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March 5, 2008

Honourable George Smitherman

Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

10th Floor, Hepburn Block

80 Grosvenor St.

Toronto, ON M7A 2C4


Minister,
I have received many letters and emails from Ontarians concerned about access to Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans in Ontario.
They are asking that your government expand access to PET scans in the province and that the cost to access PET scans be covered by OHIP.
I understand that since 2002, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has been conducting clinical trials to determine the best use of PET scans in the province. I have heard from many Ontarians who are frustrated at the slow pace of these clinical trials.

Minister, Ontarians want to know when you plan to conclude these clinical trials. They want to know when your government will announce its plan for PET scans.
How does your government plan to respond to these concerns?

I look forward to hearing back from you on this matter at your earliest convenience.
 

Sincerely,
(Original signed by…)
France Gélinas

MPP for Nickel Belt

NDP Critic for Health and Long-Term Care
          *************************

 

Ms Jean Hanson February 22, 2008
Director
Rainbow District School Board

I would like to thank the Rainbow District School Board for voting on February 19 to allow R.H. Murray Public School to remain open.

I am however, very disappointed with comments both verbal and written in the hand-out from the February 19, 2008 meeting. These comments imply that the R.H. Murray parents did not support being included in a new “Green” school as their cause for objecting to the proposed closure. A similar comment was voiced following the January board meeting.

While environmental concerns are a very high priority with the parents, the entire exercise was presented by the RDSB as being focused on accommodations, not a “Green” school. Similarly, the objections to closing R.H. Murray were not focused around support or lack of support for a “Green” school.

The prime issue of the R.H. Murray parents, clearly stated, has been the well being of the students. Failure of the RDSB to clearly demonstrate student value, cost benefits and environmental benefits of the proposed closure add to the prime issue. The summation of these with clear priority on student value, together with the RDSB outright rejection of the recommendations of the ARC report formed the basis of the objection.

The R.H. Murray parents are intelligent, responsible and caring with no vested interests other than what is best for their children, the children’s education and the community. To imply that the objection to the proposed closure was based on anything less than these concerns, grossly misrepresents the nature of the objection and belittles the efforts of these parents.

The RDSB comments appear to be petulant and not consistent with what the electorate should be able to expect from a school board or its members. A public apology to the parents is in order and by copying the media, I am presenting an opportunity for that apology.



Cc: The Editor, Sudbury Star
 

Editor Sudbury Star February 21, 2008

“Is board having tea for too many?”
My chamomile tea doesn’t have the same psychedelic properties as your tea and I’m therefore a bit slow to get the gist of your editorial.

Your editorial and numerous other opinions we have heard imply that somehow the people of Whitefish have compromised a sound approach to student programs and reducing surplus space.

If I read your editorial correctly you would correct the surplus student space by building some six or seven hundred additional spaces. The logic somehow escapes me.

If the proposal was truly about reducing space, why not put the Jessie Hamilton and George Vanier students in the LDSS facilities and bus the LDSS students, who are older and more able to survive the stress of bussing, to one of the Sudbury secondary schools (much shorter distance)?

There was nothing in the proposed elimination of R.H. Murray that even came close to addressing improvements in student programs. In fact, the student programs at R.H. Murray have resulted in students from there having achievements in the highest percentile in the province.

Are you suggesting that public input is a bad thing? The boards of education have what are called ‘Trustees”. They are elected by the people to act as their “trustees” in the truest sense of the word. The Trustees are public input. A “Trustee” must consult the electorate (public) to know what they are being entrusted with. Failure to honor that trust would place them in breach of trust. Since they have acted in good faith on this issue, are you suggesting that we also do away with them?

This was not about public input but about public service accountability. You may not be aware but the information provided by the RDSB did not contain anything that would justify the moves they were proposing. We requested that they provide such information and they failed to do so. It is not clear whether RDSB could not or would not provide the information.

Could I impose on you to find out where you get your tea please?

Yours sincerely,
Thomas Price
70 Krats Road
Whitefish, Ontario
P0M 3E0
705-866-2658

 

February 22,2008

Letter to the Editor


Trustees’ Feb.19th Decisions about 5 schools in Sudbury West
…Prove Skeptics Wrong about Accommodation Review Process!


On behalf of the Walden-CAN Education Task Force and Executive, I would like to thank all of the Trustees of the Rainbow District Board of Education for listening to and acting upon the recommendations of the ARC-Sudbury West committee and the input provided by the residents of the communities of Walden and Copper Cliff, our Ward 2 Councilor and MPP Gelinas- throughout this year long Accommodation Review process.


The final recommendations presented by the Administrative Council, on February 19, were essentially ‘Option A’- developed by the Accommodation Review Committee- as the preferred Option of the committee and the communities of Sudbury West.


It was exciting to hear the Trustees unanimously approve 6 of 7 Motions that: Lively District Secondary School remain open; R.H. Murray PS JK Grade 8,remain open; Grade 7 and 8 students be transferred to LDSS- effective September, 2008; non-student use be considered at LDSS, Copper Cliff PS remain open and continue to be a feeder school for Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and Lockerby Composite School and that French Immersion program be offered at LDSS providing there is a cohort of 25 students in the academic program in Grade 9. And pass the Motion that George Vanier PS and Jessie Hamilton PS be consolidated into a new JK to Grade 6 green school offering English & French Immersion programs (dual track) - with two Trustees not approving.


It is encouraging to see that all the skeptics were wrong about the ARC-Sudbury West process. It was worth the commitment of the residents of Sudbury West to get involved in the year-long ARC process: attending public meetings, reading and analyzing data, preparing and giving presentations and providing input about the future of the 5 schools in Walden and Copper Cliff. It was worth speaking out on behalf of our students, families and communities.


We look forward to the positive impact these recommendations will have in quality education for all the students in Sudbury West- now and in the future.



Gwen Doyle, 692-3021- Communications Coordinator, Walden-CAN
Past Co-Chair
 

Dear Gwen,

On behalf of the RH Murray school community, I would like to thank you and the Walden CAN for your involvement in the Walden West school review. It’s not an easy thing to get up and speak in front of any audience, but choosing to speak in front of one which needs ‘convincing’ is even more difficult, and your team has spoken at accommodation review meetings, and continued to stay focused on this issue until it is resolved – hopefully for the better for Walden West. All of us really appreciate your commitment to come out to our meeting in January at Beaver Lake, and to make sure that information was conveyed to the public through your website and newspaper column.

Thanks for making the effort to get involved – I know it certainly made a difference to us in showing the breadth of the community concern on this issue. It has made our case so much stronger than just a ‘bunch of parents’ speaking out on behalf of Murray.

If you are in need of a cup of tea on February 7th, you know where to find one! RH Murray – 4:00 to 6:00pm. (I hope we get at least one trustee.)

Once again, thanks for your time and effort on this issue. We’ll see what happens on February 19th at the Board meeting – but at least I think we now have a chance.



Cathy Stadder Wise
RH Murray School Council
 

The Fight to Keep R.H. Murray PS Open

As a vital resource for our communities- now & in the future!

As Co-Chairs and long-time residents of Walden, Richard Bois and I (and our spouses) spent 2 hours on Friday night, in the Beaver Lake Sports and Cultural Club, attending the R.H. Murray Community/Parents Meeting. Cathy Stadder-Wise, Chair, R.H. Murray School Council & member of the ARC-Sudbury West had invited us to attend.

We went to listen and to learn ‘first-hand’ what the west-end communities & parents think about the Rainbow Board’s Administrative Council’s recommendation on December 17,2007 to close R.H. Murray PS.

What we witnessed was a hall filled with parents (several children), grandparents, residents- young and old- from Beaver Lake, Nairn, Penage, Whitefish, Worthington & other communities in Walden plus MPP Gelinas, School Trustee Santala, School Trustee Fox, several ARC-Sudbury West members, and the media.

What we heard loud and clear, is that the communities and parents will fight to keep R.H. Murray PS (the only elementary school in over 400 square kilometers west of Lively to Espanola) open- as a vital resource for their communities- now & in the future! They support the ARC-Sudbury West Options- all of which recommended keeping R.H. Murray PS open! They will do everything they can to keep R.H. Murray open for their children and their children’s children.

We learned that:

a. Members of ARC-Sudbury West were surprised on Dec. 18, to hear the announcement of Jean Hanson’s Administrative Council recommendation to close R.H. Murray. This recommendation utterly disregards the three Options developed by ARC members. We were told that in all three, five sets of schools- with five sets of parents, teachers and principals, had reached consensus that R.H. Murray is an important resource to the community and therefore should be kept open.

b. Mr Price, a former Project Manager at INCO – with 35 years of experience evaluating and implementing projects on budget and on time- is in the process of evaluating the ‘numbers’ in the five School Valuations- as posted on the website. He is appalled! The bottom line of his 45-minute power point presentation is that the figures don’t add up! Significant reference information and costs are missing. And he is not yet finished with his evaluation!

c. Throughout what should have been a celebration of Christmas holidays, the Parent Council and the communities have been busy coordinating their campaign to fight the closure of R.H. Murray PS. They have been: sending letters to parents; booking the Beaver Lake Hall; sending letters to the Editor, websites, and to residents; doing interviews for radio, TV and newspapers; phoning and emailing Trustees and politicians and holding planning meetings. With the final decision by the Rainbow Board to be made on Feb.18th they are encouraging everyone to get involved and to continue lobbying by contacting the Trustees to
express their desire to keep their children educated at R.H. Murray. They will be
exploring all possibilities!

Walden-West communities should not have to fight to keep R.H. Murray open.

The final ARC-Sudbury West Report - developed during the nine months’ ARC process- although not pleasing to all community members, was a creative & viable alternative to the status quo. Each of the three Options recommended R.H. Murray remain open.


Walden-Can continues to strongly support ARC Option A!

”… Represents the committee’s response to input provided by the community at public meetings…A majority of the committee supports this option as the preferred choice…consideration for the future through a new green school l[which] addresses the facility concerns at the two schools with the most pressing issues- George Vanier (with its actual physical condition) and Jessie Hamilton (over enrolment without space to grow)…also responds to the enrolment pressures at the secondary school by providing potential for growth by developing a Grade 7-12 focus through moving Grade 7 and 8 students…recommending that FI be provided Grade 7 –12…having Copper Cliff students feed into the secondary school in Lively…also responsive to community’s desire to have a school located in each community (Whitefish, Lively and Copper Cliff)”
From Nov.12, 2007 ARC-Sudbury West Report


The Director, however, has chosen to ignore vital aspects of this thoughtfully produced report and has indicated that her wishes are otherwise.


If the Rainbow Board supports her recommendations as opposed to Option A in the ARC Report- the preferred choice of the committee and the community- I feel they will have made a mockery of all the agonizing done by the ARC-Sudbury West members and all of the parents, individuals & community groups (including Walden-CAN) that conscientiously worked within the Ministry guidelines – in each step of the process.

If a plan was already conceived, there was no reason for our schools & communities to be part of the ARC process. The Sudbury West accommodation review would not be a democratic process – but an exercise in showmanship! Telling us that the Ministry insists that this ARC process be followed is not a good enough answer!

On February 19th we’ll learn who makes the decisions impacting the future of our rural schools in the outlying communities of CGS- the School Trustees, the Administrative Council or the Ministry.

Value to our students and value to our communities should outweigh value to the school board.

Note: The final opportunity for public input is at the January 21st Board Meeting in Council Chambers at Tom Davies Square. Deadline for Briefs is Jan.11

For more information check www.Walden-CAN.com  See our Beaver Lake page, ARC-Sudbury West page, Letters page or www.URSudbury.com  or www.rainbowschools.ca 

Gwen Doyle, Co-Chair, Walden-CAN

Copy of Dec. 4,2008 email sent to Jason Neva, Ernie Heerschap

Good afternoon Gentleman,

Let me start by thanking You both for the opportunity to discuss RH Murray School and the future of this learning institution with You last evening. As firmly stated I am 100% in support of the ARC's recommendations and will do all that I can to bolster support for such.

I will also gather answers to the questions posed to me regarding the outdoor athletic facilities and costs of upgrades, building permits that have been issued over the past few years for the zone affecting RH Murray, potential development for the Whitefish First Nation Reserve and support of council and the Mayor to lobby the Rainbow Board Trustees.

I am of the belief that the only real solution to the problem created by the Administrative Council lies in the support of the Trustees.

As directed by the Ministry of Education, the ARC that was struck almost a year ago, delivered recommendations that solved and served the needs of our students and the Rainbow School Board. Throughout many heart wrenching and difficult decisions, this school and community group came together unanimously with what was seen by most residents as an extremely sensible and responsible set of recommendations.

The very fact that the Administrative Council chose to ignore the recommendation speaks volumes of their arrogance and lack of interest in doing the RIGHT thing. Their rejection of the ARC recommendation will surely formulate a recipe for failure as what person with a sane mind would willingly volunteer to sit on such a committee in the future?

Only 12 months ago a set of recommendations came to city council in the form of the Constellation City Report. Almost 90% of this report has now been implemented with more to come to fruition in the year and years to come. Had council have decided to shelve this report the result would have had huge implications not the least of being a boycott of community panels by our residents for years to come.

In that report were many recommendations to become an inclusive city and to give our smaller communities the attention and respect they so deserve. The response by said communities has been for the most part positive.

The decision by the Administration Council does absolutely nothing to help bridge the gap between Old City and New Amalgamated City in that once again the little "guy" is being ignored.

I recently toured RH Murray and other Rainbow Board Schools in the area and as expressed to Principle Jack, I was "totally impressed"! This is truly a learning institution and not one only of the book nature, but one of life lessons, leadership and comradery. I left that school with an extra bounce in my step and feeling great about the school experiences we are offering our children.

In closing I sincerely apologize for not making the meeting this evening due to a previous commitment, but I will do everything possible to make the next meetings and to support the efforts of the school and community group going forward.

Regards,
Jacques Barbeau

 Happy New Year to All:



You may have noticed in the Friday edition of Northern Life the front page story dealing with the Minnow Lake CAN opposing the rezoning of a church in our area to “industrial” use.



We think this matter concerns more than just Minnow Lake. The use of former churches (and schools) for other that what might be considered “appropriate” uses could take place in any area of the city. What is appropriate? Generally acceptable residential or institutional use compatible with the surrounding area. In the recent past such examples would be the former English Catholic church on Bancroft Drive and a Presbyterian church on Third Avenue (now both occupied by other denominations). And the former French Catholic church on Eyre Street, now the new home of Theatre Cambrian.



While we can not stop anyone from applying for what we might consider inappropriate uses for these buildings we can make intervention to the planning committee when the hearings on the applications take place.



This is what we are doing with respect to the situation in Minnow Lake. We have stated our opposition in the letter below (which is also posted on our website – www.minnowlake.ca and will elaborate somewhat further during our public presentation to planning on Tuesday Night at TD square at 5.30 p.m. We are supporting the views of city staff, but they have been overruled before due to “political” considerations.



Your comments in support are most welcome – next time this could be taking place in your area. An e-mail of support would be appreciated either to myself and your councillor.



Thanks



John Lindsay/Bob King

Co-Chairs

Minnow Lake Restoration Group



 

Join Our Fight to Keep R.H. Murray Open!


Recently, the Rainbow District School Board’s Administrative Council has released a report recommending the closure of three Walden area schools and to combine them into one large school to be located in the Lively area. The proposed closure of R.H. Murray Public School is in direct contravention of the recommendations made by a community committee commissioned by the Board to review the needs of the children.


The Ministry of Education has laid out guidelines that must be followed as part of a school closure (accommodation review). An Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) was assembled of parents, teachers, principals and community members from the affected schools to gather community input, review data and propose recommendations to the School Board. During the public consultation process many parents, citizens and community groups expressed their concerns to keep local community schools open and not warehouse our children in large super schools.



The recommendations put forth by the ARC were to keep a school in each community and support small schools. I find it upsetting the Rainbow Board Council has chosen to arbitrarily ignore the ARC community committee’s recommendation to keep local community schools open.



The value of R.H. Murray Public School to the students and community was clearly expressed during the public consultation by various individuals and groups. The school has been recently noted by the Fraser Institute as one of the top schools in Ontario. The area served by R.H. Murray Public School serves over 400 square kilometers and includes the areas of Whitefish, Penage, Beaver Lake, Fairbanks and the Whitefish Lake First Nation. Many of these young children already ride the bus for well over an hour each day. An additional forty minutes round trip is not acceptable.



The board has cited consultant building reports and declining population as its main argument for this school’s closure. In one public meeting, the Greater City of Sudbury’s planner acknowledged that the population data used by board was prior to the latest census and is outdated. The data also did not take into account the recent mining boom and recent lifting of the housing building permit bans in this rural area.



Vale Inco is investing 400 million dollars into Totten mine and is attracting hundreds of workers to the area. The board considers these figures as ‘overly optimistic’, however construction has already started and people are being hired. Perhaps it is time for the board to recognize the long-term growth potential of the area and invest accordingly.



There are many disturbing parallels of this process with the recent amalgamation of the outlying townships into the Greater City of Sudbury. The rural areas are again the targets of ill-advised cost cutting centralization and this time it is at the expense of our children. Once local services are eliminated from rural areas they are gone for good. I urge anyone concerned with keeping our local schools open to contact Board Trustee Gord Santala (866-5229) and express their concerns.



Jason Neva, RH Murray Parents Association Jason_neva@persona.ca 



A Public Meeting will be held Jan.4, 7pm at Beaver Lake Sports & Cultural Club

The Rainbow District School Board Accommodation Review Committee for Sudbury West Area Schools has submitted its report to the Board's Administrative Council.

The report is available at rainbowschools.ca  at the following link:
http://www.rainbowschools.ca/boardroom/accommodation/sudburyWest.php

Letter from Leo Oman re Sudbury West Worthington Roads snow plowing Issues (pdf)
 

Quick Response by City of Greater Sudbury & Greater Sudbury Police Service!

On March 20th, the Walden Community Action Network (CAN) brought forward the issue of angle-parking in the Lively business block to Councillor Barbeau’s attention. Contact with the City of Greater Sudbury (CGS) and the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) was made in order to determine the status of the section of roadway in question and existing by-laws pertaining to parking.

Within 7 days of the request, the CGS and the GSPS were active in dealing with the issue of signage and enforcement in order to alleviate the concerns shared by a number of Lively residents. Copies of correspondence re: CGS position & actions by CGS /Sudbury Police have been emailed to Fred White.

Facts re: Angle Parking By-Law from 6th Ave. to Ninth Ave., Main St. Lively

1. The area in question is a City roadway.
2. There is a By-Law designating it as “angle” parking.

Schedule “E” of By-Law 2001-1 states that Main St. (East & West side) from 6th Ave. to Ninth Ave. is 45 degree angle parking.

Section 3(3) of the Traffic and Parking By-Law #2001-1 states “Where angle parking is permitted, no person shall park a vehicle except at an angle with the roadway, indicated by appropriate markings or signs, and no vehicle of an overall length of more than 6m shall be angle parked”.
There were no signs to indicate angle parking; however the pavement is clearly marked.

Section 3(1) states, “No person shall park or stop any vehicle on any highway or portion thereof unless that parking or stopping is on the right side of the highway having regard to the direction in which the vehicle has been proceeding “; “Park facing traffic”.
All the vehicles observed were parked on an angle; however, some were backed into the parking space.

Section 3(4) states, “Entry to an angle parking space of 45 degrees or less shall be made from the lane of the highway immediately adjacent to the said angle parking space, having a regard for the direction in which the vehicle has been traveling. On emerging from such space, no person driving any vehicle will proceed in a direction other than the same forward direction used to enter the parking space”.
The majority of violations were of making left turns into parking spaces and “illegal” turns when exiting spaces.

Actions to be implemented by GSPS & CGS:
1. CGS Traffic & Transportation section will have “Angle Parking” signs erected.
2. Tickets will be issued to vehicles which have backed into parking spaces, violating Section 3(1)

Bert Lapalme, Media Liaison, GSPS (675-9171) Ext. 2101
Sgt. Eric Sanderson, Community Response Unit Sgt. (675-9171) Ext. 2288
 

April 13th, 2007

Subject: Sudbury Southwest By-Pass, Hwy 17 (GWP 5825-05-00)
Input re: proposed Interchange alternative at Fielding/Kantola Rd.
For a four-Lane HWY 17

I am commenting as a resident of Walden for 34 years, a nature-lover, an artist and an active community volunteer. I support the proposed Interchange alternative at Fielding/Kantola Rd for a four-lane HWY 17.

I have watched Walden (now Sudbury West) grow & develop over the years. (Even during economic down-turns families moved to Walden). Access to the Southwest By-Pass at Fielding/Kantola Rd. is vital to our residents, businesses/corporations in the Industrial Park, and CGS emergency, safety and maintenance vehicles. Future economic and social development would be stifled without continued access to the Southwest By-Pass at Fielding/Kantola Rd.

The utilization of Fielding Memorial Park has also expanded significantly and easy access to and from the Southwest By-Pass is vital to year-round use of the Park, Bird Sanctuary, walking paths and Trans Canada Trail System – by CGS and Walden: artists, bird-watchers, community groups, families, hikers, nature-lovers, photographers, and seniors etc – for artistic, educational, physical and social outdoor activities.

Since amalgamation, the Fielding Memorial Park Pavilion is used for 3 seasons of the year by residents of all ages from CGS and Walden re: family/social events (anniversaries, retirement celebrations, showers, weddings etc); community/non-profit groups, CGS Staff & Council activities & special events (conferences, workshops, Kick-off events, media conferences, seniors’ picnics and volunteer appreciation events) and artistic community activities & special events (Exhibits/Sales, Studio Tours, Workshops etc). All these events require easy access to & from the Southwest By-Pass and often require maps with directions for guests &/or the public (in print, online & on websites).

Fielding Memorial Park is one of the many Tourist Sites located in Walden/Sudbury West – as part of the Trans Canada Trail System, as a Bird Sanctuary and as a beautiful Park with indoor & outdoor facilities. Without direct access to and from the Southwest By-Pass- Tourists and residents of North Eastern Ontario are most likely to drive right past this beautiful, natural site.

Access to sites such as Fielding Memorial Park help fulfill the goal of developing and strengthening healthy communities in CGS.

Although I fully support the Fielding/Kantola Rd. alternative, it is vital to ensure that the design for this Interchange option be the least invasive to Fielding Memorial Park, Bird Sanctuary and the Trans Canada Trail System- while providing direct access to the Southwest By-Pass for all future users.


Gwen Doyle, Resident of Lively- a community of Walden- in Sudbury West
692-3021 gwen-paul.doyle@sympatico.ca
 

Memorandum

To: Ms Judy Noble, Principal,

      Lively District Secondary School

From: Richard Bois, Gwen Doyle, Co - Chairs

          Walden –Community Action Network (Walden-CAN)

          www.walden-can.com

Subject: Rainbow District School Board’s 2007 Accommodation Review

              Sudbury West Schools: George Vanier, Jessie Hamilton, R.H.Murray

              Public Schools and Lively District Secondary School

  Background re: Walden-CAN:

            Formed in 2005, with the support of Council CGS, the Walden-CAN was established to bring people together to build a healthy community. The Walden-CAN Steering Committee has members from all sectors of the former Town of Walden (Beaver Lake, Whitefish, Penage Rd., Naughton, Lively-Mikela and South-end.)

             Healthy communities are strong and vibrant and evolve through the co-operative and collaborative efforts of its residents who care about where they live and want to make their communities the best they can possibly be. The Walden-CAN provides our communities with a vehicle through which improvements can be made.

                The Walden-CAN has engaged the community in consultations, to identify community issues and sub-committees and task forces have been formed to work on solutions. To date hundreds of community volunteers have been involved in resolving community issues re: retention and recruitment of Family Physicians, community policing, community improvements, re-opening of the Walden Ski Hill, the Anderson Farm Museum & Cultural Centre, environmental issues and Walden Help Centre.

 We have provided input on a variety of Highway safety issues relating to: the future Four-Laning of the South-West By-Pass, and the future MOT improvements for HWY 17 West & HWY 55 Interchange.

Most recently, we have been involved in providing input to the 2007 Municipal Budget and the implementation process re: the Constellation City Report- Building a Community of Communities in greater Sudbury.

  Accommodation Review Committee –Sudbury West Schools:

            At our Feb. Walden-CAN Steering Committee Meeting we discussed the Jan.30/07 Rainbow School Board announcement of the Review of Sudbury West Schools. We agreed that this Review was an extremely important community development process that has - depending on the final Accommodation Review Committee Recommendations- the potential to adversely effect the future quality of life of the Walden community- socially, economically and environmentally.

            The Walden-CAN is encouraged that the ARC- Sudbury West process over the months ahead will engage the communities of Walden and provide opportunities for input. Being responsive to the needs of the community - with students first & foremost- is strongly supported by Walden-CAN. Strong collaborative working relationships with our elected representatives and CGS Staff and the Rainbow School Board are integral in the community building process.

             The Walden-CAN strongly believes that recent decisions of the CGS Council have a direct impact on the Rainbow School Board’s current 2007 ARC- Sudbury West process. As you are aware, Floyd Laughren’s Report of the Greater Sudbury Solutions Team- entitled “ Constellation City- Building a Community of Communities in Greater Sudbury” and its Recommendations were unanimously adopted by Council. Based on extensive community consultation throughout 2006, the Report recognized the importance and necessity of strengthening the former, pre-amalgamation communities – including Walden and that by implementing the Report’s Recommendations Greater Sudbury will become stronger.

             Walden-CAN fully supports the Constellation City Report .The Mayor and Council and the area community partners are committed to rebuilding and strengthening our community. The Rainbow School Board should be part of this rebuilding and strengthening process.

             Historically, Walden, (the largest geographical Town in Canada) had several community schools within its boundaries that in large part fed the Lively DSS. The geography hasn’t changed. We realize that demographics have changed, that some school facilities are aging and in some cases are overcrowded. The 2007 Board review is seen by the Walden-CAN as an opportunity to work with the Accommodation Review Committee to ensure that the final decisions support the Goal of responding to the needs of the communities of Walden- with students first and foremost.

             Thousands of families have chosen to live in Walden because of the life-style - a mix of urban & rural living in a vibrant, growing and healthy community. Access to education from pre-school to secondary school is vital to our communities in Walden.

             We look forward to becoming involved in the process over the months ahead.

 *********************************************************************************************

Hi, Perhaps you can help a small group of seniors. We are very concerned about the lack of enforcement of the By Law regarding angle parking on Main St If you stand in front of the business block you will see constant violations of the By Law such as:
   Backing into a parking space
   Making let turns into the parking space
   Making illegal turns after exiting a parking space.
   Delivery trucks over six meters in length parked in front of the business block taking over half of the street.

We would like to see signs posted notifying people that angle parking only is allowed, and the By Law number.
We contacted our previous councillors and got a polite answer the first time and then no answers to later requests.
We don't want to go to the media but if we cant get help to correct a very dangerous situation then we will.

Sincerely,
Fred White
 

Gwen Doyle and Richard Bois

Co-Chairs, Walden Can

 This is a letter of support on behalf of the members of the Sudbury Art Club in support of the Recommendations in the Report of the Heritage Committee regarding the upgrading and proposed changes to the Anderson Farm Museum.

 This venue can become an important asset to the Walden and Sudbury Arts community; the proposed changes will enhance the use of the facility for not only art exhibits and art workshops, but the use by many different interest groups as well as increase the appeal of this venue as a museum.

 Art groups such as the Walden Art Club who will host the Northern Ontario Art Association’s Annual Meeting and Juried show in the fall of 2009 can benefit greatly if this facility was improved to enable them to host a first class event. As a director of the Northern Ontario Art Association I lend full support to the Walden Art club in hosting this important event.

 In addition it would allow more artists to use the facility for the Annual tour des Arts (Studio Tour).

Last year’s attendance proved that many Sudburians were willing to travel to the log cabin on site to view the art on display for this annual tour. Improving the facilities would greatly enhance the opportunity for more local artists to participate.

 Many thanks are in order to Walden Can for your efforts to date and for your ongoing support of the arts in the Sudbury and area community and the Anderson Farm Heritage Committee Recommendations.

 Liz Peekstok, President

Sudbury Art Club

Walden-CAN Endorses Laughren Report!

The Walden-Community Action Network (CAN) congratulates the Solutions Team chaired by Floyd Laughren, the former and existing Mayor and Councillors of The City of Greater Sudbury, and the residents from the former Regional Area Municipalities for participating in and producing the final report entitled "Constellation City-Building a Community of Communities in Greater Sudbury".

The Walden-Can Coordinating Committee fully supports the final
recommendations contained in the report and looks forward to working with our community partners in its implementation.
The report provides the guidelines and direction from which the Community Action Networks can work within their respective jurisdictions. With commitment and resolve from all the community partners, there now exists a unique opportunity to reconnect with the residents in order to revitalize and strengthen our community that perhaps has been lost through the amalgamation process.

The Walden-Can is ready and willing to offer our volunteer services to
work with our elected representatives and staff of the City of Greater
Sudbury to strengthen the Walden Community which we believe will in turn, strengthen the Greater City of Sudbury for our collective benefit.

Richard Bois,
Co-Chair,
Walden-CAN
 

first: Jack
last:  Rauhala
email: jrauhala@islandnet.com
Date:  15/01/2007

message:

As a born and raised ex resident and part of the large Rauhala clan I wish to
announce the publication of my book, 
             Find Your God
        A Pilgrims Guide to the Cosmos

I left a copy at the library, ask for it.
Please visit the web site www.findyourgod.ca

jack
 
 

January 5, 2007

Gwen Doyle and Richard Bois

Co-Chairs, Walden-CAN

This letter is in support of the 17 Recommendations in the Report of the Heritage Committee regarding the proposed changes and upgrading to the Anderson farm Museum.

 We, as the Walden Art Club, fully endorse all of the recommendations, because we firmly believe that the Anderson farm Museum is a valuable asset to this community, and to the entire City of greater Sudbury. We would, however, like to see greater use of this facility by the public.

 We feel that the proposed changes would enhance the usefulness of the site for many different groups in the community, as well as greatly enhance the appeal of the Anderson Farm as a museum. But, of course, before the public profile of the Anderson farm can be significantly raised, many of these proposals need to be carried out.

 As an arts group, we would no doubt benefit most from the winterization and enhancement of the stable building, as an excellent local venue for art shows. The repairs and changes to the barn are another needed change, as it would be an alternative site in Walden to host our larger events.

 We know, from our experience over the past three years, of a small groups of us renting the log cabin for the SCARF Studio Tour, that this is certainly a location that many people will visit to view an art show. We had so many visitors this year that we were unable to maintain a count, but estimate the attendance around 400 people, many of whom were from the City of greater Sudbury, as well as from further afield. But if the stable building were available, many more artists would have the same opportunity to be part of the SCARF Studio Tour, as well.

 In addition, our club has been asked to host the Northern Ontario Artists Association

 Annual Meeting and Juried Show for 2009 - which we would really like to do- however, we really need a large enough local venue to be able to do this. Anderson Farm would be perfect, if the proposed changes have been carried out.

 We want to thank the Walden-CAN for all your efforts to date, and for your ongoing support of the Anderson farm Heritage Committee Recommendations, and for the arts in our community!

 Wishing you all the best in 2007!

 Lynn Quinn, President

Walden Art Club

New Year Brings New Opportunities for Walden-CAN!

We have had an exciting & productive 1^st year as the 8^th Community Action Network in CGS.

Special thanks to: the members of the Steering Committee, our enthusiastic community volunteers, Councillors Gainer and Kett, City Staff, special guests and all of those interested people who attended our long, monthly meetings.

 Together we have made important 1^st steps toward increasing communication within Walden & with CGS and developing strong, working partnerships with our community, City Staff and Council.

 2007 brings new opportunities for Walden-CAN to grow & develop- completing projects from 2006 & responding to new issues re: communications, culture & heritage, environmental issues, health care, safety & security and youth services.

  Keep checking out our website for details and don’t hesitate to:  provide comments, suggestions, ideas etc re: any issue/project or volunteer to work with us.

 Co-Chairs:  Richard Bois (692-5047)

                       Gwen Doyle (692-3021)

Season’s Greetings Ward 2 Residents!

Nov. 13th 2006 will go down as one of the proudest days of my life. Surrounded by family and many close friends, a new and exciting chapter of my life opened.

I sincerely wish to thank “My team” for their encouragement, support and hard work throughout the campaign and to all the residents of Ward 2 for the opportunity to represent their interests and concerns at city hall for the next 4 years.

I am committed to represent all Ward 2 in its entirety and encourage all of you to speak to me about your concerns.

Although I may not be in a position to always give you the answer you want to hear, I will most certainly help wherever possible. I fully understand that as a new Councillor there will be many challenges, but I am confident that the rewards will make this an exciting and fulfilling 4 years.

On behalf of my wife Ann, sons Ryan, Steven and David and myself, we wish you all a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!
Jacques Barbeau, Councillor, Ward 2.
Jacques.barbeau@city.greatersudbury.on.ca 692-5966
 

                                     Anderson Farm
Wonderful!!! My husband and I are so happy to hear that the farm will remain
in place. Hopefully we will be able to attend future meetings with regard
to the farm.

Congratulations and thank you to your committee for all your hard work,
effort and time well spent.

Elizabeth & Wendell Irvine