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Our Opinion Tuesday, February 12,2008 The Nipigon-Red Rock Gazette is published each Tuesday by Lakeshore Community Publishing Ltd. 38 Front Street, Nipigon, Ont. P0T2J0 Phone 807-887-3583 Fax 807-887-3720 2nd., class mailing permit #0867 Subscription Rates: Seniors (65+) $28.00 Local $38.00. Outside 60km $51.00 USA $67.0C (please add 5% GST) Memberships and Associations The Canadian Community Newspa per Association, The Ontario Community Newspaper Association Columns Policy - Letters to Editor The columns and letters accepted by this newspaper for publication, appear at the discretion of the Publisher. Names, signatures and phone numbers must accompany each submission for verification purposes. It is assumed that each submission fairly represents the opinion of the writer. E-mail address nipigongazette@shaw.ca Advertising and General Manager Linda R. Harbinson Reporter Photographer/Circulation Pamela Behun Managing Editor Paulette Lalonde Forsyth Publisher Linda R. Harbinson ‘We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program ‘PAP Registration No. 9030” toward our mailing costs.” Canada editorial... Shiver me timbers, it certainly has been a very cold couple of days. That wind just shoots right through you as if you were wearing paper clothing. My dad use to say that they never made houses or cars for the north...and now I’d like to add clothing to that list. Yikes! And with that in mind, I’d like to make a plea on behalf of all our little furry pets. Make sure they are warm and protected from this extreme cold, especially the ones that remain outside. If it’s cold for us, it must get cold for them at times (yes, I’m well aware that they have fur coats, but not on their feet!!). A little care and caution doesn’t cost a thing, but means everything to our faithful critters. While we are on the subject of keeping warm, Valentine’s Day is this Thursday and so I am personally sending a reminder to all of you who read this column to appreciate the love in your life. Family love, friendship love, pet love, partner loveâ€"whatever form of love that surrounds you at this time, appreciate it by acknowledging it. Valentine’s Day isn’t solely about romantic love, it’s about the people you love and who love you. The emotion of love is a very powerful energy that makes things grow and flourish, and without it, we’d die (perhaps not physically, but mentally and spiritually). So be sure to celebrate Valentine’s Day and all the love that you have been blessed with in your life. Presents of flowers, cards, chocolates can bring a smile, but the real love comes from the presence of your heart. Cycle to Walk Sponsor Prospectus Ramesh Ferris was born in December, 1979 in Coimbatore, India, located in the Southern State of Tamil Nadu. At age 6 months, Ramesh contracted Polio which left his legs paralyzed for life. After his biological mother, Lakshmi, recognized that she did not have the means to provide the rehabilitative supports her baby required, she placed Ramesh in the care of the Canadian founded orphanage of Families for Children at age 18 months. Shortly thereafter, Ron Ferris, Anglican Bishop of Yukon began the lengthy process of adopting Ramesh. It was not an easy task since section 19 of the Canadian Immigration Act was not friendly to international adoptions. The Ferris family persisted and Ramesh arrived in Canada September 27th, 1982 to join the Bishop, his wife Jan and their other five adopted children (two of whom were adopted from the same orphanage in India as Ramesh). The Ferris case was the first finalized international adoption in the Yukon Territory. In order to learn to walk, Ramesh required significant rehabilitative supports including three major orthopedic surgeries at British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital. He was walking by age three with the help of two leg braces and a walker. By age four, Ramesh was able to walk independently with two leg braces and two forearm crutches. His process was challenged by nine bouts of pneumonia before age 11. Despite the medical challenges, or perhaps because of them, Ramesh was a positive, smiling, determined child who strived to not let his inabilities be an obstacle in his life. Focusing on his abilities he attended Easter Seals Camps, shoveled driveways during the frigid Yukon winters, delivered newspapers door to door and walked to and from school in temperatures reaching -40 degrees. As an adolescent, Ramesh was involved in developing his leadership skills by attending student leadership conferences, acting as Vice-President of his student council at Porter Creek Jr. Secondary in Whitehorse, Yukon, and leading his church youth group for the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Algoma when the Ferris family relocated to Ontario in 1995. After his 1998 graduation from Sir James Dunn High School in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Ramesh attended the Social Work Program at Confederation College in thunder Bay, Ontario. During his time in College, he exercised his leadership capabilities, working as a Resident Advisor, and as President of the Student Union of Confederation College Inc. After completion of his studies at Confederation College, Ramesh returned to Whitehorse, Yukon where he started employment with the Government of Yukon’s Health and Social Services Department working with people with disabilities, at-risk youth, and social welfare recipients. Ramesh’s current position is as an employment counselor in Whitehorse. Since returning to the Yukon six years ago, Ramesh has volunteered his time sitting on various boards of directors pertaining to mediation, active living, and community inclusion for people with disabilities. Nationally, Ramesh has been involved, representing the Yukon, with the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association, Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association, the Esteem Team Association, the Canadian Rural Youth Network and the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability. In his capacity as President of the Yukon Society Towards Accessible Recreation and Sport, Ramesh was instrumental in bringing the sports of wheelchair basketball, hand-cycling, and inclusive dance to Yukon. He has spent the last five years teaching wheelchair basketball to high school students with the goal of educating young people of the need for respect and understanding for people who have long-term mobility loss. In 2002, Ramesh had an opportunity to travel back to India to meet his biological mother for the first time and visit the orphanage of Families for children where he once lived. During this emotional visit, Ramesh chatted with, and saw other Polio Survivors who were not as fortunate as he had been. After much reflection about his visit to India, Ramesh was determined to make a difference in the lives of polio survivors and Continued on Page 6 ComParrot by Bonnie J. Malcolm Can you spot 12 differences between these pictures? Solution: 1. Tape on sign is missing. 2. Branch on tree is missing. 3. Heel appears on sock. 4. Part of bike pedal is missing. 5. Knob on radio is colored in. 6. Inside of basket handle is colored in. 7. Cloud on calendar photo has moved. 8. Antenna on radio has moved. 9. Label on bike has moved. 10. Bike seat is larger. 11, Sleeve on man’s shirt is different. 12. Checkered cloth is larger.