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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, February 24, 2010 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Glorious and free As ice dancing gold medallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir make history for Canada, and North America, they do so because of the efforts of those who have gone before, specifically, Canada's veterans. With last week's passing of John Henry Foster Babcock, Canada has lost its last living connection to the First World War (1914-18). Although an American citizen for much of his 109 years, Babcock was born on a farm outside of Kingston, Ontario July 23, 1900. He was one of 10 children. At 15, he was so determined to join Canada's Over-Seas Expeditionary Force, he signed up for the military, claiming to be the minimum age of 18. When authorities realized the youth in their charge was not old enough to see action, he was assigned to unload military trucks in Halifax. Undeterred, Babcock exaggerated his age a second time and got aboard a troop transport to France. When his true age was once again discovered, he was sent to train with other underage soldiers. By the time Babcock was legally old enough to fight, the war that gave us the poppy as a symbol of remembrance was over. In recent years, Babcock politely refused Canada's offer of a state funeral, stating he had never participated in active duty so he didn't deserve all the fuss. We respectfully disagree. Much like today's Canadian-born soldiers, Babcock was prepared to risk life and limb for the freedom many of us take for granted today -- freedom that allows Canadians like Virtue and Moir to shine. Now that he's gone -- the last of Canada and Newfoundland's 650,000 men and women who volunteered to serve in `the war to end all wars' -- our nation's oldest living veterans become those who served in the Second World War. They are among one million Canadians who waged war on the sea, in the air and on land between 1939-45. Today, with the average age of these surviving veterans close to 88, we won't have much longer to thank them for what they did for our country. Our nation has sacrificed more than 117,000 of its sons and daughters in the name of preserving freedom and making peace. It is our responsibility to honour Canadians who have fought for a quality of life that many other countries in the world only dream of attaining. While our eyes look west and our hearts glow with pride at our young Olympians today, we cannot forget Canadian soldiers still serve today -- and lose their lives -- half a world away. Nor can we forget, as the last of Canada's First World War veterans passes into history, the sacrifices of past citizens who enabled our freedom. We owe it to them to keep their memory alive. It is the very least we can do. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981.Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Plans for Glenorchy opposed by friends Re: Green light for Glenorchy, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 Your article Green light for Glenorchy outlines efforts to protect nature in the Glenorchy Conservation Area. It also notes some human threats to nature. This area overlaps with two natural heritage systems and one Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). It supports a great diversity of flora and fauna. Years of public engagement to conserve these lands in as natural a state as possible preceded the new conservation area master plan. Friends of Glenorchy (FOG) is a grassroots group dedicated to protecting nature. We are concerned that the plan is not enough to protect nature. While ATVs are now damaging the area, the James Snow Parkway plan will destroy a significant section of natural habit. Plans for Burnhamthorpe Road also run counter to efforts to protect nature. We strongly object to these plans for roads to cut through one of the last precious wild areas remaining in Oakville. To help to protect this area of nature close to home contact us at friendsofglenorchy(@)gmail.com or 905-257-6756. BRIAN HOPKINS STEERING COMMITTEE FRIENDS OF GLENORCHY Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via email to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Tale of two local politicians The stark disparity in the way the people of Oakville are being represented at the two senior levels of government was amply illustrated once again in a couple of items in the Feb. 10 edition of The Oakville Beaver. In a letter entitled Oakville MP spins a proroguing tale, James Ede deftly knocked down Oakville MP Terence Young's attempted defence of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's high-handed proroguing of Parliament. Many believe, and I'm among them, the unnecessary shutting down of the House of Commons was done to quash an investigation into the Tories' alleged mishandling of the Afghan prisoner situation and to stack the Senate with Conservative sycophants. Ede also suggests Young is, at best, mistaken when he says he wasn't invited to Oakville's antiprorogue rally on Jan. 23 -- advising that at Young's public consultation session the previous Wednesday, the Tory MP was personally handed a flyer and invited. By contrast, a front-page article about the controversial power plant proposed for Oakville mentions Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn will be introducing a Private Member's Bill requiring gas-fired power plants to be located a minimum of 1,100 metres away from area residences. This action is apparently being taken due to his frustration over his own government's stand on the issue. So, we have Young spouting the party line and casting aspersions on those who dare criticize the actions of the Conservative Party. We have Kevin Flynn putting his own political career at risk to do what he believes is right in working for a healthier, safer Oakville -- the type of public service he has been performing for almost two decades. Keep up the good work, Mr. Flynn. Mr. Young, give your head a shake. TOM DOUGLAS, OAKVILLE