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VOL. 97, NO. 41 Daybreak, was opened in 1969 by Dr. Jean Vanier, son of the late Governor-General Georges Vanier, and founder of the L’Arche community for the retarded in France. Directors are Stephen and Ann Newroth who had spent a year as volunteer workers at L’Arche. There are now 24 handicapped adults in residence, ranging from 18 to 55, but there is no upper age limit at Daybreak. The aver- age age at present is 24, says Mr. Newroth. The majority live in the large main house, which includes administrative Residents of Daybreak House for the Retarded received the blessings of Rev. Earl Gerber at St. John’s Anglican Church, Jefferson, Sunday, along with pictures of the 126 year-old church where many of them worship regularly, bells and letters to the Dean of Canterbury. The residents of Day- break, Yonge Street North, along with other retarded adults from across the country, left Monday on an Easter Pilgrim- age to Canterbury Cathedral in England. A few years ago they, in company with hundreds of retardates from all over Erhe world, made a pilgrimage to the Shrine at Lourdes in rance. Mayor Buck will present a motion at the next meet- ing calling for figures showing actual costs in each centre in relation to present charges. lllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllllllllll“lllllllllllllllll“llllllllllllllllllll‘ Family Life Centres Set Back On Funds Mayor William Lazenby of Richmond Hill said it would be “ball game over," if the province didn't share in the cost of the four family life centres in the Region of York. Last week, York Regional Council decided not to bud- g‘et funds for the centres beyond May 31. Councillor Robert Adams of Markham had asked that a contingency budget be set aside that would carry financing through to December. The proposed budget from the region provides for $40,000 â€" half to be paid All told. council has been asked for $277,000 in grants to various organizations. but on the advice of Chief Ad- ministrator Jack Rettie, will probably trim the amount to W by the government â€" and half the amount needed by the centres. who asked for $81,000. The centres are in Rich- mond Hill. N e w m a r k e t. M a r k h a m and Georgina Township. Council. however, wants the government to promise to share equally before it will provide more. He said the province had to come back and tell the region how to finance the centres. “The centres know they’re out of business if they don’t get financing from the pro- vincial government," said Mayor Lazenby.who is chair- man of the health and social serviCES committee. An attempt by Mayor Evelyn Buck of Aurora‘ to even up the costs of day care centres throughout the region, was turned down by a meeting of York Regional Council last week. Mrs. Buck’s motion stat- ed that, while salaries for day care staff had been in- creased, and council’s policy was that users who could afford to pay the full cost of care should do so, the maximum fee should be increased to re- fleet accurate costs of care in the Newmarket. Aurora and Richmond Hill day care centres. She said she thought costs in Newmarket were more for keeping babies and retarded children than at the other centres. Buck Seeks Figures Day Care Costs Daybreak Residents ' MIXED FEELINGS The general reaction of those in attendance appeared to be mixed with some all for the stadium. some against. :and others wanting to know [more about it. Another wondered “what's it going to cost us, develop- ers don’t give you anything for nothing." Opinions ran the gamut from “it‘ll make Richmond Hill world-famous" to “who wants to be world-famous?" What’s it all about? It was Parmata Holdings first public unveiling of its much-talked-about Richmond Hill “dome stadium" pro- posal before 160 ratepayers at Bayview Secondary School Wednesday night of last week. Richmond Hill Mayor William Lazenby explained that the purpose of the meet- ing was to “hear reactions to the plan from the public Your reactions will be as- sessed by members of coun- cil in helping them to decide the merits of this proposal by Parmata." One ratepayer thought it was a “fabulous plan, let’s get on with it." Parmata's proposal envis- ages a combined residential- commercial-industrial com- plex on the 640 acre Lang- staff Jail Farm at Highway 7 and Yonge Street in Rich- mond Hill. The domed stadium would be the hub cf the whole project. The farm is owned by the City of Toronto. A considerable number hadn't made up their minds. Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Gordon Rowe, who admitted to being an “avid sports fan" and all for the stadium. urged everyone to get behind the project. He listed a number of the merits to having a domed stadium adding that the pre- sent 640 acres is “very valuable and all we get from the City of Toronto is $6,500 a year in taxes." WHY SUBSIDIZE TORONTO He contended that the tax- payers of Richmond Hill were actually subsidizing the City of Toronto because “if that land was being farmed we would stand to bring in $22,000 a year in taxes. I for one, don't want to sub- sidize Toronto any longer.” Domed Stadium Councillor Rowe said that approval of the project and subsequent purchase of the jail site would “mean no financial burden on the tax- payers of Richmond Hill." Mr. Rowe urged the rate- payers to support the pro- posal stating that “unless we become united now. we are again going to be number two to Montreal and lose this stadium concept that will By FRED SIMPSON Ont. Luc Library ’ Both Mayor William Laz- enby and Councillor Rowe assured them that no domed- stadium project would go ahead until water and sewer services were available. One of the major concerns expressed by individuals in the audience centred around the availability of services for the project and whether the residents of Richmond Hill would suffer as a result. Mr, Rowe agreed that water service “is a problem and I don‘t know all the answers to what’s happening at the moment. It’s a re- gional matter. But I can assure you that there will be stagger the imagination Approve Budget But Hold Back Projects However, Robert Hodgson, commissioner of engineer- ing, said that, while Welling- ton was in need of repairs, it was considered a back-up project to be undertaken if other projects fell through. To Spend Easter At Canterbury Mrs. Buck said she didn‘t see why it should be consid- ered in that category. seeing as how long they had waited for any work to be done on it. Mr. 'Hodgson said there was still some property to be expropriated and some con- struction drawings to be finalized. They hoped to do the Avork on Wellington Street in one year instead of spreading it over two. Councillor Adams said he couldn't see how they could spend another year and not “let Bayview Avenue go through." They had been “playing around" with Bay- view since the region be- gan. he said. The region’s 1974 con- struction program calls for the grading. gravelling and paving of Bayview from Steeles Avenue to the CNR crossing at Thornlea to re- construct the existing road- way to a basic fourâ€"lane roadway. Mr. Hodgson said the de- partment planned to stay with two lanes at present. If n Lacy out in four lanes now and then covered up with a grade separation in 1975, it York Regional Council last week approved a budget of $3,318,000 for roadway expenditures in the 1974 budget for the engineering depart- ment, but didn’t quite agree with Mayor Evelyn Buck of Aurora and Councillor Robert Adams of Markham that their own special projects be mO\'e_d‘ up a notch in the proceedings. Firsi off was Mayor -Buck, WHO asked that 850,000 of the budget be included for work on Wellington Street in Aurora. RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1974 and recreational facilities. Eight are housed in a new cot- tage-style house on the farm property, and another similar buildingiis being constructed. The pilgrims will be accompanied by a number of friends of the retarded. including Rev. Keith Gleed, an Anglican priest from Hamilton who will serve as their spiritual leader. Arrangements for the visit were made by Dr. Therese Vanier, a medical doctor and sister of Jean, who heads the L’Arche program in England. The Canadian pilgrims will be ringing their bells through the streets of Canterbury, (as pilgrims have done for 400 years) on the way to the cathedral where they will attend the service Easter morning. sioned the pilgrims. Parishioners of St. John’s joinEd the Daybreék resi- dents» beforenthe altar on Sunday as Rev. Gerber commis- The party will then go on t6 France to meet 550 resi- dents of mentally retarded centres there and will spend two days lI‘l‘ a.c‘a'stle in Atlmale, .l'eturningthanad-a April 23. \\\___ “In Essentials Unity; in NOn-Essentials Liberty; in all things Charity” no stadium until we have the services. It would be stupid to build a stadium- ‘complex without water or other services." : Mixed Reviews Mayor Lazenby said that the town would be just acting as an “agent” for Parmata in purchasing the property for a reported $10,000,000 or up figure. “By acting as agents I feel we would have more control over the site. Parmata would give ’us the There were queries as to why the town was approach- ing the City of Toronto to purchase the site rather than Parmata. would be poor economy “Has the engineering com- mittee considered putting a four-lane easement around, instead of two during the construction period?” asked Mr. Adams, who would like to see four lanes north of Highway 7. Mr. Hodgson said it had- n't: a separate lane was needed for the Royal Orch- ard exit. What was the criterion need to make a road four lanes?" asked Mr. Adams. Mr. Hodgson said it was based on traffic projection; a twoJane roadway carried some 18,000 vehicles. “Are you saying we don’t need four lanes north of Highway 7," said Mr. Adâ€" ams. “We don't need it today. but will over a 20-year per- iod." said Mr. HodgsonV Mr. Adams said that if council had wanted to. it could have had the grade separation started by now. ,Said Councillor Gord Rowe of Richmond Hill: “We have done everything in our power. Let’s not start the election now." A motion by Councillor Ray Twinney of Newmarket that council investigate the po<sibility of taking $50,000 from the property acquisiâ€" t‘on budget for the Work on Wellington Street in Aurora. was approved by council. PARMATA’S MONEY As to the possibility that the developer could possibly go broke? REPUTABLE COMPANY Parmata Spokesman Nor- man Similas assured the audi- ence that “we are a very re- putable company that has been in business for 20 years and intend to stay in for an- other 300." He noted also that major- trunk-line services would be coming through the present property as a regional project in any case and any “internal services on the development wOuld be paid for by the developers.” money and we would give it to the City of Toronto." Mr. Lazenby commented that the company had been thoroughly investigated by town officials as to financial capabilities and felt that any concern in this direction was groundless. “In any case," he said, “if such an eventuality occurred the property would revert to the town and it would still be a very valuable piece of land." Former Richmond Hill Councillor David Schiller questioned whether the in- heriting of the property in case Parmata went “belly up” would be such a boom to the municipality. He suggested that if Par- mata should mortgage the cost of such a project in part and did go broke the “muni- cipality could be left with having to pay the mortgage operating costs. I suggest it could turn out to be absolute- ly disastrous to a munici- pality the size of ours” I mata should mortgage the cost of such a project in part‘ and did go broke the “muni-i cipality could be left with having to pay the mortgage operating costs. could turn out to be absolute- ly disastrous to a munici- pality the size of ours." I Continued on page 16) ti‘llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll\llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll“ll\llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll“lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll\llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll“lllllllllllll“lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllmllllllm'3 I suggest it‘ ucaun tr-.. _z_ Mrs. McMonagle also toldlnewspwe‘rs in 'the com- Richmond Hill at present the board that the WEBlmunities of Richmond Hill allows senior citizens an ex- group Was “recognized” _bYland Aurora. tra $100 in tax credit, giving the OSSTF‘ Canadian Unlonl Mr. Van Kampen emigrat- ‘them a total of $250. of Public Employees and theied to Canada in 1958 and Mr. Rice stressed that the Ontario Secondary Schoolljoined “The Mirror" news- additional $100 was not 3 Students Federation, and waslpapers in North York and lien against the property, but helping set up adViSOI‘Y coun- 5 Scarboro. In 1962 he be- 1an outright tax credit fromicils in 15 area high schoolsicame the assistant advertis- ‘the municipality. lto work with the parents, ing manager for “The Mir- szue 01 we pIUpCLLy, m of the preperty owner. J. G. VAN KAMPEN Rarely do I comment on the accuracy of reporting of a newspaper, as I have found that criticism of misquoting by re- porters only prolongs the inac- curacy and nothing is really accomplished. However, since your article on senior citizens in large homes being a tax burden has greatly upset a large number of this respected part of our society, I would like to set the record straight. rThe motion received by the regional council for endorseâ€" ment from the City of Bramp- (Photo by Susan Samila) (The following statement was issued this week by Mayor William Lazenby of Richmond Hill. It is in response to criticism of him following news reports of a regional council meeting in which the matter of senior citizen housing was discussedâ€"Editor). Mayor Lazenby Answers His Critics Hill Clamors For Region Water That was the general attitude at town coun- cil Monday night of this week when it voted unanimously to support Vaughan’s request for an additional water supply. “We all need more water so let’s get up and throw our weight behind Vaughan and get Mark- ham to support us too,” stated Regional Council- lor Gordon Rowe who is Vice-chairman of the region‘s engineering committee. Councillor Rowe said it “We have enough water in was time “to get moving" Richmond Hill as it is i: as he acknowledged that he we only tap it. I have tm had had little success with suspicion' that the powers- his pleas to the region to thatâ€"be just don't want u: date. to do it.” ‘Mayor Lazenby Is Soaked As }BA|F Flood Hits Richvale Again 3 “We just don’t seem to be getting the co-operation from either the region or the provincial powers that be." he said. He pointed out that neg- otiations had been underway for some time to buy water from Metro but he also wondered why it was neces- sary to even do so. water-soaked Mayor William Lazenby arrived in time to stave off the worst of the- damage. “They looked like a bunch of kids playing in water. I never realized the kind of mayor we have. He’s very helpful. He tries hard. Now it is up to BAIF (to settle the damage and right the si- tuation), Peter Falconi of 46 Weldrick Road told this newspaper. If Vaughan Town can stand up and clamor for more water from the Region of York so can Richmond Hill. Heavy rainstorm flooding struck again Wednesday night of last week in the Weldrick Road area of Rich- vale. The flooding occurs behind road grading done re- cently in connection with the big BAIF Subdivision. There residents are still recovering from thousands of dollars in damage suffered March 4. But this time Richmond Hill Town staff _1ed by a Town Tax Credit Not‘ Property Lien SOUNDED ALARM It was Falconi who saved the day this time when he arrived home late while everybody else was sleeping. He sounded the alarm to neighbors, the mayor and town staff. He arrived home from bowling at about 11 pm and the water was lapping at his basement window sills Bill Rice, treasurer of the Town of Richmond Hill, said that a story in “The Liberal" last week on tax grants to senior citizens implied that the $100 credit given to them by the town was a lien against their property. The latter was referred to in a story, in which the City of Brampton had asked York Regional Council to endorse a resolution calling for the provincial government to boost the grant under the Municipal and School Tax Credit Assistance Act to $300, up $150 from the origi- nal grant. The grant is given to assist people on a fixed income to remain in their own homes by reducing for them by way of grant or credit, their an- nual real property tax pay- ment. It becomes a lien against the property, payable t5 the govérnment on the sale of the property, or death of the propertyA owner. Richmond Hill at present allows senior citizens an ex- tra $100 in tax credit, giving them a total of $250. ton concerning the Municipal and School Tax Credit Assist- ance Act, was prefaced by the following whereas: “Whereas it is desirable to assist people on a fixed income to remain in their own homes by reducing for them by way of grant or credit their annual realty property tax payment" I was in support of the mo- tion but my comments were to the effect that government should not promote older peo- ple remaining in three and four bedroom homes when their incomes are insufficient to cope with the high cost of taxes. maintenance and re- pairs, which are depriving these residents. on minimal incomes, of a proper way of life with regard to food. clothing and other amenities. I stated that we should pro- vide alternatives such as smaller low-cost housing units, more HOME PAPER OF THE DISTRICT SINCE 1878 Like Vaughan, like Us: Council “We have enough water in Richmond Hill as it is if we only tap it. I have the suspicion that the powers- thatâ€"be just don't want us to do it." SCHEME FIZZLED He said that the region had come up with a scheme to tap resources at Bond Lake “two or three years ago which would have 'given up enough water to flood the whole town. The scheme was talked about and just seemed to die. Maybe the province is afraid too much again Already the water was 58nted~ _ again almost over the road MAKE SUBMISSION built recently by BAIF, said _He said that Richmond Falconi. The town engineer H111 ShOUld b_e Prepared to and waterworks department, make a submissmn and em- with Mayor Lazenby strugg- phasized the need for haste. ling in the water too, tried‘ It was decided to have the (Continued on page 3) municipal heads make a Communication still seems to be a problem between York County Board of Edu- cation and the Ontario Secon- dary School Teachers Federa- tion; at least if Monday's board meeting was any in- dication. -; Communication Still Presents Problem School Board, OSSTF That there just may be some gaps in the system was amply illustrated when two spokesmen for WEB (Watch- ers of Educational Bureauc- racy) a citizens’ group, ap- peared before the board to remind it that it was keeping a watchful eye on it, with the tacit declaration that it couldn‘t let the schools close again. It was the latest news of Thornhill on this latter seg- ment supplied by the WEB pair, Chris McMonagle, Thornhill. and Joy Horton, Stouffville, that jolted the board. A salary package was to be presented to the teachers’ ne- gotiating team on April 16. they said, and in turn it would be presented to a mass meeting of the teachers on April 22. Caretakers for Y o r k County’s school have set April 22 as a strike date, and the elementary teachers are also engaged in a wage dis- pute with the board‘ Mrs. McMonagle said the information was easily ob- tained. They had just gone to the schools and talked to the teachers. Mr. Thompson termed it a “poor show." The board had kept confidence with the OS‘STF, and now it was being told they were breaking that confidence. “How do.you know?" asked Trustee Conrad Thompson of Richmond Hill‘ It was news to him, he said. senior citizen apartments for senior citizens in these circum- stances. and advocate the use of homes for the aged where necessary. The sale of the larger home could provide the resident with an annuity which would upgrade their annual‘in- come and thereby be beneficial to increasing the comfort of their way of life. A secondary benefit of such a sale would be to make housing stock available to families who need larger premises. It is hard for me to compre- hend that after 15 years serv- ice to this municipality. both professionally and publicly, and with my work in advocating as- sistance for senior citizens, that my comments have been so mis- construed. Recently the Town of Richmond Hill approved a $100. municipal tax credit for senior citizens, and several development pressure would result here if we came up with ample water." His sentiments were gen- erally echoed by the rest of council who agreed that it was time more municipali- ties became vocal for water in the manner of Vaughan. One councillor also point~ ed to the empty reservoir on Dufferin Street which re- quired only the turning of a valve to bring ample water up from Metro. Councillor Lois Hancey said that “it's time weform- ed our own committee and go to the region in support of Vaughan. We also need water. And we should get Markham to go along with US. Councillor Lou Wain- wright, who recently attend- ed a conference in Dallas, Texas, said that “they pipe their water a 100 miles there and we can't even get permission to tap it from Lake Simcoe here.” Mayor William Lazenby touched on the upcoming public meeting April 18 in the Markham Council Cham- bers where plans and an engineer's report about a trunk sewer collection sys- tem to serve Central York- Pickering areas will be pre- sented. Mr. W. S. Cook, publisher of “The Liberal" and Mrs. Jean Bakerâ€"Pearse, publisher of “The Banner", will be responsible to Mr. Van Kam- pen for publishing the two newspapers in the com- munities of Richmond Hill and Aurora. HYDRANGEA $4.95 To $8.95 LILIES $2.95 â€" CUT FLOWERS $1.89 MINI ROSES $4.95 â€" POTTED MUMS $2.95 MAPLE 10141 KEELE STREET MAPLE See Ad on Page 5 teachers and students “So what?” she said. Who did they represent “up my .way?" {That wasn’t sufficient iden- tification for Trustee Mariane Gillan of Georgina Township, however. “Who are you?” asked Mrs. Gillan. She said she didn‘t like it when people who weren‘t elected. came in and told her they were recog- nized by various organiza- tions. Mrs. McMonagle said they had contact with parents across the region. "You haven’t worked 'up our way,_" said Mrs: Gillan. “We’re getting along great." Trustee Robert Houghton of Richmond Hill, commendâ€" ed WEB for its work. and said he hoped it would carry on with “as much a construc- tiVe approach as possible." Name General Manager Mr. K. J. Larone, presi- dent of Metrospan Limited announced the appointment of Mr. J. G. Van Kampen as general manager of the northern group of newpapers which include the Aurora Banner and the Richmond Hill Liberal. Metropan Lim- ited is a corporate manage- ment company for eleven community newspapers in and around Toronto. Mr. Van Kampén is for- mer director of sales of Metrospan Limited. EASTER FLOWERS FRESH years ago was one of:the first to implement the school tax credit assistance for these cit- izens. I believe it should be noted that my critic Regional Councillor Robert Adams rep- resents the Town of Markham which recently, it is reported, turned down the $100. munic- ipal tax credit. When Mr. Adams retorted to my explanation that did I want the older people thrown out of their homes, I frustratingly re- plied, “If that’s the way you interpret my remarks â€" yes", since it looked like my explan- ation was incomprehensible. The only burden I had referred to in my comments was that which the low income senior resident had from the high cost of taxes. maintenance and repairs. For those who are able to afford the upkeep ‘â€" fine. but for those who cannot I say we must provide alternatives, and their choice of such. submission and= be in at- tendance at the environ- mental hearing. Vaughan has been worry- ing about its water supply problem for some time and it was this that prompted its recent decision to become more vocal with the region. Negotiations have been underway between the reg- ion and Metro to establish the Metro water hookup but municipalities have been un- happy with the speed of the talks. PRICE 15¢ PER COPY ACUTE SHORTAGE Vaughan has been exper- iencing an acute shortage of water for firefighting in the Keele Street Industrial Area. It was emphasized at a re- cent Vaughan council meet- ing that it couldn't afford to wait for years for addi- tional water. Richmond Hill Council feels it is in the same pre- dicament. Immnum“llmmlmum“mumImummmmmuuuunmw 1'01‘", while-in 1967 he was appointed advertising man- ager. In 1971 he also filled the post of general sales manager of Metrospan, then a sales division of “The Mir- I‘OI‘ . Mr. Van Kampen lives in northern Willowdale with his wife Patty and two child- ren. Roger and Nicole. The steering committee of the newly-formed Par- ents’ Council of Thornhlll held its first meeting Sun- day to draw up a consti- tution, but a threatened strike of York County school maintenance work- ers changed the format somewhat. Thelma Sues. who was elected communications di- rector, said that instead the meeting concerned it- self with what action the parents would take if the education of the students was curtailed because of a strike. The meeting approved a motion by Art Fowler, vice-chairman. calling for a public meeting Within five days of such an ev- ent, and the joining of forces with other areas in York Region for a “com- bined effort for action." Mrs. Sues said the Par- ents' Council would we]- come inquiries from par- ents in the area. The maintenance men voted on the weekend to strike if their demands aren't met, and set April 22 as the strike date. The meeting also agreed to look into-the issues in- volved in the contract dis- pute with the maintenance workers. They currently earn $3.50 to $3.90 an hour, de- pending on job classifica- tion. and are seeking a 25 percent pay increase and an 18-month contract. Their two-year contract expired December 31. Parents Study Strike Threat