Sunday, September 26, 1999 Oakville Beaver Weekend 3 T h k e B a c k th e N ig h t p a rtic ip a n ts sp re a d n o n -v io le n t m e ssa g e B y Sandra O m and SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER It was a chance to remember those who suffered and those who survived. And it was also a time for those opposed to violence in society, and violence against women in particular, to come out Thursday evening and show their support during Halton's ninth annual Take Back the Night walk organized by the Halton Rape Crisis Centre. About 250 women, men and children took to the darkened streets, their candles flickering in the warm September night, as they threaded their way along Lakeshore between Coronation Park and East Street. Chanting slogans like "The Streets Belong to Us" and "Yes means yes, no means no, however we dress, wherever we go", the mood was upbeat and optimistic. "It makes me feel really good that everyone is together like a family and I think it is really, really good that men and women come out to support women's rights," said Julia Puffer, a 16-year-old Queen Elizabeth Park student. Martina DeSouza, 36, came with her two children from Burlington to attend the walk feeling it was important for her seven-year-old son and five-year-old daughter to learn that any kind of abuse or degradation is unacceptable. While some of the walkers were there for the first time, others, like 19-year old Justin Clarke of Oakville, had participated in past walks. "With all the crazy stuff going on they need the sup port from all men, all women, all cultures as everybody needs to support each other," said Clarke. Tara Nolan, 22, attended her first Take Back the Night event when she was 17-years-old. She said it is her way of supporting other women and making a statement that women are not going to be afraid any more. But women in Scarborough, faced with the so- called bedroom rapist, are afraid and in view of that some in the crowd expected a larger turnout for the event. "The turnout is a little disappointing," said Prudhomme, a freelance Designer from Burlington who brought along her four-year-old son and two daughters aged 11 and 22. Corinne Donati, a teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas, was another who would have liked to see more people at the well-organized event. But low attendance did not stop participants from enjoying the evening which started at the band shell in Coronation Park with songs by Dream, Toronto folk singer EJ, dancing by the Loyola Drill Team and ended after the walk with singer Anjuli, and an open mike session. Keynote speaker Dawna Speers, 53, of Mississauga, put a personal face to violence by talking about her 19-year-old daughter Monica who was mur dered by her boyfriend in 1991. Speers said her daughter's story was a typical one of abuse of a young girl who had low self-esteem and was preyed upon by a boyfriend who wanted power and control over her. After she left him, she was stalked by her boyfriend who eventually killed her. Speers, who was representing CAVEAT (Canadians Against Violence), has created a film of her daughter's story called "The Love That Kills" in the hopes it will prevent a similar tragedy from occurring. The film was made in collaboration with the National Film Board and the Ontario Women's Directorate. It will be shown in high schools and universities across Canada starting in November. The film depicts the warning signs and symptoms of an abusive relationship -- symptoms that are not always obvious. "It is obvious if someone punches you, but it is not so obvious if they emotionally abuse you," said Speers. "The emotional abuse ends up as isolation, intimida tion, threats and finally assaultive behaviour." Deb Ellis, part of a group called Canadians in Support of Afghan Women, also painted a vivid picture of women being abused, but this time by a nation: Afghanistan. Describing the daily difficulties and fears of these women, Ellis urged everyone to sign a petition and donate money for the Afghan women and girls in refugee camps. Other groups, such as Halton Family Services, CAVEAT, the Women's Information & Support Centre of Halton, Halton Women's Place, and Hamilton AIDS were on hand to offer information on their services and answer questions. The S m ithK lin e Beecham 1999 SUPERWALK / o r P A R K I N S O N ' S Sept. 26, Mel Lastman Square, North York. Please call (416) 932-0315 for inform ation. The Parkinson Foundation of Canada Participants carry the Take Back the Night banner along Lakeshore Road. Photo by Peter McCusker ATTENTION DEMUTUALIZED SHAREHOLDERS MANULIFE. CLAIRCA (MUTUAL LIFE), SUN LIFE, CANADA LIFE & INDUSTRIAL ALLIANCE Plan to attend a TAX & INVESTMENT STRATEGIES You will learn IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU MUST BE AWARE OF PRIOR TO MAKING A DECISION In the next few weeks Canada's largest mutual life insurance companies will be issuing stock certificates to policyholders. In order to make the best possible decision to create wealth fo r vou and vour family, there are a number of investment and tax strategies to analyze. Some issues that will be covered are: • Should I take CASH or shares? • What are the income tax implications? • Can I use shares as collateral to purchase mutual funds? • How can I hold shares while making an RRSP contribution? • Can I hold the shares while accessing other valuable tax reduction strategies? *Which mutual funds are right for you, should you decide to reinvest your cash proceeds? If you want to create m ax im um , long te rm equ ity and op tim um tax e ffic iency plan to attend th is in form ative seminar. To reserve a seat, call (905) 336-8600 or 1 -800-336 -8606. Seating is lim ited. BURLINGTON CONFERENCE CENTRE 5420 North Service Rd. Burlington, ON date: W ed., S ep tem ber 2 9 th time: 7 :00pm *> D U N D E E SECURITIES CORPORATION! Michael Birbari, B.A. (Econ.) Vice President David Little, B.A. (Econ.) Investment Advisor Dundee Securities is a CIPF Member. G L i^ B A L S t r a t e g y Classified advertising now online. Thke Back the Night participants spread non-violent message By Sandra Omand BURLINGTON CONFERENCE CENTRE SECURITIES CORPORATION! Michael Birbari, B.A. (Econ.) Vice President David Little, B.A. (Econ.) Investment Advisor Dundee Securities is a CIPF Member. Classified advertising now online.