As the summer is approaching, the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. It’s time to break out the flip flops and dust off the sun hat; it’s BASEBALL SEASON!

The OALA will be hosting a “Night at the Ball Park” this June 12, 2012 at the Rogers Centre, as the Blue Jays battle the Washington Nationals. First pitch is 7:07pm. Tickets are $12.00 apiece.

Seats are in section 528, rows 3, 4 and 5. We will be meeting across the street and hanging out on the grassy lawn outside of the Steam Whistle Brewery before the game between 5:30 – 6:30pm but if you want to grab a free beer before the game make sure to arrive before 6pm as the brewery closes then.

Tickets can be purchased via Paypal through the OALA office, or by cash through the Social Committee representatives at the game. To secure a ticket please pre-register with Joanna at the OALA office (coordinator@oala.ca) as tickets are limited! We would like to limit one non-OALA member per OALA member. We may open this up closer to the date, if there are more tickets to sell.

So grab some co-workers, friends, family, or any other excited summer-enthusiasts and come on down for a “Night at the Ball Park”!

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Ground 17 – Mobility

The Ministry of Transport’s (MTO) Niagara GTA highway and the GTA West highway have plans that will roll asphalt through some of Ontario’s most valuable farmland, greenbelt and natural heritage features including the Niagara Escarpment and Oak Ridges Moraine.

The Ministry of Transport is moving ahead with the Environmental Assessment for both highway segments. Slightly different timelines for each, but basically the Draft Strategy will be finalized and released, concluding Stage I  of the EA for both stretches in June 2012 and “late 2012″.

The Stop the Escarpment Highway Coalition (SEHC)  is comprised of over 4000 members from 13 environmental and residential groups in the GTA.  Oakvillegreen is a member of the Coalition.  There has been loud opposition to this Mega-highway, and  the Coalition has made a case to the provincial government, asking for them to look at alternate transportation solutions and discard outdated “build more highways” approach from the last century.

Various groups have been asked to participate in the Greenbelt Innovation Panel, led by the MTO in order to “brainstorm” ideas for mitigation, all the while adhering to the “Greenbelt Act”. Despite the MTO’s claim that a long list of people have been invited to participate (see list below), there were only a handful present at the “introductory meeting” on April 2nd.

I am hoping that by sharing this news, some members of the Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition will consider sending some representatives to contribute to the “brainstorming”.  MTO has planned 3 workshops for the Greenbelt Innovation Panel.  Two workshops will follow week of June 18th and week of July 9th.

We certainly want to send the message that there is a very large group of people willing to defend our precious Greenbelt.
Register with Christine Spano CSpano@ecoplans.com for the workshops, or to receive updated info on the “process”.

Any questions, contact Geoff Brock, Co-chair of SEHC geoff.brock@cogeco.ca or Karen Brock president@oakvillegreen.org

NEW DIRECTIONS – Regional Honour Award

The Canadian Firefighters Memorial is part of an urban planning memorial ensemble, commemorating fallen firefighters and creating a national place for their annual Ceremony Service on Ottawa’s Lebreton Flats. The design features a 2 ½ times life-size bronze firefighter, 20m firepole, White Pine, stone memorial wall shaped like Canada, stone-scape, and extensive planting to orchestrate personal reflection and a rhythm of remembrance.

PLANNING & ANALYSIS – Regional Citation Award
The Oak Ridges Community Centre and Park Master Plan is an analysis, planning and design project based on “environment first” principles. It demonstrates initiative in protecting, preserving and enhancing the inherent natural resources of the complex Oak Ridges Moraine site, while balancing the recreational needs of the community on the waterfront parkland setting. The project demonstrates “leadership by example” establishing a vision to enhance and protect the site ecology and character, while defining the level and location of site facilities and recreational use.

PLANNING & ANALYSIS – Regional Citation Award
The South Yonge Street Corridor Streescape Master Plan is a 45 million dollar vision to create a bold, vibrant, green, and sustainable “Main Street” in York Region. Designed to revitalize Yonge Street into a destination people travel to, rather than through. The master plan features generous pedestrian boulevardslined with street trees punctuated by strategically located urban squares, attractive medians and intersections.

DESIGN – Regional Citation Award
The Rideau Canal esplanade and OCC forecourt are the bond between the Rideau Canal, a world heritage site, and the Ottawa Convention Centre the nation’s newest meeting place. The esplanade helps reveal the canal as the central unifying greenspace in the Capital. The Esplaande is the urban place to celebrate Ottawa, the Nation’s Capital.

DESIGN – Regional Citation Award

Colonel Samuel Smith Skate trail is the first artificial outdoor ice skating trail in the City of Toronto. The project is regionally significant as it brings a high demand recreational use to a previously under-utilized historic site; a former Psychiatric Hospital. The repurposing of the hospital’s Power House into a community centre that provides a warm place to lace up adds to the trail’s charm and success.