Oak-land Ford Lincoln 905.844.3273 www.oak-land.com North Country Realty Inc., Brokerage Muskoka on your mind? SNA NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR 2010 ontario's top newspaper - 2005-2008 Independently Owned and Operated Canada's Worst Driver Artscene Buying or Selling in Muskoka? 705-783-9066 Sales Representative frank@frankvanderstaay.com www.frankvanderstaay.com Call Frank van der Staay A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 50 No. 144 "Using Communication To Build Better Communities" WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012 60 pages $1.00 (plus tax) Holiday hug Teachers can strike Dec. 13 By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Elementary school teachers at the Halton District School Board (HDSB) will be in a legal strike position Thursday, Dec. 13, the board has informed parents. The teachers union -- Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) -- has warned the public of a possible rotating strike action that would affect school boards this month. The union will give parents 72 hours notice prior to striking. In Halton, the ETFO could provide parents with a notice of strike action as early as Dec. 10, three days prior to a legal strike date. The local ETFO members include classroom and occasional teachers and early childhood educators. HDSB education director David Euale informed parents in a letter this week the board will provide updated information via e-mail, phone messages and at www.hdsb.ca. "We thank you for your understanding during this challenging time for everyone in our system," he wrote. "The Halton District School Board is committed to maintaining positive relationships with our students, parents, staff and broader community and ensuring the safety of our students throughout this job action." ETFO units across the province have already begun work-to-rule actions. Such actions began on Dec. 3 at Thames Valley and Ottawa-Carlton school boards and on Dec. 1 in Upper Grand. Teachers and educational workers are protesting Bill-115 (Putting Students First Act), which froze their wages, cut into benefits and took away their local bargaining rights. Education Minister Laurel Broten has responded to the teacher threats, saying she will use the legislation to order teachers back to work. Graham paine / oakville BEAVER / @halton_photog Tootsie visits santa: Pet photos with Santa were held in support of The Dog Rescuers Inc. Sunday afternoon at Bark and Fitz. Here, Tootsie, a two-year-old mixed Bonsei bulldog, visits with Santa after her owners brought her to the store to shop for a winter coat. ceramics porcelain travertine marble glass natural stone mosaics slate granite quartz FACTORY TILE DEPOT 1360 Speers Road (East of 3rd Line) Oakville We shop the world so you don't have to! SHUTTERS · Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed · Serving Oakville with Shop at Home Hom ome om e Service Se · Wood & Vinyl Shutters, Supplied & Installed · High High g Quality Quality Quali ty ya at t Affordab Affordable able Pri Pric Prices c CALIFORNIA & PLANTATION 905-465-1650 Open 7 days/wk! Follow us on www.factorytiledepot.ca book Call and esign d e e your fr ation consult SHUTTERS ETC. 905.691.4455 www.shuttersetc.ca Authorized Eclipse Shutters Dealer Shop at Home Service FREE BACKSPLASH · BATHROOM · KITCHEN · FIREPLACE · FEATURE WALLS