w w w .i n si d eH A LT O N .c o m O A K V IL LE B EA V ER Fr id ay , A ug us t 26 , 2 01 1 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 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 signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor 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@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. 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 With all due respect, Jack Slibar may have been a very proficient CEO of the Toronto Human Society from 1997- 2002, but I fail to see how this makes him an expert on wildlife management. The writer lives in an area sur- rounded by greenbelts and parkland. Those living in the Glen Abbey/Bronte Creek area should be aware that wildlife, including rabbits, deer and coyote, live in these natural areas. It should there- fore not be a surprise to site wildlife in these areas, even on your doorstep. By his own description, the coyote in question was not aggressive or threat- ening by nature, it was simply passing through the area, likely to reach a natu- ral site where food could be found (food being small rodents and rabbits, not humans). Why would the animal be fearful when it has lived side-by-side with humans, likely from birth? We humans have encroached on the natural habitat of locale coyotes and not the other way around. Ultimately, I find it very disturbing that he is of the opinion that this ani- mals life should be terminated just because it was unlucky enough to walk down his street. My dog has been nipped twice by coyotes while walking in Bronte Creek Provincial Park, just 10 minutes from my home, yet I am not calling for their extermination. I feel lucky to be able to live so close to natural areas/wildlife and understand the importance of each player in the success/health of the ecosystem. Selectively removing certain wild animals out of fear and ignorance puts us on a slippery slope when it comes ecological sustainability. I would suggest that reputable unbi- ased public education, not fear-monger- ing, would be more appropriate in this instance. I strongly encourage those who agree with Slibars recommendations to attend the coyote information session (Thurs. Sept. 15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 2245 Speers Rd.). Sara McCormick, Oakville Homelessness exist in Oakville Education needed not fear-mongering People who decide to disregard Ontarios laws regarding working smoke alarms continue to pay the ultimate fine their lives. The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) confirmed this week that three separate tragic fires have recently claimed the lives of four adults and three young chil- dren in Ontario. A fourth adult remains in hospital with fire-related injuries. The absence of working smoke alarms and home fire escape plans are common factors in all three fatal fires. The first fire on Aug. 12 is believed to have been the result of unattended cooking at a Toronto residence. OFM investigators have determined that there were no working smoke alarms in the three-sto- rey house. Two adults perished in the fire. On the same day, a second blaze in the community of Alexandria claimed the lives of a woman and her three children. OFM investigators have since deter- mined the fatal fire originated on the exterior porch at the front of the home, blocking the only exit for those inside. Investigators also determined that while there was a working smoke alarm on the main storey of the home, there was no battery in the smoke alarm outside the sleeping areas on the second storey. This household had three small children and high- lights the importance of having a home fire escape plan. A third fire, on Aug. 13, claimed the life of an adult at an address in Huntsville. While OFM investigators have not yet determined the cause of this fire, there were no working smoke alarms in the one-storey cottage. To ensure everyone is safe from fire, the Office of the Fire Marshal is urging residents to: Test smoke alarms to make sure they are working; Install battery-operated smoke alarms, or electrical- ly-connected alarms with a battery back-up; and, Develop and practice a home fire escape plan to ensure everyone knows what to do if a fire occurs Its the law in Ontario to have working smoke alarms on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas. Failure to comply with the law can result in a ticket of $235 or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals or $100,000 for corporations. It can also cost you and your family your lives. f Last weekends tragedies are a stark reminder o how the purchase of two or three smoke alarms, batter- ies to power them and a willingness to check twice a year to make sure they still work can literally mean the difference between life and death. Senseless tragedies Pud BY STEVE NEASE neasecartoons@gmail.com I read with sadness the article One woman's journey into Homelessness, (Oakville Beaver, Aug. 24) about 60-year old "Sharon White" (not her real name) who is now broke and has taken to living in her car. There by the grace of God go one and all of us. Thanks to the Beaver for running this story on the front page of our community paper. In this affluent and prosperous town, one could easily ignore those less fortunate by living in a bubble and assuming that Oakville does not have a homeless or needy population. This article represents an important reality in our town to which we must pay attention. Apparently "White's" journey is a riches to rags story, one that we don't often hear or read about on the front page of the community paper. Due to her unfortunate circumstances, depression and mental illness are a very real possibility for "White" at some point. Margaret Mercer, Oakville