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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, February 12, 2016 | 6 We know you are generous with your time, money and resources. You volunteer with non-pro t organizations, lend a hand at events around town and donate funds and gifts-in-kind to deserving charities. Your contributions don't go unnoticed. Simply ip through the pages of this newspaper and you'll nd proof of your good work or that of your neighbour. Your involvement also goes a long way to helping the organizations that support those in need in our community. While we commend you for your kindness, generosity and sel essness, we would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to give more of yourself in 2016. The need for blood and blood products is neverending. Yet, nding new blood donors can prove challenging for the non-pro t organization tasked with managing the nation's supply of blood, blood products and stem cells. According to Canadian Blood Services, roughly 100,000 new donors are needed every year to meet the demand for blood and blood products. And nding new O-negative donors is of highest importance because it is the only type compatible with all other blood types. Because of its compatibility factor, O-negative blood is used by hospitals during some of the most critical situations, such as motor vehicle collisions. When seconds count, emergency health-care professionals turn to the supply of O-negative blood to help patients whose lives are on the line. Approximately 12 per cent of all blood units sent to hospitals are of the O-negative variety. Yet, only seven per cent of the Canadian population has Onegative blood. According to Canadian Blood Services, only 41,000 of the organization's 410,000 active donors are O-negative. A little help from you could boost that number to 50,000, effectively increasing the O-negative blood supply pool. Although Canadian Blood Services is focused on increasing its number of O-negative donors, it is accepting donations from all blood types as the need for blood is great. Right now, somewhere in Canada, someone needs a blood transfusion to survive. If that person was involved in a car crash, up to 50 units of blood may be required to save their life. If they are battling leukemia, they might require eight units of blood per week. That someone could be you. Blood, as the slogan goes, is in you to give. So, why not roll up your sleeve and help give the gift of life. · · · The next donation clinic in Oakville is slated for next Friday (Feb. 19). The clinic runs from 1-7 p.m. at Oakville Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Rd. For more information on blood donation and eligibility criteria, visit www.blood.ca. Giving the gift of life Editorial B A S E B A L L A L W A Y S A H I T I N "Connected to your Community" O A K V I L L E 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 54 | Number 13 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER KELLY MONTAGUE DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor This photo of the 1934 Oakville Women's Softball Team features Oakville native Jean Waller, pictured in centre, who died May 12, 2015. The photo was recently recovered by her sons Ted, an Oakvillian retired from the Halton Regional Police Service, and Doug Waller, a Burlington resident who retired from the long manufacturing industry. Jean was born at the Seabird House at the top of Kerr Street in 1917 -- she died at age 98. She grew up in her family home at 371 Pine Ave. -- now a designated heritage home -- and married Edward `Chirp' Waller in 1938. The couple moved to Burlington in 1994. Jean met Edward playing baseball at Wallace Park on Reynolds Street where the above photo was taken. Her sons say Jean has always had a passion for baseball. She played shortstop for her softball team from 1936-41. "She absolutely loved the Toronto Blue Jays and we were sad she did not get to see the Jays in the playoff hunt last year," Ted said. At her May 21, 2015 memorial service, Take Me Out to the Ball Game was played, which saw a very full funeral home sing along, amidst laughter and tears. "Our mum would have loved it," said Ted. When her own mother died while Jean was very young, Jean helped raised her brothers Harry, Doug, France, Bill and Hubert `Shot' Heath. She also had a sister Mame. Jean was predeceased by her husband and leaves behind sons Ted (Lorraine) and Doug (Jane); and six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. | photo courtesy Ted and Doug Waller ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager LORI ANN GZOVDANOVIC Director of Production MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Family feels coyote's presence with loss of pet Our household is today (Feb. 6) grieving the loss of our 12-year-old brown tabby cat, Magnus, who was attacked by a coyote late last night within steps of our back door and minutes of going outside. Despite rescuing and taking him to the Emergency Vet Clinic, his prognosis was poor and we had to have him euthanized. Fortunately, our other cat, 16-year-old Milo, was not involved although his behaviour leads us to believe he saw and/or heard the entire encounter. We live on a very short and quiet street in the Fourth Line/Rebecca Street area and have been seeing coyotes more and more frequently since last summer, despite all kinds of construction in the area. In fact, our last sighting, prior to last night's unfortunate events, was Thursday, Feb. 4, midmorning, at the foot of our driveway. We can't urge people enough to please exercise extreme caution with your companion animals and don't assume that because it is daytime, or that you are home, the risks are small. Clearly, the coyotes are stressed, desperate and clever. It only takes a single opportunity and a split second for your beloved pet to be the target of an attack. Keep your dogs leashed at all times, and if your cat goes out, go out with him. Better yet, keep cats indoors if you can. We will miss Magnus terribly but less so if we believe that our experience will help another family avoid such a loss. Kevin and Joan Murray, Oakville Letter to the Editor Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: 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, 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 or via email to ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. 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. 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