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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, May 21, 2014 | 6 We recently celebrated Mother's Day and the Victoria Day long weekend is now under our belts with Father's Day fast approaching (June 15) -- but in between, May 15 marked the International Day of Families. To recognize it, Halton's Our Kids Network released some facts and gures about families being major contributors to positive and healthy communities. Our Kids Network (www.ourkidsnetwork.ca) is a Halton-wide partnership of organizations and agencies serving children and youths. It is guided by research and provides leadership for planning and integrating services and supports so all children thrive. It joined the United Nations' call to observe International Day of Families by drawing attention to the positive in uence families have on society. "Families are not only central to the positive development and success of children and youths, but also to safe and thriving communities," says Elena DiBattista, director of Our Kids Network. According to the Halton Youth Parent Survey, the majority of local parents have very high levels of `family assets.' These are the everyday interactions, values, skills and relationships families use to help them be strong and resilient. These assets can translate into greater involvement of family members in schools and the community. "When families thrive, communities thrive," says DiBattista. "It's great to know that many Halton families are doing well with family assets. We also know that we must continue to provide support so more families can both be involved in, and rely on, our communities, especially in challenging times." Our Kids Network provided these facts about Halton families -- as gathered through the Kindergarten Parent Survey (2009, 2012) and Halton Youth Survey (2009, 2012). In 2012, one-third of parents of ve year olds reported their neighbourhood has high social cohesion, as compared to 18 per cent in 2009. (Social cohesion is de ned as feeling connected and having a sense of belonging.) In Halton, 97 per cent of parents of ve year olds report their neighbourhood is safe -- supporting national data on criminal activity indicating Halton is the safest place in which to live in the GTA. Approximately 22 per cent of 12 and 15 year olds say there are high levels of caring about others in their community. In the Halton Youth Survey, youths said that family communication is improving: 65 per cent of 12 year olds reported this in 2012, compared to 59 per cent in 2009 and 50 per cent of 15 year olds suggested this in 2012, compared to 44 per cent in 2009. Three-quarters of 12 year olds report spending high amounts of quality time with their family at home. Some 82 per cent of parents of ve year olds say they have a family meal at least once a day. This declines as children age, with 63 per cent of 12 year olds saying they had at least one family meal a day. While there's always more to be done, we should be pleased with the advances that have been made. It looks like the report card going home this school year carries a message of `Keep up the good work.' It's `all in the family' for Halton residents Editorial S P R I N G C L E A N "Connected to your Community" I N G 447 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 52 | Number 60 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 MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Boaters at the Oakville Yacht Squadron facility on Sixteen Mile Creek were on deck getting their crafts shipshape for the new season over the long weekend. After having put the boats in the water two weekends ago, it was high time to do some last minute touch-ups and install the sails, as the Victoria Day long weekend traditionally heralds the start of the boating season. Diane Thevenin stains the wood trim along the deck of her 32-ft. Bay eld sailboat the Mellieha with a view of setting sail in a short time. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Letters to the Editor Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association A mom's plea for safety near school buses Re: Police enforcing safe driving, Oakville Beaver, May 14, 2014 I am not one to formally complain, but after reading in the Oakville Beaver that this week is Road Safety Week, I felt compelled to write a letter urging people to do their part and pay attention around school buses. Twice this week, cars zoomed past my daughter's school bus as it was stopped, safety bar and stop sign extended, and lights ashing. The bus driver did his best to draw attention by honking the horn numerous times, but the distracted drivers kept going. An older lady this morning just mouthed, "Oops, sorry" as if it was a consolation for her lack of attention. Sorry will not cut it when a child is struck. School buses are a norm today, particularly in the mornings and afternoons. Therefore, it should be second nature for drivers to at least slow down near buses to ensure that they are not risking a potential accident. While police of cers may be on a blitz this week, please do your part and pay attention while driving -- every day. A very concerned mother of three, Marny Bruce, 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, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON L7L 7G5 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.