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Christmas House Tour comes knocking Friday by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 13 | Wednesday, December 4, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com It started off simply with a small group of women wanting to raise money for their church. The St. Andrew's Christmas House Tour has raised approximately $500,000 for the church and local charities since its inception in 1981. It will be opening its doors to the 17th edition Friday (Dec. 6) -- the tour is held every second year. "They (the church women) opened up their homes and decorated it themselves, with one of the women on the faculty of the school of interior design at Sheridan College and it's just grown from there," said Ann McCoomb, co-chair of the biennial house tour, who has been on the committee since 1999. This year's tour will showcase nine homes -- offering a mix of heritage and lakefront properties, as well as quaint cottages in the downtown. see Tickets on p.14 DRYWALL Don't BIN IT Don't DUMP IT DELIVER IT for recycling NEW WEST GYPSUM RECYCLING The mantle of a fireplace in the family room of the Burnet Street home featured in this year's nine-home St. Andrew's Christmas House Tour that takes place this Friday and Saturday. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) Located just off the QEW at 2182 WYECROFT ROAD, OAKVILLE Pos itivel ive y Affecti Open to the public ng Where We L 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Closed Weekends and Holidays LEED certification Rate: $57.50/Tonne www.nwgypsum.com Any amount acceptable 905-847-0520