Thank you for your invitation to take part in the 2010 Budget process to help Oakville attain its vision of being the most livable town in Canada.

My name is Janet Haslett-Theall and I am a Vice President of and I represent Joshua Creek Residents Association located south of Cornwall to the Lakeshore and West from Winston Churchill to Maple Grove. I am joined today by Ron Fiorelli President of JCRA.

In reviewing the proposed budget for 2010 we were concerned that no money has been allocated for the acquisition of school sites or for a multi use community centre for South East Oakville.

We are here to plant a seed regarding for future financial planning in regards to the needs of Southeast Oakville.

To help you understand the gravity of our concern;

In June of 2009 the Halton District School Board chose to close 3 schools in Southeast Oakville all below the QEW. These schools will be closed Sept 2010 and will come available for purchase in 2010. Our community is devastated by this decision. We will lose 3 community schools that have been a critical thread in the fabric of our neighbourhoods. The facilities and the programs offered within them have brought all ages together through social, recreational, volunteer and educational activities. The schools provided afterschool and evening community services. They truly have been an integral part of building a sense of community for all ages and certainly in keeping with the concept of a Livable Oakville.

The current Master plan for Parks Recreation Culture and Library Services created in 2006 notes that the appropriate time to revisit the plan is during the annual budgeting process hence why we are here tonight. It also states the plan “should be flexible to meet changes in trends, community preferences demographics and other unanticipated factors”. The plan previously stated in its recommendation that there was a need for increased recreational services ESPECIALLY in the south of Oakville. The loss of our schools was not a reality in 2006; today we ask you to recognize the importance of developing a multi use community centre for our community and the great opportunity the disposition of the school sites offers you in addressing our community’s needs.

Consider the potential of a school site such as Chisholm public school; it is a well maintained, air conditioned, accessible facility with beautiful green space. It has a gym for sport activities, and a stage for drama, basketball courts, and a layout that with modifications could support multiple meeting rooms for seniors, and/or youth programming. Additionally it is close to a major transit route. We know the Town is committed to community consultation on the acquisition of disposed of school sites and we welcome the opportunity to participate in that process and hope it is done in a timely manner.

The Town has the opportunity to address the needs of Southeast Oakville through the development of a multi purpose community centre.

We hope by planting the seed tonight that as you participate in community consultations, future budget planning including the consideration of the acquisition of school sites you will remember the already identified need for enhanced recreational services below the QEW. More importantly that you recognize the tangible and intangible value the school properties have to our community.