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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, August 17, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 905-631-6095 -- 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Oakville Beaver 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 OakvilleBeaver is a division of David Harvey Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief Daniel Baird Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor Riziero Vertolli Photography Director Sandy Pare Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production Manuel garcia Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Glowing support The Town of Oakville's unanimous decision Monday to ban the use of tanning beds for those under age 18 has drawn mixed reviews. A large majority, however, have lauded Oakville for being the first municipality in Ontario to pass such a law, including the Canadian Cancer Society and the Melanoma Network of Canada. We agree with the Town in that the use of tanning beds should be restricted, not only to help stop the spread of deadly cancers by limiting risks, but to also help decrease future pressures on our health-care system. The Canadian Cancer Society has held the position that the ultraviolet radiation emitted by tanning beds has been proven to cause cancer, with an expert stating those who use the equipment before the age of 35 increase their chances of developing melanoma skin cancer by a whopping 87 per cent -- that's one heck of a risk for vanity. The World Health Organization (WHO) echoes this position, stating its research shows the use of tanning beds, particularly by children and youths, increases the risk of developing melanoma or other skin cancers by up to 75 per cent. We need not look further than 22-year-old Kate Neale (who recently spoke to media applauding Oakville's bylaw amendment) for evidence of the serious risks tanning can pose to our bodies. Featured in a recent Toronto Star article, Neale, who was formerly "addicted" to tanning since she was 16 and even worked at an indoor tanning salon after graduating high school, ended her self-proclaimed addiction when she developed one of the deadliest forms of cancer, melanoma -- now she's become an advocate for tougher restrictions on the use of tanning beds. Neale has had countless doctor's appointments, biopsies for lesions on her breast, leg and arm and surgery to remove the melanoma, saying she now "lives with so much fear," as new spots constantly appear and change on her body. Critics of the bylaw amendment say they believe this restriction will do nothing to stop underage teens from using tanning beds, as they will simply go to nearby municipalities for their tanning needs, and it will only hurt Oakville businesses. On this we also agree with the critics -- to a point. We sympathize with the hit businesses may take, but believe that the councils of our neighbouring GTA municipalities need to follow suit with Oakville and pass a similar restriction. Let's face it, the bottom line here is really about asking if having a bronze glow is worth the risk of developing a devastating disease like cancer? 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. Keep the free buses Letter to the editor 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 e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. In speaking with fellow seniors about the free Monday bus service, and the fact it will terminate effective Sept. 25, pending a final decision in the new year, the unanimous response is one of anger and confusion. Why is a much-needed and widelyused seniors' benefit coming to an end after less than three months, particularly as we enter a more challenging season for getting around? These self-same individuals feel short shrifted, marginalized and insignificant, and justifiably so. As if the Town of Oakville cannot afford to continue the service during the fall and winter months. I urge members of council to do just that, and extend the service into the new year. Quite frankly, the optics alone are terrible. Peter Pellier, Oakville Beautiful Bronte a great place to call home Some 34 years ago, my husband was promoted and relocated to the Toronto area. We had to choose a new place to bring up our two daughters. Our Vancouver real estate agent recommended Oakville very highly. At the time, there had been a TV documentary on why Oakville had the highest paid income per capita in North America. That was not the reason for our choosing to live here, however. We were enchanted by its heritage and proximity to Lake Ontario. We chose to live in Bronte disregarding a local real estate agent's comments about it not being the more desirable end of town. Not once have we regretted it. My husband's commute into Toronto each day was accompanied by his friends on the CB radio assuring him of never being held up in traffic jams. He worked in busy Toronto, but within 45 minutes, he was home in the relatively clean, calm air of Oakville. A quick change of clothing and we could take a spin on our bicycles down to the harbour. Not quite so many people did that all those years ago. This summer, now that my husband has enjoyed a few years of retirement, we've had time to contemplate the blessings of living in this beautiful town. We enjoyed the free ice cream sundaes given out by our wonderful Councillor Ralph Robinson and his cohort Alan Johnson in Bronte. They gave us an enjoyable afternoon of sparkling music. None of us will forget the enjoyment of the fantastic fireworks willingly given by the Bronte BIA. What a spectacle that was. We enjoyed six splendid evenings in full sunshine watching the antics of Chris Arthurs waving his baton as he oversaw the Oakville Wind Orchestra in Coronation Park. This year, there was a sort of audience mutiny against his truly corny jokes and he was given new printed material from the public much to the enjoyment and amusement of the orchestra members. They are all to be lauded for their fine performances in torrid heat. We all thoroughly enjoyed six hours of a mixture of classical music to a Beatles impromptu sing-a-long. He introduced us all to Divinum Mysterium. As always his interpretation of his musical scores was fascinating. His music was enchanting too. Finally, last weekend, we had the Downtown BIA give us the Jazz Festival with the likes of world renowned Peter Appleyard. I had the privilege of dancing to him playing his xylophone while I was in my teens in the U.K. We must not forget our neighbours in Burlington who also have provided us with many free concerts in their parks on Wednesdays and Sundays. Surely our ex-realtor must be eating her words these days when she sees the numerous multi-million dollar homes that surround us in beautiful Bronte. Bronte has always been a marvellous place to be living in. We dearly miss the likes of Bill Hill's camaraderie at his Lakeside Marketeria and the smaller businesses like Allen's Drug store. Bronte is unfortunately changing and large eyesores are inevitable in the name of so called progress I suppose, but we still love it and are proud to call it home. Suzanne Whiteley, Oakville