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Don't rush to judgment There are some broken hearts in Oakville. The family and friends of Alex Tughan have been left to mourn a 22-year-old man who died after being shot by police Sunday night. A memorial Facebook page -- lled with comments and photographs -- illustrates a person who enjoyed life, had fun with friends and embraced adventure. Some would say it seemed like the typical life of a busy young person. Sadly, there was nothing typical about the way his life ended. Eyewitness accounts, as told to the Oakville Beaver, describe a standoff between Halton police and Tughan -- a standoff that included of cers pleading with him to get out of his vehicle, drop his weapon and come home safely to his parents. One cannot imagine the anguish felt by all those who loved him. "What I saw was the police trying very hard to get that young man out of the car. "They kept asking him, time and time again, to `Please turn off the music and get out of the car,'" an eyewitness told this newspaper. While those closest to the former White Oaks Secondary School student wrestle with what went so terribly wrong that night, our thoughts also turn to the Halton of cers who surely must have struggled with this scenario. The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the tragedy and because of the unit's involvement, Halton police are unable to discuss the case. Police of cers probably wonder how each of their shifts will turn out each day. No one wants to be faced with a decision that requires the discharge of a weapon. Most rst responders are very aware their day -- and that of the people they serve and protect -- can change in an instant. Tughan, it seemed, had many friends. No doubt, those closest to him have recalled their last conversation with him, their last laugh, last hug, even their last email. Was there something they missed? Was there a sign? There are always armchair quarterbacks who will offer up an opinion on what went down that evening. Unless we are a member of Tughan's family or a police of cer on the scene Sunday night, we have no way of knowing exactly what led to the tragedy. As Tughan's family and friends try to collect the pieces of their shattered lives, it is our hope that no one in the community rushes to judgment or blame. Editorial M O V I N G A M O U N "Connected to your Community" T A I N 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 1 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 NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS The Oakville Hornets girls' hockey team collected toys for the Salvation Army of Oakville's Toy Mountain in last week's Oakville Santa Claus Parade. Toy Mountain is at Oakville Place shopping mall until Dec. 23. Donations go to the Salvation Army's Toy Depot where families in need can shop for gifts for their children. Here, at Oakville's Kennedy Ford, which also supports Toy Mountain by accepting donations, are (front, from left) Jennifer Taylor, Brittany Taylor, Sara Dickson, Hannah Forrest, Alexa Prits and Norene Hillsdon. In the truck, from left, are Tatum Martino, Liv Hunt and Kathryn Zuliani. | photo by Chantal Ayotte ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Building affordable housing in Halton Louise Feeney Notley Habitat for Humanity Halton marketing committee My View MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager I t's an ambitious goal -- 75 in 5 -- but one John Gerrard is determined to reach. Seventy- ve affordable new homes in Halton, for 75 Habitat for Humanity families, over the next ve years. As Nov. 22 ­ National Housing Day ­ arrives today, Canada is still without a National Housing strategy. Bill C400, a private member's bill on this issue, was defeated at second reading in Parliament last February. In July, at the Council of the Federation meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the provincial premiers once again called on the federal government to "outline a comprehensive and sustainable strategy to effectively meet the country's diverse housing needs for both today and future generations." Housing advocates considered it a victory to have the issue on the agenda and this statement of support, but the country is still a long way from adopting a formal plan. In the meantime, Gerrard, executive direc- tor of Habitat for Humanity Halton, wants to draw attention to the need for affordable housing in our region and the societal bene ts that good affordable housing strategies bring to our residents, neighbourhoods and communities. Habitat Halton's bold ve year strategy should be welcome in Halton, where more than 4,000 families need affordable housing options to remain engaged in their communities and live within their means. We know from research released by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation in June that home ownership has a measurably positive impact on the health and nancial stability of low-income families who are provided with affordable housing alternatives. They are less prone to illness and stress, which reduces absenteeism at work and school. Their children get better grades, and participate more in sports and extracurricular activities. An overwhelming number report feeling safer and happier. Darlene, a Halton resident who has owned a Habitat home for six years, af rms this: "I am happier. It gave me back my independence at a time when I was backpedaling instead of moving forward. It allowed me to feel that I actually could stand on my own, and I didn't have to be dependent on others. " see Pick on 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: 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. 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