weanesaay A p m iz , zuuu i n c U A N V ll* i* C D C A V c i v OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR OF THE OAKVILLE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL FocusJ V/ B k D is ig n ^ iA ^ ^ t e ^ t B y Cansignsient By the end o ^ T w e e k s lw g wilt be h«re!! Is . yriilr new wardrobe ready lo jo ?? Our Spring Line is arriving daily and our shop is Bursting with Cool. Classic. Colourful, Upscale Fashions' Check us out first, and you'll never shop retail again!! Our Frequent Buyer Prog rim is now In effect, ask for details! rw ttfitm h B y C o n s ig n m e n t... 115 Trafalgar Rd. j*N rfUtata.. 338-3474 IN 7 DAYS A WEEK 3 ___ Upscale Resale Ladits Wear Q l ^ 5 Editor: WILMA BLOKHUIS 845-3824 Ext: 250; Fax: 337-5567 John Dubost, who is dying of cancer, with picture of him taken during his radio days at CKVL as `Mr. M idnite' in 1960s. Photo by B arrie Erskine Facing death with a zest for life By M ary C o lle tt SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER 'ohn Dubost likes to brag that he's in perfect health, except for one minor com plication - he's dying. The 74-year-old Oakville resi dent wryly observes that he was "given" his diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer last year, "just in time for Christmas." Since that unfortunate day, he has measured out his life in a series of bold, red `X's across a poster-sized calendar that hangs in his front hall. "At first I was told I had 10 months to live; then it was down to half a year; now its four to six weeks," he ruefully reports. This is not the first time Dubost has had to face the grim reality of cancer - every member of his fami ly died from the disease. When he reached his present age. he thought he had dodged the bullet. "I've always lived a healthy lifestyle," he explains. "I never smoked or drank alcohol." Now that the rapidly advancing illness has shut down his body's ability to pro duce saliva, just about the only bev erage Dubost consumes is water, in order to replenish the necessary moisture in his mouth. Although his particular kind of cancer can't be beaten, Dubost refuses to be beaten by it. "I may be dying, but I'm not dead yet. Until the very last second. I'm going to live it up," he vows gamely. Dubost has chosen to speak pub licly about his condition in the hope that he can serve as an inspiration for others who have received this dreaded news. "People at the hospital are amazed by my attitude and positive outlook," he says. `They encour aged me to come forward as an example to similar victims." When Dubost signed on as a vol unteer in the palliative care unit at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) four years ago, he deliberately sought out those who were near death to comfort them in their final days. (See 'Fond memories . . page B2) "I may be dying, but Vm not dead yet. Until the very last second, Vm going to live it up -John Dubost John Dubost in the D irector's Chair. D uring his television and movie career, he directed a num ber of `shorts.' John Dubost as Sgt. C laude Gauthier, chief of security, in Escape from Iran. THE CLASSIC CUSTOMER AMAZING SPRING SAVINGS! N o w Y o u 're Talking Qualcomm Q CP 2760 Dual Mode Digital PCS Phone I T TO 70% Oi l ON V ( ( I SSOKH S! 49 AlU'f att GO WIRELESS GO ANYWHERE! O tC IT A l DATA Sonia Shewchuk. Professional power and figure skating coach. President, Sonia's Skating School I'm driven by power and precision. On the ice and on the road". ENTER TO WIN A I Kir I OK TWO R eg ister to w in a Explore our w orld of wireless e-mail and internet services! I T rip V oucher to a d estin atio n o f y o u r choice. ·Some Terms and Condttions apply, see store fcr dotal* Offer subject to change or extension. Al Digrtal PCS and Analog phones must be activated on the Bell Mobity Networii on ReafTvne 25 of greater $2000 NATIONAL CELLULARi Meray M otors & Collision Limited Q.E.W. & Dorval Drive 845-6623 Mercedes-Benz www.meraymotors.mercedesbenz.ca B ell World W inston Gate Shopping Centre, W inston C hurchill at Dundas, (906) 866-2220 O akville Place, Oakville (906) 816-9200 Personal Com m unicationa C entre* 422 Speers Road, O akville (906) 338-8200 B e ff Mobility