t i ‘ ‘ INSIDE COMMUNITY EVENTS B2 THE OTHER. SIDE. ZAC NYCE R.(ave) I.(n) P.(eace) HE INSANELY fast blink of a set of strobe lights silhouettes the bodies of 150 teenagers as they - move, each expressing what they are feeling on the inside, forcing it to the out- side, A pulsing rhythm is about the only unifying factor that you'll find in this room. Many are dressed in reflective clothing, with glow-in-the- dark paint on their faces and glitter in their hair; . others are simply wearing Levi’s and a t-shirt. Water-bottles are in abundance, and overall it has a good feel to it. At the front of the room there’s a DJ spinning records, doing what he does best, making people move. Yeah, this is truly what it is, This is a Rave. Well, now that I have committed the Cardinal Sia and uttered the cursed word, [ had better be ready to claborate a bit. As of late in Terrace there has been an increasing amount of negativity towards what many have labelled as “The Rave Scene.”’ As a young person, with ‘typical’? young person values, I must say that this Negative Energy is definitely being projected in the wrong direction. Before a million and a half parents start to slag me off for being a supporter of Raves; I am gonna take this chance and let you in ona little’ secret — there's nothing wrong with Raves. A Rave is nothing but a whole lotta kids danc- ing to music, having a good time, and enjoying themselves. And don’t iry and tell me that you ' never did that when you were 20 years old, cuz I work at a radio station and J know you did. (IE. you didn’t then I wouldn’t hafta play both Aerosmith AND The Rolling Stones.) First off I would like to let everyone know that [ am about as un-biased as you will get. [* am not a huge fan of Rave music — I’m just one of those “rock’n’roll kids’’ stuck back in the late seventies. ButI see a bunch of relatively uninformed people making a whole lotta gener- alities about what is happening at Raves, and then I see Raves basically being banned, and I kinda wonder exactly when we made the switch to totalitarianism, and why no-one told me ahead of time? e Raves will become underground. They will start happening in base- ments, warehouses, heck, maybe even Resswood, but you can’t stop them, so don’t try. Contrary to Popular opinion (I’m still not sure who Popular is, but his opinion is usually way aff) kids do not go to Raves to do Ecstasy, or drop Acid, or for any other reason. People go to Raves to dance, for the positive energy, and to have FUN, bottom Line. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but if your kids wanted to do Acid or Ecstasy or any other drug, they don’t hafta go to a Rave to do it. Banning Raves because “‘the word on the strect”’ is that kids go there to do drugs is like banning rolling papers because people use them to roll joints. I understand that the majority of the people trying to put the crunch on Raves are the parents of the children who go to them, because they feel it may expose their children to drugs and other bad influences, But if you really want to do that, then don't even send them to school. Sure, you don’t want your children getting mixed up in anything illegal, that’s fully under- standable, bul by trying to ban Raves you are being somewhat counterproductive. If history is any indication, the kids will rebel. Raves will become underground. They will start happening in basements, warehouses, heck, maybe even Rosswood, but you can’t stop them, so don’t try. Iam not saying not to try and shield your chil- dren from negativity, just try and find a better way of doing it. Why not spend the energy you're using on trying to ban Raves on trying to catch the peopic who sell the drugs in the first place. Besides, no-one will ever convince me that ANYONE In town has ever done more . drugs that Kelth Richards and Steven Tyler. TERRACE STANDARD . The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 21, 1998 - 81 "OMMUNITY-2 SECTION B An incredible freedom By CRIS LEYKAUF BLAKE WALKINSHAW clearly remembers the morming he quit. It was about three years ago, and he was standing shivering in the cold, out: side his home in the North- west Territories, Walkinshaw had a cold, but that hadn’t stopped him from going outside lo enjoy his first cigarette of the day. “T remember thinking — this is the stupidest thing I've ever done.’’? At that moment the RCMP con- stable made a deal with himself to quit until he felt better. “One day tumed into two, then three,..”’ remembers Walkinshaw. ‘‘When I had two days done I knew I had itlicked.”’ For him, the hardest part of giving wp smoking was not having something in his fingers, So he started to roll pens through his fingers, particularly while at work. Even three years later, as he sits at his kitchen counter talking about quitting, his fingers twitch as though they’re looking for a pen. As for the cravings that every quilling smoker gocs through, Walkinshaw van-~ quished them by drinking a glass of water. smoking as a teenager. It wasn't until he joined the RCMP that he took up the habit, “Smoking was more ac- cepted then,” he says. ‘‘We didn’t know the damage it could do.” fronically, a recent Angus Reid survey found that teen smokers in BC expect to give up smoking by the time they reach 30 or 40, since they feel it is unacceptable for mature adults with fam- ily responsibilities. Walkinshaw is = sym- pathetic towards smokers who've tried to quit, but haven't been successful, “Everybody has different struggles with this,’ he says. His advice is lo wait vintil you're teady to quil. He should know, since he quit once before, when he wasn’t truly committed to the idea. - Since quilting for good Walkinshaw says he’s cxpe- rienced an incredible sense of freedom. “You don’t realize how much smoking screws you up,’ he says. ‘‘The cigarettes are in control, to yourself.” . Since he’s quit Walkinshaw has also real- ized how unpleasant second-hand smoke is. You don’t realize how CIGARETTE SAVINGS ~~ This print is one of three that Blake Walkinshaw was able to buy from money saved by quitting smoking. Walkinshaw quit cold turkey three years ago. smokers,”’ he says. Another bonus to quitting is the extra cash saved from not smoking. In the North- west Territories, thal can be even more expensive. Walkinshaw decided to treat himself with the moncy Amold Frieberg. They’re of RCMP officers in traditional clothing. kkk kk If you’re thinking about quilting smoking there are two -programs that could help you. One is called Fresh Start Canadian Cancer Society. The program runs Feb. 16- Mar. 15 twice weekly. Reg- ister by Feb, 06 by calling Alice at 638-2200. The 7th Day Adventist Church is alse running a free quit smoking program called Breathe Free. Call Unlike most smokers, Walkinshaw didn’t start offensive it In the seat of power the annual 8C Youth Parliament. is to JEFF TOWN tries out the Queen's chair while a nearby tour leader tums a blind eye. Town was in Victoria at the fegislative buildings as a member of he saved. He’s now pur- non- chased three prints by artist CALEDONIA student Jeff Town didn’t even have to use the recall process to re- place MLA Helmut Giesbrecht in the BC Legislature. The 17-year-old was part of the 69th an- nual BC Youth Parliament — representing Giesbrecht’s Skeena riding. The parliament took place in the weck be- tween Christmas and Boxing Day. The legislative buildings are nearly emply at that lime, allowing students from around BC a chance at running the province. Victoria and it’s like you’re a real member of the lezislature,’’ Town got a front-row seal in the legisla- tive chambers, about four scats down from where opposition leader Gordon Campbell sits. Many old MLAs, and probably some newer ones, have etched their names or notes in the wooden desks, such as Garde Gardom, Town noliced, issues, like the salmon dispute, but they did have lo debate and creale their own budget. The youth parliament reviews ils past year’s budget cach session, explains Town. That's about $25,000 of real money. youths attending the parliament. Instead the majority goes to run a camp for un- derprivileged children. That underscores the theme of the parlia- ment — community service. says Town about his impression of what the youth parliament would be. ‘‘But it’s more about serving your community.” Camp Phoenix runs cach summer and is for children who need a break from troubled situations. Often these children have been abused, or have gone through other traumatic experiences. The emphasis on Camp Phoenix is reflected in the ministers’ portfolios. For and it’s sponsored by the “It’s so cool,’ says Town. “You go to | _ cally to support Camp Phoenix. While the parliament was in session the © young MLAs didn’t have to tackle the big ~ : Some of those that came up were a motion « Mast of that money isn’t spent on the | “T thought it would be a lot of debating,” - 635-3232. exaniple, one minister is in charge of car- porate relations — soliciting donations for the camp. Another is in charge of com- munity fundraising. These jobs last beyond the parliament, and each minister works throughout the year on his or her portfolio, Then during budget debates at the end of the year each minister justifies his or her expenses. Each student who attends the youth par- liament is also encouraged to do volunteer work every month. Now that Town is back in Terrace he’s going 10 concentrate on raising money lo- _ ‘1 personally feel this camp is very _worthwhile.”’ Town intends to apply again, and hopes to take a more active role next year, per- haps as a minister or a member of the - shadow cabinct, if he’s selected once more. **Yourre lost in your first year,’ he says. Aside from the budget, the mock parlia- ment gets lo debate a few fun issues too. to disallow casinos, which was passed, and a motion to recruit more male teachers to be role models. That was also passed. How- ever, a motion on shame sentencing failed. Town also enjoyed ihe multicultural feel of the parliament. There was good repre- sentation of all minorities. Town described the trip as an incredible learning experience and said it increased his patriotism. ‘*Canada has such a rich heritage that no one seems to know about,’’ he says. Town also developed an appreciation of how difficult an MLA’s job is, which he described as stressful, tiring and at times tedious. “Tt was a greal leaming experience to be able to go and do that,”’ he says, When asked if he might consider a future in politics, Town would only say that the MLAs had ‘really comfortable seats.” Thirty and counting A REGISTERED NURSE at Mills Memorial Hospital is the first person to receive a 30-year pin from the facility. Crispina Cote was given the pin at a hospital function last month which recognized long-term employees. She’s now involved in discharge planning, the procedure used to decided when people can Jeave the hospital. Betty Misfeldt, who works in the administra- tion section, was given a 25-year pin. Twenty-year- pin recipients were Peggi McCleary, Johanna Plager, Emily Oliver, John Lambert and Sharon Prinz. Medal awarded 4 FORMER Terrace resident has received an- other award for saving a life. Bob Sherldan, who moved to Lillooet from Terrace nine years ago, dove into the icy waters A musical smorg Around Town of canal near that town on Feb. 19, 1995 to save Susie Antrobus. ; She had fallen into the canal while fishing. Sherldan has already received a St. John's Lifesaving Medal and a Governor General's bravery award and has now been given the Carnegic Medal for extraordinary heroism. The medal ls bronze and comes with a $3,000 (US) cheque. Sheridan was born and raised in Terrace aatd worked at the Terrace Co-op before moving to Lillocet. He’s the manager of a grocery store there. ; - "Pm a proud ex-Terracite,’’ said Sheridan last week, ‘‘I still promote you guys like heck whenever I can.” NOT A BIG fan of country music? Can’t stand disco? You might find yourself enjoying both if you take in Streetnix — an a cappella group of four young men. They’re at the REM . Lee on Jan, 31, Their songs span almost every style of music. Nothing escapes the transition to a cappella music. The transformation is oficn humourous, and audiences find themselves enjoying music they ordinarily wouldn't listen to, Streetnix is Saskatchewan’s best selling inde- pendent band, selling over 9,000 copics through ’ music stores and private sales, Their second al- bum, Time Permitting, was released two years ago. Streenix plays the REM Lee Theatre at 8 p.m. on Jan. 3£. Tickets are $20 at Erwins in the Skeena Mall. :