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6- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 28, 2007 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: THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS A DIVISION OF Media Group Ltd. NEIL OLIVER Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director TERI CASAS Business Manager MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Parental guidance needed Is your child a cyber bully or a member of a fight club? Or perhaps he/she is the victim of this technology-driven, sick form of entertainment among some of today's youth. While we think it's great news that Halton police are teaming up with the region's two publicly-funded school boards to combat cyber bullying activity, there's a third party that needs to be part of the solution -- the parent. Halton police report that acts of cyber bullying -- often involving viciously violent attacks on unsuspecting students by schoolmates -- are being recorded with videophones and posted on the popular site YouTube with greater frequency. While some of this disturbing footage involves fight clubs -- groups that gather to engage in so-called consensual fighting -- police note that this kind of activity is illegal as soon as anyone is seriously injured. "No one can consent to bodily harm," said Sgt. Peter Payne, public affairs officer for Halton police. "So if two people consent to a fight and one of them subsequently becomes injured in more than a minor way, like if a bone was broken or a severe injury was to occur, then the individual that caused the injury would be liable for a charge of assault." While some of these planned fights are taking place on school property, at least one was hosted in the backyard of a north Oakville residence, according to police. For this reason, parents need to be an active part of uncovering suspected incidents of cyber bullying and fight club activity. We need to better acquaint ourselves with the ever-evolving technology around us that allows our children to capture video and still images on pocketsized electronic devices such as cellphones. While school boards hope to discourage the violent behaviour by banning cellphone use in schools and installing surveillance cameras at entrances, parents must become proactive in their monitoring of cellphone and home computer use. If left unchecked, incidents of cyber bullying have the potential to escalate to a lethal outcome. By either taking away or, at least, monitoring the use of technology that makes cyber bullying possible, we may be able to prevent a senseless tragedy. 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 When I first walked into the Oakville Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society several years ago, I didn't know what I needed. Our beautiful three-and-a-half-year old daughter Shayna had just been diagnosed with leukemia and I was reaching out for help. Joan Gibb was in the office that day. She took me by the hand, gave me a hug and we talked. The heart and soul of the Oakville Canadian Cancer Unit When your child is sick with a lifethreatening disease, the world just seems to float by without you in it. Joan has a spirit that lifts people up and makes positive things happen. Shayna found a friend, a mentor and a surrogate grandma when she met Joan. When Shayna relapsed in 2003, Joan and the Oakville Unit were there for us again. Our Daffodil Girl will celAppleby College. For me that is the most magical part of the evening, there are no smiles brighter than those of the survivors. Joan is indeed the heart and soul of the Oakville Unit. She has inspired our family and friends. She has taught us how fulfilling it is to be a volunteer, to know that what we are doing will help a child, a BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com parent or a grandparent as they face the toughest battle of their lives. The energy that hits you when you walk into the CCS office is electric. To hear about the progress that is being made is inspiring. To meet and talk with other survivors is cleansing. We have met many wonderful volunteers and ebrate three years post transplant on April 16 of this year. Shayna has inspired us to raise money for research on all kinds of cancer, to help both young and old. Joan has provided us with the friendship, support and tools. With the help of many wonderful friends and relatives, Team Shaynanigans was born. Shayna proudly walks the Survivor's Lap every year in the Relay for Life at Pud Joan Gibb employees at the Oakville Unit who work hard every day to battle this disease that knows no age limit. Congratulations to Joan and the Oakville CCS on 50 years of giving. We will win this fight! SHAYNA'S MOM, SANDY MCDONALD The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.