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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 25, 2007 - 13 Living Oakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Phone: 905-845-3824, ext. 248 Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: angela@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2007 Never a bridesmaid, always a good relay team You never know what's going to show up at Relay for Life -- to be held June 1 at Appleby College. From Harlem Girls to Vivacious Vixens and the Blushing Brides, a group of Oakville women led by Monique Wood will go as Elvis this year. "We'll be fat Elvis, skinny Elvis, old Elvis, Elvis through the years," they joke. All the women have their own reason for participating. "For me, it's my mom," said Wood whose mother, Denise, died with lung Monique Wood cancer a number of years ago. "She had cancer, but she was so hopeful, she had so much faith. She had chemotherapy and radiation and her quality of life was horrible, she even tried experimental drugs yet she was just filled with hope and faith and I said I would carry that baton and run with it. I'm hoping the race ends during my lifetime because I'm going to get tired," said Wood. "We owe it to the community, our friends and family. Everyone knows someone affected by cancer and why not put the money back into our own community?" said Arnone. The team includes Wood, Thompson, Arnone, Sandy Edgar, Carol Fraser, Vivian Hanson, Andrea "For me, it's my mom. She had cancer, but she was so hopeful, she had so much faith." Monique Wood Relay for Life Team Captain WILMA BLOKHUIS / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER READY TO RELAY: The 'Best Dressed Team' from Relay for Life 2006, the Blushing Brides, will be back as Elvis. "I'm glad I did," piped in Tamara Arnone. Two years ago Wood and her current teammates were the Vivacious Vixens and that's when Wood -- while shopping for her sparkly gold gown at Value Village, spied the wedding gowns. Last year the Blushing Brides created quite a stir at the major fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society and picked up Best Dressed Award. All in spite of rain and the muddy mess the wardrobe choice proved. The gowns became known as the ball and chain for the ladies wearing them and Thompson said, "It became quite a workout." Nevertheless, the sight of the soggy brides watching as cancer survivors led the Victory Lap to kick off the relay, put smiles on many of the survivors so it was all worth it. The Oakville women say they wish more relay teams would get involved by wearing themed costumes. "I think that element adds fun to the whole event," said Thompson, while Wood admitted it helps ease the seriousness of the event. And they do laugh, joke and have all kinds of fun as they plan their team for Relay for Life 2007. For Wood it began numerous years ago when she was a volunteer with the Harlem Girls team. "I'm sorry I missed that," said Kathy Thompson. See Relay page 14 T.A. Blakelock celebrating 50 years in Oakville Thomas A. Blakelock High School has been educating students on Rebecca Street since 1957. Its 50th anniversary will be marked by a host of activities -- a '50s day today, a Hall of Fame induction tomorrow and a reunion from Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29 boasting a Friday pub night, a Saturday jam session and alumni games followed by a reception and then a Sunday brunch. It's been a long time since the school opened -- as current students will see during the 1950s day today -- as they make their way through classes with no cell phones, iPods, videos, DVDs or calculators. Blakelock opened in the era when the St. Lawrence Seaway opened, TV dinners were introduced, the Suez crisis raged and if students took shop in 1957, they did so with no power tools, but a heap of rock and roll. T.A. Blakelock was named in honour of Thomas A. Blakelock. And it was on a March day some 50 years before 1957, in 1906, when Blakelock, a Yorkshire native of 22 years, stepped off the train in Toronto greeted by snow and biting wind. Equipped with a kit of carpenter's tools, 90 cents in hard cash and lots of ambition, Blakelock was welcomed by the Salvation Army which assured him lodging and food in return for sweeping the barrack's floor. One day while getting warm in the old Union Station Blakelock was offered work as a farm hand with William Savage of Oakville. Eight months later he found employment in his trade and in 1909 was established as a contractor. 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