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4- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 5, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Setbacks haven't tarnished doctor's view of Canada Continued from page 3 Salik became aware of a Medical Laboratory Technician course available through CDI College. He completed the course, but soon found out that no one would hire him because of his lack of Canadian experience. Now, in even greater debt than before, Salik is delivering pizzas in an effort to get by while he continues to ponder how there can be no government funding available to qualify foreign- trained doctors when in Oakville alone there are 13,800 people without a doctor. "It's such a waste. It's such a shame that all my experience is going to waste," he said. "When I look at the doctors at the clinics and how they are working, I'm not criticizing them, but they are so overburdened." To rectify both his situation and Ontario's doctor shortage, Salik is calling on any level of government or company that will listen to create a fund that foreign trained doctors can turn to while they're qualifying to resume their chosen profession here in Canada. "The doctors are out there. There are Chinese doctors, Indian doctors, Pakistani doctors," said "I wake up every morning and I see my kids are fine. They have health and security. " Andrew Salik Salik. "A company could spare $4,000 a month for a maximum of six to eight months and get one doctor going. This would create an example to follow for the rest of the nation. Someone needs to start taking these steps." How long would it take Salik to have a full roster of patients once his practice opened? About one hour as many of his neighbours already recognize what the Canadian government has not. People aware of his background come to him seeking medical advice, he said. Salik has been receiving help from the Hopedale Mall Women's Centre, which has been trying to find him a higher-paying job and get him back in the medical field. So far, while some prospects have emerged, Salik is still delivering pizzas. Salik first become known to the The Women's Centre's Norma Pennington-Drabble when she attended an Oakville & District Labour Council meeting in November at which those present ordered pizza for lunch. As luck would have it, Salik delivered the pizza and, after receiving assurances the delegates would not report him for talking to them, he asked them for help. Pennington-Drabble agreed despite the fact that Salik is not the centre's usual clientele. "The case he made to me was that by helping him I would be helping all the women and children in Oakville who need a doctor," she said. "That worked for me." Besides trying to get Salik work, The Women's Centre at Hopedale Mall is also accepting donations from anyone who wants to sponsor Salik and thereby bring a doctor to Ontario. Despite all the hardships, Salik has experienced since leaving Pakistan he does not regret his decision to come to Canada, noting that having a stable environment in which to raise his children keeps him going. "I wake up every morning and I see that my kids are fine. They have health and security," he said. "I'm glad I am in Canada instead of other countries because it is multicultural. I've traveled a lot and Canada is a very comfortable country." Anyone interested in sponsoring Salik in his efforts to become a doctor can call The Women's Centre at 905-847-9104. Anyone interested in speaking to Salik directly can call 647-868-6470. French Immersion information meetings The Halton District School Board offers Immersion and Extended French programs for students beginning in Grade 1 (Early) and Grade 7 (Extended). In these bilingual programs, elementary school students attend one of Halton's French centres where they receive half of their instruction in English and the other half in French. This provides students with the opportunity to achieve a working command of French and to acquire the personal growth, knowledge and skills expected in the regular program at the same time. The school board is preparing for September 2008 and information sessions have been planned at the Board's French Immersion centres. Registration forms for the Immersion French program are available at any school in the Halton District School Board, including the French Centres at the schools listed below. Applications should be returned to the student's home school by no later than Jan. 21. All information evenings begin at 7 p.m., and will be held at the following French Immersion Centres: Wednesday, Jan. 16 at Linbrook Public School, 1079 Linbrook Rd., Pine Grove Public School, 529 Fourth Line; and Thursday, Jan. 17 at École Forest Trail School, 1406 Pine Glen Rd., Sunningdale Public School, 1434 Oxford Ave. For information contact Marcelle Faulds at 905-335-3663 or 905-842-3014. Think Green. Be Cool. Breathe Easy. HUGE CENTRAL AIR & FURNACE Up to BEST PRICES EVER! SALE $ Cash Back 4700 AND * NO PAYMENT! NO INTEREST! ONE YEAR *OAC Life shouldn't be a chore You've worked hard to get where you are, now you should be enjoying life. So if the chores of cooking, cleaning and maintenance aren't something you look forward to, look forward to life at Delmanor Glen Abbey. Here you'll find likeminded people that want to get the most out of life with a choice of hotel style services that can include daily housekeeping and meals along with active community based programs. 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