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The Oakville Beaver, W ednesd ay M a y 22, 2002 - A 3 Fifteen fabulous women but only four winners By Mary Collett SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER How do you narrow a field of 15 fab ulous and deserving women down to a mere final four award recipients? That was the dilemma facing the selection com m ittee for the Fifth Annual Halton Women of the Year Awards. Though they were successful in their challenge to whittle it down to four names, as Melvina Walter, executive director for the Women's Support and Information Centre o f Halton said, `Truly all the 15 women nominated are genuine winners." As Walter said in her opening address, the purpose of the ceremony held last week at Glen Abbey Golf Club was to "honour women who are com mitted to helping others make a differ ence in their lives, and in particular to honour all fifteen nominees who are here this evening." Walter made it clear that though the annual event originally conceived to honour "women helping women" on one particular day each year is certainly noteworthy, those at "the W omen's Centre are committed to helping and honouring women every day.'. ' In her welcoming speech to the more than 300 attendees, Walter emphasized the significance of the centre's mission statement, saying: "The W omen's Information and Support Centre of Halton is committed to making a posi tive difference in the lives of women in transition, crisis or distress by helping them understand their alternatives, make positive changes in their lives and reach their highest potential. "We do this through peer counseling, educational programs, support groups and resource services," Walter said. The 15 nominees were indeed an impressive core group, and all were rec ognized for their extraordinary dedica tion to a diverse array of volunteer efforts, with certificates and gift bags prior to the final announcements. Along with other charitable activi ties, Carole Jewitt has worked tirelessly for the Multiple Sclerosis Carnation Campaign. Jamie Smith · Special to the Oakville Beaver Halton Women of the Year winners from left to right, Marina Lloyd, Betty Chauvin, Joyce Savoline, and Catherine Bobesich sit together at Glen Abbey Golf Club where they were honored last week. Louise Cooke has parlayed her natu ral passion for art into raising millions of dollars for a variety of charitable organizations. Signy Pittm an, a m em ber o f the H alton Regional Police Service serv ice for 22 years, has through both her private and professional accom plishm ents sm oothed the path for wom en w ishing to pursue a career in policing. Marina Lloyd has done exceptional work in family outreach services, assist ing in refugee settlement, respite for parents with handicapped children, and mothers and children fleeing domestic violence. Dorothy Pocock has devoted innu merable hours to environmental con cerns. Lynn Curtin Lange, a branch manag er for CIBC Wood Gundy, volunteers in a number of areas including Halton Women's Place, ALS Concert of Hope, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Wendy McBride has been a Program Manager for SENACA Seniors' Day Program, Meals-on-Wheels, Kiwanis Bingos, and is involved with the United Way and the Halton-Peel Strategic Planning Project Advisory Committee. which raises $50,000-$70,000, primari ly to benefit local children's charities. Helen Dubeau is very involved in a variety of community projects includ ing Guides and Brownies, her church, quilting, and Paddle for a Cure. In addition to her full-time job as Assistant to the Dean, School of Sciences and Technology at Sheridan College, Bonnie Grant labours diligent ly, for the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario. C hristine Long is passionately devoted to the cause of women grap pling with post-partum depression, and as executive director of PASS CAN is committed to bringing aware ness, understanding and support to thousands of women and their fam i lies. Renee Sandelowsky is the founder and president of O akvillegreen Conservation Association, a not-forprofit, grassroots group dedicated to "Truly all the 15 women nominat ed are genuine winners." · Melvina Walter, Women' s Support and Information Centre o f Halton Halton Regional Chair Joyce Savoline regularly supports local com munity groups, charities and non-profit organizations, engages in hundreds o f speaking engagements annually, serves as a volunteer on many community groups and committees and sits on numerous boards. Savoline is a driving force for the annual Chair's Charity Golf Classic protecting our natural environment, and one which has been hugely instru mental in raising awareness on these important issues. Rita Thompson advocates diligently for women's rights both in the work place and domestically. Thompson has been involved in ALS fundraising, the United Way campaign, the Candlelight Vigil commemorating victims of the Montreal Massacre, Take Back the Night, and Halton Women's Place. Betty Chauvin is a geriatric vol un teer at O akville T rafalgar M em orial H ospital, knits scarves, m itts and afghans for the hom eless, and w orks activ ely for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, w hile still m anaging to make m eals, visit the sick and com fort the lonely and dis tressed. Catherine Bobesich, an ovarian can cer survivor, has a strong record of per sonal achievement in both the business and the volunteer worlds. A major proponent of the "Look Good, Feel Better" program for can cer patients, she is president of the Zonta Club of Oakville, and particu larly dedicated to W ellspring, while serving as chair on the Relay for Life comm ittee with the Canadian Cancer Society. With such an amazing array of pro fessional and philanthropic talent to choose from, one can see the difficulty of choosing just four. But after much deliberation, the selection com m ittee finally decided on Bobesich, Chauvin, Lloyd, and Savoline. Despite their diverse backgrounds, the four women reiterated a common them e in their brief acceptance speeches. All said they were "honoured", yet "hum bled" to have been singled out for this distinguished award, and grat ified to have played a role in women helping women. Anyone interested in supporting the W om en's Centre can purchase an annual membership for $15 or make further inquiries by calling 905-8475520. IAH W alk/R un is June 9 The Annual Memorial Walk/Run for Ian Anderson House (IAH) is Sunday, June 9. The fundraiser for the cancer hospice -- is a family affair with 4 and 8 km routes, fol lowed by prizes and a barbecue. Registration -- $10 for adults, free for children -- takes place from 10 to 11 a.m., then the walk begins at 2635 Lakeshore Rd. east of Winston Churchill Boulevard, where participants are asked to park. The event finishes up at IAH, 430 Winston Churchill, for a free barbecue. Call 905-8224938 or 905-849-5852. I n t h h a t 's i g h t e r n t w s p e t a c c e f a h o s s s n t e a s . i c e e e d a s p 6621 Guelph Line (1km South of Derry Rd) · Open to the public · Senior (60+) rates available or apply on Monday/Tuesdays · 20 & 40 Game packages available 905-319-5991 Bronte Creek Provincial Park P a r k M a n a g e m e n t P la n P ro p o s e d A m e n d m e n t The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Parks proposes that the Bronte Creek Provincial Park Management Plan (1998) be amended to deregulate and dispose of approximately 1.3 hectares (3.2 acres), including a residence and single car garage. The property has been deemed surplus and is described as: Part of Lot 31, Concession 2, South of Dundas Street (S.D.S.) in the former Township of Trafalgar, now in the Town of Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton, 1470 Bronte Road (Regional Road 25) Comments or questions should be directed by July 5, 2002 to the attention of: Dave Boddington Assistant Park Superintendent Bronte Creek Provincial Park 1219 Burloak Drive Burlington, ON L7R 3X5 Tel: (905) 827-6911 Comments and information collected by Ontario Parks will be done so under the authority of the Provincial Parks Act (1990) to assist in determining public consultation needs and decision making for Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Comments and opinions will be kept on file and may be included in study documentation that is made available for public review. Under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (1987) personal information provided to Ontario Parks will remain confidential unless prior consent is obtained. However, the Ministry of Natural Resources may use this information to seek public input on other resource management surveys and projects. For further information regarding this Act, please contact Brian Huis, Parks Planning Specialist at (519) 8734617 or brian.huis@mnr.gov.on.ca. This notice is provided under authority of the Provincial Parks Act (1990) and also complies with condition six of Exemption Order MNR-59/2 made under the Environmental Assessment Act (1990). This Exemption Order helps to achieve environmental protection by requiring that projects in provincial parks follow all provincial park guidelines and policies and are described in plans made available for the Ministry of the Environment and the public prior to implementation. 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