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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 5, 2008 - 31 Tough but rewarding job they love to do By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Three couples in Halton are the sturdy branches in the family trees of hundreds of foster children. While the Halton Children's Aid Society (CAS) honoured 37 foster parents who have devoted between one and 40 years to caring for the region's most vulnerable population, the spotlight shone at Friday's Foster Parent Recognition Night, on three couples who have given 405 children a safe, secure, loving place to call home. For Blanche and John McMillan fostering fulfilled their love of cuddling newborn babies. Since 1978 the Burlington couple has swaddled 110 foster babies in their caring arms. "There's nothing like the feeling when a baby locks eyes with you while being fed," said John. With four children of their own the decision to foster was a family one. At the time their youngest, twin girls, were eight years old, the oldest of their two boys 12 and Blanche was a teacher turned stay-at-home mom. Even though their children have grown and flown the coop and John has retired, he has a new role as a duty dad at their four-year-old foster child's preschool and Blanche has taken a part-time job at the Oakville Parent-Child Centre. Currently, the energetic and fun-loving couple cares for two children who have lived with them since they were one and four days old. The eldest is now four and the younger one just 2-1/2. "Although we have treated all of our foster kids as our own, we know we will have to say goodbye some day as we have all of the others who have been reunited with their families or adopted," said Blanche. But the McMillan's certainly "The reward is in knowing that you have shown a child a different way of life, with a caring family -- and that is a perspective they need." June Ashwell "We've made it our job to let kids know that there are people in the world who'll stick by them, no matter what," she added. For the Ashwells that person is Doreen Laurent. She has been the couple's much needed relief for more than 28 years, giving up weekends in summer and any other time June and Don need downNIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER time. Their daughter Cathy and husTHANKS: Executive Director for Halton Children's Aid Society Nancy MacGillivray (left) and Board of Directors President Martine Lewis (right) recog- band James have also been integral nize Oakville foster parents Don Ashwell (from left), June Ashwell, Carolyn Booth and Bill Booth. The Ashwells began fostering for the Halton CAS in 1966. They have fostered over 145 children. The Booths began fostering in 1973 caring for more than 150 children. Both couples were presented with plaques from CAS Halton as an appreciation of their decades of service. don't have plans to bid adieu to the CAS Foster Parent Program. They have as much empathy and love to give many more infants in the region. "The little muffins have been good for us," John said. In the Booth clan, fostering has influenced three generations. Carolyn and Bill Booth have devoted 35 years of their lives to caring for 150 children who came to their Oakville home strangers and left as extended family of Carolyn, Bill and their four children son Jim and Blain and daughters Tracie Michaud and Rhonda Bell. Carolyn's dad Olaf Berry and his six siblings became foster children in 1917 after their mom died at childbirth. He gave back by becoming a foster parent with wife Mary through the Toronto Catholic Children's Aid Society. Carolyn carried on the family tradition when she married Bill and moved to Oakville. Now her daughter Tracie is doing the same with husband Mark. "We have weathered the good, bad and ugly days of fostering and have all of the wrinkles, blood pressure medicine and hair loss to prove it," said Carolyn. Currently four foster children, aged eight to13 still call the Playter Place abode `home' and the Booths' `family'. Developmentally delayed and disabled kids have an advocate and number one supporters in June and Don Ashwell, who celebrated their 40-year anniversary as foster parents. "I love a challenge," said June who has wended her way through more medical and education bureaucracies than she can count. The couple has never been without a foster child throughout all of those years. to their lives taking the foster children "to places that we're too old to take them, such as Wonderland and bowling," said June. Such support for the caregiver is a vital reason the Ashwells have remained foster parents for four decades. "Foster parents shouldn't expect too much from themselves. They must take relief. We can't give 100 per cent of ourselves, we have to keep five per cent for ourselves," said June. Her other bit of sage advice is that while foster children want love and security in their lives they don't necessarily want to give it back. The reward is in knowing that you have shown a child a different way of life with a caring family --- and that is a perspective they need, said June. 21 YS ! A T D EF L My Christmas List "Go to Randor Jewellery." They make beautiful high quality jewellery. Randor has trained gemmologists and diamond specialists that will help you choose the right diamond for me. They have been in business for over 20 years. 4316 Village Center Court, Mississauga 905-566-5583 *** no gimmicks, no fast talk, no high pressure sales *** www.Randor.com Wholesale Jewellery