www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, August 26, 2016 | 6 #OakvilleProud With the sun of cially having set on the Rio 2016 Olympics last Sunday, and while we wait for the spotlight to shine on our Paralympians in September, it's important in the meantime -- and long after the games are over -- we don't forget the accomplishments of our athletes, whether they medalled or not. Our attention on, and support of, our local athletes should not only continue through all of their future endeavours, but it should be as vehement, passionate and strongly on display as it was during the Olympic Games. While we should no doubt be #OakvilleProud of Diana Matheson, who returned with a bronze medal after Team Canada nished third at Rio in Women's Soccer, that same level of pride and attention should be given to all our athletes at the world championships, nationals and all of the other important competitions on the road that lead them to sports' biggest stage. Kayaker, four-time Olympian and four-time medallist Adam van Koeverden may have missed out on the podium this summer, but his ninth-place K1 (kayak singles) nish in the world is nothing short of inspirational. His dedication to sport and drive to succeed will continue to inspire our young Olympic hopefuls for years to come. So, too, will three-time Olympian Mark Oldershaw (and van Koeverden's Burloak Canoe Club mate) who nished 12th in C1 (canoe singles) 1,000m. Oakville Aquatic Club's Mack Darragh and Dominique Bouchard certainly made us proud with their Olympic debuts -- Darragh placed 16th in the 4x100m individual medley relay , while Bouchard nished ninth in the 200m backstroke and 12th in the 100m backstroke. This year was also the rst Olympics for Oakville Yacht Squadron's Lee Parkhill, who placed 23rd in the men's laser competition. K.C. Fraser was more determined than ever after narrowly missing out on qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. That determination in Rio saw her nish eighth in K4 and 13th in K2 (kayak double). And while, as sport enthusiasts and lovers, we come off of the high of our local Olympians' successes, we wait in anticipation to see how our Paralympians will do in Rio Sept. 7-18. Austin Smeenk, 19 and seeing his rst Paralympics, will be competing in 100m and 800m wheelchair track. Melanie Hawtin, 28, a member of Canada's women's wheelchair basketball world champion team in 2014 and Pan Am Games silver medallist, will also compete in her rst Paralympics. Having thought a back injury ended her career as a competitive athlete, Ontario Games gold medallist Sasha Boulton will be the guide for Christine Robbins, who is legally blind, in the women's triathlon. As we patiently wait for the opening of the Rio 2016 Paralympics, we know you will make us all #OakvilleProud. 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, 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 or via email to ablackburn@ oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Editorial "Connected to your Community" 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 54 | Number 69 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. VicePresident and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER KELLY MONTAGUE DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager LORI ANN GZOVDANOVIC Director of Production MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Cancelling of bus route unfair: reader I am a resident of Oakville and I just found out Oakville Transit is eliminating the Lakeshore Route No. 2 from the schedule Sept. 4, which I nd perplexing and unfair to riders that depend on that bus to get to work locally, the grocery store, GO station or new hospital. Odd the Town won't have a direct bus service linking the downtown core of Bronte to downtown Oakville. The idea of the transit system primarily should bene t the residents living and working in Oakville, not just act as a shuttle service for GO Transit -- nine buses at Bronte GO to Oakville GO? Most residents either drive or Uber to and from these stations anyway, but if one works Letter to the Editor Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager on the service roads or, in future, wants to go to southeast Oakville, your options are to take a bus only during rush hour, walk or cab there, and on Bronte Road, after Sept. 4, no bus anymore period -- how safe can that be for seniors living in the area? The group that decided cancelling these routes should be ashamed. They are really doing a disservice to the people working in our community. Our buses should be lled, not the trains; bus riderships should be increased, not force residents to cab or Uber to work. I hope this letter will make more residents aware of the cancelling of routes and help inform the public of Oakville Transit's actions. Rick Saccucci, Oakville 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: Pud by Steve Nease 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.