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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, April 26, 2013 | 6 Editorial Let's work safely Let's live, play -- and work -- safely. The Oakville and District Labour Council will join others this Sunday (April 28) to recognize a day that was founded in Canada. A National Day of Mourning event is slated for 11 a.m. at the Oakville Central Library, 120 Navy St. People from across town will gather to remember workers who have been killed or injured on the job in Canada. The aim of the annual event is to publicly renew the commitment to ght for the safety of the living, as well as mourn for those workers who have died. Leading the way in Oakville will be resident Ann Grant who lost her son in September 2011. While the Day of Mourning event began in Canada, it is now commemorated in more than 70 countries across the globe. Here in Oakville, representatives of labour, politicians, the business community and individuals will gather at the workers memorial outside the library's Central branch to commemorate the Day of Mourning. "We invite all residents of Oakville to join us on this solemn occasion," said Tim Batke, second vice-president of the Oakville and District Labour Council. "It is important to remember those who lost their lives on the job, and also to educate people so that no more lives are needlessly lost in the workplace." "Every man and woman should have the expectation of safety in the workplace, especially our young people who are especially vulnerable," said Oakville Ward 2 Town Councillor Pam Damoff, who has been assisting with the event this year. There will be guest speakers, like Grant, who will share stories of personal loss while reminding residents the importance of safety in the workplace. On Dec. 28, 1990, the Government of Canada passed the Workers Mourning Day Act, which established an of cial day observed every year to commemorate workers injured on the job, killed, disabled or who suffer from occupational illnesses. This day is also intended to show Canadians' concern for occupational health and safety. Let's continue to work together to beef up laws and practices to ensure everyone who goes to work, returns home safely. As we look to the past and honour those lost, the day is just as much about looking to the future, so people -- those established in their workplace and especially young people new to their jobs -- will learn and remember they have the right to say `No' and they do not have to put their lives at risk when at work, reminds Dave Millar, president of the Oakville and District Labour Council. Visit www.oakvilledayofmourning.ca or e-mail info@oakvilledayofmourning.ca. "Connected to your Community" 467 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Fax: (905) 337-5566 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 50 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS China... it's complicated John Sawyer Oakville Chamber of Commerce president My View MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager I am just back from a 10-day tour of China and still recovering from the 12-hour time difference and the gruelling 14hour return ight. We made all of the mandatory tourist stops at tombs, temples and palaces including a pilgrimage to the Great Wall and of course spent way too much money on kitschy souvenirs and gifts. Like most Westerners, I mistakenly viewed China as a homogenous, monolithic society but the reality was quite different. There were some unexpected parallels between China and Canada. Both are vast countries, made up of diverse dialects, regions and cultures; cultures heavily in uenced by history, geography, cli- mate and neighbouring states. Of course, there are the obvious differences: the size of the cities and the population density, the 2,500 year history, the form of government and its role in people's lives, and the incredible pace of development. While the climate in the north of China is similar to what we would experience in the Niagara Region, the more southerly parts of China enjoy a very moderate, almost tropical climate with palm trees. China is very much a work in progress and a country of contrasts. As visitors to other parts of the world can attest, we were not acclimatized to the local water so we could not drink from the tap in our opulent ve-star hotels. What is most striking is that my hotel rooms were nearly the same size as a home or apartment that would be occupied by a typical family of three. There was an enormous gap between the af uent and the average citizen. Modern highrise development is abutting traditional single-storey housing that dates back more than 150 years. see No p.7 Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: ATHENA Award 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; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. 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.