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Tise Canadien Champion, Fiday, April 28,2000 - 3 Foster mother's fight for child Pîe~e~ÎI~han~ipio»wfth your story ideas at 878-2341, ext. By IRENE GENTLE The Champion When Young Purpie Butterfly Woman celebrated her ninth birthday April 3, she did it with- out the foster family she had spenthertifewith. The blind ,and mentally-challengéd child waa plucked froin foster mother Sharron Fergus' care in November hy a police offi- ccc and thrcc Toconto Catholic Childrcn's Aid Society <CCAS) workers. And alter months of trying to get hec back thmugh CCAS channels, Ms Fergus is vowing to take her fight to court if she han to. 'i'm fcustrated, but I'm not giving Up. We're going ail the way," she said. "We're going to end U~ an a court room." Bctwcen November and now, visita with Purple Butterfly - referred to here by hec native naine to pcotcct hec idcntity - have been supcrvised and infrequent, said Ms Fergus. "I told (CCAS) this is radiculous. It's hec birthday. If we'ce good enough for eight-and-a-half years, we should be good cnough foc one day." The Fergus family did evcntually get their birthday visit with Purple Buttecfly in Uic third weclc of Apral, aftec heing giveis lest than 24houea notice. "It means mc childrcn have to be pullcd out of achool. This one day's notice is bogus," said Ms Fergus. "They'ce only thinking ai their wockccs. They don't want to rearcange their schedulcs." - ~ - Dcspite numerous meetings with the CCAS. Ms Fergus said she's still waiting to prove hcc aide of Uic story. "How~can you have a faic decision when hcaring only one sideT' she asked. Conflict bcgan brewing betwccn thc CCAS and Ms Fergus in Fcbwary, 1999 whcn Uic agcncy decided Uic child should bc enrollcd in a Guclph oesidcntial achool foc the blind. At the time, Ms Fergus acgued that one more yeac ast home was vital. Infocmed in September that tise child would be movcd, Ms Fergus appealled Uic decision. But 10 daya prior to the appeal date, Purple Butterfly wan taken to a new home. Since then, Ms Fergus han hired Milton lawyec Dis~o Mazzorato of Hutchinson, Thompson, Henderson and Mott to repre- sent hec. She han gone thmugh a number of intemal mcctings with the CCAS, most cccently spcalcing toits board ol dicectors. But at no time was she permitted to bcing witnesses or show evidence of hcr case, said Ms Fergus. One internaI hcaring did permit Mc. Mazzocato to rcad a letter wcitten by Purple Butterfly's bicth muther, which expressed bitterneas St what the CCAS had donc to her daughter's hie and plead- cd for them to oetum hecto Ms Fergus. If her efforts with the CCAS lau, Ma Fergus is ready to take her battie to the courts where evidence should be permit- ted. "l'il be so glad when I can show them my side. The truth will corne out then." Purple Butterfly is one of close to 100 foster children Ms Fergus has welcomed anto her home in Uic past 30 years, many of whom weoe considered medically frag- ile. And though the CCAS can't comment on specific csses, its director Mary McConville has said there muat be solid reasons to take a child out of foster care. "Any move is given careful thought and consideration," she has said in a past tele- phone interview. "A conscious decision is made with reasons behind it." But Ms Fergus said she just wants the heat for Uic child she caised. "Why docs a foster child have any lesa right to tecurity than an adopted child?" 234. We'd love to hear them Rates subjeet to change 5.85% I yr. 6.15% 3yra. 7.15% 9OI-827-8a09 ABBtY PLAZA, OAKVILLE TI*d Uns Bt Upper Midis Ad. likely headed for court battie