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19 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 23, 2009 Take Back the Night marches into Burlington this year By Christina Commisso SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The Take Back The Night team will be taking over Burlington's downtown as the event moves to its City Hall for the first time in its 19-year existence. Previously, it had been held in Oakville. "We wanted a high-profile spot with the hopes we can attract people walking by to the event," said Zehra Haffajee, education co-ordinator for Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Service of Halton (SAVIS). On Tuesday, Sept. 29, Halton residents are asked to take a stand against violence toward women and children. The event originated in Germany in 1973 as a response to a series of sexual assaults, rapes and murders. Since then, Take Back The Night has become an international event with marches held around the globe. With each event, the message remains the same -- women and children have a right to be free from violence. "It's not just a woman's issue. A woman in crisis translates to a community in crisis. It's a serious and pervasive issue in Canada and the region," said Haffajee. She explained violence against women is often not perceived as problem in Halton. "Some communities in Halton are of a higher socio-economic status. Many think those individuals don't experience violence. But violence crosses all boundaries -- class, race and religion." Burlington resident Vesey Latchmy Muthu-Vojtek brings years of experience from her native Malaysia, where she worked with abused women, to her position as a crisis line SAVIS volunteer. The 51 year old has been with the organization for a year and says it's important for women to know they're not alone. "There are so many people going through what they're going through. These women are slowly crawling out of the dark and building on their selfesteem and confidence. They want to go on with their lives," she said. According to SAVIS, 51 per cent of Canadian women will experience at least one incident of sexual or physical violence in their lifetime and two out of three Canadian women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Haffajee explained most statistics on violence against women are obtained through police reports, however, only six per cent of sexual assaults in Canada are reported to police. SAVIS collects its data based on its client usage, which includes a 24hour crisis line, education programs and workshops. Certain communities are at a higher risk for experiencing violence, according to Haffajee, including immigrants, refugees, women of colour, women with disabilities, Aboriginal women and individuals from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans- gender and queer communities. "It's the impact of racism," said Haffajee. "Often times they (women) are told it's their religion or culture that causes or condones abuse. Take Back The Night is a family event that includes an evening of entertainment and activities. Priscilla de Villiers, local victims' rights advocate, will deliver the keynote speech. Priscilla's daughter Nina was abducted and murdered in 1991. Following her daughter's death, Priscilla and a group of friends founded the group Canadians Against Violence, which operated until 2001. Today, Nina's Place, a crisis centre for sexual and domestic assault victims named in the memory of Nina de Villiers, operates out of Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital. The evening runs from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Burlington City Hall Civic Square and includes performances by Olivia Mao's National Children's Dance Troupe, medicine song woman Brenda MacIntyre and an Arabic drum performance accompanied by a belly dancer. Take Back The Night will conclude with a women and children only antiviolence march. "The march asserts that women and children do have a right to walk down the streets at night without male accompaniment and not be afraid," said Haffajee. For more information about SAVIS or Take Back the Night, visit www.savisofhalton.org. CYAN pub night at the Niblick The Community Youth in Action Network (CYAN) is reaching out to the community with a Pub Night fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Niblick Pub. Starting at 7 p.m., there will be live entertainment with The Daily Howl band, a 50/50 draw, and door prizes. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10 per person or $15 per couple. All proceeds will go to the CYAN Youth Service Learning and Philanthropy Program. FREE TRAVEL PREVIEW at Country Inn Hotel 2930 South Sheridan Way, Oakville NEW CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOL 1 9 5 9 2 0 0 9 Please register your attendance by Friday October 16th CRAFT SHOW # Over 120 juried crafts people In the Great Gambrel Barn, The Aberfoyle Town Hall and Individual Exhibitor Tents The Milton Farm September 19 & 20 # Handmade Quality # Great Food Sun., Sept. 20, 2:00 pm COMPLETE SOUTH PACIFIC "Australia, New Zealand & Fiji" New Central Public School 50th Anniversary Celebration Open House Friday October 23, 2009 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm (Celebration Evening) # Live Entertainment, Featuring Enriquez Lopez AT: Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Adults $6.00 Children Under 12 FREE Parking FREE A trip of a Lifetime!! departs Feb. 12 for 28 days Call to reserve your place Cap and Gown event benefits students The May Court Club of Oakville's fifth annual Cap and Gown fundraising dinner is on Friday, Oct. 2. The dinner will raise funds for the May Court Club's Scholarship Fund. The May Court Club of Oakville was founded in 1956. It is volunteer run and its projects benefit Oakville's most vulnerable citizens. This upcoming fundraiser will support the May Court Club's own charity, the Scholarship Program. This program is open to all Oakville high school students, at any of the nine publicly-funded local high schools. The criteria for acceptance is a larger than usual financial need and a strong commitment, through volunteerism, to the community, either at school or in the community at large. The May Court Scholarship program allows recipients to re-apply for assistance for up to four years of postsecondary education, or first degree/diploma, whichever comes first. This can be college or university or apprenticeship programs. Since 1994, May Court has given assistance in the amount of more than $235,000 to approximately 225 Oakville graduates. The need becomes greater every year. Tuition costs continually rise, making the dream all that much harder to reach. Everyone is invited to attend the fifth annual Cap and Gown dinner being held at the Oakville Conference and Banquet Centre located at Bronte Road and Wyecroft Road. Tickets cost $80 per person, for the evening that includes dinner, a silent auction and entertainment. Tickets can be purchased through the May Court website at www.maycourt.ca or by contacting Gail Hannigan @ 905-827-2684 or via email at gailhd@cogeco.ca. Saturday October 24, 2009 9:30 am to 11:30 am (Open House, Informal Breakfast, School Tours) Contact: Kathy Blakelock Hogg New Central P.S. Secretary 905 844-3081 or email hoggk@hdsb.ca or Evelyn Quist New Central P.S. 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