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PAGE ? WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 15.1987 Firefighters offer kids hands-on experience Hands-on experience is em- phasized in the junior firefighters program offered by the Whitby fire department. Now in its 14th year, the course helps 11 and 12-year-olds gain a bet- ter understanding of the fire depar- tment and fire safety. "Besides hands-on, the kids get lectures on fire safety, are taught home fire safety and are taught mouth-to-mouth resuscitation," says junior firefighter co-ordinator Dave Bemis. Two sesssions are held during July, each lasting two weeks, with classes held in the mornings and af- ternoons. The first two classes held their graduation ceremonies last Friday, displaying their knowledge of firefighting and rescue techniques to their parents. With the aid of an old car sitting behind the Brock St. S. fire station, students are shown cutting tools and prying tools, put out fires with extinguishers and hoses, and try on masks and suits, says Bemis. He says it's the only course of its kind in Canada which teaches kids fire safety in-depth. The - course is also an em- ployment opportunity for high school students hired to teach the kids during July. Students are brought into the station two weeks before the course begins and taught by firefighters. One particular area emphasized by the department is the develop- ment, by students, of a fire safety plan for their homes. "The kids map out two escape routes from their homes, are shown how to handle a fire extinguisher, and learn the advantages of a smoke detector," says Bemis. He says the program is always full and has a waiting list each year. "A lot of preparation goes into this for the kids," he says. The juniors are also taught how to handle themselves when an alarm goes off at the station. "They are told where to stand but a lot of them still ask questions when the bell goes off," says Bemis. JUNIOR firefighter graduation ceremonies included a demonstration of skills and knowledge acquired during the course from proper extinguishing of fires to jumping into a net. Lioness club donates $575 Whitby Lioness Club recently to Camp Dialysin for two weeks this donated $575 to the Durham Region summer. Lionesses are strong -up- unit of the Kidney Foundation. Funds will be used to send a child porters of the Kidney Foundation. DURHAM STUDINT PAINTERS . Guaranteed Lowest Prices! * Satisfaction Guaranteed * 100% Student Operated * Professional Quality CALL Commercial Exterior 4302232 Interior FOR FREE ESTIMATE RASPBERRIES GREEN & YELLOW BEANS Pick Your Own Every Day (Ready picked available) Zdanowicz Farm 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. N 4-f Hwy 7BROOKLIN z Ç]z RD. 4 OR TAUNTON C)N F 0a: cc o w 0 ROSSLAND WHITBY AJAX HWY 2 A NEw APPROACH TO ADOPTION DISCLOSURE IN ONTARIO NOT ALL ADOPTED CHILDREN GROW UP WANTING TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR BIRTH PARENTS. BUT FOR THOSE WHO DO, THE PROCESS HAS OFTEN BEEN FRUS- TRATING AND INCONCLUSIVE. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, BROTHERS OR SISTERS SEARCHING FOR A CHILD PLACED FOR ADOPTION YEARS AGO. ON JULY 6, 1987, AMENDMENTS TO ADOPTION LEGISLATION CHANGED THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING ADOPTION INFORMATION IN ONTARIO. NON-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION, IF AVAILABLE, SUCH AS THE BIRTH FAMILY'S BACKGROUND AND MEDICAL HISTORY, WILL BE RE- LEASED ON REQUEST TO ADULT ADOPTED PERSONS (THOSE 18 OR OLDER); AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADOPTIVE FAMILY'S BACK- GROUND WILL BE GIVEN TO ADULT BIRTH RELATIVES, UPON REQUEST. 'INFORMATION THAT REVEALS THE IDENTITY OF AN ADULT ADOP- TEE OR A BIRTH RELATIVE WILL BE SHARED ONLY IF BOTH PARTIES HAVE VOLUNTARILY ENTERED THEIR NAMES WITH THE ADOPTION DISCLOSURE REGISTER AND CONSENTED TO DISCLOSURE. THE CONSENT OF ADOPTIVE PARENTS IS NO LONGER REQUIRED. IF BIRTH RELATIVES HAVE NOT REGISTERED, AN ADULT ADOPTEE CAN REQUEST A SEARCH. HOWEVER, CONFIDENTIALITY IS PRO- TECTED THROUGHOUT. IF LOCATED, BIRTH RELATIVES CAN SIMPLY DECIDE NOT TO HAVE THEIR IDENTITIES MADE KNOWN. THE ISSUES AND EMOTIONS SURROUNDING ADOPTION INFOR- MATION ARE COMPLEX, SO PROFESSIONAL ADVICE IS PROVIDED AT EVERY STAGE. THE PROCESS WILL ALSO TAKE TIME, SINCE A LARGE NUMBER OF REQUESTS ALREADY EXIST. ALL THE NEW PROCEDURES AND SERVICES ARE OUTLINED IN A FREE PAMPHLET, AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND IN FRENCH. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY OR WRITE THE' ADOPTION INFORMATION UNIT, 700 BAY STREET, 2ND FLOOR, TORONTO M7A 1E9. IN TORONTO, CALL 963-0709. ELSEWHERE IN ONTARIO CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-5477 Ministry of Community and Social Services 5DOntario John Sweeney, Minister David Peterson. Premier Call 668-5509 for more informatic N.W. CORNER AT TAUNTON AND CORONATION ROADS Bring Containers or purchase at Farm ýlq r 'w on