Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 5559) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-m ail: rjerred@haltonsearch.com W'l ;i >m ;s i >.\Y. M . \ i <( :i I 2<i. 2<x> .i · I » a > > e ( :s t in si i n Memories of beloved mom rekindled in book By Paula Henriques O A K V 'l lij ; B E A V H K S T A F F W hen Tom Culligan published a book about his mother's life, he never imagined it would lead to a personal phone call from Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Teacups and Sticky Huns, Culligans first book, touched the Prime Minister so much that he also invited the author to 24 Sussex Dr. "Out of the blue. I get this call from the Prime Minister. He,said he got the book for Christmas and was touched by it. I was blown away." said Culligan. Teacups and Sticky Buns takes the reader through the incredible heroics of Margaret Culligan. a mother of nine children, wife of an abusive and alco holic husband, a gentle spirit to the poor in her community and a woman struggling through a chauvinistic and institutionalized society. "M y mother's story is so powerful." said Culligan, a former long-time Oakville resident. "She had strength, perseverance, and I wanted to share that with folks and others who Jived with absentee husbands, through abu sive relationships. Through all of it. my mother survived, even thrived above it." As a young boy. Culligan remem bers watching his mother repeatedly bearing the brunt of his father's rage. One time he tried grabbing his dad's legs to stop him from hurting his moth er. but to no avail. In the book, he recalled where his father grabbed his mother's head with full force and shoved it into a hot oven. But Culligan said his father never once laid a hand on any of his children. When Margaret finally had the strength to legally separate from him. the Catholic church she faithfully visit ed and her small New Brunswick com munity weren't supportive of her deci sion. not even allowing her to receive Holy Communion, because she wasn't "worthy." As a faithful mass-goer and church organ player. Culligan said the rejec tion from the church broke her heart. "What she did was extraordinary. Peter C. McCusker · Oakville Beaver F o rm er O akville resident Tom Culligan returned home last week to discuss his book Teacups and Sticky Buns -- a special tribute to his mother, M argaret. C ulligan is seen here at T he Second C up, a business he co-founded. She moved her family away from the violence. I thank her for that." said Tom. " But to be a woman in the '50s. and a Roman Catholic and to place us kids above her well-being and her reli gion; she was never resentful. Even after she was forced out of the church." She was eventually able to receive Holy Communion years later. When he first began to research five generations of the Culligan family, the author never envisioned a book. He said he only wanted to write a biography and investigate the family tree. As part of his research, he taped conversations with his mother and talked to his closest family and friends for information. "It was an idea. I never dreamed that i( would be a published piece. Thai wasn't the vision," he said. But when Margaret died at age 91, he said he wanted to honour his moth er's courage and perseverance by pub lishing her own story'. He even sent let ters to 300 people in ihe community for input. Many of those letters are featured in the 254 page Teacups and Sticky Buns. Culligan, an artist, features 19 full- colour portraits of his mother in the hardcover book, many "he said that were inspired as he was writing the chapters. His mother, also a creative soul, enjoyed writing poetry as well as paint ing and many of her poems arc also fea tured in the book. A ll author and publisher profits from Teacups and Sticky Buns are going directly to the newly-established Margaret Culligan Foundation, a national charitable foundation with the mandate to help feed the needy, espe cially children. "W e were also poor at one time." said Culligan. "And we went through all of ihe difficulties of it. So when we were finally on our feet, my mother would bake for the poor, make clothes for them. She did that nearly every day of her life. I wanted to give back to that area." Thought of as a clairvoyant. Margaret would read tea leaves while visitors enjoyed a strong cup of tea and nibbled on a sticky bun - hence the book's title. Just as she was a big cook in the kitchen, Margaret had many recipes for happiness and prosperity which she instilled in her children. These 15 " recipes." explained in the book, included exercising, smiling, accepting results, being generous, and having enthusiasm. The one Culligan found hardest to learn was perseverance. Culligan, the co-founder of The Second Cup. said when he and his part ner first began developing the gourmet coffee shop concept they had very little money, nearly went bankrupt at one point, and even lost a major supplier. " You have to persist. Don't give in." said Culligan. who lived in Oakville when the Second Cup was getting off the ground. Today there are more than 500 Second Cup stores from coast to coast. Culligan is currently planning parttwo of Margaret's biography, this one focusing on her delicious kitchen cre ations. He will also be making a book sign ing appearance at the Toronto Eaton's Shopping Centre May 1-3. Teacups and Sticky Buns is available at most bookstores across Canada. Sneak preview to benefit charities Restaurant set to open Oakville's newest restaurant. Cafe Tu Tu Tango, is holding a special sneak pre view March 28 - 29 with all proceeds being directed to Big Brothers of Halton and Big Sisters of Peel and The Easier Seal Society. For $10 per person, visitors can par take in choices of appetizers, a dessert and one non-alcoholic beverage. Meals are served every 30 minutes with sitting times from 5-7 p.m. and 8-10 p.m. Only those who have made reserva tions will be allowed to dine. All proceeds from Friday's event will go to Big Brothers of Halton and Big Sisters of Peel and proceeds from Saturday will be directed to The Easier Seal Society. Halton Region. Located in ihe AM C entertainment complex in northeast Oakville, Cafe Tu Tu Tango is designed after a Spanish artist's loft, complete with high ceilings, wood beams, plastered walls and broken tile work. Together with local artists, (he restauranl will display all artwork around the restauranl, even suspend them from the ceiling. The restaurant is sel to open March 31 to the general public. Reservations for Friday can be made by calling Big Brothers of Halton at 905339-2355 or Big Sisters of Oakville at 905-338-2355. Reservations for Saturday can be made by calling Dorothy Ward at 905639-9429. All reservations must be made by Thursday. The AMC complex's address is 2065 Winston Park Dr. Big Brothers of Halton and Big Sisters of Oakville provide a range of services to children with an emphasis on the positive benefits of mentoring. The Easter Seal Society of Ontario helps children, youths and young adults with physical disabilities through finan cial assistance, summer camps, research and advocacy. Performing arts camp provides private, group music lessons Rekindle the love of music. The 2003 Oakville Performing Arts Camp w ill take place from July 7-11 and 1418 at John Knox Christian School on Ford Dr. just north of Royal Windsor Dr. Children between the ages of four14 are welcome, with those under the age of seven attending in the morning and older students attending until 2:30 or 3 p.m. The camp provides a wonderful opportunity to try a new instrument without committing to a full year's les sons and also to rekindle a love of music in those who have lost their enthusiasm for practising and playing. There are private and group classes everyday on the instrument of choice which could be piano (traditional or Suzuki method), violin, viola, cello. solo voice, flute, recorder, guitar, and possibly some other wind instruments, all taught by highly trained and experi ences professionals. There are many optional activities to choose from, including creative drama, singing, art. fiddle, recorder, orchestra, ukulele and chamber music for the more advanced students. This year traditional Step Dancing and Percussion for pianists is also available if there is sufficient demand. The brochures for the 2003 Oakville Performing Arts Camp are now avail able from all Oakville Public Library branches and from the porch of 216 Third Line. For further information please con tact Adrienne Williams at 905-8423897 or Margaret Taylor at 905-8496911. HaltonSearch.c^KCTi Thursday to Saturday, March 20-22 and Wednesday to Saturday, March 26-29 EE ThtOMt # PLAYERS The O a k vM a ^P re s e n t| ^ By D L Coburn The Pulitzer Prize winning play where two feisty retirement home residents duel with games of gin rummy in a scathingly funny battle of wits cS _akvi . IL L E C EN TR E FOR THE PEflFORMMO ARTS Tickets $17 Special discounts for groups of ten or more O A K V IL L E S E R I E S J A M7 4 0 Students and Seniors Night: $8.50 Wednesday, Mar 26 Pmouccd Uv jw cvj I o e » tm w o M m Sftmucl fr tn m u flfl' EDGE P rint I Prom otiom Box Office ^ 9 0 5 815 2021 She got under she'll get I t I l For the next 24 hours, COGIECO* DigitalTV Now Playing on Cogeco Video on Demand: Simone Avaiiablo w fioro lochnology porm its. Som e restrictions apply.