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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, M ay 17 ,2 01 8 | 16 R 00 14 70 77 19 oakville.ca Conserves Energy Fair Oakville oakvilleconserves 20° Learn new ways to save money and conserve energy from local energy experts! Lots of great giveaways and door prizes! Featuring: • Electric vehicle test drives • Virtual tour of an energy efficient house • Rock the Bike! Pedal powered charging station and blender • Energy programs and incentives Visit oakville.ca for details. Don't miss: Shop, Swap and Save! 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Town Hall parking lot. Visit haltonenvironet.ca for details. Saturday, May 26 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road Sometimes it takes a little darkness to have a light shed on something truly impor- tant. After a recent visit to the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides in Oakville, I can certainly attest to that. Invited to be a study bud- dy for a guide dog in training leading up to the Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides (MayWalk for Dog Guides (MayW 27), I went in with equal parts nervousness and excite- ment. With the blindfold on andWith the blindfold on andW harness handle in hand, I prepared to place my trust in Cubby, a handsome Labra- dor/golden retriever who's set to graduate soon and will most likely be serving a visu- ally-impaired master later this year. Those first few steps were scarier than I'd anticipated, especially with a few cars whizzing by just a few feetwhizzing by just a few feetw away. It's amazing howaway. It's amazing howa quickly your sense of hear- ing is heightened when you're cast into darkness.you're cast into darkness.y Despite clear instructions and constant assurance from Canine Vision Canada train- ers Greg Clarke (head) and Allison Ashworth, I was a lit- tle resistant early on and stumbled over one course py- lon - simply because I was holding the harness handle too high and rigid, and hadn't picked up on Cubby's slight turn. 'Come on Steve, try to grasp the whole he leads you follow dynamic. It's not rock-follow dynamic. It's not rock-f et science here.' Poor pup was probably shaking his head thinking 'Try to pay attention, rookie. My doggie treats are on the line here.' It wasn't long, however, before my comfort level in- creased and I was walking at a more relaxed pace and suc- cessfully navigating the py- lons, offering my trusty guide occasional 'forward'guide occasional 'forward'g and 'find the way' commands - plus some 'good boy' valida- tion as he kept me on the right path. For my part, all it tookFor my part, all it tookF was a little leap of faith. Another test passed on the road to that doggie diplo- ma buddy. Now I wouldn't suggest for a second that I have thefor a second that I have thef slightest inking of what it's like to go through life with- out sight. That would be stu- pid and downright disre- spectful. But maybe - just maybe - I got a bit of an understanding of what it's like to really trust an animal and have a new- found appreciation for the in-found appreciation for the in-f credible service guide dogs provide. It's hard not to get a little choked up when thinking that Cubby's not just going to be a loving companion but a bona fide lifeline to someone in need. I've never been a dog own- er myself, but I've always been a huge dog admirer. The natural instinct many OPINION My walk with Cubby: A lesson in trust New-found appreciation gained for adage 'Man's Best Friend,' says LeBlanc Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides More than 300 communities across Canada annually take part in the Pet value Walk for Dog Guides. Most -- including in Oakville and Burlington -- take place on Sunday, May 27. OAKVILLE May 27 at Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, 152 Wilson St. Sign in at 10 a.m. Walk at 11 a.m. BURLINGTON May 27 at Aldershot Lions Club, 471 Pearl St. Sign in at 10 a.m. Walk at 11 a.m. Money raised from the walk -- $15 million to date -- goes to train guide dogs, which can take up to a year and $30,000 to train. For more information, visit www.walkfordogguides.com. STEVE LEBLANC Column l See DOG, page 17 VIDEO View it online at http://bit.ly/walkwithcubby News Editor Steve LeBlanc thanks service dog Cubby for the experience. Nikki Wesley/Metroland