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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, F eb ru ar y 24 ,2 02 2 | 8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca insidehalton@metroland.com facebook.com/OakvilleBeav @OakvilleBeaver WHO WE ARE VP, Regional Publisher Kelly Montague Regional General Manager Jason Pehora Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Director of Distribution Charlene Hall Circulation Manager Kim Mossman Directors of Advertising Cindi Campbell and Graeme MacIntosh CONTACT US Oakville Beaver 901 Guelph Line Burlington, ON L7R 3N8 Phone: 905-845-3824 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Advertising: 289-293-0620 Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail kmossman@metroland.com or call 905-631-6095. Letters to the editor Send letters to insidehalton@metroland.com. All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at insidehalton.com OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT INSIDEHALTON.COM Close your eyes. Picture yourself beneath a tree, and breathe deeply. In your yard, in a park or way up in the boreal forest, it doesn't matter where you're stand- ing in your mind's eye. Your tree is cleaning the air you just breathed in, and it might also be shel- tering a squirrel or boast- ing a choir of songbirds. That's the power of nature. Nature also serves as a refuge for many people who seek out its songs, fresh smells and vibrant colours when everyday stresses mount up. Over the last 24 months, the footsteps on trails in conservation areas and parks across Ontario have marked our rekindled con- nection with the natural world. Across the province, people are flocking to na- ture to help soothe anxi- eties brought on or ampli- fied by the pandemic. In fact, results from a re- cent Ipsos Public Affairs poll for the Nature Conser- vancy of Canada (NCC) pointed out that 40 per cent of people in Ontario are spending more time in na- ture now than they were before the pandemic be- gan. One-third of all respon- dents said that being in na- ture helps them cope with stress and anxiety brought on by the pandemic. These findings under- score why protecting and caring for nature is so vi- tal. People are turning to nature reserves and green spaces for physically dis- tanced outdoor activities that support their physi- cal, mental and emotional health. We are embracing op- portunities to get fresh air, exercise, feel a sense of calm and take a break from increased telework and screen time. Of the 18 per cent of peo- ple in that poll who said they are spending less time in nature, lack of access was a barrier for many who said they require transpor- tation or don't have natural spaces close to where they live. Others said they sim- ply don't have time. From the nature in your garden to the remarkable 15 million hectares that NCC has helped protect across Canada -- roughly double the size of New Brunswick -- each leaf, bird and bug plays an im- portant role, not just in our own well-being, but also in the natural systems that support biodiversity and help lessen the impacts of climate change. It's why we're taking sig- nificant steps to help pro- tect 30 per cent of Canada's land by 2030, because when nature thrives, we all thrive. So, wherever you are, take a deep breath in and experience the power of na- ture surrounding you. Mike Hendren is the regional vice-president for the Nature Conservancy of Canada in Ontario. WELL-LOVED TRAILS TELL OF OUR RELIANCE ON NATURE It's about trust. Our rela- tionship with our readers is built on transparency, hon- esty and integrity. As such, we have launched a trust initiative to tell you who we are and how and why we do what we do. This column is part of that project. When we set out to hear from leaders in our com- munity and invited them to join our advisory council, we knew we'd be engaging in many meaningful con- versations. These discussions have yet to disappoint. In fact, they've proven to be a source of great inspira- tion for many editorial ini- tiatives, including today's themed edition: Our Changed World. It's thanks, in part, to members of Torstar and Metroland's advisory councils that we set out to explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our everyday lives. We heard through many discussions how the pan- demic had forced munici- palities, groups, business- es, not-for-profit organiza- tions and residents to adapt to a new way of life. And this got us thinking: are these changes perma- nent? Sustainable? Innova- tive? Our Changed World is a probing examination of the impact of the pandemic on our lives. While our jour- nalists dig deep to explore the impact on the local community, some of Cana- da's leading thinkers help us understand how the pandemic changed em- ployment and work, health care, retail, government, our relationship with the natural world, housing, community, education, im- migration, our children -- and more. Throughout this special edition, you'll also hear from local residents -- your friends and neigh- bours, who shared their personal experiences with us. Some tell us the pan- demic hasn't had a signifi- cant impact on their day- to-day life, while others re- port having to shift and piv- ot to adapt to what they now consider to be the new norm. They have reconsid- ered how they operate their business, re-evaluat- ed their relationship with nature, and reconsidered how they access health care. In all, we hope that this special edition will enlight- en, delight and inspire you. Catherine O'Hara is deputy director of content for Metroland. We welcome your ques- tions and value your com- ments. Email our trust committee at trust@met- roland.com. ADVISORY COUNCILS INSPIRE THEMED EDITION CATHERINE O'HARA Column MIKE HENDREN Column