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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday December 1, 2007 - 3 Helping kids overcome life's obstacles By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Oakville resident Linda Rothney pays a lot of attention when she walks through the door. She's not looking around, she's waiting for a feeling to strike. Some of her most inspiring moments are remembered as the "feeling" she had when entering places like The Hospital for Sick Children and The Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. Rothney, who heads up ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development as its president and "What stands out to me, CEO, is all for emulating the type of to this day, was a class of client-first attitude -- that feeling developmentally disabled -- that permeates every inch of the renowned Toronto hospitals -- and children learning to swim. everyone working in them. Seeing the joy on their faces Rothney, 54, who was recently and their human spirit awarded the ATHENA Oakville shining through at achiev2007 award, was born in ing, what to them was, a Sherbrooke, Québec and grew up in Lennoxville, Québec -- just pretty lofty goal, inspired three miles outside Sherbrooke, me." but distinctly different. She was raised with her older brother Tom Linda Rothney, and younger sister Susan. president and CEO Rothney's parents, George and ErinoakKids Audrey, who now live in Abbotsford, British Columbia, were both teachers. Her mom stayed home to raise the Rothney children while Rothney's dad eventually retired after having become the Québec equivalent of a superintendent of schools. Growing up, Rothney said her involvement in Girl Guides was very important to her as was music. She played piano and played the saxophone in her school band. Athletics was also a big focus -- she still runs today to clear her mind -- and she was a swimming instructor and lifeguard. "What stands out to me to this day was a class of developmentally disabled children learning to swim. Seeing the joy on their faces and their human spirit shining through at achieving what to them was a pretty lofty goal, inspired me," said Rothney. After graduating high school and then studying at Acadia University, Rothney decided to do a dietetic internship at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, which brought her west. Rothney admits she was fully prepared to study fashion design as a career. "I knew everything there was to know about New York fashion designers, but it was not in the cards. Going to the U.S. for university was expensive," said Rothney. Instead, her dad, "knowing I was betwixt and between," secured an interest test for her. In those days boys and girls were more segregated, so her results indi LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER CHAMPION FOR THE UNDERDOG: ErinoakKids president and CEO Linda Rothney and her favourite toy, a teddy bear in a wheelchair, who reminds her that everyone can grow with dignity regardless of the challenges they may face. See Erinoak page 4 PREPARE FOR THE ROAD AHEAD. Next course: Dec. 27, 28, 29, 30 ­ 4 days ­ 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Jan. 2, 3, 4, 5 ­ 4 days ­ 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. www.youngdrivers.com 905.845.7200 MTO APPROVED BEGINNER DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE PROVIDER