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ADVERTISING 905-640-261 2 Classified: 1-800-743-3353 Fax 905-640-8778 is comprised of 100 community publications across Ontario. The York Region Newspaper Group also includes The Liberal. sewing Richmond Hill and Thomhill, Vaughan C'rtizen,The Era-Banner (Newmarket/Aurora). Markham Economist The Sun-Nbune welcomes your let- ters. All submissions must be less than 400 words and must include a daytime telephone number, name and address The Sun-THbune reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clar- ity and space. York Region Media Group community newspapers The SunoTribune, puinshed every Thursday and Saturday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a whollyowned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. Metmland (Stiff-Wham Sun, Georgina Advocate, York Region BustnessTimes, North of the City, yomwonmm and York Regan Printing. Mike Barwille mbanuilleG’yrmgrom Dawna Andrews dandrewseynngfiom DISTRIBUTION Circulation Supervisor Carolyn Norman cnormun@yrmg.com lmason.yrmg.com ADVERTISING Retail Manager EDITORIAL Editor lim Mason jmasonfi’yrmg. mm Lenora to the Editor‘ The Sun-Tde 6290 Main St. W. 0" LM IGT Pnonucnon lETTERS POLICY DISTRIBUTION 905-640-2612 Immcnva MEDIA 3. Advertising EDITORIAL [)5-640-2612 905W8778 The credo of any reputable commuâ€" nity newspaper is that renders have the right to know important information affecting their lives. - With’growing frequency, court pub- lication bans make it difiicult for news- papers to fulfill that obligation to the community. On yorkregion.com, you’ll read about a court case involving sexual assault crimes at a restaurant/bar. The courts have imposed a publication ban preventing us from telling you where the restaurant/bar is specifically locat- ed, only in “a city in Ontario". The co-owner of a popular estab- lishment was charged in 2006 and con- victed in 2008 after complaints were filed by two female stafl", court docu- ments state. He recently lost his appeal on the sex assault charges. Rarely do the courts and media iden- tify victims of sexual assault. Under sec- tion 486 of the Criminal Code, a judge may permanently prohibit the publi- cation of any identifying information about a complainant or witnesses in proceedings related to sexual offences. In a mling April 16, 2008, Justice Peter Howden banned the publication of information identifying these vic- tims. While we do not argue against the protection of the identity of sexual assault victims, the ban on identifying the name of the location of the bar goes too far. In fact, just last month, a judge permitted the name of a bar, Kelsey’s, and its location, Ancaster, to be pub- lished in a sexual assault case. Ironically, despite the sweeping ban in this appeals case, all its details, including the names of the victims, were published online. On being contacted by our court reporter, the court of appeals acknowledged an error had been made and the document was removed. The Ive-issued document con- tained the full publication ban. An independent and impartial judi- ciary is one of the bedrocks of our dem- ocratic system. So, too, is the tenet of the open court, which not only helps to ensure all are treated equally before the law. but satisfies the public need for jus- tice in individual cases and enhances public confidence in the judicial pro- cess itself. ~ Wimeverynflingaprecedentissetlt is crucial your right to know what crimes are happening and where in your com- munity are not shrouded in mystery. It is recognized that without the media, the public would not be informed about what happens in our courts. Therehastobeabetterbalanoe between protecting the rights of victims and citizens right to know what occurs in the judicial system. . k @Wl'ribun PUBLISHER Ian Prou Censon'ng your right to know Editorial I was very disturbed to read your article on the 2010 graduates of Stouffville District Secondary School. Both Wesley Graham and Sug- eetha Nithiananthan are extremely hard-working students and deserv- ing of these accolades. Both of these young people are very involved in school activities, as well as holding down part-time jobs. Story'ignored award winners One student, however, received her average after repeating her year. She also states she quit her job to focus onher marks. She should be commended for receiving her high average, but too many hard-working and deserving students were not acknowledged by you. ‘ They volunteered their time at school as well as in their communi- ty? They also completed their grade 12 only once and they also held honour-roll status all through high school. SDSS works very hard to acknowl- edge students successes in all areas not just academics. It is unfortunate It is not so difficult raising your marks when you have already gone through the course once and you do not have to work at a part-time job. Sadly, you missed acknowledging the students who took the awards at graduation. Awards for volunteering, being a role model and leadership that speak volumes as to what type of outstanding young people they are. Do you realize most of these award winners were also top schol- ars, many of whom held more than one part-time job? Re: Town's top grads named, July GRANDMA‘S GOING TO BUY YOU A WHOLE BACK TO SCHOOL OUTFIT! with Iim Mason Harry wrote the book on Old school Letters to the EdthI you did not acknowledge these won- derful students and their successes, but chose to acknowledge only a high-academic average. We have a civic election coming in October and candidates are now con- tacting residents to ask permission to put signs on their lawns. Too many children are buried in foreign lands because too many agreed with the big someone. Consider accepting a candidate’s sign. And I will even say consider doing it for more than one candidate. I certainly do not agree with every candidate and every plank in their plat- forms. . Simple. I might be wrong and what they have to say might be good to hear. ‘ And I have this nagging apprehen- sion that one day a big someone is going to say only persons who agree with them sho'uld be heard. Besides; think how much fun it would be for your kids and what a les- son you could teach them about why Canada is a good place. PUBLISHER Ian Proudfoot Put signs on your lawn So, why would I liké¢to assist people to be heard when I do not agree with them? b What do you think of these issues or others? E-mail letters to the editor to jmason@yrmg.com HAVE YOUR SAY -Tri TRUDI APRILE STOUFFVILLE RON BOYD STDUFFVILLE Ennol m Cum Debora Kelly Busmnss Mums“ Robert Lazu rko Harry phoned me two years ago to nicely tell me I would be driving him to the school that was opening in his name that week. Offended? No, I was honoured. We had a great morning, watch- ing the kids greet the namesake of their new school. Harry gave us frequent updates, often on our doorsteps or back yards. leas cutting the grass one morning, unaware Harry was in our yard and about to tap me on the shoulder. I nearly jumped over the fence, the mower kept cutting and Harry kept talking, unaware of what he had just done. Political newcomers should go to school on the Harry Bowes approach. Get involved. Return calls, keep commitments and attend meetings. Miss you. Harry. Jim Mason is editor of The Sun- Th'bune. ~ Being in local politics wasn’t a part-time job for the former pharmacist and Second World War veteran. It was a calling and a commitment. Many politicians, especially during election years, glad-hand at community events. Harry would be pouring coffee at the legion, answering the phone at the policing centre or running a fundraising event at a school fair. As politicians go, he was older than old school. Mr. Bowes died Tuesday. Younger politicians will be elected in October’s municipal election. None will match Harry's stamina. Few will put in the hours or show the commitment he did. He was my councillor for two terms, which coincided with a battle between residents and a developer over the look of a neighbouring subdivision. Fitting that Harry Bowes was Whitchurch-Stouffville’s public school board trustee for 29 years. Damn, Omons Barry Black Damon. REGIONAL Plenum, Cussmnn, Tamar’s Houns Debra Weller Dwrumrnou Nicole Fletcher