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CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE |
- Toys For Kids and
Food For Good Neighbours Being Collected At The Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre This Christmas Season
- Parents Allowed To
Take Their Own Pictures With Santa At the Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre
-
Popularity of "Welcome Home Gift Basket" Is Clear Indication Of Growth
Of The Community - Over 240 New Residents Receive Gift Basket
Since July
- The Valley East Lions Club Is Once
Again Selling Tickets On The Ultimate Dream Home
- Snow Removal Crew Up By 5 A.M. Every Time
It Snows
- Toys For Kids and
Food For Good Neighbours Being Collected At The Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre This Christmas Season
- Centre Court At the Mall Is The
Place To Be Every Afternoon To Discuss Politics of The Day
- Groceries For A Year Presented By
Desjardins' Food Basics As Part of Valley East Minor Baseball
Sponsorship
- Keep
The Spirit Alive Contest Is Being Well-Received By Local
Residents
- BIGGEST GRAND OPENING IN THE
HISTORY OF HART STORES DREW THOUSANDS OF CURIOUS SHOPPERS
- Opening of Hart Department Store Is
A Perfect Example Of The Tipping Point Philosophy
- “To All Residents of Valley East &
Capreol, We Truly Thank You For Making Our Dream Come True,”
Val and Violet Mazzuca
- Moving
Into A New Home or Apartment In Valley East or Capreol? Don't Forget
To Pick Up Your "Welcome Home Gift Basket"
- Big
Daddy Radio 103.9 Comes To The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre For
Special Sales Event
- Valley East
is the place to be!
- Valley Plaza
Barber Shop Gets Into The Christmas Spirit With Holiday Decorations
- Taking Own Photos
With Santa Claus Is An Idea That Is Much Appreciated By Local
Parents
- Grade 5 Students From Redwood Acres Sing Christmas
Carols At The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre
- Junior Grade
Students From Immaculate Conception School Spend Their Saturday
Morning Entertaining The Public
- Hanmer
Valley Shopping Centre Comes Out As One Of Most
Courteous Areas Of The City In Sudbury Star Research
- Chad Salemink of Desjardins' Food Basics Is One Of The Reasons Why People
Are Impressed With Politeness Level Of The People of
Valley East
- Community Living
Greater Sudbury Presents Appreciation Plaque To Val Mazzuca
- Workplace
Wellness Is A Top Priority Among Store Owners of The Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre
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Toys For Kids and
Food For Good Neighbours Being Collected At The Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre This Christmas Season |
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The familiar FOOD BANK DEPOT is in place at the Hanmer Valley Shopping
Centre just outside Desjardins' Food Basics. Each year the mall assists the
Good Neighbours Food Bank of Hanmer in making Christmas just a bit more
special for needy families of the area. The Toys For Kids Gift Tree contains
"tags" with ages of boys and girls from families who depend on the
Food Bank. Shoppers are encouraged to purchase a suitable gift and then
leave it "unwrapped" inside the Food Bank Depot so that a
representative of the Good Neighbours Food Bank can pick it up and make sure
that it is received by a child in time for Christmas. The depot is also
encouraging shoppers to leave items of food which will help stock the
shelves of the Food Bank during this important time of the year.
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Parents Allowed To
Take Their Own Pictures With Santa At the Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre |
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The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre has once again adopted a very popular
policy with parents when it comes to photos with Santa. Last year
parents were allowed to take their own photos of their children with Santa
and it was extremely well received, especially among parents with more than
one child. This year the mall is following the same policy and if the
response on the first weekend is any indication, Santa will be seeing
"spots in his eyes" as he makes his rounds on Christmas Eve.
"When my own children were young, my wife and I collected pictures
of them every year with Santa. But it became more and more costly to pay for
photos taken by professionals, and we were not always happy with the way the
pictures turned out." explained Robert Kirwan, Director of Marketing
& Public Relations for the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. "Now, we
just tell parents and grandparents to bring their own camera and take as
many photos as they wish. Most of them have digital cameras, or they pick up
a disposable camera from Hart Department Store for about five dollars and
they get all of the pictures they need for their family and friends. Santa
will even walk to other places in the mall to pose in different settings if
that is the wish of the parents."
SANTA'S HOURS
Fridays from 6 p.m. to 8
p.m.
Saturdays from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
Sundays from 12 noon to
4 p.m.
Children will also be able to drop off letters to Santa when they come to
visit. Many of these letters will be put on display in the mall. All
children will also be given a special treat from Santa when they visit.
Another popular initiative being offered this year is the "Toys For
Kids" program whereby shoppers may purchase a gift for a child of a
family using the services of the Good Neighbours Food Bank. Details of this
program can be found outside of Desjardins' Food Basics.
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Popularity of "Welcome Home Gift Basket" Is Clear Indication Of Growth
Of The Community - Over 240 New Residents Receive Gift Basket
Since July |
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When
it comes to people who are new to the community, there are two business
owners who tend to meet them all. Of course we are referring to Mike
Lemieux, on the left in the photo, who along with his brother, Mag Lemieux, own Hanmer Home
Hardware, and Ken Desjardins, (on the right in the photo) owner of
Desjardins' Food Basics.
"Everyone moving in to a new home or apartment has a
need for cleaning and repair supplies as well as start-up groceries,"
explained Mike Lemieux. "So Ken and I decided that we would put
together a basket of 'goodies' to give as a gift to all newcomers to
Valley East as our way of saying 'Thank You for choosing our town' and to
give them a hand with settling in."
Ken Desjardins owns and operates one of the busiest
grocery stores in the entire City of Greater Sudbury, so he has definitely
noticed the impact of new home owners in the community. "When it
comes to stocking up the shelves after moving into a new home, we know it
is expensive. We also know that those first few days are days when you are
constantly discovering additional items for your shopping list. The Hanmer
Valley Shopping Centre is a great place to come to pick up just about
everything you need to make your move complete, so we wanted to say thank
you for your support."
Anyone who has moved into a new home; purchased an older
home; or moved into an apartment in the Towns of Valley East or Capreol
since July 1, 2006, is encouraged to drop in to see Mike Lemieux at Hanmer
Home Hardware in the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. He will answer any
questions you may have about the community and make sure you receive your
gift basket. Several other mall merchants will be adding to the gift
basket with items of their own, including Dixie Lee Restaurant which will
be providing you with a $25 gift certificate so that you can eat out after
your move in.
For More Information on the Welcome
Home Gift Basket
Call Mike Lemieux at (705) 969-7000
or email Robert Kirwan at robert@kirwan.ca |
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE
FOLLOWING PEOPLE
WHO HAVE MOVED INTO VALLEY EAST SINCE JULY 1, 2006
PLEASE NOTE:
If any of the following information is incorrect, please email us with
the proper details as soon as possible. This includes any misspelled
names. Thank you
EMAIL |
Patti & Sean Carroll
from Garson |
Arik Theijsmeijer & Melanie Hunt
from Manitoulin Island |
Devra Kneblewski
from Burlington |
Michael & Paulette Gies
from the Flour Mill |
Ruby & Richard Lively
from Sudbury |
Greta Lane
from Manitoulin Island |
Dave Patry
from Sudbury |
Eileen Williams
from Sutton |
Sharon Neelands
from Guelph |
Daniella Stuewer
from Manitouwadge |
Norm & Diane Lefebvre
from Sudbury |
Steve Arsenault
From Halifax, Nova Scotia |
Dan Rose
from Bonfield |
Joan Dufour
from Chelmsford |
Dan & Tina MacNeil
from Sudbury |
Mary & Dennis Hull
from Kitchener |
Tim Ranger & Amanda Labelle
from Sudbury |
Linda & Emanual Brunet
from Wahnapitae |
Verna Raciborski
from Thunder Bay |
Natalie MacMillan
From Cornwall |
Claude Corriveau & Denise Levac
from Sturgeon Falls |
Steve & Danielle Daniel
from Pembrooke |
Larry Mallette
from Garson |
Jacynthe Proulx
from Wawa |
Linda & Gerald Hache
from Longlac |
Dan Blais
from Timmins |
Isabelle & Moe Moncion
from Sudbury |
Danny & Patricia Laporte
from Timmins |
Emilienne Lalonde
from Capreol |
Rhonda Gray
from Timmins |
Daryl & Michelle Keir-Desrochers
from Alberta |
Richard & Doris Groleau
from Timmins |
Lucy Cayen
from Florida |
Macel & Brigitte Lariviere
from Azilda |
Richard & Dawn Schwar
from Sudbury |
Jennifer Fournier
from Coniston |
Jean Guy Perreault
from Sudbury |
Suzie & Craig Allen
from Larder Lake |
Mr. & Mrs Dryden
from Toronto |
Natalie Brabant
from Ottawa |
Mario Herault & Olive Guilbeault
from St. Charles |
Nicole Gaudette
from Minnow Lake |
Patricia Taschereau
from Sudbury |
Cathy & Les Downes
from North Bay |
Chantal Morin
from Azilda |
Lorraine MacMillan
from Sudbury |
Chris Vitiello & Chantal Cayen
from Sudbury |
Hector Smith
from Stewart Crossing, Yukon |
Steward & Mir Randall
from Mississauga |
Norma Richmond
from Sudbury |
Sandra Kaliczynski
from Oshawa |
Renee Racine
from New Sudbury |
Melissa Beaudette
from Chelmsford |
Gill Powell
from Snow Lake, Manitoba |
Troy & Christina Troscinski
from Sudbury |
Ken Lynds
from Manitouadge |
Lise & Luc Beaudet
from Sudbury |
Stephan McCrady
from Edmonton |
Lynne & Denis Robichaud
from Chelmsford |
Rana & Dary Hughson
From Val Therese |
Shaylene & Dan Dwyer
from Red Lake |
Darryl & Stephanie Gilchrist
from Sudbury |
Claude & Nicole Dugas
from Ottawa |
Melissa Bertrand
from Sudbury |
Nadine Sauter
from Azilda |
Richard & Sharon Dobratz
from Lively |
Dominique & Nicole Morin
from Chelmsford |
Julie & Trevor Taylor
from Wawa |
Paulette Harrison
from Sudbury |
Sue Wilton
from Sudbury |
Holly Daoust & Steve Sullivan
from Kirkland Lake |
Louise Berthiaume
from Chelmsford |
Monique Laderoute
from Lebanon |
Melanie Leblanc & Pierre Levac
from Barrie |
Rachelle Baril
from New Sudbury |
Jody MacNeil
from Cape Breton, NS |
Rebecca Stiller
from Little Current |
Rachel Chevrier
from Little Current |
Jim Sullivan
from Sudbury |
Stephanie MacLean & Doug
Zakamarko from Sudbury |
Paul & Tammy Rychlo
from Hanmer |
Judy Desbiens
from Valley East |
Dana Monzon
from Thunder Bay |
Natasha Saradoc & Bryan Jacques
from Barrie |
Sherri Millen
from Timmins |
Barbara Noel
from Sudbury |
Lynn Mailloux
from Lavigne |
Delores MacPherson
from Marathon |
Robert Brunet
from Sudbury |
Mike Digiglio
from Bowmanville |
Gina Bouchard
from Radar Road |
Ray Moore
from Sudbury |
Connie & John Bisschops
from Parry Sound |
Brian & Barb Savard
from Oakville |
Lorraine Brunet
from Blezzard Valley |
Tara Hamilton
from Kingston |
D. Lanctot
from Elliot Lake |
Jennifer Allison
from Sudbury |
Richard Grondin
from Quebec |
Natalie Pharand
from Capreol |
Eric Ace
from Blezzard Valley |
Carole-Claudette Pharand
from Capreol |
Kim Baillargeon
from Manitouwadge |
Aline Woods
from Sudbury |
Merl Rochon & Teena Cucksey
from Kitchener |
Melissa Haert
from Sudbury |
Ginette Trottier
from Sudbury |
James Poitras
from Timmins |
Charlene Whitford
from Sudbury |
John Bouzane
from Georgetown |
Yvan Friscic
from Toronto |
Virginia Jolivet
from Elliot Lake |
Stephanie Train
from Sudbury |
Lana Tomassini
from Sudbury |
Keith Huges
from Elliot Lake |
Daniel Trepanier
from Cambridge |
Christine Kring
from Capreol |
Noel & Eileen Dupuis
from Markstay |
Cheryl Fecteau
from Elliot Lake |
Troy Troscinski
from Minnor Lake |
John Flowers
from Sudbury |
May Sprague
from Garson |
Denis Kichak
from Stoney Creek |
Eugene & Nicole Duguay
from Timmins |
Lisa Gaudette
from Capreol |
Rene & Yvonne Carriere
from Sturgeon Falls |
Denise & Marcel Bedard
from Timmins |
Tracey & David LeGrand
from North Bay |
William Ranelli
from Hanmer |
Corinna & Rod Duggan
from Thunder Bay |
Michelle Franche
from Thorne |
Val & Ted Weirmeir
from Wanup |
Marilyn & John Kosher
from Marquitte, Michigan |
Jeannine Labelle
from Hanmer |
Josee & Eric Roy
from Kitchener |
Mary Beth Tkachuk
from Gander, Nfld. |
Amie Maurice
from North Bay |
Alain & Joanne Leclair
from Toronto |
Glen Maurice
from Sudbury |
Julie Labelle
from Blezzard Valley |
Aaron Silmser
from Sudbury |
Michelle Dagenais
from Timmins |
Joe MacPhee
From Sudbury |
Julie Pharand
from Capreol |
Bonnie Darroch
from Sudbury |
Rick Lacoste
from Sturgeon Falls |
Allan Wasyliw
from Blind River |
Richard Rivest
from Val Caron |
Jason Rainville
from Hanmer |
France Ogilvy
from Hanmer |
Judy Demers
from Skead |
Lorraine Jennings
from Sudbury |
Chris Rahn
from Sudbury |
Rick Sherson
from Sudbury |
Tammy Philippe
from Angus |
Blayne Byrne
from Toronto |
Hind Malak
From Paris, Ontario |
Lisa Maurice
from Brampton |
John Guay
from New Castle |
Cyril & Ann Landry
from Onaping |
Stephanie Cousineau
from Kitchener |
Bertha Wheeler
from Apartment to house |
Samantha Nicolls
from apartment to house |
Yvonne Johnston
from British Columbia |
Phil Choquette
from Sudbury |
Tina Hebert
from Kitchener |
Luke Edmond
from apartment to house |
Steve MacDonald
from Sudbury |
Debbie Sonier & Mario Lamarre
from Goderich |
Linda Moffat
from Toronto |
Steve Rutchinski
from Toronto |
Moira Moffat
from Toronto |
Lesley Deschamps
from Hanmer |
Angele Pinard
from Kitchener |
Mathew Flewelling
from Sudbury |
Richard & Jocelyn Jean
from Azilda |
Michelle Gour
from Molly's Road |
Richard Beck
from Sudbury |
Tracy Nicolls
from Capreol |
Jennifer Roy
from Sudbury |
Angela Moncion
from Sudbury |
Dave Hallet
from Garson |
Orville Andrews
from Garson |
Debbie Imbeau
from Hanmer |
Rene & Joanne Audette
from Timmins |
Jeannine Seguin
from Noelville |
Jennifer Breault
from Massey |
Patricia Buziuk
from Capreol |
Dennis Gauthier
from Timmins |
Natalie Philip
from Garson |
Mike & Mima Hamelin
from North Bay |
Amy Gauvreau
from Arizona |
Bob Batchelor
from Ottawa |
Joe & Denise Chamberland
from Sudbury |
Helen Huard
from Wahnapitae |
Beverly Kelly
from Chelmsford |
Jeanne Beaulieu
from Chelmsford |
Robert & Brenda Foisy
from Sudbury |
Natalie Dunn
from Sudbury |
Yolande Belisle
from Sudbury |
Angela Phillips
from Chelmsford |
Christine Gour
from Capreol |
Michele Albert
from Minnow Lake |
Daniele Albert
from Minnow Lake |
Mike & Joanne Walter
from Georgetown |
Wilma Rose
from Strathroy |
Luc Lamothe
from Azilda |
Marc Roy
from Garson |
Dale McNabb
from Capreol |
Jessica Pellow
from Sudbury |
Caroline Charette
from Sudbury |
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Our
records do not show from where the following new residents have
moved.
We will update the postings as we are made aware of the information.
If you have knowledge of where the following have moved from, please
email the information to us at rkirwan@infocomcanada.com |
Pascal & Lynn Lapointe |
Michel & Nicole Lavallee |
Juliet Wice |
Dan Beatty |
Julie & Steve Smeltzer |
Jackie & Eddy Dutrisac |
Luc Jennings |
Lise Arsenault |
Marc & Judy Paquette |
Carolyn Treitz & Torben
Rostgaard |
Brigitte Filion & Denis
Rainville |
Melissa Nevins |
Jason Mergaert |
Lorraine Jameus |
Teresa Azthelm |
Andree & Jess Leblanc |
Jennifer Del Papa |
Shawn Martin |
Jason Ingram |
Jessica Murphy |
Cassie MacKinnon |
Diane Vallieres |
Amber Campbell |
Tammy & Darrin Gifferd |
Therese Campeau |
Shi-Lynn & Mathieu St. Germain |
Sherry & Archie Anderson |
Tina Charbonneau |
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The Valley East Lions Club Is Once
Again Selling Tickets On The Ultimate Dream Home |
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Roger Larivierre, on the left, and Gerry Pope, are Co-Chairs of the Valley
East Lions Club Distribution Committee for the selling of the Ultimate
Dream Home tickets in Valley East. Helping them out during the
"kick-off" was Vickie Pope who supervised the ticket table while
her husband, Gerry visited other sites to make sure that they all had
their supply of tickets for the day.
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Lion Debbra Christianson, was on hand to look after the Saturday morning
shift. The $20 tickets always sell extremely well in Valley East. Many
people look forward to the contest every year and often purchase tickets
to be given out as Christmas gifts or "stocking stuffers".
Besides buying your tickets at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre or
Loeb's IGA in Val Caron whenever the Lions are manning their tables, you
can also find them available at any time at Neil's Independent Grocers in
the Kiost; Mr. Gas in Val Caron; both Caisse Populaire's, and; the McCrea
Heights Confectionary.
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Snow Removal Crew Up By 5 A.M. Every Time
It Snows |
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Val
Mazzuca, owner of the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre has
always been proud of the condition of his parking lot, especially during the
winter months. However, it doesn't take care of itself. Whenever the weather
forecast is for snow, Val will be up at 4 a.m. to the conditions outside. |
If
there is even a trace of snow on the ground, he and his cleaning crew will
find themselves behind the wheel of plowing equipment by 5 a.m. in order to
have the lot clean and ready for customers who begin to arrive anytime after
8 a.m. |
In order to accomplish the task in as short a time as
possible, the crew requires a great deal of team work. Jim Curry, Dan
Souliere, John Lancia, Larry Pharand and Val have been working together long enough that they seem to know
exactly what each other is doing all of the time. |
Once the snow is removed from the main parking lot area to
the spare lot, it is then piled up to make room for the next snowfall. |
When winter storms hit the area, it is not unusual to see
the equipment in use for as many as 15 to 20 hours at a time as the men take
shifts and do what has to be done to get the task completed. |
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Toys For Kids and
Food For Good Neighbours Being Collected At The Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre This Christmas Season |
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The familiar FOOD BANK DEPOT is in place at the Hanmer Valley Shopping
Centre just outside Desjardins' Food Basics. Each year the mall assists the
Good Neighbours Food Bank of Hanmer in making Christmas just a bit more
special for needy families of the area. The Toys For Kids Gift Tree contains
"tags" with ages of boys and girls from families who depend on the
Food Bank. Shoppers are encouraged to purchase a suitable gift and then
leave it "unwrapped" inside the Food Bank Depot so that a
representative of the Good Neighbours Food Bank can pick it up and make sure
that it is received by a child in time for Christmas. The depot is also
encouraging shoppers to leave items of food which will help stock the
shelves of the Food Bank during this important time of the year. |
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Centre Court At the Mall Is The
Place To Be Every Afternoon To Discuss Politics of The Day |
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The first Mayor of Valley East, Mr. Raymond Plourde, second from the right,
is shown having a conversation with several of his friends during one of the
"Afternoon Council Sessions" that are held daily in the Centre
Court Sitting Area at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. The gentlemen enjoy
their afternoon conversations with friends and acquaintances as they discuss
everything under the sun. The mall has developed a very community-friendly
image over the past couple of years, making this a true community centre for
young and old alike. |
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Groceries For A Year Presented By
Desjardins' Food Basics As Part of Valley East Minor Baseball
Sponsorship |
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Garry Shyminsky, on the left, and Ken Desjardins, owner
of Desjardins' Food Basics in the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre,
congratulate Patty Crites, the winner of the Valley East Minor Baseball
"Win Groceries for a Year" contest which was drawn on September
16, 2006. The Valley East Vipers Baseball teams would like to thank Ken
Desjardins and Desjardins' Food Basics for all the help and support this
past baseball season.
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Keep
The Spirit Alive Contest Is Being Well-Received By Local
Residents
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The "Keep The Spirit Alive
Contest" was only introduced to the community during the
month of June, and already it is picking up momentum as residents not only
like the idea of winning valuable prizes, but they also are
thrilled about the fact that they can do their small part to
help improve the overall community spirit in Valley East.
Three
community-minded local businessmen have teamed up to begin a “Keep The
Spirit Alive Campaign” and they are inviting all residents to help them
spread the message that
Valley East
is a great place in which to live!
From
left to right in the photo: Mike Lemieux, owner of Hanmer Home Hardware,
Robert Kirwan, Publisher of the Valley East Today Community Web Site and
Online Weekly News Magazine, and
Ken Desjardins of Desjardins’ Food Basics announced the launch of the
campaign during a press conference which was held at the Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre.
In
explaining the purpose of the initiative, Kirwan explained, “We want to
let everyone know that
Valley East
is a town where you can still find that “old style community spirit”
mixed with a modern lifestyle that fits right in with the 21st
Century. There are a lot of good things happening in
Valley East
and it is about time that the rest of the people in the City of
Greater Sudbury
knew about it too! Furthermore, it is also time to let the rest of the
province know that if anyone is looking for a place to live and raise a
family, or a place to retire within the City of
Greater Sudbury
, they need look no further than
Valley East
.”
In order to help get
this message out to the rest of the “world” the people of
Valley East
are being asked to take part in a massive communication strategy using the
power of the internet.
Everyone participating in this campaign
will have a chance to win a “Grand Prize” consisting of 100 Lotto 649
tickets for the New Year’s Eve Draw on
December 31, 2006
. What a way to celebrate the New Year by winning the big prize with one
of those tickets!
Runners
up will receive other valuable prizes, including “two” mountain bikes
donated by Hanmer Home Hardware, $300 in groceries from Desjardins’ Food
Basics, More prizes from other local merchants may be announced in the
coming weeks before the contest ends.
In
order to qualify for these prizes, all you have to do is register to
receive the Valley East Today Weekly Online News Magazine. Every month
from July until the end of December, ten names will be drawn at random
from all of the people registered to receive the publication. Those ten
people will qualify for our final draw which will be held on Christmas
Eve. The winners will be announced in the December 26 issue of Valley East
Today!
Once
you register, the Valley East Today Online Weekly News Magazine, which is
currently being received by over 2000 people, will be sent directly to
your email address every Tuesday. Not
only will you qualify to win the 100 Lotto 649 tickets or other runner up
prizes, but more importantly, you can help us “Keep
the Spirit Alive” by forwarding Valley East Today to everyone on your
own personal mailing list. By using the power of the internet, we can let
tens of thousands of people know about
Valley East
every week. |
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BIGGEST GRAND OPENING IN THE
HISTORY OF HART STORES DREW THOUSANDS OF CURIOUS SHOPPERS |
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It was a very spectacular Grand
Opening with plenty of dignitaries on hand for the Opening of the
Hart Department Store at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre on March
30, 2005. The Official Ribbon Cutting Party is shown above. From the
far left we have: Andre Rivest, Councillor of Valley East; Former
Mayor Ray Plourde; Former Mayor Howard Armstrong; Current Mayor of
the City of Greater Sudbury, Dave Courtemanche; Owner of the Hanmer
Valley Shopping Centre, Val Mazzuca; Manager of the Hart Store, Rod
Groulx; President and CEO of Hart Stores Inc., Michael Hart;
Director of Store Operations for Hart Stores Inc., Michel Lussier;
Co-owner of the mall, Violet Mazzuca; Former Mayor of Capreol and
Regional Chairman, Frank Mazzuca; Former Mayor of Valley East, John
Robert; and MPP for Nickel Belt, Shelley Martel. |
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ARTICLES
ON HART DEVELOPMENT PROJECT |
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Opening of Hart Department Store Is
A Perfect Example Of The Tipping Point Philosophy
Years ago a social scientist by the name of Malcolm Gladwell, identified "The Tipping Point" philosophy to explain a
number of major trends which had profound effects on society. Gladwell
explained that the Tipping Point philosophy is based on the belief that
changes in behaviour or perception can reach a critical mass and then
suddenly create a whole new reality. The most important thing in trying to
analyse whether something is at the verge of a tipping point is whether it
(an event) causes people to reframe an issue.
At this time I would like to submit that the opening of
the Hart Department Store on March 30, 2005 in the Hanmer Valley Shopping
Centre, will in fact be identified as a "tipping point" in the
history of Valley East. To understand why I make this suggestion, you only
have to examine what has happened in this community as it has grown over
the past thirty years.
Since 1971, the total population of the Sudbury Region
has declined by about 10%. During that period of time, however, the
population of Valley East has increased by 25%. By comparison, the
population of the old City of Sudbury has dropped by 15%.
Also, since 1971, the number of households in the
entire Sudbury Region increased by 48%. Valley East, however, experienced
an increase of 106% in the number of households - more than double that of
the region. The old City of Sudbury grew by only 37%.
Today Valley East has the largest average household
size in the entire region with 2.9 people per household. This is directly
related to the fact that a large number of young families have chosen
Valley East as the ideal community in which to raise their children.
There are a number of social science explanations for
the growth of Valley East in terms of population and households while the
economic expansion in terms of retail centres seems to have been focussed
in the old City of Sudbury. In fact, the more big box retail expansion the
City of Sudbury experiences, the faster its population declines as people,
especially young people, move outside to the "satellite"
communities like Valley East to get away from the congestion.
The reasons are obvious. People want space. They are
tired of feeling crowded. They are tired of constantly being tied up in
traffic jams; bumping shoulder to shoulder with thousands of shoppers in
the large retail outlets; and getting the sense that they are merely a
number in the scheme of things.
People also want to be recognized! They want others to
accept them as a real person with real needs and feelings. You don’t get
that in larger cities or in mega shopping centres.
Michael Hart, President and CEO of Hart Department
Stores saw this. Val Mazzuca, owner of the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre
saw this. And after I read Malcolm Gladwell’s book, I could see it plain
as day. The critical mass had been reached in Valley East. The community
is filled with people who are fed up with the hustle and bustle of big
cities and big stores where you lose your identity and become a number.
Today’s generation wants to experience the "good old days" of
their parents where store owners knew your name and would spend time
talking to you about just about everything. The "good old days"
where you felt like the store owner truly "cared about you as a
person", not just for your money.
But today’s generation also wants the benefits of the
"big stores". They want to have plenty of selection, low prices
and high quality. In other words, they want "good old days"
treatment with "modern day" mega-store pricing and selection.
This was the illusive dream.
Up until March 30, 2005, residents of Valley East had
been lukewarm when it came to supporting retail outlets in the community.
The predominant trend was to shop locally when all other options were
exhausted, or when time simply didn’t permit anything else. The bulk of
shopping dollars still flowed to the big retail centres in the City of
Sudbury, much to the dismay of small business owners in Valley East.
It only took a single day in the hundred year history
of Valley East to change everything. On March 30, 2005, the people of
Valley East suddenly "reframed the issue of local retail
shopping". Suddenly, their behaviour has been changed to create a
whole new reality. That reality is that the retail choices in Valley East
are indeed excellent. The selection is tremendous; the quality is great;
and the prices are the best around. Furthermore, many residents are
shocked to discover that the excellent selection, quality and prices are
not limited to this one new store, but that all stores in Valley East do
the same.
Therefore, what Hart Department Store has done for
Valley East is force people to take a good, hard look at the entire retail
business community. What people have found is that Valley East is not only
the best place to raise a family, it is also the best place for them to do
the majority of their shopping. The slogan, "If you can’t find it
in Valley East, you don’t need it!" will soon become a rallying
cry. People will shop locally if they can get what they need. Valley East
has always offered people what they needed, but residents couldn’t see
this. The opening of a major chain like Hart was all that was needed to
"draw the attention" of residents. Now that they have seen the
whole picture, the flow of money outside Valley East will be greatly
reduced. The support of local businesses will lead to more expansion in
the near future and Valley East will thrive.
The timing for introducing the Hart Department Store
couldn’t have been better. The population in Valley East is growing. The
growth is being driven by young people who are searching for a better
quality of life and who want to feel as if they are valued as individuals
when they shop. The rapid, almost out of control growth of the big retail
centers in the central core of the "City" will actually drive
consumers away to outlying communities like Valley East when they discover
there is an alternative option.
The opening of the Hart Department Store is the
"tipping point". Valley East will no longer be perceived as a
community where you can live comfortably, but where you can’t buy the
things you need to survive. The new reality is that Valley East has
everything you need, and, moreover, you feel like your business is valued.
Now that we have pushed past the "tipping
point" the economic expansion will explode. Within the next several
months, we will be hearing about a number of other major retail outlets
which will be setting up in Valley East. The future looks good.
The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell.
Read it if you can. It makes sense.
Until the next time... |
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“To All Residents of Valley East &
Capreol, We Truly Thank You For Making Our Dream Come True,”
Val and Violet Mazzuca
By Robert Kirwan
When Val and
Violet Mazzuca became owners of the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre, a small
strip mall in Hanmer on Highway 69N, on
March 29, 1971
, they had a dream
that it would one day become a major shopping center for the surrounding
communities. On
March 30, 2005
, they celebrated
the 34th Anniversary of their ownership by seeing their dream
fulfilled.
On
that memorable day, Valentino Mazzuca, shown on the far left in the
photo, and Violet Mazzuca, shown on the far right, cut the ribbon to
officially open the Hart Department Store at the Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre. Officials from the store holding the ribbon were
Rod Groulx, Store Manager; Michael Hart, President and CEO of Hart
Stores Inc., and; Michel Lussier, Director of Store Operations. The
photo was provided by Ron Gladu Photos. |
|
We
all know that ribbon cutting ceremonies are common. But this one was
different. And anyone who experienced the moment will tell you that they
could “feel” something special was about to take place. You could
sense that this was not just the opening of another store. It was the
beginning of a new era in the history of
Valley East
, and it was about
to launch the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre to a whole new level as a
major retail establishment.
“I’ve
always dreamed of having a large department store as an anchor for the
mall,” explained Val Mazzuca. “It was something that was missing from
Valley East
. Local residents
wanted a good department store where they could buy everything they needed
for their family without having to go to
Sudbury
and without having
to pay more for their products. When we discovered the Hart Department
Store chain, I knew we had found what I was looking for.”
Over
2000 shoppers anxiously awaited the cutting of the ribbon at
9:30 a.m.
on March 30. It
was the biggest, most remarkable grand opening in the history of the
68-store company, blowing away all previous records for attendance and
sales. Thousands of shoppers have continued to pour through the doors of
the store which is quickly becoming recognized as the “missing link”
for which
Valley East
and Capreol
shoppers have been searching.
As
people of all ages come from all corners of the
Sudbury
region on a
mission to see the new store that everyone is raving about, they are also
discovering why the Mazzuca’s are so very proud of the Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre. They are finding that this is the cleanest mall they have
ever seen. They are finding that this is a family-friendly mall with
plenty of children’s rides to entertain youngsters; a community bulletin
board section where they can find out what is happening in their town; a
place where they can register for minor sports, and; a place which
actually encourages people to drop in just to walk a few laps around the
mall to keep fit. They are finding sitting areas with furniture you would
expect to see in a living room and groups of friends socializing as if
they were in a community center instead of a shopping centre. They are
finding that from the moment they walk through the entrance to the mall
they become immersed in an atmosphere where everything from the oldies
music, the colours of the hallways, the decorations on the walls and the
smiles from the store owners and employees blend together to lift their
spirits and make them feel welcome and appreciated.
Pam’s
Deli is open from
7:30
in the morning to
9:00 p.m.
each weekday so
that you can always find a place to sit and relax with a light snack and a
drink. Buddies Restaurant, one of the most popular eating establishments
in the region, is open from
9:00 a.m.
to serve all of
your daily meals and refreshments. Stores open at
9:30 a.m.
six days of the
week, at
10:00 a.m.
on Sundays. They
stay open until
9 p.m.
weekdays;
5:30 p.m.
Saturdays; and
5 p.m.
Sundays.
Besides
offering all of the goods and services that anyone could ever need under
one climate-controlled roof, the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre is going
out of its way to provide only the very best for its customers. The first
Monday of every month has been designated as “Senior’s Day” at the
mall where shoppers over the age of 55 will be treated to 15% off retail
products found in a wide variety of participating stores. In addition,
merchants throughout the mall are proud to declare that they stand by
their prices and are willing to match competitor prices on most products
in their stores. They want local residents to know that if they see
something they want at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre, it is going to
be the best price around. Now they can shop in the Valley first to save
money on gasoline and time that would be wasted stuck in traffic in
Sudbury
.
This
is truly an exciting time for
Valley East
and Capreol. Val
and Violet Mazzuca are proud to be able to do their part through the
Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre to make a difference in the quality of life
of these two great communities, and they both want to say, “Thank you
for making our dream come true!”
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Hart Officials Examine Construction
Progress in January 2005
Full
Story>>>>> |
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PRICES
THAT ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD WILL HIT VALLEY EAST WHEN HART DEPARTMENT STORE
OPENS ITS DOORS FOR THE BIGGEST GRAND OPENING IN THE HISTORY OF THE
COMPANY!
Full
Story>>>>> |
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HART
EXPANDS ITS
ONTARIO
PRESENCE
WITH NEW STORE IN THE
HANMER
VALLEY
SHOPPING
CENTER
Full
Story>>>>> |
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Moving
Into A New Home or Apartment In Valley East or Capreol? Don't Forget
To Pick Up Your "Welcome Home Gift Basket" |
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When
it comes to people who are new to the community, there are two business
owners who tend to meet them all. Of course we are referring to Mike
Lemieux, who along with his brother, Mag Lemieux, own Hanmer Home
Hardware, and Ken Desjardins, owner of Desjardins' Food Basics.
"Everyone moving in to a new home or apartment has a
need for cleaning and repair supplies as well as start-up groceries,"
explained Mike Lemieux. "So Ken and I decided that we would put
together a basket of 'goodies' to give as a gift to all newcomers to
Valley East as our way of saying 'Thank You for choosing our town' and to
give them a hand with settling in."
Ken Desjardins owns and operates one of the busiest
grocery stores in the entire City of Greater Sudbury, so he has definitely
noticed the impact of new home owners in the community. "When it
comes to stocking up the shelves after moving into a new home, we know it
is expensive. We also know that those first few days are days when you are
constantly discovering additional items for your shopping list. The Hanmer
Valley Shopping Centre is a great place to come to pick up just about
everything you need to make your move complete, so we wanted to say thank
you for your support."
Anyone who has moved into a new home; purchased an older
home; or moved into an apartment in the Towns of Valley East or Capreol
since July 1, 2006, is encouraged to drop in to see Mike Lemieux at Hanmer
Home Hardware in the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. He will answer any
questions you may have about the community and make sure you receive your
gift basket. Several other mall merchants will be adding to the gift
basket with items of their own, including Dixie Lee Restaurant which will
be providing you with a $25 gift certificate so that you can eat out after
your move in.
For More Information on the Welcome
Home Gift Basket
Call Mike Lemieux at (705) 969-7000
or email Robert Kirwan at robert@kirwan.ca |
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE
FOLLOWING PEOPLE
WHO HAVE RECENTLY MOVED INTO VALLEY EAST |
Patti & Sean Carroll |
Juliet Wice |
Devra Kneblewski |
Pascal & Lynn Lapointe |
Michel & Nicole Lavallee |
Arik Theijsmeijer & Melanie Hunt |
Michael & Paulette Gies |
Julie & Steve Smeltzer |
Jackie & Eddy Dutrisac |
Dan Beatty |
Jennifer Del Papa |
Greta Lane |
Dave Patry |
Eileen Williams |
Sharon Neelands |
Daniella Stuewer |
Norm & Diane Lefebvre |
Steve Arsenault |
Dan Rose |
Joan Dufour |
Dan & Tina MacNeil |
Mary & Dennis Hull |
Verna Raciborski |
Marc & Judy Paquette |
Luc Jennings |
Tim Ranger & Amanda Labelle |
Linda & Emanual Brunet |
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Big
Daddy Radio 103.9 Comes To The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre For
Special Sales Event Remote
Broadcast Can Be A Lot of Fun For Shoppers |
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Tina
Bouffard,
owner of Billie Jeans and Del Nellyn's Ladies Wear in the Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre, spends a few minutes chatting with Ross Anthony during
her three-day Annual Half-Price Sale which was held from August 11 to
13.
Ross is better known as the host of the Big Breakfast on Big Daddy with
his co-host, Carrie-Ann.
During the four-hour remote promotion, special reports were aired on
the radio station providing listeners with information about the big sale
being held at Billie Jeans and Del Nellyn's Ladies Wear. |
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Valley East
is the place to be! |
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Miryâm
Lapierre-Giguère, shown in the photo with her husband, Eric, grew up in Azilda, and
moved down south for 6 years due to employment.
"When the opportunity
to move back to
came knocking, my husband and I jumped on it,"
she explained. " I never envisioned myself living anywhere else but
Azilda. As we started house shopping we couldn’t find what we were
looking for in Rayside Balfour. We decided to expand our search for
houses. Little did we know how amazing the Valley was."
What impressed both Miryam and Eric was the fact
that there were so many beautiful houses from which to choose and so many quiet
neighbourhoods.
"Even though the neighbourhoods are so quiet,
everything is at your finger tips," she stated. "
Sudbury
all the time is so wonderful."
She continued, "We
decided to buy our first home in Val Thérèse. The people here are just
amazing. They are welcoming and ready to lend a hand if needed. I love the
way every neighbour looks out for each other. I feel safe in my home in
the valley. My boys always enjoy going to the park or the recreation
centre. There are always things to do. My family and I are francophone. I
find it very pleasant to go do my groceries and daily errands and always
have someone around that speaks French.
Now with the new Canadian Tire being built, there is honestly no
reason to
ever leave the Valley. We never envisioned living here, but now that
we are here we can’t see ourselves living any place else but
Valley East."
Miryâm suggested that even though there is so much
good to be said about the Valley, she hopes that something is done to keep
the parks a bit cleaner. In fact, Miryâm echoed the comments of many
other parents with young children who have also expressed concerns about
the condition of the parks. She stated, "
There is often lots of garbage and broken glass, and most of the time it
takes a few phone calls to the city to finally get it cleaned up."
Besides the park issue, when asked for other
suggestions on how to improve the community to make it even more pleasant
for people like the Giguère Family, all she could think of were the
following, " My three
year old son would like for me ask Mr. Desjardins of Desjardins' Food
Basics to get
small grocery baskets or baskets with three holes to fit both my boys so
they can shop along with their mom. That would also make my shopping
experience more enjoyable.
I also think all signs in the mall and
everywhere in the Valley should be bilingual. Besides that there isn’t much
else I would change about the Valley. I think everyone in Valley East is
doing their part and doing a fine job of it, to make this the best place
to live in the City of Greater Sudbury."
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Valley Plaza
Barber Shop Gets Into The Christmas Spirit With Holiday Decorations |
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Claude
Chenier, owner of the Valley Plaza Barber Shop, is shown taking care of
one of his clients while all other chairs in the establishment are filled.
The Valley Plaza Barber Shop is one of the most popular hair care centres
in Valley East, due in large part to the attention Claude, his wife Linda
and their entire staff pay to customer service.
The Valley Plaza Barber Shop is always decorated according
to the season, making this a welcome place to simply stop by and share
some conversation with friends.
Check out the decorations next time you are in the Hanmer
Valley Shopping Centre or call 969-4020 for an appointment.
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Taking Own Photos
With Santa Claus Is An Idea That Is Much Appreciated By Local
Parents |
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An unidentified young boy enjoying his candy cane sits
patiently with Santa Claus while his parents take several photos in an
effort to get the perfect picture to save forever. This is the second year
that the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre has instituted a policy which
allows parents and grandparents to take their own photos with Santa. It
was done in an effort to save money for parents who normally must purchase
expensive packages from professional photographers in most malls. Judging
by the positive feedback, this is a policy which is likely to remain in
place at the mall for some time to come. |
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Grade 5 Students From Redwood Acres Sing Christmas
Carols At The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre
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Visitors to the Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre were treated to some wonderful singing by close to 70 Grade
5 students from Redwood Acres Public School on Thursday, December 14, 2006.
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The students stopped by the mall after first entertaining the residents at
the Elizabeth Centre in Val Caron. Before arriving at the mall, however,
they did make one very enjoyable stop at Harvey's in Val Caron. |
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Grade 5 Teacher, Mrs. Kaitlin Lemega watched as her students as well as
those from Ms. Nadene Houston's and Carole Burke's classes sang for almost
30 minutes in the centre court area of the mall. |
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The very well-behaved and polite students were great ambassadors for Redwood
Acres. Everyone in the mall who heard them commented on their tremendous
self-discipline and on the way they handled themselves while in this public
venue. After the show was finished, many of the students took time to say
hello to one of the most attentive listeners in the audience. Below, several
of the students are shown with Klondike, a seeing-eye dog who accompanied
one of the visitors. |
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Living Well
Chiropractic Conducts 11th Annual Food & Toy Drive For Good
Neighbours Food Bank |
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Wayne Nepssy, 2nd from the left, gratefully accepts the donations of cash,
food and toys from Dr. David Welsh and Dr. Ghislaine Landry of the Living
Well Chiropractic Office in the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. Sandra
Paquette, one of the two office assistants (Nadine Dussault was absent when
the photo was taken) is shown on the far left.
The donations were accepted from patients during the week of December 11
to 14.
"Our food bank depends on annual drives such as this in order to
stock up our shelves so that we can provide for the needy during the winter
months," explained Nepssy. "Some of these donations will be given
out during the holidays. The help and cooperation we receive from Living
Well Chiropractic is very much appreciated." |
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Junior Grade
Students From Immaculate Conception School Spend Their Saturday
Morning Entertaining The Public |
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Mr. Luciano Ingriselli, Core French Teacher at Immaculate Conception School
in Val Caron, is shown below playing his guitar to accompany the Grade 4 to
6 students who turned out on the morning of Saturday, December 16, 2006, to
sing Christmas carols at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. |
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The guitar and the drums were perfect accompaniments to the beautiful voices
of the children as they entertained dozens of parents, grandparents,
brothers and sisters, and shoppers who took time from their busy routines to
enjoy the music. |
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The students form the School Choir. It was obvious to everyone that they
came well-prepared. Their voices projected down the busy corridors as
shoppers and merchants alike welcomed their wonderful contribution to the
"Spirit of Christmas" on one of the busiest shopping days of the
year. |
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Hanmer
Valley Shopping Centre Comes Out As One Of Most
Courteous Areas Of The City In Sudbury Star Research |
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Two reporters from the Sudbury Star set out on a special project
to find out where we would rank against other major cities of
the world in the area of courtesy and politeness. Their
motivation was a study released by the Readers' Digest in
July which compared 36 cities around the globe. Toronto
came third behind New York City and Zurich, Switzerland.
The Star Reporters used the same scoring criteria that was
used by Readers' Digest. They went into five of the busiest
locations around the City of Greater Sudbury, including:
Downtown Sudbury; the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre; the New
Sudbury Centre; Place Bonaventure Mall in Chelmsford; and the
Rio Can's Power Centre. At each site the following situations
were enacted and the reporters observed the actions of nearby
shoppers:
1. They walked into the building behind people to see if they
would hold the door open for them.
2. The bought small items from different stores and recorded
whether the sales assistants said thank you.
3. They dropped a folder full of papers in different
locations to see if anyone would help pick them up.
At each location, each of the above was performed four times.
Each act of politeness was given a score of 1 with a 0 recorded
if there was no act of courtesy shown. A perfect score was 12.
THE RESULTS
Downtown Sudbury came out in first place with a score of 11
out of 12. The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre was a close
second.
Overall, the City of Greater Sudbury came in with a combined
rate of 75% which would have placed us ahead of Toronto in 3rd
place when ranked with the 36 other cities in the world. |
Chad Salemink of
Desjardins' Food Basics Is One Of The Reasons Why People
Are Impressed With Politeness Level Of The People of
Valley East |
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Chad Salemink, 24, is an employee of Desjardins' Food Basics.
Chad's job is to collect and return shopping carts from the
large parking lot outside and bring them back into the store for
use by the close to 20,000 customers who come through the doors
of the popular grocery store every week.
In his role, Chad comes into contact with hundreds of
visitors to the mall every shift. If you follow Chad around you
will see that he never hesitates to hold open doors, say excuse
me, or demonstrate courtesy to people of all ages. In addition,
Chad is quick to acknowledge others with a smile and a wave.
Doing these "little things" comes naturally for Chad,
as it does with so many of the store clerks and merchants of the
mall. And in the hectic world in which we now live, it is
definitely the little things that count.
Chad was recently featured in a special article in The
Sudbury Star on July 10, 2006 for his success in the Building
Bridges Program which is offered by Cambrian College to help
students with developmental disabilities learn to find their way
on their own.
When he was young, doctors told his mother Colette that his
developmental disabilities would prevent him from ever learning
to read, write or ride a bike. Chad's determination proved the
doctors wrong and he can now read at the Grade 5 level in
French, the Grade 6 level in English and can definitely ride a
bike. He also used the internet and communicates via email just
like the rest of us.
After high school, Chad qualified for the Bridges Program at
Cambrian and with a lot of hard work and continued determination
finished with a 4.0 grade point average. The one-year program
brought out a sense of confidence and independence in Chad that
is shown in everything he does.
"I really want to thank Ken and Sandra Desjardins' for
giving me a chance to work at their store," Chad stated.
"I love what I do and enjoy meeting so many nice shoppers.
They have been really good to me and everyone is so nice around
here."
Well, Chad, on behalf of everyone in the community of Valley
East, thank you for being one of the reasons why we are now
known as one of the most courtesy areas of the region. |
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Community Living
Greater Sudbury Presents Appreciation Plaque To Val Mazzuca |
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Dorice Dusty, Public
Relations Director with Community Living Greater Sudbury is shown presenting
Val Mazzuca with a special plaque of appreciation for the support the Hanmer
Valley Shopping Centre has provided to the organization during the past
several years. "We have always been so grateful for the way we have been
treated by the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre," explained Dorice. "Val
Mazzuca simply cannot do enough for us. Every time we want to set up a
display, or put something on the bulletin board, all we have to do is ask.
It makes it so much easier to help our clients when we have the support of
such a leader in the community like Val Mazzuca."
The Community Living Greater Sudbury offices are now located at 303 York
Street in Sudbury in the CNIB building. If you would like to speak to Dorice
or if you have any questions you would like to ask, just call (705) 671-7181
Ext. 321. You can also visit their web
site. |
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Workplace
Wellness Is A Top Priority Among Store Owners of The Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre |
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The workplace wellness team from the Sudbury & District
Health Unit was out in full force during January visiting the tenants of
the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. Above, Lisa Froemmel, on the right,
owner of Pet Palace, is shown putting up the special Workplace Wellness
Calendar that was provided by one of the Team Members who is responsible
for visiting the mall every month.
According to the Wellness Team, "The place where you work and the
work you do can affect your health. How you feel can affect how well you
do your job."
The Workplace Wellness team provides opportunities for skill building,
education and support or consultation. They also help employers create and
implement workplace policies that reduce the risk of injury and promote
the health of workers.
For more information, contact (705) 522-9200 Ext. 290 or email workplaceteam@sdhu.com |
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Valley East Ladies' Slo Pitch
League
Photo Album - 2006 |
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Valley
East Today would like to thank Monique Grenon, a long-time Executive
member and one of the driving forces behind the success of the Valley East
Ladies' Slo Pitch League for providing us with photos for this First
Annual Album.
Some of the photos were taken during the evening games, so they may be
a bit dark, but nonetheless, you should be able to make out some of the
"Girls of Summer" who are working hard to make the Valley East
Ladies' Slo Pitch League a place where women can enjoy competition and
comraderie twice a week during the summer playing a sport that they love
and enjoy.
Once again, we thank Monique, and congratulate all players and sponsors
for helping to create a strong league for ladies in the Valley. |
Valley East Ladies' Slo-Pitch
League Features Skill & Fun For The Girls of Summer |
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The
Valley East Ladies' Slo-Pitch League features a total of ten
(10) teams for the 2006 season, thanks in large part to the
efforts of the young ladies on the Executive who are committed
to seeing the League continue and thrive into the future.
Three of the
Executive members met at the beginning of June with Robert Kirwan, Publisher
of Valley East Today to discuss plans for marketing and
promotion of the league. Shown with Robert are, from the left,
Robin Trottier, Secretary; Mandy Hnatiuk, President, and
Natalie Raymond-Marois, Vice-President. Two other executive
members were unable to attend the meeting. They are Nicki
Trottier, Treasurer, and Paula Martel-Lavallee, Statistician.
A year ago the Valley East Ladies' Slo-Pitch League was facing a serious enrolment problem. With
only six teams registered just prior to the start of the
season, the women who enjoyed playing this sport were worried.
The season began with seven teams, but it was obvious that
changes had to be made.
One of the biggest changes was the
decision to allow teams and players from other municipalities
to join the league, and it appears as if that made all the
difference in the world. Two teams have joined with
players who live in Rayside Balfour or Sudbury. Another
positive change was the decision to allow girls who are 16
years of age and over. There are only a few younger players in
the league, but at least they now have a place where they can
enjoy this sport while in their late teens.
As a result, there are over 200 women of all
ages playing slo-pitch two nights a week during the 15 week
season. They play at Centennial Ball Park every Monday and
Wednesday evening, with games at 6:30, 8:00, and 9:30 p.m.
Valley East Today is pleased to introduce the First Annual
Valley East Ladies' Slo-Pitch Photo Album with this issue.
Below is one of the teams, sponsored by Rocky's and Beautiful
Balance. We will be posting the rest of the team pictures as
they are provided to us by long-time Slo-Pitch member, Monique
Grenon.
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CHICO'S LADIES DISCUSSING STRATEGY AFTER THE
GAME |
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PAULA'S CANINE LADIES PREPARE TO TAKE THE FIELD |
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ROCKY'S & BEAUTIFUL BALANCE
LADIES |
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T.B.A. & HANMER CORTINA
LADIES |
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THE CHEMY GIRLS |
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BUDDIES' RESTAURANT |
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NORTHSTAR BEDDING |
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UMPIRES DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT
THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF FUN CALLING THE GAMES FOR THE VALLEY
EAST LADIES SLO-PITCH LEAGUE |
Umpire-in-Chief
Moe Martel
calls them
safe! |
Aurele
Larose
Calls Them
Out! |
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