olra newsletter

The Oakville Lakeside Residents’ Association
LAKESIDE NEWS
NOVEMBER 2004
NEWSLETTER
A Mystery at Erchless
If you’ve walked through the Erchless grounds
lately, you will have noticed a pile of rubble on the
west side of the building. If you took a closer look,
you would have seen some interesting artifacts
being excavated below the site of the old west
porch.
According to Susan Crane, Museum Acting Manager, the old porch was in such a dilapidated state
that the Town approved demolition and replacement. Contractors, while building the new foundation, discovered an unexpected trap door opening.
Work was immediately ceased while the mystery
was investigated.
Dr. John Triggs, an Archaeology Professor at Wilfrid
Laurier University and his students have been sifting through the debris for clues. What they found
was a red brick structure, resembling a fireplace,
and two square, 8 foot holes that could be cisterns.
Ms Crane wonders if this represents the remains of
Two cisterns found at the excavation
an unknown building that pre-dates Erchless. She
won’t know until Professor Triggs completes his
analysis. Until then, work on the restoration has
come to a halt while this mystery is investigated.
This is not the first time a mystery has surfaced in
Olde Oakville. There are rumours of a tunnel under
Navy street and connections with the Underground
Railroad. Oakville was the gateway to Canada for
may African Americans, as early as the 1830’s.
According to Ms Crane, Old Oakville is a significant
area for archeological finds and any of us could find
some interesting historical mysteries in our own
yards.
The museum plans to have a public showing of all
their treasures once the excavation is completed.
Meantime, why not stop by and take a look at the
excavation. It’s not every day that we have an archeological dig in our own backyard. For more information, contact Susan Crane, 338-4400
View of the structure resembling a fireplace
LAKESIDE NEWS
Page 2
Parks & Greenspaces
While I write this report I am looking at Lakeside Park and listening to the sprinklers, notwithstanding, we have had a decent
amount of rain in the last few
weeks. Well at least everything
including the weeds are nice and
green and overall the park held
up well over the summer, helped
no doubt by the cold and wet
weather in the early summer.
I have to take my hat off to the
Town for the installation some
years back of a xeriscape series
of garden beds along the east
bank of Sixteen Mile creek that I
would invite you to explore, perhaps next summer when they are
at their peak. Other than the sailors who use the walk to get to
their moorings, the beds that run
north of the Oakville club up to
the Lakeshore bridge are not that
familiar to many of our residents.
That’s a pity because they provide inspiration for gardening
without watering, relying only on
what nature provides.
Where else will you find plants
such as alliums, lavenders and a
host of dry tolerant herbs such as
golden oregano, mints, sages
along with an interesting selection of sedums, euphorbias and
yuccas. Being in the full sun, the
scents coming from these beds
on a warm sunny day are quite
noticeable, particularly as you
pass by beds of large rugosa type
rose bushes that are in continual
bloom over the summer. Butterfly
bushes, willows and sumac
round out some of the larger
plants and provide interesting
colour and structure even at this
late date.
The Lakeside Park Xeriscape Garden displays yuccas and other dry tolerant plants
Compare these beds with the
ones at the creekside of the
Erchless estate and you have all
the elements needed to inspire
you on what is one of the most
delightful walks in the area.
Peter Neubauer
Upcoming
Events in the
November 26, 7pm.
Tree
lighting ceremony at Towne
Sq. Includes Christmas carols,
refreshments and holiday entertainment.
November 27, 9-11 am. The
Annual Santa Claus Parade.
Parade
The theme this year is
“Christmas around the World”.
With 50 entries, including 10
marching bands, colourful
floats and, of course, Santa —
this promises to be fun for all!
The parade starts at MacDonald and Reynolds and continues south on Reynolds to
Lakeshore, west along Lakeshore to Navy, along Navy to
Rebecca, west on Rebecca to
Kerr, north on Kerr to Steward
and west along Steward to
Felan Street.
Throughout December weekends join “Celebrate in Downtown Oakville”.
Watch for
strolling carolers, horse drawn
wagons and even old St. Nick
himself.
Page 3
Heritage News
One of the most significant
landscape and architectural features of the Lakeside Heritage District is it’s
abundance of beautifully
crafted fences and arbors.
There are many types of
low ornamental fences
made of painted wood or
iron located along our
streets and lakeside pathways which create a feeling of warmth and charm,
comforting, like freshly
baked apple pie.
turesque winter landscape
structures and lend themselves easily to decorating
with swags and boughs for
the winter season.
very appropriate materials.
Fence styles should compliment the character of
the property, adjoining
properties and the overall
Since a heritage permit is character of the district.
required for building
For further discussion,
fences, gates and arbors
please contact your Heriit’s not too early to start
tage Representative Nicole
planning and research.
Lauermeier at 905-339New fences and walls built 1545 or Zubeda Poonja,
in the heritage districts Heritage Planner/Urban
should be of materials that Designer Community Planare sympathetic to scale ning Section, Planning Serand character of the area. vices Department at 905Fences and Arbors can
Wood, cast iron, native 845-6001
also provide beautiful picstone and Beldan Brick are
Recommended
Reading
Beautifying the Home
Grounds. PergolasTrellis-Lattice FencesGates and Entrances–
Arches. Published in
1926 (Algrove Publishing) Available at Lee
Valley Stores.
Wooden Fences. By:
George Nash
Classic Garden Structures. By: Jan and
Michael Gertley
Beautifully crafted fences and arbors create a feeling of warmth and charm
Free flu clinics:
It’s Flu Season, again!
In Canada, peak flu season starts in November and lasts until April.
Free clinics are being held throughout Ontario to help protect everyone
from getting the flu this season. It is especially important to get your flu
shot if you have chronic respiratory or heart problems or are over 65
years of age. It’s easy, it’s fast and it’s free. For more information and
more locations, see the Ontario government website at:
www.healthyontario.com or see your doctor for information on your individual situation.
Nov. 11, 4-8pm
St. James School ,
255 Morden Rd
Nov. 29, 3:30-8 pm
St. Ignatius of Loyola
Sec. School 1550
Nottinghill Gate
Page 4
LAKESIDE NEWS
The Future of Public Schools in Southeast Oakville
The potential configuration of K-8
public schools in Southeast Oakville
was outlined at a Board sponsored
open house at Oakville Trafalgar
High School on September 28th. The
options outlined could result in
school closures over the next few
years. Currently elementary enrolment is significantly under capacity
in Southeast Oakville and the Board
predicts that this trend is going to
continue for the foreseeable future.
This has resulted in school viability
issues in the areas of program, staffing, administration and extracurricular activities. This situation
will be exacerbated by the proposed
construction in the Board's 2003
Capital Strategic Plan for a new elementary school in the Clearview
community for September 2006.
The existing provincial funding formula, which is predicated on student
enrolment at the board and school
level is based upon a 100% capacity
concept. This formula dictates that
in order for the Board to construct
new schools in growth areas we
must either empty/close school(s) or
move students in order to achieve
proper staffing and to maximize
available accommodation grants.
These changes will be implemented
in a phased approach. The first
phase will possibly occur as early as
September 2005 and will address
the under utilization of Brantwood
and New Central.
These changes
could result in the closure of one of
the above schools. The second
phase will deal directly with the decision to build a school in the Clearview area. Presently children from
that area are bussed to three
schools, Maplegrove and Chisholm
for K-5 and E.J. James for Grade 6-8.
If the Clearview school is built, it will
remove approximately 350 children
from these schools leaving Maplegrove and Chisholm at risk.
JK/SK program or the closure of
Linbrook with a relocation of the
program in Southeast Oakville.
There will be the opportunity to
present public delegation(s) to the
board over the upcoming months
to express community concerns.
If you require more information or
would like to express public concern please contact:
J.W. Singleton Education Centre
2050 Guelph Line, Burlington,
Ontario Canada L7R 3Z2
Tel.: (905) 335-3663
Fax: (905) 335-9802
Haltondsb.on.ca
Mary Chapin, Education Trustee,/
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Southeast [email protected]
The Board is presently reviewing the
new Capital Strategic Plan and
hopes to vote on the building of
Clearview in early 2005. In addition,
the revised plan will also address the
over capacity of Linbrook possibly
resulting in the loss of the English
If you have any questions, please
contact Donna Kelly, a southeast
Oakville School Viability Committee member and parent, at New
Central and Brantwood, at
905—849-4753 or [email protected].
Brian reports that the municipally
funded research by scientists at
Waterloo U, CCIW at Burlington
and Conservation Halton continues. Oakville, Burlington & Halton
are funding more detailed sampling of stream & storm drain flows
to the lake, providing data on
which estimates of nutrient phosphorous in run-off can be made.
The objective is to determine what
if any action could be taken to reduce or eliminate the algae problem. A conclusion is expected by
2006. Meantime, LOSAAC is plan-
ning an extensive public information program aimed at encouraging residents and boaters to protect the quality of lake waters,
through more careful use of fertilizers for example. Halton Region Sewage plants discharging
to the lake will have their effluent phosphorous levels reduced
over the next few years by optimization of process operations.
The Skyway plant achieved flows
this summer with one tenth the
permitted levels!
Algae Update
All Old Oakville residents know that
this past summer was a bummer,
with several severe incidents of
smelly algae on the beaches or in
the near shore waters. Brian Emo,
our past President, and now chair
of the Region's Algae Advisory
Committee (LOSAAC), tells us that
in spite of these incidents, almost
no complaints about them were
received at Town or Region offices.
You may want to speak to your
Town & Region Councillors about
this, to assure support and funding for the research underway.
Page 5
Sharkey’s Update
On November 15, 2004 the OMB
hearing regarding an application to
construct a 14 storey, 85 unit residential development on the
Sharkey’s site at #111 Forsythe
Street is scheduled to begin.
The Town of Oakville is opposed to
this application and plans to vigorously defend its position before the
Board. The four Resident Associations – Oakville Lakeside, Trafalgar
Chartwell, West Harbour and West
River have actively participated in
the application process over the last
several months and support the
Town’s position.
THE REASONS WHY WE
SUPPORT THE TOWN’s
POSITION:
Old Oakville Community Vision:
Our Town Council has taken a number of protective steps over the last
twenty plus years to ensure that no
more “high-rise towers” would be
built in the Downtown area and that
infill development would compliment the low-rise scale and character of the area. The existing apartments buildings in the vicinity of
Lakeshore Road / Forsythe Street
were constructed in the 1960s and,
since the approval of the Granary in
1983, no additional “high-rise towers” have been constructed. Downtown Oakville is a unique and special place that all residents in Oakville are proud of.
Daniel’s proposal is not consistent
with that vision.
Precedent:
We believe that a decision relative to potential redevelopment
of the Sharkey’s site will influence future infill development
within the Central Business District and therefore any redevelopment proposed here must be
consistent with the planning
framework that has enabled appropriate infill development over
the last several years, while
maintaining the area’s unique
and special character.
Daniel’s proposal could establish
an inappropriate model for other
development sites downtown.
tribution to the area provided it
safeguards the low-rise, mixeduse character and serves to improve and enhance public access to Sixteen Mile Creek. Our
downtown has retained its historic and pedestrian character as
the cultural, recreational and
commercial heart of Oakville.
We support the Town’s vision for
redevelopment – a mixed use
commercial/residential development having a height not greater
than six stories and a gross floor
area of approximately 65,000
square ft .
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Sixteen Mile Creek and the
Harbour:
Both the creek and harbour are
important icons within Oakville,
providing both active and passive recreational enjoyment to
residents and visitors, as well as
being significant natural features. Policies of the Province,
Halton Region and the Town all
support the preservation of natural features and, where feasible,
their acquisition for public use.
Daniel’s proposal provides only
nominal public access to the
valleylands along Sixteen Mile
Creek.
1. Make a donation to OLRA to
assist us with the costs associated with our participation
2. Plan to attend the OMB
Hearing – it starts on Monday, November 15th at 10:00
a.m. at Town Hall and is expected to run for 4 weeks.
You are welcome to attend
at anytime.
3. Plan to speak at the public
evenings which are to be
scheduled once the hearing
gets underway.
for further information
Appropriate Redevelopment of
the Sharkey’s site:
site
We believe that appropriate redevelopment of the Sharkey’s
site could make a valuable con-
Please call Jamie Macrae at
905905-845845-2999 or email us at
oakvillelakesideresidents
@hotmail.com
LAKESIDE NEWS
Page 6
Imagine… Then Celebrate the OLRA’s 30th Anniversary!
Imagine what our neighbourhood would look like
today, without the Oakville Lakeside Residents’ Association. Imagine three 22-storey buildings in
place of the Granary. Erchless sold to private development and its lands lost to the public domain.
A block of highrises on the south side of Lakeshore
between First and Second Street. Or tall buildings
throughout the downtown and no protection for the
heritage character of this area. Without the intervention of the OLRA, these imagined scenarios
might well have been reality.
We, who live here today, are indebted to the dedication and commitment of the membership to preserving the residential and general character of the
area.
The OLRA was formed in February 1966 and incorporated, 30 years ago, in June 1975. From its inception, the Board and the membership took up the
challenge of preserving the character of the area
and have been involved in all major projects within
our boundaries, including:
•
Sale of the Erchless Estate and potential redevelopment of the lands. The OLRA worked with
the Town of Oakville to secure the property in
the public domain, as a museum in 1977.
•
Development of the Granary property. Initial
plans were reduced from three 22-storey highrises to a more appropriately scaled building.
•
Implementation of the 4-storey commercial
height by-law in Downtown Oakville.
•
The Town square condominium development
•
The downzoning of three 17 storey highrises
planned along Lakeshore between First and Second Street to townhomes and ultimately to the
single family dwellings seen today.
These are only a few of the many issues the OLRA
has grappled with over the years.
According to Alan Short, a Director on the first Board,
former President and a current resident, “one of
most significant accomplishments of the OLRA was
having this area declared a heritage district. As a
result, in 1980, the area from South of Robinson,
east of the Sixteen and west of Allan was identified
as the first heritage area.”
According to Jane Hawkrigg, our current President,
“the OLRA is one of the most continually active ratepayer groups in the province. Through its committed
membership and strong leadership the OLRA has
built up a high degree of credibility with all levels of
government. We have had many successes over the
years but there are more challenges ahead. However, our strength is in our active membership.”
Over the coming year, there will be several opportunities to celebrate our past and our future. If you
have any stories about our history or if you are interested in volunteering with the celebrations, please
contact Donna Brazelton at 338 2500. Watch for
more news in coming issues!
The OLRA helped preserve Erchless and reduced the scale of development at the Granary
Page 7
Neighborhood Watch Alert!
Several homes in our neighbourhood were broken into this summer in broad daylight, resulting
in the loss of valuable and sentimental items.
Homes on King Street, Park Avenue, Balsam and
First St. were burglarized between May and August with the thieves stealing silver, jewelry, antique china and a lap top computer.
One of the home owners, Eleanor Ball, who has
lived in the neighbourhood for a number of
years, remembers when residents felt safe
enough to leave their doors unlocked. “Times
have changed, it’s critical that everyone is aware
that homes have been targeted by professional
thieves. Residents have to take greater care to
ensure their house is secure and to keep an eye
open for unusual activities in the neighbourhood”, she advises.
Tips for protecting your home
•
Exterior door locks: use secure locks, such as deadbolt
locks with a minimum one inch throw. Ensure the doors
have sturdy frames with hinges that cannot be removed.
▪
Change locks if keys have been lost or stolen
▪
Sliding doors/windows: use locks that prevent them from
being pried open or lifted out of the frame.
▪
Lock your garage
▪
Ensure your home is well lit at night, use of floodlights and
light timers
▪
Ensure your address is clearly visible from the street
▪
Make sure trees and shrubs are trimmed to ensure visibility
and that ladders and tools which could be used to gain
entry to your home have been locked up.
▪
Keep a record of serial numbers and descriptions of your
valuable possessions. Inscribe your driver’s license or social insurance number on your possessions so that the
police can identify them as yours and return them to you.
Ask police for a free loan of the electronic engraving pencil.
Want to Help? Ideas for the Newsletter?
If you want to contact us, don’t hesitate to call
any of your OLRA Board Members. We are also
looking for volunteers to help distribute newsletters and for other activities. If this interests
you, please contact Steve Shaw at 845-8500.
If you have suggestions for the newsletter,
please contact Donna Brazelton at 338 2500.
All our phone numbers are included in this
newsletter on the back page. Also note our
new email address.
[email protected]
Contact our Elected Representatives
When you’re away during the day:
▪
Lock all doors and windows when you leave
▪
Don’t leave notes on your door (for couriers or delivery people) or information on your answering machine, regarding
your absence
▪
Leave a radio on
When you’re out of town:
▪
Use timers on lights and radios/televisions
▪
Ensure your newspaper and mail are stopped, or have
someone pick them up daily
▪
Hire someone to mow the lawn in the summer and shovel
the walkway in the winter
▪
Arrange with a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on each
others home. Leave them with details on any person who
will be visiting during your absence.
▪
Consider a house sitter or leave your key with a trusted
neighbour.
▪
The addition of an alarm system is a good backup to physical security such as locks. Make inquiries of several reputable alarm companies before deciding to purchase
Town of Oakville, 1225 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville,
L6J5A6
Mayor Anne Mulvale, 338-4173
[email protected]
Councillor Keith Bird, 845-3271, [email protected]
Councilor Chris Stoate—844-2210
cstoate @Oakville.ca
Webside: www.town.oakville.on.ca
For more information checkout the Halton Regional Police
Services website: www.hrps.on.ca.
How to Reach Us
Your executive welcome your comments and
questions.
Eleanor Ball
492 Lakeshore Rd. East, 338-2036
Donna Brazelton
181 King Street, 338-2500
Editor, Lakeside News
Jane Hawkrigg
President
65 Navy Street, 845-2999
Donna Kelly
School Board Representative
50 Second Street, 849-4753
Nicole Lauermeier
Heritage Oakville Representative
424 Lakeshore Rd. East, 339-1545
Ken Lindsay
Treasurer,
42 Park Avenue, 845-2349
The Oakville Lakeside
Residents’ Association
Has your membership expired?
Are you new to the area?
The Association represents the residents
of the area south of Lakeshore Road between Chartwell Road and the Sixteen
Mile Creek. Our objectives are preservation of this unique area and working with
municipal and regional authorities to this
end. To do this effectively we need a
strong and representative membership.
If you would like to join the Association
or renew your membership, return the
attached coupon with payment to Pam
Snively, our Membership Secretary.
Peter Neubauer
Greenspace & Parks
18 Thomas Street, 844-2611
Steve Shaw
301 William Street, 845-8500
Pam Snively
Membership Secretary
41 Navy Street, 815-1496
√
YES
Contact us at our new email address:
[email protected]
I would like to join the Oakville Lakeside Residents’
Association. Here is my membership renewal for ___
years at $15/yr. Date_____________
Name __________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________
Postal Code________________ Telephone___________________
Email____________________________________________________
Please make cheques and money orders payable to The Lakeside Resident’s Association and send in an envelope to:
Ms Pam Snively, 41 Navy Street, Oakville, Ont.