insidetoronto.com

Forty-three schools in Toronto are now using Notes to My Son Before You Go as a forum for class discussions. Students, particularly Grade 8 boys, in classrooms across Ontario, Detroit and Chicago have been asked to read the book by Vesna M. Bailey and reflect on their past and set goals for their future.

Bailey originally wrote the book for her son who was going off to university. Bailey said she hopes Toronto students will receive the same message she wanted her son to take from the book - to live a happy and full life; to believe in themselves and the goodness of life.

Notes to My Son, which is valued at $21.95, can be purchased at Chapters, by e-mail at vbbail@mnsi.net or online at www.NotesBeforeYouGo.com. The book, filled with quotes and tips on everything from writing thank-you notes to splurging on life, won the 2008 IPPY (Independent Publisher Book Awards) bronze medal for the gift category.

And insidetoronto.com has 10 copies of the book to give away.

Abbreviated contest rules

To enter Notes to My Son contest, people must send in their names, complete addresses, daytime telephone numbers and the answer to this skill-testing question: Who wrote Notes to My Son Before You Go?

People must enter the contest by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 22. Readers must complete the official contest form. Youth 18 and younger must also include parental consent, parents' first and last names and parents' daytime telephone numbers.

The winners, who must live in one of the communities in which Toronto Community News distributes, will be chosen in a random draw by a TCN representative after 8:30 a.m. Monday, June 23. The winners will be contacted by phone and must come to 100 Tempo Ave. in North York or 307 Humberline Dr. in Etobicoke by 4 p.m. Friday, July 4 to pick up their prize or their prize will be forfeited.

There is only one entry per household with multiple entries being destroyed. TCN employees and their families are unable to enter. Odds of winning depend on the numbers of entries received. There is no cost to the winner. No purchase is necessary. Visit insidetoronto.com for complete contest rules.

Agreement: These rules govern The Notes to My Son Contest (The Contest). No purchase is necessary to enter the Contest.

The act of entering the Contest constitutes acceptance of the Contest rules and the decisions of the Contest judge.

Sponsor: The Contest sponsor is Toronto Community News, a division of Metroland Media Group Ltd. ("Toronto Community News").

Eligibility: The Contest is open to readers of Toronto Community News' publications living in one of the areas in which publications of Toronto Community News are distributed.

Employees, immediate families and anyone living with any employee of the sponsors or its corporate affiliates, advertising or promotions agencies are not eligible to enter the Contest.

Limit one entry per household. Illegible entries, bulk-mails, facsimiles or other mechanically or electronically reproduced entries will not be accepted and will be disqualified.

Contest: To enter the Contest, people must send in their names, complete addresses, daytime telephone numbers and the answer to this skill-testing question: Who wrote the Who wrote Notes to My Son Before You Go?

Readers must complete official contest form to enter the contest. Readers must enter the contest between the times of 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 6 and closing at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 22.

The winners will be chosen by a Toronto Community News representative at 8:30 a.m. Monday, June 23 with the winners being contacted by phone. Youth 18 and younger must have parental consent to enter the contest.

Prize: One of 10 copies of Notes to My Son Before You Go, written by Vesna M. Bailey. The book is valued at $21.95.

Winners must come to 100 Tempo Ave. in North York or 307 Humberline Dr. in Etobicoke to collect the prize won. If the winner does not claim the by 4 p.m. Friday, July 4, the next eligible entry selected by random draw will be contacted, and the first entrant selected will have no further claim to the prize.

Toronto Community News will not mail or courier prizes and is not responsible for unclaimed prizes.

Release: Prior to receiving the prize, the potential winner will be required to show valid photo ID and to sign an affidavit of eligibility and release form releasing the Sponsor and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates and/or related companies and each of their officers, directors, shareholders, employees, advisors, assignees, agents, licensees, representatives, advertising, media buyers and promotional agencies from any and all liability in connection with the Contest and/or the prize, confirming compliance with the rules and consenting to the use of his or her name without further compensation, in any publicity carried out by the Sponsor and/or their advertising and promotional agencies.

Indemnity: By participating in this Contest, you agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor, and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates and/or related companies and each of their officers, directors, shareholders, employees, advisors, assignees, agents, licensees, representatives, advertising, media buyers and promotional agencies from any and all damages, injuries, claims, causes of action, or losses of any kind (including but not limited to attorney's fees) arising from your participation in the Contest, your violation of any term of these Contest rules, your violation of any third party right, including without limitation any copyright, property, or privacy right; or (iv) any claim that your submission caused damage to a third party.

Privacy: We use your personal contact information to administer contests, including contacting, announcing and promoting prize winners. The Contest is run in compliance with Toronto Community News' privacy code, which may be found in full at www.insidetoronto.com.

Banning: The Sponsor may, in their sole discretion, prohibit any person from entering the Contest whom they believe to be abusing the rules. Such abuse includes entering false information.

Other: All decisions of the Contest judges are final. This Contest is governed by the laws of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein. The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify the Contest or the Contest rules at any time without notice. All prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and are not convertible to cash. The Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any prize or portion of the prize with a prize of equal or greater value. All prizes are awarded as-is and no warranties or guarantees are implied or expressed, beyond the standard manufacturer's warranty. Sponsor is not liable for any lost or stolen entries or inability to process entries, or any errors, damage or negligence that may arise in connection with this contest, including technical failures on the part of contest software, virus, website down-time, human error or property damage incurred by any Contest entrant. Use of any automated system including robotic or form filling software to enter or participate in this Contest is prohibited and will result in disqualification of all entries by anyone using such assistance.