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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, July 11, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 905-845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 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 OakvilleBeaver 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 KIM MOSSMAN Circ. Manager In our Jan. 18, 2012 edition's editorial, we wrote that the events that transpired in our community, a town often envied by others and valued greatly by its residents, on Thursday, Jan. 12 of this year were chilling. Now, as the summer of 2012 sends the mercury soaring, Friday's long-awaited confirmation by Halton Regional Police Service homicide investigators about one of those events remains just as chilling. (See page 8 for story). Perhaps more so, given the perspective of a little time and space and more, if not all, facts involved. It was on Jan. 12 that Halton police officers faced a man wielding a knife in the parking lot of the Oak Park police station. In what transpired, the man, Kyle Newman, was shot and killed. At approximately the same time, police were summoned to a Treetop Terrace home. A woman there, Katherine Newman, Kyle's estranged wife, had been fatally stabbed. Nearby schools went into lockdown as the couple had three school-aged sons. Soon after, the woman's father, a retired Superiour Court Justice told The Oakville Beaver, he had feared for his daughter's welfare. Today, the community has rallied through personal condolences, kindnesses and support of a trust fund set up to ensure the future of the three young boys. They have been kept out of the spotlight. They still have ties to this community, but now live elsewhere. They are being guided and sheltered by family. Today, months later, the officers involved in the shooting of Kyle have been found justified in the action they were forced to take. A tragedy for Kyle, his family and friends. His sons. A tragedy for those officers who faced him in the parking lot that morning. Today, months later, homicide detectives have finally concluded and pronounced it was Kyle who fatally stabbed Katherine at her home that morning. A tragedy for Katherine, her family and friends. Her sons. While each family has grappled with questions about why, each has also grappled with unknown anguish. The most painful of all, however, must be in the hearts and minds of three young boys, who now close their eyes at night and open them each morning to the knowledge and pain that their parents are never to return to their lives, and no doubt the questions that will always linger. We must ask how this type of tragedy can happen -- time and again -- and if we are doing all we can to protect the innocent -- children, women, men. Obviously, for this tragedy to unfold, here in Oakville, or anywhere else, to a typical family, this family or another, we are not. We must. 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. Senseless loss Thank you Letter to the editor Katherine Newman's poem to her children To my children.... Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying. Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear and smile and say how perfect it is. Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry and pick you up and take you to the park to play. Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together. Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles. Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for ice cream and I will buy you one if the ice cream truck comes by. Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned. Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies and I won't stand over you trying to fix them. Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us each a Happy Meal so you can have both toys. Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you. Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry. Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars. 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. Re: Katherine (Stayshyn) Newman On behalf of Thomas, Joshua, James and the entire Stayshyn family we would like to thank the entire community for all their love and support. The local, national and international support has brought tears to our eyes and renewed our faith in the goodness and kindness in the world. Our hearts and prayers go out to the officers of the Halton Regional Police Service and their families. This horrible tragedy has hurt so many people and we pray in time all wounds will heal and we will move forward as a stronger united community. We would like to thank those in the media who have respected our privacy requests and assisted the boys by publicizing their trust fund. While we were going through Katherine's (Bunny's) treasure box full of memories of her and the boys, we came across this poem she kept with the boy's pictures. We know she would want us to share with you. (Please see below). Our heartfelt thanks for everyone's support during this difficult time. Ted Stayshyn, on behalf of the entire Stayshyn Family Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours and miss my favourite TV show. Just for this evening, when I run my fingers through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given. I will think about the mothers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers who are visiting their children's graves, instead of their bedrooms and the mothers who are in the hospital room watching their children suffer senselessly and screaming inside that they cannot handle it anymore. And when I kiss you tonight, I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you and ask him for nothing except one more day.... Katherine Newman