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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 9, 20 20 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@theifp.ca IndependentAndFreePress @IFP_11 WHO WE ARE Publisher Kelly Montague Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Halton Media General Manager Jason Pehora CONTACT US The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 77 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at theifp.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail lpolar@miltoncanadianchampion.com or call 905-234-1019. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT THEIFP.CA "I have a dream that lit- tle children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their char- acter." -- Dr. Martin Lu- ther King Jr. Martin Luther King did not live to see his dream re- alized. And to our collec- tive shame, 57 years after he expressed those immor- tal words at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, the scourge of racism and injustice continues to stubbornly persist. There is racism in Can- ada, in Ontario and in our communities. It is based on ignorance and fear. It has been pernicious. It has been systemic. It has been dehumanizing. However, we know that no one is born racist. Rac- ism is an acquired belief system, passed on like a vi- rus from one person to an- other. But just as a virus is contagious, so too is vir- tue. That is why we can all play a role in the eradica- tion of racism. Not in some distant future, but now, in our time. It starts with leader- ship in government. All of us in elected pub- lic office have a responsi- bility to speak out against racism in all its forms, wherever we encounter it. We must work together to confront it, seeking to eliminate discrimination wherever it exists. Government programs and policies must be re- viewed to support and pro- mote inclusion. You can help. We all need to listen carefully to the voices of those who have lived expe- rience of intolerance and prejudice. We all need to recognize and acknowledge that enormous privilege has been denied to many peo- ple, based not on the con- tent of their character, but on the colour of their skin. We all need to call out racist jokes and stereo- types, even when it's hard to do so. We all need to seek greater understanding and empathy, by reading books and consuming me- dia that open our minds to new ideas and fresh per- spectives. We all need to reflect on what "community" really means. And, we all need to look beyond a person's appear- ance, and into their heart. Ted Arnott is the MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills. He can be reached at ted.arnott@pc.ola.org. WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN ERADICATING RACISM ONLY TOGETHER CAN WE PUT AN END TO INJUSTICE AND DISCRIMINATION, WRITES TED ARNOTT The COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep us guess- ing and wondering, and this uncertainty can take a toll on our mental health and make coping skills even more key day to day. So, I asked my co-work- ers at the Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region branch what they've been doing to build resilience and manage the ongoing challenges of this situation. Here are some of their ideas: • We can think of our re- silience as a gas tank that needs constantly to be re- plenished. Without gas, the car would halt -- just like our bodies would cave in. Good sleep, hygiene, a healthy diet and regular ac- tivity go a long way. • Remember this is tem- porary -- long yes, but tem- porary. Ponder what posi- tive information or trait you've learned about your- self since the beginning of this pandemic, such as your ability to stay calm during a crisis. • Understand that this pandemic is a traumatic event to most of us and we will all deal with it in our own unique way. I may be on the go as a way of coping, but if my partner wants to do nothing all day, that is OK too. This approach has helped me regulate my emotions and minimize conflict. • Mindfulness has been a cornerstone for me -- being fully aware of the present with kindness and non- judgment. When a feeling arises, don't push it down but rather acknowledge the feeling, such as, "Ah, anger is here." You don't have to like it to accept it. • During stressful times, we have less tolerance and may act without thinking. So, planning, thinking, cu- riosity and slowing our- selves down through mind- fulness and grounding ac- tivities can help us regulate our emotions, stay within our window of tolerance, and build resilience. Melanie McGregor is the communications and ad- vancement specialist at the Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch, which provides mental health/addiction community support and education. Visit www.hal- ton.cmha.ca for more in- formation and follow @cmhahalton on Twitter. MANAGING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH ONGOING PANDEMIC HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO REPLENISH YOUR WELL-BEING AND STAY RESILIENT AS COVID-19 DRAGS ON, WRITES MELANIE MCGREGOR MELANIE MCGREGOR Column SNAPSHOT A deer roams through an area in Stewarttown. Do you have a great local photo you'd like to share? Send it to sleblanc@metroland.com, along with a brief description. Darlene Degrace photo TED ARNOTT Column "But just as a virus is contagious, so too is virtue."