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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, April 24, 2013 | 6 Editorial Saluting our volunteers We wonder what kind of community Oakville would be if it didn't have its legion of dedicated volunteers. What would sports groups do without coaches, schools without parent volunteers, service clubs without members or the Canadian Cancer Society without its network of drivers? Where would Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital be without its loyal auxiliary? Would the plethora of anticipated family activities in town, such as the annual Canada Day festivities, Oakville Family Ribfest or Santa Claus parade, to name but a few, be as successful if there were no volunteers to support these events? What would our town be like without the comforting hands of the volunteers at Ian Anderson House hospice or the residents who take calls at the Distress Centre from lonely seniors, desperate children and others? Could the Oakville Community Foundation, United Way of Oakville, Salvation Army of Oakville or local food banks continue their good work if volunteers were not ready to lend a hand? Even abandoned animals receive kindness from strangers who freely give of their valuable time and those who give to the Oakville & Milton District Humane Society. Earth Day was that much greener Monday thanks to the volunteers of all ages who cleaned up the community. The Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights (OCCPEHR) engaged volunteers with its 22nd annual Community Clean Up event held Saturday morning and many, many community volunteers help Oakvillegreen and Ground Breakers Oakville plant trees and shrubs each year. There are also those who work with local seniors through friendly visiting programs. Still many others invest themselves in fundraising events to raise money for research and programs bene tting a whole host of illnesses that strike people in our community. Often, the same residents volunteer at a variety of different groups or activities. These residents -- our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues -- who offer up their time for the betterment of others make Oakville a great place to call home. We are a kinder, gentler, more empathetic society because of these individuals. This week is the 71st annual National Volunteer Week and we thank the men, women and youths who sel essly give of their time and talent to so many worthy causes, events and organizations. According to the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, each year, more than 13 million Canadians volunteer more than two billion hours of their time to help others. You simply can't put a price tag on that. We salute you. "Connected to your Community" 467 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Fax: (905) 337-5566 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 48 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Mayor weighs in on power plant The government moved the Oakville power plant because TransCanada told them in May of 2010 they could not overcome the bylaws Council and I put in place in March of 2009 to block applications for power plants in Oakville. Here is the link to the news story in your parent newspaper on this revelation: http://m.thestar.com /?content=ca3e54a3ac6 6b600ed20cef72cb7abd0 &section=news (mobile) or http://bit.ly/10Nkj4u. It was good of the Beaver to t in some of the coverage of the cancellations of the power plants. I wish Letters to the Editor there had been room for the short report in the Star I quote above. That item did more to explain how and why the Oakville power plant was cancelled than any of the other items that did nd room in the Beaver. Mayor Rob Burton, Oakville MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Communication was not helpful Editor's Note: A copy of the following letters, pertaining to development of the former Department of National Defence (DND) lands were led with the Oakville Beaver. I attended the recent Oakvillegreen meeting on zoning/ trees, which was attended by a number of Town staff including Joe Nethery, Chris Mark and Dilmar Lambert, as well as both Ward 2 councillors. Town staff was very helpful and candid in their explanations about the (former Department of National Defence/DND) lands situation, the replacement plan, etc. It became clear to me as the evening progressed, that the process and communication from the Town through the public consultation process for the DND lands was not helpful. The `draft plan' that was described as approved was later amended to remove 22 large mature trees in the interior of the lands. No notice was given to the public, or to the councillors, as far as I know. What kind of a consultation see Resident/Mayor on p.9 Proud Official Media Sponsor For: ATHENA Award 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; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. 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.