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Wednesday, January 26, 2000 THE QAKVILLE BEAVER B1 OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR OF THE QAKVILLE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL Focus T 1 OAl FOURTH LINE AUTO *· » +Q......................... For A tf y o u r Car's N e e d s TJriffS'Clean Emission Testing Government Safety Inspection Tune-Ups · Brakes · Exhaust · Cooling Systems CAA Approved Shop 559 Speers Read 842-3001 In Business in Oakville Since 1979 Oakville Beaver Focus Editor: WILMA BLOKHUIS 845-3824 (Extension 250) Fax: 337-5567 Lighthouse program provides guidance for grieving children By Claudia D'Souza SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER he naive images drawn on a red construction paper heart tell the stories behind each child's grief. They're happy m em ories o f fishing and cam ping trips, picnics and jau n ts to Canada's W onderland with a loved one who has died. T he youngsters are clien ts o f O akville's L ighthouse P rogram for G rieving/Traum atized C hildren (for merly Seasons Centre). Twice a m onth for one and a half-hours among other children grieving a loss, they get the peer support they need to grow into well-adjusted adults. Ranging in age from 2 to 18, these children and young adults are coping with tragic sce narios. Some witnessed a m urder or suicide or suffered the loss o f a parent, sibling or friend through an illness or a car accident. "It's a preventative program that allows them to face w hat has happened, work through their grief and name the hard feelings they're cop ing with," explains co-facilitator, Jo deLecq M arguerie. "It allows them to evolve as a whole adult." The Lighthouse Program started up in Oakville about a year ago but it was then called Seasons Centre. The recent name change signifies it will soon have its own charitable status separate from the founding Seasons Centre w hich opened in Barrie seven years ago. G roup sessions are offered to the com munity at no cost. Parents are encour aged to m ake a voluntary m onthly donation, although no one will be turned away if they can't contribute financially. Initially sharing space w ith the Oakville Parent Child Centre, the non profit organization m oved into its own unit at K err and Florence Streets last year. Here, it has really com e into its Photo by Peter C. McCusker ow n says co-facilitator, deL ecq Jessica Po, H eather Black, and C aitlin H astings were am ong several M acLachlan College students who painted M arguerie, who runs the program along m urals, including this volcano, on the w alls o f the Lighthouse Program (formerly the Seasons Centre) on Kerr S treet with M arg Humphrey. "Students from M acL achlan C ollege cam e here last fall and really trans form ed the place with a little paint and som e im agination," she grins. "I'm am azed at how they've livened up the m edical green walls." On the w alls, b rig h t prim ary colours, a sm attering o f tiny paint sm udged handprints belonging to each client and murals brightened up the entire facility including the `volcano room ' and the `splash room .' W ith adult supervi sion, the volcano room full o f bean bag chairs and a punching bag helps the children freely express their anger or frustration. In the splash room , they're en c o u r aged to ex p lo re their feelin g s by sp lash in g paint and draw ing on the w alls - all com po nents in w o rk in g through the h ealin g process. But it isn't ju s t the new decor that m ade a difference. "It's g reat to have our ow n space," ad m its d eL ecq M arguerie. "It allow s for greater priva cy and confidentiality. Talking circles and creative play are pow erful tools for children in expressing grief. T his pro gram is truly invaluable. I've w itnessed many transform ations since I've been here." N ot to be confused w ith therapy or counselling, the group sessions are based on the principle every child deserves an opportunity to grieve in a supportive and understanding environ ment. T he problem is, our society has few coping skills w here grief is con cerned. "We are a generation that doesn't know how to handle grief even though it's a natural reaction," notes deLecq M arguerie. "W hen som eone dies, grief doesn't end after a three-m onth m ourn ing process. It's a lifetim e process. W ith peer support these kids can heal and m ove forw ard in a healthy way." Support is also offered to each (See `Lighthouse' page B5) TA B M C L jm D ) CANADA'S LARGEST ^ FASHION FABRIC DISTRIBUTOR HOME DEC DAYS! * » 2 0 -6 6 % *Sewing Club additional 10%on P R IC E OUR REG. OFF Qualcomm QCP-2760! · S lim a n d I j^ h t w e ig h t D e s ig n 1T h e N e w e s t D u a l H a n d I h in I 'lm n e o n th e M a r k e t LIGHTER ADAPTERS HANDSFREE ON OUR ENTIRE STOCK OF R E G . 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