The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 2, 2007 - 31 Learn about skilled trades The Centre for Skills Development and Training will celebrate Skilled Trades Day on Monday, Nov. 5 with an open house for the public. The centre, which serves Halton, is located at 860 Harrington Court in Burlington. Its open house will run from 5­8 p.m. offering visitors an opportunity to see the trades in action through demonstrations of skills, tools, and machines. They will also be able to talk to students and instructors, and take tours of the facility. "Even though the skilled trades industry is an excellent career path, many young people don't know what trades careers looks like or what they entail," said Nancy Moore, senior programs manager at the centre. To learn more call 905-333-3499, ext. 121 or visit www.thecentre.on.ca. Reading | Writing | Math | Spelling | Grammar | French | Study Skills DEREK WOOLLAM / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER HERE TO STAY: Celebrating The Women's Centre's first anniversary in its new home at Hopedale Mall is Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, Eileen Dalusong of The Ontario Women's Directorate, Melvina Walter, Executive Director of the Women's Centre, Angela DiCintio of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Erin McAllister of United Way, Gilmar Militar from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Jean Haynes, Treasurer of the Women's Centre and Dona Reid, Chair of the Women's Centre. Little Readers Registration NOW OPEN LITTLE READER Women's Centre wants a place to call home By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER INSIDE EVERY CHILD IS A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT. For every age, for every need, Oxford Learning has a program to help your child succeed! Diagnostic Assessments Individualized Programs Enrichment Programs Confidence & Motivation Pre-K to Grade 12 Better Grades Voted Best Learning Centre There are 2,000 reasons Melvina Walter wants to move The Women's Centre into a permanent home. Each of the women in crisis or transition who walk through the non-profit centre's doors every year deserve such stability, said Walter. She is unapologetic and unabashed about her goal. Surrounded by funders from the Ontario Women's Directorate, Trillium Foundation and United Way of Oakville during an open house celebrating the Centre's new location in Hopedale Mall, Walter was grateful, but determined. With ample contributions the new space on the second floor of the mall is newly decorated, reconfigured and filled with donated workspaces and a refrigerator. But the $3,000 monthly rent that comes with it is crippling for the non-profit organization that relies on more than 100 volunteers to keep its programs "After 18 years in this community, we're here to stay, we've proved we're needed and ensuring our future stability is the next step." Melvina Walter, The Women's Centre and services running. "While it's amazing what we do with so little money, we can't afford to stay here for the long term," said Walter. There's also no money to put down on a house, "but maybe someone out there has some for us," she added. It is the diminutive woman's forthright and outspoken way that has ensured the existence of such a resource in Halton for the past 18 years. She is the only full-time person on staff as executive director and invests upwards of 5060 hours per week to make the centre run. "It's a passion for me, not a job," said Walter. Two part-time employees assist, as a volunteer co-ordinator and office manager. Statistically, one in four women in Halton has experienced at least one incident of violence at the hands of a boyfriend or husband. Half of the 2,000 women who come to the centre located at Hopedale Mall are facing abusive situations. As a result, thousands of women have benefited from the Women's Centre's slate of services, including free counselling, employment assistance, legal advice, money management, emotional support and more than 40 workshops. A newly adopted logo is symbolic of the determination that lies within the Women's Centre's goal for a house. It's a simple sketch in purple outlining the shape of a peaked house and a solid purple heart in the centre of it. "After 18 years in this community, we're here to stay, we've proved we're needed and ensuring our future stability is the next step," said Walter. A better future for your child starts here! Contact us today for more information. www.oxfordlearning.com 1131 Nottinghill Gate, Oakville (905) 469-1929 380 Dundas St. E. Oakville (905) 257-1207 Maple Grove Village 511 Maple Grove Dr. Suite 2, Oakville (905) 849-4027 EARANCE BRIC CL FA on End of Seas Our new fall stock is arriving daily, so help us make room and take advantage of the savings! HURRY IN FOR THE BEST SELECTION! We specialize in Custom Window Treatments & Reupholstery Free DEIPP clinic on Monday Parents with a child under age five who are concerned about their child's hearing, speech, behaviour or development can look to a free Developmental Early Identification Prevention Program (DEIPP) consultation clinic. A DEIPP clinic is being offered on Monday, Nov. 5 at the Oakville Parent-Child Centre located at 1395 Abbeywood Dr. The clinic begins at 9 a.m. and continues to 11 a.m. Consultations are provided on a first come first serve basis, so those attending should arrive early to register. For information call the centre at 905-849-6366. 1881 Fairview Street at Brant, Burlington 905-631-8313 (Located beside Michael's) HOURS: Monday-Thursday 9:30-5:30, Friday 9:30-9:00, Saturday 9:30-5:30, Sunday 11:00-5:00