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18 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 24, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com ROCK gives kids stability U nited Way of Oakville is committed to strengthening families and funds programs that work with children and youths to support self-esteem, resilience and healthy development. Oakville's Vital Signs 2008 reports that a significant percentage of Oakville youths are at risk for depression. The study, presented in early October by the Community Foundation of Oakville, reports that 10 per cent of Grade 10 students and 4.4 per cent of Grade 7 students are at risk. Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK) is an accredited children's mental health centre offering more than 30 programs and services and is the largest children's mental health service provider in Halton Region. ROCK promotes positive child development by strengthening the ability of families and the community to raise and nurture children. Programs and services range from a walkin therapy program to a Youth Aiding Youth program, group therapy and trauma treatment and consultation. Families who accessed ROCK last year reported great success -- 100 per cent of youths who participated in a mentoring support program made significant improvements in social skills including listening, communication, respect and sportsmanship. In addition, 80 per cent of parents reported that their child's self-esteem had increased. To learn more about Reach Out Centre for Kids, visit its website at www.rockonline.ca or call 905-634-2347. Reach Out Centre for Kids is one of the more than 30 human and social service agencies funded by United Way of Oakville. United Way funds agencies and programs with an emphasis on prevention and crisis intervention. This balance allows United Way to help maintain the ongoing health of Oakville and to provide support to those in the greatest need. For more information, visit www.uwoakville.org. -- Submitted by the United Way of Oakville Owners of Great Glasses facing giant court fines The owners of a chain of eyewear stores "One of the obligations each regulated have lost their appeal of a $1 million fine. health care professional in Ontario has On Oct. 10, the Court of Appeal of is to abide by the letter and spirit of the Ontario upheld a previous decision made by law and do no harm to patients." the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that Bruce Bergez was operating the Great Caroline MacIsaac-Power, Glasses chain unlawfully and in contempt of College of Opticians of Ontario, Registrar court. Great Glasses has multiple locations in southern Ontario including two stores in A separate fine of $50,000 per day was Burlington and two in Oakville. levied for each day the Bergezes are not in In rejecting Bergez's appeal, the court compliance with the original order. That fine upheld the $1-million fine payable by Bergez, currently exceeds $34 million. his wife Joanne Bergez and their companies, The Court of Appeal also ordered Bergez the largest-known contempt fine in Canadian and the other appellants to pay the College of history. Optometrists $40,000 in legal costs. The legal action against Bergez was initiGreat Glasses appealed the hefty fines sepated by the College of Optometrists and sup- arately. ported by the College of Opticians. Lawyer Robert Cosman, representing A June 2003 court decision found that Ontario's College of Opticians, which joined Bergez and Great Glasses employees were forces with the College of Optometrists to illegally dispensing eyewear without a pre- pursue the case against Great Glasses, told scription from a physician or optometrist, The Oakville Beaver an appeal of the contravening the Regulated Health $50,000-a-day-fine will be heard on Jan. 6, Professions Act. 2009 in the Ontario Court of Appeal. Opticians registered by the College of As for the $1-million fine, Cosman said Opticians may dispense corrective lenses, but Bergez has 60 days to file an application askonly with the prescription of a physician or ing the Supreme Court of Canada to considoptometrist. er granting him the right to appeal the deci"One of the obligations each regulated sion by the Ontario appeal court. health care professional in Ontario has is to If Bergez seeks to take the case to the abide by the letter and spirit of the law and do Supreme Court of Canada, he can also apply no harm to patients," Caroline MacIsaac- to have the fines put on hold until the Power, the Registrar of the College of Supreme Court rules, said Cosman. Opticians of Ontario, said in a press release. Bergez has been suspended from practic"Our assertion that Mr. Bergez's business ing as an optician since November 2006 by model for Great Glasses clearly contravened the College of Opticians. A discipline hearing those laws and exposed his patrons to a risk for Bergez is scheduled for Oct. 28. of harm was upheld by the courts." Great Glasses has multiple locations in In November 2006, Great Glasses was hit southern Ontario including two stores in with the whopping $1-million fine. Burlington and two in Oakville.