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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday March 26, 2003 -C3 Essence of a Woman features fashion Mahaffy to speak about life s positive choices By Wilma Blokhuis BRA VER FCX'.US ED ITO R Debbie Mahaffy of Burlington wants to put the tragic loss of her daughter Leslie behind her and move on with her life. Her 14-year-old daughter was bru tally killed by Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka in 1991. Homolka is serving 12 years for the murder and will be released in July 2005. and Bernardo is serving a life sentence. Recently, Mahaffy became involved with The Woman's Centre and has joined its board of directors. Mahaffy. who will also act as a spokesperson for The Women's Centre, will be the guest speaker at the upcom ing Essence o f a Woman fashion event on Tuesday April 22. a fundraiser for the centre. Essence o f a Woman is a silent auc tion, dinner and fashion show evening at the Burlington Convention Centre, 1120 Burloak Dr. north of the QF.W. from 6 - 1 0 p.m. Music will be per formed by Gerry Tymstra. "Hopefully I'll be able to give an uplifting talk, one that's in tune with our theme." said Mahaffy. while in Oakville recently as guest of an in-store fashion show at Mainstream on Reynolds Street. The upscale, lifestyle ladies fashion store has adopted The Women's Centre as its main charity about two-and-a-half years ago, and will be presenting the fashion show at Essence o f a Woman. It also donates unsold clothing to The Women's Centre that it sells to raise funds. Established in 1991. Mainstream is owned and operated by Shirley Jane Scarfo and her daughter Laura-Lynn Scarfo. (The store also supports the Oakville and District Humane Society and Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, among other charities.) Mahaffy. currently out of work, had been the national victims manager for M A D D Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). She worked at its Mississauga office for less than a year " when I took some time off to support my sister who had leukemia and also had a bone marrow transplant in September 2002. It was very difficult for me to look after my sister and work full time." earrie trsxine · uaKvute iseaver Mahaffy will be speaking about a Ja v n M illette and L aura-L ynn Scarfo of M ainstream hold a small Essence o f a Woman poster with Debbie M ahaffy woman's right to make positive choices. " Sometimes women feel they're in a and M elvina W alter of The W om en's C entre. M ahaffy is the guest speaker at the April 22 silent auction, dinner and position where they don't have choices, fashion show at the B urlington C onvention C entre, and M ainstream will present the fashions. but we do. Victims of Crime, the first office of its John's United Church as a counseling helped more than 3,500 women from "W e have to make difficult deci ' kind in Canada, on contract during the scrvice for abused women coming out across Halton. sions, deal with demands on the job. For first three years it was opened. Six years ago, the centre began hon of Halton Women's Place into the com me. leaving my job to look alter my sis Essence o f a Woman w ill be a munity. ouring outstanding women with its ter was a difficult decision. Sometimes fundraiser for The Women's Centre, They were counseled about separa annual Halton Women of the Year. The choices come with a cost. Financially it which lost its core provincial funding tion and divorce, employment, self awards gala also became a fundraiser. was a difficult choice, but it was the three years ago. Tickets for Essence o f a Woman cost esteem, and anger management. The Since the centre's funding was cut by centre also offers peer counseling, $75 and are available at The Women's right choice." Mahaffy still drives three hours to visit her sister regularly in the the Ontario Women's Directorate, the career and business programs, educa Centre, Hopedale Mall. Ste. 210. hospital. centre has had to increase its fundrais tional workshops, and personal growth Rebecca Street and Third Line, call Previously she was with the Ministry ing activities to remain open. 905-847-9104. or Mainstream, 90 and development workshops. of the Attorney General's Office for Reynolds St.. 905-338-7771. The centre began 14 years ago at St. Last year. The Women's Centre Centre seeks nominations for Halton Women of Year The Women's Centre is holding its sixth annual Women of the Year Awards celebration. This gala event honours women who have made a special con tribution lo community life in Halton in four different categories: Health and Wellness, Arts and Culture. Personal Achievement plus Community and Humanitarian Services. The event also recognizes the Women's Centre by being a major fundraiser for the services that the centre provides to the women of Halton. Glen Abbey G olf Club is again the site for this year's awards celebration to be held on Thursday, May I, at 6:30 p.m. "The contribution that Halton women make to this community is amazing." said Melvina Walter. Exe cutive Director of the Women's Centre. " We arc always impressed by the caliber of women who are nominated and the support of the event. The awards honour the many women in Halton whose exemplary services to others raise the bar on leadership, responsiveness, action, perseverance and social awareness. They are our neighbours, relatives and colleagues." Through this awards program. The Women's Centre is able to bring special recognition to the roles that women have in the community life of Halton women who are inspiring, who break new ground and whose interest and action change and better lives. Last year, four women were hon oured. Catherine Bobesich, Betty Chauvin, Marina Lloyd and Joyce Savoline. The guest speaker at this year's event is Oriah Mountain Dreamer, visionary teacher and author of The Invitation and The Dance. The award ceremony will feature a silent auction, raffle, hors d'ocuvres, dessert, tea. coffee and a cash bar. Tickets cost $35 per person and can be ordered through The Women's Centre, Hopedale Mall. Rebecca Street and Third Line, Ste. 210. Nomination forms can also be obtained through The Centre by calling 905-847-9104. Nominations must be received by Thursday, April 3. Platinum sponsors for this year's event are the Zonta Club of Oakville and the Ontario Heartland Chorus. Living with cancer talk April is Cancer Awareness Month. Chances are, everybody w ill be affected by cancer, either directly or indirectly through family members, friends or col leagues. Dr. Sol Stem, a family physician practicing in Oakville and Halton Healthcare Services, will present a talk titled Living with Cancer on Tuesday, April I at 7 p.m. at the Galaxy Banquet Hall in Oakville. He will be joined by Joyce, an individual who will speak about her journey w ith cancer. Attend to learn more about pain man agement; managing the side effects of treatment: and the benefits of relaxation, healthy eating and a support system. Cancer is not always accompanied by pain, not even in its advanced stages. But when there is pain, help is available. Pain can be controlled. Advances made in recent years ensure that there are now many options available to relieve pain. It is important to be familiar with the side-effects of cancer treatments and its causes. Not only does knowledge reduce fear, but some side-effects can be elimi nated or eased through treatment changes, medication, or changes in diet. There are a number of relaxation methods that teach participants tech niques for decreasing stress, potentially resulting in better sleep, increased ener gy, and improved mood. Healthy eating helps individuals with cancer to slay strong during treatment, and fight infec tion. Individuals with cancer may gain comfort and reassurance from others who have similar diagnoses - knowing that they are not alone, while discover ing and sharing new ways to cope, com municate about and live with cancer. There are support groups available local lyIndividuals with cancer arc encour aged to attend this seminar with their families. A question and answer period will follow the presentations. This free seminar will be held at the Galaxy Banquet Hall in Oakville. Light refreshments and displays will be avail able between 6:30 and 7 p.m. and the presentation will begin at 7 p.m. To reserve a seat, call 905-338-4379 or e-mail lrohm@haltonhealthcare.on.ca The seminar is being presented by Halton Healtheare^Services - OakvilleTrafalgar Memorial Hospital. Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Palliative Care Association, and Wellspring. For more information, contact the Cancer Information Service at 1-888939-3333 or www.cancer.ca. M AKE A DIFFERENCE! CERV O ntario CERV O n ta rio is C o m m u n it y E m e rg e n c y R e sp o n se V o lu n te e rs O n t a r io · prom otes em ergency preparedness and response in com m unities across O n ta rio ; · trains local volunteers to respond quickly, safely and effectively w hen an em ergency occurs; · focuses on local hazards ana risks to provide the most effective support in O ntario's communities. Step up to the ch allenge: C all your m u n icip ality about the CERV O n ta rio program in your area. You m ay be able to join a program a lre a d y in place or help start a CERV O n ta rio program in your community. V isit w w w .C E R V O n ta rio .c a fo r m ore info rm a tio n . Ontario www.CERVOntario.ca CERV Ontario is a program of the Government of Ontario.