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6 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, November 17, 2011 OPINION Save a life On page 1 of today's edition is the amazing story of two local women-- neighbours-- who both embarked on a life-changing journey recently. The neighbours--Mary Egerton and Jackie Poirier-- both donated parts of their livers to their respective sisters within four months of each other-- forever changing the lives of Francie Egerton and Chris O'Neill by giving both new leases on life. Both living donors slough off their living donations as "something that had to be done." This story of four amazing women with equally amazing attitudes should be an inspiration to anyone who has not yet registered their consent to be an organ or tissue donor. According to the Trillium Gift of Life Network in Ontario there are currently 1,500 people on the waiting list for an organ transplant and every three days someone in the province dies waiting for a life-saving transplant. Sadly, only 20 per cent of eligible Ontarians have registered to donate. According to the Trillium Gift of Life Network: · One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation as well as enhance the lives of up to 75 others through tissue donation. · Everyone is a potential organ and tissue donor, regardless of his/her age. What tissue donation can mean: · After sight-restoring corneal transplant surgery facilitated through the gift of someone's eyes, recipients can return to work or school. · Donated skin can mean the difference between life and death for firefighters and other burn survivors. · Donated heart valves are used to replace the diseased or damaged valves of young children · Bone transplants return full mobility to patients of all ages. For details on how to donate go to www. giftoflife.on.ca or call 416-363-4001 or toll-free 1-800-263-2833. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Letters policy Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Steve Nease Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor Rebate program can be beneficial Dear editor, We would like to offer a response to Mr. Shadbolt's Nov. 10 letter, Program flawed. The eco-Energy Rebate Program is in place to assist and encourage individual homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The amount of the rebate varies based on the type of improvement and must be completed prior to March 31, 2012. Where it is true that you will be `out of pocket' approximately $350, for the inspections required to participate in the program, the rebate can be up to $5,000, which is very substantial when doing home improvements. Typically, what we suggest is-- if you are intending on doing multiple improvements to your home, (ie: furnace, air conditioning, new roof, insulation, windows & doors, etc), then you should absolutely participate in the program. This will provide you with valuable information, from qualified individuals, of what improvements will benefit the most. However, if you are only considering replacing a couple of windows or doors and will not be installing more than at least 10 units, which would earn a rebate of $400, then you do not need incur the additional expense of the inspections. As long as the product installed, is approved for the ecoEnergy Rebate Program, you will benefit from the increased energy efficiency of these products in your home. Sheri d'Entremont, Buy Wise Windows & Doors interesting that George de Rabbie got to visit a bunch of battlefields of previous wars and how he became a changed person because he was given a once-in-a-lifetime experience It is sad to learn about so many graves and how some people don't have names on their graves because no one knew who they actually were. These articles are good to have in the newspaper because many students don't know much about the wars and it teaches them all about it. George de Rabbie's opportunity is something I might consider doing in the future. Billy Bartens, Grade 9 student at Toronto District Christian High School, Woodbridge WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.independentfreepress.com) Should the City of Toronto have the Occupy Toronto protesters removed from St. James Park? · Yes. Protesters made their point. Now it's time to move on (82%) ·No. Doing so would be trampling of the protesters' rights (18%,) Student found story interesting Dear editor, In response to the article Acton Legion president's Remembrance pilgrimage leaves him a changed man in the November 8, issue of The Independent & Free Press about how George de Rabbie became a changed man because of being chosen to represent the Command on the Leadership Pilgrimage of Remembrance. I like this article because it is Send us your letters Got a complaint? Want to get something off your chest? The Independent & Free Press welcomes your thoughts on issues of the day. Please send any letters to the editor by following the letters policy (above). The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.