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3 | Friday, February 3, 2017 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville continues to react to violence at Quebec mosque Police assure safety In response to the hatemotivated violence in Quebec City last weekend, Halton Regional Police are assuring the public it stands united with those impacted by the tragedy and is committed to ensuring the safety of all community members. To achieve this, police say, the service has a number of protocols in place to respond to a range of events that impact the security and well-being of those who live, work and visit Halton. When the Quebec attack occurred, the response of Halton police was immediate and farreaching, according to a police press release. Measures implemented at that time, and which are ongoing, include enhanced patrols of places of worship and personal outreach to members of the region's numerous faith Dar Foundation Night of Solidarity Following Sunday's (Jan. 29) terror ist attack in Quebec City, Oakville's Dar Foundation is urging this com munity to come together Saturday, Feb. 4 to show solidarity. A Night of Solidarity will be an opportunity for local elected offi cials to have a dialogue with each other, and the community, to create awareness and guidance following the recent attack. The two-hour gathering will be attended by Oakville MP John Oli ver, Oakville MPP and Ontario La bour Minister Kevin Flynn, Mayor Rob Burton, Town councillors and others. "This vicious attack highlights a heightened awareness and con cern for the safety and security of Muslims, not only in Quebec, but across the country," Sajid Anjum, Dar Foundation political co-ordi nator, told the Oakville Beaver in an email. "We need some kind of guidance and directives as to how to com municate with law enforcement and government officials to ensure swift action be taken at such time of need." A Night of Solidarity takes place 6-8 p.m. at the Dar Foundation, 485 Morden Rd. Oakville MP speaks out Oakville MP John Oliver is sued a public statement in response to the recent ter rorist attack in Quebec City this week. "I know today our hearts and sympathies are with the victims and families of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec shooting and with our friends and neighbours of Muslim heritage," Oliver stated Jan. 31. "We are all struggling to understand the hatred and prejudice that led to this devastating act." "It has been my experi ence... we stand united, shoulder-to-shoulder, peo ple of all faiths and coun tries" in Oakville and across Canada. "We stand so closely we form a living wall, a wall against hatred, intolerance and acts of violence and ter rorism," read the statement. "I also know some resi dents of Oakville are asking are we safe? Are we safe as we gather to pray and wor ship in our churches, our mosques, our synagogues our temples and our Gurdwaras?" He added, "As our Prime Minister (Justin Trudeau) said, `Canadians will not be intimidated; we will not meet violence with more violence. We will meet fear and hatred with love and compassion.'" "As we gather these next few days in our places of worship and with our fami lies and friends, let's take the time to remember those we lost and commit to bring an end to intolerance wher ever we find it in Oakville, in Canada and beyond our borders," said Oliver. Oliver recorded a video statement and posted it on his Facebook page, which can be viewed at wwwfacebook com /Jo h n O liv erM P /v id eos/1319525578117659/. communities. Chief Tanner stated: "We continuously monitor serious events around the world such as the Quebec attack/shooting. We also review situations of elevated risk when notified of any change to Provincial or National threat assessments. At this time there is no reason to believe there is an elevated public safety risk in Halton. That said, we will continue to monitor events locally and abroad and should a risk be identified, our response will be coordinated, scalable and meet the needs of those we serve." Interfaith Council hosts Peace Circle In light of the recent mosque shoot ing in Quebec City and to show sol idarity with Muslims living in the United States, the Interfaith Council of Halton hosted a circle of peace to day (Friday, Feb. 3) at the Al Falah Islamic Centre in Oakville. "As our Muslim friends attend their midday prayer services, we will symbolically surround them with our protection, love and sup port," Rabbi Stephen Wise, chair of the Interfaith Council of Halton, told the Oakville Beaver in an email. The Al Falah Islamic Centre, is located at 391 Burnhamthorpe Rd. E., Oakville. The peace circle begins at noon.For more information, call 905-257-4262. Hillfield Strathallan College Learn with Joy. Live with Purpose. When students feed their curiosity, a passion for learning comes naturally. Read more at hsc.on.ca/ourstories Join Hillfield Strathallan College fo r March Break! To learn more, call 905-389-1367, o rv is it www.hsc.on.ca today.