w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER Fr id ay , N ov em be r 1 9, 2 01 0 6 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends The Oakville Beaver Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. OPINION & LETTERS Letters to the editor 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 editor@oakville- beaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. As children across town deliver their Christmas Wish List to Santa Claus, dedicated volunteers have already made wishes come true by working hard to deliver tomorrows Oakville Santa Claus Parade. Thank you. Proudly in its 62nd year, the parade is a cherished tra- dition in town. Its a treat for many grandparents and definitely a lot of local parents who take kids, bundled up, to perch along the street of the downtown or Kerr Village and await the arrival of St. Nick. They not only soak in some Christmas magic, but relive when they were there them- selves as eager children, believers in the jolly old elf and his world of wonders, wide-eyed and laden with their own wide list. Like Rudolph, even the Grinch, Christmas is a classic as is the Oakville parade, a local Santa parade. As tomorrows event gets underway at 9 a.m. with a flypast of Santas airplanes in downtown Oakville and meanders its way along Lakeshore Road, then north on Kerr Street it will take its lead from classics, Christmas tales out of Hollywood. The theme of this years parade is A 'Reel' Christmas at the Movies so people across town have been as busy as Santas elves perfecting floats that will delight young and old as they recreate Christmas on the silver screen. No doubt the fortunate people in Oakville, who find themselves with their family curbside for the celebra- tion, will also take their lead from three local groups to assist their less fortunate neighbours this season. Thats also a tradition in town. The Oakville Fire Fighters Association will collect new unwrapped toys (not forgetting teen gifts), the Kinsmen Club of Oakville non-perishable food for the Salvation Army and the Fun Group of Families and Friends of Falgarwood will sell $2 red noses to support local charity (this year, Wellspring Halton). Another tradition is the involvement of just about everyone in town who, in one way or another, makes a local childs wish of a Santa Claus parade come true. It may be residents, who take the time to line the route. As always, there are local high schools, whose stu- dents cheerfully compete for the title of best school float. Mrs. Claus hosts the winner of the annual parade colour- ing contest as she, as Grand Marshal of the parade, kicks off the fun. Local businesses, agencies, government, services and groups sponsor floats. The parade is the place to be for bands to shine and ring in the season. Performers jazz up the event. Volunteers by the dozen help make it all happen. Christmas is Dec. 25. Pencils are just being sharp- ened to craft lists. But one wish, top of the list for many, will come true tomorrow for the 62nd time. The Oakville Beaver is a division of NEIL OLIVER Vice President and Group Publisher of Metroland West DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager 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. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for sig- nature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate.The publish- er reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editorThanks for the parade THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: ATHENA Award THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member Canadian Community Newspapers Association Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Re: Oakville Hydro Donations to the Ontario Liberal Party Its interesting that the revelations regarding the Oakville Hydro political dona- tions did not become public knowledge until after the recent municipal election, even though the donations were made in 2008 and 2009. If this information had been made avail- able during the election campaign, one won- ders if Mayor Rob Burton would have been as quick to take responsibility for the Ontario Liberal Party contributions, as he was to take credit for the cancellation of the power plant. The theme of fiscal responsibility that was central to Ann Mulvales mayoral campaign now seems all the more relevant. Lets hope that Oakville residents are not presented with a large bill for the cost of an inquiry resulting from Mayor Burtons ques- tionable fiscal decisions in 2008 and 2009. KEITH SPICER, OAKVILLE Hydro donation about fiscal responsibility Pud BY STEVE NEASE neasecartoons@gmail.com Remembrance Day should be a holiday Re: No holiday on Remembrance Day, Oakville Beaver, Nov. 17. I feel that it should be made a holi- day. Remembrance Day is very dear to my heart. My grandfather fought in the First and Second World Wars. My father was in the RCAF in the Second World War. My father-in- law saw more than his fair share of action in the Second World War. My brother-in-law in Vietnam and my daughter did a tour of duty as a medic in Afghanistan. I almost had to miss a ceremony this year due to work. My daughter was saying in Edmonton, the school children do their Remembrance Day ceremonies on the Nov. 10, as they do have Nov. 11 off. This way, many of the families are free to attend a ceremony. At least give people the choice and the freedom to attend a ceremony. Many work places are not obliging and sadly many don't even take 2 min- utes of silence to remember those who died for our freedom. It's just wrong - plain wrong. It's no different than Sundays. It should be a day off for those who would like to attend church. Many people are off and don't attend church, but at least they have the choice and the freedom to make that choice. I still record the Remembrance Day ceremony on television and watch that later on in the evening. Remembrance Day is very emotional for my husband and myself and our two daughters - it's important that we all physically go to pay tribute to those who have fallen. Please, we need Nov. 11 to be a statutory holiday. To stand and applaud our veterans is one of the most patriotic things we can and should do as Canadians. JAYNE HEWETT, ROCKWOOD