The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

OPINION & LETTERSTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:The Oakville BeaverTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIALMEDIASPONSOR FOR:Canadian CirculationAudit Board Member467 Speers Rd.,Oakville Ont.L6K 3S4 Recognized for Excellence by(905) 845-3824 Fax:337-5566Ontario CommunityCanadian CommunityClassified Advertising:632-4440 Newspapers AssociatioNnewspapers AssociationCirculation:845-9742 Open 9-5 weekdays,ATHENASuburban NewspapersAward5-7 for calls only Wed.to Friday,Closed weekendsof AmericaEditorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright.NEIL OLIVERVice President and GroupROD JERREDManaging EditorMARK DILLSDirector of Production Unauthorized use is prohibited.Publisher of Metroland WestDANIEL BAIRDAdvertising DirectorMANUEL GARCIAProduction ManagerThe OakvilleBeaver is a division ofDAVID HARVEYRegional General ManagerRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography DirectorSARAH MCSWEENEYCirculation ManagerJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSANDY PAREBusiness ManagerDANIEL COLEMANRegional Online Sales ManagerLetter to the editorRead all about itWill Flynn repayIf you were illiterate, you wouldnt be able to readhydro donations?this newspaper or thousands of other items that providedirection, enjoyment, context or information needed toOn Dec. 17, the Beaver publishedgrow and navigate through life.a letter that was circulated byThursday (Jan. 27) is national Family Literacy Day,Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn thatan initiative that encourages families to spend 15 min-included the following personal rep-utes per day reading or practicing a literacy activityrimand: [Oakville Hydros Board]together. Studies have shown that higher literacy skillsmembers including those such astranslate into a healthier nation, more civic involve-Larry Scott, who have been amongment amongst residents and are linked to economicthe most vocal on this issue, shouldsuccess.be taken to task. According to theThe theme for Family Literacy Day 2011 is Play forBeaver article, Mr. Scott himself wasLiteracy, which can include all types of play that encour-a sitting board member during theages literacy and numeracy development, as well astime when this donation was made,comprehension skills such as board games, card gameswhich begs the question as toand imaginative self-created activities and games.whether someone was asleep at theABC Life Literacy Canada offers a few tips on howswitch? parents can engage their children in literacy with theseTo set the record straight, I wasfun tips and activities:appointed a director of Oakville Follow a recipe together its a fun way to practiceHydro on June 16, 2009 sixreading, math and comprehension.months after Oakville Hydro had Surf the Internet to discover fun and educationalmade its final donation to thesites.Ontario Liberal Fund. Make daily tasks learning experiences. Ask yourI did not think it was appropriatechildren to write out a shopping list, address an enve-in December to respond to his accu-lope or help make a calendar of weekly activities.sations. It was obvious to me that he Let children count out the change when making awas attacking me because I am onepurchase. Reinforce the importance of math in daily life.of three candidates who are running Introduce a family board game night where every-to become the next PC candidate forone is encouraged to read instructions, spell words andOakville. keep score.Flynn appears to be focused onThe Oakville Beaverwelcomes letters from its readers.Letters will be edited for clarity,length,legal con-siderations and grammar.In order to be published all letters must contain the name,address and phoneFor more information, visit the website www.fami-trying to get re-elected and I didntLetters tonumber of the author.Letters should be addressed to The Editor,Oakville Beaver,467 Speers Rd.,lyliteracyday.ca.want to waste your readers timeOakville,ON,L6K 3S4,or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com.The Beaverreserves the rightthe editorLocally, the Oakville Literacy Council is looking forwith partisan arguments. to refuse to publish a letter.volunteer tutors to work one-on-one with adult stu-I am responding now because Ivedents who want to improve their reading, writing, orsimply had enough. On the frontmath skills. Oakville cat bylaw long overduepage of the Oakville Beaver,Jan. 19,Training is provided, and volunteers usually dedicateit is reported the Town of OakvillesRe: Cat Bylaw is just a money grab,constantly worrying about them findingtwo to three hours per week preparing lessons andauditor found that, in addition to theLetter to the editor, Oakville Beaver, Jan.and touching cat feces left in their playmeeting their students.donations already reported, Flynns19.sandbox. Demand for the councils free program has beenLiberal riding association receivedJust another money grab? I disagree.I could have made a cover for the sand-growing steadily over the past few years, and incomingtwo additional donations. This is a very welcome and long overduebox, but why should I since I don't own astudents are waiting several months to be matchedWhy did he not come out andbylaw. cat.with a volunteer tutor. Depending on the time of year,acknowledge the donations heI don't have a cat and I don't want a cat,I've often gone outside only to find15 to 25 students are on the wait list.received? and yet, there are often two or three ofsome big fat cat sunning itself on my goodThere are two upcoming options for tutor training.Why was he so eager to slam Annthem roaming through my property. patio furniture. Cat hair and possibly fleasWorkshops will be held over two Saturdays, on Feb. 5Mulvale and Jeff Knoll, as well asI am not a mean-spirited person. I justleft on my cushions.and 12, and again on April 30 and May 7.myself, in his letters to constituents,don't like or want cats on my property. IMaybe, just maybe, this new bylaw willFor more information, contact the Oakville Literacybut then be so unwilling and unablehave chosen to go through life withoutdiscourage people from letting their catsCouncil at 905-469-8528 or info@oakvilleliteracy.ca, orto take responsibility for making aowning a cat and yet, against my wishes, Iroam around the neighborhood. visit www.oakvilleliteracy.ca.mistake and cleaning it up? have them in my yard.But if it doesn't, at least I now have theAs a matter of principle, I per-They kill the birds that come to myright to capture those unwanted cats fromsonally request that Flynn instructThe Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council.The council is located at 80 Gouldbirdfeeder. They leave unwanted waste inmy property and drop them off at theSt.,Suite 206,Toronto,Ont.,M5B 2M7.Phone 416-340-1981.Advertising is accepted on the con-his riding association to immediate-dition that,in the event of a typographical error,that portion of advertising space occupied by themy vegetable garden.Oakville and Milton Humane Society.erroneous item,together with a reasonable allowance for signature,will not be charged for,butly repay the $750 to Oakville Hydro. the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate.The publisher reserves theWhen my children were small, I wasSUSANJENNIFERGRACE,OAKVILLELARRYSCOTT,OAKVILLEright to categorize advertisements or decline.www.oakvillebeaver.com OAKVILLE BEAVERWednesday, January 26, 2011 6