TERRACE STANDARD — INSIDE SECTION B COMMUNITY EVENTS B2 638-7283 ~SPEA KING OUT - SARAH de LEEUW Reflections from India n that particular morning, the heat was well over 42 degrees Celsius by 9:00 in the morning. A thick grey orange smog hovered over the city. The whine of two strike diesel engines was persistently audible behind every other sound, of which there were millions. The calls for tea, the calls to prayer, the yip yap of street dogs, the hum of sewing machines and pops of hot grease frying morning samosas, -. Jt was not the largest city of the coun- try I had landed in only days before. It was not the dirtiest of this country's cities not was it the poorest. The smells of Delhi are the stories of thousands of tra- vellers, millions of citizens. The sweet- ness of masala and honeysuckle, the musk of incense, the ripe high smells of rot against the thickness of dust and ex- haust fumes. But the sights - the sights are what have embedded themselves forever in my ~ head. Many of them I will replay forever against the backdrop of my own affluent countryside. - On that morning the sun was mean ‘and bright, even through the smog, and my friend and J had to stop, shut our eyes every few minutes, just to rest them against the burning glare. The street was narrow and packed. Vendors selling everything from silk and bananas, shoes and peanuts, floor tiles and scarves spilled into any corner of available space, Children walked with babies in their arms, Old men walked arm. in atm, Jaughing. That morning was one of many I had while travelling in India, mornings filled with awe that a country which had been colonized by the British for over 150 years, could now be the globe's largest _ democracy. Mornings filled with sadness at the poverty which is so great, so all en- compassing, and made even more appar- ent by the huge disparity it has with the country's very rich, And many mornings of wonder - wonder at how people with nothing would offer each other anything, at how even the tiniest things (a drive shaft of a hauling truck) could be turned ‘into an intricate painting of care and colour. - There are things about India I will carry with me forever, but perhaps the deepest imprint left on me is my own .. privilege. The great wealth of Canada, the - good fortune of such a great. number of |. our citizens, The morning I arrived back in Terrace was a morning of summer green and rushing rivers, snow capped mountains and families at the lake. And stories in our local paper. Stories about local resident groups concerned about decreasing property va- lues because of a youth detox house as a neighbourhood addition. Stories about upset and anger in another Terrace area because of the suggestion that an alterna- tive school might come into their area. How could one, | wondered, put the _ health and well being of young people? When we are so lucky compared to so much of the world's population, how can we not put into perspective our wealth, "and share? I listened to the radio, and heard local Terrace residents, articulate and clear, ex- plain how inappropriate it was for their children to witness 'the kind of youth who would be using a detox centre’, Ona globe where people are starving in streets, being chained to sewing ma- _chines to make clothes, wouldn't it be a lesson in compassion and understanding for 'your' children to see other youth struggling to make themselves healthy and productive? How can it be that the very people who could afford to give the most, so often guard what they have so absolulely, giv- ing so little? possible value of property, above the’ July 1 pancake breakfast Firefighters serve up a good time LOCAL, FIREFIGHTERS fed at least 832 people at their July 1 Canada Day pancake breakfast, more than last year. The result was $3,254 raised for burn victims through a provincial fire- fighters’ program, says firefighter Fred Burrows, ane of the local organisers. “We know it was more than 832 people because that was the number of tickets we sold and child- ren under the age of three were free,” he said. The breakfast was con- ceived several years ago by Terrace and Thornhill firefighters as a way of not only providing a Canada Day activity but to raise money to help burn vic- tims. Each year changes have been made to keep the event fresh and to provide new activities, said Bur- rows. “We're always looking for things to do for people in the line ups,” said Bur- TOWs. This year, for instance, CN employees brought their track crossing safety display and ICBC and health officials were on hand to give information on safe driving and car scat use. Popular this year, as in past years, were rides for children in Terrace and Thornhill fire trucks. £3 THORNHILL VOLUNTEER firefighter duo of Laur- ence Turney, left, and Norm Mercure had the egg preparation duty July 1 at the pancake breakfast at the Terrace firehall, Local firefighters stage the an- nual Canada Day event as part of a province-wide effort by firefighters to raise money for burn victims. Other emergency service agencies, ICBC, CN em- ployees and health unit employees were on hand for the occasion. More than 800 peaple enioyed the food and other activities at the firehall that day. RHONDA MAJOR puts the finishing touches on her project. The researcher at Terrace Anti-Poverty Group-Society is studying the needs of youth in the north. Project focuses on northern youth By SARAH GLEN RHONDA MAJOR knew something had to change for youth in the north when she realized their cry for help crossed all economic, education and age barriers. Major, a_ researcher with Terrace Anti-Poverty Group Society, spearhea- ded a project to study youths aged 13 to 29 to determine if local employ- ment services and skill centres are helping them secure employment “Are these services working? And how can we make them better? This is what we need to ask,” said Major. And what she’s found out so far from local youth is that they need more in- formation on who can help them. “Youth need help find- ing out what’s out there,” said Major. Her findings suggest most youth don’t even know about Human Re- sources Development Ca- nada’s (HRDC)} Youth Op- portunities resource centre, which offers help to youth writing resumes and cover letters. And if they do know about the centre, ‘they don’t think they have the necessary skills to offer employers. “Most of the kids I talk to only take jobs where they get a type of payche- que seriously,” said Major. “Volunteer work is aver- locked, but that’s the area where youth can develop their skills, or maybe work up to a paid position.” Major gives credit to the high school career and personal planning (CAPP) classes for helping youth focus on their long and short-term goals and giving them the skills to develop their job prospects. But youth still need more pre-job training, in- cluding budgeting, people skills, and anger manage- ment, she said. While CAPP classes may be giving school-aged youth an opportunity to de- velop their skills, those youth who aren’t in school are missing oul. “We have a lot. of clients that don’t go to school,” Fahlman, an employment officer at Youth Opportuni- ties. And without access to ihe same - free — job skill services as their school- aged counterparts, some youth are faced with ex- pensive workshops - work- shops they need, but can’t pay for. “Some first-aid training costs a hundred dollars, and that’s just nat the kind of ‘money my clients have,” sald Profeit-Fahl- said Lana Profeit- | man. She would like to see free or price-reduced rates for youth registering for skill-building workshops, But Major would like to go one step further and de- velop a youth centre in town. “It would be a holistic environment,” said Major. Although the Youth Op- portunities resource centre is a “great” service, Major believes youth need some- thing more. “Kids need more than resume-writing help, they need help developing life skills as well,” said Major. That’s where the youth centre would come in. While offering pre-em- ployment skills assistance, the centre would also act as a recreation facility and an Internet job search site, said Major. On July 31, Major will submit her research to HRDC, which funded the project, She hopes her recom- mendations will lead to more services for youth. “Our future is youth, If we want to keep them here, we need to do some- thing for them,” said Major. [Terrace Anti-Poverty Group Society is funded almost entirely by dona- tions and ‘charitable bingo earings], Around Town Lib«ary receives grant IT’S BUSINESS as usual for Terrace’s Public Li- brary afler the provincial library prants were an- nounced, June 29, Terrace is set to receive atmost $52,000, close to the same amount the library received las! year Municipal Affairs Minister Cathy McGregor an- nounced the grants, which totalled over cight mil- lion province-wide, Kitimat Public Library and the Smithers Public Library were also on the list to receive grants. The money will be used to help cover annual opcraling costs and buy new books. Terrace helps MS A PROVINCIAL campaign that took over Terrace in May collected almost more money in town then a similar campaign stalioned in Prince George. The 2000 MS Carnation Campaign totalled over $5,000 from Terrace aldne with aver $75,000 col- lected province wide. All the money raised was donated from local bu- sinesses, residents and community groups. Kids get creative TO MARK the 30th anniversary of the Skeena Valley Fall Faiz, organisers gol kids to pull out their crayons. The first annual Skeena Valicy Fall Fair poster contesl gave kids aged one to 13 a chance to show what the fair means to them. In the seven year old and under category, Adri- enne Vandenberg grabbed top spol, with Rebecca Kucharyshen and Elizabeth Anne Peters coming in a ciese second and third, Jody Kucharyshen beat out Celina Guerrieiro and _ Casey Braam for first place in the eight to 12 year- old category. In the 13 year-old and up calegory, Kelsey Hamer nabbed top spot, followed by Jodi Braam in second and Caitlin Preston in third place. All winners received prize money donated by the Lion Club. Parks day celebration CELEBRATE CANADA'S parks, July 15. The fun kicks off with games, food and fun for the entire family al Terrace’s Lakelse Lake . Events run all day, starting at 11 am.. British Columbia is close to doubling its provin- cial parks and protected areas from six to 12 per. cent F About 11.4 per cent of the province is proteltem For more info,, call the GC Parks district office. Teaching Tolerance THE TOLERANCE Committee is mecting, July 18 al 6:30 pm at the Family Place, 4542 Park Ave. Celebration of Pride Day will be on the agenda. Gays, lesbians and friends are inviled, For more info., call 638-0228.