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14 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 7, 2006 New unit secretary at Cancer Society goes bald By Wilma Blokhuis OAKVILLE LIVING EDITOR WILMA BLOKHUIS / OAKVILLE BEAVER SHAVE IT OFF: Angela Hofman of Rainbow Expressions shaves the head of Michelle Cowan bald. Michelle Cowan, also known as Mamabear, sashayed about the Appleby College grounds during Friday's 5th annual Relay for Life, with her haired pulled into tiny pigtails and dyed blue, green and yellow. Her outfit was covered in `thingamaboobs,' beaded keychains the Canadian Cancer Society sells to educate people about breast cancer. Her T-shirt read "Mamabear taking it off tonight." She was referring to her hair ­ not the T-shirt ­ but she no doubt had a lot of people wondering. People refused to be photographed with her. Those who saw the prankster weren't exactly sure what people could expect to see starting at 10:45 p.m. She commandeered Bill Hutchison of CTV News, Relay for Life emcee, to provide the colour commentary for the head shaving. Several people, both adults and children, "mostly friends and probably a few sworn enemies," lined up to snip off a pigtail. Her daughters Frances, 13, and Emma-Jane, 10, were in the line-up, as was her husband Philip Cowan. Her boss, Mary Ellen Frederick, Oakville Unit Manager of the Canadian Cancer Society, took a snip, as did Hutchison. Once her hair was reduced to stubble, Angela Hofman of Rainbow Expression got out the razor, only to discover the hair dye left colored blotches on Cowan's bald head. Hutchison and others wondered aloud about Cowan's cerebral tattoos. By Monday morning, the discolouration was gone. Cowan raised $2,000 ­ and counting. "We love you," and other words of encouragement and cheers emanated from the crowd. However, there was a serious side to Cowan's stunt. Ten years ago, her dad Tony Puttick, died of brain cancer. Cowan, an office volunteer, was recently hired as the unit secretary for the Oakville office of the Canadian Cancer Society. WILMA BLOKHUIS / OAKVILLE BEAVER SNIP: Philip Cowan snips a pigtail from his wife Michelle Cowan's head. Bell Canada and CEP reach agreement on Pay Equity Bell Canada and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) are pleased to announce they have reached an agreement to settle their pay equity dispute. If you worked for Bell Canada between 1993 and 1999, this may be important to you. The proposed settlement, which is subject to ratification, includes lump sum payments and pension adjustments worth approximately $104 million in total. The settlement will benefit 4,765 current and former Bell employees, mostly operators. Eligibility Eligible current and former Bell Canada employees are those who worked in Operator Services, Dining Services and/or House Services for at least six months between January 1, 1993 and December 31, 1999. Former employees who are eligible have until October 16, 2006, to register with the Pay Equity Information Centre (PEIC) and receive their personalized information. The PEIC can be contacted at the coordinates provided below. Ratification Voting will take place at special ratification meetings to be conducted by the CEP in a number of locations across Ontario and Quebec between May 23 and June 15. Details of the CEP ratification meetings are available at www.equityic.ca or by contacting the PEIC. The result is expected to be known by June 19. Pay Equity Information Centre (PEIC) Tel.: 514-870-7888 or 1-877-870-7888 Fax: 514-870-7872 or 1-888-870-7872 E-mail: peic@bell.ca www.equityic.ca