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

17 · Friday, November 25, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Sharkwater r almost cost its creator his life Continued from page 10 Stewart. He said shark fin soup originated as a delicacy in China thousands of years ago, reserved for royalty because they were far too difficult to catch. "It was tough to catch and tough to prepare it. It was a dish consumed very infrequently. When China began the widespread trading with the rest of the world in the mid'80s, everyone had the opportunity to enjoy shark fin soup," said Stewart. "A lot of the sharks are finned. A single kilogram of shark fin is worth $800." The much sought after soup results in hordes of sharks being pulled from the water and having their fins cut off. The rest is thrown back, he said. It is estimated between 70 million-100 million sharks are killed every year by humans for their fins. "That is enormously wasteful. It's cruel and sharks would take days to die. It was happening because nobody cared about sharks," said Stewart. "I thought if I could change the public's view of sharks, to have them see sharks through my eyes, maybe they would want to fight for their protection, like they're fighting for pandas and tigers." "The biggest thing is the demand is for shark fins. As long there are people consuming shark fins, people are going to be finning sharks," he added. Since its release, Sharkwater r has won "I thought if I could change the public's view of sharks, to have them see sharks through my eyes, maybe they would want to fight for their protection, like they're fighting for pandas and tigers." Robert Stewart, filmmaker Sharkwater th first country to be shark fin free. We can the do o that with a Fin-Free Canada campaign co oming up, as well as a petition launching Monday (Nov. 28)," said Stewart. M "I had no idea when I started this journey what I was doing, but I took one giant step. Be ecause I took that step I became dedicated to o the process. It is far cooler to save the ecosystems and species than it is to destroy it." For more information on Sharkwater and the fin-free movement, visit www.sharkwater.com. Nathan Howes can be reached at howesna@sheridanc.on.ca or follow him on Twitter at @HowesNathan. Tu I es nfo da rm Gr y, a ad No tio e v. n E 9 29 ve , 7 ni :0 ng 0 p. m more than 30 awards at the most prestigious film festivals around the world. The movie's message seems to be getting across -- the movement to ban shark fins is gaining momentum across North America. The consumption, possession and trade of shark fins are now illegal across many U.S. states -- including California, Portland, Maryland, Washington, Hawaii and Oregon. In Ontario, Mississauga and Toronto joined Brantford last month in passing bylaws prohibiting the possession, sale, trade and distribution of shark fin products. Oakville and London may be next. Oakville Town council passed a motion in June for staff to draft a bylaw banning shark fin and shark cartilage products in town. London city staff will do the same after its council voted in favour of a ban Monday. "We have an opportunity to make (Canada) It's not just a school, it's a dynamic place where accelerated and enriched academics, arts and athletics brighten my future. as ha SC h HS t H at ned a rne ar ea le ve l have at I ha hat Wh gn g i s n esi de o d to nt t want to wa e to me ed m ced uenc flue nfl in ent ien ci c ici fi ffi ef gy e rgy er ne an en ld an ild uil uil bu and b an he t th c ct e f fe f a aff af t o no l ll i w wi ch ic ar whi ca nt want y. I wa way. bad wa n a ba e t in nmen onm ro ir vi nv en env . e me dm nd oun rou ar ld a rl or wo he w th rt er te tt ette be to b to . nt tuden tu de 8 St de rad Gra Current Gra - Cu Hillfield Strathallan College is an independent day school for students from Montessori 3 and Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Visit us at www.hsc.on.ca. worth it. Call Yes, my child is 905-389-1367 Scott Barton at THE OAKVILLE Music Director: Sarah Morrison Associate Music Director: Janet Stachow Conductor: Jeff MacLean Accompanist: Cheryl Duvall CHILDREN'S CHOIR JOY WORLD WO ORLD! to the With G Guests: Gu ue ues es sts t: Mark Gardner Baritone k Ga G ard rdn dner - B Ba aritone Catherine Gardner Soprano Cath herin in ne Gard rdner - So rd S Sopran o no Community Community Carol Carol Concert Concert With Special Guest: LIANNE TAN Organist OPEN HOUSE Monday, a November 28th 7:30pm - 8:30pm Including a short presentation and a tour of our wonderful r scho c ol. We offe f r both full-time and part-time junior and senior kindergar r ten as well as Grades r 1 through r 8. SATURDAY, DEC. 3, 2011 · 7:00 p.m. SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 2011 · 3:00 p.m. WHERE St. John's United Church 262 Randall St. Oakville, Ontario L6J 1P9 WHERE St. Cuthbert's Anglican Church, 1541 Oakhill Drive. Oakville, Ontario L6J 1Y6 TICKETS Advance/On-Line: Adult- $25; Ch/Sr- $15 Door: Adult- $30; Ch/Sr - $20 TICKETS Advance/On-Line: Adult $15 Senior/Child $10 Door: Adult: $20, Senior/Child $15 In Person: Atelier Grigorian (Oakville) By Phone: 905 - 337 - 7104 Online: www.oakvillechildrenschoir.org Or: At the door Presented by: 2232 Sheridan Garden Drive, Oakville www.jkcs-oakville.org