A10 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 14, 2002" Youth eying careers in the armed forces MORE THAN 25 aborigi- nal people trom Terrace to Prince Rupert and the Ha- zeltons hope they'll have-a career in the armed forces. They gathered in: Ter- race last. month ‘to. apply for a special. training course aimed at: piving them a taste of military life, policies and career opportunities before deci- ding to jain the forces, The program -is ‘in its third year after a similar one was dismantled -in 1999 because of low num- ber of participants continn- ing on in the forces. Afier speaking with na- live groups, military. offi- cials revamped the pro-- gram to address specific cultural issues which’ af- fect the transition’ from life in remote areas-to life in the military. , The program starts with a three-week orientation course in Farnham, Que- bec. Once a person com- pletes that course he or she may apply to. start: basic recruit training. Peter Lambright, a Git- winksitlkw resident and who served in the forces, works as B.C.’s aboriginal recruitment coordinator. He knows first hand how overwhelming it can be lo make the transition Hospital phone s to the military, “It was a rude awaken- ing because | came from a little isolated reserve’ in the late ‘80s when we got CBC North on a--good day,” he. says. He’ says little. things Such as: getting accus- tomed to military: termino- logy were especially diffi- cuit He recalls an officer © asking new recruits who had reserve time.’ The. in- siructor’ was referring to time served in. the reserve forces bul’ Lambright says he interpreted the ‘question very differently. “Isaid I had 18 years,” he replied. Only he meant 18 years on a native re- serve, He laughs about il now, but at the time making the adjustment was difficult. 'The program is an op- portunity .for aboriginal peaple to’ make that trans- - ition with other ‘people in the same position. “They get over that hur- dle together with that comfort zone in place,” says Lambright. ‘Roddy Parnell, 28, came to Terrace from Prince Rupert to go through the application process, He sees the program as fixes ystem so calls won't go unanswered By SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN MILLS MEMORIAL Hospital has upgraded its telephone system to make it easier for during evening and overnight callers to use, particularly time periods. ‘The upgrade came after Marlene McLean’ said she experienced difficulty reaching a person in the emer- gency room June 29, McLean’s daughter Vicki, 4, died of viral encephali- tis July 1 after repeated visits to the hospital’s emer- gency room and multiple telephone calls over the Ca- aada Day long weekend. McLean said she tried a good entry into regular basic training and a career in the armed farces. He says the forces are attractive for many rea- sons. “To get a trade, lo fur- ther my education, my life skills and* be part of a team,” he says. Other applicants, such ~as New Hazelton’s Scott Spooner, 19, see the . course as a chance to test the waters before making a career choice. “For now | just wanted to see what it’s like, how I like it and if 1 do I'll stay,” Spooner said. RODDY PARNELL, Scott Spooner and Katerina Stewart all applied for the people from remote areas to life in the Canadian Forces. Aboriginal Entry Program — a special course designed to introduce aboriginal calling the emergency room at Mills more than half a dozen times in the early morning hours of June 29 but got lost in the hospital’s voice messaging system, She said she would enter ihe appropriate number to transfer to the emergency room but the line would con- tinue ringing or she would be bounced back to the original Tecorded message. “T can tell you we've up- graded our phone system so it should be easier ta get through,” said northern health au- thority administratar Cholly Boland, He reilerated the importance of people not relying on the phone system in the case of an emergency. “Really, people should be calling an ambulance or coming to the hospital if there’s an emergency,” he said. But Marlene McLean did bring Vicki to the hospital at 6 a.m, that morning, after calls to the hospital. She claims when she arrived at the hospital she and Vicki were turned away by a nurse. Choily Boland McLean charges the nurse asked her why she thought a doctor would come in at 6 a.m. for a child with a high fever. Boland could not comment on the allegation. “That's an internal part (of the investigation) which will be addressed with the coroner's report, ” Boland said. “lve not spoken with the family and all T can go on is media reports which is a frustraling source of information because 1 don't have first hand information.” He did say the hospital is investigating what hap- pened on the Canada Day long weekend adding the bulk of the investigation into: Vicki McLean’s death can't be commented on because (he coroner’s investigation is not yet completed. pleted. 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