Salute to Minor Hockey Week starts on page 7 Mc Donalds FAMILY RESTAURANTS LWHITBY & OSHAWAj VOL. 3, NO. 4 TA Good news for Ruddy WHITBY-The Dr. J.O. Ruddy General Hospital has received an accreditation for two years from the Canadian Council on Hospital Accreditation, Hospital Administrator R.A.C. Renny announced Friday. Accreditation, said Mr. Renny, means that the hos- pital has met all the stan- dards set out by the council for the safe and efficient op- eration of a hospital. The accreditation system is an on-going, self-inprove- ment program, he explained. Each time the hospital is sur- veyed by the council (every two years) it has to show im- proved performance as to the quality of its patient care and safe operation. "If we do not meet the standards or show significant improvement the certilficate could be taken away," lie said. Last November, the Dr. Ruddy Hospital was surveyed by the Council, which is made up of members of the Cana- dian Hospital Association, Canadian Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Asso- ciation of Medicine of French Canada. "I am pleased we have at- tained accreditation at the first possible opportunity, being a new hospital just two years in operation," said Mr. Renny. "You can apply only after being in operation 12 months." "Accreditation should be a normal condition of a hos- pital 365 days a year," ex- plained Mr. Renny. "I did not warn any departments ahead of time that they were to be surveyed. It was a surprise survey." Every department is sur- veyed and thoroughly checked according to a 56-page check list before accreditation is considered. Some of the items the council looks for are: back- up services and detailed plans to deal with any emergency, proper nursing care plans, a fully documented procedure manual for every department, a minimum number of com- mitltees to ensure proper mcdi- cal came, a properly qualified- staff, proper maintenance of patient records, and a safe drug control system. The Dr. Ruddy Hospital is now providing clinical exper- tence for the Scarborough Re- gion al School of Nursing, with about I12 students spending an average of two days a week at the hospital, said Mm. Renny. The annual meeting of the hospital board will be held in the Board Room of the hos- pilai March 7 ai 8 p.m. Goaltender Mark Lee of the Brooklin-W itby Vickery Electric Mites is rapildy gaining attention in high places for his ability in local minor league play. Recently he recorded back to back shut-outs over teams from Bay Ridges and West Rouge. Kainins1 Church seeking guidance on future of R.C. high WHITBY-Desirous of mak- ing the Dennis O'Connor High School an even greater asset to the community and its Catholic families, Board mern- bers of the school plan to launch an appeal for guidance and assistance toward this end. Affiliated with St. John The Evangelist Roman Catho- lic Church, the school now caters to the needs of 241 students in Grades 9-13. This figure represents a 20 per cent increase in enrollment over the previous year. Principal of Dennis O'Con- nor, Sister Mary Moyle, told the FREE PRESS the appeal for guidance was an attempt by school officials to provide an even greater service to parishioners. "It is our intention," she said, "to distribute a ques- tionnaire at all masses next Sunday, January 28, and to provide the opportunity, then and there, for those attending to answer and give necessary guidance to us." The Sister said the school gets numerous telephone calls asking whether or not a child can attend the school and what courses are offered. "We would very much like to accommodate all of these people," she said, "but at present our curriculum is con- fined to 5-year courses with a commercial option. "We know we would be fulfilling a great service if we could offer a full commercial progran and also a 4-year general course. But, as things stand at present, we are un- able to provide these services." It is to determine the views of the parishioners on this probable expansion that the questionnaire is directed. Among other items, it will ask for views on expansion, the commercial program, the 4-year general course and whether parents would be willing to offer financial sup- port to bring it about. It is intended to distribute the questionnaire to ail pari- shioners over the age of 15 and it is hoped that by mak- ing it available at all masses that most of the 1,000 fami- lies in the parish will respond. At present students in Grades 9 and 10 attend the school at no charge other than regular provincial grants. How- ever, students in Grades I school through 13 must pay a fee based on the scale of $250 for the first child and $200 for each additional child enrolled. Sister Mary Moyle, in con- versation with the FREE PRESS, urged all families within the parish to answer the questionnaire fully so that the destiny of the school may be char ted. Photograph by Alex Kalnins.... One Man's View Pets on Parade... Youth centre closes doors If you are a high school student who lives in Whitby you have heard the word or noticed that Gandalf's Tea House was closed last Friday. Due to a small fire caused by a careless cigarette, the All Saints Anglican Authorities felt that the church could not take the chance with a 103 year old historic building where Gandalf's Tea House was situated. The building is also used for other church activities which must be pro- tected. Gandalf's got its start in the old hall during the summer 1969. It was such a good idea that it lasted all these years. The staff was made up of local youth interested in seeing something for young people to do, unider the di- rection of the Whitby YMCA. Over these years the old hall was repainted, floor refinished and washrooms were built with money raised by Gan- dalf's throughout the year, and the church attendance ranged from 40-120 young people during a regular night's attendance. Records, folk mu- sic, live bands, square dancing to games and film nights have been offered to young people. Last summer craft classes and even plays were performed at the Tea House. For the past three years Gandalf's Tea House entered a float in the County Town Carnival Par- ade and won a first prize in 1971. All these activities were offered at a minimal cost or free. There certainly was something for youth to do. The Executive Committee realize that a program like this just can't end. There is nothing for a high school student to do on a Friday night that is reasonable in cost. The committee is at- tempting to secure a new faci- lity for young people that is centrally located in town. Any individual who could offer his or her assistance in lo- cating a new youth facility please contact Mary Jane Nettle at the Whitby YMCA 668-6868. see page 24 see page 4 see page25 FREE PRESS Readership Survey... see page 6 wmý - -nommmuffl nside_1 10 CENTS wrCr~~ ITAHAV 25.1973