BALANCED EARTH

Maggie Beatie is recognized as a distinguished advocate for women. She has earned respect and admiration of her colleagues during her long career in addiction services and sexual assault organizations. At MacMaster University, she studied addiction and mental health and has become a natural learner and teacher, embracing sharing knowledge with her community. She began her career in 1989, working with women in addiction treatment centres. She was passionate about helping women heal and used her background and education to make a difference at Bethesda House - a shelter for women and children, the Durham Rape Crisis Centre and Destiny Manor - a womens treatment centre. She also spent many hours professionally and personally supporting and advocating for women who had been incarcerated. Many of the women suffered from addiction and lived traumatic lives of human trafficking and abuse. Later in her career, Maggie spent over 20 years working in the walk-in crisis unit, welcoming people looking for a way out of addiction at Pinewood Centre of Lakeridge Health. She became familiar with the homeless, mandated and street population and how underserved they are. Now, she is working with survivors of human trafficking at Safe Hope Home. Safe Hope Home is a long-term treatment centre for young women escaping human trafficking where all her experience has come together so she can serve this vulnerable community. It’s clear to everyone who meets Maggie that she uses her skills and passion at every opportunity to advocate for women and those who are less fortunate. Every woman she works with gets the same energy she would give her daughter, sister or friend. She lives in Oshawa, Ontario and loves to spend time on Lake Kashwackamack with her husband of 35 years, Rick. She is a loving mother of five, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother of one. When she is not helping others, she can be found playing pool in local billiards leagues. Quote from Maggie: “When I leave work, I stand for a moment on the stoop and admire the view as I contemplate everything I have experienced in life. Every piece of education, every job, and every client has been a blessing in my life to lead me to this very moment at Safe Hope Home. It truly is an honour to work with such a dedicated team of talented and experienced women.”