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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Tuesday, December 29, 2009 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends 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: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Help still needed In just a few short days the new year will arrive. Amidst the celebrations, we are sure there are many residents who will be more than happy to say goodbye to 2009. It has not been an easy year for a lot of people. The global economy took a beating and Oakville did not escape the spin-off effects. Workers found themselves out of jobs as companies downsized or closed for good. Ford of Canada's Oakville plant sat idle at various times this year. Sometimes the shutdown was by choice and on one occasion due to a parts shortage caused by labour unrest in India. In August, General Electric announced it would be closing its Oakville light bulb plant putting 180 employees on unemployment. The difficult economic climate strained the region's social services. Charitable groups and food banks watched the number of people they assisted soar in 2009. The need is also great for affordable housing. Consider these local stats: · More than 95 per cent of applicants for social housing in Halton cannot afford to pay average market rents without spending at least 30 per cent of their household income. · More than 1,800 people are estimated to become homeless in Halton each year. Despite these sobering numbers and the fact 2009 can best be described as turbulent, Oakville residents are fortunate to be able to call this great community of ours home. We have a strong economic base, a community that cares and an enviable standard of living. The town's location along the shores of Lake Ontario is, quite literally, breathtaking. Let's not take what we have for granted and let's ring in the new year with optimism and hope. 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. Letter to the editor Thank you from Kerr St. Ministries Thank you Oakville for helping Kerr St Ministries bring Christmas to over 1,300 residents in need. Just six weeks ago, we sat around the table in our office and wondered how we were going to bring Christmas to the 1,000 Oakville residents in need who had registered for our Christmas family sponsorship program. With a fundraising goal of $120,000 to make the program possible, the task to raise the funds seemed overwhelming at times. However, as word spread throughout the community, we were inspired as we watched residents, including children as young as six years old, and local businesses and groups rally around these families in need. We are thrilled to report that because of the community's generosity, we exceeded our goal and were able to bring Christmas to more than 1,300 people. With 14,000 people in Oakville living in poverty, we truly couldn't help these residents in need without tremendous community support. So to everyone involved, thank you for making a difference. BEN WARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KERR STREET MINISTRIES 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 email to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Torch runner missed I thought the article on all who participated in carrying a torch for the Olympics (Carrying a torch for the Olympics, Oakville Beaver, Dec. 18) was a proud moment for everyone fortunate enough to participate. An important member in our Oakville community however was not mentioned in the article: Elfi Schlegel, Olympian and Canadian champion, and owner of her own gymnastics club of which my daughter is a proud member, carried the torch in front of 4560 Hwy. 7 in Markham to Union Street on Dec. 17. It was a wonderful journey for her that was celebrated amongst her family, friends and members of her club and that deserves special recognition throughout our community in addition to all of the other local torchbearers. Cheers to everyone fortunate enough to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity, and especially to you Elfi. KRISTINA BOSNJAK Grinch stole family's presents It is shocking to know that, during the season of giving, someone is cruel enough to steal Christmas gifts. Yes, on Christmas Day, a package of gifts was left on a doorstep for a family in Oakville. Within two hours, the package was stolen. Now this wasn't a pile of brightly-wrapped boxes sitting out in the open. The basket was in a garbage bag, tucked in a corner. The contents were a new Monopoly game, chocolates and movie gift cards (over $150 value). It wasn't big at all. Call me naive, but I was more worried that the family would throw it out. The thought that someone would steal on Christmas Day never even crossed my mind. Sure, I could have given the gifts in person, but I didn't want this family to feel obligated to repay or buy my family gifts; especially since they are in the midst of some financial hardship. All my family wanted to do was to ensure that this family had a great Christmas. It is sad to know that the Grinch is real and so is the sadness that such conduct brings. M. POSITANO