New program honours dentist

Free dental care for domesticviolence victims to be offered at clinic founded by the late Dr. Judith Buys

Ten local dentists will start offering free dental care in January to women whose teeth were damaged through domestic violence.

The new YWCA project is called Beyond First impression sand it will begin in the city in 2018.

It was created as a tribute to the late Dr. Judith Buys, a dentist who had helped local women and children through the YWCA.

Dr. Buys died following a gas explosion at a cottage in August 2016. She was 55.

Lynn Zimmer, executive director of the YWCA, said participating dentists include Dr. Kathryn Moore and Dr. Anna Jo( who bought Cornerstone Family Dentistry, on Reid St ., which used to belong to Dr. Buys).

Zim mer said the dentists and private donors together have raised about $152,000 to help the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton house women and children who are fleeing abuse.

That’s because the dentists wanted to ensure the women and children have a safe place to stay, Zimmer said. Then women can apply to the YWCA for dental care.

Zim mer said the dental work will take place in the offices of participating dentists. She also said there maybe more dentists interested in joining, over time.

“There’s a sense that amongst them (the dentists), they can do some good,” Zimmer said. “Every year they’ll be able to do some good.”

The project was officially launched at Cornerstone Family Dentistry on Monday.

Zimmer said that Dr. James Mc Gorman, an emergency department doctor who was the husband of the late Dr. Buys, has len this support to the project.

More information about Beyond First Impressions will be available soon through the YWCA, she said.

For more details, call the YWCA at 705-743-3526.