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OPINION & LETTERSTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:The Oakville BeaverTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:Canadian Circulation467 Speers RdAudit Board Member., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 Recognized for Excellence by(905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571Classified AdvertisinOntario CommunityCanadian Communityg: 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 Group ROD JERREDManaging EditorMARK DILLSDirector of ProductionUnauthorized use is prohibited.Publisher of Metroland WestDANIELBAIRDAdvertising DirectorMANUEL GARCIAProduction ManagerThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofDAVIDHARVEYRegional General ManagerRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography DirectorCHARLENE HALLDirector of DistributionJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSANDY PAREBusiness ManagerSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. ManagerLetter to the editorBlack historyWrong timeEvery February, Canadians are invited to partici-pate in Black History Month festivities and events to raisethat recognize the contributions of Black Canadians, past and present.The Halton District School Board is celebrating transit faresBlack History Month with 19 days of learning by way It is socially irresponsible for of a daily announcement about an influential Canadian the Towns budget committee to Black person and a biography about the individual to consider raising transit fares. underscore their important contributions to Canadas Raising fares or cutting transit diverse society.service would effectively balance In Oakville, the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH), in partnership with the Oakville the budget on the backs of seniors, Museum, has organized a month-long list of activi-youths, new immigrants and low-ties.income families who rely on this Still ahead on Feb. 25 is an author's evening with public service for work, shopping, Natasha L. Henry at the Oakville Museum that will school, healthcare and more.include a reading and discussion of her book The price of an adult pass has Emancipation Day: Celebrating Freedom in Canada.already jumped over 50 per cent in On Monday, Feb. 28 from 7-10 p.m. there will be a the past decade; an even higher musical performance featuring local artists and the price for passes really hurts riders CCAH Steel Band at The Meeting House, Oakville.on fixed incomes who are trying to Many residents may not know Oakville had an save that extra little bit.important role in Canada's Black History.Unfortunately, inadequate fed-For many escaped African American slaves, Oakville eral and provincial transit funding was their last stop along the Underground Railroad. in Canada has created a situation Two Oakville public schools Captain R. Wilson where the average rider pays 53 and James W. Hill are named after two people who played prominent roles in Oakville's Underground per cent of the costs of transit. Railroad history.Many European cities have low Captain Wilson brought many African Americans or free fares to encourage rider-The Oakville Beaverwelcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity,Letters to Oakville concealed aboard his ships.length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain ship, given the many benefits of the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to James Wesley Hill was an escaped slave, who set-public transit. to the The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to tled in Oakville as a strawberry farmer and returned Last years fare freeze and ser-editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaverreserves the right to refuse to publish a letter.editorto Maryland to help lead an estimated 700-800 African vice improvements in Oakville Americans back to Oakville along the Underground resulted in a seven per cent increase Railroad.Councillors need fesh ideas to trim budgetin ridership, which should be seen Of the individuals who chose to stay in the area, as a success to build on. Thank you for your thoughtful, and recommendations, staff that schedule the there are some well remembered family names: Focusing solely on revenues hopefully, provocative editorial Get Serious,open houses and budget meetings. Adams, Brown, Butler, Budd, Clark, Cosley, Crowly, ignores the other positive effects, Oakville Beaver,Feb. 11.It's easy to stand behind the entire pro-DeCoursey, Duncan, Edgehill, Hill, Holland, Johnson, such as improving air quality, Indeed, cynicism does run deep, among cess, because it's staff that's doing the row-Lee, Strothers, Wallace, Wayner and Wordsworth.the public, and believe it or not, council ing in this big budget boat. But it's up to decreasing congestion and making During Black History Month, Canadians can gain members as well.council to do the steering...to provide the Oakville a more affordable and liv-insight into the experiences of Black Canadians and As a former Council budget chair, I can course to be followed that is both creative the vital role this community has played throughout able community for all its resi-empathize with the current chair about and prudent. our shared history.dents. creating a budget that is both progressive There will be a diligent few who will take It is only within recent years that Black history As the cost of such necessities and palpable. Not easy. the time to do the councillors' jobs, scruti-and the role Blacks played in the shaping of our soci-as food, rent and heating continues But it's especially more difficult when nizing the numbers and coming up with ety has been acknowledged and has slowly begun to to increase (and we are being hit the same old recommendations about cuts wacky, weird but most often, wise solutions be added to the pages of Canadian history.with the HST to boot) why would continue to play havoc with the life blood of to all the costs continually being incurred. Through their contributions, our country and our the Town seek to make living here certain Oakville institutions. Every year the Oakville is fortunate to have them. world is a richer place to live.even less affordable for its resi-same. Hopefully, they'll be able to have this dents? The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., It was no different when I was there.council take a sober, second look at doing Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, James EdeCouncil members can maneuver the same thing over and over, expecting a 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 Oakville Federal unscathed during these tired procedures, different result.advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize NDP Candidate because it's staff that come up with the Jody Sanderson, Oakvilleadvertisements or decline.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, February 16, 2011 6