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2 - The Canadian Champion, Frlday, Docember 24, 199 Fostr cildcauht in, battie over care issue V Handcappd ~ irlTo raise awareness of the case, Ms Handicapped~~ ~ ~~ ~ Fih-erodgr ae ergus' sister-in-law, who lvsi wif be by1, og- Bamsville, bas Iaunched a purpl iebo byCCAS durin cl evingln- campaign. publshed timeostr moher ithbrokn hTbe ribbon is meant to represent the full- pu lsed t m f s e o h r i h b o e e r blooded Ojibway child, wose native Wed.EGNLEcidwows lcdi ose aewt name ils Young Purpie Butterfly Womnan. By IENEGENTE cildwbo as lace infoser cre ith Blind and mentally challenged, Purpie The Champion Sharron Fergus wben she was just three Butterfly bas tbe mental age of about 4 due Fo h i-ttnei îotnn otbs old. years, agreed Ms Fergus and the child's For~~~~~~~~u th is iei lotnn o in November, a police officer and birth mother. wbo can't be identified to to the years, a Milton family wilI cele- three Toronto Catholic Children's Aid protect the identity of tbe girl. brate Christmas without their Society (CCAS) workers took the child out Losf strcide PupeBttrl.of her Milton school and permanentîy out Lotso of GRsteM Phld holidays. u-i uttfy of Ms Fergus' care. Sbe's one of close to 100 foster cbildrenPhtbyGAMP Purpie Butterfly is the eight-year-old Tbey hâven't seen each other since. Ms Fergus bas welcomed into ber home in A purpie butterfly Illustrates tri thenas 30veas mny f w~hnm wpre Dariene Zulakas efforts ta brIr considered medically fragile. CCAS can't comment on tbe specific case, but said tbere must be solid reasons for a chid to be taken out of long-terni foster care. "Any move is given careful tbougbt and consideration, said CCAS director Mary McConville. ",A conscious decision is made witb ra- sons bebind it." And moving a cbild wbo bas been piaced in foster care is neyer the first eboice of the agency, sbe adiled. 'A change of placement is not desirable in general," said Ms McConvle. "It's Our bope tbat wben we do place a cbild, tbat tbey can at least remain in tbat one place wîtbout disruption." Conflict has history Conflict between CCAS and Ms Fergus began brewing in February. The CCAS planned to enmoli tbe girl in a Guelpb residential scbool for the blind, said Ms Fergus, but sbe argued tbat anotb- er year at home was vital. In September, Mis Fergus was informed the cbild would be moved and sbe imme- diately appealled Uic decision. But 10 days prior to the Novemnber 26 appeal date, Uic cbild was taken fromt ber end g a borne In Milton. Milton. scbooi, and tbe bearing bas since been postponed. Foster parents, said Ms Fergus' iawyer Dm0o Mazzorato of Hutchinson, Tbompson, Henderson and MoU, bave few options when CCAS decide that a cbild's best intereats will be served by taking tbem eisewbere. "Poster parents realiy don't bave many rigbts," be said. "I(Ms Fergus) bas no rigbts as a party to the action." if the cbild bas been in tbeir care for more than two years, tbey do bave tbe abil- ity to appeai, be added. Awareness campalgn But Ms Fergus is also making ber case in the court of public opinion, and many are already onside. The awareness campaign bas seen bun- dreds of tbe small, purpie ribbons sold in tbe Halton, Hamilton and Niagara regions, as well as Sudbury, wbeoe tbe bitth motber lives. And those wbo know thc Fergus famîlY bave iauncbed a letter-writing campaign on tbeir bebalf. eses MUST BE SOLiD on page 17 Do NoT Miss THîs AMAZING SALE EvENT! BOXING WEEK ONLY,.AND ONLY AT LA-Z-BOY FuRNITuRE GALLERIESO IN BURLlrîRON.* Dreaming of a new Iifestyle? Jane bas acbieved ber new lifestyle A#flý by losing. Enroli now with our Christmas special. BOXING WEEK BLOWOUT Only 1 111/1. în 1599.99 1 Only ý5 -. ý ý 1499.99 ii. ý p_ lIii, i 1 Only 2,5OGý-99 '11199-99 1 Only 11999.99 1 Only , rj3ý.9y '799.99 1'l l'o', 1,1wol, ý1 [jImi 1 Only 159mq 12499.99 1 Only 2,19ý.9ý 51299.99 i Only 2"./"mq 11199.99 Only 1,2-,1.99 1799.99 Absolutely Everythinq In The Store Hus Been Murked Down To Move For Boxinq Week!