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

www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, January 24, 2013 · 6 The Oakville Beaver 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. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Guest Column 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 905-631-6095 Famed aviator honoured Neil Oliver Vice-President and Group Publisher, Metroland West David harvey Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief, Halton Region Daniel Baird Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor Riziero Vertolli Photography Director Sandy Pare Business Manager RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY: Ontario Community Newspapers Association MARK DILLS Director of Production Manuel garcia Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Website www.oakvillebeaver.com The OakvilleBeaver is a division of I Canadian Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: United Way of Oakville ATHENA Award RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER navigating a new land: The Halton Newcomer Portal is a community initiative to assist new- comers identify the supports and services they can access when they arrive in Halton. At its kickoff, from left, Marwa Elsewisy and Christina Suero join Indira Nadoo-Harris, director of communications for Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. thought I would pass along the announcement of Canada honouring the Honourable John Alexander Douglas (J.A.D.) McCurdy, my grandfather, by his recent induction into the prestigious Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame. Those of your readership who have served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and our remaining veterans would, I am SUBMITTED PHOTO sure, be interested to learn of this high honour HALL OF FAME: Honorary Col. Gerald P. J. Haddon, reprethe government has senting his grandfather Honourary Air Commodore J.A.D. McCurdy, bestowed. and his wife Amanda, were presented with a handmade crystal and Canada is further proclamation from Prime Minister Stephen Harper outlining some of honouring McCurdy's McCurdy's aviation firsts. immense aeronautical contribution by consolidating his place in history as one of the Principal Architects of Canadian Aviation. Honorary Air Commodore McCurdy was inducted into the prestigious Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame during a moving ceremony, which took place at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa on Nov. 21, 2012. McCurdy was Canada's first pilot and the first man to fly in Canada and the former British Empire. My grandfather graduated from the University of Toronto in 1906 in mechanical engineering, where he was the youngest student to be admitted to the university. Capping a brilliant career in aviation, McCurdy was appointed Lt.-Gov. of Nova Scotia from 1947-1952. Known as one of the principal fathers of Canadian aviation, when he died on June 25, 1961, in Montreal, Québec, he was the world's oldest living pilot. J.A.D. McCurdy was buried in his birthplace, Baddeck, N.S. with full military honours facing the waters of Bras d'Or Lake from where he made his historic flight in The Silver Dart. To represent my grandfather on this unique occasion of his induction in Ottawa was a rare honour of which I am immensely proud. Honourary Col. Gerald P.J. Haddon, Oakville Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering Considerable handwringing over the demise of handwriting las, when it comes to handwriting, the writing is on the wall. Seriously, how long before handwriting is lost on generations born staring at computers and pecking on keyboards, generations altogether unfamiliar with quill and parchment, or even pen and paper? According to experts, not long. And while there's been considerable handwringing over the inevitable demise of handwriting, no one seems to have any solutions on how to save this ancient art. I know what you're thinking -- who cares? Why bother attempting to save something so destined to drift off into obsolescence? Because there are experts out there who insist that handwriting -- like sleep, exercise, and oatmeal -- is good for us. Last week, the benefits of putting pen to paper were detailed on www.theweek.com. Research shows when you study by writing notes in longhand, you actually have higher information retention. Further, while writing on paper, you remain focused on what you're writing; as opposed to when you write on the "time-sucking portal" known as a computer, on which your attention is invariably hijacked. Also, "the act of writing, which engages your motorskills, memory and more, is good cognitive exercise." A Andy Juniper Oh, and then there's research that claims writers who write longhand, actually write better than keyboard pluckers -- that is, they write longer, faster, and they use more complete sentences. Probably all true. However, from a purely selfish, personal perspective, the death of handwriting cannot come too soon. You see, my handwriting died a horrible death eons ago. Honestly, I could never write with any sort of style, or rudi- mentary readability. How bad is my handwriting? People used to call it "chicken scratch," but then chickens got all in a flap, saying that my writing was a disgrace to the term. How bad is my handwriting? Doctors can't read it. At Christmas, we bought our daughter Haley's boyfriend a double whammy of gift cards, one for his favourite sushi joint and one for the movies. To liven up this pretty predictable present, we bought a card and inside I penned a rambling note. It began with a gut-buster: "Hey Adam, use these cards to take your special someone out to dinner and the movies, and if she ain't available, maybe you could take Haley...." Young Adam slowly arrived at that killer punchline, but rather than laugh, he simply frowned. Then shrugged. Then sheepishly admitted: "Sorry, I can't read any of this." Hey, you're not alone. Years ago, I conducted an extensive interview with late-great cartoonist Jim Unger (Herman) at his abode in the Bahamas. Post-interview, I flew home but my luggage, including the tape of that interview, was inexplicably forwarded to Fiji. No worries, I thought. While taping the interview, I'd also prudently jotted back-up notes that I brought back with me in my carry-on. Trouble was, when I flipped open that notebook, I couldn't read a word I'd written. I'd either penned the notes in a lost language, or my handwriting had again regressed. From pitiable to indecipherable. Experts are worried the ancient art of handwriting is dying. People who know me say I murdered it. Andy Juniper can be contacted at ajjuniper@gmail.com, found on Facebook, www.facebook.com, or followed at www.twitter.com/thesportjesters.