• The Valley East "Power Centre" Is Drawing Thousands of New Shoppers To The Area
• A Very Disappointed Hockey Official Speaks Out About Coaches Who Speak Without Thinking
• Valley East's Marty Kirwan Has Grown With His Experiences On The Ice To Become One Of The Most Respected Referees In The Ontario Hockey League
• After The Whistle Hockey Web Site Provides Readers With Plenty To Think About
• The Amazing Persona Spends Several Days Introducing Valley Residents To New Digital System
• A Letter From Wendy Petro
• Rayside-Balfour Whitewater Brush & Palette Art Club Puts On Huge Exhibit At the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre
• Community Living Greater Sudbury Providing Public Awareness About Family Home Program
• Popularity of Finger Style Guitar Music Continues To Grow Because of Roger Chevrier's Performances At The Mall Every Month
• Local Residents Are Asked To Refrain From Using Diabetes Collection Depot As A Garbage Drop Off
• Fantastic Floors Introduces Its Customer Charity Contest

The Valley East "Power Centre" Is Drawing Thousands of New Shoppers To The Area

Then came Canadian Tire and Mark's Work Wearhouse on October 26, 2006.

A new Subway Restaurant opened its doors in November, 2006.

Early in the new year, another major retailer, Shoppers' Drug Mart, will be opening its doors on the northwest corner of Deschesne and Hwy 69N right across from the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. 

And next summer we expect to see work begin on the construction of an international motel chain on the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre property, the "core retail facility" of this part of the community.

Just down the road at the end of Elmview we have the Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre, the Citizen Service Centre/Library and one of the largest soccer complexes in the City of Greater Sudbury.

With all of this activity certainly it easy to understand why this part of Hwy 69N is being dubbed "The Power Centre" of Valley East. In fact, when you consider the tremendous increase in housing starts in the community on top of the commercial growth, it is no wonder that Valley East is becoming the municipality of choice for both new and current residents of the Greater Sudbury region. A new leader is emerging in the Greater Sudbury Area, and it is none other Valley East - not the Downtown Core; not the South End; not New Sudbury!

The "Power Centre" is expected to emerge as the "Downtown Core" of Valley East and catapult the municipality to new heights with respect to economic development and residential expansion. Situated in the middle of a market of 30,000 people from Valley East and Capreol, and already drawing hundreds of people from neighbouring Rayside-Balfour and Garson, the area is on the brink of a major economic boom in the year to come.

As some residents are already beginning to say, "Except for going to work, we won't need to travel to Sudbury for anything."

The strength and continued growth of Hanmer & Val Therese will also make City Councillors sit up and take a long look at the Barrydowne Extension Highway. As Valley East becomes more and more attractive as a residential setting, the demand will increase for an easier access route to the busy employment and commercial sector in Sudbury proper. People will still have to work in core of the City, but they will want to live in an outlying area that contains all of the amenities available in Valley East.

It will be an interesting few years, especially if City Council decides to begin promoting development in Valley East. Right now, all of the growth is simply happening on its own, driven by consumer demand and the speculation of the private sector.

Robert Kirwan, a long-time resident of Valley East, and publisher of the Valley East Today Community Web Site is hoping that local Councillors, Andre Rivest and Ron Dupuis put up a good fight for the infrastructure that will be needed to accommodate the escalating demands for services in this area.

Kirwan, during an interview held at his home-based office in Val Therese, provided us with insight into why he feels so strongly about the potential of Valley East.

"The population of Valley East is going to explode during the next five to ten years. Hanmer & Val Therese is right in the middle of a population base of over 30,000 people when you include the catchment areas of Val Caron, Blezard Valley, Capreol, the Radar Base and Skead. There are new mining developments occurring just north of Capreol that will ultimately create an even greater demand for housing in this area. The next municipal council is going to be 'forced' to begin in January 2007 to 'decentralize' its services, placing more and more dependence upon the Citizen Service Centre (former Library) which is located at the end of Elmview Drive. The Valley East Industrial Park is primed for expansion, which lends itself well for people building houses close to their place of employment. And, as the baby boomers of southern Ontario seek to sell their million dollar homes around Toronto, they will begin to look north to Sudbury where they can establish a beautiful retirement existence and still be close enough to visit their sons and daughters in the south. It has been said that demographics explain two thirds of everything. And if you known anything about demographics, you know that Valley East is exactly what the baby boomers are looking for as they approach and enter into their retirement years."

"When you look at the whole region, Valley East is the one municipality that offers people just about everything they could want from a community. It is central to the Greater Sudbury Region; close to the large box stores, yet far enough away to avoid the traffic and congestion; close to all employment areas; and contains all of the retail and recreational choices that one might ever need to enjoy the fantastic quality of life we are so desperately looking for as individuals. 

All we need to do now is make sure that the community is prepared for this growth," Kirwan continued. "We absolutely need to rezone the area north of Hwy 69N and along Deschesnes Road for residential construction so that development can surround and be close to the 'Power Centre' of this part of the region. If people can build a home within walking distance of the 'Power Centre' and the 'Town Centre' they will come in droves. We absolutely need to provide encouragement and incentives for the private sector to build senior apartments in Valley East. We absolutely need to expand our day-care facilities. We absolutely need to expand the transit services to the subdivisions, creating a central bus depot at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. If that means using smaller buses for the subdivision routes, or allowing residents to "hail buses" from in front of their properties as the buses are running their route through the subdivisions, then these are ideas we must look at. We must upgrade our sewer and water pipes in the Hanmer area in order to allow for the development of subdivisions in this part of town. We absolutely must improve our neighbourhood playgrounds in order to improve the image of our community. We must promote the Valley East Industrial Park. We must support the work being done by our senior-friendly organizations, such as the Club Age d'Or, the Knights of Columbus, the Lions' Club and the Kin Club of Valley East. We must enhance or develop a network of walking and nature trails that will be used by young families and seniors. We must ensure that the municipal taxes paid by residents of Valley East do not include special levies such as the one we are currently paying for full-time firefighters. And, finally, we must begin to plan for the much-needed Barrydowne Extension Highway linking Valley East to New Sudbury."

"There is a lot of groundwork that has to be done in order for all of the above to be in place during the next five to ten years," Kirwan concluded. "It is going to require the efforts of people who have a 'vision of the future' and the kind of "predictive intelligence" that will allow us to focus on the right groundwork in order to make things happen that will facilitate that vision coming true."

I ref a lot of hockey in our area and at all levels.  I can tell you lots of stories that if it was caught on tape coaches would be very embarrassed.  

I live in Rural Northern Ontario and teams have to do some travel to get games in.  We often get triple headers where a midget game will be first, a pee wee game in the middle and the same two Midget teams play again for the third game.  

On this particular Sunday the two midget games were Girls, so I did the first game.  Nothing happened in this game. I may have used old school judgment and let some of the new infractions go just a little but it kept the flow of the game at a great pace.  I called more penalties than last year but still let a lot go.  As a side note anyone who feels there is no body contact in girls hockey, needs to go out and watch, because they will be very surprised at the talent level of these young ladies and I think our dominance at the world level is going to continue for some time.  but back to my story.  After the game one of the coaches came over to me and told me that he enjoyed the game but felt that I didn't call enough penalties for both teams based on what some of the other officials were doing in his league.  I took in his comment thanked him and I knew what he was saying.  I was consistent but call more penalties.  Point heard and taken.

In game two there was another official doing the game, I was on the lines for this one and he called the game according to how we are instructed to call the game.  the girls were sent to the penalty box in numbers.  I don't think there was a 5 minute stretch of 5 on 5 the entire game.  and I think the girls were getting a little frustrated.  So with about 3 minutes left in the third period there was some contact made behind the net which there was no need for a penalty but a player yelled from the bench "hey ref there is no body contact in Girls hockey"  well this was completely wrong but I didn't make a comment, "there is no body checking in girls hockey but there is definitely a lot of body contact".  

But the next comment from a female coach is where my jaw hit the ice, the coach spoke out "that is what happens when Men are in charge of women."  I couldn't believe that she was saying this with me right beside her.  

To put this in context imagine a female ref, in game where it is all boys and a male coach yelled out "this is what happens when you put a women in charge!"  I truly believe that minor hockey would through the book at him and he may not ever be allowed in another arena.  Maybe not that drastic but definitely 10 plus games.  

So this is where my story really begins.  

I told the ref about it and he wrote it up the way it happened and gave her a Gross Misconduct for making a travesty of the game. he faxed it off to the league.  I in turn, took the action of calling our Referee in chief, then the regional Referee in chief, then the NOHA contact for our area.  At each phone call they laughed at me.  Never mind my wife thinking I was over reacting that I should have just shrugged it off.  It wasn't until I used the female ref story did anyone take it serious. 

Well two weeks later I was on the ice with the same two teams and who was behind the bench the same lady.  The women's league gave her the minimum suspension - 3 games.  What message are we sending to the young girls when a coach only gets 3 games for clearly sexist and in appropriate comments, where if the roles where reversed the male coach would have been 10 plus games.  

To the women's Hockey Association, you definitely made your point clear, "I am women here us roar!".  You missed the opportunity to do it better.  To set a higher standard of tolerance in the sport. 

David-Sean Rowell
A very disappointed Official

Rayside-Balfour Whitewater Brush & Palette Art Club Puts On Huge Exhibit At the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre

WHAT IS THE FAMILY HOME PROGRAM?

There are many individuals with a developmental challenge capable of thriving in a home setting.

There are also many sensitive and caring families, couples and individuals within our community who would happily welcome the opportunity to share their hearts and their homes.

Our goal is to locate, match-up and then assist both parties in getting together to function as a Family Home: one that embodies the true family spirit.

For some individuals, Family Home will become a permanent address. For others, it may serve as a stepping stone to a relatively independent life within the community.

Above all, Family Home can provide a place to develop positive relationships, enhance social and life skills as well as allow them the opportunity to become a more active member of the community.

SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Individuals and families are supported by a team of caseworkers who ensure that specialized services are coordinated. They also ensure that individuals are able to make the transition to community living while receiving the care and service required.

All homesharers receive day supports. Hours may be flexible depending on individual needs and program availability. Respite support is available to assist with the individual needs of all involved.

Family Home Providers receive remuneration for the responsibility they've undertaken. Financial assistance is also available for the homesharers to help them out with recreational activities, clothing and special devices that enhance their functional level in the home and community.

Formal training programs and on-going support from caseworkers is also offered to Family Home Providers. These supports help sustain a healthy long-term bond.

FANTASTIC FLOORS INTRODUCES ITS CUSTOMER CHARITY CONTEST

Bernie and Ron Pedneault of Fantastic Floors in Val Caron, welcome all local shoppers to drop by and see their fine selection of flooring products. You can also call (705) 897-3567 or visit their web site at: 

www.fantasticfloors.ca 

Published by
INFOCOM CANADA BUSINESS CONSULTANTS INC.
Robert Kirwan, President & C.E.O.
4456 Noel Crescent, Val Therese ON P3P 1S8
Phone: (705) 969-7215    
EMAIL   rkirwan@infocomcanada.com