INSIDE COMMUNITY EVENTS B2 We SPEAKING OUT SARAH de LEEUW Abortion providers appreciated In one tiny garden, against a south facing wall, crocuses have broken through the ground. Where for months now the bend in the Skeena, just under the old bridge, has been clogged with ice, the waters are now iridescent green, a mallard's head, as they reflect the sun and longer days. I saw the first soft pearly heads of pussy ‘willows last week, tiny but loud voices crying out that spring is officially on its way. In the streets, rosy cheeked kids are riding the freshly unthawed streets, families are going on evening walks, and vehicles are los- ing that mud caked winter look. Less than three weeks ta go before we turn the clocks ahead and think about boxing up the toques, wool socks and winter coats until next year, Less than a week since a small, most often overlooked, day has passed. March 10. Most us don't have it marked on our calendars, it doesn't receive much in the way of news Ccov-’ - erage, and I've never heard of a banner being --. raised in recognition of it. Yet it's a day to appreciate modern day her- “ Until each girl has complete ac- cess to birth control, and full under- standing of what pregnancy and rais- ing a child entails, doctors who pro- vide termination services need be re- minded just how valued they are.” oes, heroes who provide women with a service we are guaranteed by law, a service too many us receive in shame and fear. March 10 is the National Day of Apprecia- tion for Abortion Providers. A day when dac- tors across the country who provide women this legally assured services, are offered praise and recognition for the work they do. Men and women across Canada continuing to make it possible for women to have our right to chonse, who insure we have solidarity over our bodies, need to be reminded we are valued and needed, Doctors who provide terminations operate in a climate of fear - they have seen their coilea- gues shot, bombed and beaten, scen their clients harassed, watched their clinics be de- stroyed, and been the topic of countless letters to editors in which they are insulted and threa- tened. They have been the focus of hate filled web pages, and daily receive letters and phone calls in which they are put down and hassled. All this to deliver a safe medical service, without which women would be dying in back alleys, bleeding to death in their beds, and giving birth to unwanted children who would grow up in homes where they are not wanted, The youngest pregnant girl I've met was 12, 11 when she got pregnant. She gave birth to an acute fetal alcohol syndrome baby, who was apprehended shortly after it was brought home. Then there was the young mother whose baby had a life threatening genetic disorder, the young woman with no father stepping for- ward and an uncertain job future, the teenager with four years of high school ahead of her, and the going on 55 years old with three child- ren already, who hadn’t thought she could even get pregnant, For each woman facing perhaps the most difficult decision of her life, choice is imprcra- tive. It is a choice most of us would prefer to never make, but a choice each one of us needs to defend, By offering appreciation to the doctors who provide this choice, we arc standing behind each woman who might need their medical services one of these difficult days. Until the day when each pregnancy is a wanted and planned one, some women will continue to need a safc, legal option lo carry- ing full term. Until each girl has complete acecss to birth control, and full understanding of what preg- nancy and raising a child entails, doctors who provide termination services need be reminded just how valued they are. My heartfelt thanks to our modern day her- -oes, those who against all the odds, work to ensure each woman continues to have freedom of choice. ce oo SECTION B LEX HAMILTON 638-7283 Teens off to RCMP boot camp MANY TEENAGERS wouldn't want lo spend their spring break waking up at six in the morning Lo go for a run or silting in a classroom all afternoon studying the criminal code. But three Caledonia students, Jared Langille, Huy Huynh and Megan Corp, can’t wait to get to RCMP boot camp in Smi- thers, where they'll re- ceive police training. They'll spend next week with 30 other teens at the RCMP Youth Aca- demy, learning everything from forensic investigation to radio call contact. . Langille, Huynh and Corp were the lucky ones, selected from other 20 local applicants. The students were care- fully interviewed by focal RCMP officers, put through a rigorous physical test, which involved run- ning, chin-ups, and sits-up, and they also had to have at least a C+ average. Seventeen-year-old Huy Huynh, who is interested in RCMP detective work, said he applied to boot camp to learn more about policing. TO SERVE AND PROTECT: Caledonia students Jared Langille, Huy Huynh and Megan Corp are off ta the RCMP Youth Academy in Smithers next waek, where they will learn what it's like to be an RCMP offi- cer. The three youths hope to become ACMP officers when they graduate fram high school, “Hopefully the camp will give me a better un- derstanding of things,” he said. “I'l be able to make hard on our own.” She applied to in the week for relaxing. the A typical day starts a decision whether or not I want to continue on with a career in the RCMP.” Corp, 17, said she’s a little nervous wailing for the camp to begin. “The physical training “is supposed to be. really longh, she said. “But we’ve all been training camp ta learn more about what RCMP officers do. “It'll give me more in- sight to their responsibili- ties,” Corp said. “I think it will all be a good learning experience.” Langille, who. hopes one day to be a commun- ity police officer, said there wan’t be much time with physical training at 4 am., followed by class- room courses focussing on topics like domestic vio- lence. Students also spend mornings in workshops where crimes like breaking and entering are simulated. After lunch, students’ learn about photo radar, bike patrol, note taking and then it’s off to drill team practice. After dinner there are more courses to take, and the opportunity to play sporis. The youths also take turns on night patrol duty, which involves patrolling Smithers streets with regu- lar RCMP officers from 11 pum. to.6 a.m. “They'll. be busy the whole time,” said Caledo- nia teacher Cam MacKay. “Afterward, students will really know whether or not they want to continue an to be an RCMP.” He explained each stu- dent will earn four credits for career prep work exper- ience. MacKay said students will also learn what they need to join the force. Dak cd Beautification Society presiden & sd a Batty Campbell and vice-president Chris Han- sen stand at the future site of a memorial garden. Flowers and shrubs will be planted in April in memory of Laura Lee and Renaud Fontaine, two teenager who were killed last March in a car crash at the four-way step on Highway 16. Memorial shrubs needed THE GREATER Terrace Beautification Society is asking for donations of shrubs and flowers for a memorial garden project on Highway 16 to remember two teen- agers who were killed last March in a tra- gic car accident. The Society is clearing the ground for three raised flowering shrub gardens on the north side of Highway 16 between the four-way stop and the bridge approach to Ferry Island, close to where the teenagers were killed. The garden will be dedicated in mem- ory of high school sweethearts Laura Lee, of Terrace, and Renaud Fontaine, a Bel- gian exchange student, who died when their vehicle was struck by a speeding motorist. Beautification Society member Chris Hansen, said donations of low mainte- nance plants and shrubs are needed since there isn’t a reliable water source close to the site. "We need irises, potentilla, rhodaden- dron, azaleas or any spring flowering shrubs,” Hansen said. “Shrubs are way easier to take care of.” Local residents can also donate money or volunteer time to help clear the area, she added, The memorial cross, which was placed at the four way stop after the accident, will be incorporaled into the garden, as well as the perennial plant For-get-me- nots, which were Lee's favourite flower. Hansen said the new parden beds will vastly improve the look of Terrace, espe- cially to drivers entering the city. She ex- pects to begin the project in April and start planting in May. thkkkk THE BEAUTIFICATION Society raises money for all of ils projects at its annual plant sale, The Society is asking for donations of perennial plants, berry bushes and house- hold plants for the sale before May 12. “Without the plants we dan’t have a sale” said Society member ‘Judy Chapin. “We depend on the moncy raised for our projects for the year.” Last year, the plant sale raised about $1,000, selling more than 800 donated plants. The perennial sale takes place May 13 in the parking lot at city hall, The Inde- pendent Order of Foresters will be hosting a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. Plant sale begins at § a.m. The Beautification Society holds monthly meetings at clty hall the first Thursday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. Members may commit as much time as they like on projects to beautify the city. GREAT SPEECH: Taylor Lawson, of Terrace, placed third at the regional 4-H public speaking fi- nals held here. Her talk was about pygmy goats. Public speaking finals held By KEN ADAIR THE REGIONAL finals for 4-H public speaking were held in Terrace Feb, 26 at the Pentecostal Assembly, with contestants from as far away as Vanderhoof and Burns Lake attending the competition. Judges included Ron Earl, Karen Chrysler, and Cyn- thia Stokes of the Terrace Toastmasters Club; Simon Thompson and David Heinimann from the English de- partment at Northwest Community College; and Judy Tessaro, speech arts teacher and coach. Medallions were donated by REMAX, Placing first in the Juniors division was Nicole Sta- nycr of the Bulkley Valley 4-H District with her speech about cats, Ashely Gould of the Vanderhoof District placed sec- ond with a speech about choosing a horse, and Taylg Lawson of the Skeena District came third withj speech about her pygmy goats, a“ In the Senior’s Division, competition was very close. First place went to Dianna Klassen of Vanderhoof Dis- trict with a speech on laughter. Second place went to Mikel Peebles from the Lakes District who talked about the dangers of X-rays. Third place went to Nathania Talstra fram the Skeena District, speaking on consumerism. Klassen will be going to Fort. St. John April 14-16 for the 4-H Provincial Public Speaking Competition.