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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, September 4, 2013 | 6 Time to save the world bee population Scientists, environmentalists and beekeepers, to name a few, are sounding the alarm bells, and they are loud. Yet, no one appears to be taking much notice that the worldwide bee population is rapidly declining. We have heard the stories -- repeatedly. From colony collapse disorder to hive abandonment to bee die-off, the humble bumble is under constant threat. While much focus has been on the steady reduction in the number of honeybees, there is also great concern for the fate of wild bees. The Oakville Beaver ran a story on just that in one of its recent editions. Conservation Halton natural heritage ecologist Brenda Ryswyk said recently, the pollinators are key to maintaining our food sources and there is cause for concern. "If we lost the wild bees, we would lose all of our owering plants. If we lost all of our wild pollinators, we would really have a very different landscape," said Van Ryswyk. There is no one simple explanation for the decline in bees. Experts point to pesticides, loss of habitat, climate change, types of crops grown, parasites and foreign species, among other things. "In previous farming practices, they (farmers) used to have a lot of hedgerows with a lot of wild owers and shrubs that grew. That area was prime habitat for bumblebees and wild bees to nest in," explained Van Ryswyk. "A lot of farms these days feel it's more ef cient to clear those away and have more of a factory farm." In Canada, the bee population has dropped by an estimated 35 per cent in the past three years, according to the Canadian Honey Council. There is something, however, homeowners can do to assist the species. Perhaps Oakville residents could lead the way in providing a habitat for wild bees. In your garden, plant native owers that provide nectar and pollen. Encourage nesting areas using old branches and twigs. As well, many of us have become too sterile in our planting practices. No longer can it be about esthetics, it needs to be about survival. The bee population is key to that. Editorial N A T I O N A L P R I D "Connected to your Community" E 467 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 105 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 Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, left, presented the Kerr Village BIA with an Ontario ag, after the local BIA won the ninth annual Canada Day Flag Challenge. Its members displayed more Canadian ags in their shop windows than those in other BIA areas during the friendly competition. Here, receiving the ag are, from left, Kerr Village BIA chair Dean MacLean, past-chair Allan Kowall and nance chair Mike Marner. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS We should keep dual-track schools Re: Halton public school board reviewing French education, Oakville Beaver, Wednesday, August 21, 2013. I felt very disheartened reading through the article on some of the views expressed about dual-track schools being converted to single track and about some parents' recommendation for a cap on French Immersion. First of all, in reference to Ms. Jennifer Wilson from Halton Families for Inclusive Neighbourhood School (HFFINS) remark about taking away from the choice of parents, my answer echoes Mr. Jeff Blackwell's, in that: parents have already made their choice. They've already chosen French Immersion. If the majority has chosen French Immersion, do you take away the choice of the majority or put a cap on it? Secondly, I believe that the "expected in ux" of students moving into English schools when dualtrack schools are turned into single track will not be as substantial as implicated in the article given that there aren't enough students in the English track to ll these classes. I am sure Halton District School Board (HDSB) will be able to give an estimate on the numbers. As for the issue with busing, again, if the majority believe in French Immersion and are willing to bus their kids into these neighbourhoods, then that speaks plenty. And last, but not least, Canada is a bilingual nation. Letter to the Editor The Halton school board is not the English Halton school board. It encompasses all education, be it in English, or French offered in Halton's public schools. We live in a global world where communication has transcended boundaries. It saddens me to see that to date, some people do not realize the importance of mastering another language. I understand the frustrations some families may have about this, but I also believe in the power of dialogue. Maybe for the article to be balanced in view, parents who are supportive of French Immersion should've been interviewed as well. 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 Proud Official Media Sponsor For: ATHENA Award Dana Dennaoui, Oakville 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. 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