www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 17, 2008 - 9 U.S. war resisters have more than verbal support in Oakville By Hiba Kesebi SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER While a war resister did not attend the Sept. 13 War Resisters' support campaign rally, an Oakville family who hosted the first female resister, did. Laughlin Campbell and his family, showed up at Towne Square Saturday to take part in the rally dubbed as the PanCanadian day of action in support of war resisters staying in Canada. The event, which was hosted in cities throughout Canada, aims to put pressure on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government to allow American military members, who do not wish to continue fighting in the United States army to seek refuge in Canada without being deported. This notion is something that the Campbells strongly support. After all, less than a year ago, Campbell, along with his wife and three elementary school-aged children, accommodated, supported and hosted a war resister and her family, in their modest home in Oakville. "We read the paper every day," explained Campbell when asked MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER PROTEST: Barbara Birkett takes part in demonstration supporting American War resisters at the Towne Square on Saturday. how he came to know of Kimberly Rivera, the first female war resister to come to Canada. "We saw an interview with War Resisters and it indicated that they were short of families." Campbell and his wife discussed the possibility of hosting a war resister and they immediately agreed on it. "We contacted them (War Resisters Support Campaign, the organization that aims to fight for the immigration rights of war resistors in Canada) not knowing if we would ever be contacted. But it was actually a relatively short time -- four months later -- that we got a call," he recalled. According to Campbell's wife, the process of hosting a war resister through the War Resisters' campaign is designed in a way that is safe for the organization and the war resister, as well the host family. "Resisters contact the organization ... and they're not given the name of a family until after they've crossed the border. So the family isn't involved in helping or encouraging them to come nor is the War Resisters campaign," she said, adding that the war resisters are only given the name, address and telephone number of the people with whom they're staying, after they cross the border. Kimberly was shipped to Iraq with her unit, 2-17 Field Artillery, since October 2006 where she served as a gate guard. While home on leave in Study in the UK Open House Monday September 22nd, 2008 · 6-9pm Burlington on the Lake Travelodge 2020 Lakeshore Road, Burlington Meet with representatives from some of the UK's top postsecondary institutions - England, Scotland, & Wales. Learn all the advantages of a UK educational experience. For more information: joe@barclayknap.com at barclay & knap educational services or (905) 632-0999. barclay&knap educational services academic planning | university & college placement See Oakville page 10 www.barclayknap.com Vision To be the most livable town in Canada JOIN A TOWN OF OAKVILLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE Mayor Rob Burton and Oakville Town Council invite and encourage you to apply to serve on a Town Committee and help make Oakville the most livable town in Canada. Currently there are vacancies on the following advisory committees: · Accessibility Advisory Committee (3 positions available) · Cultural Advisory Committee(5 positions available) · Environmental Strategic Plan Committee (6 positions available) · Harbours Advisory Committee (4 positions available) (Please indicate on the application if you are a boat owner) · Heritage Oakville (6 positions available) · Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (5 positions available) · Property Standards Committee (2 positions available) · Seniors Advisory Committee (6 positions available) · Traffic Advisory Committee (7 positions available) · Transit Advisory Committee (6 positions available) Further details, committee descriptions and application forms are available at www.oakville.ca/advisory.asp or from the Clerk's Department at Oakville Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road. For more information about the appointment procedure, please call Colleen Tino, Clerk's Department at 905-8456601, ext. 3136, or e-mail ctino@oakville.ca. Volunteer You can make a difference! GO CAR FREE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A BIKE International Car Free Day September 22 On Monday, September 22, 2008, the Town of Oakville is encouraging residents to participate in Car Free Day by using alternate modes of transportation. Car Free Day is part of a year-round initiative to reduce our dependence on automobiles and promote safer, healthier transportation solutions. The goals are to raise awareness of the environmental hazards of car use and to encourage people to use more sustainable modes of transportation such as walking, cycling, and taking public transit. In association with Metrolinx, Smart Commute Halton, and Make Your Move, Town of Oakville employees will be participating in Car Free Day with information sessions at lunch, a step challenge, organized trail walks, and much more! Send us an email to carfree@oakville.ca and tell us how you are going car-free and you'll be entered into a draw for a chance to win a bicycle. Visit www.oakville.ca for more details. For more information on Car Free Day, and the Town's other great active programs, please visit: Car Free Day - www.carfreeday.ca Make Your Move - www.oakville.ca/makeyourmove.htm Active Transportation Master Plan www.oakville.ca/activea2b.htm Get active your way every day! (DRAFT) PRIVATE TREE PROTECTION BY-LAW dations of the Committee are scheduled to go to Council Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 7 p.m. Council Chambers, Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road The Community Services Committee will be receiving a staff report regarding the (Draft) Private Tree Protection By-law. Members of the public are welcome to attend this meeting and provide comment to the Committee. The recommenon Monday, September 29, 2008. With more than half of the Town's urban trees located on private property, the (draft) Private Tree Protection By-law encourages the protection and enhancement of Oakville's tree canopy. A copy of the report and (draft) Private Tree Protection By-law will be available as of Friday, September 19, 2008 in hard copy at Town Hall or for www.oakville.ca/treeprotection.htm. download at For more information, visit www.oakville.ca/treeprotection.htm or contact Chris Mark, Director of Parks and Open Space at 905-845-6601, ext. 3111 or cmark@oakville.ca.