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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 5, 2014 | 6 Here we go. Mark your calendar as the municipal election is set for Oct. 27 and the candidates are busy vying for your support. Don't sigh or groan about another election. Look at a trip to the polls as a great time to get to know the town you call home, whether you've moved here recently or are a long-time resident. Ask yourself: `How well do you know your municipal government?' Then use the election campaigning, door knocking by candidates, all-candidates' meetings and our media coverage to answer your questions. While the public can rail against the federal government's foreign policy, and some people feel they know a thing or two about their provincial politicians, few people have any idea what their local government does. Yet, it's the municipal government with whom residents have the closest association, whether it's paying their property taxes, obtaining a building permit or trying to get their local road cleared of snow. However, this election covers so much more. This is also the ballot on which people vote for public or Catholic school board trustees. Again, an ideal time to talk to people interested in school-based issues. We can't forget regional government -- the folks who provide local policing, public health services, recycling and waste, regional roads and more. The nal day a candidate can register is Sept. 12 (Nomination Day). After that, the campaign is of cially on as those registered try to earn your vote by Oct. 27 (Voting Day). Already many candidates have registered and are seeking your favour. All-candidates' meetings are an important way to meet those asking for your vote and to nd out who they are and what they stand for. These meetings are a forum at which to learn of local issues that are of concern to others. Oakville has six wards, each of which will elect a Town council representative and a representative that will sit at both Town and Regional councils. Voters will also mark their ballot for their choice for Oakville mayor and Halton Region's chair. If you are not one of those interested in seeking of ce, but you are interested or concerned about a particular issue, the election campaign is a good place to do some homework and ask some tough questions. If you're new to town, the campaign can offer a plethora of knowledge about who is at the helm of your hometown, what the key issues are, both now and moving into the future, and what your neighbours consider to be important. It's also a wonderful lesson in municipal politics -- perhaps not the high-pro le, 6 p.m. news fodder or federal or provincial politics, but de nitely where it hits home and who does what with your property taxes when it comes to local bylaws, roads, schools, parks and facilities. A good time to get to know your town Editorial T I M E T O S I G N "Connected to your Community" U P 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 106 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 Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre for Seniors held an open house Wednesday to showcase its fall and winter recreational programs and services available to those aged 50 and older. Above, Don Lyons shows off a woodworking piece that he teaches people how to make in his class. Attendees also toured the centre and learned about volunteer opportunities, upcoming events and day trips. The centre is located at 1565 Old Lakeshore Rd. (at Third Line and Lakeshore Road). | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution There is help available if you need it Tragic, shocking, sad. These words and many more have been used to describe Robin Williams' recent suicide. In the days since his death, many of us have been trying to understand his experience and gure out why such a remarkable life ended too soon. We have been re ecting on his suicide, depression, and addiction, the same struggles we, and our own friends, family, neighbours, and co-workers may face every day and that we, as a community, need to talk about. The stigma that still surrounds mental health and addictions is hurtful. There is still a common misconception people who live with these health concerns are weak and unable to recover. Mental health and addiction concerns are real illnesses, not signs of weakness, and with the right help and support, people who experience them can live rich and healthy lives. We know that at least 20 per cent of us will personally experience a mental illness and many of us will also have an addiction. Open and honest talk about these topics is key to reaching out to get the help we need and making positive changes. Letter to the Editor CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager If you or someone you know is feeling worried, down, or stressed or having trouble coping, the Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch can help. We provide support to help you improve your wellness and feel better. No matter where you live in Halton, call us at 1-877-693-4270. Find out what we do and ask about our free walk-in counselling Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Oakville. If you are thinking about suicide, call our 24/7 COAST Crisis Line at 1-877- 825-9011 to talk. We also provide training for you to learn about mental health and addictions and how to help others. Call 1-877-693-4270 and ask about the Mental Health First Aid course and other workshops. Let's all continue to talk openly about mental health and addictions, share our own experiences, and reach out to get and offer support to build strong and healthy families, workplaces, and communities. Melanie McGregor Communications and Health Promotion Canadian Mental Health Association, Halton 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: 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.