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85 BRIDGEPORT RD. E. WATERLOO (Across from the Bridgeport Rd. Plaza) Since 1971 519-893-8118 MON., TUES., WED. 10 AM - 6 PM THURS., FRI. 10 AM - 8 PM SATURDAY 9 AM - 5 PM SUNDAY 12 PM - 4 PM Furniture & Mattresses Since 1971 ONDISCONTINUED MERCHANDISE AND SELECTED DISPLAY MODELS 60%UPTOSAVE JANUARY CLEAN SWEEP EVENT For every student who tries a class, we will donate $5 towards a PMA Scholarship to our KidsAbility Program! $2 DONATIONS MADE TO OUR PMA KIDSABILITY CLASS FOR EVERY BOARD BROKEN! OPEN HOUSE EXTRAVAGANZA! Feb. 4th 9:30-2:00 DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIPS! 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Politics south of the bor- der have attracted attention to women's rights in the U.S. and abroad, but the response is also focused right here according to Lyndsey Butcher, executive director of the SHORE Cen- tre in downtown Kitchener, formerly Planned Pregnancy Waterloo Region. Not only did the centre help advocate for a local contingent marching this past weekend, it's also reporting an increase in donations and an uptake in volunteerism. The centre's annual cam- paign in November and December brought in $52,000 -- a 37 increase compared to the year prior.   "We're attributing some of it at least to the fact that more people are engaged in the issue and want to take a stand locally with what's happening in the U.S.," said Butcher. "We're hearing from our supporters, and from new supporters who are finding us, that they are wanting to take action and find a way to resist what's happen- ing, and one way they are able to do that is by supporting local Pro Choice organizations." Carolyn Dutka, who recent- ly signed on to be a volunteer with SHORE, believes U.S. politics could have an effect on voter climate here one day. "Who knows what kind of new Conservative leader we're going to have in the next elec- tion," Dutka said. "It's not impossible that it could hap- pen here." The 26-year-old said Trump's election made her heart break for women who may not have access to abor- tive care in the future. Though she feels secure under the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Dutka recently lived in Ire- land where abortion is illegal. Women wishing to have an abortion there must travel out- of-country to England. That creates class barriers for those who can't afford the trip. Some resort to unregulated and unsafe practies that could lead to unnecessary health compli- cations. "It just really, really made me upset and made me want to get involved in my own com- munity to safeguard the right (to choose)," Dutka said. "I just want to be there for other women. I want to lend my sup- port to organizations that help women." It's important for women to be able to control when and if they have children, Butcher said. "Limiting that choice limits women's opportunity to con- trol their own bodies and their own destinies," she said. Jane Richard, president of Kitchener-Waterloo Right to Life Association, has a different view. The local association will be holding a candlelight vigil this Saturday for "unborn vic- tims" at 6 p.m. outside Kitch- ener City Hall. Though she couldn't quan- tify a direct effect Trump has had on her organization, there was a full house at the Knights of Columbus Hall earlier this month where about 120 people turned out for the Stop Sensor- ship tour, a presentation per- taining to the provincial Free- dom of Information and Pro- tection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) that restricts access to informa- tion about abortion. John Sikkema, a law- yer from the Association for Reformed Political Action, along with pro-life blogger Patricia Maloney, are taking the Ontario Government to court over a section of the act, Richard noted. If anything, Richard said the situation in the U.S. has encouraged more people to speak up. "It might bring some hope to the next election (in Cana- da) and maybe more people willing to speak about it," she said. "It gives them hope that we might have some success in getting some rights for the pre- born here in Canada sometime soon." SHORE is affiliated with Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, an agency with an international advocacy agenda. Butcher said every effort is being made to normalize dis- cussion around abortion and get the message out that it's a "very common medical proce- dure that's safe, which one in three women will experience in their lifetime." Trump election fallout causing waves at local SHORE centre