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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday March 29, 2008 - 21 Familiar face will be knocking on the door By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF much so, very much so," says long-time west Oakville resident Shirley Dunlop who, over the years has become a very familiar face at the door in Bronte every April. Nearing her 60th birthday, Dunlop is described by those who know her at the Canadian Cancer Society, Oakville Unit as having "a very big heart." She's a long-time canvasser for the Canadian Cancer Society, Oakville Unit and hits the pavement to do a job not many relish. The fact that Dunlop has a big heart is evident in her return to the job each April -- year after year. It's people like her that allow the fundraisers at the Oakville Unit to take a welcome breath as they try to find people to tackle the door-todoor challenge. The Canadian Cancer Society's annual Residential Canvas is one of the society's largest fundraisers, but still it's about as popular as public speaking to find people willing to knock on doors asking for money. It's handy then that Dunlop, a nurse by profession, spends most of her winter and spring, not being a snowbird in southern climes, but knocking on doors -- that is when she's not making public presentations for her husband John's company, Debt Freedom Canada. In February, Dunlop knocks on doors for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. In March, it's for the Kidney Foundation. And, in April, it's time for the Cancer Society's annual Residential Canvass. For the past month, Dunlop has been co-ordinating canvassing kits and her team. That team is much more sparse than either Dunlop or the local Cancer Society would like, but that's how it appears to go when you go door to door. A "They say if you want something done, ll help is welcome. "Very ask a busy person." Shirley Dunlop, canvasser for the Canadian Cancer Society, Oakville Unit Though she's officially called a zone captain, with ideally, five team leaders and a dozen canvassers under each team leader, Dunlop finds she is most of all of them -- responsible for covering about 50 routes. She has a student who has volunteered for a couple of years to drop off envelopes in areas she can't get to. Dunlop also has one team leader and about a dozen canvassers who will be on the job. The rest of the positions on that ideal team, are currently being filled by Dunlop. The mother of two grown children, who has lived in the Coronation Park area for 35 years, says she has lost track of time when it comes to how long she has been canvassing in the local Cancer Society's residential campaign. "It has to be 15 or 20 years," said Dunlop, explaining, "I was coerced into doing it by a neighbour and I stuck with it." Over the years, Dunlop said she has also learned not to take the "Nos" personally and to focus on the friends she's made, the nice spring walks that canvassing translate to and the worthwhile cause behind it all. "It's a good cause," said Dunlop, noting she has lost a mother-in-law and brother-in-law to cancer, as well as several good friends. While she prefers not to look back over the past two decades of canvassing for negative experiences, Dunlop is quickly able to recall one of the good ones. She recalls the couple that was eating dinner one night when she called and asked that she return the next day. LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER "They say, if you want something done, ask a busy person," said Dunlop who is hoping that other busy Oakvillians will see their way clear to also going for a nice spring walk and knocking on the doors of about 25 homes on a canvassing route -- which takes about an hour. The Canadian Cancer Society, Oakville always needs volunteers for its residential campaign, which runs throughout the month of April. It asks residents to gather a group of friends or family members and host a neighbourhood "blitz" night. Canvassers can choose one night during the month and canvass a local neighbourhood in teams of two. Each route consists of 20-30 houses. The Residential Canvass is also a way to honour a loved one by dedicating a canvass night to a friend or family member that is currently battling cancer or who has lost their life to the disease. The Residential Canvass was kicked off by the sale of daffodils during Daffodil Days, which continue until tomorrow, Sunday, March 30. "They are both such important fundraisers in our community," said Lisa Moffatt, Fundraising Co-ordinator of the Oakville Unit. "It's the enthusiastic, warm-hearted volunteers that make these campaigns such a tremendous success each year. We can't do it without them," said Moffatt. Student volunteers are also encouraged to take part in the campaign as a way to complete community service hours. Students also have the chance to participate in the Residential Envelope Drop Campaign. Envelope drops involve students distributing donation envelopes to the mailboxes of homes where there are no canvassers scheduled for the spring campaign. Anyone interested should contact the Oakville Unit located at 635 Fourth Line, Unit 51 or call at 905-845-5231. WHO COULD SAY NO?: Shirley Dunlop is a long-time Oakville resident and a long-time door-to-door canvasser for the Canadian Cancer Society, Oakville Unit Residential Campaign, which takes place throughout April. She did, and not only did they contribute a very generous donation, but they have become friends over the years. Now, Dunlop looks forward to stopping in for a visit each year and to seeing many of the folks on her Bronte routes who now await her return each April. 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