November 10, 2007 Discover the Path…
A Touchstone for Health and Wellness
8 Caroline St. W.
Creemore, Ontario
L0M1G0
Dear Friends,
It will soon be three years since the passing of my Dear Friend Gyma Dawson. Although it hardly seems possible to
accept that a young and vital life could have ended, the passing of time makes this reality concrete. Her loss to our
community is indeed immeasurable.
The house in Singhampton, ‘The Lighthouse’ as another dear friend calls it, stands empty and forlorn. I had thought to
sell the house and invest in other things that may or may not bring help to the community we serve but this has not
happened.
There was a time when Gyma and I had a dream. We hoped to make Singhampton’s ‘Lighthouse’ a resource centre for
women. In part we were successful in getting things underway but like many hopes and dreams, they were dashed with
the death of Gyma. This is not the first time that we have had to overcome obstacles, including death but since I have
not been able to move on selling the property, I must realize that indeed the dream should go on.
This letter is not asking for money but help in securing the resources to create that sanctuary for women. We had
planned to welcome all women who felt lost and alone but I realize that there must be a focus to the work.
I was recently approached by a research analyst who would be willing to work with our group to gather grants and
resources to create a Resource centre and Sanctuary for women who are Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse. If you
read Gyma’s story you will know that she was a survivor as are many other women. There is no adequate resource in
Ontario for these women and certainly no residential facility.
There is such a precedent for a combination of services including Alternative and Complimentary therapies already
located in Saskatoon. It has been a wonderful resource for that community. My goal is to create such a place in
Ontario that will be the intermediary service between home and Penetang for women in Southern Ontario, outside of the
Greater Toronto Area where the Barbara Schlieffer clinic serves that community.
The cost of hiring an analyst would fall under ‘seed grant’ resources. I wish to explore this resource or any other that
would help to make Gyma’s Dream into Gyma’s Place for women. If anyone who reads this letter knows of access to
resources that would enable this dream to be a reality, please email me at info.discoverthepath@yahoo.ca .
I also welcome comments and stories from women who are survivors. (See www.discoverthepath.com for other
survivors’ stories.) Your thoughts on this idea would help us to create a service that is indeed unique to the needs
expressed.
Gratefully,
Judith Andrade, RN RLC DD
705-466-2387
A Touchstone for Health and Wellness
8 Caroline St. W.
Creemore, Ontario
L0M1G0
Dear Friends,
It will soon be three years since the passing of my Dear Friend Gyma Dawson. Although it hardly seems possible to
accept that a young and vital life could have ended, the passing of time makes this reality concrete. Her loss to our
community is indeed immeasurable.
The house in Singhampton, ‘The Lighthouse’ as another dear friend calls it, stands empty and forlorn. I had thought to
sell the house and invest in other things that may or may not bring help to the community we serve but this has not
happened.
There was a time when Gyma and I had a dream. We hoped to make Singhampton’s ‘Lighthouse’ a resource centre for
women. In part we were successful in getting things underway but like many hopes and dreams, they were dashed with
the death of Gyma. This is not the first time that we have had to overcome obstacles, including death but since I have
not been able to move on selling the property, I must realize that indeed the dream should go on.
This letter is not asking for money but help in securing the resources to create that sanctuary for women. We had
planned to welcome all women who felt lost and alone but I realize that there must be a focus to the work.
I was recently approached by a research analyst who would be willing to work with our group to gather grants and
resources to create a Resource centre and Sanctuary for women who are Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse. If you
read Gyma’s story you will know that she was a survivor as are many other women. There is no adequate resource in
Ontario for these women and certainly no residential facility.
There is such a precedent for a combination of services including Alternative and Complimentary therapies already
located in Saskatoon. It has been a wonderful resource for that community. My goal is to create such a place in
Ontario that will be the intermediary service between home and Penetang for women in Southern Ontario, outside of the
Greater Toronto Area where the Barbara Schlieffer clinic serves that community.
The cost of hiring an analyst would fall under ‘seed grant’ resources. I wish to explore this resource or any other that
would help to make Gyma’s Dream into Gyma’s Place for women. If anyone who reads this letter knows of access to
resources that would enable this dream to be a reality, please email me at info.discoverthepath@yahoo.ca .
I also welcome comments and stories from women who are survivors. (See www.discoverthepath.com for other
survivors’ stories.) Your thoughts on this idea would help us to create a service that is indeed unique to the needs
expressed.
Gratefully,
Judith Andrade, RN RLC DD
705-466-2387
