Frank .. Thompson “BY ALEX HAMILTON . WITH HIS 1,500 kilometre. bike trek across the province complete, Willie Abrahams” journey of healing will con- clude when he revisits the native residential school he altended in Alert Bay. rAbrahams and fellow cyclists Tony Wilson and biked from Prince Rupert to Nanaimo to raise awareness and money for the thou- sands of natives who were abused at residential schools in B.C, from 1890 to 1984. sAlong the way, the eyclists met with local First Nations organizations and offered support to natives who were mentally and physically abused at the schools. - Larry Courtoreille, who organized the trip and drove the R.V., estimated the cyclist raised more than $6,000 for the 15 plaintiffs who are currently suing Ot- tawa and the United Church of Canada for damages for the abuse that took place at the Port Alberni Indian Residential School during the 1960s. ‘All three cyclists left Prince Rupert July 7 and ar- ‘rived in Nanaimo Monday A healing journey The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 19, 1998- A3 to attend the trial and sup- port the plaintiffs who were brutally sexually and physi- cally abused by Arthur Flint, a dormitory super- visor. Plint, 80, is currently in jail afier pleading guilty ta sexually assaulting dozens of native boys. Abrahams wanted to do the bike trip because he too was abused at a residential school, He said he’s revisit- ing his residential school as a part of his healing process, ‘ve pot mixed feelings of seeing the school again,”’ he said. According to Abrahams, his bike trek across B.C, was a success. “If 1 helped one person on my journey, then it was all worthwhile,’ he said. He said they stayed right on schedule all the way to Vancouver. However, battling the sti- fling heat, he said, was a daily challenge. To beat the heat, the cyclists started waking up at 4 am. to bike throughout the early moming while it was still cool. By noon, they’d have to stop pedaling simply be- cause it was too hot. WILLIE ABRAHAMS and his bike before beginning his benefit journey to Victoria. Age of sexual consent under debate ARE 14-YEAR-OLDS too young lo have sex with adults? If so, how old should someone be td consent io having sex? These are some of the questions facing city eguncillors and council committees this month, The issue came to council because the city of Kelowna’s social planning board wants Terrace tc help pressure the federal government to change the age of sexual consent from 14 to 18. They say raising the age will help combat the sexual exploitation of young people. Terrace city councillor David Hull said he agrees with Kelowna’s councillors. “Fourteen is grade eight. That’s frightening,”’ he said. ‘‘I’s worth the step to encourage the government to change the law because there’s just no reason that adults should be having sex : a 4 t with 14-year-olds, consentual or not,’’ he said. Under the criminal code of Canada it is not an offence for an adult to have sex with a 14-year- old, as long as the teen agrees to it. Hull said there’s no use changing legislation unless the government is willing to enforce it. “Lock the first guys up for five to 10 years for having sex and it'll send the message cut to people who pick up young prostitutes or 25- year-old guys dating 14-year-old girls,’’ says Hull, But Carol Sabo from the Terrace Women’s Resource Centre said she doesn’t think the mayors of Kelowna and Terrace have a place in the bedrooms of teenagers. “Tt’s a really touchy line. It’s a grey area,”’ she said. Although Sabo said it’s wrong for a 40-year- old to be buying sex from a 15-year-old, she sald changing the age of consent to 18 would hurt the wrong people. She’s worried that it will be a 19-year-old who gets charged for having sex with his 17- year-old girlfriend. Sabo said municipalities should do a lot more research into the ramifications before support- ing the idea to raise the age of sexual consent. B.C.’s attomey general recommends sixteen as the new age, according to Sophie Mas, com- munity coordinator for the provincial prostitu- tion unit. Mas said a federal government task force has been set up to cansider all the suggestions. , News In Brief BC Tel case postponed VACATIONING LAWYERS last week temporarily delayed court proceedings in which BC Tel was named as the result of a 1997 diesel spill. BC Tel is now scheduled to enter a plea Oct. | in Smithers when crown council Christine Birnie and defence lawyer Allen Blair return from vacations. The company was charged under the Waste Manage- ment Act after 4,000 litres of diesel leaked from a radio repeater site in Meziadin Lake Provincial Park last September. New rules for trailer rent NEW RULES governing rental in manufactured home parks took effect August 15. The changes to the residential tenancy act include a new formula for calculating allowabe rent increases. The new legislation will also eliminate the retroactive review of rent increases. Tenants can currently apply to dispute any increase given since Oct, 1, 1992, Afier November 16, tenants will only be allowed to dispute future rent increases. Tenants will have 60 days to app- ly for mediation to dispute an increase once they have recieved notice. The amendinents also increase the time limit for in- vestigaling and prosecuting landlords and tenanls who violate the tenancy act, from six months to two years. Free parking RVs WILL continue to be allowed to park overnight at the Safeway and Co-op parking lots. City council de- cided last Friday the free overnight parking available to RVs did not pose a significant loss to local RV parks, The parking does not contravene any local bylaws and mayor Jack Talstsa said the lots are not compeling with businesses and attract only a few RVs per night. Dial 1-800 TREATY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT has beefed up the hours of a 1-800 line service for those who want a copy of the Nisga’a treaty or for those who have ques- tions. But aboriginal affairs ministry spokesman Peter Smith says there hasn't been a huge increase in calls to the line since the treaty was initialled Aug. 4 in New Aiyansh. ‘We had 500 calls to ihe linc in the week since the initialling. It’s not bad but it’s not huge compared to the 250 calls we had on the day the (trealy) agreement in principle was signed in 1996,’’ said Smith. He speculates that, summer vacatious may have slowed in- terest in treaty details. Those calling 1-800-880-1022 can either leave com- ments via voice mail, request a copy of the treaty or a summary or speak to a ministry employee. Copies of the treaty and other documents are also available on the ministry’s web sile at www.aaf.gor.be.cajaaf , Park Report 'y Marie-Josee Banville activity Include: vulnerable to predators introduced from elsewhere. popular for human beings. backyard. Biodiversity is dependent on habitat. Any human activity that reduces habilat reduces biodiversity. That is why wa now speak not only about endangered species, but also about endangered spaces. ft is also the reason why we speak about presarving habitat spaces as the most important factor for preserving species, In the past, the focus was on preserving species: falcons, sea Otters, grizzlies, and burrowing owl for example. But what about the small, the slithery and the leafy- the less noticeable spacies? Without them, the ecosystems of the better-known mammals and birds collapse. The future of many species depends on the preservation of critical habitat and the restoration of already damaged areas. Species Ihat are most threatened dy human + Largs animals that need large spaces as part of thelr habitat, « Slow reproducers that take a long time to replace themselves, * Island species that can lose thelr genetic diversity or are + Species thal live in the same lowland and valley habitats that are ‘Today, many more animals become axtinct due to human activity than because of natural processes. Our challenge is to find ways to preserve and link habitats to preserve biodiversity. Lakelse Lake Provincial Park is protecting an endangered space of British Columbia. It is protecting an old-growth coastal rainforest acosystem. Treas in this forest grow to be very large and “very old. The old-growth on tha Pacific Coast provide for tremendous blodiversity and are important to many bird and animals species. We ara fortunate to have an old-growth coastal rainforest that Is protected from urbanization, agriculture and foresly. However, protection of areas by government is not enough. We all must look after the biodiversity in our own 4:00 pm 7:00 pm and presentation. 4:00 pm paper bag kit. 7:00 pm that visit the park. 4:00 pm forest, History Hound. 7:00 pm 4:00 pm ; own to take home, 7:00 pm Explorer. 7:00 pm unless otherwise posted, soey\ LAKELSE LAKE PROVINCIAL Parks } PARK VISITORS PROGRAMS THURSDAY AUGUST 20 Wild Water World Learn about the mysterlous world of fish and make your own fish puppet, Nisge’'a Memorial Lava Park This Is ona of the newest parks In the Terrace araa. Slides FRIDAY AUGUST 21 High In The Sky Learn about wind and make a Birds Of Prey Learn about the birds of prey SATURDAY AUGUST 22 Jerry's Ranger “Flash from the Past” Learn about First Nation and Ploneer use of the Nature Garden Discover what grows In the forest and make your own nature garden. SUNDAY AUGUST 23 Bugs, Bugs, and more Bugs Learn about the Importance of bugs in the park and make your Jerry's Ranger “Finding your way” Learn how ta find your way In the woods. Earth MONDAY AUGUST 24 Animal Woodsles Talk about animals in the park and maka your own animal to take home. \ Ail are Welcome! All Programs are FREE! All programs will be held in the Amphitheatre te. neBatcte ITEMS AS IS eran Taye) SELECTED PICTURES, LAMPS, PLANTS, ACCESSORIES, COFFEE & END TABLES, SOFA TABLES, CHAIRS, COUCHES & LOVESEATS, BEDS,DRESSERS, SHELF UNITS & FUTONS Totem’s Countrywide Furniture & Appliance ‘The value has never been better’ 4501 Lakelse Ave. Terrace Wa