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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 18, 2007 - 3 Parents fear loss of programs Continued from page 1 the community, that the town is wasting money by purchasing an arena that would have otherwise been run by the private sector at no cost to the taxpayer. "The town should be spending its money on new capacities, not competing with the private sector," stated an e-mail from Inger MacKenzie. "This isn't getting us any more ice time," added local resident Alison Child. "As a hockey mom, and as a taxpayer, I'm just outraged." She notes that Twin Rinks offers a variety of specialized hockey programs that aren't available through town rinks. A number of those programs are due to start a spring session. However, the program operators ­ all employees of Twin Rinks ­ say they were told last week by the Town that the programs would not continue at Twin Rinks. Dick Decloe, who has operated the Dick Decloe Hockey Academy at Twin Rinks for the last three years, sent out an email over the weekend explaining that the Town intended to cancel upcoming programs and close the arena to undertake repairs over the summer. The only program scheduled to continue is the 3 on 3 Hockey by Adam Bennett, which Bennett says he believes will be moving to River Oaks arena for the summer. As a result of Decloe's e-mail, which offered Mayor Rob Burton's e-mail address for those who wanted to comment on the situation, local residents have been loudly expressing their concern over the situation. Decloe said he needed to let his customers, including some registered for a pre-tryout camp on April 23-25, know what was happening. However, he says he was astonished when his message generated hundreds of letters to the mayor, the town and The Oakville Beaver. "I was shocked at the support I got," he said. "It really shows how passionate people are here about their programs." He says the letters have sparked a change in tone from Town representatives he has been speaking with. The Town press release also indicates a softened position, suggesting it will work with "a number of groups, including employees, over the coming weeks to better understand their needs and discuss opportunities to address those needs." Nina deVaal, the Town's director of Recreation and Culture said some repair work needs to be done on the rink over the summer, but that the town is willing to work around the ice needs of existing programs. "Nobody wants to see anybody disappointed out of all this," she said, suggesting that participants registered for upcoming programs "sit tight." "They'll hear, in pretty short order," she added. Decloe, one of 17 investors in the Twin Rinks facility, said the business was forced into receivership because of a high debt load incurred partly due to cost overruns in the construction process. He said the arena, which opened in October 2004, cost $13 million to build, compared to the $10-million budgeted. Court documents suggest the facility currently owes about $7.8 million to secured creditors, but the Town says that its purchase of the facility is "free and clear of any past liabilities or obligations." Burton, whose election platform included a promise to increase the number of ice rinks and recreational facilities in the town, has sent out an e-mail telling residents that the purchase is "a good thing." "Acquiring the assets of the Dominion Twin Rinks provides council with an opportunity to secure additional municipal ice facilities for our residents at a fair and reasonable cost," adds Burton, in the Town's press release. o y suffer from you easonal allergies aused by ragweed ollen? eezing? Runny, Itchy Nose? d, Watery, Itchy Eyes? d Research International is seeking ple with allergies to Ragweed to test nvestigational allergy vaccine. may qualify to participate if you are ween 18-59 years of age and can nd 9 visits to our facility. WILL BE COMPENSATED UP TO $860 N COMPLETION OF THIS RESEARCH STUDY. Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life Oakville Unit June 1-2, 2007 Appleby College 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Purchase a luminary and light the way! · · Celebrate a cancer survivor or remember a loved one. Luminary candles line both sides of the Relay For Life track and provide inspiration to Relay participants throughout the night. Call: 905-629-5777 or Toll Free: 1-888-ARI-5544 E-Mail: volunteer@allied-research.com Regular hours of operation: Monday to Friday 9 am to 8 pm & Saturday 9 am to 1 pm Event Sponsor Register online now at www.cancer.ca/relay or call (905) 845-5231 4520 Dixie Rd in Mississauga 2 blocks south of Eglinton Ave A Cetero Research Company Site Sponsor Survivor Sponsor Food Sponsor Print Media Sponsor www.allied-research.com ARI is a contract research organization dedicated to the advancement of clinical research. We conduct research for both healthy volunteers and those with medical conditions.