Contact
Us
FASlink
2448 Hamilton Road,
Bright's Grove, Ontario
Canada N0N 1C0
Phone:
(519) 331-6408
E-mail:
URL:
http://www.faslink.org
or
URL:
http://www.acbr.com
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Biographical
Abstract
Bruce
Ritchie
Moderator, FASlink
Bruce
is a single father, the biological and adoptive parent of
a son, diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome as an infant.
Although there are still challenges, early diagnosis and
intensive intervention have clearly worked. His son, after
graduating from high school as an Ontario Scholar and with
the Principal's Gold Honour Award, is now studying online
for his BA.
Bruce
is the recipient of the St. Michael's Hospital "Award
for Pioneer Work in the Area of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder".
St. Michael's Hospital is a teaching hospital affiliated
with the University of Toronto.
Bruce
was a founding director of the Fetal Alcohol Support Network
in 1991 and was one of the first members of CCSA's FASlink.
In early 1999 the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse could
no longer fund FASlink. Rather than let this critical support
system die, Bruce took it over and personally provided the
hardware, software, Internet services, and the funding.
FASlink
has become the primary Canadian Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
information, support, advocacy and communications resource.
FASlink serves parents (birth, foster, adoptive and grandparents),
caregivers, adults with FASD, doctors, teachers, social workers,
lawyers, students and government policy makers across Canada
and worldwide. FASlink's Internet Home Page serves more than
400,000 people annually in addition to countless on-line searches
of the more than 130,000 FASD related documents in the FASlink
Archives. FASlink is in the top listings on Google for the
term "fetal alcohol". FASlink does not accept funding
from the beverage alcohol industry.
In
the summer of 2007, Bruce spent 4 months and 22,000 km traveling
coast to coast on the Great FASD
Horseback Ride and Trek across Canada to raise
public awareness of FASD. The route took him from Bright's
Grove, ON to Halifax, NS to Victoria, BC and back to Bright's
Grove, ON from May 10th to September 1st. His son, David,
joined him June 22nd for the balance of the Ride after his
Grade 11 final exams. The journey took them through many events
in small towns and large cities as well as into Canada's wilderness.
| During
the trek, he was presented with two Eagle Feathers.
To be given an eagle feather is the highest honor that
is presented within the First Nations. One feather is
to be worn on the hat and the other is for smudge, the
traditional sacred purification ceremony. They are an
indication of the high value placed on our mission. |
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|
Métis
Sash. Presented by the Métis Nation to an
individual it wishes to honor. |
Bruce
designs knowledge management systems and is a life-long advocate
for children’s issues. He publishes the FASlink website,
CD’s and other educational material and is Moderator
of the very active on-line discussion forum that shares about
50 letters daily with the members. The FASlink Discussion
Forum has been the primary communications vehicle for International
FAS Day, organized and sponsored by FASWorld. He also deals
with many direct queries from the general public and speaks
regularly at seminars and conferences.
He
has operated his own technology and imaging based businesses
since 1972, established precedents in family law and courtroom
procedure, was a charter member of Family Mediation Canada,
and is a published researcher, author, photographer,
artist and musician.
Proceeds from his artworks and music help fund FASlink.
He
has served for many years on School Councils and has been
active in youth services, such as Scouts Canada and Harmony
for Youth, as well as serving on the Board of Directors of
the International Symphony Orchestra. As a youth, he worked
on an archaeological expedition to the Yukon
Territory.
"Let
Life be a passionate journey in service to humanity. For if
Death is our common destination, our only hope for Immortality
lies in the hearts and minds of those whose lives we have
touched."
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