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6 ·The IFP· Halton Hills ·Tuesday, March 27, 2012 OPINION Loopy list When MoneySense Magazine unveiled its list of Canada's Best Places to Live last week and Halton Hills landed in 37th spot we hope residents took this list for what it was: a bit of fluff reading. Like any "top 10" list or survey, Canada's Best Places to Live is nothing more than infotainment designed to generate a few minutes of discussion-- and sell a few magazines. The list, by some, is regarded as either a reason for bragging rights by the topranked locations, or a source of embarrassment by those who didn't fare as well. The criteria in establishing the list is a bit convoluted, as is the points-awarded system. Using municipal data and information from Statistics Canada and other sources MoneySense ranked 190 towns and cities in Canada by 22 separate categories. However, the rankings in some categories could leave readers scratching their heads. For example, Oakville, which was ranked 17th overall, scored the highest in the country for best weather while Halton Hills, a stone's throw away, was 42nd. Nearby communities like Milton (78th overall) ranked 35th and Brampton (166th overall-- the worst in the GTA) was 18th. Go figure. Exactly how the list was generated, why it is compiled, what it leaves out and what it means seem to get lost in the general buzz about who ranked where. In the end, we all know it's people, not numbers, that make or break a town or city: Neighbours, friends, relationships. It's also attitude and atmosphere, volunteers and community, your favourite restaurant, parks, etc.-- these are the things that truly matter. Home is where the heart is and that is the only ranking that matters. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Letters policy Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Steve Nease Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor Coyotes squeezed by urban growth Dear editor, I wanted to express my concern over the issue of coyotes in Georgetown. I understand they are a dangerous animal, and living in a rural farm area where they roam around to hunt for food is accepted. However, I, and many other people I know, feel that the enlargement of Georgetown is the main cause for the sightings in urban neighbourhoods, due to the construction in areas such as Eighth Line and 10 Sideroad. Georgetown is known for its mass of farm fields and the scenic beauty that lies within it, which is now being destroyed by the new subdivisions being built. These empty farm fields were once the home to wildlife, including the coyotes. No wonder why they are moving closer to residential neighbourhoods and killing our house pets-- there is nothing left for them. I understand that Georgetown's population needs to be at a specific number, but if we all just took a second to breathe and realize what we are doing, we could become a town that aids wildlife and stays small. I feel sympathy for the lost pets, but I also feel sympathy for the coyotes because they're the ones that are trying to survive. Emily Maulucci, 17, Georgetown get paper bags for that purpose at the grocery stores. Now there are none. Surely they can find a sponsor to get that going again, even if they put their company's logo on it. Come on Halton Hills, start helping the less fortunate in our town. Bob Desjardins, Georgetown (Editor's note: As explained on this page March 22, beer boxes are donated to the Bread Basket and are used for packing food items-- no beer is offered at the food bank. As well, every November, for the annual Scout Food Drive, paper bags are inserted in this newspaper for residents to fill and leave on their doorstep for pickup. Aid the food bank Dear editor, When I saw the picture (March 20) on the front page about the Bread Basket's shelves getting bare, it left me a little perplexed. Surely you could have taken one without boxes of beer in the background. Unless they were used for storing purposes, you may be sending the wrong message. Although I am a disabled widower living on pensions, I still manage to buy something for the food bank every week. It appears donations are down, even though our population has increased significantly over the past 15 years. Why, I don't really know. Most people surely make more money than me, but why aren't they giving? Perhaps people are not as aware as they should be about the poor families living in our area. More door-to-door collection could be a solution, and including those paper bags in your newspaper may help as well. It used to be that you could Zellers staff thanked Dear editor, It is with great sadness I am writing this letter. I have shopped at Zellers for many years and always like the atmosphere. The clerks were always helpful and knew you personally. I especially want to thank the pharmacists who have been looking after me with my medications for many years and always alerted me upon my taking them. I shall miss Amal, Marilen, Sue and Dorothy. Thank you. Edna Turnbull, Georgetown WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.theifp.ca) If a prospective employer asked for your Facebook password would you provide it? · Absolutely not. It's private information. (91%) · Sure. I have nothing to hide and if it helps landing a job I'd do it. (9%) The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.