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6 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 9, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY 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 ALEXANDRIA ANCHOR Circ. Manager Hockey and violence Like a dangerous intersection, sometimes it takes a fatality before the powers that be do something to improve the situation. That, we hope, is what happens in the wake of Don Sanderson's recent death. The AAA senior hockey player -- a defenceman for the Whitby Dunlops -- died in Hamilton General Hospital last Friday. He had been in a coma and on life support since his head struck the ice during a fight in Brantford Dec. 12. Police are investigating the circumstances of his death as "standard practice and procedure." Fighting is a long-standing tradition in hockey and lacrosse, that many people believe is part of the game. But if it were, why would there be rules against it? Albeit the repercussions for fighting could certainly use strengthening. In most hockey leagues, fighting results in a five-minute penalty -- that's not nearly enough. Players should be tossed from that game and several more afterward so they actually fear the consequences and smarten up. Sanderson's fight occurred in Major League Hockey where fighting results in ejection from the game and even that didn't prevent the brawl and its unfortunate ending. Most parents send their children onto the ice, the hardtop, arena floor, etc. with the best of intentions -- to help them learn about teamwork and camaraderie while getting some exercise. However, sometimes parents' emotions can run high during a game and that can impact on the young players. This phenomenon was illustrated by then-nine-year-old Miller Donnelly of Sudbury in a You Tube video titled `The Magic Hockey Helmet.' In it, he explains how adults go from being friendly and respectful to calling him names, cursing and yelling when he dons the helmet. "It changes me from a nine-year-old boy to a 20-year-old man," he says in the 3.5-minute video. If parents can keep their heads about them and act respectful during games, maybe that will brush off on the players and we'll see fewer fisticuffs. 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. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR As a parent, raising a family in Oakville feels right -- recreation, culture, a familyoriented environment. As the parent of a special needs teen, raising a family in Oakville offers much more. Amongst other things, it is the knowledge that there is a community standing behind those with special needs and reaching out to offer them support and opportunities. This is apparent as I watch my 17-yearold autistic son working in co-op placements Parent of `special teen' is grateful for community support through a White Oaks Secondary School initiative called SETP -- Supported Employment Training Program. Designed to build on the strengths of the students enrolled in the Futures Life Skills program at WOSS and in the hope of preparing them for the future, the SETP program sends students out to local community businesses and provides them with work experiences supported by educational assistants and teachers to ensure success and confidence-building. I have significant respect and admiration for the WOSS Futures staff who give so much to these teens -- they are outstanding. However, I also feel a need to publicly thank the local businesses that agree to support these students by inviting them into their facilities and allowing them the opportunity to learn by experience. This year, the students are being welcomed by East Side Mario's at Oakville Place, Kelsey's Restaurant on Trafalgar Road, The Oakville YMCA and Post Inn Village Long Term Care Facility. I cannot say enough for the management and staff of those businesses who have reached out to provide experiences to these teens. Their commitment, generosity and acceptance is outstanding. As the parent of a "special" teen who is working for you in a co-op placement and is so very proud of his accomplishments, I thank you for giving him an opportunity to learn and make a contribution. ALISON THOMAS Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com Taxes worth every penny This past Monday I inadvertently flushed my two favourite rings down the toilet. The sentimental value of these rings was so much that I was overcome with grief. Not even insurance or replacement would be enough. Thanks to a tip from a cashier at Sobeys who asked me why I looked so unhappy, I called the Southwest Waste Water Treatment plant. I couldn't believe how helpful they were. They suggested Groves Sewer Services, which uses a camera, and took my name in case the rings happened to end up there. I imme Regional page 7 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.