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32 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 12, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com New face as Cancer Society Unit turns 50 By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Lisa Natale is new in Oakville and she's here to help people -- after all, her mom said it's in her nature. That blend of personal and professional experience is what Natale brings with her as the new manager of the Canadian Cancer Society Oakville Unit that's marking its 50th anniversary in 2007. The Toronto native who now makes her home in nearby Burlington with her other half, David Walsh, has the professional background for her job -- ATTENTION - PARENTS OF GRADES 8 STUDENTS You are invited to attend a PARENT INFORMATION EVENING Parents of students who are planning to attend Oakville high schools in September 2007 are welcome to come and hear more about the Grade 9 program, services for students, and diploma requirements. Parents should attend the Parents' Information Night at their home school (the school designated for their community). For more information, please contact the school office. Abbey Park High School 905 827-4101 Thursday, January 18th at 6:30 p.m. Iroquois Ridge High School 905 845-0012 Thursday, January 18th at 6:30 p.m. Oakville Trafalgar High School 905 845-2875 Thursday, January 11th at 7 p.m. T.A. Blakelock High School 905 827-1158 Thursday, January 11th at 6:30 p.m. White Oaks Secondary School 905 845-5200 (North and South campuses) Thursday, January 18th at 7:30 p.m. HALTON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Wayne Joudrie, Director of Education Gillian Tuck Kutarna, Chair WINNERS! CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LEFT to RIGHT: Micheal Sullivan (Black and Decker winner) Steve Kane (Vaughan Sales Manager) Chris Rausch (Corporate Sales Representative) Paul Duarte (Color Your World winner). Michael Sullivan's Black and Decker prize consists of a Lawn and Garden Tool Package valued at $2500 including a LP1000 ­ AlligatorTM Lopper, NST2018 ­ 18V 12" Cordless GrassHogTM Trimmer/Edger, NPP2018 ­ Cordless Pole Pruner, CHT500 ­ 14.4V 22" Cordless Dual Action Hedge Trimmer, MM875 ­ 19" Electric LawnHogTM Mulching Mower with Rear Bag and a BV4000 ­ LeafHogTM High Performance Blower Vac. Paul Duarte won a $2500 gift certificate from Color Your World. WATCH FOR OUR SPRING ISSUE OF THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME COMING TO YOUR DOOR APRIL, 2007 and the personal experience with cancer that further inspires her. "Two things make me get out of bed in the morning and go to work. The first is my personal connection. The second is the stories I hear from cancer survivors and our volunteers," said Natale. The new position -- which the 34year-old Natale officially stepped into just a few short months ago -- is daunting. The Oakville Unit alone has hundreds of volunteers. It also has a long history -- a history that's taking front and centre in the spotlight this year as the unit marks its 50th anniversary in the community. The local unit was founded in 1957. Natale, who admits that it's great to celebrate the successes that 50 years has brought, is realistic enough to admit that it's unfortunate there continues to be reasons to move forward -- cancer must still be beaten. Now, it will be up to Natale to spearhead anniversary events taking place in 2007. That's in addition to getting to know the unit, its staff, volunteers, clients and services. That's not to mention its other annual events, which are significant. There are Daffodil Days, a major fundraising campaign, to tackle this spring. Then there's the door-to-door (residential) canvassing campaign to follow soon after. By late spring, what's become the local unit's annual participation in the national Relay for Life event hosted at Appleby College will take centre stage. A two-day Open House has already been set for Feb. 23 and 24 to kick off the 50th anniversary. Details about the event's location are being worked out. At the end of the day all the anniversary events and fundraising campaigns are about helping people -- those with cancer and their support groups and those who may yet be diagnosed and may yet escape such diagnosis through education and awareness. And for Natale, that's her bottom line -- professionally and personally. "At the end of the day, somewhere down the line, we're helping somebody," said Natale. Raised in Toronto, Natale brings some high-profile experience to her new position, not to mention commitment. Most recently she was with the Canadian Diabetes Association's (CDA) national office in Toronto as development officer. She also headed up the CDA's national corporate sponsorship program. Prior to that, Natale was with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. She was also executive director and general manager of sponsorship for the Canadian International Airshow. With a degree from the University of Waterloo and a human resources certification under her belt, Natale has delved into a host of fundraising and special event courses and training and LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER NEW AT THE HELM: Lisa Natale is the new manager of the Canadian Cancer Society Oakville Unit that's marking its 50th anniversary in 2007. is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. So far, Natale said she's impressed with the commitment and upbeat attitude of the Oakville Unit. She admitted she applied for the job, but knew her resume was a "cold" application -- from someone unknown to the unit. Once she got an interview, she did lots of research in order to gain the ground she needed to land the job. "I did so much research. I even said that if this job didn't work out, I'd find a way to volunteer here," said Natale. It was the grassroots type of involvement with the organization, the people it serves and the people who help deliver that service, that prompted her to even consider changing her job. The Canadian Cancer Society funds research on all types of cancer; offers extensive and credible information on cancer, various treatments, prevention and risk reduction; provides support for people living with cancer and their support group and provides volunteer opportunities for all ages. Retirees to students looking to fulfill hours of community service work, and everyone in between, can have a role with the local unit. "We are always looking for new volunteers. We have opportunities for all ages, no matter how much or how little time a person has available," said Natale. The results of cancer on patients and their families, friends and others are very real. Natale is familiar with them, not just from her job, but her own family. Her grandmother, Leona Collins, passed away at age 79 with colorectal cancer. "My grandmother and I were exceptionally close. She was like another mother to me. She died 10 years ago, but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her," said Natale. Her aunt, Yvonne Gregson, is in her 60s and is a breast cancer survivor. Natale's step-sister, Nikki DeGroot, passed away last March with lung cancer and a brain tumour. "She (Nikki) was my age," said Natale. "I can't change these things that have happened in my family or in other families, but if we as an organization can work to make it easier or more comfortable for people, then that's what we've got to do," said Natale. Many people take time out of their professional and family life to find an outlet to help others and the fact that Natale can do it in her job makes her feel fortunate. For information about the Canadian Cancer Society, its services or opportunities visit www.cancer.ca or contact the Oakville Unit, located at 635 Fourth Line, Unit 51 (south of Speers Road) at 905-8455231. -- Angela Blackburn can be reached at angela@oakvillebeaver.com