7 | Friday, July 29, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" With the Canadian Open just wrapped up, I would like to express my confound sorrow and sadness that our Glen Abbey golf course may be developed for housing. Indeed as this news has sunk in over the past few months, I become more upset by the proposed wanton destruction of a beautiful piece of nature's landscape, albeit enhanced by human beings. As a golfer, an Oakville resident since 1972 and an admirer of beauty in all forms, I am horrified to learn ClubLink is contemplating development. Canada being a young country does not have many traditions and golf is no exception. We don't have the equivalent of a St. Andrews, or an Augusta, or even a Pebble Beach here, however the Abbey, in its young life, has given us a few memorable moments. Who can forget Tiger blasting out of a fairway bunker on the 18th to set himself up to win our national Open? That bunker is now ingrained in every golfer's psyche when playing the Abbey. They want to try that shot, even if most balls go in the water. Who can forget Mike Weir battling it out with Vijay Singh in extra holes trying to win the 100th Canadian Open? Sadly, Mike lost. If the course is allowed to stay, I'm quite sure there will be other memorable moments over time. There are many who have won at the Ab- Letters to the Editor bey. Nick Price, for example, was grateful to be invited to play when he was not well-known. After he won here, he went on to win many tournaments including a few majors. Sadly golf legend and course designer Jack Nicklaus, who designed Glen Abbey Golf Course, did not win on his golf course, but he came close. I can remember Glen Abbey before Jack got his hands on it. This is one of his first ventures in golf course design and surely this is another reason to leave it as a golf course and a tradition. To have in our country a course designed by a true legend in the game of golf is another reason to leave it as it is. Human beings come and go, but our beautiful land is here for ever. Humans enhanced this golf course and we have a responsibility to leave it as it is for future generations to enjoy. ClubLink, although considered a golf course company, is in reality a public listed real estate enterprise and by developing Glen Abbey it is realizing its hidden value for its shareholders. That's our capitalistic way, however I am sure they would gladly sell it at market value. Surely we have time for the Town of Oakville and the Province to come up with a plan to keep it. It may cost a lot to purchase it today, but that amount spread over 100, 200 years or longer is negligible. Any thoughts avid golfers on how to save it before a developer destroys it? David Cartwright, Oakville Let's come up with a plan to save Glen Abbey golf course from future development Reader on Nease comeback: Welcome home Remember not everyone is able-bodied My heart skipped a beat when I read of your comeback (although my condition prevents it from too much activity) and I am looking forward to seeing your work in the Beaver again. You've been gone a long time, as the age of your kids indicates, but as the arrival of your first grandchild will prove, you and Dian have only more great things to enjoy as the years pass. I am sure you will find lots of interesting things to draw about with our changed Council, and probably not much as enjoyable as the days of old, including characters like my father, who has been dead for a few years now. In fact, the only one of the old crew is Harry Barrett who must be destined for eternity leading walking tours of Old Oakville . . . may he continue forever. I'm sure you will find lots to cover with the changes the town is seeing, but I'll be more interested in how Pud is doing in his thirties and how all your family is doing (and how you have retained your youthful looks). Welcome home. Terry Mannell, Oakville I am a senior recuperating from a back injury. I like to walk the trails in the morning to strengthen my body. I walk the trail from just south of Palermo Village Retirement Village, where I reside, all the way past the Valleyridge Park to the pond just south of it. I often see people out walking their dogs. I am not fearful of dogs. However, one morning I noticed a woman letting her two dogs have a run around the soccer field. The one came at me full speed so I made an attempt to brace myself. Fortunately, I only stumbled. I didn't get knocked right down. The owner called her dog. It ran to her, then did a U-turn and came running back at me again. She apologized and said, although large, it was still a pup. I suggested she leash it when she sees someone walking by, particularly a senior or child, who could be severely hurt or at least traumatized. Perhaps the Oakville Beaver could remind people to do so. I hate to think of the possible injuries I could have sustained, or anyone else for that matter, as I know of a gentleman from our building who also walks the same route and he is much older than myself. Thank you. Dolores Pickering, Oakville Reader on Nease's return: Welcome back I am so happy that Steve Nease is back. I also have a 36-year-old son and so enjoyed Pud for many years. I could relate every time. Welcome back, Steve I'll be looking for you every Friday in the Oakville Beaver. Marilyn Tesainer, Oakville O P T I M I S T I C #around F town O R F U T U R E Submit your ideas on climate change challenge continued from p.6 even faster; and, Canada's greenhouse gas emissions will continue to increase if we don't act now. While the Earth's climate changes naturally, since the industrial revolution, human activities have been the greatest cause of climate change. Greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere substantially increase the warming effect and, as the human population rises, large areas of the planet become deforested, removing trees that naturally absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen and store carbon. Canadians are already feeling the effects, from extreme weather events such as the severe flooding that hit Burlington in August 2014, to thawing permafrost, longer heat waves and increased precipitation over large parts of Canada. While governments work together to stave off the realities and threats of global climate change, there are things local community groups and residents can do right here at home to make a difference as well. I have long been an advocate of cycling, public transit, green infrastructure and clean technology. Each of us has a role to play in reducing climate change and our own carbon footprint. Driving a car, using electricity to light and heat your home, and throwing away garbage all lead to greenhouse gas emissions. You can reduce emissions through simple actions like leaving the car at home, powering down electronics, using less water and recycling. We can reduce the effects of climate change, but we must do it together. Residents are invited to submit their ideas for how to address climate change by visiting http:// www.canada.ca/climateaction. -- Pam Damoff is the Member of Parliament for Oakville North-Burlington. Her office is located at 2525 Old Bronte Road, Suite 590, Oakville. Tel: 905.847.4043. Website: MPDamoff.ca Email: pam.damoff@parl.gc.ca. Eight-year-old Paige McDermott recently held her first annual Bake Sale in support of McMaster Children's Hospital in the front yard of her Ventura Drive home. The sale featured baked cookies, cupcakes and lemonade -- all for a dollar. Here, Paige, alongside her mom Kim McDermott, shows off one of her own baked cupcakes. | photo by Graham Paine Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog)