Contact
Us
FASlink
2448 Hamilton Road,
Bright's Grove, Ontario
Canada N0N 1C0
Phone:
(519) 869-8026
Cellular: (519) 331-6408
E-mail:
info@faslink.org
URL:
http://www.faslink.org
or
URL:
http://www.acbr.com
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Biographical
Abstract
Bruce
Ritchie, QS,
BA,
FMC, ITP, APWFASD
Moderator, FASlink
Bruce
is a single father, the biological and adoptive parent of
a son, now age 17, diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
as an infant. Although there are still challenges, early
diagnosis and intensive intervention have clearly worked.
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 110,000 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 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.
A documentary film is being made of the trek.
| During
the trek, he was presented with two Eagle Feathers.
To be given an eagle feather is the highest honor that
is awarded 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.
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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 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 and musician. He has served for
many years on School Councils and has been active in youth
services, such as Scouts Canada and Harmony & Music Education
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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