New look in works for Barnardo Park
A former Scarborough man has been sentenced to two years, plus a day in prison for causing the October 2, 2016 crash on Highway 7/115 that killed his father.
Cameron French, 61, pleaded guilty to driving with more than 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood causing death before being sentenced by Madam Justice Esther Rosenberg in Peterborough Ontario Court of Justice on Wednesday afternoon.
James Alwyn French, 83, died after he was transported to a hospital in the GTA.
Cameron was driving his father from the cottage home to Markham atabout7p.m.whenhefailedtomake a turn near The Parkway, where his westbound SUV then struck a concrete barrier before crashing to a grassy area below.
He had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.163, more than double the legal limit.
Cameron suffered life-changing physical and neurological injuries as a result of the crash and is not likely to teach or drive again, court heard.
He suffered multiple neck and back fractures and must now wear a neck brace, according to written reports from his doctors filed as part of the court proceedings. Primarily home-bound, he can’t bathe or dress himself on his own, they indicated.
His addiction to alcohol began about three years before the crash – an issue he hid from his family and friends, Rosenberg said. “Perhaps if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be here today.”
Members of the French family asked for leniency as they read victim impact statements supporting Cameron during a previous court appearance. They said he has suffered enough already and will have to carry the guilt and shame for his actions, Rosenberg said.
The relatives said his father would have felt the same way, noting how a “wonderful man” had been reduced to “a crumpled human being ” by the crime.
Rosenberg acknowledged that the victims of the tragedy are those who support him. “It is his own family he has hurt .... They are all suffering, but they’ve found it in their heart to forgive him.”
Cameron was also given a sixyear driving prohibition – although he is not likely to be able to drive again, Rosenberg said. He was also given 60 days to pay a $200 victim surcharge.
The sentence serves to condemn such behaviour and make others think twice about taking the wheel after they’ve been drinking, the judge said.
The prison term will feel longer for Cameron given his cognitive, substance abuse and mental health issues, Rosenberg said. A defence lawyer, in sentencing submissions heard previously, had pointed out that jail will be more of a challenge for him.
During his sentencing submissions, assistant Crown attorney Andrew Midwood sought a threeyear prison term, court heard.
Cameron, who was charged in January, was ordered to surrender himself at Lindsay’s Central East Correctional Centre by midnight Wednesday.
An impaired driving causing death charge he also faced was withdrawn.
A north-end park will look very different next spring.
Plans for the transformation of Barnardo Park, located off Barnardo Ave. and behind the Walmart on Chemong Rd., were announced earlier this year after a public consultation.
Along with new playground equipment and accessibility upgrades to walkways and the parking lot, plans call for the park’s aging wading pool – one of five in the city, dating back to the 1960s – to be removed and replaced with a splash pad.
On Wednesday, Northcrest Ward councillors Andrew Beamer and Dave Haacke formally broke ground on the project, with Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal on hand.
Part of the project funding comes from the province as a $300,000 grant through the Ontario 150 Community Capital Program. The remainder of the $610,000 cost comes from the city. That funding allowed the original plan for the park – a $300,000 splash pad replacement – to be expanded.
ABC Construction of Kitchener, which specializes in playgrounds and splash pads, has been contracted to do the work.
The city issued a statement with comments from the councillors.
“These upgrades will ensure that the community will continue to enjoy the park for many years,” Beamer stated.
“Barnardo Park is a well used community park. It has one of the city’s busiest wading pools, which is now more than 50 years old,” Haacke stated. “We are excited to see it replaced with a new, modern splash-pad, as identified in the city’s 10-year strategic plan for addressing outdoor water play.
Work is expected to begin immediately. The concrete splash pad will be demolished and the playground equipment removed.
The new-look park is expected to be ready by spring, with the splash pad opening in the summer of 2018.