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www.insidehalton.com | O A K V ILLE B E A V E R | Friday, November 3, 2 0 1 7 | 6 ED [TORIAL | OPINION ABOUT US Let it shine, purple Abused women should not feel ashamed or that they should hide a crime they didn't commit. They are courageous and need everyone not only to shine a light on this heinous crime, but to help eradicate it. Across Ontario this month, officials are shining a light -- purple in colour, to signify courage -- on the crime of vio lence against women. Oakville Town Hall will light up purple Nov. 1-24 in rec ognition of November as Woman Abuse Prevention Month. Halton Women's Place (HWP), Halton's shelter for abused women and their children, will see purple flags raised in Oakville and elsewhere across Halton and Ontario. It' s part of HWP' s fourth annual Shine the Light on W oman Abuse Campaign, which will also see the charity ask local businesses to turn purple for November. Purple is a symbol of courage, survival and honour, and it has come to symbolize the fight to end woman abuse. HWP representatives say the campaign aims to raise awareness of violence against women and to stand in solidarity with abused women and support them in understanding any shame and/or blame they may feel does not belong to them. Across the region, HWP is asking businesses, schools, churches, apartments and homes to get involved. To "invest in keeping women and children safe." This year local businesses interested in supporting the Shine the Light campaign will also be able to contribute to a Virtual Grab Bag, created by IIW P The virtual bag is intended to highlight the campaign by offering downloadable gift cards and coupons offering special deals for the month of November. It will be available online throughout the month through HWP It's a means of investing in keeping women and children safe. How much support is needed? Did you know HWP' s capacity continues to be at between 98 to 105 per cent at all times? Last year, 164 women and 164 children resided at HWP In 2016, 418 non-residential clients were assisted ffirough the shelter's transitional housing support and court support programs. The women' s shelter responded to 2,328 crisis calls. There are many definitions of gender-based violence. It can include any fonn of violence based on an individual' s gender, gender expression or gender identity and is intended to control, humiliate or hann the individual. Violence based on gender is an issue that affects diverse populations including women, Indigenous persons, LGBTQ12S, racialized women, non-status, youth, persons with disabilities and seniors. Gender-based violence has significant economic costs. The estimated costs of intimate partner violence against Canadian women alone are $4.8 billion dollars per year. According to Statistics Canada: women are 11 times more likely to be sexually victimized. women are three times more likely to be stalked. women are nearly four times more likely to experience intimate partner violence. In 2 014,12.4 per cent of Ontario women reported violence by an intimate partner (a spouse or a dating partner) over the previous five years. For more information, visit www.haltonwomensplace.com. ThQ Oakville Beaver, published every Thursday and Friday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary ofTorstar Corporation.The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 100 community publications across Ontario. View our digital edition online at: lnsidehalton.com under Print Editions found in the footer. · *metrolandmedia · * Connected to your community* The Oakville Beaver is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200,890Yonge St.,Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca National NewsMedia Council News M e d ia C anodo M e d ic s d 'ln fo C onada A O C Ilc l oco Media lnsideHalton.com editor@oakvillebeaver.com R @OakvilleBeav @oakvlllebeaver m if f li insidehalton.com My View Honouring Canada'sveterans on Remembrance Day O n behalf of Regional Council, I am proud to express my gratitude to all those who have faithfully served our country The 100th anniversaries of the battles of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele remind us that Canadian veterans have contributed to global security in even the early years of our national history In the years following the World Wars, these individuals have continued to place themselves at risk to bring aid and peace. They have represented Canada with valour and determination, and many of them made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our future. Canada' s veterans have fought far from home to defend their friends, neighbours and fellow citizens, and helped end con flicts that threatened the lives of innocents in distant lands. They left their own families to protect others, and supported one another through the hardships of war with strength and courage. They took these risks to ensure our Gary Carr Halton Region Chair country remained diverse, ju st and free for generations to come. see We on p.7 D l t & O N IH b m K A T S / ^ J Pud Steve Nease WHO WE ARE Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please call 1 -8 6 6 -838-8960 or email Customerservice@metroland.com I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU ALWAYS B U Y MORE TUAN WE NEED«/ ,, by ARE. c a l l in g MY NAME-' ^ , CONTACT US The Oakville Beaver 5046 Mainway, Unit 2. Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 Phone 9 0 5 -8 4 5 -3 8 2 4 / Fax 905-337-5568 Classified 1 -8 0 0 -263-6480 Digital/Flyers/Retail Advertising 2 8 9 -2 93 -06 2 4 Real Estate/ Homefinder.ca Advertising SuzanneTrickey / 2 8 9 -2 93 -06 7 7 / strickey@oakvillebeaver.com Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 200 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com Vice-President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Neil Oliver Advertising Director Daniel Baird / dbaird@metroland.com / 289-293-0624 Managing Editor Angela Blackburn / ablackbum@oakvillebeaver.com / 289-293-0617 Regional General Manager Kelly Montague kmontague@metroland.com / 289-293-0614 Director of Distribution Charlene Hall / chall@metroland.com / 905-631-6095