The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 19, 2014 | 6 Reach out for help in the community For most people, the holidays bring joy, excitement and a chance to reconnect with family and friends. For some, however, the festive season is anything but. Factors such as mental illness, depression, anxiety over issues such as nances, stress at work or grief over losing a loved one can seem to be magni ed. Some people nd it dif cult to see through their troubles to nd the light and warmth the season promises. We are pleased to see that our community is becoming increasingly attuned to the needs of others, particularly at times that can prove most dif cult, such as the holidays. A variety of places of worship offer support and special resources, such as outreach programs and Blue Christmas services that trade the hustle and bustle of the holidays for quiet re ection. Schools, service clubs and volunteers reach out to those who may need a helping hand. They do so in many ways, including donations, in the hope of offering comfort and peace during the festive season. The needs of others are top of mind, and members of the community act accordingly. Contrary to a long-held myth, however, the number of incidents of death by suicide does not rise during the holidays. In a report recently published on its website, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) detailed the results of a recent survey that for the rst time included questions about suicide. The response indicated that 2.2 per cent, translating to approximately 230,000 individuals across Ontario, had seriously contemplated taking their own life in 2013. Some 7.1 per cent of survey respondents, rated their own mental health as poor. The numbers re ect a signi cant public health issue -- every month of the year. Our wish this Christmas is to send a message to all those who are struggling or know someone who is: those same resources, that goodwill and support that are evident throughout December, continue throughout the year. In yesterday's edition, and online at www. oakvillebeaver.com, we featured a compilation of many local resources that can offer meaningful help, over the holidays and beyond. We included a video (http://bit.ly/1zx5bZx) in which a handful of those agencies' representatives took time to `introduce' themselves and extend the offer of help. Our hope is that by bringing the resources to our readers, those who may need or want to avail themselves of those avenues of assistance, can do so. As well, others who may wonder how they can assist an individual or family they see to be in need, but don't know where to turn, can nd someone to ask for help. Most of all, we want to get the message out that the resources are here at home, and those who need to reach them, must do just that. Reach out. Reach out for help. Reach out and you will nd someone there. Editorial A S P E C I A L V I S "Connected to your Community" I T Santa watches as Laura Acci receives a gift. Saint Nicholas was recently welcomed for the holiday festivities at the head of ce of RE/ MAX Aboutowne on North Service Rd. W. 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 136 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 | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production My View Be prepared for winter: get an emergency kit Gary Carr Halton Region Chair SANDY PARE MARK DILLS M any Halton residents will remember last December's ice storm, which left hundreds of homes without power for hours -- or days -- over the holiday season. Weather emergencies can happen anytime and with winter arriving, it's important to get ready. At Halton Region, the safety of our community comes rst. We work closely with our community partners daily to develop and practice our emergency plans, and continually improve how we can respond effectively in the event of an emergency. We work with each local municipality, Halton Regional Police Service, local re departments and our paramedic services to ensure when the time comes, we have processes in place for an efcient, coordinated response. The best thing you can do to protect yourself, family and property is to plan ahead. Whether you are at home or travelling in your car, we recommend three important steps: · Know the risks. · Make a plan. · Get a kit. When you know the risks of what a weather event can bring, it is easier to prepare. For exam- ple, if there is a cold alert, there is risk of getting frostbite or cold-related illness. You can plan to wear appropriate clothing or stay indoors. Making a home emergency plan is an important next step to prepare. For example, talk with your family and gure out how you might evacuate your home if needed. You should also determine how you would `shelter-in-place' if you could not leave. The last step is to get or assemble an emergency kit to ensure you can be self-suf cient through the rst 72 hours of any emergency. You can purchase one from Halton Region, or put one together. You can get the complete list of what you'll need from Halton.ca/beprepared. Don't forget that each of these steps is important for when you are travelling in your car as well. Know the conditions before you leave and always tell someone your route. Carry a car survival kit. We want you to be safe this winter, whether you live in an urban area or a rural one. That's why we're sending Halton Region's Personal Emergency Preparedness Guide to Halton residents. It includes local emergency contact numbers, how to make a plan, checklists and more. We hope you will use it and keep it as a reference in the event of an emergency. For even more information, visit www.halton. ca/beprepared where you'll nd pages speci c to the rural community, different emergency scenarios, severe weather tips, etc. You can also sign up for email notices for cold alerts at www.halton.ca/ coldalert. Enjoy the winter and stay safe and warm. 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: 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 email 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.