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|‘Waterfoo Chronicle] divisions of Waterloo and ranging from 5,000 to 9,800 voters have been proposed to the Ontario Municipal Board for the 1988 municipal election. The proposal, made by University of Waterloo political Professors Terrence J. Downey and Robert J. Williams, will be reviewed by the OMB at a hearing on Feb. 15 and 16 at Waterloo city hall. In addition to the proposed seven council members elected to represent specific wards, the submission calls for an additional three councillors and the mayor to be elected atâ€"large to represent the entire city at regular council meetings and at regional council meetings. Currently, eight counciliors and the mayor are elected atâ€"large, with the mayor and the three counciliers W&mmmm-mmw placing first in the municipal elections of 1980, 1982 and 132nd Year No. 52 e UW political scientists suggest Seven wards in new electoral system mm,am7mnmm,mmmwmmmm with some outdoor recreation last week. leobel Lawson photo The boundaries were drawn by Downey and Williams The "West" ward has a present population of around 5,000 but is expected to undergo rapid growth in the near future, noted the report. The "Columbia" and "Uptown" wards have populations of 9,200 and 9,800 respectively but contain a large number of student voters. Students do not normally turn out in large numbers for municipal elections. mmmwmwmm students living in the University of Waterlooâ€"Wilfrid Laurier University area to justify an exclusively ‘Univerâ€" sity‘ ward." However, no such ward was created "in fairness to the permanent residents of the city..." Downey and Williams have stressed that their proposal is not final. Other city residents can present alternative proposals to the OMB. The city will submit a proposal to consider placing a referendum on wards on the ballot for the 1988 municipal WHAT A RIDE The boundaries of the proposed wards are: C)Lexington â€" bounded by the Conestoga Parkway on the west and the city boundary to the north, east and OLincoln â€" Weber St. and King St. on the west, by the Conestoga Parkway on the north and east, and by the city boundary on the south; Uptown â€" Westmount Rd. to the west, University Avenue to the north, Weber St. to the east and the city boundary to the south; CBeechwoodâ€" Westmount â€" Fischerâ€"Hallman Road on the west, Columbia St. on the north, Westmount Road on the east, and by the city boundary, the western boundary of Westmount Golf Club and University Avenue to the OWest â€" the city boundary on the west, north, and hflh,km&uklodlndfidfl-fldlmnnwon east;, CDLakeshore â€" Beaver Creek Road on the west, city boundary on the north, Conestoga Parkway on the east and Beaver Creek Road, Bearinger Road and the CN railway tracks on the south; DColumbia â€" University Avenue, Columbia St. and Fischerâ€"Hallman Road on the west, Beaver Creek Road, Bearinger Road and the CN Tracks on the north, Conestoga Parkway, Weber and King Streets on the east and University Avenue on the south. A motion to begin French immersion in Grade 2, rather than Grade 1 where it presently starts within Waterloo county, has generated public debate and given way to a roundâ€"table discussion about English language program. While the Waterloo County board of education has neither accepted nor reâ€" jected the delay the start of French immersion until Grade 2, the idea has prompted a lot of discussion at the hoard level and by the public. For trustee John Monteith, who made the motion, the response from the public and the continuâ€" ing discussions by the board is "great". Monteith made the motion at a board meeting Dec. 10. A week later, the board decided to hold an information meeting early in the new members can rehash the motion and consider the impact French immersion is having upon English language programs. This meeting is likely to occur in Februâ€" ary. Monteith‘s proposal has generated a lot of public interest and trustees have been inundated with phone calls, says Monâ€" teith. Although the calls havelevelled off over Christmas holidays, Monteith exâ€" pects interest will resume as the pending meeting approaches. "I wish we could get this sort of response on other issues," said Monteith. Followâ€" ing the Dec. 10 meeting, four presentaâ€" tions â€"three against the motion at hand and one in supportâ€"were made to the board at its subsequent meeting. The proâ€" Grade 2 immersion proposal came from a group of primary Englishâ€"program teachâ€" ers, while a change to the program came from the local chapter of Canadian Paâ€" rents for French and two parents Immersion debate continues (Continued on page 5)