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6- The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 29, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com 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 Group Publisher NEIL OLIVER 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 Cutting to the chase Most things that are worthwhile, take time. Oakville is beautiful and most residents love it whether they're homegrown or have chosen to settle here because it is one of the best communities in Canada. Many communities don't have the level of engagement in mere things such as municipal politics as this town does. Many don't have a community atmosphere despite a growing population, and most don't have nearly the amount of trees. It has all evolved over time -- and in no small measure because of Oakville's residents. We know problems arise when credit is not given where it is due. A parent may naturally be reticent to back off -- at a safe distance -- to allow a child freedom to take their own steps ahead, only to be surprised at the child's good choices and abilities. The Town of Oakville, councillors genuinely concerned for the environment and town, and residents who work hard to safeguard nature from harm or those who may compromise it for gain, got caught up in their goal without giving credit where credit is due. A private tree bylaw was proposed that would prove costly and onerous to residents. While it may have been aimed at developers clear cutting, the hastily-proposed, insufficiently-scrutinized, private tree bylaw, en route to its aim, cut through residents' rights -- to be sufficiently heard and make decisions for their own properties and investments. While it's often necessary for Big Brother to step in to ensure what's right, it's a mistake to make any assumption, intended or not, that everyone is irresponsible. Most residents are very responsible. Just look at Oakville. Its well-kept properties, many trees, community support -- all done mostly by residents. In south Oakville, where many want to conserve trees, it's residents who've put them there -- and kept them there. As intensification bears down ever harder on Oakville's established neighbourhoods, as the province aims to conserve greenfields, residents have watched beautiful properties clear cut -- history and growth erased in mere minutes -- for more homes or monster homes, or a buck. It's wrong. Most agree. But no one speaks louder than those wrongly accused. To get to the bad apples Council can't go through everyone else. A quick-fix, all-applicable bylaw enacted without full consultation may help in the shorter term, but created so much alienation -- among Oakville's many residents engaged in their hometown -- gains were lost. Now it appears the Town will take its time to find a more direct route to the problem. Most things that are worthwhile, take time. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 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. Angels at work helping out those in need in Oakville In a world where we often only hear about bad news and bad people, I would like to take a moment to reflect on some real life angels living among all you in Oakville. I live in Calgary and my parents are in Oakville. They have hit some challenging and sad times, in terms of finances and poor health. My father has dementia and is nearly blind due to macular degeneration. My mother, at 71 years of age, still works, almost full time, to support them. Now to the angel part. The Oakview Funeral Home, where my father has worked, very sporadically, over the past couple of years, recently "adopted" my parents, by helping them out, during a very difficult time. Recently they had to face moving from their condo, due to the increase in rent. Anne McCracken, from Oakview somehow found out, contacted my mother, and made arrangements to take her out apartment hunting. For weeks they scoured Oakville and Burlington, trying to find a place that they could afford, and, they finally did. This assistance was a wonderful gesture, in and of itself and I was so thankful for their support, as I could not help with this. However, this is only the beginning. There's more --lots more! The entire staff of Oakview was on board for moving day. A crew of people took over all aspects of the move, from providing their van, to recruiting various teams to unpack boxes and take them BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com away, to take my mom out to lunch for a break, to chauffeur my dad, keeping him busy for the day, as he was unable to assist with the move, hooking up the computer, providing gift certificates for groceries and a dinner out, and finally, leaving the apartment, that day, completely unpacked and ready to live in. It still doesn't stop there. The other night, they came over with sheers for the windows, and a brand new microwave! This morning, they called my mom at work and told her that they were inviting them to an annual roast beef dinner event at Munn's Church. I cannot begin to tell you how difficult it is to be so far away when your parents are in need, and sometimes you feel like there is no one out there who can help. I cannot tell you how much it means to me, to know that there are people out there, who do not owe my parents anything, who have provided so much love, generosity and support. It is embarrassing to only be able to say "thank you". However, I would like to say thank you to everyone at Oakview: Mark, Jeff, Greg, Dave, Don, Glen, Heather, another Don, Doug, Dan, (I hope I haven't missed anyone), and most importantly, Anne, who pulled all of this together and has been there for my parents every step of the way. We usually only hear about businesses that provide poor customer service, or treat their employees like dirt, so it was important to me to be able to send this letter, highlighting a very special group of people who have gone over and above the call of duty, do it on a regular basis, and are a glowing example of a business that is truly invested in their community. SANDY BRAY Pud