www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, July 4, 2014 | 6 Cold cases not ever forgotten It is usually said that police leave no stone unturned when trying to solve a case. On June 27, in hopes of cracking cases that have gone cold over time, the Halton Regional Police Service took that mandate into the digital world during a 24-hour Global Police Tweet-a-thon. We commend our local police service for embracing social media in the ever-expanding world of technology in a bid to help bring justice for victims in cold cases and closure for their families. The global undertaking linked social media users on Twitter with law enforcement of cers around the world. The police shared photos, videos, updates on current and ongoing investigations, crime prevention and safety tips. Technology, such as Twitter, connects us all on a global scale that is unprecedented in recent history. A single tweet, and its subsequent retweets, can reach hundreds or thousands in seconds, allowing us to share information immediately. Social media has become a powerful tool, indeed, for police services in gathering information needed to solve crimes -- absolutely integral with respect to time-sensitive cases. Det. Sgt. John Mans of the Halton Police Homicide and Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit noted a major reason the local police service joined the global Tweet-a-thon was to reassure the public that its cold cases are never forgotten. "Of cers continually review and monitor the cases for updated information. We utilize social media to create awareness and solicit input and information from members of the public," said Mans. However, the Tweet-a-thon didn't just focus on cold cases. Halton police shared public education, solicited ideas, encouraged anyone with knowledge about a case to contact investigators, and demonstrated how technology is used in the cases. Among the cold cases revisited were: Mohmud `Moe' Sadrudin Jiwani who disappeared in Oakville in 2006; Jinisina `Jan' Stonehouse and Darlene Yvonne Tucker, who vanished from Oakville in 1983; a series of recent sexual assaults, near Sheridan College between September 2013 and February 2014; and unsolved homicides, such as Delia Adriano, 25, of Oakville who was found murdered in a wooded area in Milton on Nov. 6, 1982; and the fatal shooting of Ontario Provincial Police of cer William McIntyre, 32, who was discovered in his Oakville apartment on April 21, 1984. If you missed the Tweet-a-thon, we encourage you to search the hashtag #poltwt. For crime prevention tips, investigation updates, traf c information and more, follow @HRPSOak, @HRPSRIS, @Haltonpolice, @ChiefTanner, @ HRPSMiltHH, and @HRPSBurl. More information on Halton police's cold cases are available on its website www.haltonpolice.ca. Editorial "Connected to your Community" Letter to the Editor 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 52 | Number 80 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. VicePresident and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton's (BBBSH) Adventure Canada Club -- of cially launched earlier this school year -- wrapped up in June. The program helps newcomer youths learn about Canada, build self-esteem and integrate into their new community and school environments. With 40 children originally enrolled, the program saw 93 participants by the end of its inaugural year. According to BBBSH, 13 schools have requested the program for the new school year in the fall. | submitted photo Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager BBBSH Adventure Canada Club a success Thanks to generous funding support from the Region of Halton and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton (BBBSH) just wrapped up a very successful year in its newest program, Adventure Canada Club. Adventure Canada Club (ACC) is a unique mentoring program for newcomer youths (aged nine to 12) to learn about Canada, build self-esteem and integrate into their new community and school environment with the support of strong mentoring relationships. Its activities include homework help, word games, ice breakers, crafts and board games that incorporate aspects of Canadian native history, geography, sports and common facts about our country as well as discussions on issues such as bullying and peer pressure. Although initially piloted in three schools, demand blossomed and last year the program expanded into nine area schools. "We have been overwhelmed by the success of the program," said program director Sita Jayaraman. "We originally had hoped to provide service for 40 children. Instead, last year we were able to reach 93 children through the ACC program. Next year, the program will grow again and move into 13 schools." Parents have had nothing but glowing reviews including, "their child felt part of something at the school and not left on the outside." One mother said of her very shy daughter that she had fun and did not feel so shy anymore about being new to Canada. Two families even met through the program. Now, they see each other outside of school as their children connected through the club. Susan Coyne, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, Resource Development Manager Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: 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, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON L7L 7G5 or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. 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. 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