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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 16, 20 16 | 6 Editorial P r e c io u s g if t s The holidays are a time of plenty -- decorations, lights, extravagances, food, gifts -- all shared with family and friends. We rejoice in our good fortune. Yet, there are many who don't have the means, hnancial or emotional, or the families and friends with whom they can share. They become disheartened. This cycle of the holidays is as old as the holiday itself. For it was amid wealth the story of Christmas tells of an infant, full of future potential, born in a stable. While kings of the time were said to honour the new born by bringing expensive gifts, a holiday song relates how a young boy's drumming was most precious. Other holiday music recounts the stories of the needy Maria's bird singing the hrst nightingale's song and the shoes a poor boy gifts to his dying mother, as well as dreams of sugarplum fairies, and we must remember the true meaning of the holidays. The Dec. 24 visit by Santa delivers not just toys and gifts, but joy, and that's what makes the visit so special. Most of us have the memory of not the most expen sive or brightest gift we ever saw under the tree, but the one we really wanted, big or small, expensive or not, the one that had captured our mind, heart or both. Parents well know the search for the perfect gift, that special toy, and yet, also know how often it's an obscure item that brings the most joy to their child. It is the joy of knowing someone cares, of feeling spe cial for a moment, of being meaningful to someone that is the joy bestowed -- and in turn received -- by giving. Many are struggling to keep jobs and pay bills -- not just those in need for a variety of unfortunate circum stances -- but many more who are simply falling be hind in our struggling economy. As we celebrate the holidays with our families and friends, let's remember the most joy comes from shar ing, giving, helping and that a gift does not need to be shiny and bright or big and bold to hold meaning. If we each were to reflect on something that is pre cious to us, it would likely be a kind word or small ges ture that comes to mind. Some of our most treasured belongings are a draw ing from a child, a keepsake from a shared memory or a token of someone's esteem. This holiday, give what you can, but don't be shy to reach out to connect with someone in need. You can reach out through the Salvation Army, Kerr Street Mission, a local place of worship, many drives and collections, food banks and more. Even more, reach out with friendship, a smile, a kind gesture. Whether fortunate or not, we are all in need of joy, hope and human connection, and these precious gifts are all within each of us to give one another. In sharing whatever we can, we can bestow some of the most precious gifts of all -- hope instead of despair, a smile instead of a tear, happiness instead of heartbreak, a hug instead of loneliness, a good meal instead of hun ger, warmth instead of cold -- and by so giving, we will ourselves receive the joy of the season. 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. "C o n n e c t e d t o y o u r C o m m u n i t y " Oakvle Beaver 5 0 4 6 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7 L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (9 0 5 ) 8 4 5-3 8 2 4 Classified Advertising: (9 0 5 ) 6 3 2-4 4 4 0 Circulation: 5 3 0 0 Harvester Rd., Burlington (9 0 5 ) 6 3 1-6 0 9 5 V o lu m e54 | N u m b er 101 The Oakville Beaver is a division of · *metrolandmedia * Connected to your com m unity* Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice -President and Group Publisher of Metroland Wfest 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 MyView Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager CE1A offers benefits and protections Oakvle Beaver Proud Official M edia Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member I would like to extend my best wishes to all Oakvillians for a safe and happy holiday sea son. It was a pleasure seeing many of you at my recent open house where I extended my greet ings in person. It is an honour and a privilege to represent all of you in Ottawa, and I look forward to continuing my work on your behalf in 2017. With trade agreements making the news re cently, today, I would like to discuss the CanadaEuropean Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the trade agreement between Canada and the European Union (EU). This agreement would benefit Canada by pro viding greater access to the EU, the world's second largest economy. At the same time, CETA is mark edly different from prior trade agreements and of fers important protections to Canada. I would like to explain the benefits and oppor tunities CETA holds for Oakville, home to many advanced manufacturing companies. For this sec tor, CETA offers benefits, such as tariff elimina tion, regulatory cooperation and greater market access. With the EU ranking as the third largest Recognized for Excellence by John Oliver Oakville MP Ontario Community Newspapers Association Newspapers Association vehicle market in the world, improved access for Canadian-produced vehicles will help diversify and grow our auto sector. With thousands of highly-skilled knowledge workers, Oakville is home to a growing cluster of financial and professional services companies and IT firms. These businesses also stand to benefit from tariff elimination, regulatory co-operation and access to government procurement contracts under CETA. This agreement also will improve the mobility of knowledge workers through temporary entry per mits and recognition of professional certifications. In Canada and in Europe, there is significant support for CETA. LocalM ediaassociation Proud Official M edia Sponsor For: W f .t.c o m f . 1 6 ^ A G O N tD . / A p p JL V >i O n tario P re ss C o u n c il Defending principles to inspire public trust The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 8 0 Gould St., Suite 2 06 , Toronto, Ont., M 5B 2M 7. Phone 4 1 6 -3 4 0 -1 9 8 1 . 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 advertise ment will be paid for a t the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. see Consumers on p.10 Pud by Steve Nease F p ar t ieS i l R T il D A Y ·p a i n t · Make &Take · Star Wars · Minecraft · Pokemon 9 0 5 - 8 2 5 - 9 9 9 4 - 461 N . S e rv ic e Rd. W O a k v ille N e w LEG O ® i P E G k L E i A R T S T U D I0 .C O M