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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, November 25, 2009 · 14 The Regional Municipality of Halton NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING (Under Section 17 of the Planning Act) Gospel singer hosts Heavenly Night fundraiser for Cambodian sex slaves This Christmas, Canadian singer Kelita is not fundraising for toys to put under a child's Christmas tree, but another safe house for little girls in Cambodia to escape the sex slavery trade -- a place where they'll be able to be little girls briefly enough to want a new toy. That safe house will be called Heavenly Hope Centre. It will be funded from proceeds of the Dec. 5 Heavenly Night concert Kelita will stage at Oakville's The Meeting House. The concert that takes its name from a similarly named, and purposed, CD, will aim to raise awareness and support for the restoration of innocent children who have been rescued Kelita from the sex trade. The concert will be Saturday, Dec. 5. It will run from 7-10 p.m. at The Meeting House, 2700 Bristol Circle. Not only will the concert feature Kelita, a five-time Juno Award nominee, and her allstar band, but also well-known Gospel singer Hiram Joseph. There will also be a presentation by awarded humanitarian Brian McConaghy from the Ratanak Foundation. Kelita, herself a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, visited Cambodia in 2006 and saw firsthand, the dimly-lit, rat-infested rooms where little girls are kept like animals, drugged and beaten into submission. "Most young girls play with dolls, ride bikes and go to school," said Kelita. "In Cambodia, 100,000 children, as young as three, define their childhood as sexual slavery. Innocent children are sexually molested and raped, serving grown men several times in a single day. This is an assault on their dignity, freedom and safety, and we can all do something about it," said Kelita. The singer who has shared the stage with Randy Travis, Reba McEntire and Michelle Wright, uses her Heavenly Night CD and annual holiday concert not only to draw attention to the plight of Cambodian sex slaves, but also to raise money for their rescue and care. All proceeds from December's concert will go directly to Cambodia. "To date, I've helped raise $120,000 to fight the sex trade in Cambodia. This December, my goal is to raise $70,000 to build these girls another safe house so they can escape the sex trade," she said. "It will be called Heavenly Hope Centre." According to Kelita, there is currently a restoration centre in Cambodia that houses 60 young girls and is funded solely through previous concert events. "This year's goal is $70,000 for a new restoration home, as the demand is so great," said Kelita, who noted student Mary Alex Forgione, 13, of St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School for Girls has become a Heavenly Night Ambassador and is now championing the cause by raising money at her school through the sale of gourmet gingerbread houses. "This is a symbol of the home we are building called The Heavenly Hope Centre," said Kelita. Members of the Iroquois Ridge High School choir will also be volunteering their voices on concert night. "This Heavenly Night project has taken on a life of its own and people and sponsors from Mississauga and Oakville have produced an amazing team of donors and volunteers who I work with. The community spirit is wonderful," said Kelita. For tickets and information, contact Good Books Christian Bookstore by phone at 905-844-3102 or e-mail tickets@heavenlynight.org, or visit www.heavenlynight.org. The Council of the Regional Municipality of Halton, through its Planning and Public Works Committee, has scheduled a Statutory Public Meeting on the Halton Regional proposed ROPA 38, pursuant to Section 17 of the Planning Act Location: Council Chambers, Halton Regional Centre The implications of the Statutory Public Meeting or proposed ROPA 38, contact Perry Vagnini, Senior Planner at 905-825-6000, ext. 7987, or toll free at 1-866-442-5866 or by email to Perry.Vagnini@halton.ca www.halton.ca Note: proposed ROPA 38 is adopted by Regional Council, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 38 is adopted, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH. SHOW YOU CARE. Look for our FREE Swim or Adult Work Out Pass offer in this paper! 251109 Susan Lathan, Regional Clerk The Regional Municipality of Halton 905-845-3417 410 Rebecca St., Oakville, ON L6K 1K7 E-mail: customerservice@oakville.ymca.ca