The Pickering Ajax Nissan Growth amidst hard Hockey world INCOME TAX PERSONAL INCOME TAX RETURN Parts/Service economic times grieves loss All-Canadian Tax Service Monday - Thursday 7:00am - 8:00pm Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm $ 95* Saturday 8:00am - 2:00pm Pickering has Ajax Attack honour only 49. 500 Bayly Street West, Ajax * Most returns *GST extra (Between Westney & Church) foundations for building Sanderson 100 Westney Rd S (Ajax Go Station) 1-800-565-6365 (905) 426-4860 905-686-0555 NEWS/7 SPORTS/15 ✦ 40 PAGES ✦ Pressrun 50,400 ✦ Optional delivery $6/Newsstand $1 ✦ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2009 Get local 24/7 newsdurhamregion.com War against drunk driving isn’t over: police chief More than 150 busted “They’re getting up close and personal to legal limit, 12-hour suspensions were issued no composite portrait of those charged dur- make sure (drivers) haven’t been drinking . to 168 motorists who registered warning ing this year’s campaign, except that most during holiday . they’re being very suspicious, let’s say.” levels on breath-test machines. were male and the majority are Durham RIDE campaign During the campaign officers set up each In total, officers conducted more than 900 residents. Those charged ranged in age from night at locations throughout the region, roadside breath tests. Among those charged their teens to late 60s, he said. stopping thousands of vehicles a week. A were 45 G1 or G2 licence holders who are Increased funding from the province is By Jeff Mitchell mobile command post allowed cops to test not allowed to have any alcohol in their sys- helping Durham police to extend the RIDE [email protected] suspected drunk drivers on the spot and in tems while at the wheel. program throughout the year, Chief Ewles addition to those busted for exceeding the Police spokesman Dave Selby said there’s noted. DURHAM — The number of people busted for drunk driving by Durham police during the annual Festive RIDE campaign contin- ues to rise, with more than 150 charged this year. That’s an average of more than 20 im- COME ON DAD, LET ME STEER paired motorists arrested in each of the seven weeks the campaign ran; and it’s an indication the war against drunk driving is still raging, according to police Chief Mike Ewles. “It’s going to be an ongoing challenge for us,” the chief said Monday morning. “We’re not giving up on it.” Chief Ewles made the comments follow- ing the release of the final results for the 2008 Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driv- ing Everywhere) effort, during which officers charged 152 people with drunk driving, a sharp increase from last year’s total of 113. In comparison, Toronto police laid 20 impaired charges during a five-week cam- paign; York Region cops had charged 14 alleged drunk drivers as of Dec. 28. The chief readily admits the latest number was influenced by a stepped-up campaign, which saw a higher number of cops working RIDE checks throughout the holiday season. But at the same time those officers stopped fewer vehicles -- 10,468 this year, compared to almost 13,000 in 2007. “We’re actually stopping fewer vehicles but I think our officers are taking a more strategic approach,” Chief Ewles said. That approach included carefully choos- ing areas in which to set up RIDE stops and aggressively checking out drivers for indica- tions of drinking, including glassy eyes and Jason Liebregts/ News Advertiser photo the odour of booze, he said. PICKERING — Milana and Stas Agatonov find the weather perfect for a toboggan run at Hy-Hope Farm in Pickering. “They’re a lot more aggressive,” he said of Durham’s RIDE cops. Offer valid til $28.99 Jan. 31, 2009 Herbal D-Tox Weight loss programs should begin with a complete detoxifi cation. Pollutants from the environment-found in the air, water and foods that we ingest, as well 1822 Whites Rd. Pickering, ON John (4 Lights North of 401) Kourkounakis, as, wastes produced from normal bodily processes, can tend to accumulate in the body leading to a feeling of congestion and of feeling bloated. Get a to the (905) 839-7234 R.H.N Fresh Start New Year! A/P PAGE 2 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, January 7, 2009 durhamregion.com Wanted: health care workers By Melissa Mancini [email protected] DURHAM — Connie Church has been a nurse for almost 38 years but lately most of her days are spent teaching, not providing bedside care. Her switch in career focus comes from an Ontario program called the Late Career ‘These are areas that we really need Nurse Initiative, created to retain nurses skilled employees in, so the job who may otherwise retire. For Ms. Church, a registered nurse at Lak- prospects and the job market is very, eridge Health, it was a chance to share her very positive.’ almost four decades of knowledge with re- cent graduates through special projects. — Susan Sproul, interim dean, “What tempted me was I was able to get School of Health and Community rid of some night shifts and I could apply my Services at Durham College teaching skill that I love and still stay on the floor,” she said. It’s also less physically demanding for workers who provide one-on-one support nurses who have aches and pains from years in nursing homes, group homes, long-term of lifting patients and hauling heavy equip- care facilities and schools. Durham Col- ment. lege has a year-long diploma program for “A lot of girls do have leg problems, back PSW, which means students are employable problems, but they still have the expertise.” quickly, Ms. Sproul said. All health programs Last year at Lakeridge more than $400,000 at Durham have a field placement compo- was used to support late-career nursing, nent and many placements end in employ- nursing director Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann ment, she said. said. “Many are actually hired before they even Keeping nurses is important because, ac- graduate,” she said. cording to the Registered Nurses Association The health and wellness sector is also one of Ontario, the average age of registered of the focuses of the Community Adjustment nurses in Ontario is 45.9. The share of the Strategy Committee. nursing workforce under age 35 has dropped The committee released a draft report from 24 per cent in 1995 to 18 per cent in recently available at www.opportunityosha- 2007. wadurham.ca. The need for nurses is so great the pro- One of their goals is to enhance specific vincial government recently created Health industry sectors that will provide opportu- Force Ontario, the Province’s strategy to en- nities for retraining and the development sure Ontarians have access to the right num- of new skills in the workforce. Their vision ber and mix of health care providers, now for the sector includes becoming a region- and in the future. al centre of expertise in non-institutional And the Province made a guarantee to health and wellness and becoming a rec- nursing grads: the Ministry of Health and Walter Passarella/ News Advertiser photo ognized centre for environmental health: Nurse Connie Church stops by Ben Pond’s room to say goodbye as he and his mom get ready to Long-Term Care is committed to ensuring leave the pediatric ward at Lakeridge Health Oshawa. Ms. Church is taking part in the late-career linking physical and mental health with the every new Ontario nursing graduate in 2008 nursing program at Lakeridge Health. environment. who wishes to work full-time in the province Work in health care is rewarding, Ms. will have that opportunity. Church said. After a long career, she still The government is providing funding to io, the number of registered nurses working of, said Susan Sproul, interim dean, School loves her job. create bridging positions to support new in Ontario increased by just 671 in 2007. of Health and Community Services at Dur- “Looking back, I have no regrets,” she said. graduates find employment. And the nurse shortage is just one part of ham College. “There’s not been a day in my life where I’ve The 4,000 grads in 2008 are desperately the picture. “These are areas that we really need skilled said why did I choose this.” needed in the province at a time when there There are a lot of jobs in health care that employees in, so the job prospects and the are many nursing jobs available elsewhere. high school graduates and those looking to job market is very, very positive,” she said. This is the first in a five-part series on Durham According to the College of Nurses of Ontar- switch careers might not immediately think One area of need is personal support growth sectors. Next week: Nuclear energy. Bummer of a summer as 2008 wettest year in three decades More than since 1977. “Sixty per cent of the days were ‘This past summer, (we had) three- spurred health and environment concerns. kind of wet days and I think that really in and-a-half times more rain than we “This past summer, (we had) three-and- 1,000 millimetres many ways sort of defined how miserable a-half times more rain than we had the year of precipitation the year was,” Mr. Phillips said. had the year before when there were before when there were water bans, wildfire Heavy storms throughout the region this water bans, wildfire concerns (and concerns (and the) gardens were stressed,” fell last year summer caused extreme flooding in many he said.