Thank God for Able Network and Apple Suites

January 1, 2014 · 0 Comments

(Re: “Able Network receives donations, opportunity from Apple Suites”, Dec. 18, 2013, Page 24)

I read with interest the story of young Doug.
What a great story of success brought about and made possible by the creative and open approach of Apple Suites. Unfortunately, it is a story we hear far too few times.
How many young men and women are sitting at home “stuck” (held prisoner) in their living room because they have not had the opportunity because of a lack of Government (at every level: local, Provincial and National) initiatives, funding and sense of responsibility?
Recently we read in the Toronto Star of the tragic story of thousands of young men and women who had been forced to make their “home” in Huronia and other provincial Institutions.
In its day – the 70s and 80s – the cost was somewhere between $70,000 and $100,000 per person per annum.
What has happened to this money?
It seems that young Doug relied on the energy of parents who began Able Network, relied on the sense of civic duty of a company, but where is the responsibility of our Government(s)? If we rely just on the goodwill of people, many Dougs will be left floundering and without hope.
What is the Town of Aurora doing to support Able Network? What is the Province doing? Unless the Government offers more funding, more initiatives, enacts meaningful laws, for every Doug there will be twenty, fifty, maybe a hundred other young people left without hope, without purpose, without the opportunity to be an active member of their community.
Thank God for companies like Apple Suites and the hard work of those involved with the Able Network.

Matthew Marosszeky
Aurora