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Coach who spearheaded project first to take stand in RIM Park financing inquiry He believed more options in terms of ice pads should be available closer to home. an Scott was sick of Dhaving to travel to other centres so that his Waterloo Minor Hockey team could see some ice That's why he and other citizens formed a not-for- profit community group in the mid 1990s, and lobbied municipalities throughout the Waterloo region to sup- port the concept of a multi- use recreational facility. Little did Scott know then that his group's pro- posal would one day become this city's largest scandal. in the form of RIM Scott, who is president of the Human Resources Group, was the first witness to take the stand Monday at the City of Waterloo's judi- cial inquiry into the events that led up to the financing debacle. which has resulted in the city having to pay about $33 million more for the park than what the municipality claims was originally agreed to through a deal with MFP Financial Services Ltd. Memorial ceremony at Waterloo tire hall marks events of Sept. 1 l sense of thanksgiving Awm fill the air at Waterloo fire head- quarters today as dignitaries and citizens join to com- memorate the events of Sept. 11, 2001. "It's very important to remember the events of Sept. ll, and to show grati- tude, not just to the emer- gency crews who were on site, but to everyone in those planes and in those towers," said Waterloo Fire Chief Max Hussey. One year ago' today, ter, rorists hijacked four U.S uakiqrotkorh-"tim wiiitw.b4rmstorsaom By ANDREA Bum Chronicle Stiff Br ANDREA BAILEY granidgw During his first day on the witness stand Scott described for the inquiry how a "coalition" of user groups approached Water- loo, Kitchener. the Region of Waterloo, and the Town- ships of Wilmot, Wellesley and Woolwich, and told each organization of the need for a central recre- ational facility. Soon, however, the City of Waterloo was the only municipality interested in the idea, and the groups began looking at property near the Eastbridge sports- fields as a possible con- struction site. planes, crashing two into the World Trade Centre in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington DC, and the fourth into a field in Pennsylvania. Approximately 1,400 died, including passengers of all four planes, many in the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, and the emer- gency crews working to free the victims. "I know we lost about 400 of our colleagues that day," Hussey said. "It really woke us up to the dangers of the job - dangers we sometimes take for granted. "This (RIM Park) was the community's idea, not the City ofWaterloo's idea. We were approached by the community. The community owns this concept. " "The (attacks) also gave acting CAO The site was appealing. Scott said, because it already had ball fields and soccer r1elds, which design teams could enhance and build around. Scott said part of the coalition? concept was to have a facility large enough that would allow for the development of other facili- ties to help offset the cost. And the acres of land sur- rounding those fields pre- sented great opportunities for further development, in the form of a multi-use facility. complete with ice pads and gymnasiums, and even an 18-hole golf course. Scott explained the origi- nal concept included just two ice pads, as four at that time seemed too aggressive. But the vision grew into the facility of today. com- plete with two Olympic-size ice pads, four gymnasiums, a multi-use fieldhouse, numerous soccer fields and baseball diamonds. and Grey Silo golf course. "The first day (of the inquiry) was about looking at the historic needs for a recreational facility," said Waterloo Mayor Lynne Woolstencroft. "it was about establish- us a moment to reflect on our own daily lives, and the thought that we won't have something like that happen. When in reality, it can hap- pen to anyone. "The world changed that day. No question." The memorial ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.. when city staff and firefighters, "The world changed that day. No question." - Max Huuey Waterloo Fire Chief Continued on page 6 PAGE 3 HHIRUN dressed in full uniform, assemble in front on the flag, outside the Weber Street station, At 10:05 aan., the siren will sound for 15 seconds, followed by one minute of silence, in honour of the time of the South Tower col- lapse. At 10:06 am, the flag will be lowered to half mast, where it will stay for 24 hours. Mayor Lynne Woolsten- croft will then speak. fol- lowed by a short church ser- vice conducted by the fire department padre. At 10:28 h.m.. the siren will sound again for 15 sec- Hergott Cider Mills in Watenoo held its annual Applefest last weekend. Enjoying some of the many apple treats were Katie Priester, nine, and Rowena Rodrigo, IO, right. Hilssey anticipates a flow on emotion from those pre- sent at the ceremony. "I believe it will be just as emotional in some ways as it was one yer ago," Y said: onds, followed by one minute of silence to mark the time of the North Tower collapse. But Woolstencroft said the tribute should not only honour those who lost their lives in the attacks. The ceremony should also honour those who con- tinue to risk their lives on a (Our firefighters and police officers are people of valour," she said. "They run Pouring it on Woolstencroft said she suffered personal effects of the tragedy after learning that a good friend had run down 40 flights of stairs to safety in one of the towers. "But my main aim of (ceremony) isn't to com- memorate an American event. It's to remember that our own firefighters, police officers and members of the military show daily courage in the face of danger." toward danger, when the rest of us run away from it, "We can't acknowledge their value too often." "That had a pretty per- sonal and traumatic effect on me," she said. mwmo