Surgery on Ajax-Pickering Hospital Going Smoothly
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The Pickering University offers Trojans punted BLAISDALE B I • SUNROOMS L A R MONTESSORI I O S S • WINDOWS D S A L T E • ROOFING E M O N • DOORS green trips from Ontario Bowl SCHOOL Life is GOOD in a Lifestyle Home! Electric buses could Pickering High sings Visit our showroom CALL FOR A TOUR 239 Station St., Ajax transport students the Kerry Blues 905-686-2445 905-509-5005 www.lifestyleproducts.ca NEWS/7 SPORTS/12 Blaisdale.com 12 months - grade 8 ✦ 20 PAGES ✦ Pressrun 51,400 ✦ Optional delivery $6/Newsstand $1 ✦ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2008 Get local 24/7 newsdurhamregion.com Ron Pietroniro/ News Advertiser photo A worker tars a roof during construction of the new wing of the Ajax-Pickering Hospital. Hospital officials held a tour for local politicians, media and hospital supporters to show how much work has been completed. According to the officials, the $60-million project is on time and on budget. Surgery on Ajax-Pickering hospital going smoothly Construction on time redevelopment and support services, Rick space for out-patient procedures and a frac- renovation, there have been some hiccups, Gowrie, led politicians, business partners, ture clinic. The new emergency department Mr. Gowrie said, but mostly with parking. and on budget: supporters and the media on a tour of the is to be completed by August of 2009. However, although the lot on the west side hospital official Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital’s “We’re 30 per cent complete,” Mr. Gowrie of the building was supposed to be closed construction progress on Friday. said. until June, three-quarters of it re-opened last The $60-million redevelopment project, “We’re on time. We’re on budget.” week, which has cleared up some of those By Kristen Calis consisting of 70,000 square feet of new space The emergency department, which cur- problems. And, once the public sees the [email protected] and 70,000 square feet of renovated space, rently sees more than 42,000 patients a year, progress and the improvements the devel- is expected to be complete in the fall of will be able to handle 60,000. The ER is cur- opment will bring, Mr. Gowrie has noticed AJAX — Once the new and improved 2010. Patients can expect: a new emergency rently 8,500 square feet and was built for they get excited. Ajax-Pickering hospital is up and running, department; a new laboratory; a complex only about 20,000 patients annually. “I think we’re getting some buy-in,” he it should make for a strong, more friendly continuing care unit with a capacity of 30 “We’re going up to about 21,000 (square said. and comfortable community hospital, says a beds; redesigned space for the diagnostic feet),” Mr. Gowrie said. Builder Aecon Buildings gives the hospital hospital official. imaging and cardiac diagnostic areas; and, Since temporary spaces are being set up The senior director of planning and capital a new ambulatory care unit that will include to accommodate the areas that are under ✦ See New, Page 4 WRAP YOUR WINDOWS FOR THE HOLIDAYS SAVE UP TO BONUS $ COUPON$ 300 RECEIVE 25 OFF IN MANUFACTURER’S REBATES ANY HUNTER DOUGLAS PURCHASE EXPIRES DEC 15/08 EXPIRES DEC 6/08. ONE PER HOUSEHOLD “Your Window“Your Window Decorating Decorating Centre” Centre” Á 88 Old Kingston Rd. Pickering Village, Ajax -"1 // SSUNSHADEUNSHADE 7 "7Ê- - BLINDS & DRAPERY VISIT OUR SHOWROOM SHOP AT HOME 905-428-0937 www.sunshade.ca A/P PAGE 2 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, November 27, 2008 durhamregion.com Durham’s crime killers Anti-violence strategy has successful first year Province asked to keep funding alive By Kristen Calis [email protected] PICKERING — Pickering sup- ports an anti-violence strategy in AJ Groen/ News Advertiser photo Durham and has asked the Prov- The Durham Regional Police, with the support of Pickering and Ajax councils, is applying to the provincial government for the funding to continue its Durham Region Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy. The funding pays for the overtime needed to staff DRAVIS. From the left, PC David Jaciuk, Sgt. Jeff Moore and In- ince to continue funding the Dur- spector Steve Ross. ham Regional Police to combat gun and street crime. Last year DRPS received Inspector Steve Ross, 19 Divi- $510,000 to create an anti-vio- sion Unit Commander, said the lence strategy in Durham, and the team utilizes crime analysis to Durham Region Anti-Violence In- identify areas of Ajax and Pickering tervention Strategy (DRAVIS) be- where violent crime has occurred came operational early this year. and determine where it will likely The police must apply for the occur. funding every year. This allows police to take a pro- The strategy was set up by the active approach to reduce vio- ministry of community safety and lence, increase community safety correctional services to combat and improve the quality of life in gun-related violence and other the community. street-level crime in the GTA. Also, Toronto and Durham have If You Are... “My personal opinion I’ll give helped each other out by sharing Moving it is fantastic,” said Sgt. Jeff Moore information, Insp. Ross said. Expecting a Baby of 19 Division’s Community Re- It’s done on a part-time basis Planning a Wedding source Unit in a presentation to “without having to deploy officers Council last Monday. off the front lines,” he said. New Business Appointment Throughout the Region, 110 ini- Basically, Const. Ross said, it’s Looking for a Career tiatives have been completed and primarily off-duty officers who there have been 507 arrests due to work on the task force. Call Welcome Wagon Today! the strategy, Sgt. Moore said. The officers get overtime, but “Sixteen weapons, including that is covered out of the funding one firearm, were seized (since from the Province, along with nec- the beginning of the year),” he essary equipment for the officers, said. such as shorts and helmets for the It’s absolutely Officers are deployed in uni- bike program. form and remain in high visibility Council is asking Durham Re- FREE! in marked patrol cars, on foot and gion and its municipalities for on bicycles during warm weather their support in the request. months. A motion by Ward 1 City Coun- Officers also distribute specially cillor Jennifer O’Connell and Ward printed business cards outlining 2 Regional Councillor Bill McLean DRAVIS so residents can become requesting the continuation of 1-866-873-9945 involved in crime prevention in funding was passed unanimously their neighbourhoods. by Council last week. www.welcomewagon.ca COME VISIT OUR SHOWROOM TODAY! % DAY & EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE h7HERE#USTOMERS3END 4HEIR & OPEN SATURDAY 9AM TO 1PM 25 CHOOSE FROM: York Rebates OFF WOOL • SYNTHETIC • DESIGNER $ up to 1500 OR 10 year Parts & Labour Warranty Expires AREA RUGS (on qualifying Affi nity systems) Dec.15/08 “Where Customers Send Their Friends!” Take advantage of the numerous CHOOSE FROM HUNDREDS OF IN-STOCK RUGS! government rebates of up to $3000. Pickering/Ajax 1895 Clements Rd. MONTHLY 469 Kingston Rd, Pickering 419 Dundas St. E., Whitby Unit #135, Pickering Financing* 905-683-4477 905-831-2111 905-665-2047 Enbridge Financial Ser vices Oshawa/Whitby Expires December 7, 2008 Est. Since 1987 905-571-2377 *On approved credit durhamregion.com THE NEWS ADVERTISER, November 27, 2008 PAGE 3 A/P Ajax reaches out to new residents Town updates Top 12 he said. Staff outlined challenges facing Ajax, including finance di- its strategic plan rector Rob Ford saying the cur- The Town’s top 12 corporate rent economic situation will have By Keith Gilligan priorities a major impact on the Town’s cof- 1. Community safety [email protected] fers. “Negative impacts will be in 2. Environmental initiatives 3. Protecting employment many areas, with the most signifi- AJAX — Ajax’s top 12 priorities lands cant being major revenue losses remain the same, although there 4. Revitalization of Downtown in all departments, including both was some rejigging to give com- Ajax development and non-develop- munity outreach a higher priority. 5. Financial stability and sus- ment revenues.” Ajax council spent most of Tues- tainability On the positive side, the down- day reviewing the strategic plan 6. Economic development and turn could see a drop in prices put in place at the beginning of tourism for construction work, lower inter- the council term, in early 2007. 7. Ajax official plan/growth-re- est rates on debentures, and lower The current council term runs to lated studies or more stable prices for fuel, he November of 2010. 8. Local transportation said. “It’s very useful to get together 9. Communication, public John Fleck, the human resourc- awareness and education like this. What we do and the re- 10. Arts and cultural initiatives es director, said adding more staff ports, we lose track of where we 11. Community development is needed to deal with a growing are and what we’re accomplish- and outreach/events community. ing,” Mayor Steve Parish said. 12. Customer service As the Town has grown, with Christie McLardie, the Town’s the population topping 100,000 in communications manager, said the April of this year, the size of staff 12 priorities set at the beginning we meet as a council on Mondays hasn’t grown at the same rate, he of the term remain, although one and at GGC (General Government said. dealing with community develop- Committee meetings on Thurs- Ajax has 3.39 staff members for ment and outreach was moved up day), but we don’t meet enough every 1,000 citizens.