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28 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 15, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com SSO moves home to Oakville After making its home in Milton, the Halton and Peel Regional Office of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario (SSO) has relocated to Oakville. The SSO was originally founded by Oakville residents Bill and Dorothy Jefferies in 1979. Bill had two brothers and a son who developed schizophrenia. After a 30-year teaching career, he set out to change the world's awareness of the illness, beginning by placing a small ad in an Oakville newspaper asking families of people with schizophrenia to attend a meeting to "share and educate". About 80 people attended that first meeting in a local church basement. Oakville became the first Chapter of the Friends of Schizophrenics. That same year, Bill travelled across Ontario and founded the Ontario Friends of Schizophrenics, and, later, the Canadian Friends of Schizophrenics. In 1983 he founded the World Schizophrenia Fellowship. In 1995, in response to increased awareness and sensitivity to the harm done by labelling a person "schizophrenic", the names of the organizations were changed to the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, Schizophrenia Society of Canada. When Bill Jefferies died in 2002 at age 86, he left an invaluable legacy of organized committed support for the families of people with schizophrenia through the work of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario and its sister Societies. Schizophrenia is a serious, treatable brain disease. It makes it hard for someone to tell the difference between what's real and what's not real. One in 100 people will develop schizophrenia, according to the society. In Canada, that's about 300,000 and in the Halton and Peel region that's more than 10,000 people. About 40 per cent of people with schizophrenia will try to commit suicide. The illness often strikes a person during their late teens or early 20s. Unfortunately, many people are diagnosed only after they have had a "psychotic episode," a serious event where the person has trouble distinguishing between what is real and what is not. Some of the symptoms include feeling depressed, feeling anxious and suspicious, hearing voices, suddenly becoming obsessed with something, such as religion and showing little or no emotion. Medication is the foundation of treatment and fortunately, many of the newer drugs have few side effects. This means people with schizophrenia can have a much better quality of life than they would have a few years ago. Early intervention" programs can also lead to a better treatment outcome. There is no cure right now. Family members of people with schizophrenia also need support, education and counselling. They are an important part of treatment and recovery and that's where the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario (SSO) comes in. Founded in 1979, SSO is a non-profit organization offering a reason to hope and the means to cope for families affected by schizophrenia. SSO provides support, education, and advocacy on behalf of people and families affected by schizophrenia through its network of chapters in communities across Ontario. The Halton and Peel regional office of SSO, now located at 136 Cross Ave., serves the Halton populations of Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Acton as well as the region of Peel (Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon). SSO will be hosting an Open House on Wednesday, June 27, from 4-7 p.m. For more information, contact the Regional Co-ordinator, Lisa Cowley at 905-338-2112. news...classifieds...real estate... downtown all the best deals... www.oakvillebeaver.com RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AWNINGS, CANOPIES, PORTABLE SHADE STRUCTURES SAVE $250 UP TO ON IN-STOCK AWNINGS Manufactured with your choice of fade proof Sunbrella fabric, and powered by a reliable Somfy remote controlled motor. 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The study will include the following schools: Chisholm, Brantwood, E.J. James, Linbrook, Maple Grove, New Central and Oakville Trafalgar High Schools. If you have any questions, please contact Trustee Gerry Ockenden, Chair, PARC PE 14, at (519) 853-8740 or ockendeng@hdsb.ca LEASE RATE 48 MOS. BRONTE RD. PACIFIC RD. Halton District School Board Wayne Joudrie Director of Education Gillian Tuck Kutarna Chair of the Board W. Q.E.W. E. 3RD LINE SOUTH SERVICE RD. WYECROFT RD. 2050 Guelph Line, PO Box 5005, Burlington, ON L7R 3Z2 (905) 335-3663 (905) 842-3014 (905) 878-8451 Fax: 335-9802 www.hdsb.ca No purchase necessary. See www.prooil.ca for details and a location near you. iPod is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. Apple is not a sponsor of, nor partner in, this promotion. A LITTLE SCRATCH THAT'S GOOD FOR YOUR CAR CHECK YOUR MAIL OR COME IN FOR YOUR CHANCE TO ONE OF HUNDREDS OF GREAT PRIZES!