estimates.

No board wants to close schools.Unfortunately, one of the areas wehave seen declining enrolment in isin our rural areas. In part this is dueto the rural to urban shift in popula-tion along with overall demographicdeclines. In some schools we haveclasses where the enrolment rangesper grade within the school go fromzero students to eight sometimesless than 50 students in a buildingthat holds over 110. The Ministry ofEducation has financially penalizedboards that do not review under-utilized schools and close them. Ifwe do not, our entire board and allstudents will suffer. It is also impor-

tant to note that the board didnot accept administrations rec-ommendation to begin an ARC(school closure review) processin London, at this time.

We, as a board, are very

concerned with the number ofvery important enrollment andaccommodation issues that theboard will have to deal with overthe next few years. Therefore, thispast Monday night we approved theestablishment of a planning andproperty committee, as a standingcommittee of the board, to addressthese very issues.

When you were electedtrustee in 2010 you wereone of four fresh facesreplacing longtime trustees.What do you think yourperspective as a longtimeparent representative

has brought to the schoolboard?

A:As a mother of three children Iapproach every situation as a parentand ask myself, How would I feelif this were my child or children? Iam outspoken and ask many, manyquestions on the information pre-sented to us. If I do not understandthe information I receive, cannotexplain it to my constituents, andcannot provide a rationale for thedecisions I participate in, I do notbelieve I am doing my job as theirelected representative.

When running for trusteeyou highlighted parentalinvolvement as one of the

key areas you hoped wouldbe improved. You've saidthat parents need to beequal partners within theCatholic education system.In what ways has parentalinvolvement improved overthe past three years? Whatcan be done to continue toimprove it?

A: For me, it is a question of chang-ing system-wide attitudes on whatparent engagement means, theactive role of parents within theeducational system. I see manyimprovements. For example, wehave more parent representation onboard committees and their input isactively pursued and valued. Catho-lic school councils are more focusedin the school climate, safe schools,and student success as opposedto fundraising. Our district counciland parent involvement committeepresents to the board at least twice

a year and has worked jointly withsenior administration and commu-nity partners to prepare and providemany successful system-wide andregional events and initiatives forparents annually. Committee repre-sentation is particularly importantas parents are now able to give inputat the front end during the develop-ment process, as equal partners inimproving our educational system.

The area I see as still needing im-provement is communication. Howdo we most effectively get informa-tion directly into the hands of allparents? With the environmentalmove to go paperless and constantlychanging technologies, I suspectthis will be an ongoing challenge.

Cyber bullying continues tobe a concerning phenom-enon for parents, teachersand administrators alike.What advice do you have forparents and teachers whenit comes to keeping kids andteens safe online?

A: No adult would place a childalone in the middle of the Hwy. 401.So they shouldnt be sending themalone on the information highway.The old question on late-night TVstill rings true, Do you know whereyour children are?

Our children learn their behavioursfrom us adults. And we must step up.I hear parents all too often tell me,Oh, my child would never let me dothat. And I wonder who is in charge,who is the adult, who is setting theexample? Regardless of what level oftechnical ability a parent may have

there are several things parents cando: No computers in the bedroom,no closing screens when you comeinto the room, arrange an agreementwith your child about computer use(including times) and have both ofyou sign it, no cell phones duringmeals and family time, make sure youplan family time, absolutely no cellphones at night in their room. Apartfrom cyberbullying concerns, childrenneed down-time and sleep, ask yourchildren every day, starting whenthey are young and right through highschool, What was the best thing thathappened to you today? What wasthe worst?

Parents are, and always will be, theprimary guardians and advocates fortheir children. So we all need to know

where our children are, online, physi-cally, socially and emotionally. If weare unaware of a problem how do wehelp fix or avoid it?

a parents perspective


EDUCATION:LDCSB trustee Linda Steel is an advocate of parent engagement

YOUR POLITICS

Steel brings

St. Andre Bissette secondary school opened on Fanshawe Park Rd this September.

The soon-to-be-named River Bend elementary school is set to open in September2014 on Shore Rd.

LINDA STEELLDCSB trustee for Wards 8, 9 and 10

Send your community news stories to [email protected]

Reach over 17,000 homes each week, to advertise call 519-667-5480

Community Event? Story idea?Interesting Neighbour?

lfpress.com

Next issue: November 28, 2013


9/12


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The Hyde Park Business As-sociation is asking people todig into their closets and dustoff the old boxes in their base-ments this holiday season forits third annual boot drive.

The HPBA is collectingnew and gently used bootsall month for the MissionServices Family Store. Bootscan be dropped at participat-ing Hyde Park businesses orat the Hyde Park Santa ClauseParade on Nov. 30.

It makes you feel good ifyou can recycle old boots in-stead of throwing them in thetrash, said Christine Buchan-an, manager of Featherfieldson Hyde Park Rd. You hate to

see people with cold, wet feet

this time of year, especiallychildren.

Featherfields is one ofeight businesses collectingboots this mon th. Last year,they had more than 100 pairsdonated, Buchanan said.

Shes hoping the openhouse Featherfields is hostingon Nov. 23 and 24 will boostthis years collection. Commu-nity members are invited tocome and check out Feather-fields Christmas stock, includ-ing their beloved Christmascard collection, from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 12p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Community members arealso invited to bring their

boots to the Hyde Park Santa

Claus Parade on Nov. 30. TheHPBA will be driving along theparade route in its Boots A reMade For Walking themedfloat accepting donations.

ABOUT THEMISSION STORE:

Located at 300 William St.,downtown London, the Mis-sion Store provides familiesand individuals with freeclothing and householdarticles by way of a vouchersystem used by more than60 referring communityagencies. It also providesquality clothing, linens andhousewares and small appli-ances at nominal prices.

BRENT BOLESNeighbours

At an occasion that had everyexcuse to be somber, the sounds oflaughter and chitchat filled the By-ron Legion Hall in support of TylerBrooks-Szabo on November 16.

The ten-year-old boy was ridinghis bike in East London when a car

jumped the curb and hit the young-ster late last month.

Tylers still in critical conditionand to raise money to help his fam-ily out, the Legion held a spaghettidinner, silent auction and dancewith proceeds going to the cause.

Dollars and cents are somethingin life that one needs to have butwhen you see people sitting backand enjoying themselves, thatreally does make my day, saidchapter president Jim Campbell atthe event.

As of press time, the cash hadn tbeen counted but those in atten-dance say the event was a resound-ing success.

Volunteers estimate that at least

125 people came in for the $10 spa-ghetti dinner, with more joining forthe dance and the silent auction.

Its great. It really makes youfeel good about mankind again,said Campbell.

Tylers grandmother MarilynBrooks has been a bartender at thehall for the past fifteen years so thecommunity was looking for a wayto lend a hand.

Two of her coworkers took hershift on the bar on Saturday nightwhile donating the proceeds backto the cause.

It makes me feel wonderfulbecause Ive worked with Marilynfor so long, said fellow longtimeLegion member Dorathy Cochrane

who was slaving over spaghetti inthe kitchen for much of the night.

But it wasnt just those with apersonal connection to Tyler thathelped make the night a success.Many members of the London com-munity came out to show supportwho had never even met the family.

One anonymous donor walked inand dropped off an envelope filled

with $2500 dollars.Steve Seppala raised $260 dol-

lars with his coworkers when hetold them about the story.

Nobody knew him at all andthey were throwing 10s, 20s. Manyof the employees have childrenthemselves so its a heartfeltcause, he said.

The outpouring of support strucka chord with Campbell.

The fact that the community,and London at large came together,it really does speak volumes, hesaid.

It was even more important toTylers family.

Its shocking at how people canjust get together, said his father

Louis Szabo. I just want to makesure that I thank everybody thathelped us out.

Hes really brought a nationtogether, added his stepmotherHillary Szabo.

Hes literally just a little ray ofsunshine. His smile would captivateanybody. Hes got a warm heart, awarm soul.

FOOD: A delicious and filling soup... an excellent addition to any recipe box

Preparation Instructions

1. Place the sausage in a large pot overmedium high heat and saute for 10minutes, or until well browned. Drainthe fat except for about 1 tablespoon,add the onions and garlic and saute for5 more minutes.

2. Next add the beef stock, water, wine,tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano andtomato sauce. Bring to a boil, reduceheat to low and simmer for 30 minutes,skimming any fat that may surface.

3. Add the zucchini, tortellini, green bellpepper and parsley to taste. Simmerfor 10 minutes, or until tortellini is fullycooked. Pour into individual bowls andgarnish with the cheese.

Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup, a great soup you can add just about anything too.

Ingredients 1 (3.5 ounce) link sweet

Italian sausage,casings removed

1 cup chopped onions

2 cloves garlic, minced

5 cups beef stock

1/3 cup water

1/2 cup red wine

4 tomatoes - peeled,seeded and chopped

1 cup chopped carrots

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoondried oregano

1 cup tomato sauce

1 zucchini, chopped

8 ounces cheese tortellini

1 green bell pepper,chopped

1 tablespoon choppedfresh parsley

2 tablespoons gratedParmesan cheesefor topping

Prep Time:15 minutes Cook Time:55 minutes Ready in 1 hour, 10 minutes I Serves 6

of the weekRECIPEItalian SausageTortellini Soup

from AllRecipes.com

CHARITY: Used boots can be dropped off at eight Hyde Park businesses

FUNDRAISER:Hundreds come out to Byron Legion dinner for 10-year-old hit-and-run victim

Christine Buchanan, manager of Featherfields on Hyde Park Rd., holds this years HPBA Boot Drive collec-tion box. Residents are welcome to drop off their new or gently used boots at Featherfields between nowand the end of the month.

A picture of Tyler sits on a table with a hockey stick and other items donated that are up forauction. Proceeds from the Byron Legion event are going to help Tyler and his family.

Those boots are made for donating

Community rallies for their little ray of sunshine

Remark Fresh Market1190 Oxford St. West

Moffat & Powell / Rona1282 Hyde Park Rd.

Dr

op-off Locations: Van Horik Greenhouses930 Gainsborough Rd.

Featherfields the Birdand Garden Store1570 Hyde Park Rd.

Optometry on Hyde Park1900 Hyde Park Rd., suite 5

Wendys1980 Hyde Park Rd. North

PostNet665 Fanshawe Park Rd. West

London French Day CareCentre1050 Kipps Lane,Kipps Lane Plaza - Unit #13


10/12


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journalists, our team is all local, all the time. Its who we are.

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Its what we do.Explore. Engage. Expose.


11/12


AROUND

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Emma Purvis, Renee White, Laurenne Tetreault, Sonja Knezic, Lucy Collier, Ally Hogg,Claire Allencurry, Clayton Thornburrow, Alana Pawlaszyk and Emily Thornburrow pose with the Clara Brenton Cougarat the schools 50th birthday celebration.

the hood

Mike and DonnaHamilton supportedTyler Brooks-Szaboat a dinner andsilent auction forTyler Brooks-Szaboat the Byron Legion.

Merilee andMichael Olney arejoined by VickiGrents enjoyinga spaghetti dinnerin support ofTyler Brooks-Szabo.

TheWesternMustangsmarchingb

andgetsreadytosurprisestudents

at

ClaraBrentonpublicschoolduringi

ts50thanniversarycelebration.

Mary Roes, principal,and Richard Tetreault,a member of the Clara

Brenton Home andSchool Association

pose in the gymduring Clara Brentonpublic schools 50th

anniversary celebration.

Fran Gorbasewand the Clara BrentonCougar cut the schools50th birthday cakeat the celebrationassembly Nov 13.

Linda Deons,Louise and Jamie Hughes

enjoy a fundraiserfor 10-year-old

Tyler Brooks-Szabo atthe Byron Legion hall.

PamAndressisflankedbySteveSeppalaasthetwoenjoyaspaghettidinnerwith

proceedsgoingtocarefortheinjuredTylerBrooks-Szabo.


12/12


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Neighbours Nov 21

Documents

Transcript of Neighbours Nov 21