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6- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday May 17, 2006 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: IAN OLIVER Publisher NEIL OLIVER Associate Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Manager TERI CASAS Business Manager MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd., includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, Caledon Enterprise, City Parent, Collingwood/Wasaga Connection, East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes, Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Review, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press, Harriston Review, Huronia Business Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishine Mirror, Milton Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Newmarket/Aurora Era-Banner, Northumberland News, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Oakville Shopping News, Oldtimers Hockey News, Orillia Today, Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week, Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer, Peterborough This Week, Picton County Guide, Richmond Hill/Thornhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Forever Young, City of York Guardian Welcome to Canada Welcome -- it's a simple word that has a lot of meaning and helps create a lasting impression. Just ask Sean Craig, who came to this country more than six years ago from South Africa. His first impression of Canada was of a representative of the immigration department welcoming him to Canada. "When I first arrived and I got off the plane, someone from immigration said, `Welcome,'" said Craig. "That people could welcome me to this country without even knowing me was amazing. For me, that's a very Canadian thing." That greeting was one reason why Craig was among 30 Oakville and Burlington residents who proudly took part in a Canadian citizenship ceremony at Bronte Creek Provincial Park last week (Becoming Canadian Citizens page 13). Over the years, the Oakville Beaver has been invited to numerous citizenship ceremonies at a variety of venues from Town Hall to school gymnasiums to libraries and most recently Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Each ceremony is a refreshing reminder of how fortunate we are to live in a country that strangers from across the world would adopt as their own. And while the words and rituals of each ceremony generally remain the same, each is uniquely different thanks to the participants, who are completing a journey that began when they left their native lands for a better life in Canada. While we included a few of their personal stories in today's newspaper, we know we barely scratched the surface. We wish we could have sent 30 reporters to cover the 30 participants. Sadly, we don't have the resources to do so. If you have never attended a citizenship ceremony, we urge you to catch one in the future. It is a deeply moving cremony for both participants and spectators. We believe Nicola Chambers, a native of Jamaica, who participated in last week's ceremony with her six-year-old son, summed it up best. "I think it's a very special day. I particularly wanted my son to experience the ceremony as an integration into the society," she said. "Not to forget where we came from, but to feel a part of the country. I want him also to understand and appreciate the diversity of Canada." All we can add is: "Welcome." The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Environmental critic responds to his critics I heartily agree with your headline on the letter from Liz Benneian (Environmentalists come from all walks of life all over the community) that takes me to task. Who can escape the steady media stream of suspect environmental horror stories? Who can separate fact from fiction? Public interest, from an initial shrug of the shoulders to a passing concern, runs the gamut through to extreme environmentalists with a questionable litany of woe about the state our world is in, who want to spend obscene amounts of taxpayers money on their desires within Oakville in isolation. Ms Benneian obviously fits the latter profile. Her letter illustrates tactics common to this extreme group. She attributes statements and thought patterns I did not espouse in my past letters-to-the-editor, to impugn my environmental awareness and integrity. My attempts to expose expensive rampant environmental foolishness that now afflicts Oakville must have struck a chord. Your readers, and Ms. Benneian, should be aware that I have recently been selected by members of Town Council, my peers, to serve as a member of the Oakville Environmental Strategic Plan Advisory Committee. A position that recognizes, and obviously values, my sound environmental knowledge and principles. IVOR DAVIES BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com Oakville Centre is cultural gem Another season has just concluded at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. I wish to congratulate Ken Coulter, theatre manager, and his staff, for a truly outstanding series of events. The sponsors should also receive our thanks and support for their financial contributions. We are indeed lucky to have such a vibrant theatre in our town. In addition to the touring performers are the three drama groups which have put on excellent plays and the musical Cabaret, a superb show. Add the Symphony Orchestra, better every year, and indeed we have a cultural gem set in Navy Street. If any citizens have never attended this comfortable, friendly and acoustically perfect theatre may I encourage them to give it a try. They will be amply rewarded. ERNIE ENOLA Pud Thieves on the prowl There is a thief (thieves) working the Patricia Drive/ Burton Road area. They are targeting vehicles in driveways during the night. We lost articles from our van recently (May 1) and a neighbour lost her purse several weeks ago. Judging from what was taken from us, good tools overlooked, it would appear that they were not professional thieves. Please be vigilant of your property and lock your vehicles. PATRICIA EBBS