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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 6, 2013 | 6 Editorial Oakville takes up Terry's fight As the calendar slips into September, students head back to school and summer holidays become a distant memory, we look to a fresh start and our usual roster of activities -- like Oakville's annual Terry Fox Run. As teams form to take up Terry's cause (on Sunday, Sept. 15 at Coronation Park) several decades after our national hero embarked upon his own valiant quest, Oakvillians should be proud. This is a town in which volunteers and supporters are plentiful for a host of activities that support research to advance treatment of and to nd cures for this insidious disease. But it is not just residents who ght for the cause. We are fortunate to live in a town where local government, to the credit of its leaders, boasts a string of success stories on record in the battle championed by Terry. Oakville's politicians, guided by the Canadian Cancer Society, has led Ontario on a number of fronts including its bans on pesticides, smoking in restaurants and tanning bed use by those under age 18. As Mayor Rob Burton says, "Oakville led at the municipal level in ghting cancer with our smoking ban, our tanning bed ban for teenagers, our smoking ban in parks, etc., our regulation of PM2.5, in short, on all the points requested by the Canadian Cancer Society and more." While there is a long way to go, Oakville should be proud. The mayor hit the nail on the head in noting that our town will continue to lead where it can -- that municipalities have a share of jurisdiction in health protection wherever a higher level of government has not occupied the eld. That's why the smoking and pesticides initiatives were replaced -- eventually -- by provincial measures. Oakville is still out in front of the Province on its ban on the use of tanning beds. Cancer affects everyone, either directly or indirectly. There is no easy way to hear the diagnosis for oneself or a loved one. There is nothing that can stop the fear that courses through one's mind and body when the words are uttered. There is nothing that can make the journey through treatment less harsh. Terry clung to the hope of a cure -- his Marathon of Hope. Despite the passage of time and the many who have followed in his footsteps, hope still lives for his dream. It is only a matter of time until cancer is beaten. As the battle continues, great strides have been made in medical elds -- improving speed of diagnosis, treatments and greatly-changed survival rates. The public perception of cancer has changed. Politicians are helping to make very good things happen. Laws are changing. And Terry's dream lives on. "Connected to your Community" Letters to the Editor 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 107 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 Drew Doherty, in front, and Sam Pennyfather, in back, take Callum Blackburn on his rst canoe ride. Callum has Angelman Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that severely impacts his mobility and speech. SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Mom grateful for community's kindness I have another wonderful community experience to share... another example of people reaching out to my nine-year-old son Callum who suffers from Angelman Syndrome (a rare genetic disorder severely impacting his physical mobility and speech, making independent life impossible). On Tuesday, Aug. 13 Drew Doherty and Sam Pennyfather from the Burloak Canoe Club took Callum out on the river for his rst ever canoe ride. The boys were fantastic with Callum and the entire club was incredibly welcoming and excited to be part of this experience. I am hoping you can publish this photo as it yet another example of our amazing community embracing children like Callum so that his life is truly limitless. Without the support of my community, I would not be able to give Callum the life experiences he has had to date. Heidi Blackburn, Oakville | submitted photo 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 Do you feel good, had a great time, eh? You stole a little girl's bike from her yard. The same bike that she received new. She loved that bike, said she would never forget getting Cream Soda, (the name of) her bike. You put my dog at risk by leaving the gate open so you could vandalize us. Maybe you need to get a job and learn respect. Think of consequences. You stole someone's owerpot, threw it in the eld, broke branches on bushes and trees. Make sure you put on your resume for the future: No respect for people or property. Like to steal children's property and break their hearts. A resident's letter to delinquents To all parents, I hope you read this to all your children, especially those roaming after 10 p.m. Make them aware of how they can hurt the people and property of the community where they live. When it happens to them, will they cry? Call the police? I'm sure you, the delinquents, don't have the guts to admit to this. I'm sure you'll do it again. Good luck to you in life. Would you like a recommendation? If I catch you in my yard again, I will make sure your name is known. Come forward and apologize to the little girl. Stand by your actions. Of course you won't, will you? You are delinquents. C. Maleszykks, Oakville Proud Official Media Sponsor For: 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.