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Wednesdsay September 20, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A5 Cyclists spreading word about autism By Howard Mozel O A K V ILLE BEAVER STA FF * If the main goal of Cycle For Autism 2000 is to raise public awareness, then M onday's stop over in Oakville was an unqualified success. When the four cyclists taking part in the spe cial 1,000-kilometre event reached Halton, they were escorted by police to Towne Square in Downtown Oakville, where they were welcomed by an enthusiastic gathering of supporters. According to Autism Society Ontario, Halton Chapter, president C indy Faria, O ctober is Autism Month, so the ride did a great job getting the publicity ball rolling. "It's like a big introduction to the cause," she said. Rider Luc Vandermeeren said the event draws attention to the funding requirements of research into the genetics of Autism and to help local sup port programs. The trek also highlights this Sunday's major Autism ride, the nearest one starting from the Thistletown Regional Centre in Etobicoke. (To join in call 416-459-8934.) "The main reason w e're doing this is the pub lic's awareness of Autism," said Vandermeeren, who rode alongside Brendan Vallee, Ken Meeking and Eddy Lloyd. All four cyclists are either the parents or brothers of someone with Autism so the personal connection to the ride is very strong, said Vandermeeren. "It is not a rare condition that is happening with greater frequency, and we don't know why," he said. "Those with Autism are special people and they have special needs." Autism affects one in 1,500 children and is now more prevalent than C ystic Fibrosis, Cerebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome, blindness, deafness and even childhood cancer. "This ride is really important," said Geoff Hall, of the Halton Autism Resource Team. "It's not in the public eye to a large degree and this helps bring it to the forefront. The more people we can get the message out to the better." The riders started last Saturday in Windsor and plan to reach Ottawa, and the end of their journey, around noon on Thursday. All four cyclists are extremely pleased with the turnout at events like O akville's and with the local media which has been spreading the word along the way. Cycle for Autism started in 1996 when Claudio del Duca, the father of two autistic sons, resolved to make people more aware of the con dition. He organized a ride from Windsor to Ottawa and now each September the seven-day marathon takes place, passing through 25 major towns and cities. Project using the internet to garner widest input possible (Continued from page A1) and economically reproduced elements of this environmental garden within their own," said de Bruyn. The Bronte Butterfly Project, a Bronte Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) initiative, is a Region of Halton Millennium Project. The project calls for the creation of an outdoor native butterfly habitat, butterfly attracting and interpretive gardens, water fountains and a winter artificial ice skateway in the shape of a butterfly. Construction is to be paid for through individual and corporate donations, public and private grants and donations of products or services. "We are very excited about this stu dent competition," said Lee Bernard, chair of the Bronte Butterfly Foundation, an Ontario registered non-profit/charitable organization. "We have already had some international *visitors come to Oakville to study the park." Since May of this year, a draft version of the competition brief has been avail able via the Internet attracting visitors from as far away as Europe, Japan and Australia. Eligible students must register and submit their ideas via e-mail by October 9,2000. Five finalists must then produce detailed designs and budgets by January 29, 2001. The winner(s) would subse quently have the privilege of installing their design within the Bronte Butterfly Project. Registration, submission and judging will occur solely via the Internet, please visit the competition web site at www.plus-design.com/2001 competi tion. The biennial competition's objective is to give students the opportunity to exhibit their work within a public open space for a period of two years. The competition's judges include: Halton Regional Chair Joyce Savoline, Honorary Chair, The Bronte Butterfly Foundation; Halton Regional Police Superintendent Paul Cormier, a long time resident of Bronte, presently resid ing in neighbouring Burlington; profes sional engineer and Bronte resident Monty Brown; Ann Milovsoroff, land scape architect with the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington; Andrew Wilson, University of British Columbia Campus Planning & Development; Shane O 'Neill, architect and landscape architect in Dublin, Ireland; Anne T. Pettus, landscape architect in Melbourne, Australia; Peter Smulders, landscape architect in Hong Kong, China. For more information on the Bronte Butterfly Project, to volunteer or to make donations for the competition, please visit the Bronte Butterfly Foundation office at 2368 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, call (905) 825-2245, or visit the web site via www.brontevillage.net Humane Society launching walk-a-thon to stop pet abuse The Oakville & District Humane Society is holding its first annual walkathon to raise funds for violence pre vention toward animals. The walk will be held Saturday at the Glen Abbey Recreation Centre, Third Line south of Upper Middle Road. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Carol Mott of CFRB 1010's The Motts will announce the opening ceremonies at 9:15 a.m. The walk starts at 9:30 a.m. around a 3.5-kilometre route through the park at the recreation centre. After the walk, there will be a Fly Ball demonstration at 10:30 a.m. `Today, violence and its effects are widespread and the connection between human violence and animal cruelty has been proves," says Johanne Golder, humane society manager. According to studies conducted by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States, there is: · a significant relationship between animal abuse and human violence, · animal cruelty is associated with increasingly violence behaviour and an indicator of potential threat of continued violence, abuse and criminal activity, · people who abuse animals may harm their partners, children or elderly household members, · cruelty to animals has been identi fied as one of the earliest reported signs of conduct disorder according to the American Psychological Association, and · animal abusers have themselves often been victims of child abuse. "The Oakville & District Humane Society aims to help reduce violence by encouraging a kinder, more compassion ate society," says Golder. The humane society is initiating a local Violence Prevention Coalition to "help social service, health, community and law enforcement professionals understand the issues and develop effec tive intervention policies and programs." Participants who raise $100 in pledges receive a T-shirt; raise $250 and get a sweatshirt, and $500 fundraisers receive a polar fleece shirt. For more information, call 845-1551. SALE PRICES START FRI., SEPT. 22 AND END SUN., SEPT. 24, OR WHERE SEARS IS CLOSED, SAT., SEPT. 23, 2 00 0, WHILE QUANTITIES LAST Also, save 10%on all reg.-priced vacuums1 and sewing machines. *D/620 Sewing and Floor Care Shop; excludes wet/dry vacuums SEWING M A C H IN E STORE REPA IRS T O S IN G E R and all other makes dr models EXPERT PINKING SHEARS & SCISSOR SHARPENING 1 198 SPEERS RD. 842-2033 In sid e O ak v ille V acuum M ilto n F a r m F a ll SEPTEMBER 23 & 24 tMjuritd *F o o d A v a il# c r a f tsp e o p le M a n ?g if tid e a s tU rc e o te rta in m e o t In u rts tio gh e r ita g e · j i i :«till'll! Ill i (oCOUHTRY HERITAGE PARK (Formerly Tic Milton Farm Mucnm) 1564 Tremaine load, Milton, ON lake Hwy. IS Veit to Tremaine Id, North on Tremaine Or Call 14U'307*3276 Adults $4.00 Children Under U F I U Saturday t) Sunday 9 a-m. 4 p.m. SI.00 O F FO N EA D M IS S IO NW IT HT H ISA D B iW a y Plus, use your Sears Card and C O R R E C T IO NN O T IC E In this week's flyer, we are advertising Fudgee-0 and Chips Ahoy Cookies at $1.99. These items are unavailable due to the supplier's inability to ship. The Sewing Machine appearing in the same flyer is available in most, but not all stores. And finally, the 5 piece mixing bowl set featured in this week's flyer is not available. We apologize for any inconvenience this m ay have caused. get double Sears Club Points* on all major appliances ` Use your Sears card and get double Sears Club points on all major appliances. On approved credit. Offer does not apply to delivery, maintenance agreement or installation charges. Excludes Catalogue purchases. Offer ends Sunday, September 24, or where Sears is closed, Saturday, September 23, 2000. Ask for details. 'D o n 't p a y ' o ffe r : e x c lu d e s v a c u u m s a n d s e w in g m a c h in e s Sears. F or the m any sides of you." NP0940400 Copyright 2000. Sears Canada Inc. V is it S p a r e O a k u illp P la rp M n n -F ri Q ^ n a m .Q - n n n m Q ot « n n o m .f i n n r,m C u n 11 r ,m