HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1977-10-27, Page 11JUDGE IS SPEAKER — Family Court Judge Ross Fair, Kitchener chats with Richard Boonstra, supervisor of
Huron county's Family and Children's Services, and John Penn, Goderich, their local director. The judge was
guest speaker at the FCS annual banquet at Pineridge Chalet, near Hensall, Tuesday night. Staff photo
Philosophy of prevention
would halt many problems
A philosophy of prevention
should be adopted toward the
problems that bring children and
parents before juvenile and
criminal courts, Judge Ross Fair
told a large gathering Tuesday
night.
He was speaking at theannual
banquetand awards night of the
Family and Children's Services
of Huron County (formerly the
Children's Aid Society) at
Pineridge Chalet, near Hensall.
Judge Fair is a senior provincial
court judge in the family division
at Kitchener. Many of the
county's 140 foster parents were
in the audience, as well as em-
ployees of the FCS.
Preventive work would
forestall the need for much in-
stitutional care and many
placements in foster homes.
"The difficulty is getting money
for preventive work" he said. It
was easier to obtain for support,
protection or institutions.
Government personnel were not
hard hearted but saw themselves
as accountable for money spent.
Proving in dollars and cents the
need for preventive programs
was difficult but necessary. It
would save the country literally
millions of dollars, while earlier
aid would give children and their
families a much better chance of
straightening out their lives.
The judge, whohas worked for
11 years in family court, said he
always had hope when the parade
of children passed him there.
Often, the best immediate hope
for them was that a good foster
home would be available. If
competent, willing foster parents
could be found for each of these
children, it would greatly reduce
the need for institutional help.
The number always seemed
insufficient.
"Foster parents aren't in it for
the money" he commented,
adding that they take on the role
knowing that it requires much
giving. It was impossible to
measure their contribution, no
matter where. "Children's needs
are as great in the country as in
cities."
He defined the competent
foster home as one in which
compassion and understanding
were extended to the child. For
the first time, a child might learn
that there could be discipline
without harshness, indifference
or abuse. The judge mentioned
also the importance of the inter-
action between faster -child and
children in the foster -home.
From them he could learn much
about obligations, love, patience,
tolerance, self-control and
respect for others' opinions. He
could learn to accept challenge,
seek success and learn also to
accept failure gracefully.
"We want the child to learn
what life is about," said Judge
Fair. "Many of the children the
courts encounter have had none
of this".
There are problems associated
with temporary care
arrangements. The child goes
through a crisis while settling
down and trying to find his feet in
a strange environment. His own
parents are often hostile toward
him as well as toward the judge
and the court.
The ultimate goal is always to
reunite child and family. Foster
parents in a sense win by losing.
They form attachments for their
charges, but know they must
eventually return them to their
own homes.
The Family and Children's
Services work with family, as
well as child, helping parents
gain insights and improve
parenting skills. "Most parents
have the normal human urge to
look after their own children", he
said. The children themselves, no
matter' what the conditions in
their own homes, always yearned
to return.
It was unfortunately true that
youth correctional centres were
the only place for some young
people. For them, too, the
eventual problem centred round
return to the community.
Recruitment of foster parents for
this group was necessary too.
Judge Fair disagreed with
those who claimed society was
going to the dogs. Most people
carry their load, don't carp a lot
and get their jobs done. It was
good, he said, "to get out and be
reassured that there is still in
every community a solid base of
responsible people." .
The value of foster parents
could never be estimated in
dollars and cents. "I don't think
there is anything I can say by
way of thanking you", he told
those in the audience. Their
reward came from the growth,
development and improved
responses of the children in their
care. He concluded with a
quotation from Confucius:
"It is better to do a kindness
near home than to walk a
thousand miles to burn incense".
Certificates for 20 years as
foster parents were presented to
Dorothy and John Scott of
Goderich and Margaret Heaton
of Hensall. Doreen and Stewart
Dolmage of Seaforth will have
theirs mailed.
Muriel and Walter McClure of
Seaforth received a certificate
for 15 years as foster parents;
while 10 -year certificates were
given to Lila and Lorne Thomp-
son of Brucefield, Verona and
Russell Snider of Zurich, and
'Betty and Garth Hamilton of
Goderich. Hazel and Herbert .
Harrison were not present to
receive theirs. Five-year cer-
tificates went to Evelyn and
Kenneth Boyce of Goderich and
' Alma and Ted McLean of
Goderich. These will also be sent
to Yvonne and Dennis Brown of
Parkhill.. and Diane and Barry
Hackett of Goderich, who were
not present.
Citizens News, October 27, 1977
Page 11
Village of Zurich
School Support List
In provision with the Municipal Act R.S.O. 1970 Chapter 284
Section 516 (as amended) the 1977 school support list for
1978 taxes has been posted in the Clerk's office, Zurich on the
24th day of October, 1977.-
Complaints in the nature of request for additions or correc-
tions to or deletions from the list may be made by completing
and filing form obtainable at the office of the Clerk. •
The last day of filing forms for appeal of school support is
November 11, 1977.
Sharon Baker
Clerk of Zurich
.
Opening
new doors
to small
business
John MacKenzie
one of our renre$entativea will be at .__
Les Pines Hotel, Exeter
on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
November 1 and November 15
If you require financing to start, modernize or
expand your business and are unable to
obtain it elsewhere on reasonable terms and
conditions or if you are interested in the
FBDB management services of counselling
and training or wish information on
government programs available for your
business, talk to our representative.
FEDERAL
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT BANK
For prior information call 271-5650
or write 1036 Ontario Street, Stratford
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