The Pickering 42 PAGES ✦ Metroland Durham Region Media Group ✦ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2006 ✦ Optional delivery $6 / Newsstand $1 POWER AND STYLE BRIER HAS HART Lexus luxury hybrid First provincial title combines plenty for Pickering curler Wheels pullout Page 8 [ Briefly ] Pickering, Durham brace for strike Knock ’em down for Big Brothers and Sisters Anderson hopes services and day care, the reach of a ernment to introduce Bill 206 for third CUPE strike could be far, Roger Ander- ✦ Premier Dalton McGuinty reading in its current form would trigger McGuinty reconsiders PICKERING — Fun and fund- son said. needs to take time and listen. a strike. raising go together, according to the “In the case of Durham it could mean For its part, the City of Pickering is pre- controversial legislation Editorial — Page 6 Big Brothers and Sisters of Ajax- pretty much all of Durham staff,” said the paring for a loss of workers to a protest, Pickering. Region’s chairman. “Pretty well every not for an illegal strike. By Erin Hatfield The organization holds its 2006 and Danielle Milley employee we have.” CUPE is threatening to take illegal Chief administrative officer Tom Ontario Power Generation Bowl for Staff Writers The Region has said it does not sup- strike action over Bill 206, an act to revise Quinn said he’s been meeting with the Kids Sake fundraiser March 3 to 5, port the illegal strike action and is urging the Ontario Municipal Employees Re- local CUPE president to make sure there and bowlers, both good and not-so- PICKERING — The threat of a strike by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to tirement System (OMERS) that proposes are enough staff members to run the City good, are invited. the Canadian Union of Public Employ- reconsider the proposed legislation. a number of changes to pensions and in the event of a protest at Queen’s Park “Hopefully, more people will get ees (CUPE) looms large over Pickering “It is a shame the premier is forcing better benefits for police and fire person- Wednesday or Thursday. CUPE repre- involved in the (Bowl for Kids Sake) and Durham. CUPE to take this action; the premier nel. and help support such a worthy From snowplow operators to senior should reconsider,” Mr. Anderson said. CUPE has said a decision by the gov- ✦ See Pickering, Page 4 cause,” says Little Brother Christo- pher Gourley in a press release. The money raised from the event is used to support Big Brother and Big Sister mentoring programs. “We need to do what we can Youths (as a community) to help these kids STUDENTS BUILDING BRIDGES out,” Big Brother Bob Hughes says in a press release. There are three different ways targeted to get involved -- by starting a team and becoming the captain, joining an existing team or joining as an indi- vidual participant. in Pickering All teams or individuals must collect donations in order to partici- pate. For more information, call 905- robberies 831-3777 or visit www.bowlforkids- sake.ca. Police investigating three incidents [ What’s on ] Caribbean dance PICKERING — Young people were threatened and robbed in three separate set for Feb. 25 incidents on Pickering streets over the weekend, police say. PICKERING — The Pickering Recreation Complex will reverberate A knife was pulled on victims in one of with the sights, sounds and smells of the incidents, Durham Regional Police the Caribbean on Feb. 25. say. The Pickering Carib-Canadian Investigators have issued an appeal Cultural Association holds a Caribbe- for information as they probe the rob- an Night Show and Dance, featuring beries. an evening of music and food. The • Friday evening around 5:45 p.m. show runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., three male teens were walking in the with the dance starting at 9:30 p.m. Whites Road-Sheppard Avenue area Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 when a tan-coloured vehicle pulled for youths and $5 for children under up beside them and three men, one of 12. them armed with a knife, got out and The complex is at 1867 Valley A.J. Groen / News Advertiser photo Farm Rd., south of Kingston Road. robbed them, police said. The suspects, For more information or tickets, described as black males aged 17 to 25 PICKERING — It was meet the engineer day at Westcreek Public School and in this case the engineer is Spencer Doreshaw’s sister Sam. As part of the Grade 3 science and technology structures unit, Sam built a bridge she named call 905-428-8244, 416-283-1757, 905- and wearing baggy clothes and ball caps, Hope Bridge. 420-5196 or 905-428-3164. drove off. • Around 10:15 p.m. Friday two 18- year-old males were robbed by two men [ Index ] as they walked along Kingston Road near Valley Farm Road, police said. One Editorial Page, 6 victim was grabbed as his wallet was Sports, 8 Classified, 9 stolen. The suspects, both black males, Pickering families get a healthy boost Entertainment, 13 ran off. • Around 8 p.m. Saturday two 17-year- old males in a park near Liverpool and By Danielle Milley organizations to help build a stronger well,” she said. [ Call us] Kingston roads were robbed by two men Staff Writer and healthier Ontario. Ms. Labaj said the City’s recreation who said they had a gun and threatened PICKERING — The goal of offering Olga Labaj, kinesiologist with the department wants to address the in- General: 905 683 5110 them. The suspects, one of whom was fun family fitness programs just got a City, said they’ve begun focusing on crease in people who are overweight Distribution: 905 683 5117 identified as white, fled; no gun was seen little easier for Pickering. family fitness, but this funding will in the community. Through the family General Fax: 905 683 7363 by the victims, police said. The City is getting $34,949 from the help them to do it quicker and allow fit program, officials want to structure Newsroom Fax: 905 683 0386 Anyone with information on the rob- Province to get families moving. The them to reach the people they want to a program for those who are at the be- Pressrun 48,900 beries is asked to call Detective Mario grant is part of more than $880,000 the target. ginning level of fitness. They recognize Lessard at 905-579-1520, ext. 2524, or Communities in Action Fund is pro- “We were just thrilled and excited infodurhamregion.com Crime Stoppers at 1-800-22-8477. viding to different municipalities and that this is something we can roll out ✦ See City, Page 4 Family c entre brings kids to the village African Canadians ranging from mentoring and tutoring “We feel we are making an attempt. LACK ISTORY students to teaching African-based There are other organizations, when and immigrants find B H drum classes. There’s also been work- approached by families, they refer them assistance through shops on braiding hair, women’s read- to us. MONTH ing clubs and children’s arts and crafts “It’s our very existence,” she says ever-growing operation classes. of agencies and individuals being re- The name of the group comes from ferred. ANNANDALE This is the third in a series of stories Reflecting... the African proverb that it takes a vil- “We’re raised by extended families. in February looking at Black History lage to raise a child. Former Ameri- Maybe they don’t have the resources to Celebrating... GOLF TOURNAMENTS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS Month and the issues and community can first lady Hillary Clinton used the tap into it. They need a community to and MON.-THURS. ...................... $395 leaders in Ajax and Pickering. same proverb for the title of a book she help raise children.” DINNER PACKAGES Looking Ahead... MON.-FRI. .............................. $425 wrote. Programs offered by ITAV include the WEEKDAYS .................. $56 FULL 7 DAYS ........................ $945 Yaa Shange has been executive direc- Durham African Heritage, a tutoring WEEKENDS ............. $61.50 By Keith Gilligan FEBRUARY .%73!$6%24)3%2 tor since Day 1, and formed the orga- program for children in Grade 2 to 6 COUPLES FULL ................. $1,645 Staff Writer Plus GST, PST, Gratuities Plus GST gone from new kid on the block to being nization “because there was a definite called The Thinkers’ Club, a Homework Tournaments include Deluxe Hot & Cold Buffet DURHAM — In the approximately referred to by other organizations. void in the community for programs Club for students from Grade 1 to 8, the or your choice of N.Y. Steak etc. four years It Takes a Village Family Re- Since its start in 2002, ITAV has served and services for African Canadians and Plus stay on PAR with us at www.toronto.com/annandale source Centre has been operating, it’s thousands through various programs, immigrant families in the community. ✦ See Black, Page 2 CHURCH ST. at BAYLY, AJAX 905-683-3210 PICKERING TOWN CENTRE BUILD A BUNDLE, SAVE A BUNDLE UPPER LEVEL SEARS WING 4 ROGERS SERVICES FOR ONLY $100 905.420.0744 See store $100 for details * *$100 is only for the monthly service fee and the cost PER MO. to buy or rent the hardware would be extra. ™Rogers, Rogers Wireless, and the Mobius design are trademarks of Rogers Communications Inc. ROGERS ROGERS ROGERS YAHOO! HI-SPEED ROGERS WIRELESS Used under license. © 2006 HOME PHONE PERSONAL T.V. INTERNET ULTRA-LITE MEGATIME PLAN A/P PAGE 2 ◆ NEWS ADVERTISER ◆ FEBRUARY 15, 2006 Black History Month a good chance to ‘teach’ Durham transit commission ✦ Black from page 1 Anansi Reading Circle, a children’s mul- considers ticultural arts and crafts club, a book club for women, and music and dance classes for both youths and adults.