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18 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 8, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com Firefighters make a difference in the community By Andrew Forbes GRADE 12, T. A. BLAKELOCK Like the population of Oakville, the beauty of the town is continually growing, making it a much more desirable place to live. In a town so close to Toronto, Canada's economic and cultural centre, and just a short drive from such attractions as the Niagara region, Oakvillians rarely have any reason to succumb to the idea of requiring special help. Yet for times when that kind of help is needed there are Oakvillians who strive for perfection in their everyday roles to help others. For firefighters, like long-time Oakvillian Bill Forbes, helping others is the "name of the game." Forbes, a 46-year old Platoon Chief for the Oakville Fire Department, has been a resident of Oakville his whole life. Forbes decided to become a firefighter after following his father, a 20-year volunteer firefighter, to fires for nearly 10 years. He enjoyed the excitement and the things he saw during his adventures to the fires. As Bill grew older he often walked across the street from his home to talk to firefighters who trained in the I WILL SELL YOUR HOME FOR FOOD... Buy or Sell Your Home Through Me and I Will Donate reservoir and who later became co-workers of the now, 25-year veteran firefighter. When asked what he sees his role as, Forbes responded, "To protect the public and educate them on fire safety." Bill Forbes is only one of the many firefighters and emergency personnel who make a difference to our community. As a Platoon Chief Forbes is responsible for seven stations across Oakville including up to 38 personnel per shift. He and his crew respond to not only fires, but also motor vehicle accidents, medical calls, hazardous material spills and special rescues in water and ice as well. When called upon, it is Bill's duty to be sure that his men are on the scene within minutes and co-ordinate their efforts to make sure they can do all that is possible to save people, animals, and property. Firefighters work around the clock every day of the year to watch over the community. These work periods are divided into 10 or 14-hour shifts keeping roughly 40 firefighters in the seven stations every hour of the day. They are on call 100 percent of the time to make sure we are safe and to make sure that our worst nightmares never come true. When asked for advice on home and personal safety, Forbes said, "Make sure there is an adequate number of carbon monoxide and smoke detectors throughout your house and check them on a regular basis to make sure they work properly. It's a simple and cost effective way of early detection that has been proven to save lives." Fires happen, accidents happen, but remember when you're running out, there are people who are running in to save others and those are the people, like Forbes, who make a difference to the safety and wellbeing of our community. $500 to Oakville's FareShare Food Bank! The Regional Municipality of Halton BILL TERRY Sales Representative Notice of Construction W hen it comes time to sell your home why not deal with a real estate agent who is willing to do more? More than just sell your home at the best possible price, in the least amount of time and with the minimum inconvenience to you and your family. More than provide you with attentive service and competitive commission rates. If you want more from your real estate agent contact Bill Terry at Royal LePage ~ he wants to do more for you and our community. Road Resurfacing on Dorval Drive (Regional Road 17) From North Service Road to Upper Middle Road (Regional Road 38) Town of Oakville UPPER MIDDLE RD (REG. RD. 38) WEST OAK TRAILS $289,900. Designer decor! Three bedroom freehold townhouse in Westoak Trails. Large eat-in kitchen with white cabinets and walkout to balcony. Master bedroom with semi ensuite, main floor family room and walkout from lower level. Nicely landscaped front and back and upgraded front walkway. Conveniently located close to all amenities. NA MO DR ERY ST FAIRWAY HILLS BLVD DO RV AL DR (RE G. RD COURT LOCATION $239,900. Well maintained court location in College Park. Three bedrooms, 2 full baths, updated kitchen cabinets, roof (`02), bathroom (level 3-`02), storm doors (`04), sprinkler system (`02), dark hardwood flooring, walkout basement. Eight new windows and siding (on the front) to be installed in September, new mid efficiency furnace. LEEWOOD DR . 17 ) KE RR ST Q.E.W. Office: (905) 338-3737 Direct: (289) 242-3591 E-mail: billterry@cogeco.ca www.iwillsellyourhomeforfood.ca This is not intended to solicit properties currently listed or buyers working with a realtor. Contract Number: Scheduled Start Date: Scheduled Completion Date: Construction Supervisor: R-2385-06 End of August, 2006 End of September, 2006 Bob Wicklund ext. 7607 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 Tel: 905-825-6000 · Toll Free: 1-866-4HALTON · TTY: 905-827-9833 · www.halton.ca