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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 10 ,2 02 0 | 4 1 Sixteen Mile Dr., Oakville, ON On Sixth Line, just north of Dundas (289) 725-6000 | vivalife.ca Dining when you want. Now, that's appetizing. Finally, an approach to dining that suits your independent lifestyle. V!VA Oakville Retirement Community is thrilled to introduce Anytime Dining. Rather than have breakfast, lunch and dinner during set times, our Community Members are welcome to dine whenever they please!* Heading out for an early round of golf in our golf simulator? Enjoy a late breakfast upon your victorious return. Catching an evening show in our big-screen theatre? Grab an early dinner before you go. The only thing more appetizing? Our delicious cuisine. Call Megan at (289) 725-6000 to learn more and take a virtual tour today. *During newly extended dining room hours BEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY "COFFEE TALKS": HOLIDAY RECIPIES December 22nd, 11:00am Chef Rob shares delicious holiday recipes! RSVP is required for this virtual event at (289) 725-6000 or by email at oakville@vivalife.ca. A STRONGER VOICE We recognize that diversity is the strength of our communities and we are inviting you to share your voice in our publications. INSIDEHALTON.COM/COMMUNITYDIVERSITY An Oakville woman struck and killed by an alleged impaired driver while walking her dog is being remembered for her compassion and for being the heart and soul of her family. Family members have identified Louise Whiten, 51, as the victim of the Thursday, Dec. 3 collision, which also claimed the life of her dog, Zack. Whiten and her dog were walking along a path just two blocks from her home at 2:14 p.m., when Halton police investigators say a vehicle suddenly left the roadway in the Lakeshore Road East and Burgundy Drive area and struck them. Whiten, who had just recently moved to the Oakville community with her family, had a private practice as a speech and language pathologist in Mississauga, something those who knew her said she was particularly pas- sionate about. Occupational therapist Dima Alsakka, who described Whiten as being like a mentor to her, said Whiten's specialty involved help- ing children with autism. "She was a gamechanger in her field. She was very knowledgeable, very experienced and probably the strongest speech therapist I have personally met," said Alsakka. "She's the reason so many of these kids have language and communications skills." Alsakka said the children Whiten worked with loved coming to see her. She said she met Whiten about a year ago, noting they provided different therapies to many of the same individuals and so they col- laborated frequently. Alsakka said it was Whiten's compassion that made her so popular with her clients. "When working with a child, it can take a special type of person to 'click' with that child, to find a way to build a relationship or a rap- port with them," she said. "When children have needs like, no lan- guage skills or no communication skills, it's very difficult to build an empathetic relation- ship with them, but she always managed to do that." Alsakka said Whiten gave her a lot of pro- fessional advice, but also talked to her aboutfessional advice, but also talked to her aboutf the importance of finding a work life and family life balance.family life balance.f Whiten was a wife and mother of two. Alsakka said Whiten always put her fami- ly first and told her to never apologize for be- ing a mom and taking time off to be with your family.family.f "She always told me you cannot neglect your family for professional goals," said Al-your family for professional goals," said Al-y sakka. "I know she really enjoyed being there for her kids. Picking them up from school, being the one to drive them to their activities, being there for dinner every single day." In an online post, Whiten's brother-in-law, Mark Cashin, described Whiten as the "heart and soul" of her family. The crash, he said, "has left a hole in our lives that can never be filled." Cashin has set up a GoFundMe account in Whiten's memory. He said funds raised will be used for the post-secondary education of her two teenage sons and to create a schol- arship that will commemorate and continue to foster her devotion to helping children. As of Monday, Dec. 7 the account had only been open for one day, but had raised $55,307, well surpassing its $25,000 goal. Kevin Hyde, 58, of Oakville has beenKevin Hyde, 58, of Oakville has beenK charged with impaired operation of a vehicle causing death and dangerous driving caus- ing death. Halton police pointed out the arrest that followed the collision at Lakeshore Road andfollowed the collision at Lakeshore Road andf Burgundy Drive was just one of three arrests for alleged impaired driving that occurred infor alleged impaired driving that occurred inf Oakville on Dec. 3. 'SHE WAS A GAMECHANGER' DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com Louise Whiten and Zack, who were killed while out walking on Dec. 3 Whiten family photo NEWS WOMAN KILLED WHILE WALKING DOG REMEMBERED FOR HER COMPASSION AND WORK WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN