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THURSDAY JULY 4, 2019 DIG DEEPER INTO MORE NEWS @ THEIFP.CA NEWS TTOOPP--BBIILLLLIINNGG DDOOCCTTOORRSS FOR YEARS THEIR IDENTITIES HAVE BEEN KEPT SECRET - UNTIL NOW OPINION IT'S SUMMERTIME HERE'S WHY YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN'S EYES Ray Lavender photo CCAANNAADDAA DDAAYY HHAALLTTOONN HHIILLLLSS Councillor Ted Brown waves from a rustic vehicle not much younger than Confederation during the Glen Williams Canada Day Parade on Monday. The parade featured representation from the various levels of government, animals, music, dancers and even a boat. More photos on page 5. A local harm reduction advo- cate is calling on Halton Region to provide fentanyl test kits to drug users in the hopes of preventing overdoses and deaths. Alexander Kinkade - founder of anti-OD.org - made the request during a recent regional council meeting, where he stressed the im- portance of taking steps to combat the local effects of opioids. "Many people in the communi- ty that we know, care for and love are dying from overdoses at such a rate that we should not find ac- ceptable," he said, pointing to the 40 opioid-related deaths in Halton last year. "I'd like test kits to be pro- vided to users to ensure safe con- sumption because naloxone kits, medical intervention and funerals are not needed when an issue can be prevented." Kinkade, who experienced a personal loss due to an opioid over- dose, explained the kits would al- low users to test their own drugs for fentanyl - a deadly substance used by dealers to make things like heroin and cocaine stronger - and then decide whether to ingest the substance or not. "People are going to use drugs or narcotics, whether they're ille- HALTON URGED TO ADDRESS OVERDOSES WITH DRUG TEST KITS MELANIE HENNESSEY mhennessey@ metroland.com See 'DEATHS, page 4 • your window & door professionals • 11 Mountainview Rd., N. Georgetown, ON L7G 4T3 905.873.0236 www.buy-wise.ca info@buy-wise.ca • awarded readers choice 28 times • Visit our showroom WALK-IN & FAMILY CLINICFAMILY CLINIC 221 Miller Dr., Georgetown 905-873-6776 • GenesisHealthTeam.com Walk-in and AppointmentPlatinum 2018 Halton Hills Thinking of buying or selling? Call Effie or Helen for all your real estate needs. 905-873-6111 EFFIE DIMOU HELEN PAVLOPOULOS www.haltonpropertysisters.com sisters@iprorealty.com 647-333-9628 vasko@royallepage.ca www.nedanrealestate.ca Vasko Nedanovski Broker Darlene Karolidis Sales Representative Free Home Evaluation SO LD krausemorris.ca 905.877.5211 23 MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD S., GEORGETOWN Re/Max Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage. Independently Owned and Operated