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Purple Ribbon campaign raises awareness of abuse n between giving thanks Iand preparing for trick or treaters this year, resiâ€" dents of Ontario are encourâ€" aged to remember that October is also Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month According to recent staâ€" tistics. in 2001/2002, an alarming 219,205 cases of child abuse and neglect were reported across the province. Closer to home. Family and Children‘s Serâ€" vices of Waterloo Region claims to receive over 6,000 calls a year reporting susâ€" Looking For a New or Preâ€"owned BMW www.bkmotorsqroup.com Two yearâ€"old Jaimee Lynn Marchand enjoyed a full plate of pancakes and sausages, along with some juice to wash it down, Saturday morning during the annual free Oktoberfest Community Breakfast, held in the Waterloo Town Square courtyard. By VisH KHtanna For the Chronicle Good grub pected child abuse and neglect. Such horrific statistics have prompted Family and Children‘s Services to address this important issue by raising the public‘s conâ€" sciousness r('ga(,filéni}'bfi seriousness of child abuse and neglect through its Pur ple Ribbon Campaign. This month marks the l1th anniversary of the campaign, and Children‘s Aid Societies actrass Ontario have committed to particiâ€" pating in a push for public awareness to protect chilâ€" dren from abusive behavâ€" iour We‘ve been involved AnoatA BALEY PAOTO Ward 1 incumbent takes the heat terloo Coun. Scott Wlaones found himself in the line of fire durâ€" ing an allâ€"candidates debate, held> last Thursday â€" at Keatsway public school. Ward, also known as Ward 1, was the target of most of the questions from the crowd of over 80 residents who attendâ€" ed the town hall meeting, Jones, who is seeking reelection in the Southwest And those questions ranged from Jones‘ position on the performance of the City of Waterloo‘s former chief administrative officer Tom Stockie, to when he believed a And those he couldn‘t answer, he invited residents to call him after the meeting to address their concerns. He also pointed out the strides the city has taken to overcome any struggles as a result of the fallout from the RIM Park financing scandal. The incumbent showed no signs of agitation, and answered every question with certainty. "We‘ve rewritten our purâ€" chasing bylaws so that anyâ€" thing over a certain amount of money has to go out for criâ€" tique," he said. "We‘ve also gone through the RIM Park inquiry, and we‘re now expecting those recommenâ€" dations to come through within the next few weeks." The Purple Ribbon campaign is designed to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect He also pointed out the By Anprea Baey _ Chronicle Staff PAGE 3 MiOASLOE aMD Cha D®EN‘S SHMCES Of waTERLOO #E GiON city is preparing to hire a new "Council and staff have CAO, which he believes will â€" become complacent. It‘s help restore public confiâ€" _ almost beenâ€"like an allâ€"boys dence in city hall. club at city hall. Ward 1 candidate Sal Pace (right) prepares to answer a question during a town hall meeting But at the same time, Jones believes political experience will also be an asset to the next council. As the only incumbent running for a ward councilâ€" lors‘ seat, Jones feels he can still bring benefit to the horseâ€" But other candidates feel complete change is needed for the city to move forward. "New direction requires new blood," said Craig Hodâ€" "I also think there should be changes in city staff. "New faces are good," he "There seems to be a hierâ€" archy at the city, with the staff running the city at the top, then council, then the citizens at the bottom of the hierarchy. Meanwhile citizens should be at the top. "Council and staff should keep their distance, but still respect each other." > _____ Candidate Vince McQuabâ€" bie agreed there should be a stronger divide between staff and council. "We have to take city hall back from the staff," he said. "The staff ran roughshod over the previous council." with this for a number of _ troubling to Ringrose, who years now," explained Peter _ believes that seemingly isoâ€" Ringrose, executive director _ lated incidents of abuse of Family and Children‘s _ actually wear upon the fabâ€" Services of Waterloo Region. _ ric of society as a whole. "We simply use it as an "Certainly when you look opportunity to raise public _ at the statistics about the awareness about child _ number of children who are abuse and neglect and the _ referred to the agency each fact that it is a serious probâ€" _ year out of concerns about lem â€" one, which virtually _ child abuse and neglect, it‘s everyone in the community _ still a considerable number," can contribute towards endâ€" _ he said. "It‘s somewhere ing." between one and two per While statistics indicate that the problem of child abuse and neglect is no more prevalent in Waterloo than in other parts of the province, the fact that it exists any where at all is Other issues the candi dates debated included stuâ€" dent housing and managing the city‘s finances. _ â€" We should not be spendâ€" ing any more than we take in," candidate Adam McCarthy stated. "We have to look at every item we‘re spending money on and justify it. If it doesn‘t make sense, we have to change it." "We should be dealing with issues is an open, informed and timely manâ€" ner," added candidate Jan _ Candidates Kathryn Craig and Sal Pace round out the Ward 1 race. "We must make sure the RIM Park doesn‘t become an albatross around our necks for the next 30 years." "Certainly when you look at the statistics about the number of children who are referred to the agency each year out of concerns about child abuse and neglect, it‘s still a considerable number," he said. "It‘s somewhere between one and two per cent of the population of Waterloo region, which may not sound like a lot but when you look at what can happen to children exposed to abuse and neglect in the Continued on page 5