durhamregion.com 4 The Citizen May 23, 2014 Tim Whittaker - Publisher Joanne Burghardt - Editor-in-Chief Mike Johnston - Managing Editor Fred Eismont - Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak - Classified Advertising Manager Abe Fakhourie - Distribution Manager Lillian Hook - Office Manager Cheryl Haines - Composing Manager PH 905-579-4400 CLASSIFIEDS 905-576-9335 GENERAL FAX 905-576-9335 NEWS FAX 905-579-1809 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H 7L5 Member: Ontario Press Council, OCNA, CCNA, SNA. All content copyright A Metroland Media Group Ltd. Publication thecitizen Fun for everyone at the Brooklin Spring Fair in June This year's Brooklin Spring Fair runs from Thursday, June 5 to Sunday, June 8, and has something for kids of all ages. The Baby Show, which takes place on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the arena, encourages lots of creativity with categories such as: diaper and T-shirt, fun in the sun, littlest sport, most like mom or dad, little prince and little princess. The Spelling Bee takes place on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. for grades 3 to 8 with prizes for all who participate. The Pet Show is open to pets with owners ages 16 and under. Join the fun at the ball diamond on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. There are prizes for: best dressed, biggest smile, obstacle course, coolest trick and best hula-hoop jump. The Spring Sing takes place on Friday evening, for singers ages 10 to 18, with prizes of up to $200. The Colouring Contest is open most days in the arena and is free to enter, with 10 prizes of $15 available. The Ambassador Competition is a great opportunity for both male and female youth ages 17 to 23. The winner goes on to represent Brooklin at the Canadian National Exhibition in August. The new afternoon music patio has live entertainment starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It provides a fun relaxed atmosphere for the whole family and a chance for mom and dad to rest their feet between activities. Advance registration may be required for some activities, so check the fair's website at www.brooklinspringfair.com for details. See you at the fair. Rob Hanson is the president of The Optimist Club of Brooklin, a group of local volunteers that provide activities for youth in the community. RoB Hanson Youth Brooklin woman recalls her struggle with bulimia Ontario Shores to open new 12-bed unit this fall for children and adolescents with eating disorders Parvaneh Pessian ppessian@durhamregion.com BROOKLIN -- Leah Naagel's long battle with bulimia began at the age of 13. Looking back, the now 50-year-old Brooklin resident traces the cause of the eating disorder to her need as an insecure teenager to be validated by others. "I was with these two girls one day ... and I was laying on my back and they were going 'Oh my God, are you ever skinny, are you ever lucky,'" she recalls. "They made a big deal about it and I remember at that point thinking I have to be that way because that was something that was liked about me." Getting to the root of eating disorders to help youth overcome their battles is what Ms. Naagel hopes will be the focus of a new unit opening at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby. The Province of Ontario is launching its first public residential treatment program for children and adolescents with eating disorders at the Whitby facility this fall. The new unit will contain 12 beds and treat more than 30 patients annually. "Eating disorders are a symptom of so many things and if you can get a handle on some of those things to build up your self-esteem, your self-worth, your purpose in life, it will allow you to have a different perspective," says Ms. Naagel. About 32,400 young people are affected by eating disorders in Ontario. The Province is providing $17.2 million over four years toward the residential treatment program, which will reduce the need to send Ontario children and youth out of country for care. To date, the Province has spent $3 million annually to send approximately 25 youths per year to the United States for treatment. "Our government is proud to help children and youth with eating disorders get care closer to home through this new program," said Deb Matthews, minister of Health and Long-Term Care, during a visit to Ontario Shores to announce the new program in March. "Instead of referring children and youth in Ontario with severe eating disorders to residential care facilities in the United States, we will provide care closer to their families and get better value for our precious health-care dollars." The new program "fills a gap" in the mental health-care system in Ontario and will have a positive impact on the health and wellness of families across the province, said Karim Mamdani, president and CEO of Ontario Shores. "We know that eating disorders are complex illnesses resulting from a combination of interacting biological, psychological and socio-environmental factors," he said. "It's only through access to the right care at the right time and in the right place that children and adolescents will be able to overcome these illnesses and go on to lead healthy, happy, and productive lives." Construction is already underway for the new unit, which will include patient bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, lounge area, and space for family and group therapy. Patients will have access to an interprofessional model of care that includes individual, family and group therapy, psycho-education, meal support, nutrition and eating rehabilitation. Referrals to the new eating disorders program will be accepted starting this summer from physicians, nurse practitioners, acute care hospitals and emergency departments. For more information about the new program, contact the adolescent services department at Ontario Shores at 905-430-4055 ext. 6010. BROOKLIN -- Brooklin resident Leah Naagel's battle with bulimia began when she was a teenager and continued through most of her life. She hopes a new unit opening this fall at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences will help youth overcome eating disorders. Jason Liebregts / MetroLand