Emily's Hectic Career Leaves Little Time to Visit Her Home and Family

Forever Emily Emily’s hectic career leaves little time to visit her home and family Emily VanCamp moved away from her Port Perry circle of friends and acquaintances in the sixth grade of French Emersion at R.H. Cornish Public School, but now at age 20 she likes noth- ing more than popping home to visit her mom and dad, Cindy and Robert, sisters Katie, Molly and Alison, and extended family and friends whenever she can squeeze the time from her hectic schedule. “I just love to come home to touch base with my family,” she said in an interview with Focus On Scugog during her visit home. “They’re this constant in my life. If I got a big head, they’d burst my bubble pretty quickly.” At the age of 12, Emily moved to Montreal to pursue her ballet training and then on to Vancouver to work in a short-lived WB Network series called ‘Glory Days’ (2002). By that time she already had credits for playing the young Jackie Bouvier in the TV movie, ‘Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis’ (CBS, 2000) and episodes here and there for ‘Are You Afraid Of The Dark’, ‘Radio Active’, ‘All Souls’ and ‘Dice’ (2000). Around ‘Glory Days’, Emily also made the telepic, ‘The Redeemer’ (USA, 2002) with Matthew Modine and ‘The House On Turk Street’ (WB, 2002) with Samuel L. Jackson and Milla Jovovich. “Glory Days was a wonderful experience,” Emily explains. “Although it didn’t last long, it spun my career into four years with ‘Everwood’, also a WB project.” As Amy Abbott, Emily acquired a devoted following. The extent of her fan base can be found in the dozens of websites which have been developed on the internet, devoted to Emily and the cast of ‘Everwood’. A simple ‘Google’ of her name brings up dozens of sites. Emily completed her high school education in French through the North Vancouver Distance Education School while in Utah. “What a blessing not to have been thrown into the L.A. scene, but have a chance to get my feet wet in the acting business in a smaller city,” she explains. The ‘Everwood’ cast became her family away from home and she is still close to the friends she made. With struggle came opportunity. Emily’s career has blossomed into feature films. She worked in ‘A Different Loyalty’ (2004) with Jen Tyler, ‘The Ring’ and ‘The Ring Two’ (2005) with Naomi Watts and ‘Black Irish’ (2006). This past fall, she filmed ‘Carriers’ in New Mexico. This post-apoca- lyptic thriller also featured young actors Piper Perabo, Lou Taylor Pucci and Chris Pine. It should be released in the spring of 2007. Emily is also proud of a recent guest appearance on Law & Order: SVU, which is scheduled to air late in February, 2007. Emily has had the opportunity to work in Malta and then travel with her family through Malta and Italy for a month. She was pleased to visit friend and fellow actor, Tamara in Paris to see her perform in the musical, Chicago. “I want to do more travelling in the future and leave for London in early Janu- ary,” she says. Emily has auditions and other career opportunities to keep her occupied during the winter months. Future plans include continuing her education. Emily laughs as she rules out the performing arts and definitely anything that requires math! She says she’d enjoy exploring new territory such as women’s studies, political science or foreign affairs. “For now I’m having a lot of fun and want to focus my attention on what works,” she says and then hurries to pack her bags once again. She was off to spend New Year’s Eve with friends in Montreal before plunging back into the work ahead. By Barbara Hunt [email protected] FOCUS - JANUARY 2007 Earn spare cash in sales

GENUINE SINCE 1937 Focus On Scugog is looking for an energetic person to work in EE M M P P O O W W E E R R advertising sales for new, local magazine. We are looking for some- one who has four or five days a month to spare, and would like to YY O O U U R R earn some extra pocket money. This is not a full time job. A background in sales, or in advertising would be helpful, but VISIONVISION not essential for the right candidate. Anyone interested in learning more about this postion, please call Peter or Tracy at Focus On Scugog - 905-985-8585. PORT PERRY OPTICAL eyeglasses • sunglasses

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30 WATER STREET, PORT PERRY, ON 905-985-9388 • Toll Free: 1-877-533-2833 Thumbs The Scugog Memorial Public Library Board A column devoted to recognizing events Needs Volunteers for the and decisions affecting the residents of Following Committees: Scugog Township, and rating them with a “Thumbs Up, or Thumbs Down!” • Kent Farndale Bursary Committee Thumbs Up to the Baagwating Community Association for its • Art Gallery Committee ongoing generosity to this community. Last month the BCA handed out $530,000 to more than 20 local charities Please apply in writing by and non-profit organizations, including a whopping February 16th, 2007 to: $400,000 gift to the Port Perry Hospital Foundation. Scugog Memorial Public Library Board Port Perry has been the recipient more than $3 million Volunteer Committees in aid from the BCA over the past decade. We can’t Terms to run Box 1049, 231 Water Street, from March 2007 thank them enough for their generosity to the community. Port Perry, Ontario L9L 1A8 until December 2010 Thumbs Down to the “Scrooges” whose decision it was to increase the cost of public family skating at the Scugog arena by a reported 300 percent over the pre- vious year. Unless rolled back, the cost for the annual family skating pass will have skyrocketed from $90 last year - to a whopping $270 this year. Looks like taxpayers, through user fees, are going to have to dig deeper into their pockets to pick up the $400,000+ cost of the arena mould repairs, despite promises to the contrary.

Thumbs Down to those critical of our local newspapers for running a story about a young woman who was featured recently in Playboy magazine. Newspapers, by their very nature, cover all types of news and it’s inevitable everyone won’t like all stories. But that doesn’t mean they should be ignored. Anyone who worries that this particular story will influence their children, should consider removing the television from their home immediately. Television is far more influential than this story would ever be.

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905-985-0715 170 Casimir St., Port Perry Financing Available O.A.C. 465 Bloor St. W., Oshawa Leasing wildﬁ [email protected] www.jensentrailers.com • 1-866-479-1744 [email protected] FOCUS - JANUARY 2007 Neil Hunter take a bow Honoured for 50 years service to Port Perry Fair Board At the opening of this year’s Port Perry Fair, Neil Hunter was given official recogni- tion of his 50 years on the Fair Board. He is one of those pillars of our community who quietly gives his energy and interest to its betterment. Neil’s involvement in the community is quite legendary, serving on the School Board, the Hospital Board and many years as Councillor for Ward 1 here in Scugog. Neil was not born in Scugog. He is a Scar- borough lad, although his mother and her family were early settlers in Greenbank. He served with the Canadian Army in WW 2 and recalls “I celebrated my 21st birthday in Germany during the final push to defeat the Nazis.” When asked about his experiences on the front lines he chooses to speak only of the good times. “I went through some pretty horrible experiences but I put them at the back of my mind right after they had happened, otherwise, it’s too easy to get de- pressed by those memories,” he said. Immediately after the end of hostilities Neil returned home to Scarborough to his father’s farm on Brimley Road, and re- mained there for 5 years. Meanwhile, he joined the old Toronto Police Force and helped out with the farm when needed. Photo by J. Peter Hvidsten When Neil and his wife Jean heard that Howard McMillan was selling his farm on concession 12, they jumped at the opportu- cation was looking for ground on which to council, he regrets that council didn’t push nity. They moved to the farm in 1954 and build a new elementary school, the Town- hard enough for a complete bypass for Port five years later bought the neighbouring ship considered selling the fairground Perry. He feels the Shirley Road would farm from Armour McMillan. property and acquiring new grounds for have been an excellent route, but acknowl- “Armour McMillan got me into a lot of the Fair Board. edges there could be others options. trouble,” he said with a chuckle. “It was his The resulting debates at the Fair Board Despite council having more complex prompting that got me into local affairs, first caused a number of members to leave. In problems today, than in his day, Neil ques- on the School Board, then on the Hospital the end, the Fair Board elected to keep the tions the need for so many ‘studies. board and finally he talked me into running existing grounds. “What we need is common sense, not for council.” “I think that the outcome was regrettable. studies,” he said. When asked which events he considered So many good people leaving the Board and He went on to say that the township pays the most dramatic or important during his the fact that the property was not sold.” good money for elected and hired staff to time on the Fair Board, he immediately an- Neil feels the Fair Board could have got make decisions, and he’s puzzled why they swered, “Two things, the fire and the split a lot more land and had a clean start and feel the need to hire so many highly paid over the Fair grounds in 1986.” notes that they will soon lose the parking consultants and planners to do studies. The fire he referred to was the one on the west side of Simcoe Street which will Neil retired from active life a few years which destroyed the grandstand on the be a real setback. ago but he still maintains a keen interest in fairgrounds in 1967. “Our Fair Board didn’t “But,” he added quickly, “we will still the Fair Board and the Township Council. have much money at the time and we were have our fair and it will continue for many He and Jean sold their farm to their son really concerned about the future of the years to come. The Port Perry Fair is one Robert and his wife Linda who have loving- Fair without a grandstand.” of the best for its size in the province. We ly restored the original stone homestead. He recalled Ron Deeth came to the res- are very lucky.” Neil has weathered many storms during cue. “Ron was a hard worker and had a lot Neil was elected to the new Scugog Mu- his extensive involvement in community af- of drive. He put up a new and more solid nicipal Council in 1973 by acclamation. That fairs. Thanks to the involvement of people grandstand at a minimum cost to us.” fact speaks of the respect he has gained in like Neil our community is a much better The “big split,” as Neil called it, occurred the community. place in which to live. in 1986. When the Durham Board of Edu- As he looked over his many years on By Paul Arculus [email protected] FOCUS - JANUARY 2007 COMPTON ON DEMAND Exciting new 2006 - A YEAR IN REVIEW content available this month!Watch for details. 905-985-8171 JANUARY COMPTON COMMUNICATIONS A public meeting was held to give concerned area residents an opportunity to voice their opin- ions on a new bylaw restricting the sale of replica Come and see what’s new for 2007!! firearms. The proposed bylaw is aimed at restricting local businesses from selling replica and imi- TAYLOR FORD tation guns to anyone under 18-years-old. SALES • SERVICE • PARTS 1565 Hwy. 7A, Port Perry FEBRUARY 905-985-3655 • taylorfordsales.com Scugog’s Commissioner of Infrastructure and Development informed council the present sewage plant is at virtual capacity. Port Perry re- quired additional capacity to match the projected population growth, but the region has said it will not be in a position to upgrade Scugog’s facilities for at least another five years. In an effort to close the “pay-gap” between South Gate Scugog’s elected officials and those of Uxbridge and Brock, council approved a number of sal- Dental Office ary increases. A salary increase of 3.3 per cent Two of Scugog’s longest serving firemen, Dave Ballin- was approved for the mayor and councillors. The gall, rear, and Clive Boyd retired after giving a combined Keep on smiling total of more than 70 years to the department. throughout the New Year! increase took place on April 1, 2006. Former Scugog Township mayor Doug Moffatt Open Monday to Saturday - 9 a.m. Peter Favot, speaking on behalf of the develop- was re-elected chairman of the Durham Regional Evening appointments available ers, told the meeting the proposed resort would Police Services Board for another one-year term. 14500 Simcoe St. South feature a hotel with 80 units and 150 fractional A tragic house fire on Crandell St., Port Perry Unit #4 Port Perry ownership (time share) units. (South Gate Plaza) took the lives of three members of the Corcoran A request to council by the Library Board to 905-982-0134 family on Feb. 18. By the time firefighters arrived, place a question about future expansion on mu- the house was completely consumed by fire and nicipal vote was turned down by council. , who smoke and efforts to rescue them were futile. said any decision on the future expansion of the MOVING? MARCH library will come from Township officials and not SAVE $$$ Scugog welcomed three new physicians to the through a public referendum. community. Dr. Wm. Cohoon, a member of the The long running Festival Days celebrations Physician Recruitment Task Force announced held each summer in Port Perry were cancelled. “Do it Yourself ” Includes Drop-off, Storage, Delivery the recruitment of a general surgeon, Dr. Karo- The Scugog Chamber of Commerce opted to lynn Dobbin and two family physicians, Dr. Kerri change to an extended Canada Day celebration, (APPYPORT PERRY .EWTRAILER RENTALS Best and Dr. Suthaharan Vimalendran. over two days. 9EARDIV. OF ROBERT E. LEE ENTERPRISES INC. A large crowd turned out to the township Plans for a 20-house development along Cas- 905-985-9650 offices to express their concerns with a proposed tle Harbour Rd. were put on hold, after council www.portperrytrailer.com resort on Scugog Island. refused to rezone the land until concerns about

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Focused on: 2006 - A YEAR IN REVIEW • Segregated Funds • Annuities • Life Insurance John Walhout, CMA, CFP EPC E-mail: water, sewage and a waterfront trail were ad- Scugog residents learned that giant American [email protected] 258 Union Avenue, dressed. Council is looking for a regional water retailer, Wal-Mart, is eyeing Port Perry for a new Prince Albert 905-985-2363 supply to the proposed development. store. Mike Tucci announced Wal-mart are looking to build a new super store on property at the APRIL west side of Port Perry. The developer was also A delegation of Scugog Island residents, led looking to have additional land zoned to accom- by Rev. John Brown, president of Pine Point Park modate the development. Ltd., attended a meeting of Scugog Township d Ribbo The ugly reality of hate crimes came to Port Re n council to outline their concerns about Island Perry. Racist slogans were found spray painted May we roadways which were potted with ‘craters.’ Rev. on the bricks at both R.H. Cornish Public School all enjoy Brown asked that the township move work on a prosperous and Port Perry High School. A 15-year-old youth Family Pine Point Road to the top of it’s road agenda. and happy was later found and charged. Restaurant Taxpayers were informed they would be facing new year! All Day Breakfast a 4.9 per cent increase in their municipal taxes MAY 905-985-1210 for 2006. The increase includes 3.9 per cent for As work crews were cleaning the ditches 20-22 Water St., Port Perry local services and an additional one per cent levee along an area of township road on Scugog Island each year for the next 10 years to finance a full- they came across what appeared to be skeletal time firefighting department. remains. A forensic anthropologist from the office of the coroner was dispatched to investigate. The Port Perry BIA asked the township to con- Allen’s Siding sider declaring Queen St. a heritage district. BIA A Products Limited president Stewart Bennett said that politicians, SALES & INSTALLATION store operators and landlords are in favour of the • windows • doors • troughs idea. Mayor Pearce also felt it was time to take a • awnings • solariums serious look at protecting the downtown. • roofs • decks • sunrooms The local Kinsmen Club are hoping to spear- 178 Reach Industrial Park, Port Perry Serving head a new ‘water feature’ for the Kinsmen Beach 905-985-3333 our community in Palmer Park. The club committed a total of www.allenssiding.ca Since 1969 $25,000 towards the project over five years, to con- structe a splash pad in the area. It was revealed a splash pad could cost as much as $170,000 de- Historic Waterfront pending on the design and features. RetiRement Port Perry became Hollywood North for a few Living Happy New Year days when some of the movie industries top stars from were in town for filming. Oscar winner Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer, and director Sir Richard Attenborough filmed a scene from the upcoming film “The Ring” at the home of Village Larry and Linda Emmerson on Rosa St. 293 Perry Street, Port Perry Scugog Library celebrated its 150th Anniversary in April 905-985-8660 • 1-800-248-0848 and CEO Tom Bonanno and Mary Blake were there to TURN TO PAGE 14 www.westshorevillage.com share cake with those attending the celebration. e-mail: [email protected]

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