i The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - BS DUSTIN. -QUEZADA | 638-7283 ote. year on. the first © i "Monday in May, . . and while the pro- - tributions support . ‘include children’s .| villages, * parents, “Around Town | Sisters singing their way. through region “IF YOU missed the Terrace Little Theatre’s » production of Nunsense last year and you: don’t mind a short drive, your chance to see it is coming "up. Performing Arts Centre in Prince Rupert; and May “11 at-the Skeena Zone Drama. Festival (Mount . . Elizabeth Theatre) in Kitimat. a _ ®Tickets are $12 at the door. .. ~ Call Marianne at 635-2942 for more information. Doo 2 -Ksan rallies around campaigns | “THE KSAN House Society presents two local events planned to raise awareness around violence in the community, April 24-29 is a week that marks several pub- . "lic awareness campaigns: Prevention of Violence | 2 Against Women Week, Victim Awareness Week [| and Victims of Crime Week. To commemorate these proclamations, Ksan — . is _planning a series of events to raise awareness . within our community that encourages our citizens . to stop violence and victimization. On April 26-28 from 10 a.m. to’4 p.m. at the - Skeena Mail, the society presents “Voices for Vic- 7 _ tims” where you can learn more about your rights’ as a victim and the services available to you. “ Make and take a memory clip in honour of the © _ J) women that have:gone missing along Hwy 16. | For . _ info, cali Blaine‘at 635-2373, ext.30. ; On Saturday, April 29, Ksan is having a ben- efit concert to raise awareness about violence and victimization. The concert will focus on creating a commu- nity voice and awareness about. the issues, while functioning as a fundraiser for Ksan programs that . work’ to’end violence’ and’ victimization. Contact: Diandra or Fiona at 635-2373 for details. Salvation Army appeals | for local canvassers THE LOCAL Salvation Army is. door-to-door for the organization’ s biggest country- wide fundraiser. ° The_. National Red Shield Appeal happens ~* every ceeds won't stay here locally, con-_ .a number of na- “tional initiatives. _ Those services com- munity centres, emergency assis-- tance, correctional services programs, . services to. single daycare centres, ‘family services, camping programs and more. Ian McDonough, the local Army’s director of lan McDonough _community and family services, says canvassers — are needed for 60 different areas within the city, Kitselas, Githaus and Kitsumkalum — each encom- | passing 2 blocks. . . McDonough also wants the public to be both generous and aware that canvassers will be knock- “ing on doors May 1. _ Helpers will carry identification, Salvation Army buttons and a receipt book. ‘If you want to donate an hour of your time May 1 for the cause, call Ian at 635-5446 ext. 3. -McDonough’s goal for fundraising here is $10,000. | Early call for watercolour artists _ THE TERRACE Art Gallery will host.a ‘portrait ~ drawing and painting workshop with artist Sheila Karrow. . ~The two-day session will be taught i in waterco- lour, but all media are welcome. ; Session .one (drawing faces): Friday, June -2 from 1-3:30 p.m. Session two (painting faces.in - ‘ watercolour): Saturday, June 3 from 10° a.m. to: 3:30 p.m. The fee for both, days is $50 and if you can °t make it to both, you can take in a single session for $30 and receive an informational handout for the other. Pre-payment with registration required, ensur- ing enough. participation to hold class (minimum ’ class size is 6, maximum class size is 12). Call Kim at 638-8884 for more information. ‘The hit musical — the story of the Little Sisters | ‘| of Hoboken who are fundraising to bury their dead ' sisters’ temporarily at rest in the convent freezer _~ is back by popular demand. - The three encore presentations will be staged . throughout the Northwest: April 22 atthe Gitan- - _ maax Community Hall in Hazelton; April 29 at the » seeking” ‘ community members who want to help by going old Father preaches forgiveness - By SARAH A oF . ZIMMERMAN — = FINDING A way to forgive | _is the key to freedom, says the father of an Alberta teenager murdered by one of his classmates seven years _ ago. -Dale Lang’s son Jason was only 17 years when a boy, inspired by the Columbine school shootings in Colorado state, opened fire in his Taber, Alberta school - killing Jason and seriously _ injuring another teen. _Jason was shot in the chest just above his heart - and died later i in hospital. Instead..of ‘seeking re- venge on the boy who stole 2 ‘Jason’ s life, the Langs quickly forgave the. shooter and in doing so : free themselves \. from the despair .. that comes with ger and blame, ~~. Jason’s father. Since ~ his “son’s - death, _-glican’ minister - has established ' that involves travel- - ties, _ to,speak about * the day. Jason - founda. way, to . feelings of an-" “ says Dale ‘Lang, ‘ “the former An- | » an outreach min- - istry called The ° ‘Rock and part of © Jing to communi- . ..chools. . “and ‘churches an died and how. “Ironically ‘enough, Jason. hated to . see other kids bullied and often tried to befriend kids that v were picked on. Is: ao “a sad irony.” ..came to forgive their son’s killer. “The heart of the message . in terms of my son’s death is ‘really about forgiveness and: what the benefits of forgive-_ ness are,’ is. scheduled to speak . here - April 23. ~“Ttalk about how i it breaks* ‘the cycle ‘of revenge which seems to bé kind of a way of thinking in our world,” Lang added. - a The Taber shootings hap-’ --péned April 28, 1999, just _ eight days after two students armed with guns entered® Columbine ‘School killing 12 people before turning the guns on themselves. Lang says the boy who killed his son was overheard * talking about the Columbine . incident just before centering “the school. . ' Like the » Columbine’ : Shooters, .the 14- -year-old” ‘boy who killed Jason, was. also the victim of bullying. © *'said-Lang, who ~ . on,” a tion with a boy and really randomly ended up shoot- ° ing the first boys that came into sight,” explained Lang. . One of those two boys was. Jason. “fronically enough, Jason’ _ hated to see other kids’ bul- lied and. often tried: to be:-. ‘friend kids that were picked recalled’ Lang.. “Ws a ’ in ‘their own lives. : Forgiveness is a choice. » that can bririg freedom, but bid _ Sad irony.” “Learning about his. s son’s . death on what was otherwise’ a normal day was an enor- mous shock..Lang’s. Chris- tian faith led him and his ; family almost immediately - toward forgiving the’shooter and asked their small com- ‘munity.to do the same thing: “I believe that if we had ‘responded out of anger there - would have been other peo- ple in the community who . were still angry,” Lang said. “When ’ God © gave us. the grace to forgive, I think oth-- er. people : could‘do no less.” He’s challenging other * Dale Lang - it’s a ‘choice people , have. ; to first make to attain it, he’ : says. °Dale Lang will be speak- ing at an interdenomination-«*.. ‘al church service at the Dr. . -R.E.M. Lee: theatre Sunday, , .April 23 at 10: 30 am. fol-" lowed. by an. ‘in-depth. pre- sentation that night at 7 p.m. “at the same location: .° =. * The evening Sctaton is free and open. to: the pub- 7 - rl lic. - ’ He'll: ‘also be speaking’ in” Peer ee i cee, By DUSTIN { QUEZADA TEENS TEND to be an.overlooked © section of .the community even though they are tomorrow’s leaders, “says the woinan who will moderate . ‘a forum following this Sunday - afternoon’s performance of the Laramie Project. “People forget that teens have a thoughtful insight into the issues we deal with in the community,” said. Sarah Zimmerman. It’s why she and play director Annette Martindale hope teens will attend the forum. ; The reason for the forum is the play’s. provacative subject matter. The Laramie .Project.is based on the 1998 murder of 21-year-old col- lege student Matthew Shepard, who | ~ iB » was beaten and left to die bound to a fence i in Laramie, Wyoming because he was gay. His was a killing provoked by his _ “sexual orientation but the theatrical message is that intolerance of any . . kind is destructive: “The idea is to involve as many “voices as. possible to. ‘discuss issues arising from the play and not those limited to: sexual orientation but broad issues impacting people in the - ° community,” said Zimmerman, list- ing bullying, harrasment and gender — inequality as such examples. That's what director Annette Mar- -tindale says is the forum’s goal. _ « “[{The-forum’s] in support of the, . Laramie message,” said Martindale. Zimmerman did not audition for’ a role in the play but admits she wanted to be a part of the production in some way and the forum seemed . ter here, which will be the benefac- ".- everybody,” Zimmerman said. . Z She will be joined on the McColl. . his family " “He: had: this. conversa- : tackleserious subject matter in the Terrace Little Theatre production of the Laramie Project. . DUSTIN QUEZADA PHOTO like a good way for her to assist. - It’s a natural fit in many ways. In her role as.a reporter for the _ Terrace Standard, the play's \ead. sponsor, Zimmerman has covered the story of the proposed youth shel- tor of the play’s’ proceeds. “Certainly, through my interviews - Playhouse stage at 4 p.m. following and research I learned about the need for a youth shelter i in the community people. to.do the same, e. thing 4 o area high '‘s schools: ; Monday; April 24. . : 1 representatives 1 from several ‘ite i . ent community groups:. , : They include RCMP. Const.’ Ro- - chelle Patenaude, Frances: Birdsell J . .of. the ‘Women's: “Resourcei;Centre ~ ? sand: Skeena Diversity, : :Debbie: Scat-o: ; - ‘borough;; executive: director sof thes]. . youth ‘emergency services . society. _and Greer Kaiser, alocal teacher and [ social activist who has done: personal oe ". research into Shepard’s murder... |. -Zimmerman, said ‘she’ i help fa-- cilitate the discussion and draw on ” - the guests’ “expertise and opinions to - ~ move the discussion along. " “I know people will have many di- vergent views after seeing the Lara-, . mie Project. and. we' want the. forum © | '» to be.a venue for. all of those voice ae eed . to be heard; ”. Zimmerman. added. “Tt: . » doesn’ t mean we have. to agree.” 2." JP . «While. the play’ and the forum.is . |.” open to everyone, the theatre compa* - 7 . Ry: is targeting a younger audience. °°} “S Students can: attend. the play ‘for free - if they. secure tickets in. advance or... . - pay just $2 at the door. ‘ ACTORS (clockwise from top left) Jenipher Scott, Garnett Doel; Jenn : Wilson, Nancy Stone-Archer, Lindsay Korns and Gabe McFarlane. “The hope is for young people to” feel. comfortable sitting, among their vo . * “Pm. hoping” any young person: would come to'see the play, listen to.” ’ "~~ the. message and speak freely about - and if le: can n enable discussion around : these issues , I’m:happy to do that. “Because the issues of why young people need a safe place to. stay are “not unlike those raised in.the Lara- mie Project — issues of inclusivity and of making communities safe for the play by the cast and crew and -- By DUSTIN QUEZADA — THERE’ S ONE Relay for Life team captain out there with the law on her side, not to mention a small flock of pink lawn flamingos. ‘Courtney Domoney is the inspiration and team leader to about 15 people from the Terrace RCMP detachment, from officers and support staff to fam- ily. Courtney participated in the survivors’ lap a few . years ago in Golden, B.C. where she used _to live but ‘this will be her first time as a full relay participant. “Ever since I did.the survivor lap I wanted to do the Relay for Life,” said Courtney, whose dad Dave Domoney is a corporal with the local RCMP. “It’s fun getting together with people and exercising.” Courtney’s mom, Leah Domoney, says it’s dou-. bly special for the family:because she not only saw _her daughter’s ‘struggles with cancer but those of other families. “Tm pleased as a parent that people are do- ing this ~ anything we can do is huge,” said Leah ‘money is putting pink flamingos on lawns through- ; al, $1 to choose where it should be placed next and . . $1 insurance to guarantee it won t be retumed t to the. “same patch of grass. And the inspiration comes from the fact the 2- year-old is just five years removed from battling | _cancer of the kidney known as Wilm’s Tumor. ‘tain. how they feel,” said Zimmerman. . ‘Martindale says those wishing to . : attend the free and one-time-only fo- . a ‘rum need not attend the play Sunday but she hopes. they would attend a performance before the discussion, [ ‘either on Friday or Saturday nights. «(J _. The production does carry awarn- ‘J ing that the subject matter and con-” : tent may not be suitable to 0. younger oo ‘children. : : ae _ Domoney.: What Courtney and’ the team are e doing to raise’. out the city — and that’s the catch." The team leader then “charges” $1 for its remov-. In two and a half weeks of this flamingo fund. raising, the team has raised about $300. Courtney says she’s having fun being the cap- ~ “Yeah, it’s ablast— Tjust call myself the captain,” she said, adding she’s been helped by her mom and. Ginnie Pearson, an office manager at the RCMP de- tachment and City of Terrace employee. Leah Demoney says she hopes other teams can’ be inspired, too, by her daughter’s story but insists she just wants the May event to be a success. . . To: make a donation to Courtney’s Team, call Ginny at 638-7414 or the Domoneys at 635-9383. You may just have. flamingos springing from your lawn. “YOU may have s seen n Cou ney Domoriey © | The Terrace Relay for Life is on Saturday, May 6 holding one of these in your neighbour- from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at George Little Park. hood. DUSTIN QUEZADA PHOTO : Survivor floc king to area lawns.