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

6 - The Canadian Champion Frîday November 15 2002 SCOMMENT +THE CANADIAN CHAMPION Box 248, 191 Main Si. E, Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Editoial Fax: 905-878-4943 Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classified: 905-875-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver Asueate Puhlri/rn'r Jin Davis Edrn rr-Chie Karen Smith Eilter Wendy McNab Adertrinit Lurnn tn Steve Crozier Cti rulnaetio rn ie t'er Casas Offïice' Muîi'n'r« T1im Cotes Pititipîui Maneiîrr The Candiaen Champion, publsbed eeey Tesday and Friday at 191 Main St E_ Miton, Ont. L91 4N9 (Box 248), s one et The Met rlanri Printing, Publisttreg & tistrEtng Ltd goenîoftsuburttan companues wich inmones:Aa/Pickering News Adertiser, Atisten Head/Ceerier Barrie Adeance, Barys Bay Ths Wnek, Bettes Enterprise Brampton Oardian Buringten Pst. Bringren Shonppting News, City Parent, Cty et Ynrk Geandiani. Clingweed/Wasaga Ceninectites, East York Mrrer. Erre Adecate/Cniintry Retes, Etebiceke Geandras Flameorengr Pest, brevet Yungttnorgtown ndependentlActen Fren Press atonnBusiness Times, Hrtnta Business Tmes, Kigston This Wnnk. Lndsay OThis Week, Maktram Ecnnmist & Sun. Metad/Penletangersthene Mreor Mten Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News. Napanne Guide. Nassagawetia News, Newmarket/Arnta Era-Banner. Nrthumberlandt News, NorthEYotr Mrrer lateitle Beaver lakeitte Shoepping News, Gciriers Hockieyeins, OinItia leday Osttaeuaurtrtby/CarngtnPett Perry This Wet, Peteboreugh Tis Week Pcton Ceente Guide Richmnd HtilThrnhll/Naughafr Lierai Scarbroegh Mir. Steutteile ýUnnritqe Treune Adersrng is accepted on rhe conditien iaitin trieeent et a rjpo- graphicai errer ai Inties et tiedvertsrfletSpaceeccetired ttyIe errîr rnes tee qteer wir i .rsriiibtre aiterearuefor sinatuire, euh r[otnen chargnd frt ut theebaanrce oet Ce advertisen eutiit I sc,îlintor ai tirei>i>r calbe rtan The prilistet i ee.reerirhttur cier jiteer tir re declirie Te Mltn Canadian Camin ieia Recysiatuin Pedet U* Who has your vote? Former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau's brainchild aimed at ensuring Canada remained a just and free nation recently celebrated an anniversary and had a forest's worth of newsprint and plenty of hot debate for and against devoted to it. But the tatest legacy of the controversial Charter of Rights and Freedoms is the recent decision by five out of nine Supreme Court judges to allow federal prisoners to vote from their prison ceils. In the past, only those serving two years or less were eligible to vote. The change impacts only federal inmates - those incarcerat- ed in provincial institutions largely remain separated from the ballot box. Those in favour of the change feel that som-ething as routine as a prison sentence shouldn't impede one's democratic rights, while those against feel that breaking the laws of the land should natural- ly resuit in a temporary forfeit of the rights of that land. But, unfortunately, accountability isn't one of the virtues extolled in the Charter. The idea of personal responsibility is being steadily stripped away in our culture, and by exclusively enshnining the rights and free- doms of its citizens, Canada forgot 10 protect ils much-vaunted law and order. As a resuit, those who voluntarily act against societal miles can be treated no differently than those who agree t0 10w the line. I's equally gone mad. And it's becoming the norm. OUR READERS WRITE Longtîme Qualîty Greens customer says local grocery store, staff will be thoroughly missed Dear Editor: 1 was present aI the cpening ce' Quality Greens and sbared in the excitement witb Andrew and his family around the vision for their new business. The news of the closing of Quality Greens bas left mne with a great sense of sadness and loss. As Nanci Brown sîated s0 well in her letter to the edilor in last Friday's Champion, "The small- lown atmosphere is fading with the closure of Quality Greens." The staff ai Quality Greens have tradition ihat I've enjoyed in our downtown store for more than 36 years. Loading grocenies into cour cars, delivering groceries to our homes anad offering personalized shopping are just a few of the extras that cus- tomers have appreciated. l'Il miss the wonderful produce that Frank brought in during the wee hours of the momning. l'Il miss Rose's delicious salads and pastas and the chats we have enjoyed around our children and l'il miss the friendliness and help- fulness of Andrew and his staff and the siîall-town flavour that the store retained. Thank you Andrew, Rose, Frank and ail the staff at Quality Greens for the dedication, hard work and special care you gave to your cus- tomers. We always feit that we were more than customers to you - we were your friends. You will be missed. Judy Hunter victoria Street Fax letters ta (905) 878-4943, or e-mail them ta miltoned@hatOflSearCh.COm. Ijust shake my head in awe of these brave souls Not everyone cao say they put Iheir lives on the line when heading off t0 work. But certain people, like police officers and fire- fighlers, face a greater risk of nul coming home after their shift is complete. 1 like to îhink îhey spend some extra imne saying goodbye to loved ones before heading out the door. Police officers face the ever present danger of being shol or killed when arriving aI a caîl. Even the mosl routine caîl cao lumn deadly in a matter of seconds. But theres somnething about heading into a buming building thal always makes me shake my head in awe of these brave (crazy?) souls. 1 had the opporlunily Saturday lu witness first hand just what il takes to become a firefighler when Milton Fire Department techniciao Barry Kory and I headed up tu the Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst. Miltons newesl recruils- some 19 of îhem - were preparing for their final firefighling testing thal weekend. The last part in the year-long pro- gram was the Flashover Survival and Recognition Course, which put these young men in a container filled wiîh heavy smoke and flames for about 30 minutes. The goal was 10 extinguish the fire using the "penciling" technique (a quick spray on îwo walls and the ceiling) while crouch- ing in a confined area surrounded by îhick, bel- lowing smoke. t's definilely n01 for the claustrophobie. As 1 watched the guys wait expectanîly for their tum to enter the 8-foot square container, 1 couldnlt help but feel a combination of nervous- ness and amusement - amusement because ils nol everyday that you see people walking straight into a fire. The nervousness was feIt on their behalf. Random à,- -,âj thoughts As the recruits positioned themselves inside the container, six at a trne. the heat was rising. t started out at about 16 degrees Celsius and worked up to 538 degrees Celsius. 1 know the guys had on protective gear and breathmng equip- ment, but thats stili pretty hot. But they survived. Prior to entering the container, they went through the penciling technique with instructor technique (lying on the side while spraying waler above their heads ini case fire surrounds them. The waler took the formn of an umbrella) but did- nit need lu use il on the inside because the envi- ronmenl was controlled. Before the recruits headed mbt the bumning container, Mr. Jones bold me the purpose of the Flashover course was 10 gel a grip on the situa- tion and to know what t0 look for in a real scene- rio. Safety was the number one priority. This was also the first limne the recruits participated in bands-on training. Prior to lasI weekend, il was strictly in-class and lext book preparalion. Assuming the boys passed this final phase, they began working in îown part-time this week. As I menîioned earlier, youd have lu be crazy 10 race mbt fires for a living - or just extremely courageous.