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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 Rd.,Audit Board Member Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 Recognized for Excellence by(905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571ClassiOntario CommunityCanadian Communityfied 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 Group ROD JERREDManaging EditorMARK DILLSDirector of ProductionUnauthorized use is prohibited.Publisher of Metroland WestDANIEL BAIRDAdvertising DirectorMANUEL GARCIAProduction ManagerThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofDAVID HARVEYRegional General ManagerRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography DirectorCHARLENE HALLDirector of DistributionJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSANDY PAREBusiness ManagerSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. ManagerLetter to the editorStaying afloatGrubs getting Not wearing your lifejacket could cost you your life.rid of greenJust ask Dave Kimpinski, who nearly drowned in a boatingaccident. Dave and his young son, Curtis, were pulling Daves I have an insoluble problem withniece, Amanda, on an inflatable tube in their small outboardgrubs in my lawn.powered boat. Suddenly Dave saw the large wake from anotherThe use of pesticide to address thisboat right in front of them. He leaned across to prevent Curtiswas banned here a few years ago as youfrom falling in, but instead went overboard himself. He wasntmay know. The removal of this tool haswearing a lifejacket. His boat started to make lazy circles whileleft us with just natural means of Curtis cried out for his dad.defence to this pest which frankly haveAmanda saw her uncle struggling and swam after him. Shevery little impact. I have reached thewas wearing a lifejacket. She reached Dave and he grabbed onend of my attempts to combat the prob-to her. Curtis pulled the safety lanyard on the motor to stop thelem here on my own and will have toboat, just like hed seen his dad do. Amanda and Dave got backresort to more drastic action which willto their boat and climbed aboard.probably mean the removal of all theDave was lucky Amanda was wearing a lifejacket and able tonatural grass around my property and ahelp him. He was also lucky his son managed to stop their boat.lot of the unharmful wildlife that uses itDave will tell you today he is a much wiser boater.without incident.Our loved ones are precious and, unfortunately, none of usI am, of course, sorry this will becan predict when potential disaster might strike.necessary, but the choices seem to leaveStill not convinced? We doubt the two sailors plucked fromthe grass to the mercy of the pest andLake Ontario on a recent Tuesday afternoon envisioned theirhave resulted in ruined garden appear-small sailboat capsizing, leaving them bobbing in the chillyance or put in an artificial surface,waters. Fortunately, both were wearing personal flotationwhich they can't attack.devices (PFDs). They were also lucky a second boater spottedAll of my neighbours are experienc-them struggling in the water and responded quickly.The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerationsing the same problem.Letters toand grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. The Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) andLetters should be addressed toThe Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via Such a predicament invites peopleSmartBoater.ca remind Canadian boaters about the impor-e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. TheBeaverreserves the right to refuse to publish a letter.the editorto use pesticide and apply it themselves,tance of wearing a lifejacket. contravening pesticide bans and leavingTodays PFDs look and feel nothing like those of even 10lay people making pesticide applica-years ago. Materials used in todays flotation devices are lighter,Gradual changes coming abouttions without training or licencing.stronger and more comfortable to wear. New, approved inflat-Placing limited use back in the hands of able personal flotation devices lie flat around your shouldersYour article regarding the funding of the(Passport and the Special Services at Homelicenced operators is surely better.like a collar.Passport Program for adults with a devel-programs) although accurate, does notJames Bennett, OakvilleBoaters often proudly tell safety officials that they alwaysopmental disability (Mother wants to keepprovide an account for his governmentshave life jackets on board their boats, as the law demands. Theher daughter home July 15, 2011) pro-responsibility in creating the problem.CSBC reminds boaters that a life jacket isnt intended to save avided an insightful account of one familysIn 2004, the governments decision toKudos go toboat. Its meant to save the life of the person on the boat.frustration when dealing with the Ministryclose the government-run institutions thatIn the case of inflatable PFDs, the law requires them beof Community Social Services; however, itformally housed those with developmentalOakville Transitworn while on board.didnt emphasize the reason the presentdisabilities (the last one closed in 2009) was Kudos to Oakville Transit for theThe CSBC conducted an experiment. Volunteers, bothproblem exists.combined with a commitment through theexcellence of its service, and the factyoung and old, were asked to jump into a swimming pool and,Oakville MPP Kevin Flynns statementPassport program (approximately $10,000ridership is up 13 per cent over theonce in the water, attempt to get into a lifejacket. All the par-within the article that the government isper year) to the families involved that fund-same period in 2009. ticipants observed afterwards how difficult it was to performgradually increasing funding for itSee Action page 13Introduction of cross-town routesthat seemingly simple task. Few managed to select lifejacketshas helped considerably in gettingthat were the right size when they were in the pool. If it wasOakvillians out of their cars andtough for volunteers in a swimming pool, imagine how diffi-Pud BY STEVE NEASEneasecartoons@gmail.comonto the bus, as has both the two-cult it would be in a real-life situation in a lake, river or oceanhour turn-around transfer, and thewith individuals overcome by panic and fear.Student Freedom pass.Thankfully, the chance of such a crisis is small. But whyLivable Oakville is achievabletake that chance when it involves your life?only when the majority of local tripsFor information on boating practices, visit Canadas educa-are taken by means other than thetional boating website at www.smartboater.caprivate automobile. 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 To that end Oakville Transit isevent of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together very much part of the solution.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.Peter Pellier, Oakvillewww.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, July 22, 2011 6