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

www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 12, 2012 · 18 That's what people say. The only problem with Blundstone boots is that they never seem to wear out. Oh, people try. But after a few years of kicking the bejeez out of them, they're more comfortable than ever and still going strong. Expensive? Nope, they get cheaper by the day. Two Oakville teachers receive nod from PM By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Two Oakville teachers were recognized for their good work this week -- by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. T.A. Blakelock High School math teacher Vanessa Pick and White Oaks Secondary School music teacher Carmen Gassi picked up the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence. Gassi was one of 27 educators to pick up his Certificate of Excellence at a three-day celebration in Ottawa last week (Oct. 3-5) that included professional activity events. Meanwhile, another 67 Certificates of Achievement will be handed out to teachers at their regional levels -- Pick being among them. A Hamilton resident, Pick teaches math in Grades 10 and 12 and has organized such teaching strategies as Beach Ball Math, scavenger hunts and a glow-in-the-dark classroom. Gassi, an Oakville resident, teaches music in Grades 9-12, plus a computer and music (composing) class for Grades 11 and 12, plus See Teacher page 20 PHOTO COURTESY OF GOVERNMENT OF CANADA #585 in Rustic Brown, also available in Crazy Horse Brown and Black PRESTIGIOUS 2394 Fairview Street Burlington 905-632-9688 blundstone.ca White Oaks Secondary School teacher Carmen Gassi received a Certificate of Excellence for teaching from Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa last week. Oakville teacher Vanessa Pick of Thomas A. Blakelock will also receive a Certificate of Achievement from the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence program. RECOGNITION: my family is MY LIFE MY MEDICINE is my hope My name is Tannis Charles I'm from Winnipeg and I live with Rheumatoid Arthritis In 1997, shortly after the birth of my son Liam, I began to experience symptoms of what I would later find out to be Rheumatoid Arthritis. The pain and humiliation was excruciating, a wheelchair seemed to be my only option. Rheumatoid Arthritis had stripped me of my dignity, I was in complete despair. After 9 years of exhausting pain, I became `global participant #1" in a clinical trial for a new medicine that would eventually completely reverse my symptoms. Today I am walking, dancing, even hula-hooping! My husband has his wife back, my kids have their mom back and I have my life back. My future is bright and pain free, and there's not a wheelchair in sight. www.canadapharma.org/hope Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies Making Canada Better