Hon. Mike Lake
Member of Parliament, Canada
Edmonton‐Wetaskiwin, Canada

Abstract:
Austria currently has 86,000 people with autism, 48,000 of which are children. In recent years, autism has gained global recognition but there continues to be a lack of awareness and understanding as well as a continued lack of financial and emotional support. The Honourable Mike Lake will be visiting Vienna on February 9th and has reached out to the autism community. Autism in Vienna is pleased to present this tireless advocate of autism awareness in Canada who will be speaking at the TU Wien on the evening of the Feb. 9th and sharing his firsthand experiences with challenges, parents of autistic children face.

Mike has two children, a son, Jaden, 20, and daughter, Jenae, 16. The Lakes have been active supporters of autism organizations, families and individuals across the country, and around the world, while sharing their story of life with Jaden, who has autism. "I want to acknowledge a group of Canadians who are close to my heart. They, like myself, are parents of young children with autism. My son Jaden is 10 years old now and was diagnosed with autism when he was two. I would like those parents to know that I have been where they are. I have experienced the same emotions that they are experiencing right now: the intense love that a parent has for his or her child; the fear that accompanies the discovery that there is something different about the way the child is developing; the hope of finding out that there is a treatment that is helping other children with similar challenges; and the utter frustration and disappointment as time ticks away while the child waits for that treatment."
Mike Lake, Maiden Speech in the House of Commons, April 24, 2006.

Brief bio
Mike is the Member of Parliament for Edmonton‐Wetaskiwin, and was first elected in 2006. After his re‐election in October, 2008, Mike was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, a position to which he was re‐appointed after the May 2011 election. On September 13, 2012 Mike was sworn into the Queen's Privy Council, after being asked by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to serve on the Priorities and Planning Sub‐Committee on Government Administration. On October 19, 2015, he was re‐elected to a fourth term, receiving the 5th highest vote total out of 1,800 candidates, from all parties, across the country. He currently serves as the Conservative Party Critic for Global Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health. Prior to entering federal politics, Mike worked for 10 years with the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club where he served as National Accounts Manager, Director of Ticket Sales and Group Sales Manager. Mike holds a Bachelor of Commerce.