Robert Mark Leece v John French and Kennedy House Youth Services Inc.

Robert Mark Leece

v.

Children 's Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario,

Kennedy House Youth Services Inc.,

John French

and "John Doe"

Superior Court of Justice

Court File No. 09-0165

Filed September 10, 2009 

 https://kmlaw.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/OCW_FAASOC_09jul15.pdf

 Class Action on Behalf of Crown Wards  Were you a Crown ward at any time from the period January 1, 1966 until March 30, 2017? If so, you may be a class member in the class action which has now been certified by the court. The lawsuit seeks money (damages) and other benefits for class members.  Class Members are automatically included in the class action, unless they take steps to exclude themselves (opt out) by March 11, 2018. If you want to stay in the class action, do not opt out.  If you opt out, you will not be part of the lawsuit and you will not be able to share in any money or any other benefit obtained for the class if the lawsuit is successful.  This lawsuit does not impact your ability to seek compensation now from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board or from any other person other than the Province of Ontario.  Please visit https://kmlaw.ca/cases/crown-ward-class-action/ to get more information about this class action and your rights, or contact us at ocwclassaction@kmlaw.ca or 1 (877) 739-8936.

 EN / FR

Crown Ward Class Action (Children who suffered abuse before and while they were Crown wards, including in foster care and foster homes, and while in the care of the Children’s Aid Society (“CAS”)).

This class action claims that the Ontario government systematically failed to take all necessary steps to protect the legal rights and claims of children in its care.

In Ontario, a child may be removed from the care of his or her parents and put into the care of the Province for reasons that include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or neglect. In Ontario, permanent wards for whom the Province has legal responsibility are called Crown wards.

Crown wards were victims of criminal abuse, neglect and tortious acts as children, and as a result of which, were removed from the care of their families and placed under the care of the Province of Ontario. These children were also victims of abuse, neglect, and tortious acts while they were under the age of 18 and in the care of Ontario.

As a result of the crimes and torts committed against them prior to and during their Crown Wardship, the class members were entitled to apply for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and to commence proceedings for civil damages.

The suit claims the province failed to take all necessary steps to protect the rights of Crown wards to apply for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board or to file personal injury claims for children who were abused prior to or while in the care of the Province.

The class action seeks to include all persons who became Crown Wards in Ontario on or after January 1, 1966, the date that the Province of Ontario voluntarily accepted legal responsibility and guardianship of Crown wards.

Please contact Koskie Minsky LLP with any questions:

Email: ocwclassaction@kmlaw.ca

Toll Free Hotline: 1.866.778.7985

http://kmlaw.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/OCW_Resons_28May15.pdf

EDWARD BLAZO IS DEAD? Scholarships and Awards Centennial College

Ed Blazo Memorial Child and Youth Worker Scholarship
Ed Blazo Memorial Correctional Worker Scholarship
OK people don't jump for joy and reach for the phone to cancel your OSAP loans, its not for much money $500.00 bucks,. The fact that there is even an scholarship for this man is a joke, HELL didn't they read my blog....lol...They memorialize this person and forget what he really was like, and the crappy thing is that he will be remembered, and all the bad press on how he ran his homes, and the sex scandals will all disappear, but these memorials will exsist and twist history.

The fact he is dead , I fell cheated, I feel guilty for feeling ill feelings toward this person who has died, but right now I will stick with feeling MAD AND CHEATED, now nothing can be corrected.........OH ED! in death you still ignore me..........:(

TO Edward Blazo

Hey, just wanted you to know that I have not forgotten you....I have noticed your name back in the news again, damn social workers eh....lol-..What is funny is that your name appears in the over 100 thousand salary list published by the goverment...but you still pay your workers peanuts...anyway....I am doing well at this time as I choose to recover my past and deal with the part that you have had a direct connection with. Thanks to you not validating my sexual interference attack on me by one of your part time social workers...I have lived with Post traumatic stress disorder over that event. If only you had have taken charge when I told you about the attack, instead of hushing it...I could have been saved years of sorrow....I am more MAD at you, then the pedofile John Frence. You should have kept me safe, YOU had a proffessional obligation to protect me, and lastly you-- when you once became aware of the attacks --should have reported John French to the police--but you instead didn't want to tarnish your good name and shut me down from proceeding with the complaint. .....Thanks ed.....

Edward Blazo

Edward Blazo

Reporting to the children's Aid Society

Damn eh...This abuse stuff is kinda of tricky...You remember the events and the emotions and even the smells of his after shave the feel of his hot breath as he breaths heavily on you neck..The same intense emotion felt that day is relieved again...These flashbacks really suck....Anyway I in my raw emotional flash back state contacted the children's aid society with such urgency as if they somehow could reach back in time and fix the situation. I feel a bit foolish. I hope Melanie at CAS would excuse my ramblings. I even took out of the library a couple of books on child survivors of abuse, One book, Boys don't cry, and another Gardens of Shame...I even got so despaired that no one was doing anything that I thought maybe I hadn't reported the people involved correctly I e-mailed Cathy Vine the author who wrote Gardens of Shame and she even did my the honor of visiting my blog. She did give me useful information on how to report the abuses I went through drawing on her main subject character Martin in her book. She said that the way I should introduce the issues and events should be the same as Martin where he gathered his paperwork and just reported the incidents to the police..in a simplified manner..not as a diary as I have done here...I thought since I was under the care of the CAS at the time..they would just take up the cause and represent me in this whole matter...I guess thats not how it works eh...? One thing I did get out of the books is the person who exposed the Christian brothers of sexual abuse said all he got for his troubles was to see a couple of old priests get sentenced for a couple of years and the settlement was extremely small and even that he had to fight for including the medical support he needed that he again had to fight for...Mcann said if he had the option of doing it over again ..he wouldn't have reported the abuse..And as for Martin Kruze he jumped to his death off a bridge 2 weeks after his moleslester confessed to his abuses in court. I guess I should go back to why I am writing these memories down...I for one want to dump them out of my mind...and also reading that the two Kennedy house staff social workers sexual abused 2 kids at their uxbridge home..It brought out guilt that if I had of made more of an effort instead of just contacting Edward who had alot to lose if he followed up on my allegations at the time as he was building the largest empire of youth services houses but instead , ED just sweeped them under the carpet and didn't report the crimes, kinda of reminds of you of Star Trek-where Spock says "the needs of the many don't outweigh the needs of the one" lol or something like that..Oh yeah back to hearing about the 2 kids who got abused at the uxbridge home...that got me mad that somehow it might be my fault these kids got abused then it got me to thinking about all those kids who were further abused by John, Kathy, Doug, Mrs. Sheppard...and on ...and on...My abusers are not old men yet , and if I don't press charges then they could be working still in the child care profession and further abusing kids..I don't want that to happen..as I would really be mad at myself...I did give all the full names to the children's Aid Society so if they were working in the child care industry it would now fall upon CAS as guilty as I redflagged them as risks...Can I wash my hands of all this and now focus on my life again..? As to EDWARD he pissed me off so much by not reporting them that I even sent him an E-mail, and a link to this blog so he could read about how much harm the people under him were doing...Anyway I am tired...

Algonquin park--end.?

Well someone had the bright idea that I and another guy..Scott who was about as country boy as I was..he was even more of a city feller..and One of the male staff members should go on a hike sleep over into the interior of Algonquin...Why would I want to do that I questioned? Well it was more an Now I am informed that the hike was happening..and get packed as we leave in one hour..SHIT...Shit..shit...We each had a hiking backpack ..damn it was loaded..what the hell man..we even had to bring toilet paper..damn..Well lets not forget the deet..nothing like the sweet taste of deet..but it's one of those don't leave your campsite without it essentials. So we first had to get a drive to even get to this hiking trail...We had to hurry as no street lights..in fact no lights..and no one brings the bag of firewood around either..we had to scurry in the forest--yup the bears area to get firewood...ok so the race is on...Scott is a nice guy...but he is your basic stoner...he would rather just walk ten minutes and say ...man lets set up here....MAN...I was inclined to agree with him....better yet I finally said it...I want to go back to the main camp..I want to go back to the main camp....I want to go back to the main camp....shoot I guess that only works when you are wearing the little red shoes and carry totol...anyway Slick the staff that came with us..said come on quit clowning around ...lets go...oh man we hiked...for hours..damn what the hell does anyone see in this...as I slap at another mosquito ..shoot he got away..next thing he is going to let all his buddies know where he obtained the blood and then I will pay the price for not smacking myself sooner...ok..how far are we going...Slick said till we get to the end of the trail.....I said why do we have to get to the end...he said because then we can say we made it to the end...Weeeee...damn who cares...Scott is now starting to lag behind..he wants to transfer some canned goods to me as he thinks his pack is lighter...after blowing off tension and swearing at each other for a minute or two....he says hey hold up...and he shows me a big fat joint...I laugh how are you going to smoke that...? He said thats where I can in..keep Slick busy once we make camp and then I will say I want to go down to the lake..you chat Slick up...how about it..Bob? I said well my pack is rather heavy ...he said prick..as he grabbed the heavy cast iron pan..and the two rolls of toilet paper...how that...well ...I am sure it could be lighter..he said ahh..screw you..as I thought hey maybe they were right..going hiking brings the hikers together..Now that we had a plan..time seemed to go a little faster-lol well maybe it was because my pack was 10lbs lighter...Well we made it...the end of the trail...it ended at a river...Well I asked Slick whats the difference between this river and the river at the main camp in Whitefish? ---Come-on why do you try and ruin everything...Scott saw this as his que to slip away...I led Slick into a conversation asking about how he liked the hiking trip and this opened the door to him telling me about how he bonded with his dad on a hiking trip....and how he hoped that we also could take away some great memories from the trip...damn Scott where are you..he is almost finished his one on one "moment" with me...I scan the point where Scott entered into the forest and he was carrying some wood back...I said well? He said this hide away place has more campers past the big rock over there..they were also looking for wood...he said he couldn't spark up they were almost pulling the wood from out of his arms..So Scott is given the hatchet to chop the wood...he is slinging the hatchet with as much interest or care...Slick was trying to motivate him..telling him that we are all set up and tied the food up a tree..now the bears can't reach it...nice fire going..all deeted up..what could else could we want..Scott says a nice cold beer would be nice...we all looked at each other..and grumbled yeah..that would then be a great molson minute...Well Scott is slugging the axe just like Slick showed him...but he is sitting down swinging it..with the wood being held between his feet...he is chopping his V cut swinging ...chopping on an angle left then right..Slick says ok now put more force into..Scott says ok I will do this one..then you do the rest...this is tiring..I just want to go into the tent and go to sleep..maybe this is just a dream and I will wake up in my bed..We all laughed at Scott...he was laughing as he was serious...smack ....smack...smush...OOOOOO..HOLY SHIT....he screamed so loud that the birds all took off all around us...magnifing his screaming...what..Scott ..what..hap...oh shit..oh shit...hey slick ....its deep man..because he was chopping on an angle..it went in and ricocheted off his bone and carried on...chewing its way through a big hunk of flesh...damn..thats deep..what do we do now>? Well we can't go back now as the trail is dark...we have to camp tonight and leave tomorrow...Scott said what do you mean man...I am in f..king pain here...Well Slick breaks out the med kit...it has aspirins...he said...big deal..Scott says as he slips them down ...Slick said its a clean wound...it should only need a couple of stitches....now to get out of here...Slick looks around as if he missed something....ahh. he reaches behind a rock...I saw this stick here...and it has a nice arm pit y in the branch...he takes the hatchet and knocks off the little branches...there he says..as if he was measuring for a hockey stick..he adjusts the height..again..hows that..Scott says its good thanks..that should help..So after a couple of hours the pain really starts to get bad...Slick even went over to the other campers and they only had a med kit...but no pain relievers..Shit Scott...why don't you spark up the joint...he mentions that it would be good if he could get high it would most likely be enough to get him through the night...Slick was starting to catch on...well ...now everyone was talking in circles..now if say you did have some pot...and you did smoke it...say if you lite it up while I was in the bush getting firewood..then I would never know..and you would be able to sleep tonight in some comfort..now thats only if you did have pot which we all know you don't...damn this is good..Slick is giving you the ok to smoke up..and he won't bust ya...shit Slick is a cool guy after all eh..Scott...just then Slick says to me..you didn't cut you leg...no reason for you to partake...lol...well we will be getting more firewood..see ya in five ok..don't smoke it all as you might need a hit in the morning...Scott say the hell with that...he was in so much pain..he just wanted to pass out....We went through the motions of picking up wood..as the air was filled with the unmistakably aroma of weed...finally Scott stopped coughing..thats was as good as clue as any he finished the joint...we went back to the fire...Slick asked how he was now..he said good ..thanks alot man...For what Slick says..lol....Morning comes and Scott is all ready for the trip back ...well at least he is up hopping on his home made crutch..getting the feel for it...Slick is loading the packs up...he is taking all the stuff out of the two leaving just a couple of things in each..but the third pack was FULL..ok lets go..I reach for one of the light packs he says what are you doing..you get the full pack as he had to Help Scott So my job was to be the camel on this hike back...what the hell...I said as he put the pack on me...this is heavier then me...Holly shit..Slick was now sticking more stuff on..clipping this and that to everything...I had to lean forward almost doubling over just to keep from falling backwards...I said I don't think I can carry this..as I made two steps and and the skillet was banging against the 3 metal cups ..well at least I wouldn't get lost in the morning fog...ok lets roll..man the going was slow...poor Scott was really starting to hurt...Slick took off Scotts pack and added it to his own...Hey I said why don't I get rid of half of this stuff..let Scott take half and I can walk/run ahead and hike back to Whitefish and get someone to pick ya up...Slick liked the idea minus the transfer of stuff....he said yeah..go .... go....Scott now also chanted come on...man go already...as if just saying it many times over would have pushed me further ahead..ok ..I will go as fast as I can.. with that I headed out...damn finally reached the road...walked along the road..and this car pulled over and opened the door...hi..two girls were inside..you want a ride...I said sure ..thanks..I told them about our hike and they said oh really we didn't see anyway walking the road...I said that they we traveling slow so they must have reached the road yet...damn the car ride made the time to whitefish in no time..they dropped me off..so I just had to walk down the road and I would be back at camp...damn..who would have ever thought I would be happy to see the camp again...damn my pack was starting to pop stuff off .. I picked up the skillet..cups...can of food..now cradled in my arms..I tried to hold the pack together..not enough hands...shit..they were all sitting on the picnic table...move I said..move...I make it to the table and the pack just bursts apart..happy that I made it...Kathy blows my bubble..why the heck did you throw all the stuff all over the place pick up it up...I said hey I am lucky that it held out this long...Oh so dramatic..all the time so dramatic--why are you here? Well good to see you all too...Scott cut himself with the hatchet and we had to cut the hike short...thanks god...bull..kathy said ..where are they..I said you have to go meet them and get Scott to the hospital for stitches..ahhh. more dramatics..what stories you come up with...Bobby..what the hell.. lets go get them...shit now I am begging someone to save them...finally Kathy says ok..when we pick them up and Scott is ok..you will be on restriction forever..We are tired of your lies...whatever I said..come on you are coming with me...If I have to make this trip you do also..look I said ..I am tired from hiking back double time...just head down the road...you might catch them walking...nope you are coming..get in...and off we go..we past where I imaged them to be by now...all the way back to the place where we entered the trail we found them...now it was Slicks turn to yell at me..what the hell took you so long..I explained to him that kathy didn't believe me about Scott..so she was in no hurry...ya whatever...boy--this was one of those times you just can't win for trying..They drove back to the camp..cleaned up the cut..and rebandaged it up..gave Scott more aspirins and off to the hospital...I went into my tent and read..damn it felt good to be back..as I hit the play button on my tape deck...yup good to be back..as I drifted off..the time dragged on...finally going home...as we packed up the car....well so I thought...

Algonquin Park part 5

Well the bears came in the middle of the night, I was awoken by the cans and pots and pans banging together, I froze...to hell with getting out of the tent...screw that...I hid under the covers...the frigging bear sniffed at my tent...I could smell his stench it smelt like a dirty dog that got wet...the only thing that separated me and the bear was the thin nylon tent...Well I guess everyone else felt the same as I because no one sounded the and started banging their noise makers...you could hear the bear ripping at the tent..going through the foodsupplies...ok I didn't wet my sleeping bag...but I had to remind myself to keep breathing as I held my breath for fear that the bear would hear my teeth knattering together..Finally it was quiet...now someone banged their pots...I as well did..and followed by screams...I think everyone was screaming and yelling ---more of a release then a scare tactic I am sure...Damn camping sucks...The park ranger came by the next day and said that they will set the trap again..but it wasn't the same bear..it was another..but no worry as they knew also who it was...He said best if you confront the bear just let it do what it wants and we were correct in not scaring the bear as the last thing you would want would be a frightened bear. All the food was transferred to the station wagon...as per rangers orders..gee are we ever happy campers..:(

Algonquin Park part 4

I was walking with Chris one of the guys and we came across a van in a camp site...two nice looking chicks were cooking. Chris said hi.. they waved hello...so he went to talk to them...He asked them what was going on and stuff., it appeared that they arrived early as they were booked for a site tomorrow, but got away early so they were told that there was no room at the regular site so they were told they could camp here for half price for the one day..till their site become available...So that is how they ended up at the group camp site...so Chris uses his charm and thirst for alcohol or drugs and comes right out and asks them if they could spare some stash as he would pay them for their troubles..they look at each other and say ..well now looks as if we have some partyers here after all...she said come into the van..we will see what we can do for ya....Nice van Chris went on...and it truely was...a real camper van...he sat at the table while I took a spot on the floor by the door....So she says they havn't been to the beer store yet, but had some hash....Chris said great..any chance of selling a bit...sure Liz said as she introduced her self...and this is Jane..we are kinda of what you would call adventure girls looking for a good time ourselves...how about coming by tonight and get to know each other...Chris explained that they we were not here by ourselves we had were from a boys group home so that was our story...so you see we can't just pop in and out at all hours of the night..Liz says a boys home how old are you guys...I said old enough....she laughed and said I bet you guys are still virgins....I said yeah we could teach you guys a few tricks eh Chris...he was silent...As if she guessed right they both laughed and said as if we had left the van ...discussed how it would be great to break two virgins in....they said we would remember them for the rest of our lives...sounds pretty neat...what do you think...I said ....I don't think so...Chris says hold on now..I might be interested in this....we talked for a bit and they allowed Chris to roll the hash joint in the van....How about we get started now Jane says..winking at Chris....spark it up and lets have some fun...He said we would have to stick to the orginal plan...of coming over later that eveing....We met the rest of the guys and they went for a walk in the woods to smoke the hash...I didn't want any so I stood back as they passed around the joint..As if they didn't have enough Chris broke into his stash he was slowly going to piece meal out for the next week and stuck the chuck of hash onto a pin and stuck the pin into a tree...now he lite the hash and then everyone took turns sucking on the hash til it was all gone...oh well Chris said...it was a good plan to save it ...but right now I don't care...I followed them ..I guess I was the babysitter for the drugies....we didn't do anything just kinda got lost in the woods and eatin up by mosquitoes...That night I thought I heard a bear around my tent...grabbing my pot and untensil I was ready to make some noise...but it was Chris...hey man he whispered ....you coming ..? Naw I said ...See ya in bit eh...the next morning Chris comes walking down the road and someone says hey when did you get up...he said he just did and went to the washroom...really...they didn't believe him..they tried to pump Chris but he stuck by his story....finally they laid off of him...I went up to him...and said funny you don't look any different...He laughed and said nope..I may not but I had the best time of my life....One I shall never forget...you really should have come...because I sure did...we laughed....well maybe next time I assured Chris...

Algonquin Park--continued part 3

Well more fun to come--its getting night time..this is the mosquitoes time to carry on with the sucking of blood--now I know where the Idea of vanpires came from...it must have orginated in a place like this...all kinds of creatures that sucked blood..So as the sun went down the deet was pulled out..splash it on...quickly as they seemed to be very agressive mosquitoes..no matter how hard you try the damn deet always seemed to get into your mouth...yuk what a taste....As we sat around the camp fire trying to stay warm..we see and hear people screaming running towards our camp site...ok what the hell man..now some of the kids are crying --finally one of the kids seemed to have caught there breath and screamed a BEAR......A BEAR...!! Kathy again said ok...enough...people...one of the people in charge said sorry but their camp site was being attacked by a bear...They asked if they could stay here for a bit till the bear left...Kathy said why don't you drive up and get the provincial park police...running into people's private camp sites isn't really an option...whatever...I thought...One of the other staff said maybe if we all went down to the camp site and made a whole bunch of noise it would scare the bear away....so we grabbed whatever we could clank together to generate noise and headed down to their site....the little kid beside me was hitting the pot lid so hard that they broke one of our steel ladels..on the pot lid....Kathy also saw the kid snap the untensil and said this will not do....I said lay off eh..as the kid also wet their pants out of fright..damn this is one scared kid...I said hey kid hows it going, he came down a bit..and said through sobs that the bear was no further from him then I....he cryed that he wanted to go home...and then started hitting the lid with the broken utensil again..screaming I want to go home..over and over again....We arrived at the camp...one of their staff jumped in the car and headed out to get the provincial park police...The place was a mess.......the damn bears got into everything...they built the fire high..hoping that the fire would also aid in keeping the bear away ....well one good thing came out of all this...the older girls got our attention...They were from Hamilton...One of the girls ..who was a real cutie grabbed me and hid behind me whenever she thought she heard something or saw something in the bush..the police finally arrived..They also had in tow a huge steel cylinder that was a bear trap...they said they knew who the bear was...she had done this before...they catch her and then ship her into the wild further up north...she made her way back down south rather fast this time..but not to worry they set the trap up...they baited the trap with this greasy hunk of meat that stunk....they placed the meat at the end of the trap the bear enters it..pulls on the meat sending the huge steel door closed...Well those girls from Hamilton worked fast as Susan gave me a kiss and said see ya tomorrow..and thanked me for coming down and helping out..as if I alone saved the day.......The next day.....We awoke to the men around the trap securing it...yup they caught the bear....wow that was quick...and away they go...they just hooked up the trap and drove away with the bear. So due to their site being attacked they had shorten their stay...so they were to be leaving soon...they had a structure there...so they had planned activities...so I didn't see Susan till night time...We all just stood around talking and stuff and talking about the bear...exchanged phone numbers...got another kiss and they hoped to see us in the morning. We secured our food tent with stakes and attached string to the posts and on the string hung every pop can and pie plates and pots and pans....it doubled as our drying rack for the dishes and our warning system for the food tent...upon hearing the pots and cans we were all to run out of our tents screaming and yelling..hitting the pots and lids together thus scaring the bear away....That night I couldn't sleep well..damn bears...anyway...due to the hystrically excitement I got a miagrine...I arose early morning and went over to the central swimming area...it was quiet and their was a mist on the water still..I could hear the loons talking back and forth...now if only this miagraine would go away.....shit my eye site started go...so I just closed my eyes and felt the calm quiet...only to be broken by the girls from Hamilton..shit not now....I tried to explain that I had a headache that interfered with my eye site...but they couldn't grasp that...so just as I was explaining I couldn't see clearly I look down at one of the girls and she has this bikini top on..and her breast is poking out and her nipple is showing...oh damn what a time to be in a full blown miagraine...Shit no matter how I willed my eye site to return..it wouldn't as I stared at the naked flesh as it apperared like a piscal painting....damn and as soon as my eye site returned Susan saw my gaze and smacked the girl and told her to put it away....damn eh...anyway they were on their way and just stopped by to say goodbye...she kissed me goodbye and said she would write...and she did...a couple of times..

Algonquin Park--continued

Yuk..why the hell would God ever create leeches..it was almost as bad as all the frigging mosquitoes that keep us in the tents by nightfall..As if that wasn't bad enough I learnt that even the flies bite...black frigging flies...oh damn I now new how the lady on green acres must have felt...give me Toronto anytime...Well meanwhile back in the canoe we were heading back to the camp site, well so we thought....Till we came to a deep end..and got stuck again...I said I am not getting out of this frigging canoe into that leech infested water again....so we all took the paddles and grabbed the tree branches to get free...it took more effort but at least we didn't have to venture into the water again....finally on our way again...I felt some dirt ineptness my big toe and my other toe..so I brushed the guck away..it was stuck on..shit..I thought I will have to find some showers around here...so after another wrong turn...the guck seemed to be collecting dirt as it was getting bigger...what the hell..I thought...I stopped paddling and put my feet up on the cross members of the canoe with the intent to get this scumy dirt out from inbetween my toes...DAMN.....DAMN...I SCREAMED...DAMN...the bulge between my toes was another leech..it was getting fatter feeding off my blood...How the hell do I pull this thing off.. it was stuck on like glue..and everytime I pulled it would settle in deeper...was this a joke or something...the guys in the canoe were now laughing as they watched me struggle and have an one on one fight of tug of war with this damn leech...I yelled what the frig are you guys laughing at...get this thing off of me...and the more I got all freaked out..the more they laughed..til I also joined in laughing.not out of humor but out of hysteria..but stopped short as we nearned the camp..and yelled at the guy steering to get us in without getting caught in the weeds again..and again...now seeing that I was almost ashore...I was getting really hyper as this alien was sucking the life out of me...I knew that He had to go as we approached the camp..Kathy was yelling at us for not having our life jackets on..damn she was correct but she sure was forward for being a student observer..she even snitched on us..and keep harping about the fact tha we didn't have life jackets on..I said excuse me but I have a more pressing concern right now...., I informed her of the leech..and she said so what ..don't be so dramatic it wasn't going to kill ya..well easy to say when its not on your foot...We tried to pour salt on it...it moved but didn't let go...so one of the guys lite a match and then blew it out..and touched it to the creature..oh that worked..it moved more..so I grabbed the pack of matches now that I knew I had him...I keep touching the leech..after three matches he finally let go....one of the guys stepped on it..and it spewed out all red...thats my blood you son of a bitch....as I grabbed my shoes and proceeded to get the living blood out of the leech...Once the leech was mixed into the soil with nothing left 0f it....Kathy was still rating us out to the staff...she said that we should be put on camp restriction..I said yeah whatever..as if I am going out into the scumy river infected water again...The only one activity and now the canoe stood dry..as no one wanted to go out in the canoe just to get stuck in the weeds...oh and of course no one went swimming in the river again either..oh boy what fun we were having.....

Algonquin Park

While back we go to Algonquin Park...We arrived at Whitefish camping grounds this was the group camping grounds. They seperated the family camping from the groups, but they opened the group camping grounds to regular camping when the family grounds got filled up....We set up the camping gear..All stuff had to be emptied out of the "house car" as it was to be driven back to Toronto..so it was dumped..We went about setting up the tents--and even had a food tent. I was to room with the other guys in this tent that already was way to crowded. One of the staff brought along a little pup-tent that he said I could borrow, on the condition that I didn't smoke in the tent or bring any food in the tent as the bears would rip it apart to get at the food...well I assured him that I would not....he allowed me to set the tent up...I brought along my cassette tape recorder and he even lent me tapes that he recorded that were hit tunes...still on the chum charts..cool..I was all set..We had a very good spot..right on river..we had a canoe that was attached to the "house stationwagon" that was put by the river, and yes the rules were that we had to have life jackets for everyone that went into the canoe..So all was done...now what...hmm....now what...hmm now what....damn first time camping and it was so dang boring..We were told that we were to go play...play..play what..where? There was no structure at the camp. They said well go canoeing...We three of us the next day set out on a canoe outing..the damn river was full of weeds and trees and there branches..we kept getting stuck...so one of us would have to get out and jump in the water to pull us free...after getting stuck so many times the adventure got stale --but quick...oh damn we got stuck again...This time it was my turn to pull us free...I jumped in and pushed the canoe free...steered the canoe down another path...hey btw anyone know where the hell the camp site was....hmm, a new problem --I think we went down so many feeder rivers and cut offs we were slightly lost...looking for familier sites were started to paddle...and got stuck so often that I just stayed in the water and pulled us free when we got stuck again...whew a familer landmark...so I pulled myself into the canoe and saw this long black mark on my leg...OH SHIT IT WASN'T A PIECE OF RIVER CRAP..IT WAS ALIVE...I saw blood at one end of the thing...one of the guys said its a leech man..pull it off before it fully sets itself into you ....A leech...Shit ...what the hell..why is it attaching itself to me..? He laughed and said thats what they do..they suck your blood...DAMN as I pulled on this thing...it stuck to my leg...I pulled harder it stretched three fold......finally it gave..and I tossed it back into the water..Well thats the last time I go in this water...

Asst. Director got nabbed--he then retired from his position.

Yup..Doug got nabbed so he had to retire from his position. So they hired another winner...A curly hired actor. His claim to fame was he was a professional actor thus he could jump into any part and be an ace at whatever he did..This guy's ego was big--well bigger then his actor career anyway, he stared on some series on tv. He was such a dork...He was chosen to drive the "house stationwagon" to camp..So they decided to load one car with the supplies and drive the kids in the other...There was still not enough seats for everyone so someone had to drive with this "superstar"--No one stepped up to chose to drive with him--but since I was the only one that kinda of knew him from hanging around the Kennedy house office I felt sorry for the "star" and volunteered to drive up to Algonquin park with him and the supplies. As you can guess the ride was about as exciting as this blog..lol..He must have been playing the part as a boring chauffeur..just going through the motions of doing his job. After that Edward guessed that it was a one man show operation....so when this "star" quit to move on and pursue his acting career Ed didn't hire another asst. Director....whatever happened to this "star" who knows he must have made it big on Broadway because he never made it big in Hollywood..LOL

Carol--The secretary.

The first secretary that welcomed me by slapping me left. I don't know how many more they hired, but one that stayed was very pretty and superkind. Her name was Carol, she is married and also a mother of two boys. She is very pretty, yes I did ask her if she was a model. She said that her sister was more of the model in the family, but she did do modeling for sears catologs when she was younger, also to boot she had a knack for new technolgies, she was an operator/model at a trade show for a new super computer...Wow I said how did you know how to operate the super computer..she said that it really isn't that hard, and she had extensive experience on different buisness machines..so it just came to her naturally, she could dance her fingers across the keyboard and hell she didn't even have to look at it..She was the fastest typist and won awards for her skills..I looked around the little office of Kennedy House and wondered why she worked here. She said although the finacial gains were small, she lived just around the corner and the hours were good as she could spend time with her kids without paying for child care. I took to Carol immediately. After school I ventured over to the office and would talk to her as Ed usually took off at 3pm she didn't like being alone in the office as she was terrified of mice..and she saw one climbing up the chinese weave that surrounded her office walls so in turn we welcomed each other's company. As time went by it became routine for me to venture over as soon as I saw the house stationwagon leave the driveway...it always amused me as It was the house station wagon to be used for Kennedy house purposes but We only "borrowed" the car from Edward once when we were driven up to camp and then it was driven back the same day so Ed wouldn't be without a car...anyway I mentioned this to Carol but she didn't comment on that fact...and changed the subject to other things..I guess it was one of the many things that we all knew but couldn't talk about as it was the 'big guy'. Her husband worked for the TTC and worked the eveing shift so he would be home to care for the kids while she worked, so being home at different times did cause some ups and downs in the family, but Carol explained you did what you had to do to survive, and to put the kids first and make sure their interests were looked after and theirs as parents then came second...Wow what a concept. After all it wasn't the kids who brought themselves into the world, she also noted that many of the kids in the house came from difficult backgrounds but most of them she felt that if given the chance would raise above their past and would turn out in the end...Hmm, I thought I lived with these guys., I didn't see the potential in most--I saw them as a product of their enviroment and wouldn't surprise me if they all ended up in the big houses after a couple of years. She always held out for the best in the kids..as she invited the kids who didn't have anywhere to go over to Christmas dinner and she was upset that while over at her house they stoled her kids piggy bank . But even after she was disappointed in the kids who stoled, she still never lost hope. Anyway eventually she would get time when her and her husband scheduled allowed them to go out dancing on a weekend and asked if I would babysit her kids...I said I never looked after kids before...I wouldn't know what to do...She laughed and said they more or less look after themsleves..afterall they weren't babies...Well the first time I babysat her youngest went to the washroom and said ok ---yelling from the bathroom I'm finished..ok, that's nice I thought....sooo? His brother said that I have to go wipe his butt clean...I said the hell with that!! I told the older brother to wipe his younger butt clean...with that he yelled and screamed yuk!! He didn't do that his mom always did that. Shit---I said to the other brother how does your mom wipe his butt...he laughed and said I don't know she just does...Both were laughing as I figured out how to get out of this...I tried to encourage him to do it himself...He laughed as if I just asked him to fly to the moon, as both were about the same chances of happening...damn ..damn...damn...I looked at the dog punchy and well he was going to be no help either...ok...I asked his older brother how should I do this...he laughed again..I said here come with me...so we go in and there is his younger brother hold his butt up in the air....I took some toilet paper and as I wiped said ahh, shit...with that the kids started to laugh as they screamed SHIT..SHIT...SHIT...as they chanted that I swore....I said no I meant to say shoot..Ok here goes...damn..damn..damn..I think I touched some went over the paper...with that I again said SHIT...SHIT..SHIT.. and the kids mocked me in their laughter repeating the swear words again...there I said done...tossing the paper into the toilet...all done as I started to wash my hands....he said hey my mom does it again...I said sorry one wipe is all you get...why don't you have a nice bath..He said ok..as he never had a bath this early....good then...and he jumped into the bath..I laughed and said I am not going to soap you up......I hope you know how to do that...he laughed and said he did....I told Carol of the horrible time I had while babysitting..she said why what happened...and burst out laughing as I recalled the eveing...She said that he knew how to do it...but didn't do a perfect job at it yet....and she always followed up finishing up the chore...She said don't worry next time I babysat she would have him "trained"

Jim--my roommate

Jim went to a catholic school. He was also a jock and a chick magnet. He always had chicks calling him, but none came over--I always thought of course they wouldn't come over they were of a fine upbringing being catholic and all...He worked on Watts restaurant as a bus boy...he had and endless supply of energy always on the go. He met this girl who lived in the valley of Old Kingston Rd. Her family ran the horse stables there..They had paths down there that led through to morningside park...you could learn to ride. Well Jim being well a boy...he said he could ride...so His girlfriend brought out her horse..she said it was a good horse..but it had spirit. She wanted to walk with Jim on the horse while she held the reigns but after a couple of minutes Jim felt confident that he could ride on his own...So he took the reigns and head off in the opposite direction from us...he was doing very well..when all of the sudden the horse broke out into a gallop....His girlfriend yelled to pull back on the reigns ...show the horse that you are in charge of him...all Jim succeed in doing was turning the horse around ..now he was heading straight back to us....the horse was coming fast...you could see its head fighting Jim's commands as the horses head was now tilted at an odd angle....as if looking up at Jim and questioning what the hell are you doing ....the horse turned it's head just in time to see the only frigging telephone pole on the property...it darted left around the pole sending Jim flying off on the right...flumph...he landed with a thud...he landed hard.. He got up and brushed himself off...his girlfriend retrieved the horse and came back and said he did well ..and asked if he wanted to give it another try..he said naw not today..he just stopped by..and had to do some homework, maybe tomorrow he would go riding with her...he pushed me along as I was petting the horse...He said come on we have to go now....with that we walked out of the park and started up the hill....he asked me if his girlfriend was out of eye site..I said yeah..she rode off in the other direction..checking again just to be sure...why I asked...he then collapsed beside the graveyard...rolled on the ground back and forth...moaning oh man..oh man...I am hurting bad...He finally stopped rolling and just lie there...I said you want me to get you some help..he said no..stop talking as he had to use all of his energy to focus on easing the pain....We stayed there for awhile in the graveyard..I walked around looking at the some of the grave stones...man there are some very old head stones here...I noticed that most people were old..very old...80's and 90's....hmm. they might have had a rough day to day life but they sure lasted a long time..as I pictured the battery pink bunny...anyway I laughed at my inside joke wondering if I should share it with Jim and thought not...as I noticed that it was starting to get dark...I no longer wanted to read the grave stones...I said come on Jim we have been here at least an hour...you have to get up..he said ok..I had to help him...he leaned on me as we got to the top of the hill and back onto Kingston rd..somehow we made it home..He crashed right away..damn maybe he had an concussion or something..I think you are suppose to keep them awake...I tried to wake him up ...but he said if I disturb him again...he will throw me just like the horse did to him, if I woke him up again...Damn Jim had the staunchest arm pits...they smelt like ear wax...Jim was one of those guys who had to shower at least two times a day..but looks like he wasn't going to this night oh lucky me.

Smile--I am a paid Polaroid camera man

I got this camera that was an instant Polaroid camera. I bought some film and took some pictures..Holy shit the film was about $11 bucks, for instant it took some pretty good quality pics...Lloyd, yup the same guy who wanted to slice my throat...He had this habit of sitting at the table and while in conversation with anyone would look down at his arm and flex his muscle..he then like the A535 guy start twitching his muscle as if he just newly discovered he could make his upper arm move...He was so lost into himself you could have been saying anything and he just tuned you out just like that as he got so engrossed he just stood up and walked out to go to the bathroom room and start flexing his muscles in the mirror--with the door open...Anyway he saw some of the pics I took and saw that they weren't blurry--so he said that he would pay me to take pics of him..$11 for the film and another $11 for my time...Wow my first gig as a photographer. So everyone heard about it and wanted to watch the shoot..I loaded the camera and he would pose and I took the pictures...Well into the fifth pic he started to show more skin...he became the director of the shoot and even added the other guys into helping by holding a lamp he took the shade off of to get more light on himself so there wouldn't be any dark areas in the pics. Near the end of the cartridge he started to show some moon shots...Yuck I said what are you doing...he said what the hell I am paying you...its my dime...just shoot the pics...or give him all of his money back...I said what the hell man...I already shot over half already...So he got all of the guys to also agree that I was paid to take the pics.. and were also saying that I should just do the job he paid me to do...ohhh., all right...so he now had his helpers to get in the shots...he was now nude and he had one guy holding a hockey stick supporting his balls...with the other guy crossing the stick right at his winky blocking it out of the pic...He called the shot high sticking.......He then wanted to get a blue angel on film...so He counted down as one of the guys held the lighter to his ass....I was to shot when he got to three...wow I said you can fart on command...he said he could..so without any rehearsals he posed and counted down on three..He let one go....click...I got it...he then started to burn his ass hairs were on fire..one of the stage hands started smacking his butt with a shirt...what a hoot...one of the other stage hands said they should piss on him to put out the fire...well finally I was out of film....I said ..well thats it..I am no longer in the photography business....I don't care how much he paid me...this was too much artsy for me....With that I put away my camera...and spent the $11 bucks....lol oh yeah..the pics got taken away by the staff ...they called it child porn....and destroyed them...well so they say they destroyed them...

Bob--the staff

Bob was introduced as the new staff . He was overweight and looked like an Ex-cop he smoked at least two packs a shift. He was as sharp as a cop also...He was in tune of when something was up...and seemed to know just where to look to find where the beer was hidden or where one of the guys stashed his drugs. He was also hip with what was up with Kathy--He was one of the first who saw how Kathy bullied the kids around...he questioned her on her decisions...he suggested other ways to punish the kids instead of making them lose face in front of their peers..He treated the guys very well--and in turn gained the respect of the guys....Kathy didn't like the new turn around of the house. She didn't like the way the guys started questioning her intentions...her "because I said so" were not washing anymore...Bob just keep telling us all to question everyone...ask why someone is pushing you into a corner...try to figure out their intentions..Make them accountable for their actions...but in turn you also have to be accountable for your actions. Treat people the way you want to be treated...but he added don't be a dick ..If Kathy says to do your chores and you ask her why..then you are being a dick and she will then have a reason to belittle you..don't give her a reason...Damn Kathy was sure getting pissed as everyone was good when Bob came on shift and she hadn't put any taken away anyone's allowance..btw where did that money go--when their allowance was taken away?--hmm-well anyway...The other staff sensed that Kathy was losing her grip and also jumped on the treat the kids like human wagon..The atmostphere started to clear...and everyone seemed to be getting a little happier...well except for Kathy..lol...This was about the same time as the Childrens aid society put in an undercover social worker---He was a tall black older guy who smoked a pipe and had thick black rimmed glasses..His car was a grey maxitor--Yeah really eh...some amc product..never ever saw another like it..Well he also put the screws to Kathy--questioning her on how she was running the house...Kathy was feeling the heat...She jumped on her chance to gain back her throne at every turn...Bob took in one of the guys who was in the system since birth..a crown ward..He felt that to throw him out into the world alone would just spell disaster..So he had a huge house.Bob lived with his girlfriend and also..he took in his mother..and now he took in this kid...I wanted to see this Sammy as I got along with him..He was like I, a victim of a dysfunctional family..not put in Kennedy house by the courts..he also saved me from being assaulted by a bunch of guys when they had a bottle of this stuff called locker room...they would exhale and then put their nose over the bottle and sniff it up...they would then stagger back and look as if they were going to pass out...I said they were nuts...sniffing fumes ..they insisted that I tried it...I said forget it...they moved in on me and were going to make me sniff it...Sammy went to get a staff and they had their bottle taken away...So anyway.....Bob said his girlfriend ok'd to me coming over to see Sammy and just get away from the home...So after a midnight shift I went to Bob's house..He thought Sammy was suppose to be home but he wasn't--he said he was baked...the plan was for me to spend time with Sammy as he had to get some sleep...I said no problem....I would just watch tv and wait for Sammy--Sammy came home and we talked...he just bought some beer he opened one and gave me one.....As I wasn't much of a drinker I nursed the beer slowly as the day marched on...Sammy had to go out and meet his girlfriend so back to the tv...Finally Bob's girlfriend came home...she was busy cleaning up and making dinner..she seemed nice...Barb one of the other Kennedy House staff was going to swing by and pickme up so they were going to have dinner early...Bob got up and asked how it was going? fine..I said . how was the time spent with Sammy I said ok.. but he had to leave to see his girlfriend..So we sit down to dinner for meatloaf...Damn I put it fist bite in my mouth and I got a migraine...My taste buds went whacky ...along with my sight...They could see I was having a problem..they said hey if you don't like it don't eat it...I said no...no its of ok...After eating half I couldn't eat anymore...I was feeling really out of it...Barb honked and I jumped in her car...I wanted quiet as anyone who suffers from migraine knows...I figure it was the spices in the meatloaf that triggered the migraine...Barb was asking my questions...as she wanted to know why I fell asleep as soon as I got in her car...I said long day....and I wasn't feeling well...I asked to pull over and puked...I got back in...and she said hey smells like alcohol...I said hey..stop smelling my puke eh!! She thought I was drinking at Bob's---and that was why I was sick...she didn't buy the migraine excuse...I insisted that I had a migraine and that was why everything tasted funny..and why I felt tired...I only had the one beer that Sammy gave me..and that was earlier in the day....but I couldn't tell Barb that...Well she passed on the information to Kathy and Kathy fired Bob...saying that he aided in contributing to a minor by giving me alcohol...I said this was not the case.. I had a migraine brought on by the spices in the meatloaf.....Since at the time there was no union and he faced criminal charges if he didn't accept his dismissal...He agreed to leave....He assured me that it had nothing to do with me..as this was what Kathy was waiting for and jumped on anything that could get rid of him....Bob assured me that this only delayed Kathy's future...as she was still under the microscope...and it wasn't him that she should have been worried about...