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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, September 7, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 905-631-6095 -- 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Oakville Beaver THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award Neil Oliver Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The OakvilleBeaver is a division of David Harvey Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief Daniel Baird Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor Riziero Vertolli Photography Director Sandy Pare Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production Manuel garcia Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Welcome Earlier this week Halton officially welcomed the arrival of new Halton Regional Police Service Police Chief Stephen J. Tanner at a swearing-in ceremony conducted at the neighbouring Burlington Convention Centre. Most recently having served as chief of Kingston's police force (since 2008), Tanner brings with him three decades of policing experience, having previously taken on the role of Belleville's police chief at the age of 41 -- making him one of the youngest police chiefs in Canada at the time. Prior to that, Tanner served as Deputy Chief of Operations with the Guelph Police Service and also chaired the Halton Regional Police Association. Not only are the new police chief's roots in Halton -- he was born in Oakville -- he also began his career in law enforcement in Halton some three decades ago in 1982. Serving in this region until 1998, Tanner worked in a variety of roles -- as a uniformed patrol officer and also in criminal investigations, tactical and rescue, training, intelligence and major crime (homicide and forensic polygraph examination). Certainly much has changed in Halton in the 30 years since Tanner first patrolled the region. Retiring police Chief Gary Crowell reminded Tanner of those changes during the swearing-in ceremony. Not the least of the change is reflected in population size and the community's cultural diversity. What hasn't changed is the expectation of Halton residents that the region in which they have chosen to reside, the towns and cities in which they've decided to call home, put down roots and raise their families, remain safe from crime. While a Statistics Canada 2011 Crime Severity Index -- the results of which were released this summer -- rated Halton as the safest regional municipality in Canada with a population of more than 100,000, acting-Halton Police Chief Andrew Fletcher noted back in July there is still room for improvement where traffic safety, the victimization of seniors, youth crime, consumer fraud and domestic violence are concerned. The new chief appears to be attuned to that. While he vowed to keep Halton safe, he also vowed to work toward making it even safer. We welcome the arrival of our new police chief and look forward to a continuation of Halton's many proactive, community-based policing initiatives. 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 The Oakville Suzuki Association is a non-profit organization of teachers and parents dedicated to the development of high ability in every child through the study of a musical instrument. Shinichi Suzuki proved that with well-trained teachers, and parents who provide help and a good musical home environment, all children who could speak their native tongue could become talented players and develop excellent concentration, memory and listening skills. In Oakville we have a staff of seven violin teachers, five piano, three cello, a flute and a guitar teacher, all highly trained in the art of teaching children as well as being fine players. Our children give frequent concerts in the community, especially in seniors residencies, where they give joy to their audiences. Anyone interested is invited to visit our website at www.oakvillesuzuki.com. Jean Grieve, founder Oakville Suzuki Association Music for all 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 e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Reader frustrated with Neyagawa project Editor's Note: This letter was sent to Halton Region and a copy was filed with The Oakville Beaver and the Town of Oakville. The road project is a regional project. After enduring many months of Neyagawa being closed last summer, you can only imagine the shock of being turned around during the morning commute and told the road would be closed again for another month. Although the fellow at the stop sign said there were notices and signs, obviously they weren't positioned where I and hundreds of other upset drivers could see them. In fact, there were none on Dundas eastbound. As a result, there was a dangerous and congested traffic situation created. I don't understand how shutting down this major access road can be allowed a second time. I consider it unacceptable. As taxpayers and drivers, we accepted and dealt with it last year. But that should be it. If road closures are still required again then they must be done after hours. Have crews working 10 p.m.-6 a.m. if you need to close the road. I see you have listed Sixth Line as an alternative. Please let me know when you last drove down Sixth Line? I assume not recently, if at all. Once you do, you will realize this is not a viable alternative. Finally, please explain how parents and student are to access King's School? While I can understand why summer months were chosen last year, I can't believe the road is allowed to be closed in September. Where is the planning? Where is the notice to the public? Where is the consideration for a road closure like this when alternative routes are also under construction and not good alternatives? As well, with proper planning and construction work done after hours, it appears you could manage with limited road closures, if any, during peak times. I would ask that the road closure be immediately stopped and a better alternative implemented that does not adversely affect the taxpaying public and our access to highways and schools. You had your chance to do all this last year. Now, you should be finding a much better solution to remaining construction projects along Neyagawa. I truly hope the mayor's office takes note of this matter, the planning, the lack of notice to the public and the horrendous traffic disaster that has been created and the mayor deals with it quickly. Cam Brown, Oakville