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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, December 21, 2011 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: C Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member A THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association S Suburban Newspapers of America o Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Pay heed to voice of experience If nothing else, Halton Regional Police Service Chief f Gary Crowell has an impeccable sense of timing. The personable chief, who has 41 years of policing behind him, announced last week that he will be retiring from the Halton Regional Police Service as of June 2, 2012. His announcement came the same day Maclean's magazine named Halton Region the safest place in which to live, in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and the safest regional municipality in Canada for the fourth year in a row. Maclean's based its ranking on 2010 annual crime data from Statistics Canada for municipal police services serving the nation's 100 largest populations. The Crime Severity Index (CSI) scores six personal and property crimes: homicide, sexual assault, aggravated assault, auto theft, robbery and breaking and entering. Crowell was hired as deputy chief in February 1999, and in June 2006, was promoted to chief of police. Prior to coming to Halton, Crowell served with Peel Regional Police, and began his career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Under Crowell's watch in Halton the service introduced or expanded many community-based programs -- such as Drive SAFE, Community Road Watch and Speedi. Community policing was a priority with Crowell, as it was with his predecessor, Ean Algar. As a testament to his persuasive skills, in recent years Crowell has had to fight -- mostly successfully -- for increases in the police budget, despite the downturn in the economy and the need for public spending austerity. Deflecting praise directed by the police services board toward himself, Crowell commended "the Service team and many volunteers, our community partners and Halton citizens" for having Halton top the Maclean's list, once again. Success in any organization, however, is dependent on having good people at the top of the totem pole. On behalf of Halton residents, we offer Chief Crowell our thanks and wishes for a happy retirement. And as the chief moves forward to retirement, the police service to a new era and the public to a new year, we might be wise to take heed of words from the wise... Crowell, in acknowledging last week's kudos from Maclean's, also noted, Halton could use some improvement on its roads -- something not considered for the Maclean's pick. After all his years, and experience, we should pay attention to his words, especially given the season. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. 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 advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Join the club on the slopes Several years ago, a friend told me about a great chance to ski mid-week at the best hills. The Love to Ski Club takes us on a luxury bus to Collingwood once a week for a wonderful day of uncrowded skiing at the private clubs in the Collingwood area. You load your skis and can relax for the ride with your ski friends. Once my husband stopped skiing, I would get out only one or two times a year and that is just not enough. This way, you go for sure, six or seven times in January and February, can take lessons to improve your technique, or ski on your own. The skiers are all ages, both sexes and all ski levels so you will find lots of f people to ski with. The bus leaves the hill at 4 p.m. and it is delightful that someone else takes care of driving us all back to Oakville. I want to do for others the same favour that my friend did for me and let people know about this great chance to get outdoors, improve your fitness level, and have a wonderful time skiing. Check out www.lovetoskiclub.com. J. E. Brown, Mississauga Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver r 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, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@ oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver r reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Injured coyote again eludes capture in Glen Abbey Officer Laura Mackasey just returned from once again attempting to capture the injured coyote that has been eluding us for some time now. We received a call to attend a sighting of an injured coyote on Forest Street in Oakville. Our officer was at the other end of Oakville attending to an animal in distress and responded as soon as possible, but was unable to find Forest Street. Once she received the correct address, she was able to be there in a few minutes. Your (Oakville Beaver) photographer met her there and she proceeded to look for the coyote in the direction it was last seen. Officer Mackasey was able to see the coyote and got quite close before the coyote ran off; s e and she a d your you photographer p otog ap e pursued pu sued it t until u t it t The coyote is very familiar to the Oakville & Milton Humane Society and we have been in contact with wildlife rehabilitators for advice on how best to capture it. As it is injured we will continue to do everything we can to capture it and send it to a registered wildlife rehabilitation centre where it can be treated and later released. We are grateful to the person who called the shelter to report the sighting and remained at the scene to let Officer Mackasey know where it would be found. As with all wildlife, it is very important not to attempt to capture or interact with the coyote as you could be injured. Brenda Dushko, manager Fund Development, Oa Oakville e & Milton to Humane u a e Society Soc ety ON THE LAMB: Injured coyote once again eludes capture. darted into the forest where it could no longer be seen.