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* ~ ~ ~ ~ v * 1- ~4 Whitby Free Press Wednesday, May 11, 1994, Page 35 IDJZAUSEZwr. HE 10l~z Y:EfflR. #' Work together for positiOve chng, ys Letheren By Jil Mclntosh Women need to empower other women, end both sexes have to work together to ensure the rightful place of women in Society. That was the message from Carol Anne Letheren, guest speaker at a dinner com- niemorating the lth anniversary of Denise House, a shelter for abused women and children in Oshawa. No stranger to comrnty service and the betterment or women Letheren's lengthy list to accomp1ishments includes Sitting on a number of various boards and comnmittees. These have included the Toronto Sun's Wornen Iàke Me, Toronto Life Fashion's Womnen Who Make the Dîfference and women's projecte for CIDA. Currently president of the Canadian Olympic Association and memberofthe International O1yrpje Committee, Letheren included several anecdotes in her speech concerning her work with Canada's Olympic tearne in South Korea and also her travels throughout India and the Caribbean. Having extensive first-hand knowledge of such countries, she reminded the audience that ['Mi w I ï ý*iJii WILL BE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN HER LFETIME P eopie dont like to talk abOxUt i, but sexual assatili is widetspreud. Thats whiy May Ihas been declared Sexual Assault Prevention Month I Ontario. Slkxti:il assault isany sextial awivity iiiposed on a person wihout consent, It cotild ixesextial touching, kissing, fondling, or rpe. Most wortien who have I-Pen assaultc.i know ihieir atacker. lie iiiiglit be a 1-x>yfriend or husb.ind, a fniend ()r an acuaintance. W(>ilefl have the rnglit 10 refuse sexual adv'ances ai any po)int. And men have a resp)nsihiility to resp!ct tit right by inaking sure îliey have consent. If. yottve I.een.sexti.lly assaulied, talk to sorieo(ne you trust. Contact a r.pe crisis or sexuat assatilt centre, a w0ofefls cotinseling or icaitlh care service or a crsis lne. AiY SEXUA±. ACTr wrmOUT CONSENT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT. rS AGAINST TH-E LAW. Ontario womnens Dirotrate Number 27 and a representative from Druxnmond White's office, presented Denise House with plaques in recognition of a decade of community service. Originally opened in 1984 as 'Auberge,' the shelter has oprated either near or at more tan capacity every year since then. Ini 1988, ex-resident Dense Penny was tracked te western Canada and murdered by her husband. That year, the seter was renamed te honour her and te remind the community of the need for safe haven for abused families.' In addition te providfing a secure, violenoe-free refuge, Denise House also offers counselling (both te residents and those who do flot wish te stay at the shelter), an Outreach p rogrami for ex-residents and a 24-hour criais line. Ini her opening remarks president Sylvia Head announced that an application for a 25-unit housing development had flot only been accepted by the Ministry of Housing and Jobs Ontario, but had been expanded te 60 units. The housing for abused women will offer affordable, quality homes, but Head praised it more because it would offer women "pride in ownership and empowerment," which will help them become seif-sufficient. Committee member Sandra McCormack also mentioned that Dense House will be expanding te 27 beda> from 22 bedà this year,' a substantial increase from the 10-bed facility that was started in 1984. Ini 1993, 207 women and 251 children too refuge in the shelter. That plut 19931s occupancy rate at 105 per cent of capacity, with 97 women placed on a waiting list. A registered charity, Dense House accepts cash donations but is qually inne fpouta and food.Man women corne te, the sheltrwt only the clothes they are wearing. "We can use clothes and toys, new or used," says McCorrnack. "Our residents use toothpaste, combs, brushes. The easiest way te put it 18 to say that people should look around their households and see what products their family use. That is what we rieed." Donations cari be made by calling 728-7311. Edwards, chair of Durham Regions health and social services committee, stated that a high proportion of Denise House volunteers are Whitby residents. He praised the work of the shelter, its board of directors and its volunteers, but added, It is regrettable that such a facilit~y is neoessary, but necessary it 15.'f j j jment CAROLE ANN LETHEREN Canada often doesn't realize ît is a role model in the rest of the world, a remark which brought prolonged applause. Letheren reoeived a similar reaction when she said that men and women perceive and react differently te situations, and each should use their strengths te complement the other te make positive changes in socit. For her work, letheren received McCain's Volunteer of the Year Award in 1988, the YWCA's Woman of Distinction Award in 1992, Women Who Make a Differenoe Award from Toronto Life Fashion and The Bay in 1992, and in 1993, an honourary doctor of law degree from the University of Toronto. More than 250 people attended the event held at the General Sikorski Poish Veterans' Hall, including representatives from labour unions, businessee, service, clubs, sehool boards and women's groups. Whitby mayor Tom Edwards Oshawa mayor Nancy Diamond and MPP Alan Pilkey were among several poLiticians present. Diamond and Pilkey, along with the CAW Family Auxidliary Chamber: Budget does littie for deficit The Ontario budget tabled May 5 does littie to achieve meaningful deficit reduction, says the Whitby Chamber of Commerce. Although the budget deficit i8 forecast te be $85 billion, the actual deficit or increase in public debt will be more than $10 billion, according te the chaniber. 'Throuh the use of creative hokery-pokery accounting, the government hs not included $2 billion in capital spending in its budget deficit,' says Allan Faux, first vice-presi dent. In the last budget tabled by Finance Minister Floyd Laughren, the public debt at the end of 199ff96 was forecast te be $90.1 billion. However, in the present budget the figure has been revised te $98.8 billion. This indicates the govemnment is definitely "not on track," says the chamber, questioning what the actual public debt wiIl be at the end of fiscal 199&(96. "Tlhe pleasedi favour Whitby chamber is to see some movement in of business, in the employer's health tax, exaxnple," says Debra general manager. for Filipp Passports soon available for cycling tu The eight cycling routes of the $1, and Canadian'fire money will Tour de Durham have been be accepted. mapped out. Passports will have to be Ail routes run 10 to 15 stamped at participating busi- ilometres. Advanced cycists can nesses along the routes. . take suggested deteurs to make The winning passport will be their routes more challenging. drawn on Sept. 10. Those who complete aIl eight Passports contain detailed routes by Labour Day wiIl be maps and descriptions of historie eligible te win a set of bicycles for interest along the routes which the family. meander through Ajax, Brock, To participate, obtain a Claringten, Oshawa, Pickering, 'passport,' available at ail Scugog, Uxbridge and Why. Canadian Tire stores in Durham, For more information, cal beginning nud-May. The cost is 668-8000 or (416) 869-3763. Ace