“All knowledge is sacred.” That mission statement is something that CEO Satish Verma is very passionate about when he talks to people about the goals of the Canadian Learning Centre. “Our Mission is to make a difference in the lives of students by raising their grades, confidence and self-esteem. Nothing takes precedence over the student here. We are dealing with the future of children and we take it very seriously. If a child doesn’t succeed, we don’t succeed, and we don’t compromise on this.”
  
   Maria Garoiu, shown in the photo with three current students, Tyler, Steven and Riley, is Regional Director of the Canadian Learning Centre, which has just opened up its fourth Sudbury location beside the Pizza Hut in Val Therese. The Canadian Learning Centre is an innovative, research-based service designed to help students improve their skills in all grade levels, from primary through college and university, to adults looking for retraining or upgrading.  These new skills are then used by the students to help them achieve better results in their formal education programs, thus bridging any gaps that may have developed or even providing some to achieve their goals for academic excellence as they compete for limited spaces in specific university programs.

   Verma points out that the Canadian Learning Centre is a supplemental education service providing instruction in both English and French languages. “We work with parents and students to discover areas where there is a lack in fundamental learning skills, focusing on comprehension, reading, writing and mathematics. Once we conduct a very thorough diagnostic assessment, we develop a customized plan for the student to bridge any learning gaps that are identified.”

   At the present time students from junior kindergarten to university level are receiving personalized programs from qualified instructors who are experts in their fields. The Canadian Learning Centre guarantees that every student will achieve at least a full grade level of improvement in their subject area after just 36 hours of instruction. Parents have been amazed at the difference in their children once they attend a program at the Canadian Learning Centre.

   “We place a great deal of importance on providing our students with the skills that will make them more capable in school and more confident in life,” Verma explained. “We develop skills which will help students become more successful in their regular classes, whether they are in pre-school or university. We give our students something they will have for the rest of their life – learning skills that they can use to open the doors to discovering their true potential as individuals.”

   The first step in improving your child’s learning skills is to attend the open house on Saturday, December 2, 2006 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. If your child is struggling in school and wants to catch up or get ahead, call the Canadian Learning Centre for a free no-obligation assessment.

CANADIAN LEARNING CENTRE
Hwy. 69N – Beside Pizza Hut
(705) 969-2500

The club meets every Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Club House which is situated in the Azilda Waterfront Park. Every Monday and Wednesday evening members provide lessons to people who are interested in learning more from the gifted artists.

With over 70 active members, the Rayside-Balfour Whitewater Brush & Palette Art Club offers local residents an opportunity to explore a different form of recreation. Membership fees are only $20 per year. Private lessons can be arranged for about $100 for ten weeks of three-hour sessions, therefore, this is something that even inexperienced persons will find enjoyable. Club members hail from all over the Greater Sudbury Area.

The Club conducts one Art Show in June in Rayside-Balfour and has now added the November Valley East Art Show to its annual calendar of events. 

For more information on the Rayside-Balfour Whitewater Brush & Palette Art Club, call Vickki at 855-9791.

Anyone interested in finding out more information about the Valley East Art Club is invited to contact Rachel Ranger at 897-5101. The Valley East Art Club meets Mondays at 10:30 a.m. at the Senator Rheal Belisle Centre in Blezard Valley.

The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre has once again adopted a very popular policy with parents when it comes to  photos with Santa. Last year parents were allowed to take their own photos of their children with Santa and it was extremely well received, especially among parents with more than one child. This year the mall is following the same policy and if the response on the first weekend is any indication, Santa will be seeing "spots in his eyes" as he makes his rounds on Christmas Eve.

"When my own children were young, my wife and I collected pictures of them every year with Santa. But it became more and more costly to pay for photos taken by professionals, and we were not always happy with the way the pictures turned out." explained Robert Kirwan, Director of Marketing & Public Relations for the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. "Now, we just tell parents and grandparents to bring their own camera and take as many photos as they wish. Most of them have digital cameras, or they pick up a disposable camera from Hart Department Store for about five dollars and they get all of the pictures they need for their family and friends. Santa will even walk to other places in the mall to pose in different settings if that is the wish of the parents."

SANTA'S HOURS

Fridays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sundays from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

Children will also be able to drop off letters to Santa when they come to visit. Many of these letters will be put on display in the mall. All children will also be given a special treat from Santa when they visit.

Another popular initiative being offered this year is the "Toys For Kids" program whereby shoppers may purchase a gift for a child of a family using the services of the Good Neighbours Food Bank. Details of this program can be found outside of Desjardins' Food Basics.

Just to drive home the importance of the campaign, the same week the sign was unveiled, Riley Richer, a five year old Hanmer boy was hit by a car as he crossed Elmview Drive after getting off his school bus. The driver of the car, Jessica Chiblow, 19, of Hanmer, is facing numerous charges under the Highway Traffic Act. Fortunately, the boy was not seriously injured and was released from the hospital that same night, but it is definitely an experience he will remember for the rest of his life. It could also have had far more devastating results. 

The driver of the truck that struck Adam Richer was convicted of criminal negligence causing death and manslaughter.

It is hoped that the signs will make a huge difference in how drivers approach school buses this year. The law states that motorists travelling in both directions must stop when approaching a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing. The only exception is on highways with a median, where traffic coming from the opposite direction is not required to stop.

FOR MORE PHOTOS >>>>

This is the first year that Heatwave Tanning Salon has implemented this worthwhile cause at both locations. All of the food donated in Val Caron will go to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank while all of the food donated at their Falconbridge Road location will be given to the Sudbury Food Bank.

If you have any questions, please contact Andrea at 897-4006 or visit their web site at:

www.heatwavetanning.ca