December/January 2017/2018

The President’s Message

Members in 2017 continued to enjoy the variety and scope of our excellent mix and nature of events/outings and our speakers. We have had cultural events (i.e. Stratford), as well as learning experiences (i.e. the Honey Bee facility in Guelph) as well as interesting speakers on war events (i.e. Vimy Ridge) and on town planning and on world charitable activities (i.e. Mercy Ships) . Our investment and book clubs have been active as well. (It is unfortunate that many of us cannot achieve

personally the rate of return achieved by the investment club on its fictional portfolio over the past 15 years. We added approximately 6 new members in 2017. A new management committee was approved at our annual meeting in September and we are expecting that this strong group can extend our club's success into 2018 In 2018 our club (which is the 5th in Canada) will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a special lunch in June - hope you can all attend. We extend to all our best wishes for the upcoming season and for 2018. all the best. Alex Murphy (President)

Your Probus Club of Oakville Management Team 2017/2018

Left to Right Back Row (Paul Nelson, John Beales, Gunther Lutz, Alex Murphy (President)) Front Row (Robin Davison, Wayne Gallant, Jack Rugg, Russel Mewse, Stewart Bryant, missing Mike Purcell).

Activity team members taking names and cheques for upcoming events Foreground standing (Russell Mewes Activities Chair).

Seated Right to Left (Brain Taylor, Bob Cummings and Jim Smith)

Seated at the far end of the table (Roy Oldfield - oversees the 50/50 Draw).

Equipment Controller

Setting up the equipment to accommodate our speakers requirements (Andreas Franke) (Andreas Franke)

OCTOBER SPEAKER AND PROFIER

OCTOBER PROFILER - Tony Pinchen Tony was born in March 1938 outside of London, England near

the present site of Heathrow Airport. Tony attended Technical

school from age 13 and served an apprenticeship with EMI. He

got his Electrical Engineering Degree and worked for

Technicolor’s Lucas subsidiary. He then went to London to work

for Northern Electric (NORTEL) and subsequently moved to

Montreal with NORTEL in November 1968. At that point, he

worked on contracts in Turkey and lived in Pointe Claire on the

west island of Montreal. Tony worked in the Marketing and

Engineering groups of NORTEL to sell equipment/projects to the

United States and internationally including some major projects in China.

In 1997, he moved to Georgia. In the tech downturn of 2002, he was let go but stayed in Georgia only

returning back to Canada in 2016.

Tony is married to Margaret and is proud that his daughters have University degrees. Tony and Margaret

have 4 wonderful grandsons.

OCTOBER SPEAKER

Today's Speaker was Diane Childs, MCIP, RPP - Manager, Policy Planning and Heritage Planning Services

for the Town of Oakville. Diane was introduced by Keith Bird.

Diane grew up in Belleville, Ontario and graduated from Mount Allison University with a Degree in

Urban Geography and Political Science. Diane has over twenty-

seven years of Municipal Planning experience. Her planning

career began in her home town of Belleville. Prior to her current

role as Manager of Policy Planning and Heritage with the Town

of Oakville, Diane held numerous roles at the Town of Oakville

and the City of Mississauga.

The majority of Diane’s work in her current role focusses on local

land use policy initiatives, including the development of new

Municipal Official Plans and their implementation through

comprehensive Zoning By-Laws.

Diane is a member of The Canadian Institute of Planners and a Registered Professional Planner in

Ontario.

She has been married to her husband Geoff for 24 years and has two wonderful sons. Graham is 19 and

is in third year at Bishop’s University and Connor is 17 and is in his final year of High School.

Diane was accompanied to the meeting by Kirk Biggar, MCIP, RPP – Senior Planner/Policy Planner for the

Town of Oakville. Kirk has 11 years’ experience with the Town of Oakville as a Municipal Land Use

Planner. He is the Senior Planner, Policy Planning. In his work with the town, Kirk has been involved

with numerous land use policy initiatives and current development projects.

Kirk is a member of The Canadian Institute of Planners and is a Registered Professional Planner and a

Registered Professional Forester.

Diane and Kirk have been asked by the Probus Club of Oakville to give us a high level summary of the

New Livable Oakville Plan, touch on Lakeshore Road Reconstruction and to address how the Province of

Ontario Growth Guidelines will be accommodated with infrastructure in the new plan. Last but not least,

they will also talk about the continuing saga of Glen Abbey Golf Course. Diane advised that planning is

about many things including:

How cities grow and adopt to change;

Balancing competing priorities each day;

Incorporating the Ontario Planning Act;

Incorporating the Halton Region Official Plan and the Town of

Oakville Official Plan.

The Halton Region Official Plan calls for a Halton Region Population of 1,000,000 People by 2041.

The Town of Oakville Official Plan calls for 55,000 more people in North Oakville and for 35,000 more

people south of Dundas Avenue by 2031.

The Town of Oakville has to demonstrate both to the Province of Ontario and to Halton Region how and

where they will support intensification of population.

The Town of Oakville Official Plan has to be reviewed every 5 years. Oakville’s current Official Plan calls

for a population of 284,000 by 2041.

The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) decisions regarding Oakville are now based on an Official Report

submitted by the Town of Oakville. Unlike in the past, no cross examination of witnesses is now allowed

at OMB hearings.

Regarding Glen Abbey Golf Course, Clublink submitted an Application to the Town of Oakville for a total

of 3,222 Condominium and Apartment Units with a maximum building height of 12 stories on the

current Glen Abbey site. The Application was rejected by the Town of Oakville at the end of September.

Regarding Downtown Oakville, a few years ago Downtown Oakville was identified as a “Place for

Culture” in Oakville. Planning and implementation for the Revitalization of Downtown Oakville will

continue up to 2023 and beyond.

NOVEMBER SPEAKER AND PROFIER NOVEMBER PROFILER – Erich Becker

Today’s profiler was Erich Becker. Erich was born in 1941 in East Prussia. In early 1943, in the middle of the Second World War, his family left for western Germany. Erich got quite sick with typhoid fever but managed, luckily, to survive.

He started school in 1947 and his father came home from being a prisoner of war at that time. Erich served an apprenticeship at Krupp which he finished in 1959. He then worked in Dusseldorf at the Railway Company.

Due to Germany’s military draft, he was in the German navy on minesweepers and frigates. He was also on a few small German submarines and also served some time on the U. S. Nautilus submarine, which gained fame for travelling under the polar icecap in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

In May 1964, Erich emigrated to Canada and took a train from Montreal to Toronto. Arriving in Toronto, he spoke no English but got his first job in Canada waiting tables at The Boulevard Club on the Lakeshore. After that, he worked at the Works Department for the City of Toronto and later at CIBC downtown. Then, he took a job at Fruehauf Trailer Co. of Canada in Cooksville (now part of Mississauga) in accounting for 3 ½ yearsn 1968 or so, he joined Proctor & Gamble Canada as an accountant

in the Customer Credit Department and then moved to Gibson Greeting Cards, having attained an RA Degree, as Chief Accountant for 6 years. Then, he was hired as the Financial Manager of the Toronto Zoo where he stayed for about 4 years.

NOVEMBER SPEAKER

Today's Speaker was Colonel Krista Brodie of the Canadian Armed Forces. Krista was introduced by Gerry Sutton. Born under prairie skies and from a military family, Krista Dawn Brodie was raised with a deep affinity for the West Coast and campgrounds across the country. Colonel Brodie arrived in Victoria in 1989 to commence full-time military service at Royal Roads Military College under the Regular Officer Training Program.

She graduated as an Army Logistics Officer with a degree in Military and Strategic Studies (Honours, with Distinction) in 1993 and was promptly posted to 1 Service Battalion in Calgary. She spent her subalternship as a

Platoon Commander in the field and on operational deployments in Croatia and Bosnia.

Returning to Canada in February 1996, Col. Brodie was posted as the Quartermaster to the Third Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. She qualified as an aerial delivery specialist and basic parachutist, and earned her American jump wings on exchange with the 2nd/75th Ranger Battalion.

In 1999, Col. Brodie was posted to the Canadian Parachute Centre as Second-in-Command of the parachute support company. Having rejoined the army in 2002, she served in Afghanistan and upon returning to Canada was appointed G4 (Chief of Logistics) for 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in 2005.

In 2007-2008 she attended the year-long Joint Command and Staff Program in Toronto and earned a Masters Degree in Defense Studies from the Royal Military College.

On April 21, 2011, Col. Brodie was appointed Commanding Officer of 1 Service Battalion, the first women to command the home station of the Combat Service Support Warriors of the Army in the West, the largest unit in the Canadian Field Force. Colonel Brodie currently works in Ottawa for the Chief of Military Personnel.

Col. Brodie is married to Dr. Dennis Filips, a retired trauma-surgeon and “mad inventor”. They have three young children and enjoy spending family time in the noble pursuits of stick-collecting, tree-climbing and searching for fairies.

Col. Brodie thanked the citizens of Canada for heartily supporting Remembrance Day activities and ceremonies last weekend.

Krista described her first parachute jump in 2000 with all the anticipation, fears, surprises and dangers inherent thereto.

Defense policy changes dramatically over decades but now there seems to be some promising strategic measures upcoming.

“Strong/Secure/Engaged” is the new National Defense objective. Goals are set for 20 years going forward.

Investments will be made in new fighter jets, new ships and new equipment for Search and Rescue. Also, resources will be deployed for Armed Forces members, their families and military veterans.

OCTOBER EVENT

29 members attended the Toronto All-Star Big Band who presented ‘Ella at 100’ at The Oakville Centre

for the Performing Arts on Sunday 29 October. One of the most exciting bands

around, the Toronto All-Star Big Band revives the spirit style and sound of the

30’s, 40’s and 50’s – that golden age of the big bands. Armed with brilliant

programming, choreography and engaging cultural nostalgia, This vibrant cast

of awesome young talent provides a great way to spend a Sunday autumn afternoon.

NOVEMBER EVENT

25 members attended the Through Bred Horse Races at the Woodbine Race

Track on Friday 10 November. A bus picked us up and dropped the party off

at the Trafalgar Mall. We had tables next to the windows on the fourth floor

overlooking the Race Track. A great day was had by all.

UPCOMING EVENTS

7th. December Our Annual Christmas Luncheon, being held again at The Atrium. The event includes superb meal, entertainment with Christmas carols, door prizes and a 50/50. Places for this event will close on 23 rd. November. Cost is $55.00

24th. January We will be having a “Pub Lunch” at The Stout Monk –Dundas and Neyagawa. This is strictly an event to beat the “January blues” – very low key social occasion, costing only what you order at the pub. (Please advise if you register and then cannot make it or change your mind)

18th. February Our annual Valentine’s Day Brunch at Glen Abbey Golf Club. Fantastic buffet as usual. We have ordered our tables to be overlooking the Golf Course as last year. Transportation is available by the Golf Club from the parking lot. Cost of this is $44,00

Keep an eye open for the regular e-mail “On the Tables”. This gives you the opportunity to consider and register for an event if you cannot make it to the meeting – the next Thursday.

We do have other events planned after February including Theatre Sheridan for a production of “Crazy for You” on 18th. April. The tickets will be available at the January meeting.

Happy Holidays

Email;

Oakvilleprobus@gmail.com

Website; www.oakvilleprobus.com Meetings take place on the Third Thursday of each month at 10 am

At the Quality Suites 754 Bronte Road

Oakville

The Probus Club of Oakville

Management Committee

President Alex Murphy: 327-2924 Past President Stewart Bryan; 842-4478 Vice President Russell Mewse 827-6007 Secretary Jack Rugg 820-1973 Treasurer Wayne Gallent 681-3482 Speakers John Beales 844-4654 Activities Russell Mewes 827-6007 Newsletter Robin Davison 339-1702 Membership Gunther Lutz 844-0542 Liaison Mike Purcell - 845-4097 Website Paul Nelson 631-2390

Other Positions Equipment Andreas Franke 338-5526 Member Welfare Grant Gooding 845-8973 Auditor Erich Becker 647-556-2772 50/50 Draw Roy Oldfield 847-2062 Photographer Peter Pretty 338-5583 Photographer Dave Johnson 338-6076 Greeter Helmut Erxleben 901-9268