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Weekend Weather Thursday
H 12º L 3º
Friday
H 20º L 5º
Saturday
H 18º L 10º
Sunday
H 15º L 8º
As reported from Environment Canada www.weatheroffice.gc.ca Harrow AAFC
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Wednesday, April 6, 2011
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Leamington teen gets taste of political life in Ottawa By Sheila McBrayne Seventeen-year-old Sandra Esposito will be paying close attention to the upcoming Federal Election. She recently returned from a week-long trip to Ottawa where she spent time on Parliament Hill and in the House of Commons. Sandra was one of 65 teens from across Canada chosen to participate in the Canadian Youth Forum, February 27 to March 4. Sandra’s letter on why she would benefit from attending this forum, along with her “resume” of scholastic and community accomplishments, earned her the trip to Ottawa. Sandra also attended the World Leadership Conference in 2009 in Washington, DC. “I had an awesome week. I was so lucky to be accepted to go… We were able to be a politician for a week. We spent a lot of time on Parliament Hill,” she said. One exercise that the participants did was to create a new political party named for a famous Canadian. Sandra was elected leader of her party – Alex Trebek. As leader, Sandra wrote a speech on the Americanization of Canada. The speech earned the Alex Trebek party a top three finish. “We really got a taste of political life, and I like it!” she said. During the week the participants were to meet with the Member of Parliament for their riding. “I had lunch with my MP, Dave Van Kesteren, and he showed me his office… He has an awesome view… He was so nice and really took the time to talk with me and show me around,” said Sandra. “Some of the participants didn’t get to see their MPs because they were too busy, but I really felt kind of honoured because he really took an interest and spent time with me,” said Sandra. “She’s a great girl… with a very bright future. She was very inquisitive and asked all the right questions. I really enjoyed meeting her and talking with her… My schedule just worked out that I had free time, so it’s always great to be able to see someone from home and especially someone with an interest in politics,” said Chatham-Kent Essex MP Van Kesteren. Popular MP Justin Trudeau visited the students and talked with them about politics. “Justin was great; great to listen to him speak. All the students like him,” she said. The participants also had a chance to meet the Senators during a special breakfast. “Ontario has a new senator – Don Meredith – he was young and really neat to hear. He’s in tune with the young people and he’s very motivating,” she said. Sandra is a school senator at Cardinal Carter Secondary School, representing the student body at the monthly Windsor-Essex District Catholic School Board meetings. Senator Meredith and Sandra also share a deep faith. Meredeth is an ordained minister in Canada and executive director of the GTA Faith Alliance, which focuses on the issue of youth violence. Sandra is a Peer Minister at Cardinal Carter, part of a faith-based group. “I take pride in that and I really enjoy it,” she said. Another exercise that the students did was to elect a premier from each province and territory and then divide into groups and discuss how to make Canada a better place to live. “Mostly we said we had to work out our debt and do more for senior homes and our hospitals… The whole discussion was so great. It was just an awesome week!” As part of the week’s activities the students also had a chance to tour the Governor General’s residence at Rideau Hall. “There’s one room called the Circus Room. It’s bright
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Melissa Esposito at Cardinal Carter Secondary School. (SUN Photo)
pink and blue and used for non-formal parties. It’s really cool to see,” she said. Sandra is finishing her final year at Cardinal Carter and will be spending her summer preparing for university and working at her part-time job at Jacqui G Clothing and Accessories, as well as her research work in geneology. She is the daughter of Renzo and Nancy Esposito of Leamington.
MP Dave Van Kesteren with Sandra Esposito in Ottawa.
Help support doctor recruitment at Extravaganza this Saturday
Attracting and keeping doctors in most communities has become a lot more competitive and expensive. With almost every Ontario community competing to attract the small number of available doctors, the need for funds for extra incentives is very important. In Leamington the Community for Doctors Committee has been busy organizing its major fundraiser of the year - the 7th annual Doctor Recruitment and Retention Extravaganza, which is this Saturday, April 9 at the Roma Club. Event organizer Theresa DiDomenico stated that Leamington is part of an underserviced area, as defined by the Ministry of Health, much like most areas in Ontario. The money raised allows the Committee to host potential doctors and show them the positive qualities that Leamington has to offer. Being a lakefront community with a marina is an attractive lure for some doctors. The warm climate of Canada’s most southerly area is also a highlight. The event attracts approximately 300 supporters who raise between $20,000 to $25,000 used for recruiting doctors. The Community for Doctors Committee is credited with helping to bring two surgeons, two internal medicine physicians, an obstetrician, and several family physicians to the area. The Committee is currently actively recruiting two more potential doctors to Leamington. “The goal is five doctors a year, for five years,” said DiDomenico. The Community for Doctors Committee consists of: DiDomenico, Gemma Bowman, Shannon Bowman, Maria Mucci, Maria Edwards, Marlene Markham, Luciana Pannuzio, Lauren Iacobelli and Nadia DiDomenico. Tickets are $125 each (with a tax receipt) and are available by calling DiDomenico at 519-324-2538 or by calling the Leamington District Memorial Hospital Foundation at 519326-2373, ext. 4143.
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