Stoate Wants to Command Good Ship Oakville ■ by Angela Blackburn Manufacturer of the Year Award in Done,” He Said of Effecting Change
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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday September 16, 2006 - 3 Stoate wants to command good ship Oakville ■ By Angela Blackburn Manufacturer of the Year Award in done,” he said of effecting change. OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 2002. He doesn’t “buy the excuses” that Stoate said he is now at a point things can’t be achieved. In the wake of a high-rise condo with his business, that he could inde- Stoate said his vision for Oakville sailing into the town’s crown jewel of pendently devote himself to better- includes controlled, managed Oakville Harbour in his first term of ing the town. growth that proves an opportunity, office, Ward 3 Councillor and Introduced yesterday by friend, not a cost; retention a town atmos- Oakville businessman Chris Stoate Oakville resident and businessman phere town despite population wants to take the helm. Ron Guest, Stoate was lauded as a growth; respecting neighbourhood Announcing his bid for the person of solid val- individuality; meet- mayor’s seat yesterday outside his ues, high personal “I am the only ing the needs of company, the 53-year-old William integrity, a pragmat- candidate in this future residents Street resident said, “Together we ic person with without sacrificing can build a better Oakville and we smarts, wherewithal election with proven the lifestyles of shouldn’t settle for less.” — and a visionary. business success existing residents; Stoate, who turned his small Stoate said he combined with accommodating business into a big business, has doesn’t assess experience in growth in green- been a community leader and Oakville’s quality of municipal politics.” field development Oakville councillor, believes he has life as being better and sensitive infill; what it takes to lead Oakville. now than a decade empty buses ■ The man who organized a Town ago. Chris Stoate shouldn’t run in a lobby of the Province over Ontario “When I consider futile attempt to Municipal Board (OMB) reform after issues such as the lack of sports, arts reduce dependence on vehicles — a high-rise condo redevelopment of and cultural facilities in Oakville, money should be spent to make the former Sharkey’s Dockside Café how haphazardly the town is being transit convenient in denser areas so sailed past the OMB believes it can be developed, and the indifference that public transport funded from done better. towards local businesses that can the fare box is more convenient than “I think that we’re not achieving create jobs so residents can work in a car; a safe, nurturing community our potential, that there’s greater the community, I know we can do in which children can grow to reach opportunity than there would better,” said Stoate. their potential — and more. appear,” said Stoate who admitted he The mayoral candidate said Stoate, who has post-graduate took “most of the summer” to make Oakville can do better than having degrees from Cambridge University his decision. one of the lowest number per-partic- and the University of Toronto says “This ship called Oakville ... we ipant hockey rinks and soccer fields he’ll bring the same determination, BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER often hear about it not reaching its in the GTA. leadership and ability to execute on destination and we hear lots of rea- “I know we can do better in town his vision to the mayor’s office that OPENING STATEMENT: Oakville Ward 3 Town Councillor Chris Stoate, sons why. There’s always fog. I think planning and development, and in made him an award-winning entre- with his wife Patti and daughter Hayley in the background, announced his can- we could do a lot better about setting working with, instead of against, preneur. didacy for mayor at the head office of his company LaserNetworks. a course,” said Stoate. developers so it benefits all of us,” he Stoate said his business philoso- Stoate was first elected to Town of Halton Region Emergency Housing Stoate announced his candidacy for said. phy is never to enter a market unless Oakville council in 2003. Advisory Group. the mayor’s seat yesterday afternoon Stoate said he has sacrificed his he can add value that others do not. During his time on council, he He’s founder and president of — has been three times ranked on own family time in being a council- “Only with a goal and a plan to founded and led the OMB lobby — LaserNetworks, an Oakville-based Profit magazine’s list of Canada’s lor and he and his family are pre- achieve it can we be proactive and Oakville Town Council’s Working printing and imaging systems solu- Fastest Growing Companies. pared to sacrifice more if he can anticipate. If we don’t have one, and Group on OMB reform. tions provider that was founded in a “I am the only candidate in this make a difference to Oakville. don’t pursue it vigorously, others Before being elected to office, basement in 1987 and which now election with proven business suc- Stoate was with his wife Patti, a will impose their vision on us. We Stoate headed the Trafalgar- employs more than 100 people — 60 cess combined with experience in nurse practitioner and PhD student will have to react, defend instead of Chartwell Residents’ Association in Oakville and 40 others across municipal politics,” said Stoate. and their daughter, Hayley, 10, at protecting, back on our heels, hur- (TCRA) in 2001 and 2002 and served Canada and the U.S. After twice being a finalist in the yesterday’s announcement. ried, the pace of play being con- as a director on the Halton Learning The company, which makes its Oakville Chamber/Rotary Business “I have a perspective informed trolled by the opposing team,” he Foundation and a member on the home on Bristol Circle — where Awards, his firm was awarded The from the inside, and I know it can be said. Election races taking shape with two weeks left to filing deadline ■ By Angela Blackburn oral challenger Rob Burton — all dent who has been involved with previous years, who had registered This week, Oakville resident OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF of whom want to wear the mayor’s minor hockey and minor baseball. in July to seek the office. Brian Burton announced he would chain of office. Veteran Town/Regional Veteran Ward 5 Town/Regional challenge Carr and Burlington res- With two weeks left for candi- Stoate’s announcement made Councillor Keith Bird so far Councillor Jeff Knoll is being chal- ident Robert Plaschka, who is run- dates to register in the Nov. 13 way for others to register as candi- remains unchallenged for his seat. lenged by newcomer Angus Scott, ning for the office. Burton chal- municipal election, the registra- dates for his position as Ward 3 Also this week, there was activ- of Margot Street, who earlier this lenged Savoline in 2003. tion list at Town Hall is growing. Town councillor. ity around the job of Town coun- year registered as a candidate for Elsewhere in town, veteran Yesterday the roster of mayoral Long-time public school cillor for Ward 5. Incumbent Marc the Halton Regional Chair’s job, Ward 1 Town Councillor Ralph candidates expanded with Ward 3 trustee, and former school board Grant announced in February he’d but withdrew to register instead Robinson so far remains unchal- Councillor Chris Stoate adding his chair, Mary Chapin, announced seek re-election, however, environ- for the the council position. lenged for his seat. name. she wants the job. mentalist and community activist Long-time Halton Regional Ward 1 Town/Regional He joins veteran Ward 6 She’ll be facing opposition in Brian Hopkins, of Ross Lane, reg- Chair Joyce Savoline is stepping Councillor Mike Lansdown won’t Town/Regional Councillor Janice Blenheim Crescent resident Scott istered as a candidate mid-week. down, and so far her office is being run again and a trio of residents Wright, long-serving incumbent McColeman and Wayne Mid-week also saw the pull out of sought by former Oakville and want his job — Margaret Mercer, a mayor Ann Mulvale and 2003 may- Moorehead, a long-time ward resi- Mah-mood Khan, a candidate in Halton politician Gary Carr. ■ See Last page 9 • Wood & Vinyl Shutters, Supplied & Installed • High Quality at Affordable Prices • Customer Satisfaction Authorized Guaranteed Vinylbilt Dealer • Serving Oakville with Shop FREE at Home Service Shop at www.shuttersetc.ca Home Service.