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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, October 24, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters The Oakville Beaver 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 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 Last week, Oct. 16 marked annual World Food Day. It is recognized annually to mark the date of the founding of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Organizations, agencies, businesses and individuals mark World Food Day across the globe with the goal of boosting awareness around the issue of food security and the struggle against hunger and poverty globally. Sadly, Canada, and Oakville, are not immune to this problem. Canadians can make an impact by donating food or funds to Food Banks Canada or a local food bank to curb hunger here at home. "It is unacceptable in a country as wealthy as Canada that anyone should go without food," says Katharine Schmidt, executive director of Food Banks Canada. "We know hunger is a global challenge. Food is not something we typically think of as being scarce in this country, but close to two million Canadians worry about how they will get their next meal." This is seen in Health Canada (2011) statistics. Food Banks Canada's HungerCount 2011 reports more than 850,000 individuals turn to food banks monthly. In Oakville, Fareshare food bank serves upwards of 350 families monthly. The Salvation Army in Oakville also maintains a food bank for emergency use and Kerr Street Ministries (KSM) operates a food bank. Many local schools run breakfast programs while the Halton Learning Foundation operates a fund to help students who are not able to join their peers in schoolbased experiences that come with an additional fee to pay the tab and join their friends in learning. The Bronte Village Stakeholders Committee just gave away winter coats after collecting donations from the community. Other local groups work to ensure all graduating high school students get a chance to go to their prom -- by providing gently-used dresses and suits. Others do the same for those going to job interviews. Just last week, an Oakville couple who wanted to give away turkeys at Thanksgiving didn't know where to turn. When their letter in hopes of finding a recipient agency for a Christmas turkey donation was published in The Oakville Beaver, more than a dozen agencies stepped forward. It was good news -- and a clear reminder there are hungry people in this community. World Food Day is a great reminder for Canadians to consider how they can help their friends, neighbours and colleagues who are in need in their communities. Many of the people using food banks are families. Many are the working poor or those who have been caught in a financial squeeze. Sometimes it takes only a little, to help a lot. 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. Food for all Letter to the editor External audit is necessary I accept MPP Flynn's assessment that the cost of $40 million to cancel the Liberal-planned power plant in Oakville is correct. Has this Liberal government ever lied to the people of the province before? I trust MPP Flynn will call for an external audit, to verify this value. It is the reason why we vote for someone to represent us Michael Velluso, Oakville Trim Benjaminas I read the letter regarding the Benjamina tree that is growing too fast. I have had a Benjamina tree for about 30 years, it has survived three moves to different homes. Yes, it does get big, but I occasionally trim it and shape it. My suggestion is to trim it to size. These trees are hardy enough, and it will survive. Carmen Muscat, Oakville 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. Thanks to all who helped Give the Gift of Life The second annual Give the Gift of Life Walk, Oakville/Burlington for the Kidney Foundation of Canada was a great success. With weather a little iffy in the early hours, I asked all participants to bring all the shine they could find and they did and it turned out to be a great day at Bronte Provincial Park conveniently located between Oakville and Burlington. We held a five-kilometre walk or run -- whichever was your preference. We had draws for prizes there was plenty of food, fruit, and drinks for everyone and I would like to thank Tim Hortons (Burloak Drive), Herridge's Family Fruit Market of Mississauga, Southdown Road. I'd also like to thank our corporate sponsors, Oakville Cycle & Sports and Q107 Radio. Our top fundraiser was Brenda Whitfield, our top team fundraiser was Crew Holmes. I would like to thank Jack Smith for making it possible for Lance to attend and be able to do the walk. I would also like to thank Dr. Daniel Sapir (Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital), Oakville Mayor Rob Burton and our emcee, Martin Kosterman. As your walk co-ordinator (Ron Newman a.k.a. The Dialysis Dude) I would thank everyone who supported this walk, all the teams, groups, our high school volunteers who worked very hard. Thank you to all the individuals who donated online, and to the teams, for this is a team effort -- without all of you it would not be possible to do this. We had a lady from Saskatchewan and a couple of ladies who drove eight hours from Echo Bay, Ont. to join us. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and will have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and I look forward to having all of you and your family and friends back in 2013 at Bronte Provincial Park again -- this is already confirmed. If anyone would like to be involved, I can be reached through the Kidney Foundation of Canada. I've been where some of these people are for 10 years in my life and because I was fortunate enough to have a transplant in 2005, I am now feeling much better and because of that, this is what drives me to continue to do this walk. If I can make it so at least just one person gets to know what it's like not to have to do dialysis again, my goal will have been achieved this year. Then I will look to see what I can do next year and beyond. Thank you so much. Ron Newman, walk co-ordinator, Oakville