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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, A ug us t 29 ,2 01 9 | 8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised family of newspapers is comprised f of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca editor@oakvillebeaver.com facebook.com/OakvilleBeavfacebook.com/OakvilleBeavf @OakvilleBeaver WHO WE ARE VP, Regional Publisher Kelly Montague Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Director of Distribution Charlene Hall Circulation Manager Kim Mossman Director of Production Mark Dills Regional Production Manager Manny Garcia Regional General Manager Steve Foreman Halton Media General Manager Vicki Dillane Regional Director of Media Holly Chriss CONTACT US Oakville Beaver 901 Guelph Line Burlington, ON L7R 3N8 Phone: 289-293-0617 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Digital/Flyer/Retail: 289-293-0624 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at insidehalton.com Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail kmossman@metroland.com or call 905-631-6095. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT INSIDEHALTON.COM EDITORIAL LETTERS & COMMENTARY Ah, the sounds of summer: Water gently lapping at the shoreline. Leaves rustling in the trees. The call of the loon. The serenity of the wilderness and the inde- scribable sound of silence are among the many joys of life.Such peace in a modern world, however, inevitably comes with noisy interruptions: Motorboats. Personal watercraft. Private seaplanes. Wake boats. Construction noise. Power hammers. Chainsaws. Electric drills. Weed whackers. Leaf blowers. Electric hedge clippers. Gasoline lawn mowers. Air-conditioners. Motorcycles. Trucks. Traffic. Sirens. Fireworks. Out- door music concerts. Car alarms. This din can be harmful. Some sounds can cause hearing loss after only a few minutes. Others require prolonged exposure. Also worth considering is what such noise does to general stress and anxiety levels. Most municipalities have noise bylaws to combat some of them, but how often are such laws enforced? And who does it? Calls for stricter regulations and enforcement of such noisemakers have continued for decades, with little progress. In Toronto, the noise bylaw is being reviewed as a result of a complaint last year from Mayor John Tory, who asked staff to consider best practices from other municipalities around the world, which use new tech- nology and higher fines to combat motorcycle noise, among other rackets that exceed safe decibel levels. But such efforts are only the beginning. After all, humanity is ever more addicted to the "conveniences" of modern life, and most of them are not exactly serene. It's a complex genetic, demographic and medical issue, but simply put, many of us are exposed to too much noise. Prolonged exposure to some noise - a leaf blower, for example, or the continued hammering of nails - can do damage to unprotected ears in a matter of minutes. A dishwasher, meanwhile, may not be a threat on its own, but when joined by the rest of the modern household orchestra, can start to take its toll. What's the solution? Better and more frequent ear protection is advisable. Newer technology to quickly and easily measure decibel levels of offenders will help. Stricter enforcement of noise bylaws by police and mu- nicipalities would help make things quieter. But an awareness by everyone that we're all making the world a noisier place with each passing year would likely be the best start. Is a leaf blower really more effi- cient or even easier than a rake? Is anyone reacting any more to that car alarm? Is the food processor actually better than a good, sharp knife? THE WORLD IS GETTING NOISIER. WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? PLAN TO TAKE PART IN CIBC RUN FOR THE CURE Most of us know why cancer research is impor- tant. The more we study different cancers, such as breast cancer, the more we know about how best to di- agnose, treat and live with and beyond them. But what about research that can help us prevent can- cer? A recent study funded by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS)- the Com- PARe study - found thatPARe study - found thatP about four in 10 cancer cases can be prevented through healthy living and policies that protect the health of Canadians. The ComPARe study looked at more than 20 modifiable cancer risk fac- tors and their association with 30 different cancer types. A standout finding of the ComPARe study is that about 28 per cent of breast cancer cases can be pre- vented by increasing phys- ical activity and healthy eating, as well as decreas- ing tobacco smoking, alco- hol consumption and sed- entary behaviour. Find- ings like this can help us make decisions about our lifestyles and compel gov- ernments to implement healthy public policies that could help reduce our cancer risk in the future. Thanks to dedicated Canadians, CCS is able to fund the best cancer pre-fund the best cancer pre-f vention research in the country, and through events like the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure, CCS is able tofor the Cure, CCS is able tof fund even more researchfund even more researchf into how we can prevent, diagnose, treat, and live with and beyond breast cancer. We need your help to doWe need your help to doW more. Join us at your local Run in Burlington on Oct. 6. You can sign up today by visiting cibcrunforthecu- re.com. ELIZABETH HOLMES MPH HEALTH POLICY ANALYST, CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY VISIT INSIDEHALTON.COM TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY