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Danielle’s Place moves home: Developers donate space and furnishings for eating disorder centre

The Hamilton Spectator
Monday, November 7, 2005

Danielle Mayeur died at 25 after battling anorexia for eight years.

The torment she went through before her death in 2001 is still reflected in the eyes of her mother, Carolyn Mayeur. The retired teacher is the driving force behind Danielle’s Place, an eating disorder support and resource centre.

Danielle’s Place has just moved into spacious, well-equipped premises at 895 Brant St. after several months in a temporary location on Elizabeth Street. The not-for-profit centre will celebrate with an open house Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Mayeur has generous allies in her quest to help other families struggling with eating disorders – Emshih Developments, the prominent commercial development company responsible for the Burlington Power Centre on Brant Street.

The company believes so strongly in the work of Danielle’s Place that they have donated about 3, 500 square feet of space, worth about $56,000 a year, for as long as the centre needs it. They also provided much of the furnishings for the centre.

Shih practiced as a family doctor in Burlington for 24 years. As a physician, he saw patients with eating disorders.

But he first encountered the devastating effects of anorexia while he was a medical student at the University of Toronto around 1973.

“A first-year classmate of mine died from this illness,” he recalled sadly.

Shih and his wife hope that Danielle’s Place can raise awareness about eating disorders.

“This is a very prevalent problem in the community and there are not enough facilities to support it. It’s as simple as that,” Shih said.

Shih said it’s important to get the word out that this debilitating illness is treatable.

“Hopefully the sufferers and their family members will not hesitate to seek help … and not feel shame about it,” she said. “I think it’s vital that facilities like this exist.”

Programs offered at Danielle’s Place are free and confidential. They include a teen support group, an adult support group, nutrition support and yoga for healing. Volunteers run the centre but the therapists – clinicians who work in treatment programs – are paid.

One of the goals is to reduce the shame and social isolation experienced by people with eating disorders and their families.

The centre’s operation budget is about $83,000 a year, including some funding from private donors and organizations such as the Halton Healthy Community Fund.

Facilities include a welcoming reception area, a fully equipped kitchenette, a paneled boardroom and a huge room for yoga and expressive art.

Potential clients are calling from areas including Hamilton, Oakville and Mississauga a well as Burlington itself.

Mayeur feels the medical care her daughter got was too little, too late.

She questions why hospitals don’t have more funding and more beds for patients with eating disorders.

“The medical system seems to understand very little about this illness,” Mayeur reflects.

“This illness is trivialized and stigmatized, yet it kills 12 times more of our young women than all other illnesses combined.”

- Christine Cox