Louise Portelance: MAYOR AND COUNCIL

MAYOR AND COUNCIL’S ROUNDTABLE WILL PUT CHILDREN FIRST

Surrounded by children, Mayor Jim Gordon today announced the latest in a series of initiatives focussing attention on community priorities. The Mayor and Council’s Children First Roundtable, unveiled at Maple Tree Preschool, will provide information and make recommendations on policies and programs to address the needs of children.

“Nothing is more important to me than the well-being of our youngest citizens,” said Mayor Gordon. “The Mayor and Council’s Children First Roundtable will help us find ways to make Greater Sudbury an even better place for children.”

“The Roundtable was created to advise the Mayor and members of Council on children's issues," added Mayor Gordon. "This committee will take a leadership role in promoting efforts in the community that put children first.”

The Mayor and Council’s Children First Roundtable will be chaired by Ward 3 Councillor Louise Portelance and Janet Gasparini, Executive Director of the Social Planning Council. “Both of these community leaders have demonstrated a commitment to enhancing quality of life for children of all ages,” said Mayor Gordon. “They will be joined by citizen representatives and community experts who share similar goals.”

Councillor Portelance said she is proud to co-chair the Roundtable. “It’s important that we recognize what’s already happening to improve the quality of life for children. We want to support parents in helping their children grow up healthy and happy.”

Added Janet Gasparini: “The Roundtable is one more piece of the puzzle that we have been creating in this community for a long time to ensure that children get the start in life that they need. There are many good and committed people who are working very hard and we hope to offer some leadership and support in the areas that will make the most difference.”

City Council received tremendous response to its call for participants on the Mayor and Council’s Children First Roundtable. In addition to Co-Chairs Louise Portelance and Janet Gasparini, the Mayor and Council’s Children First Roundtable will include:

Tiffany York - Student, mother of two, community volunteer, Wahnapitae

Lois Lambert - College Instructor, community volunteer, mother of three, Hanmer

Harsh Nath - Preschool owner/ operator, Sudbury

Mary Louise Ernst - Stay-at-home Mother of two, community volunteer, Hanmer

Jean Hanson - Superintendent of Schools Responsible for Special Education,
Rainbow District School Board

Lois Mahon - Executive Director, Child Care Resources and
Member of the Children’s Services Cooperative

Linda Roseneck - Executive Director, United Way / Centraide

Anne Apolloni - Executive Director, Sudbury - Manitoulin Children’s Foundation

Carmen Robillard - Executive Director, Our Children Our Future / Nos enfants notre avenir

Sally Spence - Clinical Manager, Children’s Treatment Centre

Sandra Laclé - Director Health Promotion Division, Sudbury and District Health Unit

The first meeting of the Mayor and Council’s Children First Roundtable will take place on Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 7 pm at Tom Davies Square.