The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

3 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, September 25, 2009 Visit will be filmed for mini-documentary RETAIL & WHOLESALE LIGHTING Continued from page 1 the Courages are participating in a mini-documentary for their website and World Vision's to show participants the fruits of their labours (and shivers). The 2009 dip raised more than $55,000, about half the cost of the $117,000 Kahi water project. The 25th anniversary edition in 2010 hopes to raise the other half -- so this entire project will be funded by the dip. Oakville musician Tom Cochrane, of Life is a Highway fame and well-known World Vision supporter, encouraged the Courages into going to Africa. Cochrane, who emceed the 2009 dip, promised them it would be a life-altering experience. Todd said he believes he's emotionally prepared to take in not only the lush, hilly geography, but the aftermath of genocide that has left 65,000 families headed by children. "I think I am, but I'll let you know," he said, promising to relate his experiences upon returning home in a few weeks. The Courages will stay at a hotel an hour's drive from Kahi, a village of 10,000, in Rwanda's Umutara region, where the water project is underway. They will visit the site, meet children of the village and make the lengthy daily trip the village girls take on foot with heavy containers on their heads, to transport water home -- while the boys go to school. "It's ridiculous, of course," said Todd, himself a father of three. Likewise, Trent, who also has three young children, said the water project, drilling wells and bore holes and building water reservoirs, should free the girls up to attend school. Another major component of the project is to teach the residents how to operate and maintain the equipment, so they may have clean water flowing into the future. "World Vision's water projects are not about just setting up and walking away," said Trent. Since the Polar Bear Dip began 25 years ago, when Gaye urged her sons and a couple of friends to get up and get the New Year's Day "Canada is another world and Oakville is another world on top of that." Todd Courage, co-founder of the Oakville Polar Bear Dip all tdoor ou lighting on sale Lighting qualifies for home renovation tax credit cobwebs out, it has raised more than $420,000. It has also attracted people from not only across the GTA, but also from afar, including Jamaica and Japan. For the past 14 years, it has benefitted World Vision. "Three million people on this planet, two million of them children, will die as a result of water-related diseases," said Todd. However, it's unlikely the Courages will take a dip in Rwanda. Todd said the sad reality behind the water projects is that disease and parasites are prevalent. Droughts in Umutara have left the majority of its population without reliable access to safe water. Just one in three families there draws water from a protected source. The rest rely on contaminated water from shallow, hand-dug wells, swamps and ponds. As a result, kids regularly suffer from recurring water-borne diseases. "Canada is another world and Oakville is another world on top of that," observed Todd. The water-for-water theme fits the polar bear dip fundraiser, which in 2008, raised $60,000 for South Darfur, Sudan. In 2007, $40,000 was raised for the Kandiaye and Saré Yéroyel communities in Senegal. In 2006, $35,000 was raised for the Masima community in Kenya. Caring about people is high on the Courages' priority list. Earlier this year, a fundraiser at The Tin Cup that was to raise additional funds toward the dip's water project, was redirected to a local family when they faced the loss of their son, a former pub employee, when he was fatally stabbed earlier this year. More information is available at www.polarbeardip.ca. Featuring lighting from Trump Home · Troy · Hudson Valley · Stonegate Design · Heidle and much more Oakville's Finest Lighting Store in the Oakville Home Improvement District ELEGANT www.conceptlighting.ca DISTINCTIVE 905.849.LITE (5483) OPEN SUNDAYS 243 Speers Road · Between Kerr & Dorval · Oakville, ON Inside Artscene..................................................31 Worship...................................................35 Sports......................................................36 Real Estate..............................................38 Classified.................................................42 For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742 Mon., Tues. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Thu., and Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (open for calls only after 5 p.m) Closed Sat. and Sun. NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS call (905) 845-9742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com Full Delivery There's No Place Like, Bulk Barn, Carguide News, Kellogg's, Union Gas, Zellers, Sears, Dell Computers, Leon's, Homes Outfitters, 2001 Audio, Home Outfitters, Canadian Tire, Partial Delivery: Ashley Furniture, Metro Canada, TCL Plumbing, Beams Vaccuums, Centennial Windows, Price Chopper, Food Basics, Best Buy Canada, Gino's Pizza, Home Hardware, Canadian Power Inc., Longo's, No Frills, Sobeys, Pharma Plus, Rabba Fine Foods, Fortino's, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Wal-Mart, Toyota, Bouclair, Staples Business Depot, Mark's Work Warehouse, Part Source, Sears, Future Shop, Shop & Save, Michael's of Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart, Toys R Us, Canadian Tire, Solutions, The Source, Magnotta Winery refined styles WITH A COOL TWIST