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w w w .insideH A LT O N .com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, F ebruary 1 7 , 2 0 1 7 | 6 E d ito ria l Happy Family Day Families come in all shapes, sizes and configura tions, and on Family Day in Ontario -- Monday, Feb. 20 -- it's a time for everyone to appreciate their family -- because your family is a gift. The face of today's family is constantly evolving -- single-parent, two-parent, foster, adoptive, samesex, heterosexual, grandparents, relatives... across all ethnic and religious backgrounds. Despite the superfluous differences, family units whatever they look like, feel good. That's because they represent love and support, a shelter in the journey of life and a cheering section -- no matter what. A family is a connection to, and apart from, the rest of the world. It includes the people with whom we often begin, or end, our lives... and those with whom celebrate or rejuvenate on the journey between. Many don't have family. Sometimes it' s because of death or distance, estrangement or discord. That can be especially difficult on the young. In Halton, there are many youths, parents, seniors who are not with their family this holiday weekend, or other days of the year. Some are facing issues of poverty, disability, separation, loss, mental health or addiction. Holidays, while a happy time for most, can be especially painful for those who are alone or in difficult circum stances. Oakville has lots of resources to help. For those who do have family -- and are looking to keep them busy -- Oakville also has much to offer. Oakville residents are encouraged to make their move on Family Day, as there are hundreds of free ac tivities and events at 12 locations in town. Make Your Move, the Town of Oakville's popular Family Day celebration returns with many free, familyfriendly activities and events. Participants can take part in a number of activities, including: volleyball, basketball and yoga or can visit the Oakville Museum' s Art and Fashion exhibit. Families can also enjoy story-time at select Oakville Public Library branches, get their picture taken on a Zamboni at River Oaks and Glen Abbey community centres and Joshua's Creek Arena; watch Sing Along Tim & The Pacifiers at Queen Elizabeth Park Com munity and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) and catch the Oakville Blades play Trenton Golden Hawks at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. In addition, the Town will offer free swimming and ice time at participating pools and arenas. Visit oakville.ca for the full event schedule or pick up a Family Day guide at Town Hall, community centres and libraries and the Peter Gilgan Family YMCA. Farther afield, there' s lots to do in neighbouring com munities, local conservation areas and more. And if you know of someone who's alone and you can include them in your Family Day, maybe it would be a great idea to extend the invitation. Whatever you do this Family Day holiday, remember the most special gift in Family Day is not what you do, but who you're with. Happy Family Day. 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 m ust contain the name, address and phone num ber of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5 0 4 6 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. "Connected to your Community" The Beaver. 5046 Mainway Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classified Advertising: (9 0 5 ) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 5 5 | Num ber 13 The Oakville Beaver is a division of ·* m e t r o l a n d m e d i a * * C o n n ecte d to y o u r community® Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. NEIL OLIVER Vice -President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Advertising Director KELLY MONTAGUE DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director LORI ANN GZOVDANOVIC Business Manager Director of Production MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager QAKVUE Beaver. Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Letter to the Editor Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association R eaderreactstobrokenprom isesletter Re: Former MP weighs in on broken prom ises? Oakville Beaver, Friday, Feb. 1 0 ,2 0 1 6 After reading Terence Young's letter in last week's Oakville Beaver (Friday, Feb. 10, 2017), I am convinced th a t there are " pat te rn s" that are infused into political rhetoric. Indeed, I am a voter who is very disap pointed with the Liberals abandoning elec toral reform as part of their mandate. That being said, I would remind form er member of Parliament Young that his own party's pattern of developing strategies to empower the PMO and ignore Canadians did not go unnoticed. By the tim e form er prime m inister Ste phen Harper left the political arena, there was a distinct odour of despotism across the country. Incidentally -- ending a statem ent with its own Trumpian com m entary does not in spire confi dence in a party th a t still has at least two demagogues running for the Con servative leadership. Robert Myers, Oakville A c c re d ite d Loca M edia association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: OPC O n ta rio P ress C o u n c il D efen d in gp rin cip lestoin sp irep u b lictru st The Oakville Beaver is a m ember of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 8 0 Gould St., Suite 2 0 6 , Toronto, Ont., M 5 B 2 M 7 . Phone 4 16 -3 4 0 -1 9 8 1 . Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event o f a typographical error, that portion o f advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance o f the advertise m ent will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. P u d by Steve Nease B rin g y o u rfa v o u rite beverage a n d jo in us fo r a relaxing and fu n evening. No previous experience required! S P E C k L E S A R T S T U D I O .C O M 9 0 5 -8 2 5 -9 9 9 4 - 461 N. Service Rd. W Oakville