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6 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday,February 15, 2011 OPINION Black history Every February, Canadians are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that recognize the contributions of black Canadians, past and present. George Kennedy Public School, for one, will be doing that with an assembly tomorrow (Wednesday). During Black History Month, Canadians can gain insight into the experiences of black Canadians and the vital role this community has played throughout our shared history. The first recorded black person in Canada is Mathieu de Costa, governor of Acadia in 1608 and translator for the Micmac Nation. The first known slave in Canada, Oliver Le Jeune, is recorded in 1628. He was captured in Africa as a child, at six years of age, and was taken to Canada by English invader, David Kirke. He was sold to a Canadian resident when Kirke left in 1629. Baptized in 1633, Le Jeune was given the last name of one of his owners, who was a priest, and died in 1654. We encourage you to learn about the many black Canadians that helped shape and forge this nation. They include: · Mary Ann Shadd, the first woman publisher in North America, establishing the Provincial Freeman, an abolitionist newspaper; · Anderson Ruffin Abbott became the first Canadian-born man of black heritage to become a licensed physician in 1861. He was born to a prominent family in Toronto. It is only within recent years that black history and the role blacks played in the shaping of our society has been acknowledged and has slowly begun to be added to the pages of Canadian history. Through their contributions, our country and our world is a richer place to live. Celebrate our shared history this month. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) WEB POLL RESULTS In the wake of the recent snowstorm how do you feel local works crews performed? · The crews did a top-notch job (64%) · The crews did a lousy job (10%) · The crews did an okay job, but it could have been better (27%) Steve Nease Go to www.independentfreepress.com Letters to the editor Hospital needs funds-- period Dear editor, I've heard so many remarks, and letters have been sent to the newspaper recently, about the request from Georgetown Hospital to the Town of Halton Hills for funding-- some pros and some cons. It's beyond my comprehension that someone would be opposed to the funding for the hospital. Being against the hospital, is like being against motherhood. I am Mayor Rick Bonnette's father, but this is my opinion. I'm 84 years of age and I have never sent in a letter of any kind before, but this is such an emotional issue I could not refrain from voicing my opinion. Georgetown Hospital is a jewel for all of us. It has saved my life twice, as recently as this past summer. There isn't anyone walking the streets of Acton or Georgetown who themselves or a member of their family will not need a CT scan at some time or another. There's no argument against having a CT scanner in Halton Hills. With my wife having had a fourand-a-half year battle with cancer and requiring at least 11 CT scans, along with my health issues, if I lived in the U.S. I would have lost my home to pay for the treatment and care. So I have no reservation at all about my taxes being raised to help fund the hospital. Based on the present recommendation it only amounts to about $2 a month. Louis Bonnette, Acton ing to help to pay for Peel residents' shorter wait times. The hospital is having problems trying to accommodate all patients and having a user fee for Peel residents is needed and would be beneficial to our hospital. Riley O'Neill, Georgetown Purse items sought Dear editor, My purse was stolen Jan. 11 at approximately 8:30 p.m. from the Tim Hortons in Georgetown South. On Jan. 18 a worker at the new Holy Cross Church construction site (Mountainview Rd. and Argyll Rd.) contacted me because he had found my health card in the church parking lot while shoveling snow. I picked up the card, and checked the area myself. I found some other items from my purse, but the purse and several other cards and personal papers are still missing. I suspect they are buried in the snow in the church parking lot or nearby. If anyone finds the purse (black leather with a short strap), or other items from it please contact me at 905873-0355. The person who stole the purse is also asked to contact me to let me know where they dumped it. Daniela Millette, Georgetown Apply user fees Dear editor, I could not agree more with letter writers Matt Penny and Leslie Salisbury. In the past two months I have spent lots of time at Georgetown Hospital. My wife had a baby and I broke my leg. While being assessed by the triage nurse, a family from Brampton entered. The family returned to the seating area and one of the adult family members came back in line to see a triage nurse and asked if he could get his blood pressure checked. I was shocked, as there were only two triage nurses working. Halton Region's resources (doctors, nurses and health care equipment) are in demand. I don't have a problem with Peel residents coming to the Georgetown Hospital, however, I do have a problem with my taxes increas- Letters to the editor policy Letters must include an address and daytime telephone 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. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. 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.