The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

NEWS Promoting diversity to combat future hate incidents Live-!AT TH E * O A K V ILLE C E N T R E ElIAKVILLEC e n t r eFOR THEPERFORMING ARTS • Continued from page 21 charged in connection with these graffiti in­ cidents due to their random nature. He also pointed out these crimes were committed by individuals and not organized groups. Tanner said the most significant incident occurred on Aug. 16, 2017, when Burlington's Trinity Baptist Church was destroyed by flames in an act of arson. Pro-ISIS messages were spray-painted on several walls. In September 2017, similar pro-ISIS mes­ sages were spray-painted at the Forestview Church Without Walls in Oakville. Tanner said he does not believe ISIS is ac­ tually responsible for these crimes. "I think it is people picking up on media coverage and propaganda and wanting to use that to have more of a devastating impact in some way on the group they're targeting," he said. These incidents are being looked at as part of an investigation into a series of similar crimes that have taken place within the GTA. Tanner said Halton police are attempting to combat future hate incidents by promoting diversity and inclusiveness at their events, in their communities and through their diverse community partners, including the service's Multi-Faith Support Team and the Regional Diversity Engagement Table. The report also noted that in 2017, officers spent a total of 387 hours patrolling near vari­ ous places of worship throughout the region. The police service has also prepared for the worst, noting that in 2017, officers worked with faith-based community partners to cata­ logue schematics and floor plans for build­ ings where people may gather and assemble. The idea is that if any kind of shooting, hostage taking or other incident were to take place, police could respond faster and more effectively. Tanner noted it is important to keep the overall number of hate incidents within the Halton Region in context. "Our numbers are very low and we are proud of that. We hope to trend closer to zero in the future, and hopefully, as we do more di­ versity and outreach, and citizens become more accepting of one another and work with us, we can lower those things," he said. "We do take these incidents very serious­ ly." Tanner said the ongoing monitoring of hate-related occurrences is critical given cur­ rent global factors including terrorism, vari­ ous refugee crises and the recent resurgence of extreme social conservatism, among oth­ ers. 197 A'-'ila Assic N O FRILLS won't be beat If you find a cheaper price, simply show us and we will match. B R E Y E R S C L A S S IC FRO ZEN D E S S E R T 1.66L or P O P S IC L E N O V E LT IES 6 -1 2 's selected varities, frozen S IR L O IN T IP R O A S T cryovac package, cut from Canada AA grade beef or higher or USDA Select grade beef or higher 10 LB BAG F A R M E R 'S M A R K E T ™ Y ELLO W PO TA TO ES product of Ontario, Canada no.1 grade C O U N T R Y H A R V E S T B R E A D 600/675g or B A G E L S pkg of 6 Butter •Beurre 9 ? o HIGH L IN E R W ILD P A C IF IC p i n k s a l a m o n f i l l e t s 400g frozen G A Y L E A B U T T E R salted or unsalted, 454g C O C A -C O LA , C A N A D A Dr y o p e p s i s o f t d r i n k s 18x355m l. selected varieties O le g's NoFrills 1395 Abbeyw ood Drive, Oakville FLYER PRICES EFFECTIVE IN ONTARIO STORES ONLY. THURSDAY, MARCH 22 TO WEDNESDAY, Ma r c h 28, 2018. 13 □ nofrills.ca IN CONVERSATION WITH... PAUL SALTZMAN: THE BEATLES IN INDIA WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018 AT 7 P.M. Hear first hand of a historic meeting of The Beatles, the Maharishi and Paul Saltzman in 1968. In 1968, at the height of their popularity and arguably the most famous people in the world, the Beatles travelled to India, to the foothills of the Himalayas, to find something that all their fame and fortune could not give them. They went to find inner peace. They disappeared into an ashram. No press or visitors were allowed. It was a time of creativity and a time of change for them. In seven short weeks they wrote 48 songs - some of which were later recorded for the White Album. Not knowing they were there, I had arrived to learn meditation, desperate to heal a broken heart. After eight days waiting outside the locked front gate I was allowed in. The meditation was life changing, as was meeting the Beatles. It was a deeply private experience and back home I put the 54 photos I had taken away in a box, and forgot about them - for 32 years. It is my pleasure to share with you the photos and the stories that go with them. Paul Saltzman G> O A K V I L L E The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts 130 Navy Street, Oakville ON L6J 2Z4 TICKETS $20 To Order visit: OakvilleCentre.ca or call the box office at: 905.815.2021 or 1.888.489-7784 | O akville Beaver | Thursday, M arch 22,2018 insidehalton.com