OkillLiving LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN Phone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com Realtors opened door to those at Distress CentreBy Angela BlackburnOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFhey lived together for a year, but didnt make it known publicly. TTheyve since gone their separate ways, but each will each remain fond of the other.When Oakvilles Distress Centre (ODC) found itself without a home a couple of years ago, Ruth Anne Winter, her daughters Kim Saxton and Wendy Saunders and the adminis-trative team at Sothebys International Realty Canada (Oakville), opened their door.After living together for at least a year and keeping it quiet (the ODC does not disclose its location publicly) the ODC moved out on its own again and Sothebys International Realty Canada (Oakville) said goodbye to its long-time guests.While those at the Allan Street office may have felt the place was a little empty as they settled back into having the office space they need for their work, they were not forgotten by the centre.The so-called co-habitation allowed the MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVERODC to save some cash and take the time to find the right place for its future.According to Winter, it was not difficult to BETWEEN FRIENDS:Oakville Distress Centre Executive Director Kassandra Sawatzky, left, and Sally Fazal, right, chair of the centre's board, presentco-exist with the ODC staff and volunteers. the 2011 Hero Award to Ruth Anne Winter, centre, and Sotheby's International Realty Canada (Oakville). Also pictured Wendy Saunders, top left, AgnesAfter all, they are well known for being good Jedrszczyk, Kim Saxton, Doug Bennett and Laurie Hall. Absent is Dave Ritchie.listeners and there was extra space.But the ODC did not forget the good deed after it moved out this past spring.message, said Sawatzky.that saw a board of directors presentation of into their office building until we could findOn Thursday, Saunders, Saxton and Winter It seems the centre is not new to Winter the Progress and Plans for the Future, a busi-another appropriate office space, saidwere honoured with the ODCs Hero Award whose mom, Ruth Folland, was a distress line ness meeting, annual review and election of Sawatzky. a glass trophy crafted by an artist in the form volunteer some 30 years ago, when the centre board members.It helped the ODC not only save money, butof an inukshuk as the centre held its 37th was first known as the Oakville Crisis Centre.The physical location of the Oakvilleit bought it precious time.annual general meeting.The ODC was founded in 1974 and has been Distress Centre has always been confidentialRuth Anne Winter, Kim Saxton, WendyThey went above and beyond anything we serving Oakville, Milton and surrounding area and not disclosed to the public. A couple of Saunders, Doug Bennett, Laurie Hall, Agnescould ever imagine to help our centre during a for nearly 40 years.years ago, we were in a position where we hadJedrszczyk, Dave Ritchie and everyone atdifficult and challenging situation. We are for-It was founded in response to a community to move because the old building we were inSotheby's shared their office space with us forever grateful, said centre executive director needs assessment study, which showed the was being torn down. We had to find anothermore than a year and they kept our locationKassandra Sawatzky.need for a service to provide immediate, free, facility and we began searching for office spaceconfidential and secure. That was an extraordi-Meanwhile Winter said, We were hon-confidential support by telephone for those in in Oakville that would meet all our criteria,nary and generous gift for our centre. Theyoured. We were humbled. They went far and distress or crisis.said Sawatzky.needed their office space for their own businessabove what they needed to do to say thank you. Services have grown from 200 calls a year, A search proved not to be fruitful so theneeds, but they chose instead to share theirWe never expected it and we would have never fielded on Friday and Saturday nights, to an ODC, which is largely funded by the Unitedoffice space with us. Everyone at Sotheby'sexpected it.average of 8,000 to 10,000 annual calls, fielded Way of Oakville (UWO), connected with UWOInternational Realty Canada (Oakville) was mostSally Fazal, ODC board chair and Sawatzky 365 days of the year, by almost 100 volunteers.CEO Barbara Burton and former mayor Annhospitable and kind in supporting our centre,presented the 2011 Oakville Distress Centre The ODC is funded by the United Ways of Mulvale, who was chair of the UWO campaignour volunteers and our staff, said Sawatzky.Hero Award to Sothebys International Realty Oakville and Milton, and receives some Ontario at the time.It just evolved, said Winter. It just seemedCanada (Oakville).Trillium Foundation funding. The remainder Barbara and Ann gave us some great leadsthe right thing to do.The traditional meaning of the inukshuk is of its budget is raised through fundraising to follow up with and one of those leads wasAnd now that everyone is in their own spaceSomeone was here or You are on the right events, community donations, and the support Ruth Anne Winter and Sotheby's Internationalagain, Winter admits she misses the companypath.of many local businesses and service clubs.Realty Canada (Oakville), said Sawatzky.in the office.The Oakville Distress Centres mission to Winter and her team were touted as heroes In our conversations, we were absolutelyIf you stay late at the office and go down-befriend those in our community to better at the recent AGM held at the Knights of surprised and shocked by Sotheby'sstairs, you think, Nobody is down there now,cope with loneliness, crisis, and emotional Columbus Hall.(International Realty Canada (Oakville)) kindsaid Winter, adding, You know, you wantstress is captured well by the inukshuks quiet It was among the highlights of the meeting and very generous offer to move our centresomeone to keep the homefires burning.15 Friday, July 1, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com