Man's Life in Limbo

$1.00 www.oshawaexpress.ca “Well Written, Well Read” Vol 4 No 41 Wednesday, August 5, 2009 Vehicle strikes pedestrian... R.S McLaughlin Man’s Keeping life in an icon’s memory limbo alive An Oshawa man is in crit- ical condition at a Toronto By Lindsey Cole hospital after he was struck The Oshawa Express by a vehicle while crossing the street. His name is prominent through- The 40-year-old man was out Oshawa. Robert walking northbound through The McLaughlin Library, the Samuel traffic, which had stopped for R.S. McLaughlin Cancer Centre McLaughlin a red light. As he stepped out and Camp Samac are just a few that carry the name from between two stopped vehicles, he was hit of Robert Samuel McLaughlin, Mr. Sam or Colonel by a silver Chrysler, which was traveling east Sam as he was fondly known. towards the intersection in the left turning He is a man whose legacy lives on in Oshawa as lane. founder of General Motors of Canada. But while The driver of the silver car, a 23-year-old some remember him as a type of forefather to this Oshawa man and his 22-year-old passenger community, others are wondering who he is. were not hurt in the accident. Such is the reason why the City of Oshawa and Police and emergency services arrived at Parkwood Estates are striving to keep the the intersection of King Street West and McLaughlin memory alive by proclaiming this past Harmony Road after 4:20 p.m. Monday as R.S. McLaughlin Day. The man was airlifted to Sunnybrook While the proclamation was made some 20 years Health Sciences Centre with life-threatening ago, this year it is being exemplified so people can head trauma where he remains as of the learn about the historic figure. Oshawa Express’ deadline. This past Monday, also the Civic Holiday, a cele- The area was closed for several hours while bration was held at Parkwood which featured vintage Traffic Services Branch Collision McLaughlin cars, potato sack races, house tours and Reconstruction officers investigated the scene. walks through the luxurious gardens of the Parkwood Anyone who may have witnessed the crash “B” for barrels of fun Estate. Parkwood itself was declared a National or has any information is asked to contact Photo by Lindsey Cole/The Oshawa Express Historic Site by Parks Canada in 1989. police at 905-579-1520 ext. 5267. “Miss B” as she was nicknamed, was chosen as a helper during the Cindy Cook performance at “We like to do vintage things,” says Parkwood Anonymous information can be sent to the Oshawa Public Library. Cook was a former star on the popular children’s program, “Polka Dot Curator Samantha George, adding there was also a Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800- Door”. The children sang, danced and practiced the alphabet. See Page 6 222-8477. See MCLAUGHLIN Page 8 Energy-from-waste facility pushing on By Katie Strachan The Region of Durham has submitted the of Durham and York began working together Durham Regional Council approved the The Oshawa Express Environmental Assessment (EA), which is to examine ways to manage residual waste, study in late June after a 16-hour long meeting related to the facility, to the Ontario Ministry which is the waste that is left over after recy- where 51 delegates spoke. Forty-nine argued It is the next step in the process of con- of the Environment (MOE). cling and composting efforts. diligently against the proposed facility. structing a proposed energy-from-waste The EA outlines the steps that were taken in The EA could only be submitted to the York Region Council also approved the (EFW) facility in the backyard of Oshawa res- the Durham/York Residual Waste Study. MOE after Durham Regional council and York study in late June. idents. The study began in 2005, when the regions Regional Council both approved the study. See ENVIRONMENTAL Page 8 KISS bassist receives ‘City of Oshawa pin’ Gene Simmons: KISS to play here in October By Katie Strachan House of Commons, the Senate and the Senate’s Councillor Lutczyk, adding that Simmons an episode of their television show, ‘Family The Oshawa Express Speaking Chambers. revealed he gets email from all over the world Jewels’ in the fall. The show is shown in 84 dif- While the tour was as per request from asking about Oshawa since the ‘Demand It’ tour ferent countries, states Councillor Lutczyk. Gene Simmons, KISS bassist and rock icon, Simmons, it was also as a way to ensure Oshawa was started. While in Canada, Tweed also announced that has a City of Oshawa pin fastened to his suit is fresh in the minds when tour dates are “The downtown board has already said they have just recently filed Canadian jacket lapel. announced. they’ll put up signs and window displays,” he Citizenship papers for their two children, Nick “They were really happy to get the City of “He personally said to Colin Carrie that says. and Sophie. Oshawa pin,” says City Councillor Robert they’re coming,” says Councillor Lutczyk of the “It’s really going to be KISS city.” When the band comes they will play at the Lutczyk after meeting Simmons and his partner, legendary rock band. The duo’s visit to Ottawa will be featured on General Motors Centre. Shannon Tweed. “Gene said sometime in October.” Councillor Lutczyk fastened the pins to the He also says that Tweed, a Canadian, will duo during a tour of the parliament building in accompany him although she doesn’t usually do Ottawa recently. so. The tour was initiated and led by Oshawa MP “I said if Shannon comes, I’ll do everything Colin Carrie, after a request was put in by to ensure that it becomes ‘Shannon Tweed Man charged after offering rides to youngsters Simmons himself to venture to the Hill in Day’,” says Councillor Lutczyk, adding that An Oshawa man has been charged with two The first victim allegedly saw the suspect Ottawa. Ottawa council turned down the idea of counts of criminal harassment after allegedly harassing the five-year-old and told nearby “It was a pleasure to be able to facilitate Mr. ‘Shannon Tweed Day.’ offering rides to young girls. adults. Simmons’ request,” says MP Carrie. The tour dates have not been announced for Police were made aware of the first incident The 46-year-old Oshawa man is facing crim- “When I heard… that he was interested in the band’s Fall North American tour yet but the in June after a citizen called 911 to report that a inal harassment charges. touring parliament I quickly made the necessary hold up is due to changes in the number of cities middle-aged man had suspiciously approached Both of the reported incidents took place dur- contacts to make sure Oshawa would still be at visited, says Councillor Lutczyk. her six-year-old granddaughter. He apparently ing broad daylight in the vicinity of adults. Both the centre of attention in respect to KISS.” “They’re changing it from a 40-city tour to a offered the child a ride, but she declined and of the children were found alone without direct Councillor Lutczyk, who has been at the 60-city tour,” he explains. made her way home safely where she reported supervision and in neighbourhoods bordering forefront of the “Demand KISS” tour since the For MP Carrie and Councillor Lutczyk the the incident to a family member. parks, schools and a recreation centre in the start, brought along his son Mark to meet the announcement of the date will be rewarding About a month later, the man allegedly Rossland Road East and Harmony Road North pair. after all the hardwork to get them here. approached a five-year-old girl walking alone in area of the city. “They were so nice. It was really neat. “They seemed very sincere about coming to the same neighbourhood. Anyone with new info can call 1-888-579- They’re really tall,” says Councillor Lutczyk. Oshawa. Gene Simmons said that the communi- He offered the young girl a ride in his vehicle. 1520 ext. 5344. “Mark was holding a rose and Gene asked ty’s efforts at winning were marvelous,” says him if it was for him. He didn’t know Young teen bit by dog, serious wounds what to say.” The experience of meeting Simmons A young teen is recovering at home after off of the young boy and placed and Tweed was remarkable for MP being seriously bitten by a dog. in it the home before police Carrie too. The 13-year-old boy was walking alone arrived. “Councillor Lutczyk and myself southbound on Oshawa Boulevard when a 10- Once police arrived at the were able to lobby Gene in person for month-old American Bulldog ran out of a nearby home at around 6:35 p.m., the greater possibilities for our city other home, confronting the young teen. victim had already been taken to than a single concert,” says MP Carrie. The dog followed the victim across the street a local hospital for treatment. “I even pushed for the sale of a new as he attempted to push the dog away with no The teen received several stitches for punc- Camaro for Ms. Tweed.” luck. ture wounds to his arm. MP Carrie met Simmons and Tweed The dog bit him in the forearm and managed He is now recovering at home. Submitted photo at the Rotunda of Centre Block then to pull him to the ground.

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