It was a simple visit to a long-term care facility that changed Jill Harrington’s life forever. During that visit, which happened on Christmas Day, Jill noticed that some seniors were sitting or standing outside their rooms. Many were dressed up. She inquired to the staff about what they were doing. The answer she got was heartbreaking.

She was told they were hoping for family or friends to visit. For some, however, those visits would never happen. It broke Jill’s heart knowing some people would be spending this special day on their own. That’s when she came up with the concept for her charity, which she calls Children of Christmas Past.

Here’s how it works. Seniors who are alone or who have a small family and live in a senior’s facility can put their gift wish on a tag and place it on the Christmas tree in their facility.

The tag also includes their name and the name of the facility. Those tags are collected by an army of volunteers who purchase gifts, wrap them, and deliver them to Jill’s Burlington home.

Countless businesses have stepped forward to help with donations, including Union Gas, making the program a huge success.

Jill’s home is the headquarters for the gifts and by the time Christmas rolls around, they’re stocked from floor to ceiling in some rooms. Some days she has come home after work to find 500 to 1,000 gifts piled high on her front porch.

“I never, ever thought it would grow as big as it did,” said Jill.

On Christmas Day, Jill heads out and delivers gifts, traveling around Burlington, Oakville, Georgetown, Welland, Niagara Falls, and beyond. It’s also spread to Orangeville and now many volunteers come to her home to pick up gifts.

Since the charity started in 1999, it has grown from helping a few hundred seniors a year to more than 5,000. An effort of this size requires superb organizing skills, and Jill, who is a single mom, uses a spreadsheet to keep track of the gifts, senior’s names, and facilities where they live.

A few years ago, Jill estimated that more than 80,000 seniors had received gifts since she started. Despite the workload, Jill says the rewards are more than worth it. It comes back to her in the smiles of the seniors as they open their gifts, in the hundreds of dedicated volunteers who come to her house with wrapped presents and in the businesses who have stepped forward.

The outpouring of help she’s had over the years and the army of volunteers who have helped have shown her that people really care.

The kind of gifts that seniors ask for is interesting, said Jill, and, in some cases, speaks to the need. They range from small items like soft tissues, a jar of pickles, diabetic socks and a warm jacket, to more luxury items like spa bathrobes. One of her most interesting gift wishes was for a fedora. Sadly, the fellow who asked for it died before Christmas.

The fact that each gift is personally picked out and wrapped is important to her as she didn’t want just any generic gift. Inside that wrapping, she said, is the message that people care.

“I really wanted them to get exactly what they wanted,” said Jill. “For some, this may be their last Christmas.”

Jill says some of the seniors who have received gifts are among the more than 75,000 elderly people who live in poverty in the GTA area. Many people aren’t aware that the number is that high just as they’re not aware that so many seniors are alone on Christmas Day.

Jill has pulled back from the project this year in order to concentrate on developing an elder abuse prevention program, but she is overseeing the many volunteer groups who are helping, which include mom’s groups in Oakville and Tyandaga.

Thanks to Jill, Christmas still comes to thousands of seniors in the GTA every holiday season.

by Denise Davy

Local Link

The Children of Christmas Past
childrenofchristmaspast.com

We all know someone who, in some way, has served our country. It could be a great-parent, it could be a friend, it could even be yourself. Being a veteran does not stop at the World Wars. Today, there are members of our community volunteering their lives, both locally and overseas, to protect our country, our people, and ensure a future.

There was a brief period of time in World War I and World War II when members of our military were called up to serve our country.However, Canada has a long history of apprehension when it comes to compulsory military service. 

Drafting of our military ended after the Second World War. Beyond that, all men and women who have served and continue to serve our country, choose to enter the Canadian Armed Forces.

Fred Kendall of Oakville is one of those who chose to enroll in our nation’s military. In 1943 at age 16, Fred volunteered himself for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Graduating near the end of World War II, Fred received his wings but was unable to use them. It was at this time President Truman dropped the atom bomb over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, resulting in nearly 80,000 deaths and ending World War II.

At 91, Fred continues to serve Canada and marches each and every year in the November 11th Bronte Legion Remembrance Day ceremonies. 

Armistice Day, which was inaugurated in 1919, did not reflect the November 11th we know today. Held in correlation with Thanksgiving, Canadians observed the date with little public demonstration for our veterans. In 1928, some prominent citizens, many of them veterans, pushed for greater recognition and to separate the remembrance of wartime sacrifice from the Thanksgiving holiday.

 In 1931, the Federal government decreed that the newly named Remembrance Day would be held on November 11th, and Thanksgiving would be moved to another day in October.

Every year around our nation, veterans, dignitaries and members of the Canadian public gather to emphasize the memory of fallen soldiers and recall those who served in our nation’s defence.

This year, Remembrance Day takes place on a Sunday, with 2018 marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. The events are expected to be memorable this year, and there are many opportunities to honour our veterans at ceremonies across Oakville and Burlington.  

 Fred says, “this is a piece of history we should never forget. Many men and women gave their lives so we could live our lives today. Attending a ceremony is a small sacrifice to make over their ultimate sacrifice.” 

You can take part in a Remembrance Ceremony at one of these locations: 

Oakville

Bronte Village
November 4, 2018, 10 a.m.
The Royal Canadian Legion parade will proceed west along Lakeshore Road from 79 Jones St. to the Cenotaph for the Ceremony of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion.

George’s Square Ceremony
November 11, 2018, 11 a.m.
The Veterans Parade will proceed east along Lakeshore Road to Trafalgar Road and north on Trafalgar Road into George’s Square for the Ceremony of Remembrance, hosted by Oakville Legion Branch 114.

Trafalgar Memorial
A Ceremony of Remembrance will take place on November 11, 2018, 11 a.m.

Burlington

Sunrise Remembrance Day Service
November 11, 2018, 9 a.m.
(Spencer Smith Park)
This 30-minute ceremony takes place at the Naval Ships Memorial Monument in Spencer Smith Park.
For more information, contact the
Burl-Oak Veterans at 905-632-3118.

Remembrance Day Parade
November 11, 2019, 10:30 a.m.
The parade starts at Central Public School. Brant to Elgin Street, Elgin to Locust Street, Locust to Ontario Street.

Remembrance Day Service
November 11, 2018, 11 a.m.
(Cenotaph, City Hall (426 Brant St.)) This 45 to 60-minute ceremony is held at the Cenotaph, on the north side of
City Hall. For more information, contact the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 60 at 905-639-6400

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we remember.

by Anneliese Lawton

A needle, some thread, and a little bit of fabric – that’s all it takes. Well, that and some skill. For newer generations, sewing seems to be a bit of a lost art but here in Oakville, Kay Percival is changing that.  Kay is the Founder of Sewing with Kay, an adorable sewing studio located on Speers Road. Kay’s studio, which is colourful and fun, was designed to introduce children to the amazing world of sewing.

The studio offers a fun, relaxed atmosphere, where a child can truly explore their creative side. However, that’s not all. Kay is also teaching philanthropy. Last spring Kay suggested that her students take part in a charity project called Dolls for Africa. The project, which was founded in 2006, takes handmade dolls and distributes them to orphanages across Africa.

When Kay explained the project to her students, there were no hesitations. They couldn’t wait to get started. The children in Kay’s class designed their doll from top to bottom which included painting her face, choosing hair, sewing it on and styling it, stuffing the doll, and stitching them closed.

The completion of the doll would mark the completion of the project – however, Kay’s students decided they needed to do more. They made the dolls blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, and teddy bears, all to be sent to Africa, along with hand-written letters to the children who would receive the dolls.

The dolls were then wrapped with a picture of the student who made them along with the letter they wrote. Bringing friendship and passing love and affection between children worldwide.

Kay teaches 60 to 70 students a week through her classes. Each session runs for eight weeks and each student will complete 3 to 5 projects.

For more information visit  sewingwithkay.com and for information on Dolls for Africa you can visit dollsforafrica.org

by Anneliese Lawton

Stop for a second and take a deep breath. Think about some of the things you said to yourself today. Were your words loving or self-destructive? Now, what if I told you that your words summon a powerful force of creation in your life? That your mantras, whether positive or negative, have a mysterious influence over the creation of your reality. The beautiful thing about this is, we have the power to shape how we speak to ourselves, how we think of ourselves, and we can create the reality we desire. We can do this through powerful self-talk, also known as positive affirmations.

Positive affirmations serve as a reminder to ourselves of the power we have within us and of qualities that make us so special. Research has found that starting positive self-talk as early as childhood is beneficial in building self-esteem and self-love. 

Louise Hay, known as a founder of the self-help movement and a pioneer of positive philosophy, states: “Your beliefs are merely habitual thinking patterns that you learned as a child. Many of them work very well for you. Other beliefs may be limiting your ability to create the very things you say you want.”

With this in mind, local moms, soul-sisters, and entrepreneurs Anna Lozano and Lindy Sood searched high and low for the perfect tool they could use with their children to encourage daily positive talk. When they couldn’t find what they were looking for, they joined forces, bringing together their parallel journeys, shared values, and an insatiable drive to create something beautiful, meaningful, and impactful. With an electric spark of energy and a creative intuitive nudge, Love Powered Co™ was born and within it, Anna and Lindy launched their first product, Love Powered Littles.

This unique and powerful product consists of I AM affirmations for parents to practice with their children. The 23 POWER cards which embody the qualities of emotionally intelligent trailblazers  focus on the power of connection between parent and child. By connecting their own experience to each POWER and remembering how they felt, it better helps children to understand the words and statements they are saying and connects them more deeply with the meaning behind them.

Anna and Lindy devotedly practice Love Powered affirmations as part of a bedtime routine with their children. They also say it’s important to pull out the cards when the kids ask for them, sometimes before school or camp, or when children are dealing with something that the cards can help with.

This powerful company with roots here in Oakville and Burlington has been received worldwide, with celebrities such as Jillian Harris sharing the love for Love Powered Littles on her Facebook page. Even with international attention, Anna and Lindy are very grateful for the integral role local Halton businesses and communities have played in getting the Love Powered word out there. Oakville businesses Once Upon a Mat, Gabe & Angel, and The Poppy Clinic along with The Womb in Burlington, have been proud distributors of the product since it’s inception.

However, if you’re unable to make it to one of those locations, you can shop the Love Powered Co. store online (lovepoweredco.com) for box sets, pintables, and more.

What’s next for Love Powered Co.? Anna and Lindy are currently in the process of creating and manufacturing two new decks of affirmation cards we expect you will L-O-V-E:

Love Powered Teens
I AM affirmations to ignite the power within.

Love Powered Femme
I AM affirmations to guide you on a  self-love journey.

They have so many ideas, goals, and dreams, and with positive affirmations the sky is truly the limit.

by Anneliese Lawton

Local Link

Love Powered Co.
lovepoweredco.com
@lovepoweredco

Midwife Candice Syme will never forget her first delivery…or her second…or third. Several hundred births later, she says the thrill is still there with every delivery she’s been part of because they’re all so unique.

“I love my job!” says Syme, who works with Burlington and Area Midwife Inc. She has been a practicing midwife since 2013. “I love helping families throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum. I feel like empowering women to make choices individualized to them is such a rewarding part of my job and I feel honoured to be a part of the birth story.”

Giving birth is definitely one of the most memorable experiences in a woman’s life. But it’s also an experience that has changed a lot over the generations. Before 1960, men weren’t allowed to go anywhere near a hospital delivery room and the use of medication during childbirth was the norm. Today, a woman’s partner plays an important role in the birth experience and there is a full scope of services that allow women more choices around how and where they want to deliver their baby.

Syme says that’s what the essence of midwifery is about – providing women with a range of choices, focusing on their needs and providing individualized care. “One of the main tenants of midwifery care is that it’s about client-centred care and what works for them and what works best to meet their needs,” she notes.

The 1970’s saw a resurgence in interest around midwifery, which was influenced by the natural childbirth movement. In 1991, the Midwifery Act made Ontario the first province in Canada to recognize, regulate and fund midwifery as part of the health care system. Two years later, the province’s first 71 midwives were registered. Today’s midwives are registered health care professionals who provide free primary care throughout a woman’s pregnancy, labour, birth and the first six weeks after birth. In Ontario, women can deliver in the home, hospital or select birth centres, although 80 percent of midwife deliveries occur in hospital settings.

With midwifery care, midwives always remain in a supportive care role, whether that’s with the postpartum visit, helping with breastfeeding or checking on the baby’s health. “We’re the primary care provider from conception to our first visit to six weeks post partum,” notes Syme. “I think the most glowing review we hear is that people feel supported and heard. That’s important because we want women to really feel empowered about their experience so they’re not feeling alone at such a vulnerable time in their lives.”

Although midwifery is a free service, only 16 percent of all births in Ontario are midwifery births. That’s not due to lack of interest but because there are only 90 spots in the universities that offer the midwifery program. They include McMaster, Ryerson and Laurentian.

The Burlington and Area Midwives include 16 midwives working within a catchment area that includes Waterdown, Flamborough, Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Oakville and Milton. They were officially established as a sister practice of the Community Midwives of Halton, which started in 1997 and includes 12 midwives who deliver around 400 babies a year.

The Womb is a separate resource for pregnant women, that provides doulas who offer non-clinical support in labour. Midwives will often work with doulas who come to the delivery. The Womb provides doulas who support families during pregnancy and birth as well as postnatal doula support, and both day and night support in the home after birth. Lorri Fleming, co-founder of The WOMB, which stands for World Of My Baby Inc., has been a birth and postnatal and parent educator for many years. “We help families get the information and support they need to make educated decisions for their birth and parenting journeys,” she says. That means providing tips on comfort measures including massage, relaxation and breathing techniques, position tips, hydrotherapy, heat/cold, TENS units, rebozzos (a large wrap garment) and more. “We help ease and reduce fears and increase the couples’ confidence. We find by easing the fear, tension and pain cycle, our clients experience a more positive birth experience.”

Travelling along the path to parenthood can be scary, overwhelming, and exciting. With the assistance and care offered by professionals like these, you can put some of your worries aside (and save them for when your kids reach their teenage years!).

by Denise Davy

Local Links

The Womb, Burlington & Milton
thewomb.ca

Midwives of Halton
communitymidwivesofhalton.com

Burlington Midwives
burlingtonmidwives.com

When Osob Adus learned that she had been nominated for Citizen of the Year for this year’s Burlington’s Best Awards, she was completely taken aback. “My very first response was just humility. It was never the intention of my work to be nominated for such things. I just did it to make a difference,” she says.

That singular belief that one person can make a difference has motivated Adus to volunteer for years. The 45-year-old mother of four moved to Burlington with her family about 20 years ago and she has been active in community events ever since. Part of her impact has included helping people overcome cultural barriers. As a member of the Muslim community, that’s important to her and it’s why she pushed for women-only swim times at the city pools which allows them privacy during swims. Her proudest achievement is the work she’s done for the Halton Mosque on Fairview Street.

Over the last seven years, she has devoted herself to such initiatives as a fundraising project to build a playground on the mosque property. The playground is open to members of the Mosque as well as the neighbourhood. Dedication to help the community is a common thread found in every one of the 30 nominees in this year’s Burlington’s Best awards. There are eight categories: Citizen of the Year, Junior Citizen of the Year, Senior Person of the Year, Environmental Award, Arts Person of the Year, Community Service Award, Heritage Award and Accessibility Award.

The awards were set up to recognize people who have demonstrated “energetic and exemplary volunteer service” to the community and whose achievements went above and beyond their jobs. 

Carter Creechan is one of five nominees for Junior Citizen of the Year. The 16-year-old student is in grade 11 at Robert Bateman High School and is part of the Tech Crew at Bateman and Frontenac Public School. He is also a member of the school board’s student senate, and is on the Accessibility Committee and Bateman’s Student Council.

Creechan’s task in Tech Crew involves setting up the sound and lighting for all shows at the school. But his proudest achievement was the presentation he made to the school board on Bateman’s facilities, which was part of the school closure review process last year. “The whole delegation was out of my comfort zone and, at the time, it was quite intimidating. I felt like I made quite the difference in a lot of people’s minds the night of that delegation,”
he says.

The Community Service Award garnered the most entries with 12 nominees, including Carol Baldwin, who was nominated for volunteering at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre. “It was a surprise,” she says. Baldwin works as cashier at the centre’s bistro once a week and fills in for people who are sick or on vacation. Like many who volunteer, she enjoys the social aspect. “I have fun bantering back and forth with many of the regulars and I think the interaction is good for me, as well as for them,” notes Baldwin.

Gloria Reid is the only nominee who doesn’t have to wait to find out if she won. She’s president of the board of directors for Burlington Green, a non-profit group with a mission to protect the environment and create a healthier, more environmentally responsible city, and she is the only person nominated in the Environmental Award category.

Oakville also awards people who have made a special effort to make their community better. This year’s Oakville Community Spirit Awards include 42 nominees in seven categories. The winners will be announced on June 11th at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre. “The awards are a great way to celebrate volunteerism and honour community champions,” says awards chair Nancy Beddoe. Tickets to the event can be purchased on the Town of Oaville’s website. 

It’s because of people like these – and anyone who does even the smallest gesture to better their community – that Halton is such a wonderful place to live.

by Denise Davy

Local Links

City of Burlington
burlington.ca

Town of Oakville
oakville.ca