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OPINION & LETTERSTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:The Oakville BeaverTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:Canadian Circulation467 Speers Rd.,Audit Board Member Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 Recognized for Excellence by(905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571ClassiOntario CommunityCanadian Communityfied Advertising: 632-4440 Newspapers AssociationNewspapers AssociationCirculation: 845-9742 Open 9-5 weekdays,ATHENASuburban NewspapersAward5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekendsof AmericaEditorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. NEIL OLIVERVice President and Group ROD JERREDManaging EditorMARK DILLSDirector of ProductionUnauthorized use is prohibited.Publisher of Metroland WestDANIEL BAIRDAdvertising DirectorMANUEL GARCIAProduction ManagerThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofDAVID HARVEYRegional General ManagerRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography DirectorCHARLENE HALLDirector of DistributionJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSANDY PAREBusiness ManagerSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. ManagerLetter to the editorJust do itStrangers savedWhen are we going to get the message?Yet another report on Canadian obesity rates wasdaughter's dayreleased this week. To no ones surprise, the findingshighlighted what we all know: physical activity andOn Father's day, my family and I improved diet significantly reduce the incidence of obe-were driving on the QEW eastbound sity.on our way to our daughter's first The comprehensive report, a joint effort by theballroom recital. COn our way there, we were anadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) andinvolved in a serious collision that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), states thatinvolved quite a few vehicles. eliminating physical inactivity (less than 15 minutes of Our daughters, Julia, 8, and Sara, low-impact activity a day), could avert the equivalent of 4, were safely buckled in their seats 646,000 cases of obesity in women and 405,000 cases inand Sara was having a nap when the men.collision occurred. The girls were The report goes on to note that increasing thequite shaken by the experience. amount of fruits and vegetables we eat presumably inHowever, I cannot commend the the place of high-fat, high-calorie choices couldamazing firefighters and police offi-decrease the cases of obesity in men by 265,000 and bycers, not to mention our very caring 97,000 in women. In short, we need to eat better andtow-truck driver, who did everything move more something we all know.in their power to make our girls feel Interestingly, however, the 52-page document (avail-safe and unafraid. able at www.cihi.ca), titled Obesity in Canada, breaksThe firefighters and police took down the numbers across the county by various factors,their caring even one step further. including sex, age, geographic region and cultural andWe explained that we had called our economic background. In Halton, the prevalence of friends, who were also headed to the obesity sits at 16.3 per cent right on target with therecital to see where they were en rest of the country, which has shown a steady increase inroute. measured obesity rate over the past three decades, fromIt just so happened that they were about 14 per cent in 1978 to just over 25 per cent inmaking their way to the recital and 2002.were stuck in the huge backlog of Obesity in Canada stresses that the causes of, andtraffic that resulted from the acci-contributors to, obesity are complex and include notdent. The Oakville Beaverwelcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity,Letters only individual lifestyle choices and genetic disposition,When we explained this to the length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain but also social determinants and other underlying fac-the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to police officer on scene, he radioed to the The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to tors. It also notes that many of the physical and psycho-back to the other officers directing editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaverreserves the right to refuse to publish a letter.editorlogical factors may begin in childhood.traffic and searched for the van our Further, it found that many Canadians get less thanfriends were driving and maneuvered them through the crazy traffic so the daily, recommended amount of physical activity forThanks for Bronte Veterans Gardenthat they could reach us, pick up our their age group, notably, that 88 per cent of children anddaughter, Julia and get her to her youths ages five to 19 did not meet the guidelines of The Town is, I am certain, extremely proudrequired fundraising and with the support of recital safely and in time to perform of the Grade 7 and 8 students of St. Dominicwilling donors quickly raised the requiredCanadas Physical Activity Guide.her routine with her dance partner Catholic Elementary School.money to cover the cost of the Bronte VeteransCombine this trend with increased sedentary behav-and fellow dancers. Their creation of the Bronte Veterans GardenGarden.iours (only 19 per cent of children and youths are cur-We felt so cared for and felt a real on Bronte Road began as a vision when theyThe memorial garden is located in therently meeting the Active Healthy Kids Canada recom-sense of community working togeth-believed and recognized how our CanadianDonovan Bailey Park, which is kept pristine bymendation of less than two hours per day of screener to ensure safety. soldiers put their lives on the line for the sakeMarion Acorns volunteer maintenance andtime), and you have a deadly recipe for a host of chronicMany things lay broken on the of our freedom.park management.conditions, such as type II diabetes, hypertension andside of the road yesterday afternoon, It was in June 2010 when I was invited to St.The garden became a reality on June 14some forms of cancers.Dominic to receive 14 dbut my daughter's heart was not one ifferent presentationswhen the unveiling of the attractive sign wasUltimately, theObesity in Canada report aims toof them as she saw how our com-from the students showing their visions for acelebrated with our Canadian Legions anddevelop strategies to address the countrys ever-increas-remembrance and memorial in the Brontemany students leading and participating in themunity helpers rallied together so ing battle of the bulge, and is well worth reading.area.45-minute ceremony.she could perform the routine she However, we all know what we should be doing.I excitedly recognized the values of theirThe students of St. Dominic can be justifi-had worked all year to prepare. Were just not doing it.designs and ideas and followed through by ask-ably proud of their youthful recognition andThank you to all of you anony-The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite ing the Town of Oakvilles Commission of Parkscontribution to Oakvilles vision of being themous, but extraordinary, people who 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the and Open Space for its support, which camemost liveable town in Canada.helped us.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 without hesitation.Thank you St. Dominic.Our family feels blessed.advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertThe students of St. Dominic began the Ralph Robinson, Ward 1 Councillorisements or decline.Pina Palumbo, Oakvillewww.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, June 22, 2011 6