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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, August 13, 2014 | 6 Family finds a place to call home We may be in the information age and rapidly riding the electronic highway to the future, but the building of the most recent Habitat for Humanity home shows we have a bit of the past still at heart, perhaps one of the better parts. In the vein of the tradition of a barn raising, the Oakville community has come together once again to help a local family. Businesses jumped on board, community groups and individuals quickly joined them. As soon as the spring thaw was at hand, volunteers rolled up their sleeves and began chipping in to bring a new home to life on Pembroke Drive. It was made possible through Habitat for Humanity and its ongoing efforts to ful l the dream of home ownership for working families who may not otherwise be able to afford a house. It was facilitated by the Town of Oakville, which made a property available for the project. Major sponsors led the way including Genworth Canada, which donated $60,000 and the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board (OMDREB), which donated $50,000 in funding. A Heritage Glen Public School student, who won Genworth Canada's seventh annual Meaning of Home writing contest, secured the $60,000 donation from Genworth for the Habitat build. And then the work crews, a.k.a., local residents and businesses, joined in to carry through the plan. On Saturday, an Oakville mom of three teens slid the key into the front door lock to open a family's future. On her heels were her three children. They were happy and proud of their mother. (see story, p.1). As people watched the project unfold and the nal happy ending, life lessons played out before their eyes. Not only did a deserving family realize a dream, but its children were able to appreciate their mother's fortitude through a challenging journey handed her. A mother saw her children smile and learn to look to the future with con dence. A community saw a family grow. People who may not know of the struggles or challenges faced by some in this community had their eyes opened. Those who like to do for others were able to feel the satisfaction of doing so again. Local businesses could give back to their community as could their employees. Even students in local schools learned of the effort as the Heritage Glen Public School student was recognized for the part he played and his re ections on what home means. Habitat for Humanity Halton isn't stopping there. It's already at work on a townhome complex, with accessible units, in Burlington. Another build is slated for north Halton. In a world where the lessons of life are often harsh, the warmth of Saturday's key ceremony was be tting both the sunny summer day and the caring community spirit for which Oakville is reputed. C Y C L E Editorial S A F E L Y O N "Connected to your Community" S I D E W A L K S 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 52 | Number 96 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 NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS Cycling Safely and Responsibly in Oakville postcards were handed out to cyclists riding on Kerr Street last week during a safety blitz. Pictured, from left, are: Doug Sams of the Kerr Village BIA (Business Improvement Area), Ward 2 Councillor and Cycle Oakville founder Pam Damoff, Kerr Village Constable Matt Baker, and Ward 2 Councillor Cathy Duddeck. The pamphlet was given to cyclists as a reminder that cycling on sidewalks in Oakville is illegal. | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) Advertising Director DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production My View Exciting time as new Halton MPP steps into role Indira Naidoo-Harris SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution Halton MPP ith many people still recovering from last week's ooding, I want to begin by expressing my deep concern to all those who have been affected. I have been inspired by your resiliency, and the response of local of cials, rst responders, police of cers, and reghters has been nothing short of incredible. I am con dent that we will get through the challenges. It has been nearly two months since I was elected the new MPP for Halton, an incredibly busy and exciting time. It is an honour and a privilege to represent Halton in the Ontario Legislature. My rst few weeks at Queen's Park have been lled with introductions, brie ngs, meetings, and lively debates in the legislature. There is a lot to learn and do. I have attended dozens of local events. I have enjoyed meeting so many of you and hearing your stories. I believe Ontario is the best place to live and raise a family. My focus is to build up Halton today, as we work together for a brighter future tomorrow. I will work towards creating local jobs, building transit and infrastructure, and improving our W education and health system. I have been named Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Health and Long Term Care Eric Hoskins. I am eager to work on improving our health care system for Ontario families. Sitting in Ontario's Legislative Chamber is inspiring. You can almost hear the voices of the great leaders who served before us. I have risen in the House to ask questions about the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan, recognition for rst responders, growing our economy and the Pan Am Games legacy. I have shared my experiences about life in Halton. It is rewarding to stand in our grand Legislature and talk about our great community. The House has now risen. I am proud of what our government has accomplished in our rst session. We followed through on our promise to pass the budget quickly. Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Ontario Liberal government are moving forward with a 10-year plan for the economy focused on investing in people and infrastructure. It will modernize and build local schools, ght area congestion, and build or expand hospitals in Halton and around the province. The new Jobs and Prosperity Fund will also help local businesses secure investments in growing sectors. This budget builds opportunity and secures our future. I am grateful for this opportunity to communicate directly with you. I will provide regular updates, and I invite you to contact my of ce about your concerns or suggestions. I look forward to working hard on your behalf. CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager 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, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON L7L 7G5 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. 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