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the retirement option of choice Walter Used To Eat Frozen Dinners Alone Mealtime was mostly a chore forWalter. Living alone, he would simply choose what was easiest to prepare and eat it in front of the TV. Nutrition was rarely a consideration. At Chartwell, the chef changes the menu daily, so Walter not only gets to choose from a variety of balanced meals, but he enjoys them with a side-dish of laughter and conversation. Now he enjoys a varied menu and great company. To find out more call Chartwell Classic Oakville at 905-257-0095 or visit www.chartwellreit.ca UPCOMING FREE EVENT Grab your friends and family and get your chef hats ready to join us for an evening of wine tasting and cooking demonstrations. Chef Jim Duggan will be hosting the evening along with Joseph Estate Wineries, cooking up appetizers, entrees and desserts all paired with selected wines When: Tuesday November 30, 7:00pm Where: Chartwell Classic Oakville, 180 Oak Park Blvd RSVP: to Jaime Hunter or Michelle Smith 905-257-0095 7 Friday , N ovem ber 26, 2010 O A KVILLE BEA V ER w w w .o akvillebeaver .co m By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The YMCA of Oakville recognized two local individuals who have made a commitment to have a positive impact in their community. The Y hosted its annual Community Breakfast for Peace Wednesday morning and handed out two of its Peace Medallions to an adult and a youth. The recipients were Michele Braida, who has been volunteering in Oakville for more than 20 years, and Simon Hargardt, a Grade 11 student at T. A. Blakelock High School, who began the Life Cycle bike-recycling program. In her acceptance speech, Braida thanked everyone who has supported her, including her family members and spoke about the philosophy that has guided her over the years. I have been guided by the philosophy that while people may not remember what you do or what you say, they will always remember how you made them feel, and each day we must strive to realize this philosophy in the way we serve the people around us and recognize the dignity inherent in every- one we encounter, she said in a prepared speech. Braida has worked with charities such as the March of Dimes, Canadian Cancer Society and local sports organiza- tions. She is also involved in her St. James Catholic Elementary School community through initiatives such as its breakfast program. Working for peace and against injustice is not about big projects or grand gestures, she said. Peace requires one to rec- ognize God in each and every person, one individual at a time. Her fellow recipient, Hargardt, has created an initiative of philanthropic and environmental work. The program takes broken, used bikes, fixes them, and donates them to the needy. Life Cycle has donated 110 bikes locally and another 35 to the Dominican Republic. In the Dominican, a group of teens have used the donations to set up a bike rental business that has provided them with a source of income. He is also part of other programs that involve him entertaining at non-profit events and bridging the gap between youths and seniors. He credits both his parents for his activism today. As far back as I can remember my parents have involved my siblings and me in their volunteer- ing initiatives, he said in his prepared speech. Whether my mom was coordinating a fundraiser or my dad was coaching hockey, we were always in tow. And like anything learned at a young age, volunteering became an extension of something I naturally just do. He added people can become overwhelmed by the numer- ous issues around the world, but if everyone makes that first step to do what he or she can, a difference can be made. The key is to do something, anything, because when we volunteer we are making a definite difference. More than 200 people attended the event to honour the two award recipients and the nominees, which included Keelee Buhlah, Mariana Ljuljraj, John Raynor, Gary Douglas, Gisela Meijer and Christine Venerus. There was also a keynote address made by Ally Reyes, the mother of local bestselling author and expert in literacy, anti- bullying, character education multiculturalism, 15-year-old James Valitchka, on behalf of her son. Peacemakers are a rare breed because they are usually flawed, Reyes read. They have family issues, a tough life, they have constant challenges and they are usually forced to take action because of something very difficult that happens to them or to someone they love. Reyes said her son was bullied as a child, but when he wrote his bestselling childrens novel Superheroes Dont Have Dads things began to change for him. In the speech, Valitchka said peace- makers are people who can look past their own heartbreaks and help others to make a difference. I never intended to travel the world and speak to hundreds of thousands of people, Reyes read from the speech. I never intended to become the voice for anti-bullying. I never intended to win awards. What happened was I was just a kid being bullied, who was heart broken because he didnt have a dad in his life. It was more important than having a dad, more important than having money in the bank and more important than my own heart breaks. This event happened during the YMCAs Peace Week, which continues through Nov. 27. YMCA recognizes peace achievers Michelle Braida Simon Harmgardt