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I-1 r~4 Opinin z differnt E 8 Twitter was a feeding frenzy as news outiets rushed to d be first to report the shooting at the A. Grenville and SWilliam Davis Courthouse in Brampton last Friday. -or Reporters onsite and anyone else with a celîphone ro were posting raw footage as fast as their fingers would Sallow. It was instant news, a chance to be first with the headlîne of an officer down and a suspect shot dead. It was an unfolding story that had people glued to ail media outiets. News crews captured police cars flankîng a speeding ambulance carrying the wounded.officer on its emer- gency run to a Toronto trauma centre. The wail of the sirens and the unknown shooter at the courthouse made for drama at every corner. Our website insidehalton.com was also updating the tragedy as it unfolded. However, one wonders how the headlines would have read had the officer not been shot. What if the suspect had pulled a gun but not fired? What if the officer managed to shoot the culprit first without being struck by a bullet? What if the officer believed he had seen a weapon but there was none? What if the wveapon was actually a replica or merely a child's toy? How would the story have played then? How would the media have interpreted the incident? Would we be describing the officer as a hero? Prob- ably not. Many in the media would be swift tv'con- demn, judging a situation from the sidelines. The scenarios of what ifs are plentiful. There are many reasons why police draw their weap- ons - to handie a threat to public and personal safety or to euthanize an injured animal. There are also alternatives available to police draw- ing their firearm - Tasers, batons, physical restraint tactics. We're very well aware that not ail police officers are perfect. Policing is dubbed the thin blue Une because officers walk that precarious line every day in the line of duty. They face scenarios most people don't even fathom. Often a decision must be made in a split sec- ond. They place themselves into harm's way, ail in the Uine of duty. If the Brampton incident played out differently, how many armchair critics would have jumped in to say this is another example of the police acting too fast in taking down a suspect? They might second-guess the officer as if they were there themselves. Peel Const. Mike Klarenbeek is aiready a hero; he didn't have to take a bullet to prove it. PRuraftRovots Music was an essential part of rural 111e and the centre of social activities. Groups, formai and informai, performed in homes at events and at dances. In 1895, jack Milne organized and led the Brookville Brass Baud. The names of many band members are now familiar as street nomes and hamiets. William Frank, an accomplished musician, alsor formed the small band ' Sod Busters'. They performed live on Hamilton CKOC radio during the depression, which provided much-needed income for the baud mem- bers and enjoyment for listeners. Here, the Brookvilie Brass Baud members include (front) Duncan McTavish, George Biacklock, Edward Britton, Duncan Campbell, Jim Leachman, jack Moffat, jack Barber, (middle) William Frank, Aleander Crawford, Ronald Richardson, Joseph Frank, (back) Thomas Biacklock, jack Mimne, Samuel Frank, William Kitching and Joseph Leachman. -Submitted l'y Nasagiweya Historical Society SEito' las How-did you spend Earth Hour? We played cards by candleligitý. Cards by candle- light. That's how my husband and 1 spent Earth Hour Saturday night. From 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. we shut off ail the lights, turned on the battery-op- erated candles and dealt the Karen Miceli cards. Managing Editor We didn't éven miss the television. It was quiet, but welcome. Our cat didn't quite know what to think of it, though. Earth Hour - the annual global effort created to bring people together toward effecting lasting, measurable environ- mental change - is organized by the World Wildlife Fund. It started in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then it has grown to engage more than 7,000 cities and towns worldwide. Just my husband and 1 shutting off the lights and electronic devices for an hour Saturday nlght wouldn't make much of a difference, but the collective, large-scale switch-off on an international level was significant. It makes me wonder how much energy usage would be reduced if Earth Hour was held every rnonth. We already had some practice at this dur- ing the ice storm, but that poWer shut- down was invoIuntary During Earth Hour, we made a. conscious commitment to the planet. 1 also came ta realize 1 couldn't beat my husband at Rummy with the lights on or Off. Karen Micelican be reachedat kmiceikg>miI- toncanadianchampion.comn or on Twitter @ ChampionEditor. lnsidehaltn.com 555 Industrial Drive, Milton, Ont L9T 5El 9058-&2341 Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classifled: 90"-75-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 wwwmiltoncanadianchampion.com V.R - Gmoup Publisher Neil Ofler Regionai General Manager Davl Harvey Director of Advertising Katy Letoumeau Editor in Chief MiI Davi, Halton Roglon Managing Editor Karen MIceli Production Manager man"e Garcia Circulation Director Charlene Hall Office Manager Sandy Pare The Canadian Champion, publised every Thursday is a division of Metroiand Media Group Ltd. Advertsing is acoepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographica error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by thse erroneous item, together witll a reasonable allowance for signature, will flot be ctsarged for, but the balance of the advertîsement wl be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or dectmne. #C B CCAB Audited rv ii Ontario Community ,&O.4IL Newspapers Association dE'1A Caniadian Community J3 Newspapers Association Subarban Newspapers of Amnenca ne. Canaia a Ca inl a prod moe sonhor for: HaISon Kealilicare Jingle MIl Fond MILTON j~LCOME~ SANTA CQMS WAGONe MARAPI CANADA DAY UNITEDWAY OF MILTON - . Tyà Gala Awards TISe OeklkMIIton ThSe MiSon Caoodsen Chanom w a RSeyclob PleineS 1 ýj