MALL PROGRAMS

MEETING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A 
CORPORATE CITIZEN OF OUR COMMUNITY

The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre is proud to do whatever we can to be of assistance to schools, churches, organizations and community groups of all kinds. We feel it is important for us to be actively involved in our community, not just as a retail centre, but moreover as a responsible corporate citizen. The descriptions that follow over the next two pages will give you a good idea of how we are meeting our citizenship objectives as a mall.

Robert Kirwan
Manager of Marketing & Public Relations
Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre

   

  

PUBLIC PERFORMANCES & DISPLAYS

The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre is very pleased when we have groups that wish to put on a display or performance.  We convert our centre court sitting area into a stage. Each year we have a number of groups who take advantage of this.
Trinity Toe Tappers Put On Dancing Exhibition For Public On Stage At The Centre Court

   The “Trinity Toe Tappers” clogging group put on a three hour public performance at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre that delighted hundreds of visitors to the mall in June. In the photo we see five members of the group of dedicated clog dancers who have evolved from the former “Capreol Cloggers”. From September to May they meet once a week every Monday evening in the Trinity United Church (Capreol) hall.

   The “Trinity Toe Tappers” consist of a very diverse group of individuals, most of whom live in Valley East or Capreol. However, one member travels from Wahnapitae and another is a published choreographer. The dancers perform regularly on a volunteer basis at various local community functions, at the area Senior’s Residences and Nursing Homes, and as well at the Irish Celtic Fair organized annually in March by the Sudbury Irish Arts Association.

   Clog dancing is a lively dance with roots in Irish jig, English country dances, Scottish dances, African steps, and can be traced as far back as the early 1500’s. One historian has suggested that the dance originated in the mill towns in England where workers, who commonly wore stout wooden-soled shoes would go out into the cobblestone streets during their lunch breaks and hold impromptu dancing contests. If you are interested in joining the Trinity Toe Tappers, contact Valerie Bainbridge at 897-4373.

   
Young Models Showcase Fall Fashions During First Annual Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre Fall Fashion Show
Louise Frappier-Beaulieu, coordinator of the First Annual Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre Fall Fashion Show is shown seated in the middle of her "young models" as they prepared to change into their "fashions" for the gathering audience in the mall on Sunday, September 9, 2007. 

In the photo above, Louise is shown with the following "models": From the left: Matthieu Beaulieu (standing in the front), Korbin Thibeault (standing behind Matthieu), Gilles Frappier, Trina Frappier, Caroline Dignard, Danica Frappier, Rae Frappier, Ashley Reed, Jennifer Dixon, Joel Beaulieu (standing beside Louise), Lisa Borgford, Chelcey Frappier, Erin Malinski, and Jonathan Fielding.

Louise is also shown below with two of her youngest models, Mikheala St.-Jean on the left and Keara Leeson on the right.

As owner of Glamorous You Nail Salon, and with her vast experience organizing fashion shows over the year, Louise was able to provide the models with all of the support and tips necessary for them to put on a spectacular show for the crowd that is partly shown in the photo below.
  

Sounds of Music Filled The Hallways

Enriquez Lopez is shown above playing a song from his new album 'Gypsy New Flamenco' during one of his sessions at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. Lopez and his partner, E. Torres, form the group, 'Inti Runa'. Together they travel to malls throughout Ontario performing and selling their CD's to patrons of their very relaxing style of music.

Many shoppers enjoyed their performances which were continuous from Friday, December 15 to Sunday, December 17, 2006.

  
2007 Farewell Performance By Evolutionary Band Leaves No Doubt In Anyone's Mind About The Tremendous Talent Among These Young Musicians, Performers & Crew
Confederation Secondary School's Famous Evolutionary Band closed out their 2006-2007 season with a spectacular OUTDOOR CONCERT in the parking lot of the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre on Saturday June 2, 2007. This concert provided an opportunity for an estimated 600 people to see these talented young performers in action. Some remained for the entire show, while others watched for 20 minutes or so under the hot mid-day sun. Evolutionary has performed underground setting a Guinness World Record and they are going to be the subject of a major film documentary, some of the footage which was filmed during the concert. This band has inspired students throughout the region to improve their reading and develop a positive attitude towards things such as anti-bullying and literacy. All who saw the concert were absolutely impressed with the professionalism displayed by the students who performed non-stop for almost 90 minutes on one of the hottest, most humid days of the year. For photos taken during the concert go here>>>>>
   
4th Annual Greater Sudbury Modelers Spring Show A Huge Success At The Mall

   Gaston Boissonneault, President of the Greater Sudbury Modelers, was absolutely thrilled at the response by the public during their 4th Annual Greater Sudbury Modelers Spring Show which was held at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre on Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15.

  The Club has been in operation since 2002 and is home to the biggest remote control airstrip in Northern Ontario , located at 1187 Dominion Drive . The airstrip is 800 feet long and 80 feet wide. During the summer months the general public is always welcome to watch the pilots in action.

  
The "Not Too Big To Be Small Players" From Thorneloe University Put On Special Live Performance of 'A Christmas Version of Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs'
The Centre Court of the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre on a busy Saturday afternoon may seem an unlikely place to find a live theatre performance, but that is exactly what shoppers found on December 9, 2006 when students from the Thorneloe University Theatre Arts Program entertained children "of all ages" with their rendition of 'A Christmas Version of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs'. The performers, from left to right are: Tim Rapal, Sabrina Heydorn, Claudia Rossi, Elvin Etcubanez, David Shut, Nikki Hulskramer, Alysha Keir, Blythe Gerrie.
The performance was well received by the audience. Many stopped their shopping to take in the twenty minute play. Some of the youngest visitors to the shopping centre were curious and a bit leery about taking part in the 'interactive' performance. The little boy and his sister below are satisfied to watch from a distance.
Others, like the older children below, were quite eager to volunteer to become performers themselves.
They call themselves the "Not Too Big To Be Small Players" who have existed as part of the Thorneloe University Theatre Arts Program since 2003. 
Ulrich Sikora, shown to the left, is the professor of the Theatre In Education II course as well as the Introduction To Theatre course at Thorneloe. Students from both the first year and advanced programs take part in about 3 or 4 interactive children's plays such as this each year.

"This was the first time we have performed in a shopping centre, so it will be quite interesting to hear the feedback from the students. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, but it was definitely a different experience for them," Sikora explained. 

Ulrich Sikora, a professional educator for the past 30 years has been with Thorneloe University for the past four years. During the course of his career, he has taught in places such Germany, Norway, Poland, Japan, the United States, and now, Ontario. He was born and raised in Germany and moved to Valley East in 1968. He now owns a home in Val Therese.

The students in the program perform for the Ontario Early Years Centres, of which there are some 20 locations, as well as for the Kids Share Program.

Thorneloe also puts on two main-stage performances each year. This year they put on Macbeth in November and are currently working on Molier's 'Tartuffe', a commentary on religious hypocrisy which be performed in March and will also be entered in the Quantas Northern Ontario Festival in Espanola.

Ulrich is also currently directing a play called 'Autobahn' which will be seen a the Market Square this coming summer. 

Sikora feels that there is a growing interest in dramatic arts and theatre programs such as the ones he teaches because so many people are discovering that the skills used in acting come in handy in many other areas of life. "The ability to communicate; to improvise and think on your feet; along with the self-confidence you gain by being on stage are all very important as you go through life"

   

PUBLIC SERVICE EXHIBITIONS

The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre has become a very popular place for groups and organizations that are established to provide a public service to residents. We are only too happy to provide space for this purpose.
“Making The Community Safer Is One Phone Call Away”

   The Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers is a non-profit community program involving the co-operative efforts of the police, the community and the media. Crime Stoppers is based on the simple principle that for every crime committed, someone other than the criminal has information that would solve the crime.

   Setting up public displays in local shopping centres is one of the methods Crime Stoppers employs to make people more aware of their mission. Three members of the Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers recently set up at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. In the photo we have: Paul Berardi, Director; Deborah Rousseau, Office & Event Coordinator; and Seann Kirkby, Volunteer.

   “Crime Stoppers takes calls from people who want to report a crime and wish to remain totally anonymous,” explained Deborah. “You never have to identify yourself or appear in court. We issue you an identity number for further reference and we never contact you. You contact us. We just use your information to help us solve the crime. All of our calls are taken by a police officer and our phone system does not allow us to use caller ID or to track your call. Your identity is even kept confidential if you earn a reward of anywhere from $50 to $2000 for your information if it leads to an arrest in any serious crime or recovery of drugs or stolen property.”

   All of the money raised for Crime Stoppers comes from donations or fund-raising, so if you are interested in helping this organization you are encouraged to contact Deborah at 675-8477 or visit their web site at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com. You can even submit tips online.

   In the last ten years Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers has received over 34,000 calls and given out over $400,000 in rewards. A total of almost 3000 arrests have been made resulting in over 5000 charges. To give you an idea of the impact of Crime Stoppers, during those ten years over 75 weapons and over $10 million in property has been recovered. Incredible as it may sound, over $31 million in drugs have also been seized as a result of the calls made to the Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers. This is one initiative that works in the fight to reduce crime, and it is just one phone call away.

  
Parkside Senior’s Display Encourages Older Adults To Stay Active 

   Debbie Daoust, Parkside Seniors’ Information Line Coordinator, was at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre recently increasing local awareness about the important services available at the Parkside Older Adult Centre Sudbury which is located at the YMCA building at 140 Durham Street in downtown Sudbury .
 
   If you or someone you know requires information on accessing senior services in Greater Sudbury, you are encouraged to contact the Senior’s Information Line at 673-3636. Services include housing, home and yard care, government services/pension plans, respite care, fitness and exercise programs, home health care and transportation.
 
   The Senior’s line is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is supported by many senior service providers throughout the City of Greater Sudbury .
 
   Visitors to Debbie’s booth also picked up descriptions about some of the programs offered through Parkside. Membership is only $35 per year. With the membership you get access to drop in activities, workshops and the use of the games room. You also get reduced fees for programs at the Parkside OACS and discounted fees for the YMCA. The centre is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ; Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
 
   The Parkside OACS believes that programs and services should be available to all older adults in our community regardless of economic circumstances. The Centre offers sponsored memberships and programs to assist those individuals who otherwise would not take part in the activities and services.
 
   For more information about the winter programs you can call 673-6227.

  
Local Residents Very Impressed with National Police Week Display at the Mall

   Denise Fraser, on the far left, Special Constable with the Crime Prevention Branch of the Greater Sudbury Regional Police has been visiting schools and shopping malls for over 24 years in meeting her primary responsibility of increasing public awareness and reducing crime. She was part of a large display at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre during National Police Week in May. “We love coming to this mall. It is always so busy and we get to talk to so many people from the community.”

   With her in the photo are, from the left, Bob Brunette, Constable with the Crime Prevention Branch; Jennifer Geryk, a Grade 12 Co-op student from Marymount Academy ; Mario Maillet, a constable with the RCMP; Linda and John Goddard, members of the Capreol Citizens on Patrol, and; Peter Marunchak, a member of the Board of Directors with Crime Stoppers.

   Each group was set up for the day and provided information to the general public. All of the shoppers we spoke to found the exhibit very informative and professionally arranged.

  
Good Neighbours Food Bank Volunteers Help Out The Salvation Army

Volunteers from the Good Neighbours Food Bank of Hanmer are busy enough taking care of the less fortunate members of our community through the distribution of food on the last two Wednesdays of every month, but that doesn’t prevent them from giving up more of their time to lend a helping hand to the Salvation Army. For over 13 years, the Good Neighbours have shown up at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre in December to take care of the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drive. Here we have Marie Demonsky, Lynda Demonsky and Anne Unwin during their “shift” at the Kettle. According to Anne, who is the Director of the Good Neighbours Food Bank, “We like helping out like this every year. It is for a good cause and it is just another way we can help the people in the community who need help the most.”
 
The Fox Family Is Making A Difference For Our Troops In Afghanistan
Sandra Amyot and her son, Kyle, 23, are shown in front of the special bulletin board which has been created by the Valley East Community Action Network to pay tribute to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces who are serving in Afghanistan. Kyle and his bother, Glenn, 28, are both members of the armed forces and both have seen action in this war-torn segment of the globe. 
Sandra and Claudette Lauhti-Ouwen of VECAN are shown selling "Support Our Troops" merchandise to help raise money to support families with loved ones serving in Afghanistan. With the help of VECAN and the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre, Sandra was able to raise a significant amount of money for this worthy cause. 

The bulletin board will remain up during January 2007 as a constant reminder to local citizens of the sacrifice that is being made by the brave recruits of the armed forces.

  

Straight From the Heart
by VECAN ( Valley East Community Action Network)

            The second in a series of Support the Troops endeavours by the Valley East Community Action Network is “Straight from the Heart” which features the Berthelot family whose son, Sergeant Raymond Berthelot, will soon be returning from a mission in the vicinity of Kandahar, to visit with his children, Matthieu and Cassandra.

Matthieu, 11, is shown with Alana Evershed of MCTV being interviewed for a special segment on the evening news. The poster behind Matthieu is one that he designed himself for the display.

            The son of Gaston and Pauline was a Val Caron boy who attended Notre Dame du Rosaire, 9 and 10 at Sacré Coeur, and graduated from l’Héritage.  The 36-year-old’s love of the military began in 1983 with four years of Army Cadets in Capreol, after which he moved on to the Militia in Sudbury .  In October of ’88, Raymond joined the Armed Forces, doing his basic training in St. Jean , Que., before being posted with Vindoux (the 22nd regiment) for infantry training in early ’89 and spending the next four years in Lahr , Germany .  Injuries to his back in Bosnia shortened that ’92 tour of duty, after which he was posted in Gagetown, N.B.  In ’99, he returned to Bosnia for 6 ½ months as a peacekeeper.  In 2001, after becoming Master Corporal, Raymond spent 6 ½ months in Africa’s Eurethea and Ethiopia on a peacekeeping mission.  In 2005, he became Sergeant Raymond Berthelot and was stationed in Kabul .

            Raymond has had a variety of experiences with the Canadian Armed Forces.  For several weeks during the January ice storms south of Montreal in ’98, he brought in food, helped to restore services, was involved in cutting trees and removing debris, and worked to save livestock by removing them from dangerous situations or delivering food to them in isolated areas.   The recovery of forensics and debris from Swiss Air’s Flight 111 plane crash, seven nautical miles off the coast of Nova Scotia , not far from Peggy’s Cove, provided both experience and challenge.

            In an interview, Gaston and Pauline shared, “You never get used to the fact that your son or daughter is stationed in a dangerous situation.  Each parent deals with the situation in their own way; some need to hear every word about the armed forces on television and radio; others avoid any information but what pertains to their family.”

            How can we support the family?  The family needs to know that members of their community support them in what they are doing.  Relatives need to keep in communication with others who are in the same situation, as in a support group.  Soldiers returning to their community need to feel that their community supports them. 

            Straight from the Heart has been organized, not only to showcase the Berthelot Family, but to introduce to the communities of Valley East and Capreol a newly-formed Military Family Support group.

            “We get together to connect with other families who share the same concerns and worries as we do,” said Volunteer Co-ordinator, Denise Lecuyer, “ but, most of all, we provide moral support in very difficult times.”

              The Military Family Support group will be distributing the Invisible Ribbon, part of a federal project that was launched in November, and which represents an invisible uniform that we wear to support our troops. Denise welcomes calls to 983-0708 for any military family member who requires resources or further information about the next meeting to take place on Feb. 22nd.

On Saturday, February 10, 2007, VECAN once again sponsored a special day at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre where the public was able to talk to some of the family members. In the above photo, Gaston, on the left is shown with Denise Lecuyer, Volunteer Co-ordinator, on the far right, explaining some of the information that is on the display board.  Denise also has a daughter in the Canadian navy. In the middle of the photo is Warrant Officer Yvon Godin, a veteran soldier who retired in 2004 after more than 35 years of service in the Canadian military. According to Lecuyer, there are a total of 17 area families with sons or daughters serving in the military.

Sandy Amyot, mother of Glenn and Kyle Fox, was also on hand to sell merchandise to raise money in the Support Our Troops campaign.  Sandy is shown in both photos at her familiar spot selling another item of clothing to a supporter.

If you are aware of other local families whose relatives have been deployed, please share that information by e-mailing vecan@mysudbury.ca.

 
Valley East Community Action Network Provides Opportunity For Public To Participate In Many Worthwhile Projects
The Valley East Community Action Network had a very attractive display set up during the Valley East Lions Charity Days on September 9, 2006. From the left we have: Mike Lauzon, Valley East Trail Sub-Committee; Marc Tasse, Chair of the VECAN; Shirley Baxter, Secretary; Nellie Lanteigne, Member; and Claudette Lahti-Ouwens, Member. More information can be found about the VECAN by visiting their web space at http://communities.mysudbury.ca/Sites/vecan 
 
 

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