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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, May 9, 2012 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS 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 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America 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 Heroes come in all shapes, sizes and forms. In today's Oakville Beaver, our front page is devoted to a canine hero, a police dog named Titan, who is credited with saving a woman's life. The woman, who overdosed, but called out for help with a 911 call, was lucky a dog named Titan's journey twisted on a path that collided with her own. And when the influence of Titan's role in that woman's life concluded, the local resident would find she would also count her lucky stars that Titan's owner, Tara McLorn, had, at some point in her life, decided to follow the path of a policing career. Of course, the woman would also owe her life to the doctors and nurses at the hospital who took over from Tara and Titan. This is National Nursing Week (May 7-13). It's a time to say thanks to all those who devote their career lives to nursing. As Halton Healthcare Services president and CEO John Oliver credited in his column in Thursday's (May 3) edition, nurses, like physicians, are the crux of the patient-focused care team. From the moment we're born until we exhale our final breath, we are likely sharing those life's moments with nurses -- though we may not consciously register their presence at those moments. From the tender caring when, as children, we find ourselves in the medical system, scared and little more than nervous, to many moments during our lives, sickness, births, surgeries and simple medical appointments. It may be a kind word, the supportive smile, the extra thing done to make us comfortable when we're feeling ill or unable to care for ourselves. Maybe it's the hug at a moment when we most need one and no one else is around us, nurses give much more than shots, medical advice and their time (often shifts through nights and holidays). For all that, and more, thank you. 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. Superheroes Thanks for the support Thank you to everyone who came out to pay their respects at this year's Oakville Day of Mourning. Members of organized labour, the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, Ford of Canada along with Minister of Labour Lisa Raitt, MPP Kevin Flynn, Regional Chair Gary Carr, Mayor Rob Burton, councillors Marc Grant and Dave Gittings joined fellow Oakville residents this year. The personal stories of workplace accidents were especially moving, and made each of us more aware of the immense loss and tragedy that happens far too often in Canada. Special thanks to Jeannie Howe, Hamilton & District Injured Workers Group, and John Watson, Health & Safety Representative with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, who spoke to the need to educate about workplace safety and protect those rights. Nancy Hutchison, secretary-treasurer, Ontario Federation of Labour, shared her personal story of a workplace injury, and Mary Long, president, Hamilton & District Labour Council, bravely told the story of the loss of her husband while he was at work. Sincere thanks to the Oakville and District Labour Council for its assistance with the event, and the Town of Oakville for its support in promoting the Day of Mourning. Thanks as well to the Oakville Beaver for its recent editorial telling us all "how important it is for everyone to make workplace safety a priority." It is important to remember those workers who will never return home from their jobs, and renew our commitment to workplace safety each year on April 28. Thank you, Oakville, for remembering and renewing. Tim Batke, Second vice-president Oakville & District Labour Council Pam Damoff, Ward 2 councillor, Town of Oakville Letter to the editor Letters to the editor 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 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 reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Playgrounds for all kids Re: Play areas not for toddlers, May 2, 2012, Oakville Beaver Thanks so much to the letter writer for educating me on the proper usage of public parks in Oakville. Now I know that when I am walking with my toddler and he sees a park and wants to play, I should say no. That park is not for you. There may be older kids who want to use it. If I let you play there, it would be disrespectful to them. Please learn to walk better and get a few years older and then maybe we will talk about it. I truly do sympathize with the letter writer and thank her for bringing this important issue to my attention, and urge everyone to lis- ten to her advice. No more should we allow our toddlers to play at the parks near our houses. Certainly they must not be allowed on slides, even with our supervision. I agree we need to crack down on this unauthorized playtime at any cost. Kids of different ages should never be allowed to be near each other at any time -- imagine the chaos. So here's to you for bringing the ultra important cause of your children having to play near other, younger children at public parks to our attention. Certainly this issue indicates the severe societal problems we have here in Oakville, and deserves our utmost attention. Mark Hogan, Oakville Follow Oakville Beaver staff on Twitter @OakvilleBeaver or @NewsHooked @DavidLea6 @DominikKurek @BeaverSports or @Halton_Photog