The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER Th ur sd ay , Se pt em be r 2 3, 2 01 0 6 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY: 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 The Oakville Beaver 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.Pho e (416) 340-1981.Advertising is accepted on he condition that,in the event of a typographical error,that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item,together with a reasonable allowan e for signa ure,will n t 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.Editorial and adv rtising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. United Way of Oakville Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America NEIL OLIVER Vice-President and Group Publisher, Metroland West 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 WEBSITE oakvillebeaver.com NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER HEALTHY CONTRIBUTION: The Body Shaping Fitness Studio for Women's Karalea Pleau (left) and Maria Kinlough stand by the food the studios staff and clients collected to donate to the food bank at Kerr Street Ministries (KSM). ATHENAAward Guest Columnist Though I often use this opportunity to talk aboutour governments progress here in Halton, thisweek presents a unique opportunity for me to tell you about my recent responsibilities as Canadas labour minister. Over a two-week period I met with my Latin-American counterparts highlight- ing the benefits of labour partnerships with Canada. In Bogota, Colombia I met with leaders of international labour from the region. In Mexico, the Mexican Secretary of Labour and I reaffirmed our commitment to continuing labour partnerships through the North American Agreement on Labour Co-operation. I later met with union representatives to hear more about their difficulties. It is particularly encouraging to see the number of Canadian people and com- panies that are making such a positive impact in these countries. I visited a school where 40 Canadian sailors were helping build a wall and clean out a ditch last week. Children were wearing shirts from Fernie, British Columbia because a Canadian school group helped construct a hydroponic facility that will grow food. In a small community outside Lima, Peru, Father Lebel, a Canadian, has opened a centre for troubled boys, some as young as eight. The centre provides food, shelter and most of all teaches life skills such as woodworking that will help them attain a job in the future. Canada is well respected here because of the contributions of our people and our country, and we'll continue that commitment. During the trip I announced $22 million in funding from Canada to help chil- dren and youths in Colombia by preventing their recruitment by illegal armed groups and hopefully redirecting the youths to have meaningful futures. I returned to Halton on Friday just in time for National Sports Day on Saturday (Sept. 18). Through Canadas Economic Action Plan our government has invested in our sports facilities. I would like to also thank all the area organizers for the Terry Fox Runs in Halton last Sunday. I invite you to attend my upcoming town hall meetings happening Oct. 2. Should you need assistance with any federal government services, please call my office at 905-693-0166. Lisa Raitt, Halton MP Lisa Raitt Canadians making a difference abroad The Oakville Beaver is a division of It seems the sun always shines on Terry Fox on his lega-cy and on his annual run. Last Sunday was no exceptionas the 30th annual Terry Fox Run was held in perfect con- ditions, under a bright, blue sky, with an inviting and invig- orating hint of autumn in the air. Fox Sunday, as its known around our house, has evolved into one of my favorite days of the year, a date I circle on my calendar with anticipation. Its a day that traditionally begins in high gear with the 10-kilometre run, then downshifts to low with a rewarding restaurant brunch, then shifts into lazy with a glorious afternoon on the couch watching football. Sometimes with my eyes closed. Of course, the highlight of the day remains the run. For a former sprinter, the 10k has always seemed like a marathon. But as I age and believe it or not, dear readers, your cor- respondent is indeed aging the distance seems to increase exponentially each year. To the point where if I want to make it around the course without aid of oxygen, paramedics, or performance-enhancing drugs (a couple of Tylenol downed with a stiff coffee, for instance), and if I actually want to be able to walk the next day without agony, I need to, well, pre- pare unlike the young rabbits who insist on lapping me with their youth, enthusiasm, fresh legs and natural distance-running ability. And here, I suppose I should confess that, athletically speaking, I am not exactly aging gracefully. At various times Ive blown out both of my knees, now creaky with arthritis and made ten- der by a generous lack of essentials like, say, cartilage. From the pounding of a lifetime of running, my feet are a mess. Seriously, how many other people out there do you know who have named their bunions? For the record, mine are not-so-affectionately known as Paul and Hot Cross. I ran a 10k in the spring back in my hometown and then, given the state of my body, I took the summer off. I had every intention of gearing back up in early August in preparation for the Fox Run, but my so-called training had a predictable pattern: Id contemplate going for a run, then Id take a week off. Late in August I began actually running in earnest. And every time Id run, the next day Id have difficulty with such arduous and intense tasks as standing up. And sitting down. Apparently as a person ages, their knees do not get any younger. My doctor recommended I quit running and take up another less-pounding form of physical activity. Im no longer all that inclined to disagree. However, Im reluctant to miss the Terry Fox Run, even if Im in danger of forcing it to be renamed the Terry Fox Very Slow Run With Some Recuperative Walking In Between. Im reluc- tant to miss the Fox Run, you see, because it makes me feel good, and it gives me hope. And because this run is very person- al. With proceeds going to cancer research and fighting the dis- ease that is the scourge of our time, I think the Fox Run is pret- ty personal for most participants people who are running and raising money in memory of lost family and lost friends. Over time, the Terry Fox Run has become a giant love-in, a great big community bear hug in response to communal sorrow. A hug in which you can take comfort, be buoyed, and lose yourself, for one rejuvenating morning each year. Andy Juniper can be visited at www.strangledeggs.com, contacted at ajjuniper@gmail.com, or followed at www.twit- ter.com/thesportjesters. Terry Fox Run has become a big community bear hug Andy Juniper