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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 12, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 905-631-6095 -- 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington 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 Circulation Manager It has become an autumn tradition in Oakville -- bowls of hot, gourmet soup to warm the soul, all to help souls who've lost their way on the journey of life. If their wrong turn has led to hunger, cold and hopelessness, just as a warm bowl of soup from a soup kitchen can help, so, too, does Empty Bowls. The annual Home Suite Hope (HSH) fundraiser has had as eventful a journey to its sixth edition as many who find themselves without a roof over their head, homeless, out in the cold. Founded when social agencies were struggling to find a local shelter, HSH has quietly assisted those from this community without a home -- for any variety of reasons. While the Salvation Army's Lighthouse shelter may provide immediate accommodation, HSH lends a hand, and hope, to get someone back on their feet over time. In the past, HSH has helped everyone. The Oakville Beaver has delved into the stories -- the circumstances that led to homelessness, the help needed right away and the support and fortitude necessary to rise above. Similarly, HSH has faced an uphill battle. It encountered the belief that there are no homeless people -- or poverty, for that matter -- in Oakville. Today, as agencies have partnered to dispell the notion, the community is more aware. HSH encountered the NIMBY (Not in my backyard) attitude when trying to place the homeless. Today, we know many of the homeless are our neighbours -- who've encountered unforeseen circumstances, illness, addiction, mental-health issues, job loss, family breakdown. They are teens couch surfing at friends' homes, family units broken apart, those who lost jobs or got in trouble financially. This past year, HSH shifted its focus to single-parent families -- so great is that area of need. As we give to annual food drives -- Fareshare food bank's annual Thanksgiving drive remains in effect until Sunday -- so, too, do we give to relieve the plight of the homeless in our midst. They are not obvious. They are us. Extending a helping hand may seem a small thing -- like a warm bowl of soup -- but it can mean the world to someone truly in need. Empty Bowls is this Sunday (Oct. 14) at St. Mildred'sLightbourn School, 1080 Linbrook Rd. More than a dozen local chefs will serve gourmet soups, filling bowls painted by students and celebrities alike. For $60 (www. homesuitehope.org) residents will be warmed by the fare and take home their bowl as a souvenir of their kind gesture that will surely warm their soul -- and someone else's -- as the winds blow cold. 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. Soup for the soul Men came through in their heels 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. Clarifying the role of the OLG Ontario charities have a proud history of raising funds through bingo in hundreds of communities across the province. Since 1999, more than $2 billion has been raised for charities in Ontario. In Oakville, charitable bingo has raised more than $15 million for 34 local charities since 1996. Among the local charities that continue to benefit from bingo revenues are the Special Olympics Ontario (Oakville), Oakville Distress Centre, the Oakville Skating Club and the Oakville Lions Club, just to name a few. Ten years ago there were about 230 bingo centres in Ontario supporting 6,000 charities. Today, there are about 61 centres remaining, supporting fewer than 3,000 charities. The total amount of revenue for charities has dropped by 70 per cent. The goal is to now reverse the sharp decline in revenues. So in August 2010, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) launched the Charitable Bingo and Gaming Revitalization Initiative. This initiative will help charities stabilize their budgets, so they can continue their important work in our communities. OLG's revitalization of charitable gaming began by first piloting the introduction of a new suite of electronic bingo games, known as e-Bingo, based on existing paper games. This was done to answer customer demand and increase revenues for bingo halls. Since 2005, this program has raised more than $43 million in the five communities with the pilot sites. The benefits have been widely covered in the media. Municipal councils have supported it because it increased local employment and increased revenues for local charities. The principles of this initiative are straightforward. OLG is partnering with bingo centre operators, charities and the municipalities to modernize Ontario's bingo industry. See Revamp page 15 Men -- you did it again. This year you raised more than $72,000. You walked in heels ­ to show your support for Halton Women's Place and ending violence against women. In early September at Boston Pizza in Oakville and in mid-September at Emma's Back Porch in Burlington, approximately 80 men participated in Halton Women's Place's third annual Hope in High Heels. These men want to be a part of the solution in the prevention and elimination of violence against women. We applaud them. We know that men want to take part in raising awareness about this issue ­ an issue that is not a woman's issue but a societal one. Jerry Dias, along with his son, Jordan, again worked together to rally much support from the CAW and other companies as they helped raise $45,000 in pledges. Speaking from the heart, Jerry addressed the group in Oakville and spoke about being part of a community that cares, a community that will stand up against woman abuse. Thank you, Jerry and Jordan. And thank you to all the men who came out this weekend to support the thousands of women and children that Halton Women's Place helps each year. Last year alone, Halton Women's Place provided services to more than 1,000 women and 1,300 children through our residential and community development programs. Our crisis intervention counselors responded to more than 2,500 crisis calls. Special thanks to our Oakville guest speakers, Diane and Michael "Pinball" Clemons who continue to support this event each year. As well, a special thanks to our lunch sponsors ­ Craig Kowalchuk from Emma's Back Porch, Burlington and Donna Corrigan from Boston Pizza, Dorval Drive, Oakville. Thanks to our event sponsors, TD Canada Trust See Thanks page 15