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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, January 1, 2015 | 18 continued from p.16 Brajak was employed at a beauty parlor nearby on Church and Reynolds streets. "One day, I was just driving on Lakeshore Road and I remembered this building (on George Street) for many years. I stopped to see what was in it and I saw a sign that said place for rent," Brajak recalled. "I went home and I called the number... that's it. I wasn't planning to do it. It just happened." When it first opened, the salon was "very busy," Brajak said, noting the traffic surrounding George Street while Town Square was under construction. `I am very blessed,' says retiring Oakville stylist "I survived and did very well. In the old days, it was very busy, happy times and I worked long hours -- six or seven days a week then. It was great," said Brajak. Aside from less walk-in clients and traffic in the area, she noted nothing significant has changed in her business in the last 29 years. The business went through one renovation, originally operating out of the building's centre unit for the first nine years. "There was a recession at the time, but even then I was very busy. I kept my business going. I was happy with what I was doing and my friends and clients kept coming I want to thank downtown Oakville for all these years; they were wonderful years. They (customers) brought happiness to me and my friends and family. I will miss them, but I will be here. Mona Brajak Owner of Mona's Coiffure · Auto$retail & Service 5.00 Off Oil · Large Selection of vehicles to Change & e-TesTs Suit every budget · Auto retail & Service · Provide up to 5 · Financing · Large Selectionprovided of Years warranty on · vehicles Provide up to 5 Years warranty on to Suit your vehicle after every budget inspection your vehicle after inspection · Financing provided 00 · $5 off Oil Change & E Tests www.rosaauto.ca www.rosaauto.ca rosa_auto@yahoo.ca 1071 Speers Road 905-337-9339 1071 Speers Road back to me," said Brajak. One of Brajak's customers has remained with her for more than 40 years -- since her first job at a salon on Kerr Street. "I am very blessed to have great friends. I call my clients my friends. I'm really blessed to have (them)," said Brajak. "I have people that come and have a coffee almost everyday for two or three hours, just to visit because they feel comfortable here." The key to Brajak's success over the years has been passion and hard work, she said, adding, "you have to put lots of love and care into it and care about people." "Do it because you want to do it. Do it because you love to do this job. Don't do it because you want to open a hair salon or be a hairstylist," said Brajak. When describing his mother's career, Mike Brajak, one of Mona's four sons, said it's good to have a role model that loves what they're doing and loves the people they take care of. "She did a lot in terms of sacrificing for her family for many years. The spotlight was always on the family. For someone who has treated everybody with kindness and great respect, it's nice that she's going to be able to focus on herself now," said Mike. Aside from spending the holidays with her family and friends, Brajak has no plans yet for retirement, but noted a possibility of continuing to cut hair. "I don't know yet right now, but who knows. One door closes, better door opens," she said. "I want to thank downtown Oakville for all these years; they were wonderful years. They (customers) brought happiness to me and my friends and family. I will miss them, but I will be here." Claude's vaCuum shop Includes Deluxe Air Package Sales · Service · Parts Free Estimates on Repairs Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday · 9am - 6pm Wednesday · 9am - 5pm Saturday · 9am - 4pm sale $39999 Supreme 100, 10 Years Warranty 128 Kerr St., Oakville, ON L6K 3A7 905.842.5658 | claude2@cogeco.net www.claudesvacuum.com Public Information Meeting for Northeast Oakville #1 School Boundary on January 8, 2015 Members of the community are invited to attend a Public Information meeting about the boundary review process for the new elementary school currently under construction in Oakville. The school is scheduled to open in September 2015 and will be located in the area north of Dundas St and east of Neyagawa Blvd. The schools impacted by this boundary review include River Oaks PS and Sunningdale PS. The meeting will be an opportunity to review the boundary scenarios being considered and advise members of the public how they can provide on-line feedback regarding the scenarios. The scenarios to be presented at the meeting will be posted on the Halton District School Board website (www.hdsb.ca). Members of the public are asked to check the website prior to the meeting. The scenarios will be posted as soon as they are available. Date: Time: Location: © Tim Hortons, 2010 Sometimes the best presents don't come in a box. Your local Tim Hortons invites you to a Free Holiday Skate. It's our way of saying thank you and happy holidays. Pick up a schedule of ice times and locations from a Tim Hortons in Oakville, or visit www.timhortons.com. Thursday, January 8, 2015 7:00 p.m. White Oaks Secondary School ­ South Campus (cafeteria) 1330 Montclair Drive, Oakville