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15| O akville B eaver | T hursday,June 21,2018 insidehalton.com Paying before you pump creates a safer environment for all by preventing gas and dash injuries and fatalities. Husky is being proactive and requiring pre-pay transactions at its stations across the province. And its retailers and attendants are big supporters. "You hear tragic stories of employeesYou hear tragic stories of employeesY trying to stop a gas theft and getting hurt, or even killed, and you often wonder if this could happen to you," says Mike, who works at a St. Catharines Husky. "Even though we aren't supposed to try to stop these incidents, pre-pay ensures there is no dispute at the pump and helps me get home to my family at the end of every shift." Pre-pay requires customers to purchase fuel before they fill up their vehicles, either at the pump or in-store. To date, there have been no deaths as the result of a gas and dash incident in provinces where pre-pay has been implemented. Lawrence Richler, Vice President, Canadian Products Marketing, says Husky moved to prepayment for fuel after the loss of Surinder Pal Singh. Mr. Singh was celebrating the grand opening of his Husky retail site in Edmonton when he was drawn into a dispute with a customer over a fuel payment. He suffered injuries during the altercation which proved fatal. "Surinder's senseless passing shook all of us and challenged us to reaffirm our commitment to the safety of those working at our retail sites. While we were mitigating the risk associated with fuel payment, it wasn't enough - we needed to eliminate it," says Richler. The Canada Safety Council strongly supports the pre-pay fuel system. "We commend companies that are taking the initiative around pre-pay," explains Jack Smith, president of the Canada Safety Council. "Corporations and consumers both must do their part and contribute to the decline of injury and fatalities in Canada and we are proud to see companies realize this transition to a pre-payment system can make a big impact." Husky wants its customers to know that pre-pay is about keeping everyone safe. "No gas fill-up is worth a life," adds Mike. "I want my customers to realize the small act of pre-paying for fuel not only keeps me safe, it can also keep them out of possible harm's way." Thank you Safety First: Why pre-paying for gas saves lives ADVERTORIAL WAREHOUSE CLEARANCE STARTING SATURDAY, JUNE 23RD @ OUR STORE LOCATION. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST FLOOR MODELS, SCRATCHES & DENTS,OVERSTOCK & MORE 50-80%OFF 1029 Speers Rd. #1-4 Oakville • 905-842-3739 WWW.JOSHUACREEKFURNITURE.COM scribed suicide as her fall- back, an anchor, safe place and home base, admitting it sounded like a weird thing to hear. It was how she was able to put her world into con- text, she said, it was her es- cape plan: if things ever got really bad and she needed to go, she could. Samantha further ex- plained suicide had been the most important thing for her for the longest timefor her for the longest timef because it was the only sem- blance of control she felt she had left in her life. In one of her videos, posted after she began the Toronto hospital program, Samantha said she would get anxious as she was starting to lose her safe place and anchor because she was beginning to want to get better. "But I'm figuring it out. I'm here and that's enough," she said, telling others not to give up. "Your feelings are valid and you should be here to feel them." Bonnie echoed what Sa- mantha had said in another video where she admitted even while getting better, she still believed she would die by suicide. Samantha had attended Munn's Public School, Montclair Senior Public School and White Oaks Sec- ondary School (WOSS) in Oakville. Her mother described her as a very social, open and verbal individual with a strong artistic side, into drama at school and even wrote plays during her time at WOSS. The school started a scholarship program in Sa- mantha's name since her death. Bonnie said she and Sa- mantha had attended a mu- sic festival in Oakville dur- ing summer 2017. "We had had an amazing day," she said. "She also got involved in drag queen ac- tivities because of her artis- tic side and it seemed to be bringing her back to life." Bonnie admitted she wasn't a parent who "didn't see it coming," although she still can't believe it hap- pened, but what she said terrifies her is the ripple ef- fect Samantha's death hasfect Samantha's death hasf had on those who knew her. She said she felt it impor- tant to speak at the Distress Centre Halton event to help increase awareness for the organization and help it get the supports and resources it needs in assisting others. Executive director Jan- ice Gardner-Spiece said the Walk2Talk event is meantWalk2Talk event is meantW to not only raise awareness of the Distress Centre, which has been around in Oakville since 1974, but to also raise funds to increase its programs and services. With about three paidWith about three paidW staff and 120 volunteers, NEWS lContinued from page 12 Samantha believed she would die by suicide even while getting better l See WALK2TALK, page 43