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A 6 - The Oakville Beaver, W ed ne sd ay, N o v e m b e r 10, 2004 EDITORIALS M D LETTERS Till! OAKVILLE lim it 4 6 7 Speers R d ,, O akville O nt. L 6 K 3 S 4 (9 0 5 ) 8 4 5 - 3 8 2 4 Fax: 3 3 7 -5 5 6 7 C lassified A d v e rtisin g : 8 4 5 -3 8 2 4 , e x t. 2 2 4 C ircu la tio n : 8 4 5 -9 7 4 2 E ditorial and ad ve rtisin g co n te n t o f th e O akville Beaver is pro te cte d by co pyrig ht. U nauthorized use is pro h ib ite d . IAN OLIVER Publisher TERI CASAS Office Manager NEIL OLIVER Associate Publisher MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief RIZIERO VERTOLU Photography Director ROD JERRED Managing Editor KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circulation Manager DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Manager THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Metrotand ftwong, Puttafmg & De*ltu6ng Lid . ndudar A**-Pc*aflng New® A 0 * r t» r . A M o n HorakVC ar*. Artht/ EntoprtM News. Bam* Advance. Brampton Guardian. Burtogion Post BurKnglon Stopping Nev» Caledon ErfecpiM. CJt» Parent. GoftngtMOd/Wtfaga Connection. EasJ Vc»V Minor. Em Atfcocato'Couilry toutts Eloboofce Guardian. Flamborough Review Georgetown Independent/Acton Oee Pnw . Hrrtstm Rrnww. ftxorta Busnett Times. Unaaay The Ww* MarWwm Economy & Sun. MtdtorvVPQnetanguWww Minty, MMon Canadon Ow npon. MMon Shopping t o w * Mtesssaup Busness Time#. Mtjsasauga New*. Napanee QcWe. NewmarteC'Aurora Era-Bamer NortfuntenundNaw, ta rtt to ft Mirror Oakrito Beaver O a M Ie Shopping Mms Okttmer* Mockay News. OrtOta Toaav OahawaWTWyOarvigtcn Port Perry The W m * . Owen Sound Trtwie. Palmerston Obaenw. Pefcrborougft Weak. Bcton C a rty Guda. ftovnondW nw nhHiVauyian U t»nf. Scartxxougn Mrrcr StoufMlfrUtfirtdge Tribune. Forever vbung. aty of t a k Guatdkn Recognized for Excellence by O ntario C om m unity Newspapers Association a Halton Healthcare CD LL tE O A K V II L | oakvllle galleries du& SF ffk / O N T A R I O m Be* Fund Vl/tLCOMElt T» V a g o n u .. w myi fOI« VoaiVi Ilf ftrtavNrUa: iM M K ttJ C anadan C om m unity Newspapers Association re*v «u«N K »ar0r<*R ;9 q S K i , Suburban Newspapers o f Am erica TV AUCTION i ATHENA Award T h e O akville. M ilto n c a Y vm c , I* * ^ U F E Time off for Remembrance Day There are many good reasons for elected officials to consider making Nov. 11 a statutory holiday across our great country. We don't have to look very far to find other nations where citizens are given the day off to remember the brave men and women who fought - and died - for the freedom of others. Our good neighbours to the south have set aside two days - Memorial Day in May and Veterans Day on Nov. 11 - to honour those who sacrificed their lives during wartime, and to the veterans who returned home with the horror of battle forever etched in their minds. The other more important reason for making Remembrance Day a national holiday is the fact that the men and women who proudly served in the First and Second World Wars and Korea are dwindling in numbers. Only eight Canadians who served during the First World War (1914-18) are still living, while few veterans from the Second World War (1939-45) and Korea (1950-53) are likely to be with us 20-30 years from now. What then? Who will continue to remember the sacrifices of the thousands of Canadians who volunteered to go to war half a world away all those years ago? Who will march in their honour, lay wreaths by the memorials and speak on their behalf? We believe a truly national holiday to remember their spirit, persistence and valour in the face of war is long overdue. Six Canadian provinces (B.C., Saskatchewan, Alberta Newfoundland, New Brunswick and P.E.I.) and all three Canadian territories (Nunavut, Yukon and Northwest Territories) have already made Nov. 11 a statutory holiday. While the decision to make Remembrance Day a national holiday does not cuirently fall under federal jurisdiction, perhaps it should. Internationally, Canadians are often associated for their leading role in peacekeeping ini tiatives - and rightfully so. However, we must never forget that when called to war Canadians responded in droves voluntarily. X iE S T FO RG ET IW » » « I * * * '* ' vt r H y le v v *V \|M * P V A 'V ' * «* v v ' 1 » v » » v v I* * ' »* v i H t U U l I V I| i > W i m w « M H K * ' m i ttM U w j V W %4 v » -l Randy Mogridge - he touched us all Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Randy Mogridge. Unless someone has lost a child, no matter the age, it is impossible to comprehend the anguish felt by the bereaved. Our only hope is that Gloria Mogridge, Randy's siblings and other relatives are able to find solace in the outpouring of love and support from the Oakville commu nity. We also hope the family experiences a sense of peace in knowing they have finally found Randy. We don't like the over-used word closure as no one who tragi cally loses a loved one ever finds true closure. Randy's death is also felt by all of the compassionate volunteers who searched hours upon hours for the missing man w'ith autism. But as each hour turned into days, we came to realize that this story would probably not have a happy ending. This is a sad chapter in our town's history and one we will never forget. Rest in peace, Randy. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Farewell to a Friend (Dear old Les) Lie there, my friend Who died in country's name Sleep quietly thy land of birth Can ne'er reclaim This plot of foreign land In which you rest. And though you failed to live to see the end. Our cause is bound to win. So rest contented, dear old Les and though the desert winds may cross your grave They'll not disturb the rest of one so brave. Who fought in freedom's cause and gave his all. Then passed along to meet The King of all. So farewell Les, I go to meet the foe, and if so be it that I chance to fall I ask no more than this. A friend at hand To watch my passing to a better Land. Goodbye, my friend, farewell. JAMES WARD JUNE 1944 E d ito r's note: This poem was sent to The OafoUle Beaver by Leslie Robinson, who found it while sorting through some personal belongings o f her deceased grandfather, James Ward. He wrote the poem in 1944 while stationed somewhere in England wait ing to board his ship for the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, June 6 , 1944. James Ward served with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in France. Belgium and Holland. Before writing the poem, he had just been informed that his brother Les had been killed in action in India, where he served as a pilot in the R.C.A.F. McGuinty acting with vision Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is really "walking the talk." The Greenbelt project will embrace the extended GTA with a spec tacular one-million plus acres of green space, including parks, woodlots, agriculture land, escarpment, and closing the "hug" with the Lake Ontario. The "icing on the cake" arrived on Friday with the announce ment by Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn and the Minister of Natural Resources David Ramsay regarding the protection of 11286 acres in North Oakville and giving the Town 750 of those to be kept as green space forever -- and an additional 168 acres to link Oakville's Bronte Provincial Park to the Greenbelt. This takes vision and action (and guts!). Some leaders have vision, but do not act on it and create disappointment. Others have action, but lack vision, and create chaos. Dalton McGuinty is demonstrating that he has both, vision and action to provide a bet ter Ontario for all. Some people were impatient judging his government and criti cized excessively the health premiums. The reality is that he need ed to either improve the health system or not raise taxes, and he did the right thing. But in only one year he has also increased the school teachers, opened school facilities for community recreation, nego tiated a better health deal with the Federal Government, initiated providing gas tax for municipal transit, contributed to getting Ford to invest $1.2 billion in Oakville, is promoting active living 2010, increased funding for police hirings, and is fiscally responsible and on his way to eliminating the deficit in four years. Hopefully, all this great news will help bring most Ontarians together and become active supporters of these initiatives. Let's see the half glass full, be positive. It is the time of Mulvale. McGuinty and Martin, finally, the three levels of government, moving in the same direction: Marvelous! GIL PENALOSA As Glory Fades As Glory Fades Empire's glory slowly fades Wounded grow from petty raids Glory becomes blood As more men crumble into the mud The battle may be won or lost But at what cost? As the myth of honor disappears Soon war becomes your greatest fears Though number of the fallen rise Who shall hear their muffled cries? A rich politician, miles away Or shall you here, today? We must honor their sacrifices For they stood through our crises Today is theirs So thank you for all you have done BY ROBERT MCGUINNESS AGE 12 Synchronization needed I have to concur with the writer in the Oct. 27 Oakville Beaver (Trafalgar Road needs coordinated traffic lights) about the traffic on Trafalgar. I have just moved to Oakville from Hamilton where I lived for the past 10 years. Hamilton has their stoplights synchronized so that traffic moves at all times. The lights are synchronized in such a way that no one can possibly speed. If you drive between 50 and 60 km/hr. you will hit every green light. If you drive any faster or any slower you will be out of synch and will have to stop at every stoplight. You can drive from one end of Hamilton to the other in a matter of minutes. I currently drive from the Kerr and Rebecca area to Trafalgar and Upper Middle Road every day and it can take anywhere from 15 - 20 minutes to go a mere 4 kms. Why can't Oakville synchronize the lights on Trafalgar -- this would solve the problem of idling cars and the frustration of drivers. The traffic going north on Trafalgar is usually at a standstill from 4-6 pm. from the QEW all the way to Dundas. K. RICHARD An ounce of prevention E d ito r's note: The following was origi nally sent to Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn and forwarded to The Oakville Beaver for publica tion. Re: De-listing of physiotherapy services Prevention is the most effective approach to maintaining health. We all know that, except the Ontario Government. I am certain that you and other MPPs have received letters and listened to arguments outlining in general terms the consequences o f this decision. Before you and your fellow MPPs make the final decision, you may want to see this issue through a recent specific example. My mother-in-law (Gizella Palyi) is 98 years old and attending physiotherapy classes for over five years. On Oct. 11 this year she fell on the staircase, and tumbled down 11 steps. Her ankle was swollen and her hips bruised. We took her to the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital emergency room. No one believed the results of the x-rays. All she needed was an elastic bandage, two aspirins and was sent home. When a week later, on Oct. 19 she took a flight to Europe, she was barely limping. Today, she is perfectly fine. Is it a miracle that a 98-year old woman falls down the stairs, nothing breaks and she fully recovers in less than a month? Or maybe, just maybe physiotherapy is an effective pre vention. If having more healthy seniors is not a major consideration for our politicians, you may want to estimate the cost if Gizella's hip was broken, she had needed surgery and follow-up treatment. Think about the dollars you just saved. OLIVER VADAS Where was Cheatley? On Oct. 21, the planning staff of the Town of Oakville hosted a public consultation meeting for the purpose of receiving comments on the Palm Place/Shell House lands high rise/ high density devel opment proposal. The meeting was extremely well attended by members of the public, filling the council chamber to standing room only capacity. The Bronte Village Residents'Association provided an excellent presentation summarizing a significant number of reasons why the development is not appropriate and not welcome in the community and why the Shell House lands should have the least amount of development impact as possible. The meeting lasted over two hours and all the public's comments were, to say the least, passionately opposed to the developer's proposal. Not a single person spoke in favour of the high rise/ high density plan. The Oakville Planning Department hosted the meeting and staffed it with two contracted personnel and two planning employ ees of the Town. My question is, why wasn't the Director of Planning for the Town of Oakville, Peter Cheatley, at the meeting? In contrast, Cheatley personally hosted two recent, informal Bronte Quadrangle meetings of far less significance than this meet ing. This public meeting is part of the official process that is under scrutiny of an existing OMB appeal. Cheatley will be responsible for signing off on the planning report once staff had authored it. How best to get public opinion than to hear it first hand? Notes taken by staff at the meeting do not capture the intensity of the sen timents expressed. People who normally find it difficult to speak in public actually stood up and voiced their opposition loud and clear. The public was there to speak to and ask questions of whoever is directly responsible for the planning justification and recommenda tion to Council on this proposal. Ontario's planning process calls for a consideration of public opinion -- so why weren't the Commissioner or Director of Planning there to listen? Is this not an important enough issue? It sure was for the 250 people who took time to address Planning Staff. LIZ ARGO, BRONTE RESIDENT Tl>e Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council The council is located at 8 0 Gould S t. Suite 206, Toronto, O nt, MSB 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 reasonaMe allowance for signature, wiS 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 Pud ^ M F T H IN ri FLSE ' By STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.c IT k T IM £Y otl FLAYED J I DoNT T I MEANT THINK WE { OUTSIDE, HAVETHAT ./ / / GAME.