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

353 IROQUOIS SHORE DRIVE, OAKVILLE Ask us about bleaching for new patients FREE SNA NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR 2010 ontario's top newspaper - 2005-2008 Aiming for Olympics Sports FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012 905-842-6030 90 40 Pages $1.00 (plus tax) dentistoakville.com den A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 50 No. 39 "Using Communication To Build Better Communities" Turn off the lights Saturday By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Don't forget to turn your lights off from 8:30-9:30 p.m. -- and beyond -- tomorrow night for Earth Hour. Oakville residents are being asked to join their local governments and services Saturday, March 31, as they turn off their lights to mark Earth Hour 2012. The Town of Oakville, Halton Region, Halton District School Board, Halton Catholic District School Board and Halton Regional Police Services have announced they will join communities around the world by turning lights off from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Earth Hour, a global initiative led by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), encourages communities and individuals around the globe to turn out their lights for one hour to symbolize their commitment to fighting climate change. "Every Oakville resident can make a difference in reducing our ecological footprint and Earth Hour is one easy way to take that first step," said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. The Town is calling on residents to sign up for Earth Hour at www.wwf.ca/earthhour.com and, when the appointed hour rolls around, to turn off their lights, turn down the thermostat, unplug the television, DVD player, microwave, clock radio, computer, etc. Residents can also visit Oakville Hydro's website at www. oakvillehydro.com for energy conservation tips. See Oakville page 3 Bank Bed Challenge kicks off By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Local banks are ready to compete against one another -- to see who has the fastest hospital bed. The Oakville Hospital Foundation and six banks kicked off the 2012 Birmingham Bank Bed Challenge. The seventh annual race of hospital beds, by local bankers, through downtown Oakville will take "We've certainly set the bar very high for place on Sunday, May 6. Last year, the compe- this year's tition raised more than fundraising, but $155,000, bringing the we're really excited six-year total to more and we know we than $730,000. "We've certainly set can blast through the bar very high for this last year's goal." year's fundraising, but we're really excited and Kate Van de Laar, we know we can blast Oakville Hospital through last year's goal," Foundation said Kate Van de Laar of the hospital foundation, at the launch breakfast event Thursday. The annual event sees six local banks fundraise for a month ahead of the competition. Then, on May 6, the bank teams will race hospital beds against one another along Lakeshore Road. The event includes prizes for fastest bed, as well as top fundraising branch and bank, and team spirit awards. This year's challenge is getting a boost in funding. Amarna will match individual donations of $50-$99 by 50 per cent and will match all donations of $100 See Price page 7 OAKVILLE BEAVER file photo candlelight concert: St. Jude's Anglican Church held a Songs and Prayers For The Earth concert in candlelight to celebrate Earth Hour last year. Once again this year, St. Jude's will hold an Earth Hour candlight concert from 8:15-9:45 p.m. Saturday. The concert will feature the seven-piece Brian Hayman Jazz Ensemble, Shannon Butcher on vocals and the Masterworks of Oakville chorus.