The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE 12THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, DECEMBER 5,2001 Celebrations abound as Grandview gets $1.8 million Waiting list to be eliminated BY CHRIST)'CHASE Staff Writer DURHAM - The current waiting list lor children needing occupational therapy and physiotherapy at Grandview Grandview Children's Centre will be almost eliminated with new annual funding from the Province. "With the new funding, we're able to hire new physiotherapists and occupation occupation therapists and we are anticipating anticipating we'll be able to reduce (the waiting list) to almost zero," said Linda Watson, executive director of the children's treatment centre, based in Oshawa but serving all of Durham Region. The waiting list at the chronically- underfunded centre consists of 150 children with physical, developmental and communication disorders, she said. That waiting list will disappear but it will do so gradually, as 18 new therapists therapists are hired, she said. Grandview will also be expanding its social work sendees program, hiring more social workers to help children and families, and is also looking for bigger space for its Ajax satellite office. Grandview treats about 3,200 children a year. All this is possible because of more than $1.8 million added to Grandview's annual funding by the Province. On Friday, Friday, Finance Minister, deputy premier and Whitby-Ajax MPP Jim Flaherty, Education Minister and Pickering- Ajax-Uxbridge MPP Janet Ecker and Oshawa MPP Jerry Ouellette brought a cheque for that amount to Grandview, much to the delight of staff, children and parents gathered for the celebration. celebration. (Durham MPP John O'Toole was in Ottawa on committee work.) ■ "The difference this money will make ... will be felt almost immediately," immediately," said Jennifer Ayotte, chairman of Grandview's board of directors. "It's the best thing to happen to Grandview in 10 years," Ms. Watson said. "I said there'd be dancing in the halls of Grandview when we got this funding so if anyone wants to dance, go ahead." "I am so happy," said Wally Griswold, Griswold, whose daughter Chantelle Gavin, 12, has received services from Grandview Grandview since she was 18 months old. "She really relies heavily on the services provided provided by Grandview." Ms. Watson, Ms. Ayotte and the MPPs all paid tribute to the unceasing efforts by parents over the last 10 years to get more funding for children's services services in fast-growing Durham Region. The parents wrote letters, made phone calls, met regularly and met local MPPs over the last decade in their efforts to persuade the provincial government to provide more funding and more equitable equitable financing for Grandvièw and other children's treatment centres. "We've been told our community was really the driving force" in persuading persuading the government to improve funding, Ms. Watson said. "This makes it all worthwhile," said Janet Green, one of many who lobbied for years on behalf of Grandview. "I'm really happy for Grandview." Her son, Andrew, went to Grandview Grandview for six years from the time he was three months old and even attended the attached school for two years. He's now in a regular school and receiving services services there, which is another battle, Mrs. Green said. Mr. Griswold said he's glad the parents parents were able to influence the Province. "We fought hard to bring to the attention attention of the government that this is a wonderful facility and it was grossly underfunded." He credited the local MPPs for listening listening to the parents and then fighting in caucus for Grandview. The centre has its main facility in Oshawa with satellite offices in Uxbridge, Port Perry and Ajax. Head Injury Association Christmas party set DURHAM - The Head Injury Association of Durham Region is holding its annual Christmas party on Dec. 19 at the Royal Canada Legion, Legion, 117 Byron St. S., Whitby. Family and friends of members are invited to celebrate the season, starting at 6:30 p.m. People are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the food bank and a gift (value up to $10) for a gift exchange, exchange, labelled for malc/fcmalc, boy/girl and age. Members who need transportation transportation assistance arc asked to call 905-723-2732. 4 weeks left Herbal Magic is excited to introduce Christine Knott, who lost 20 lbs and 20 1/2" in only 6 weeks. Christine looks and feels beautiful in her New Year's Eve dress and YOU CAN TOO! ■k. 1 Why wait to make a New Year's Resolution when you can get started now. $5Q00 0FF\ full program ! «iHiibH >iv»< expires: Jan. 01/2002 j 905-697-9484 243 King St. E. in the Bowmanville Mall Weight Mimtigeinciil unci Nutrition Centres www.herbalmaglcsyslems.com '*Inquire about our in store specials Clarington This Week Canadian Statesman Visit Durham's best on-line classified advertising directory durhamregion.com www.durhamc.on Got potential? Durham College's Supply Chain Management (Post-diploma) could be your next step to a dynamic career. If you have a degree, three-year college diploma or at least four years' related work experience, you may be eligible to enrol in this one-year post-diploma program. Give yourself a greatfuture with a career in areas such as: • Materials Management • Demand Forecasting • Supplier Management • Enterprise Resource Management Starts this February! Call us today at 905-721-3063. DURHAM ) SALE PRICES END SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, OR WHERE SEARS IS CLOSED, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8,2001, UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED KENMORF DISHWASHERS ARE CANADA'S BEST SELLERS! Based on independent national surveys current at time of advertising preparation ■ Sears stores close to you, close to home Major Appliances are available at the following Greater Toronto locations: North Bolton Dealer Store (905) 857-4390 Markham Furniture, Appliances & Home Improvements Store Don Mills & Steeles (905) 881-6600 Markville Shopping Centre (305) 946-1866 Newmarket Furniture & Appliances Store Yonge St. & Davis Dr. (905) 830-0049 Promenade Shopping Centre (905) 731-3388 Richmond Hill Furniture & Appliances Store Hwy. 7 and Yonge St. (905) 762-0870 Upper Canada Mall Newmarket (905) 898-2300 Vtoodbridge Furniture & Appliances Store Hwy. 7 & Wfeston Rd. (905) 850-6406 East Oshawa Shopping Centre (905) 576-1711 Pickering Town Centre (905) 420-8000 Scarborough Furniture & Appliances Store Kennedy Rd. & 401 (416)332-8577 Scarborough Town Centre (416) 296-0171 Central Fairview Mall (416) Gerrard Square (416) 461-9092 Sherway Gardens (416) 620-6011 Woodbine Shopping Centre (416) 798-3800 Yorkdale Stropping Centre (416) 789-1105 Allen Rd. Furniture & Appliances Store Allen Rd. & Sheppard Ave. (416) 398-9947 West Ancaster Furniture & Appliances Store Golf Links Rd. & Legend Crt. (905) 304-1440 Bramalea City Centre (905) 458-1141 Brampton Furniture & Appliances Store 535 Steeles Ave. 6.(905)455-1255 Burlington Furniture & Appliances Store Plains Rd. East &QEW (905) 631-9655 Erin Mills Town Centre (905) 607-2300 Georgetown Dealer Store (905) 877-5172 Hamilton Centre Mall (905) 545-4741 Limeridge Mall Hamilton (905) 389-4441 Mapleview Centre Burlington (905) 632-4111 Milton Dealer Store (905) 878-4104 Mississauga Dealer Store (905) 848-8882 Mississauga Furniture & Appliances Store Hwy. 5 & 403 (905) 820-6801 Oakville Place (905) 842-9410 Square One Shopping Centre (905) 270-8111 Major Appliances also available at Eatons: Toronto Eaton Centre, 4th floor (416)343-2111 LLLL P®/MD NP1220401 Copyright 2001. Scars Canada Inc.