Childhood autism diagnoses reaches crisis proportions

1 in 150 children under 10 in Canada

Gore Bay family copes with condition

by Alicia McCutcheon

GORE BAY-Pam McLaughlin has heard that autistic children are "a barometer of the times"-a kind of indicator showing us that our planet's environmental status has become so bad, it's affecting the health of our children at an alarming rate.

Autism is a neurological disorder, most prevalent in children under the age of three, that impacts development in the areas of communication skills and social interaction.

According to Canadian statistics, one in every 166 children is diagnosed with some form of autism and in some cases, that number has even been as high as one in 150 children.

Pam McLaughlin and her husband Ken Blodgett of Gore Bay know just what it's like to raise an autistic child. Their daughter Molly, age 6, was diagnosed as severely autistic when she was almost two years old.

Six years ago, Pam and Ken were blessed with twin girls, Molly and Annie. At first, explained Pam, the girls progressed normally, hitting their milestones at the appropriate times with Molly surpassing her sister in speech development, when suddenly, as if overnight, things began to change.

Within months, Annie became non-verbal. She stopped babbling and talking, making eye contact with her family and communicating.

"As a new parent, I thought that maybe she had a cold, an ear infection, it was her teeth," she said. Each time she showed up to the doctor's office, she came home frustrated, not knowing what was happening to her daughter. "After the third visit, I realized that something was not right."

Pam said she didn't know what autism was until a girlfriend came to visit with her son. Every time Pam would enter the room where her friend's son was playing, he would make a quick exit, she said, and he would spend long periods of time lining up his toy trains. She said she told her friend that she guessed her son didn't like her very much.

"She became very quiet and her face just fell," Pam said. "She told me he had just been diagnosed with pervasive development disorder." Pervasive development disorder is the umbrella term for the autism spectrum.

It was then that Pam and her husband began to research autism and had Molly diagnosed as autistic, one year later. She said she is thankful that times have changed, as before children would have to wait until they were two years old to be diagnosed. Specialists in the field now believe that early intervention can be key.

Pam explained that once Molly was diagnosed, she was put on a waiting list for childcare services, a program run out of Sudbury for the area, including Manitoulin. She had to wait six months.

"She's lucky," the mother said of the wait. "Other kids have had to wait two years."

She spoke of that time as the hardest in her family's life.

"Those six months were the darkest days of our lives-we watched her slip away from us," she said with sadness in her voice. "It was like watching our child dying."

Molly is now undergoing 20 hours of intensive behavioural intervention (IBI) each week and has started to speak a small amount in the past year. Pam explained that with autism comes other complications such as the inability to form words. Molly uses a mixture of sign language picture exchange communications systems (PECS) or, using pictures to explain what she wants or needs.

"Our ultimate goal for Molly is to become verbal," said Pam.

Ken and Pam turned their basement into a therapy room for Molly, which, she said, has worked out extremely well.

"In small towns, there are no social outlets for children with autism," she noted. "The school has been amazing and allowed her to do her therapy there."

Molly does one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon of IBI therapy at C.C. McLean Public School. Currently, Molly is the only child in the program in Gore Bay. Because of government cuts, the IBI program was downsized to 20 hours a week and one therapist but, said Pam, Molly is at the point where she would greatly benefit from more than 20 hours per week.

Her therapy began with food motivators (Molly loves salty snacks), and she is now motivated by praise and high-fives.

Pam and Ken credit Molly's therapist for her growth in the past few years.

"Without her, Molly wouldn't have progressed," she said.

Molly is sensitive to sound and light and has a major fear of public washrooms, her mother explained, because of the echoes, the hand dryers and the flushing, but her mother is convinced she will be able to use them one day.

Until recently, Molly has also had a hard time with boats, which is ironic as the family is in the business of boats as the proprietors of Canadian Yacht Charters (CYC) in Gore Bay.

This summer, Molly has set foot on the boats and even seems to be enjoying the rocking movements they make.

Pam said that having an autistic child means no spontaneity. Autistic children typically so not deal well with the breaking of routine and so planning ahead is always a necessity. However, she added, travelling is getting better.

This year, the family went to Disney World for the first time and Pam said she was worried about how Molly would take to flying in a plane but she managed well.

The Disney Corporation recognizes autism and has a special package for families with the disorder.

"Molly does not understand the concept of waiting so if she sees a ride she likes, it's hard for her to wait," she explained.

The family received special passes, which allowed them to enter through the exit and get on the rides first.

Children, and adults, with autism, don't recognize people the same way as we do.

When Pam has her hair up in a ponytail, Molly will reach up, take the elastic out and arrange her hair the way it was before then gives her mother a second look to make sure it's her.

"I wish I could understand what it's like for her," she said.

Molly has a good advocate in her sister Annie who is always on the lookout for her, but Pam knows there are things Annie is missing from her twin.

"When she has friends over to play, she's so happy-she can't play with Molly like that," she said.

The little girl also has a lot of worry hanging over her head. "She asks me if she'll get autism," Pam said, noting that her daughter is very mature with her extra responsibility of watching out for her sister.

Pam and Ken know there is a lot to be done on behalf of the government for Molly and every other autistic child in Canada.

"The government system is like a maze," said Pam. "There are at least three ministrys (with involvement in autism) and they keep changing it all the time. Parents don't get a map either."

"We need more communication and co-operation, specifically through education and children and youth services," she continued.

She said she likes to remain positive and focus on change with constructive criticism.

"There is money going into programs, but it's just a band-aid over a gaping wound," Pam said. "I'm happy for it, but it's a fraction of what they (autistic children) need. So much more has to be done."

Pam has hopes that one day Molly can be independent and not rely on the system, but in order for that to happen, the government needs to take a better look at the statistics.

She worries all the time about the 75 Northern Ontario children who are currently on the waiting list for treatment and the parents who are standing by, wringing their hands.

Despite the lack of services on Manitoulin, Pam said she feels fortunate that Molly has the opportunity to live where she does.

"What people on Manitoulin lack in their understanding of autism, they've made up for in their willingness to help."

Liberal senator meets area parents dealing with autism

by Alicia McCutcheon

ESPANOLA-Last Wednesday afternoon, a group of four families met in a small room in the Espanola Recreational Complex, eager to meet with a special guest brought to the community by MP Brent St. Denis.

Senator Jim Munson is a well-known face-a reporter with CTV's national office for almost 30 years and later Prime Minister Jean Chretien's senior communications adviser before being asked to the Senate.

In his time in the Senate, Senator Munson has become a champion for families affected by autism-trying to make the rapidly increasing, and oft-misunderstood, neurological disorder a front-and-centre issue with the federal government.

Each of the four families that met with the senator and MP last week has a child, or grandchild, with autism.

"These issues are an affair of the heart," Senator Munson told the families.

He explained that 40 years ago, his wife gave birth to a child with Down's syndrome who passed away at an early age. From that day forward, he made a promise to himself that, should he ever find himself in a position where he could make a difference, he would try to "sensitize" Canadians to issues such as Down's syndrome or autism. The senator is also known for his work with the Special Olympics-one of his "passions."

"It's an epidemic," he said of autism, calling it "a very serious issue."

According to a report from the Standing Senate on Social Affairs, Science and Technology-'Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families in Crisis' which was released in March 2007-one in 166 people (mainly children) in Canada have been diagnosed with autism. Boys are three or four times more likely than girls to have the disorder.

Senator Munson said that friends of his from eastern Canada with autistic children were leaving for Alberta where the government pays up to $60,000 a year per child up to age 18 for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI).

These most popular methods of intervention engage autistic children with problems in behaviour, learning, socialization and communication. There are many who believe that the sooner a child is diagnosed the more effective the treatment will be.

In Ontario, the government covers ABA and IBI programs for qualifying children under the age of six, with older children qualifying if an assessment determines the need for further treatment.

It is the hope of Senator Munson to see a federal strategy to deal with autism put in place which would give each province and territory access to equal funding.

"Autism knows no borders-we're living in silos in this country," the senator said. "Our social safety net is not designed to catch children with autism."

He said he thought a start would be to re-educate the older generation of doctors who don't have a strong background on autism.

"Autism needs to be stated by Health Canada as a disease," said parent Joanne Beyers of Espanola whose adolescent son, Blake, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome-just one form of autism on the wide spectrum. "Until it is recognized, it's not seen as a warranted cause for homecare. There is funding that is attached to label of 'disease.'"

"We need to take it out of the shadows, just like it was done with mental health issues," she continued. "Sometimes I feel a little isolated and like I'm talking to myself."

The senator said that as Canadians, there is a "moral responsibility to help our neighbours. We don't know the cure or the cause (of autism), but we know how to find money for military hardware and other things. Surely we can find money for our own children."

"This country is too rich to allow families to move to Alberta," Senator Munson said.

Ms. Beyers allowed that she once had to quit her job to "giver her son a chance at becoming a functioning citizen" and now has to work an extra five years before she can retire.

Trinna Lendrum of Garson is a young mother of three. Her eldest child suffers from spina bifida while her youngest, Alex, was diagnosed as severely autistic. Last Monday, Ms. Lendrum, too, gave her notice at her job to stay home to help with Alex's treatment.

Alex was also at the meeting and at a glance, he seemed like an ordinary four-year-old boy. Running around the room and playing happily, when his mother offered a Smartie, she asked him to name the colour.

"Purple," he yelled, his hand out anticipating the treat.

His mother explained that one year ago, Alex was "non-verbal" and would sit quietly, withdrawn into himself. Since he began IBI treatment, he has grown in leaps and bounds, surpassing his therapists projected milestones.

"But what about when he's six and there's no plan?" Ms. Lendrum asked.

One thing that shows again and again with the parents and grandparents in the room is their determination to give their children a good quality of life.

In just five months, Ms. Lendrum and her husband doled out $17,000 from their own pockets for home therapy. Ms. Beyers helped to create a series of videos for her son Blake and his peer group about understanding autism for the children at his school. These are what the group calls "the hidden costs."

Since the video was released, she said the school has done a "complete 180" with their acceptance of the disorder.

"When a kid has a meltdown in a grocery store, people are like, 'stupid kid, bad parent' because the kid looks normal," she said, noting the fact that most people are unaware of the disorder.

"I always look at the word hope," the senator said. "It's almost come to the point where 10,000 people have to march on Parliament Hill."

"It seems politicians are almost afraid to say 'yes' to doing something," said Alex's grandfather Dennis Lendrum. "They sympathize with you but nobody seems to know what direction to go."

"They're afraid of the unknown," agreed Mr. St. Denis.

The parents talked to the senator about the lack of services for children with autism in the North. They were pleased that the province handed out $300,000 for respite care for the North, but guessed bureaucratic costs would leave very little for actual care. Each of the families say they have thought seriously about moving away, to either Sudbury or Alberta, for better services for their children.

"I'm trying my best and I won't rest until we see a national autism strategy," the senator concluded. "We're still meeting in small rooms and we shouldn't have to be."

Meet Isadora Bebamash: M'Chigeeng's first woman Chief

Elected in upset victory Saturday

by Lindsay Kelly

M'CHIGEENG-The M'Chigeeng First Nation made history over the weekend after electing its first female chief into office.

Isadora Bebamash was voted into the position with 337 votes, while her predecessor and sole rival, former chief Joe Hare, took 183 votes.

In addition, 10 councillors were voted into office, including Brian Bisson with 424 votes, Glen Hare with 344 votes, Melanie Debassige with 274 votes, and Hazel Recollet with 272 votes.

Henry Panamick earned 266 votes, Victor Migwans got 259 votes, Martin Debassige took 252 votes and Grace Wagoosh was voted in with 251 votes.

Rounding out the 10 were Donna Debassige with 246 votes and Terry Debassige with 237 votes.

Ms. Bebamash said she was pleased with the results of the election, and though she is the first woman to be elected chief in the community, she does not find the concept daunting. However, she was surprised by the final tally.

"I'm very honoured and really humbled by the results," she said. "I didn't really expect to win by that kind of margin."

Ms. Bebamash celebrated her win with family and community members at a Sunday barbecue, where people were encouraged to drop by, say hello and have something to eat. The newly elected chief then jumped right into the job on Monday morning.

Her first task was to meet with the band's financial officer, Brenda Ense, to go over financial reports, which helped Ms. Bebamash become oriented with different projects going on in the community. In the afternoon, she toured the community, dropping in to the school, the daycare, the complex, and other band buildings to visit staff.

While Ms. Bebamash described Monday as "a fairly easy day," she expects to get down to work next week.

"Next week I'll be finding out about all the departments and will look at where we'd like to go," she said. "I hope everyone will be on board."

Ms. Bebamash said she has the utmost confidence in band staff and community members, and that she's looking forward to working with them.

"I know that, with a lot of things, I'll be relying on our staff," she said. "We have a good staff here, and good community people that have been in their positions for a number years, so I'll be calling on them and their expertise in their departments."

Already, she said, she has received lots of positive feedback from community members who have pledged their support, and it's heartening to hear that they are on the same page when it comes to the community plan. Ms. Bebamash also credits her family with providing their support throughout her campaign.

"It's humbling to think that many people have confidence in you and support you," she said.

Ms. Bebamash said she is optimistic that the next two years will go well, and is pleased that the community is also looking forward to the next two years.

"It's going to be quite an active two years, but we should get a good part of the community plan in place this year," she said. "And we want to get input from people on-reserve but also people from off-reserve, too."

Museum project in Kagawong looking for old stories of Billings

by Jane Hubbard

KAGAWONG-Too often much of an area's history is buried amongst piles of old photographs and tucked away in forgotten attic corners. Rick Nelson, curator of The Old Mill Heritage Centre, hopes to change all that. If he has his way, the citizens of Billings will be bringing their artifacts and stories to him for preservation and display at the Centre.

Although not officially set to open until summer 2008, Mr. Nelson opened the doors this summer, as there was so much interest. "I put the place in order and let people in. There were so many people looking through the windows," he said. "I've really enjoyed talking to the visitors and got some great ideas. People are very interested in the history of Billings and the building itself."

Locating the Heritage Centre in the Old Mill building means that it is centrally located for both tourists and residents alike. Mr. Nelson sees the Centre becoming a hub in the community. "People can come here and tell us their stories," he said. "We can record these stories and put together a keepsake DVD for the family. This is one way that we could raise funds to help with the cost of running the Centre."

He has already started work on a DVD that features Billings landmarks as they are today and how they were in the past. The idea is to feature the landmarks together in a collage or slideshow format and then to have shorter vignettes featuring each landmark on its own. Mr. Nelson would like to see this DVD showing on monitors throughout the centre. It could also be sold as a souvenir.

In order to expand the scope of this project, Mr. Nelson invites anyone with photographs of interest to bring them in. He is eager to speak with people about their recollections of the past events.

The museum board has already been very active bringing the project to this point. At a recent meeting they approved work on a barn-like structure inside the Old Mill that will serve to protect some of the more sensitive artifacts from light damage. The structure will serve to shield the displays from the light, while the rest of the museum can still benefit from the view and natural light that the many windows provide.

It is obvious that Mr. Nelson is enthusiastic about his work. He is very involved in collecting the personal stories that make up the diverse history of Billings Township. In an effort to bring some little known history to light, he has invited Stan Gordon and Loyale McDougall to the Old Mill to relate their stories that tell how their families were united by the tragedy of fire.

Stan Gordon's grandparents had a homestead on what is still Gordon family property on Maple Point. On November 4, 1910, the Gordons went down to their barn to milk the cows, leaving their three children playing in the house. The parents were only gone a short while when they noticed a flash of light coming from the direction of their house. They ran home to find the kitchen where the children had been playing, engulfed in flames.

Mr. Gordon rushed into the flames calling desperately for his children. Almost overcome by smoke, he managed to find one of the twins, Stan Gordon's father, and ran outside holding the child. The fire was so intense that he was unable to go back in for the other children.

Years later, Stan Gordon Sr., who was the surviving child, had his own family. In 1948, his 16-year-old son, Elmer Gordon, was living with the Neil McDougall family in Ice Lake. The McDougalls ran a general store, post office and small garage, and the young Gordon drove truck for the enterprise.

One morning, Elmer, who shared a room with his 10-year-old cousin Loyale, was awakened by the sounds and smell of fire. He awoke his young cousin and coaxed him to jump out the window to safety. Mr. Gordon then went looking for the other family members. This heroic decision cost Elmer Gordon his life.

The two men stand next to each other and look over the pictures of their lost family members. They reminisce quietly between themselves. Although the story is a sad one, their shared history is an important chapter in the community's past. It is this type of story that Mr. Nelson wants to bring to the attention of the general public.

"I am looking to make the Old Mill Heritage Centre more than just a static collection of artifacts, said Mr. Nelson. "I would like it to be a place where people can come and bring Billings' history to life. People have lots of interesting stories to tell and the folks should come forward and have them recorded now for the next generations to come. We need people to bring in their photographs, mementos and story ideas," he said.

"It's the people's testimonials that will make this place an interesting place to visit."

If you have a story about Billings Township that you want told, call Rick Nelson at (705)282-1442, email him at oldmillheritage@xplornet.com, or just stop by to look around. Who knows, you might learn something!

EDITORIAL

Increase in autism demands prompt political response

It is a startling statistic that, in Canada, one in 150 children born in our time will be diagnosed as autistic.

The reasons for this alarming increase are doubtless many and varied and deserve a great deal of analysis on their own.

This writer first  heard this "one in 150" figure used publicly at a political event in our riding earlier this year when Dennis Lendrum from Espanola, who has an autistic grandchild, made a passionate appeal to higher levels of government, calling on them to marshall forces in order to intervene at the earliest possible time in the lives of autistic young people.

This writer thought he had heard wrong, or that, in his passion, Mr. Lendrum had misspoken himself. Surely he had meant "one in 1,500" or "one in 15,000."

But, sadly, a bit of research determined that the proportion noted by Mr. Lendrum is the correct one.

Families of autistic children have recently been outspoken in their demands for assistance for their children, and small wonder.

A news feature in this newspaper gives some insight into the life of one such Manitoulin family and it's clear that to have a child diagnosed with such a condition means, more than is typical, a lifetime commitment to the welfare of that child.

There is, however, irrefutable evidence that early diagnosis and intervention helps both child and her/his family. Helps a lot, and the earlier the better.

But the training for special education teachers to deal with autistic children appropriately is quite specific and, presently, there are not nearly enough trained teachers to go around.

And, once again, the earlier the intervention the better the quality of life for both children and parents.

The other fact is that there is no national standard. In Ontario, a diagnosis of autism has to be confirmed by age 6, or the child does not qualify for the particular specialized treatment required.

Alberta is more generous in this respect and qualifies people for treatment (although, once again, the earlier the better) if they are diagnosed as autistic by age 18.

In one form or another, all of our provincial and federal parties have in recent years waved the "no child left behind" banner.

Well, there is a specific group of children (and their parents) who are very much "left behind" as resources are not allocated to deal with their quite specific special needs.

"One in 150" is very nearly one per cent of the population and that is a number that we cannot ignore.

Ontario must mandate that every school region is able to access discretionary funds in order to seek out and hire the specially-trained staff required, when and for as long as is needed. And enough incentives must be offered to ensure that there are enough specially-trained teachers to fill the need.

"One in 150" means it is almost a certainty that all of us will at least know a family touched by this condition in one of their young children.

In an election period, such as the one we're in now, this should mean that every party will have a position on the best way to make sure that of this special group, "no child is left behind."

We look forward to hearing their announcements on this issue.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The title 'Haweater' has lost its significant historical value to many

Let's put the 'haw' back in Haweater

To the Expositor:

We join everyone in congratulations the Lions Club in their accomplishment of 40 years of Haweater Weekend celebrations. The August 8 edition of the Expositor aptly expresses the history, to date, of this function with kudos to the originators and volunteers since the beginning, wrapping up with "Congratulations on this years event, certainly, but also to all who have built and kept Manitoulin's 'big bash' going through thick and thin.

The Haweater Weekend means a great deal to people born on the Manitoulin Island because the title "Haweater" has significant historical value to them.

This value does not seem to be prominently put forward during the Haweater Weekend in that there is no historical explanation, however brief, of the reason for the term/title "Haweater." The weekend festivities seem, rather, to focus on bringing people and their money to Little Current and area. This is very acceptable to good family get-togethers, meeting friends both old and new, being involved with all the different and exciting games and competitions for all ages, gathering funds for the Lions Club to distribute to charities and certainly to increase the coffers of the local business.

It is too bad that extra police protection must be brought into this town and area specifically during this weekend. Maybe extra policing is needed to "control" the extra people that come to the festivities, but it begs the question of "why"? We are peaceful, law-abiding folk so there shouldn't be need of more police, should there? The answer is "yes" because of the unacceptable actions of some of the revelers who have little or no concern for decency or law.

We witnessed first hand some of those loud, ignorant, abusive, threatening and insulting people on our normally quiet dead-end street during Haweater Weekend and we do  not like it. Both males and females urinating at the roadside, nudity in various forms, smashing beer bottles on a public street, fighting and parking along both sides of the street that hinders, if not disallows ambulances and/or fire fighters and vehicles to get to an emergency situation.

After several hours of this crap, the police were called, who came within 15 minutes and the "party" started to break up. Thanks to the quick response by the OPP.

Other citizens have expressed similar invasions of privacy during this festival weekend in other areas of town. Who is responsible for the clean-up of broken glass on the roadway that could injure our children or puncture our tires, etc.? Is it the Lions Club, local business or our tax dollars that pays for it? We've been told it is the Town who is responsible; ergo, our tax dollars!

There has to be a better way to stop this unacceptable behaviour in our town. We suggest that NEMI Council, the Lions Club, local businesses and all interested citizens put forward ideas to do so. We cannot allow miscreants or misfits to put blemishes on wonderful Haweater Weekends on Manitoulin Island.

If any other citizens had to experience similar obnoxious behaviour, don't be afraid to voice your opinions. Write to newspapers, call local councilors, or speak to your friends and neighbours. Keep the "good;" get rid of the "bad".

Norris Valiquette

Little Current

Our youth need to be better informed of career options

Onus should be on the school and community to help students

To the Expositor:

This letter is in response to Glenn Black's opinion piece about the needs of Manitoulin youth in choosing a career path. Firstly, the question and article title, 'What's wrong with our kids these days?' seems somewhat inappropriate considering the context of Mr. Black's article. In this case, the question should be what is wrong in our society, what is wrong in the community of Manitoulin Island, and what is wrong with Manitoulin's secondary school education experience that has fallen short of assisting our local youth in making informed career decisions?

To me it is just that: a shortcoming of information, a behind-in-the-times education experience, and a lack of community support for the youth of Manitoulin. I am speaking from my own experience as a youth on Manitoulin Island when I say that my first thought after graduating from Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) was to get the heck off of this Island. Like many of us 'lost' students I pursued a college course in art and design, simply because despite the fact that I had no idea what I wanted for my future, I knew I wanted to be somewhere else. I quickly learned that this was not the career for me. However, that one-year college experience  made me realize just how limited my secondary education on Manitoulin Island had been. For example, I had no idea what APA format or proper essay techniques were; I had never used PowerPoint presentations or even seen one for that matter, and I had never heard of career counseling, personality testing, or apprenticeship programs. I was not well informed of the possible career planning opportunities until I took advantage of all my college had to offer and with the help of good grades, a good college guidance counsellor, and one 'false start' year of college, I am now in my fourth year of the bachelor of social work program at Laurentian University.

Had MSS better prepared me, and hundreds of other Manitoulin youth, for what really lies ahead, I may have known a little better which direction I might like to go in regards to choosing a career. I agree with Mr. Black that this is a problem for the youth of Manitoulin because they are missing incredible opportunities by being under-informed. It is a problem for the community of Manitoulin because we are forced to bring in off-Islanders to fill education-required careers. It is also a problem for society because we are sending unprepared youth out into the real world to compete amongst their newfound peers who have been better prepared by off-Island secondary schools.

Our youth need to be informed of their career options and what they need to do now in order to pursue those careers. There are two half-credit courses in high school, civics and career studies, which are designed to address the needs of students in regards to career options, apprenticeship programs, trades opportunities, and prepare us for the endless possibilities for our futures. Sadly, my experience in these two classes was tossing paper airplanes and skipping out early because the teacher did not take that valuable time to really learn about careers. Mr. Black pointed out that when he asked a young lady what type of work she might like to do in regards to her interest in computers, she admitted she had not thought about that yet. This is because there is no-one, other than the already very busy guidance counsellors, to help students learn about their options and career specifics. A vital part of planning for one's future is knowing exactly what high school courses to take in order to have the prerequisites needed to apply for college, university or apprenticeships. So many MSS grads finally decide on a career, only to realize they needed a certain high school course which they would either have to go back and take or forget about their dreams. There should be a specific course or program, like Mr. Black's proposed PD Day events, to ensure students know about their options. In order to be effective, the system has to reach all students, even those who struggle through high school. For these people, college or university looks like a horror story, not a future. We need to show these students that there are other options for the future that are just as pride-worthy as post-secondary school.

It is sad to see the youth of Manitoulin run off and plant their roots elsewhere. It is my plan to live here when I am finished my schooling and hopefully do something with my education to make this Island better suited for the needs of our youth. There really is nothing wrong with our kids these days and for us to question that is underestimating the unleashed potential and great possibilities that Manitoulin youth have to offer. I do believe we need to start questioning the quality of Manitoulin's secondary education system and the involvement of our community in ensuring our youth are well-informed and better prepared for the future. After all, it takes a community to raise a child. Let's start thinking about ours.

Sarah Wheale

Sudbury

Heroic dog Hendrix stayed with lost child

Police deserve 'standing ovation' for prompt attention

To the Editor:

On Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 1:30 pm on Rabbit Island, a three-year-old little girl named Ronnie went missing. When I found out I went out immediately to help look for this young girl.

I saw Ronnie's mom, and she said she last saw Ronnie at the end of her apartment playing with Hendrix, our neighbour's white dog.

By the time I walked back from another neighbour's to ask her if she had seen Ronnie or the dog, there were other family members and community members arriving to help.

The police were called and by 2:30 pm, there were approximately 13 police officers and a helicopter, and the police had already called in for the K-9 unit to come in and help in the search for Ronnie. There were also many more family members and community members arriving as well.

I knew that my neighbour's dog Hendrix was still in the bush with Ronnie, because it wasn't like Hendrix to be that long in the bush. In my heart I knew that she was okay because I hadn't seen Hendrix. Then at approximately 4:05 pm, one of the police officers said they found Ronnie. Ronnie's mother and family were relieved, along with all those standing waiting for her arrival, and when Ronnie pulled in with two police officers, well, needless to say it was a very happy ending.

These police officers deserve a standing ovation for their prompt performance on this day and let's not forget Hendrix for his heroic behaviour by sticking close to this young angel's side and comforting her until she was spotted by the police in the helicopter, and until she was safely placed into her mother's arms.

This, to me, is a true story of heroism and an excellent job done by all. What a fantastic ending.

Cindy McMaster

Wikwemikong

I'm your neighbour

Trevor Wright

M and R Jewellery Store

Gore Bay

Having a good attitude is important when dealing with members of the public on a daily basis, says Trevor Wright, who works at M and R Jewellery Store in Gore Bay.

"When you are dealing with the public you have to have a good, friendly attitude," said Mr. Wright, who is store clerk at the jewellery store.

As of the start of October, Mr. Wright will have been employed at M and R for one year. "I enjoy my work very much," he said. "I enjoy getting to deal with different people, both local customers and tourists."

Diversity is the word to describe Mr. Wright's workload as a store clerk. "My position is made up of a lot of small jobs, which makes things pretty interesting. For example, I take in repairs, and/or send them out. As well I do engraving, and general storekeeping, ordering and participate in gift shows."

"Definitely the best part of my job is dealing with all generations of the public, which is nice, and meeting people from different places," continued Mr. Wright.

"We have souvenirs, jewellery, and giftware in the store," said Mr. Wright. Working at M and R provides a chance to work with his father-in-law Jim Woods, owner of the store. "Jim is great to work for, and he doesn't treat me any differently, even though I'm part of the family. At work we keep things on a professional, business-type basis, and after work we don't take our work home with us."

Previously to being hired at H and M Jewellery, Mr. Wright was bar manager at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 514 in Gore Bay, which included bookkeeping and working the bar. He remains a member of the Legion. Prior to that, he worked in the general store at the Manitowaning Livestock Co-operative in Manitowaning.

Patronizing local businesses like H and M Jewellery provides lasting employment for people like Trevor Wright.