Supporting boat rally for kids with cancer

The Boat Rally for Kids with Cancer will be hitting the waters of Lake Joseph and Lake Rosseau Saturday, July 20, in support of children’s cancer research, treatment and care at SickKids. Dan Cooper has come on board as one of the executive Board Members and Boat Rally drivers to support this very worthy cause.

Established in 1972, SickKids Foundation raises funds on behalf of The Hospital for Sick Children. The Foundation’s fundraising is driven by the belief that improving the health and well-being of children is one of the most powerful ways to improve society.

Community support, separate and distinct from government and granting agencies, is a critical source of funding for SickKids. In the fiscal year that ended in March 31, 2012, SickKids Foundation invested $61.3 million in child health research learning and care.

The Boat Rally for Kids with Cancer is a unique thrilling and exciting boating event that has put the Fun into FUNdraising. Characterized as the “Amazing Race” hits the water, this exciting event features family-fun, celebrities, thrilling challenges and cottage adventure.

An exciting brunch where all of the qualified teams meet with their celebrity teammates.

The action continues as qualified teams receive their first clue and are lined up at the “starting line”.

Qualified teams along with their celebrity teammates take part in an extraordinary schedule of pit stops set along a secret route across Muskoka.

Teams will decipher clues and riddles that will take them on a journey from one location to the next.

The day ends with an incredible barbecue dinner, entertainment and the winning team will be announced.

To help Dan Cooper raise funds in support of The Boat Rally for Kids with Cancer, visit www.BoatRallyForCancer.com.

Cyclists took to the streets in Gabrielle’s Ride

Gabrielle’s Ride – Presenting sponsor Dan Cooper

July 22nd 2012 was a challenging but emotional day for the many cyclists who took part in Oakville’s Gabrielle’s Ride. Hundreds of cyclists took to the streets starting from Appleby College to raise money in support of Cardiac Kids and the Pediatric Stroke Fund at The Sick Kids Foundation.

More than $75,000 was raised – an outstanding accomplishment for a great cause.
Gabrielle’s Ride is a charity event inspired by the life of Gabrielle Ide Cinanni, who died far too young from complications related to a congenital heart disease. She was only 5 years old when she passed away.

When she was two months old, Gabrielle was diagnosed with congenital heart disease. She had a unique form of coarctation of her aorta with no known treatment or cure and she struggled with the symptoms of heart failure. As an infant, Gabrielle was already fighting for her life.

Before her first birthday, she had undergone numerous invasive tests, hospital stays, frequent clinic appointments with several different specialists, therapists and had three angioplasties that the family hoped would save her life.

Within weeks of being diagnosed with heart disease, an MRI of her brain showed that Gabrielle had also suffered a stroke. She was too young to know exactly how this stroke would impact her life but it was clear that Gabrielle’s body was vulnerable and her future was uncertain. Surrounded by love and support and with her own will to live, Gabrielle’s health improved. For five and a half years, her passion for life and her laugh filled the family’s home with joy and inspired everyone’s hearts.

She was a special little girl and her story has touched the hearts of many. And so, on that Sunday, cyclists filled the streets – everyone from the accomplished cyclists who tackled the 100-kilometre route to the ambitious cyclists participating in the 50K to families and youngsters who did the 15K and the 2K “Tyke ride”.

It was a special day for Gabrielle’s mother Nikki, who created Gabrielle’s Ride and whose passion is to use the memory of her daughter to help children in the future.

“I’m proud to play even a minor role to help this worthy cause become one of the best attended events in the Oakville area,” stated Dan Cooper. “Dan has been a great friend to Gabrielle’s Ride since its inception in 2011,” adds Nikki. “He is a philanthropic pillar of the Oakville community and has graciously shared his experience with our team over these months of preparation.”

Building a stronger community means supporting great causes such as Gabrielle’s Ride. The Dan Cooper Team supports a number of organizations, everything from minor sports teams to major campaigns that will have a significant impact on the quality of life we enjoy here in Oakville and Burlington.

A giving and caring spirit makes our community stronger – a place in which we can all be proud to live and raise a family. How we treat those in need, how we support charities and organizations that are making a difference, shape our community’s character and reputation. Today we enjoy one of the most desirable locations in Canada in which to live – because we have built a safe and caring community.
Give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money or time or both. Your efforts and contributions help make our community stronger and a better place in which to live.

For more information about Gabrielle’s Ride visit www.gabriellesride.com.

Golf tournament was a swinging success

Featured in the photo are: Don Parans, Kevin Andrew, Matt Dunigan and Dan Cooper

I’m pleased to say that The Dan Cooper Swing for Kids Sake Golf Tournament last week was a huge success. It was a hot and sunny day with a sold out tournament of 144 golfers and we helped Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton raise $43,000 – and that’s fantastic.

This money is desperately needed to help BBBSH maintain its wonderful mentoring programs, such as One-to-One, In-School Mentoring, Homework Club, Go Girls!, Game On! and Group Rec.

BBBSH is helping children in the early stages by providing mentorship that has a positive impact that lasts a lifetime with these kids of all ages. Our young people are our future leaders and it is critical that we provide all the support we can to ensure they develop into good citizens, business people and community leaders. Few of us may be aware that there are hundreds of youth at-risk here in our own community. Often, our comfortable and insular lives shield us from some very hard truths in our back yard. This reality, however, is only too clear to the great people and volunteers at BBBSH.

“This is Dan Cooper’s third year as the Title Sponsor of the 12th Annual Swing for Kids Sake Golf Tournament. It truly is great to work with Dan who is so committed to the children in Halton and his community. Dan is a good friend to BBBS of Halton and a strong supporter of what we do,” says Kristin Vanderwater, Special Events Coordinator for BBBSH.

I would also like to thank the participants, sponsors and those businesses that provided entertaining activities to help make this day a huge success, such as samples from TAG Vodka, Cameron’s Brewery and COBS Bread, massages by Dynamic Chiropractic Health & Wellness Centre and a hole-in-one contest from Mercedes-Benz Burlington. Your generosity is helping to make a tremendous difference in our community.

On another fundraising note, on May 12, Royal LePage offices in every province hosted the 4th Annual Garage Sale for Shelter to raise money to help women and children seeking an escape from family violence. This year’s event raised more than $400,000 and led to a milestone – $1.2 million raised at the National Garage Sale for Shelter since its inception in 2009. One hundred percent of funds raised in support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation goes directly to the cause because Royal LePage underwrites the administrative costs and sponsors cover event expenses.

I’m also proud that the Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Oakville, placed third in the nation by raising $19,500.

These are the kind of events that are helping to make our communities better places in which to work, live and raise our families. I’m proud to be part of a generous network of people and have made it my mission to help where I can. I encourage everyone to get involved.

For more on these or to stay abreast with the real estate market in Oakville, I encourage you to join me on Facebook. I’ve been a leader in adopting online forums; I was among the first to introduce video tours of my homes and I continue to explore new and exciting ways to bring properties to life and to deliver valuable real estate information to you through the Internet.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team. Be sure to join Dan on Facebook to receive the latest real estate and community news.

House prices continue to skyrocket in the local market

The local housing market has kept its steady pace as house prices continue to rocket skyward in Oakville and Burlington. Last week, I wrote that while there was a slow start to the first quarter of this year, we saw the average house price in Oakville increase by more than 14 percent in March over the same month last year. In dollars, the average price in March was $642,432 compared with $555,000 in March of 2011.

April sees that hot trend continue with the average price in Oakville rocketing to $698,835. That’s an increase of around 21 percent over the average price of $575,000 in April 2011 and 9 percent higher than last month’s average price.

In Burlington, the increase was similarly dramatic – rising 16.5 percent or $460,586 compared to $395,266 in April 2011. This was for all properties. Interestingly, it was the condo sector that had the largest jump, increasing a whopping 32.2 percent last month over April 2011.

Again, the warmer weather brought buyers into the market early and the low interest rates have continued to encourage consumers to get into the market – and pay a higher price for a home. Stable interest rates and a quiet confidence in the economy are fuelling this rebound in the housing market following a couple of sluggish years.

Even in a hot market, sellers are still advised to list with an experienced agent. Properly marketing your property and negotiating the best price requires the skill of a professional. The Dan Cooper Team employs leading-edge marketing strategies – we hand pick the real estate publications to market our homes, ensuring we are achieving the best results, and we use our online marketing tools effectively. The result is that we have a stellar track record for selling homes quickly and negotiating the best price. The evidence of this has been our ability to be the number one team in Canada for Royal LePage in seven of the past 13 years.

The prices in this area simply reflect the fact that Oakville and Burlington are among Canada’s best communities in which to live. A good deal of that demand is due to the quality and style of the homes here, the neighbourhoods in which they are located and the quality of the people who live here. We live in safe and picturesque communities – ideal places in which to raise a family.

We also have some of the most generous and giving citizens anywhere in Canada, and I’ve witnessed some of that generosity first hand.

I’m heavily involved in the community and sponsor or support numerous causes that help make our community stronger and a better place in which to live. A recent example is Comic Vision Oakville on April 25 at Le Dome on North Service Road. I was proud to be the venue sponsor for this hilarious evening of comedy with some of the best comics in Canada. Comic Vision is held in five cities across Canada and raises more than $700,000 annually for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which funds vision research. This year’s show was another roaring success and I thank everyone who came out and supported this tremendous cause.

Coming up is the 12th Annual Dan Cooper Swing for Kids Sake golf tournament in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton. This year’s tournament is being held at Piper’s Heath Golf Club in Milton on May 28.

“Give where you live” is a slogan adopted by many charitable organizations across North America, but it really does sum up my own personal philanthropic objectives and is the approach of the entire Dan Cooper Team. I encourage all of you to give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money, time or both. Your efforts and contributions help make our community a stronger and safer place in which to raise our families.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Golf tournament helps to make life better for local youth

Featured in the photo is Dan Cooper with Barbara Ferrone, Executive Director of BBBSH

I am immensely proud to once again be host to the 12th Annual Dan Cooper Swing for Kids Sake tournament in support of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton. This year’s tournament moves to a great course – Piper’s Heath Golf Club in Milton. The day is May 28 and golfers are treated to one of the best golf courses in the area, lunch, gourmet dinner and prizes.

More importantly, your participation goes to a very worthwhile cause. There are numerous charity golf tournaments through the season, but I can tell you that grassroots charities such as the BBBSH are preventative in focus, helping children in the early stages by providing mentorship that has a positive impact that lasts a lifetime with these kids of all ages. Our young people are our future leaders and it is critical that we provide all the support we can to ensure they develop into good citizens, business people and community leaders. Few of us may be aware that there are hundreds of youth at-risk here in our own community. Often, our comfortable and insular lives shield us from some very hard truths in our back yard. This reality, however, is only too clear to the great people and volunteers at BBBSH.

“Give where you live” is a slogan adopted by many charitable organizations across North America, but it really does sum up my own personal philanthropic objectives and the approach of The Dan Cooper Team when it comes to donations and giving back to the community.

“Dan Cooper is a champion for the children in Halton. His support helps us to improve the lives of children through positive mentorship programs,” says Barbara Ferrone, executive director of BBBSH. “I want to thank Dan for his continuous support; it’s the largest fundraiser for BBBSH and will allow the organization to thrive in the year going ahead. Investing in our youth is a good investment in our future.”

I encourage all of you to give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money or time or both. Your efforts and contributions help make our community stronger and a better place in which to live.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Lighting up the sky to remember a loved one

Featured in the photo is Dan Cooper with Nikki Ide

One small step can become a major movement that captures the imagination of a country, and that’s the hope of one mother who wants to inspire a nation to come together to remember the loss of a loved one.

I wrote about Nikki Ide just a few weeks ago. Nikki lost her daughter Gabrielle due to complications related to a congenital heart disease. She was only 5. In that article I encouraged everyone to take part in Gabrielle’s Ride on July 22, Oakville’s first and largest family cycling event. I’m proud to be the presenting sponsor for this important ride, which is raising funds for Cardiac Kids and the Pediatric Stroke Fund at The Sick Kids Foundation.

I continue to urge you to get out, spend a day with the family, get some exercise and help raise money for a great cause. But there is more to this story. Nikki’s hope is to have May 10 declared Canada’s National Grief Awareness Day. This day happens to be Gabrielle’s birthday – she would have been 7 this year – and while Nikki will be remembering her daughter, she asks that others join her on that day to make this a national day of remembering a loved one.

I have been so touched by this story that I am going beyond sponsoring Gabrielle’s Ride and will be presenting the Gabrielle’s Ride Exclusive Sponsorship Dinner at Gairloch Gardens Cottage on May 10. Guests will enjoy a gourmet dinner prepared by the renowned Kerr Street Cafe, enjoy beer by Cameron Breweries, wine with dinner, vodka by Tag Vodka, limousine service to and from the event, music supplied by DJ George Chaker and door prizes that will include an inclusive trip for four and a Bulova watch.

In addition, each guest will be provided with a unique paper floating lantern for the Remember Our Love Day celebration following dinner.

At that time, others are invited to join us and Nikki at Gairloch Garden’s at 8 p.m. when some special words will be shared and we will all let our lanterns float into the dark sky at 8:30 p.m. Lanterns will be available at a nominal cost for anyone who wants to participate. Proceeds will go to The Lighthouse for Grieving Children. If you would like to join Nikki for the ceremonial part at 8 p.m. or for more information, you can email her directly at nikki@gabriellesride.com. Nikki’s campaign to make this a national day of remembrance is being done in partnership with The Lighthouse for Grieving Children.

“Remember our Love Day is one of those creative ways for us to stay connected to Gabrielle and I wanted to share the experience with our community,” Nikki says. “The Lighthouse for Grieving Children and Dan Cooper loved the concept so much and have helped me to bring it all together and make it happen. The Lighthouse will be selling the floating lanterns and everyone in attendance will have an opportunity to connect with their loved ones by sending a lantern into the darkening sky and watch them illuminate as they lift into the night. My family has been using floating lanterns to express our love for Gabrielle since her death and it has been such a beautiful and meaningful experience. I can’t wait to share it with the community and watch the sky light up with love!”

Building a stronger community means supporting great causes like Gabrielle’s Ride and being engaged with worthy events such as Remember Our Love. The heart and soul of the community is due to the generosity, the caring and the giving of its residents. We enjoy one of the best communities in Canada – due to people like Nikki who remind us that there is more to living than having possessions. Our spiritual nurturing and charitable endeavours are what make us a stronger and better place in which to live.

I encourage all of you to give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money, time or both. And on May 10, float a paper lantern for a loved one and join me and my team for a day of family fun on July 22.

For more information about Remember Our Love Day and Gabrielle’s Ride visit www.gabriellesride.com.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call the Dan Cooper Team.

Gabrielle’s Ride raises money for Sick Kids

Featured in the photo is Dan Cooper with Nikki Ide

There are stories in our community that touch your heart – especially those that involve children. One such story is about a young girl named Gabrielle Ide Cinanni who died far too young from complications related to congenital heart disease. She was only 5.

On July 22, Gabrielle’s Ride will be Oakville’s first and largest family cycling event and I’m proud to be the presenting sponsor for this worthwhile cause.

Money raised will go to support Cardiac Kids and the Pediatric Stroke Fund at The Sick Kids Foundation. Fundraising dollars will be used for life saving research, the development of social programs and the support of families affected by congenital heart disease and pediatric stroke. Gabrielle’s Ride will share her story of passion and hope through our commitment to the children who share her challenges every day.

When she was two months old, Gabrielle was diagnosed with congenital heart disease. She had a unique form of coarctation of her aorta with no known treatment or cure and she struggled with the symptoms of heart failure. Just an infant, Gabrielle was already fighting for her life.
Before her first birthday, she had undergone numerous invasive tests, hospital stays, frequent clinic appointments with several different specialists, therapy and three angioplasties that the family hoped would save her life.

Within weeks of being diagnosed with heart disease, an MRI of her brain showed that Gabrielle had also suffered a stroke. She was too young to know exactly how this stroke would impact her life but it was clear that Gabrielle’s body was vulnerable and her future was uncertain. Surrounded by love and support and with her own will to live, Gabrielle’s health improved. For five and a half years, her passion for life and her gigantic laugh filled the family’s home with joy and inspired everyone’s hearts.

She was a special little girl and her story has an effect on everyone I talk to about the Ride. I have to admire her mother, Nikki, and the whole family for being such an inspiration and keeping Gabrielle’s story alive so that she can continue to bring awareness to the challenges of other children at Sick Kids.

“My beliefs,” Nikki says, “combined with Gabrielle’s passion for life have inspired the creation of Gabrielle’s Ride – a way for me to actively include Gabrielle and her wisdom in my everyday life and a way for her community to remember her too.”

“Dan Cooper has been a great friend to Gabrielle’s Ride since its inception in 2011. He is a philanthropic pillar of the Oakville community and has graciously shared his experience with our team over these months of preparation,” Nikki says.

Building a stronger community means supporting great causes such as Gabrielle’s Ride. My team and I support a number of organizations, everything from minor sports teams to major campaigns that will have a significant impact on the quality of life we enjoy here in the Oakville and Burlington areas.

A giving and caring spirit makes our community stronger – a place in which we can all be proud to live and raise a family. How we treat those in need, how we support charities and organizations that are making a difference, shape our community’s character and reputation. Today we enjoy one of the most desirable locations in Canada in which to live – because we have built a safe and caring community.

I encourage all of you to give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money or time or both. Your efforts and contributions help make our community stronger and a better place in which to live.

There are different levels of participation in Gabrielle’s Ride on July 22 – 100km, 50km, 15km family adventure and 2km tyke ride. Start and finish is Appleby College.

The Dan Cooper Team and I will be out in full force. Call us if you would like to join our team. Or organize your own team. Just make sure to be part of this outstanding fundraiser. It is Oakville’s first and largest family cycling event, it promises to be a great time for the whole family and the money goes to a great cause. For more information, to register or to pledge a donation visit www.gabriellesride.com.

Come train with us at Quad West on Speers Road and visit us at Gears Oakville grand opening on April 14 on Trafalgar Road.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Comic Vision Oakville raising money for a serious cause

There are so many worthwhile causes in this world that it is often difficult to decide which charity or organization to support. The bottom line, however, is to get behind at least one cause and make that your mission. A helping hand to those in need makes us a stronger community.

I’m proud to be able to give my time and money to a number of local organizations as well as some national causes such as Comic Vision, which does some serious fundraising for the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB), an organization that is helping people with serious eye diseases. Many of us take our sight for granted, but the prospect of losing it can be terrifying for any of us.

And so, again this year I am immensely proud, along with Royal LePage, to be the venue sponsor for Comic Vision Oakville on April 25th. We selected Le Dome on North Service Road East in 2010 to be the venue for this show, and according to Comic Vision Oakville, Le Dome has been an outstanding location that has been highly successful as a fundraiser.

This is Canada’s most successful night of stand-up comedy and fundraising for FFB. The cross-country tour of high profile, stand-up comedy always promises to provide a memorable night of entertainment and this year’s show will not disappoint.

Comic Vision is held each year in five cities across Canada, including London, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. The tour raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year with all proceeds going directly to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which funds vision research at hospitals and universities across Canada. The FFB has played a pivotal role in bringing researchers closer than ever to potential treatments and cures that can one day reverse genetic forms of blindness.
This year’s show in Oakville includes Steve Patterson, Frank Spadone, Meg Soper and Pete Zedlacher.

For our part, The Dan Cooper Team and Royal LePage are proud to provide ongoing support for local organizations, services and programs. It is our commitment to give back to the community in which we work and live. We are not simply in the business of selling properties and helping buyers find homes. We are an integral part of this terrific community. We are your neighbour, our children go to school here and we shop in the same grocery stores. This is our community and The Dan Cooper Team is proud to play a part in shaping its character and its success.

For more information about the Foundation Fighting Blindness, please visit www.ffb.ca or to purchase tickets for this year’s event visit www.comicvision.ca/events/oakville.html

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call the Dan Cooper Team.

Giving where you live begins with local organizations

Featured in the photo: Margaret Anderson, Paula Gardin, Chris John, Dan Cooper

My team and I support a number of organizations, everything from minor sports teams to major campaigns that will have a significant impact on the quality of life we enjoy here in the Oakville and Burlington areas.

A giving and caring spirit makes our community stronger – a place in which we can all be proud to live and raise a family. How we treat those in need, how we support charities and organizations that are making a difference, shape our community’s character and reputation. Today we enjoy one of the most desirable locations in Canada in which to live – because we have built a safe and caring community.

One of the most rewarding organizations I have had the pleasure to be connected with is the Ian Anderson House. The cancer hospice is playing a critical role in our society by offering a quality of life and dignity for those who are terminally ill. It is Ontario’s first in-resident cancer hospice and offers without charge, quality end-of-life palliative care by trained medical professionals.

Last month I sponsored the Fill The House benefit concert at Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts which featured vocal impressionist Chris John and jazz vocalist and Oakville native Paula Gardin. The fundraiser provided a fantastic evening and I thank the generosity of those who attended for supporting this very worthwhile cause.

Located on the Oakville and Mississauga border, the hospice has six large private bedrooms with ensuite washrooms and large windows, each with an attached bird feeder and overlooking the garden and grounds.

Residents have access to the entire house, which includes a large country kitchen, living room, sun room and covered patio. In addition, the House was carefully designed to ensure that beds and wheelchairs can be taken out on the patio and to the garden.

The Sanctuary Garden, at the back of the property, has greatly enhanced the grounds of the hospice and is much enjoyed by residents, families and visitors alike. The garden features paths for wheelchair and bed access, seating areas, a gazebo, a pond and a Memory Wall. Joshua’s Creek runs through a ravine along the back of the Garden.

Residents at Ian Anderson House receive round-the-clock individualized programs of care in partnership with the Community Care Access Centre which augment the hours of nursing and support provided by the hospice’s trained professional staff.

True to the philosophy of hospice, Ian Anderson House offers care to its residents without charge. Their operating cost, which allows them to provide the high quality 24-hour care that is necessary at the end-of-life, is currently $1,800 per day. In order to offer the medical care and the number of staff that is expected and necessary in a hospice environment, they must currently raise an additional $600,000 a year for annual operating costs.

In order to continue to offer their exemplary care and support, without charge, they rely on the generosity of individuals, service clubs, foundations, local businesses and on fundraising events such as the Fill The House benefit concert.

Building a stronger community means supporting great causes such as the Ian Anderson House. I encourage all of you to give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money or time or both. Your efforts and contributions help make our community stronger and a better place in which to live.

For more information about Ian Anderson House, visit their website www.ianandersonhouse.com.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Public service is a commitment to giving back to the community

Featured in the photo to the left: Kevin Flynn & Dan Cooper. Featured in the photo to the right: Tim Hudak & Dan Cooper.

Congratulations to Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn on his re-election in the provincial election last week, as well as the first-time election of Progressive Conservative Jane McKenna in Burlington. I don’t know Jane, but I’m confident she will do well for her riding. I know Kevin and he is a strong representative for Oakville. I also know members of the other parties, including PC Leader Tim Hudak, and they are good people.

What these people have, regardless of their party affiliations, is a strong conviction to serve; to embrace the responsibility of being a citizen. It can be a thankless job at times, it can be challenging and long hours, and I’m certain there are many rewarding moments. But above all, it is a commitment to fulfill a civic duty that goes beyond what many of us are prepared to give.

Their service is admirable, and yet, we need to remind ourselves that we can all contribute to make our community a better one. That involves taking the time to vote, which we did last week, to ensure we have an MPP who will represent us best. But, our obligation to our community goes far beyond simply casting a vote of course. It also means supporting local causes, giving back to the community and taking a stand on political and environmental issues that impact our way of life.

We have a very vibrant community and there are so many opportunities for everyone to get involved in some fashion and at any level. Whether it’s giving your time, donations or both, we need to follow the lead of our elected officials and give something of yourselves to help make ours a better society. My team and I have chosen a number of wonderful local causes to support; everything from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, the Oakville Hospital Foundation, the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts and, more recently, Ian Anderson House to name a few. It’s all about “giving where you live” and I encourage everyone to get involved – maybe not at the level of our elected officials, but certainly enough to help improve your community.

There is much work to be done in the Oakville and Burlington areas. On the provincial level, we have two strong members who belong to the governing party and that means our voices will be heard at Queen’s Park. Again, congratulations to the successful candidates, and for the rest of us – let’s keep working to make ours a better community.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.