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A 6 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday, October 1, 2003 tiii: ih m iim n n editorials JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief IAN OLIVER Publisher NEIL OLIVER Associate Publisher TERI CASAS Office Manager KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director m le tte rs rprtw 467 Speers Rd.. Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax; 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 MARK DILLS Production Manager RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director A letn» fcraU C o i/wV T u n g ia oP o st. B irtn g k mS h o p p es N c w j Cjmh p m a .O tf P a rnt G * n > w x )a` A & u g aC c m * c toy Same A V ru Brancflon (tartan Mfrnr Dn AcVxafeCarfry H um (tabaw tMn. FVvncxxcvort frm >OntXr F«r«r* i r r u Tim*, LnJlH Th* V A x*. UsVwn bxroma A Urar i M r CmS«i Prreng f\*mfinj A te M n g lil hADb Trim * * rw . H nw ruV iAnnE raS k m e r.M cn ru rC atin JN w w .N o rth OtXmwz iT o rp rr Ufen '·ftu n j t a n I W Mnor. Ck»vte Bmiw Cantm SJxw«xj t+r*n. no&rt 0r*a fatay ScutJ > tun, Pamerflcn Ctatrvw I' wicorougfi Ira rorwr Hxra Cr» rf x n Guraan CHARLENE HALL Cin illation Manager ROD IERRED Managing Editor THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: '.l)tnfcr\ P o rt P trn T h *M tM . 0**n A W . G o u t*G u O *ftcw n cn jN * 'T h a n ifi* V * jQ h » ' U tfe rK S c jrtjo rc u g nV irrc r. S kxfM telttnoge T rtju ie , Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association -* & r H a l t o n H e a lt h c a r e JingtM Fund | oaK vllle g a lle r ie s | W f-l-C O M l^ ^A tiO N in. i- n m i m (+ C N A Canadian Community Newspapers Association SK (thr 4 ) (X^kj'n Qjtih'iUe iwriks Suburban Newspapers of America IV AUCTION (7 u 6 /f i t u f |U ^Omi*u«er»xJC>iixf If (NUMB FOR BUSINESS E X C a if lt t O & JJL T b r a g " Get out and vote T om orrow , the people o f O n tario a re p resen ted w ith a w o n d erfu l o p p o r tunity -- they get to vote. T om orrow , m illions o f O n tario v o ters w ill g o to th eir p o lling station and cast a vote fo r the party o f th e ir ch o ic e . D e p en d in g on that o u tc o m e, w e w ill either see the cu rren t p ro v in cial g o v e rn m e n t rem ain in place, o r w e w ill see a tran sfer o f p o w er to o n e o f sev eral o p p o sitio n parties. B ut no m atter the o u tco m e, it w ill be a c h iev ed p e acefu lly w ith o u t fig h t ing. riots or arm ed insurrection. T h e same can n o t be said in m an y o th e r c o u n trie s w here d ic tato rs rule w ith a heavy h and o v e r th eir su b jects, w ho can o n ly d ream o f th ro w in g out th e ir governm ent th ro u g h a d e m o c ra tic e lectio n . T h ro u g h o u t history p eople have d ie d fig h tin g to w in the right to vote for the governm ent o f th eir c h o ice and m any m o re h av e d ied d efe n d in g it. W hich m akes it all the m ore re m a rk a b le w hy m any peo p le in this c o u n try take it for g ranted. In the last p ro v in cial ele c tio n in O ak v ille only 6 0.4 p er cen t o f eligible v o ters cast b allo ts an d a cro ss O n ta rio only 58.3 per cent bo th ered to vote. T h a t's ju st not enough. If you have not yet receiv ed y o u r N o tice o f R eg istratio n card in the m ail, then call the O ak v ille D istrict R etu rn in g O ffice at 9 0 5 -3 3 8 -1 3 0 0 o r dro p by d aily from 10 a.m . to 8 p.m . to get on the roster. T h o se in the H alton R iding (n o rth o f U pper M iddle R o ad ) can call C all 9 0 5 -8 7 6 -1 1 3 1 . T hrougho u t this electio n c a m p a ig n w e h av e d o n e o u r best to ed u cate the O ak v ille voter ab o u t the c a n d id a te s in th e ir rid in g s -- w ho they are and w h at they believe. E ach c a n d id a te h as a lso m a d e th e ir cam p aig n literature read ily available to in terested vo ters. A q u ick se a rc h o f the Internet can also locate inform ation a b o u t n early ev ery c a n d id a te in any party in O ntario. T he rest is now up to you. D o n 't ju s t v ote fo r th e sake o f voting. B ecom e an inform ed voter. V alue the g ift you h av e b een g iv en in the fo rm o f a vote and cast your ballot for the c a n d id a te y o u b eliev e best rep re se n ts yo u r interests. D o n 't let apathy ru le th e day. T h e re are m illio n s o f peo p le aro u n d the w orld w ho w ould g la d ly c h a n g e p laces w ith you in o rd er to voice th eir o p inion through the p o w e r o f a an e le c tio n ballot. O n T hursday, g et out an d vote. You ow e it to y o u rself. L E T T E R ST OT H EE D IT O R School closure decision made by board, not teachers It was with some bem usem ent that I read several letters to the editor regard ing the concern o f parents and the clo sure o f Halton schools due to unsafe w eather conditions. I can appreciate the frustration o f these writers and other families, as I too, am a parent who had a child unexpectantiy miss a day o f school. However, I noted with som e con cern, that in two specific letters a com plaint was either directly or indirectly placed on the teachers as being som e how responsible for the board's decision to close schools. Statem ents such as "You chose to give teachers another paid holiday." And "I am having a hard time believing you had the students best interests in mind and not the teachers wanting another day off." indicate a serious m isconception by these contrib utors. They seem to insinuate that the teachers in som e way can dictate to the hoard when it may call a school closing day. As an educator for 23 years myself, with the largest public board in Ontario, I have never been consulted in any deci sion by the board when it decides to call a school closing day due to inclem ent w eather conditions. Many times I had risked a danger ous. w hite-knuckled drive when the board announces "school buses are can celled. but schools remain open." Yes. people do have the right to express their anger and frustration over the circum stances involving the unex pected school closing day last week. But, direct your concerns appropriately to the Halton District School Board itself and not the educators w ho are em ployees o f the board. At'ter all. they've had their fair share o f "Teacher Bashing" from the current Progressive Conservative G overnment! CARL SCOTT Safety prime concern behind school closure At the outset, let me declare a conflict o f interest. I am a teacher, and I am very proud o f my professionalism. On Thursday. Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. 1 received this email message... " Based on the m ost recent information regarding the hurri cane the (Education) Director has closed the system for tomorrow Sept. 19." Contrary to what Lorraine Taylor ( O akville Beaver. Sept. 24 -- A `stunningly bad decision' by the board) believes. I was not "afraid to go out in the rain, fog, snow, cold, hot. etc." I also did not get "another paid holiday," nor am I "laughing"at the board, as Scott Tilley (Oakville Beaver, Sept. 24 -- Halton board exercised 'p o o r ju d g m en t' in school closings), suggested. And. believe it or not, Deborah Davies ( O akville Beaver. Sept. 24 -- 'R idiculous' to close schools), it w asn't "the teachers w anting yet another day off." Personally. I love my profession. Teaching children is truly the best, m ost rewarding career I could imagine. I did not w ant to be out o f the classroom last Friday, however, my em ployer is the Halton District School Board. The board made a decision based on their best inform ation, and with safety in mind. You may fault that decision - but, it was not m ade by teachers, so to quote Deborah Davies again, "give me a break." SANDI CORRIGAN Wonderful opportunity to develop new community As a member o f the Parks. Culture and Recreation Advisory Committee and as an Oakville resident. I had been informed o f what I understood was "a conflict" for the lands north of Dundas "between extremist environmentalists and selfish developers." Having attended most of the charrette meetings, 1 have found that instead of "a problem" this can become a beautiful "oppor tunity" to develop the most gorgeous community in the whole GTA! God gave us glorious creeks, stunning wood-lots, attrac tive landscapes, and now we have to do our part. There is almost consensus to have a generous and exquisite green space, lovely "mini-down towns" instead of ugly plazas, dazzling trails interconnecting all points of that 12.6 square mile community within itself and with the Waterfront and Bronte Park: elegant and appealing public transit that will invite us to leave the cars at home, well-proportioned passive and active parks, and the icing on the cake will be converting Dundas into a graceful and efficient major "Boulevard" that will "unite" the two sides (unlike the horrible experience of the QEW). including fast lanes, slow traffic, trees, bike trails, wide side-walks. and buildings for live-work with parking in the back. I am so enthusiastic about the possibility of seen this envi ronmentally friendly community, where the human species will share the land and air with other animal species, that although I already live backing into the 16th Mile Creek. I would seriously consider moving into the new community. Andres Duany and his amazing team, through the Charrette process educated us and reminded us that we already built a charming and useful downtown on Lakeshore and dedicated adequate and beautiful green space in North Oakville; now we have to combine the best of both, with the other elements m en tioned. I only wish that all residents, without the label of 'developer,' `environmentalist,' 'government' or landowner,' come together as one and decide on an alternative that, 300 years from now, people will thank us for. The opportunity is there to do it right or to do it wrong: it does not require rocket-science and it does not cost any more. It needs generous "community thinking" so that every one makes correct decisions. Let's do it right. GIL PENALOSA Mixed message to children I am all for the school trying to promote healthy eating and teaching the kids nutrition, but what are they teaching w hen the school wants to raise money by selling cookie dough, cake, deep fried hors d'ouevres and pizza sticks? Or going on a nutrition field trip to Fortino's and serving pizza, cookies and pop for lunch. 1 have read so many articles stating that Canadians are only getting bigger and it's starting with our children. We have to teach them that there are healthy ways to raise money. Selling this stuff not only kills nutrition, it is sknvly killing us. SUSAN ARNOLD Schools dosed for safety I was am azed to read several letters in the Oakville Beaver, condem ning the Halton District School B oard's deci sion to close the schools on Friday, Sept. 19. It would appear the com m ents were based on personal discom fort and not the safety o f the students. Some people believe the schools are established day care centres, more than buildings with professionals to guide and teach our young people with a for mal education. The people who com plain m ust live in an area where there were no trees or branches down, high winds dislodging hydro wires or flooding. The w eather forecasted by radio and television continued to change re the heavy rain and I can only presum e that when the school board decision was made it had to take in to consideration the scheduling o f school busses and the safety o f the roads as well as the safety o f the students walking to school. The writers who m entioned trucks, airports and places o f business were operating should stop and think -- they are adults perform ing for a profit and success in business, they have to be there. W. GIBB Thanks for the help I would like to thank the people and am bulance attendants w ho cam e to may aid on Sept. 2 after my m ishap under the Q EW bridge at the bottom o f Lyons lane. A special thank you to the gentlem an who returned my bike to my hom e that day. Thank you very much. IRMA ABRAHAM Students should be proud of surroundings I agree with Jim McConnell that the school board should have a course of Litter-acy 101. It seems to be a problem at many schools. Most im portant there are not enough garbage bins available around the school property. The schools should enforce a policy whereby anyone caught littering should be reprimanded by doing an hour of clean-up around the school property. They should be taught to be proud of their school surround ings and maintain that image and be responsible young adults. Let's keep Oakville beautiful everywhere. IRENE COMPAGNON Pud By STEVE NEASE |1 CANT STAY HOME -ATGREAT PERSONAL RISK > Ftof? m HAS "THE M 0 INCONVENIENCE IWILL from WoRK today. F lU / HE CANT SO i t s stay h o m e fr o m lTO SCHOOL, B u r HE NEITHER C A N swotwrm CANT S O TO "WE I , Bu t SOME BAgY-SiTTER^ WITH, ONE H A STTHOSE G E ^ T ^ a , We want your opinion The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published, letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor. Oakville Beaver. 467 Speers Road, Oakville, On., I.6 K 3S4. or via e-mail to editor@ oakvillebeaver.eom. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish any letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member ot the Ontario Press Council The council Is located at 80 Gould S t. Suite 206, Toronto. Ont.. M5B 2M7 Phone (416) 340-1981. 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