Oakville residents: You’re all invited to a party to celebrate power plant victory
October 13th, 2010 Categories: Green Trends, Oakville Events, Oakville Town Planning & Development, South East Oakville
Oakville Harbour
As a C4CA street captain, I want to get the word out that a party, a night of music, fun and food is being planned for:
Friday, October 15, 2010 (6:30 – 9:00 p.m.)
Chisholm Education Centre Parking Lot (1484 Cornwall Road).
This event willl take place rain or shine, so we are encouraged to dress appropriately for fall weather.
To recognize the collective efforts of our amazing community, the evening will be compliments of C4CA (Coalition for Clean Air), the organization of local residents that has successfully lobbied for stopping the power plant from being built in Oakville and GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
FOOD BANK: our local food bank can always use our help as there are currently 5,000 residents relying on it.
Priority needs are canned fruit and vegetables, brown and white rice, canola oil, healthy cereal and diapers. If you bring these items to the event, they will be transported to the food bank.
Wayne and I look forwarded to seeing you all there!
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No Oakville power plant! Victory party at Julia’s in downtown Oakville!
October 8th, 2010 Categories: Downtown Oakville, Green Trends, Oakville Events, Oakville Real Estate News, Places to Eat, South East Oakville
No Oakville power plant: Mayor Rob Burton, Hilary Shantz, Karen Khoury celebrate.
The mood was JUBILANT as C4CA (Citizens for Clean Air) members and locals streamed into Julia’s last night!!
For me it was still sinking in: How AMAZING a victory this is for Oakville, and for those of us who live in South East Oakville!
The possiblity of this dangerous and environmentally hazardous 900 megawatt power plant had certainly cast an ominous cloud over the area, and impacted property values.
Folks, not only is this a victory for Oakville, but for all the GTA, as the Premier has said there will not be a plant of this kind in the GTA area.
Wayne and I chatted with Mayor Rob Burton as we walked into the party together. Astute legislation on the municipal level by Mr. Burton along with intense and unrelenting lobby efforts by C4CA made all the difference!
This one-year long fight has been like David going up against Goliath.
Having Erin Brokovich come to Oakville last week (read Toronto Star article on her visit), along with the appointment of a full-time executive director, showed that Oakville residents were redoubling their efforts, AND NOT BACKING DOWN!
No Oakville power plant! Wendy Burton (wife of Mayor) Wayne Shantz
A huge big thank you to all those who gave time and resources to this fight.
Karen Khoury, Brenda Potter-Phelan, Nancy Robertson: as busy professionals and mothers, you sacrificed a great deal of personal time. We appreciate your hard work.
Rob Burton, thanks for your excellent leadership in fighting this.
My question is : When they make a movie about this, who will play the key roles? 
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Outrage in Oakville over Power Plant
February 12th, 2010 Categories: Green Trends, Oakville Events, Oakville Town Planning & Development, South East Oakville
Locating power plant near homes and schools "pure folly"
“This is not a NIMBY issue” says local South East Oakville resident
What started as disapproval and concern has turned to OUTRAGE over proposed Transcanada power plant to be built in South East Oakville.
The Middleton Connectiut expolosion which killed five and injured 12 workers Sunday morning has local residentss group Citizens for Clean Air (C4CA) calling for an immediate moratorium.
At a residents rally a couple of weeks ago, Oakville Mayor Burton told me that if we were not able to stop the plant, the Town would work to minimize its potential fallout on the community by restrictive bylaws. But most of us who live within vicinity of the site now feel that line of thinking is no longer good enough!
Locating a plant just 400 metres from homes and schools is “pure folly”, were sentiments expressed in Oakville Beaver article.
Mayor Burton has invited Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, to take a personal tour of the site, formerly owned by Ford Motor Company, along with Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn.
Talking last night to Brenda Phelan Potter (who along with her young son Quinn were helping us at the warehouse pack the last few boxes of relief items for Haiti), “Finally people outside of SouthEast Oakville are beginning to see that this is not merely a NIMBY issue”.
Here is part of a note that Brenda emailed me this morning, which I include with permission:
“From the beginning, we have been fighting the perception outside of our local area that the opposition to this massive gas fired power plant was really just a NIMBY issue.
People have a pre-conceived notion about South East Oakville and so it was considered by many that this was just some rich folks from Oakville whining about their neighbourhod.
In fact, we are not all rich, and the fact is that this proposal could be facing any other local community in Ontario. Gas fired power plants do not belong in residential neighbourhoods. It is ridiculous to think otherwise. The Clarkson air shed is already over taxed with pollution. Our air shed is 14% more polluted than the Ontario average because of the 57 local emitters that we have currently including St. Lawrence Cement that runs their coal furnaces 24 hours/7 days a week and the traffic that passes by us every day on the QEW. Adding additional toxins to any air shed that is already over-taxed makes no sense.
Unfortunately, the tragedy in Middletown last Sunday also showed everyone that ….Accidents happen.
The Middletown plant was a much farther distance away from a residential neighbourhood than the plant proposed for Oakville and yet, 5 people died and a dozen were injured.
We have 11,000 residents within a 3KM radius and 16 schools. The Middletown Gas Fired Power Plant is 50% smaller than the proposed plant for Oakville. No one can guarantee us that a tragic accident will not happen here.
Brenda also highlighted a John Tory interview on CFRB 1010 Newstalk this week.
”The Mayor was interviewed and did a good job highlighting the issues related to safety and health.
John Tory said that in his opinion our opposition to the Oakville Generating Station does not qualify as NIMBYism because of two factors:
1-There is most definitely a health and safety factor with this plant especially after the Middletown tragedy
2-The Clarkson Air shed community has already taken on more than their fair share of burden in terms of emissions (57 other local emitters plus the QEW).”
So there! I join with Brenda, and John Tory, in saying this is not a NIMBY issue.
Why is the Premier, the Ontario Government, TransCanada and Ford willing to put our community, or any community for that matter, at risk ?
Your thoughts?
Read also:
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Mayor Burton asks Premier to reconsider power plant in South East Oakville after Connecticut explosion
February 9th, 2010 Categories: Green Trends, Oakville Real Estate News, Oakville Town Planning & Development, South East Oakville
Explosion of a natural gas-fired plant in Connecticut on Sunday left two dead and five injured.
One of the casualties is a Hamilton, Ontario native. See article from Toronto Star “U.S. power plant blast triggers fears in Oakville“.
In a letter sent to the Premier’s office, Mayor Burton stated that the explosion clearly demonstrates that there are health and safety risks associated with locating power plants within communities, and called on the provincial government to protect the residents of Oakville from these risks. The letter concludes by asking the government to find a more appropriate site for a power plant to meet the future electricity needs of Southwest GTA.
Earlier on Monday, Mayor Burton discussed the tragedy in Connecticut.
“Our thoughts go out to the families of those were killed or injured in the explosion,” said Mayor Burton. “Council and I are united in our determination to protect the health and safety of our community. I want to see what evidence the Ontario Power Authority and the Minister of Energy relied upon for their belief that it’s safe to put power plants next to residential areas. So far, they’ve refused to recognize any danger, but that cannot continue after what has just happened in Connecticut.”
TransCanada has proposed to build a 900-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant at 1500 Royal Windsor Drive in Oakville. The proposed site is less than 400 metres from homes and schools.
“Many residents including myself plan to attend a meeting with Transcanada this Wednesday 7 p.m. at the Oakville Conference Centre.”
In March 2009, Council passed an interim control by-law to provide the town with sufficient time to do planning studies to formulate appropriate policies and zoning rules before any power plant over 10 megawatts could be located in the Town of Oakville.
Meanwhile in South East Oakville where residences and schools are in close proximity to the proposed plant, locals continue to fight and protest. More news to come….
Read also:
Outrage in Oakville over power plant
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Top Ten Reasons People Move to South East Oakville
February 18th, 2008 Categories: Halton Real Estate, Historical Oakville, Oakville Real Estate News, South East Oakville
The areas of Old Oakville, Morrison and Ford, are commonly referred to as “South East Oakville”. Our family enjoys living here!
I have compiled a Top Ten List of why so many people choose to move here, from other parts of Oakville, or other towns and also from overseas.
1. It’s a mature neighborhood with many trees and gorgeous leafy streets.
2. Homes have larger lots than the newer areas in Oakville. Most lots offer private back yards as their landscape is mature or they back on to woods or parks.
3. Excellent schools, both public and private in the area. Oakville Trafalgar High School has a long tradition of excellence, with a stellar reputation for academics, sports and music. “OT” is one of the oldest high schools in Ontario, celebrating its 150th anniversary in May 2008. St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School is a prestigious private school for girls, estabisehd more than 110 years ago.
4. Cachet – Since the inception of Oakville this area has been the most prestigious part of the city to live and, with the exception of a few tony neighborhoods in Toronto, boasts the highest priced homes in Ontario.
5. Close to the lake and the gracious estate homes along Lakeshore Road
6. Close to historic downtown Oakville for fine restaurants, cafes, quaint shops and the many festivals throughout the year.
7. Easy commute for people working in Toronto, 5 minutes drive to Clarkson Go Station. From there, on the express train, takes about 20 minutes to get to Union Station in Toronto.
8. It’s a great investment! Homes here appreciate more quickly than in other areas of Oakville, and will continue to do so. (More on this in another post.)
9. Joshua Creek Heritage Trail and other walking trails provide beautiful forests at your doorstep for jogging or dog-walking.
10. Extensive custom rebuilding and renovating of older homes make this area even more desirable, and creates elegant and attractive streetscapes.
Looking to buy or sell in South East Oakville? Give Hilary a call today!
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Oakville’s Edgemere Estate on Lakeshore Road to Become Two-Storey Flats? Say it Ain’t So!
February 13th, 2008 Categories: Historical Oakville, Oakville Real Estate News, Oakville Town Planning & Development, South East Oakville
Last year a landmark Oakville property “Edgemere Estate” located at 1502 Lakeshore Road in Oakville went on the market at a sticker price of $45 million, the priciest home ever to be listed in Canada on MLS.
It sold to Oakville resident and developer Mark Hewitt for a reported $35.9 million.
Now this developer plans to build 10 two and a half storey flats that will provide 30 housing units on the 12 acre property.
Luxury flats to be sold at $4+ million each
Lakeshore Road residents and other residents in South East Oakville were invited to a gathering recently to hear the developer speak about plans for redevelopment of the property and the “manor houses” that would be constructed.
To make way for these flats the 32,000 square foot main house, that formerly belonged to a prominent developer in town, will be torn down. Hewitt plans to leave the five historical structures on the property intact.
Pending approval of zoning and building applications, construction is expected to begin late this year or spring of 2009.
As locals, we have to question what this kind of higher-density housing would do to change the character of Lakeshore Road which is currently comprised of estate homes only. What kind of precedent would Edgemere’s fate set for the other estate homes on Lakeshore?
What are your thoughts?
LIKE THIS POST? READ ALSO:
Landmark Oakville Historical Home For Sale
A Little Oakville (Ontario) History Lesson: Understanding our Roots as a Community
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We’re Loving our Backyard Oasis in South East Oakville!
October 28th, 2007 Categories: Client Stories and Testimonials, Oakville Real Estate News, South East Oakville
Mr. and Mrs. B were wanting to move their family to South East Oakville from Mississauga. I met Mrs. B at the Oakville Kiosk.
The afternoon before they were to leave for Florida for March Break, we completed negotiation on a “dream home”. We had to do the home inspection that afternoon, before the ink was dry on the contract!
This beautiful Morrison home was a perfect fit for this young family. On a private court, close to the schools they wanted, the house had a newly renovated kitchen, a fully finished basement, main floor den, and a spectacular garden which had been lovingly designed and cared for by the former owner, who is a landscape designer.
The pool was a bonus!
It was fun to go by to visit this summer to see the family settled into their new home, kids and grandma enjoying the pool, and knowing they were all thrilled with their choice.
Here’s their letter:
Dear Hilary,
Thanks you so much for helping us buy our dream home in South East Oakville.
Both my husband and I really appreciated your very professional manner, extremely quick response time and phenomenal research and communication skills.
We are especially grateful for your negotiating abilities and have already recommended you to two of our friends.
P.S. Yes, we’ve locked in our mortgage rate. Thanks for the heads up!
My pleasure! Welcome to the neighbourhood. I wish you many years of happy family experiences in South East Oakville.
Want to find your dream home? Helping make real estate dreams come true is what I do! Let me help you in Oakville, Burlington or Mississauga.
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Moving to Oakville? Compelling Reason #1 – Oakville is The Riviera of Ontario!
September 14th, 2007 Categories: South East Oakville, Why Move to Oakville?
Oakville is a vibrant and prosperous municipality within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The GTA is Canada’s largest metropolitan area with a total population of about 5.3 million.
Some 150,000 people call Oakville home. Sometimes given the moniker “The Riviera of Ontario”, Oakville boasts a picturesque lakefront with two marinas. Nestled along the shoreline of Lake Ontario are many luxurious waterfront properties, many with riparian rights, that have been the dwelling-place of choice of prosperous Canadians for many years.
Here’s a photo of Oakville Harbor where Sixteen Mile Creek flows into Lake Ontario.
I am biased, but not alone, in calling Oakville “the most beautiful town in Ontario”. Not unlike the town of Carmel in California, affluence, aesthetics, sophistication and small town friendliness combine to create a unique and desirable community.
This is a photo of sailboats moored at the Oakville Marina.
We receive a lot of tourists each year, 1.4 million visitors annually and $81.5 million is generated for our local economy through tourism. See www.oakvilletoursim.ca. for more about visiting Oakville.
Like what you hear and see so far? How about giving me a call to give you a real live tour of Oakville neighbourhoods and perhaps see a few Oakville homes for sale?
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Hilary Gets Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) Designation
September 13th, 2007 Categories: Fifty-five plus, Real Estate News, South East Oakville
I am now an SRES desginee, one of the first realtors in Canada to receive specialized training for helping mature clients -Boomers and Seniors – with their real estate needs.
This is a picture of my friends and neighbours Bill and Maggie Frazier, taken when they had us over for dinner a few weeks ago.
Bill retired this month, congratulations to you both on entering a new chapter of life!
Bill says “I was having fun working but my retired friends were having more fun, so it was time to join them!”
Royal LePage has partnered with CARP, the Canadian Association for the 50+, to offer specialized training to Realtors wishing to provide a higher level of professionalism in meeting the needs of mature clients.
This year the first class of Realtors to receive the SRES desgnation and training was offered in Toronto. Realtors from across Canada came to learn how to understand and counsel boomers and their parents. I was one of them.
SRES designees benefit from membership in SAREC, the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council. SAREC in turn provides Realtors with on-going research, support, and learning provided through workshops, special events, newsletters and their website www.seniorsrealestate.com.
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Oakville Development North of Dundas: What’s Happening?
September 8th, 2007 Categories: Fifty-five plus, Lighten Up, North Oakville Development, Oakville Real Estate News, Oakville Town Planning & Development, Real Estate News, South East Oakville
What is the Town planning for development north of Dundas?
Last week I was manning the kiosk in Oakville Place. The mother of a girl on my daughter’s soccer team stopped by. She is an urban design planner so I ask “What’s new at Town Hall?” 
“Council approved the North Oakville East Secondary Plan Minutes of Settlement last week”, she said.
I investigated further and found out a few things:
- How big? It will encompass 2,300 hectares of land
- Where will it be? The area to be developed is bordered by Dundas Street in the south, Sixteen Mile Creek in the west, Ninth Line in the east and Highway 407 in the north.
- How many people? When all is complete, it is expected to include about 50,000 new Oakville residents.
- What about the environment? Developers say the plan is innovative and breaks new ground in creating environmentally sustainable communities: walkable, compact and diverse (from a land use perspective) community. ”It will be one of the most environmentally sensitive community plans in North America” says David Stewart, President of Mattamy Development Corporation. “
- What about new jobs? About 25,000 new jobs are being created right in the area, which will reduce the need for commuting.
- What is the Mayor’s vision? “We have created a comprehensive, balanced and sustainable plan that will help create one of Canada’s most green and livable communities, says Oakville Mayor Rob Burton in a recent press release. (Mr. Burton believes North Oakville development will contribute greatly to our town’s stated vision of becoming the most livable in Canada.)
- What will it look like? Plans are for a public open space system that is twice the size of Central Park in New York City. Some 600 hectares of land will be set aside for open space linkages and wildlife corridors.
- When does development start? Word on the street is that ground will be broken before the end of the year.
The picture I am getting sounds somewhat appealing. Wayne and I could sell our house in South East Oakville and downsize into a bungaloft or townhome in this new community when our kids leave home.
I see Wayne jogging in the park, me walking to coffee shops, and the bank. The air will be fresh and clean (goodbye Ford Motor Company, Petro-Canada refinery and that other cement factory down by the lake). I envision neighbours walking their dogs in our very own Central Park…
I plan to check out the Ontario Municipal Board hearings, scheduled to start September 10, 2007. More on this subject in future posts. Please comment if you have any other questions, news or concerns.
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