INSIDE _
COMMUNITY
EVENTS B2

SECTION B
CRIS LEYKAUF
638-7283

REG HORNE

Bring on the
rain

AST FALL when J arrived in
Terrace, I was constantly
asked, “‘So, what do you

think about Terrace?””
As a professional geog-
rapher, I tended to feel that people were
expecting me to reveal some deep dark
secret about the community that has
never been published in Canadian Geog-
raphic. But [ also felt like the contestant
on Wheel of Fortune who makes it to
the bonus round and only has two of the
nine letters in the word, because all I
knew about Terrace was that it is named
after the river terraces upon which it is

situated.

That being insufficient to answer the
question, I had to resort to pure emotion

for a tesponse, “‘] like it so far,” came.

to mind, but it always led to comments’

about hunting, fishing and: skiing from

the queslioner. Unfortunately, none of

these things a1 are of, 0. partloular interest to

mie. leh aye tot os

Sometimes c was as tempted to come sup.

with a score out of ten, but I think data
was still inadequate to ‘do this honestly.
Therefore, after much deliberation, I
compiled a list of the things I like about
Terrace. This year of course, no one is
asking the question, so I am forced to
play Jeopardy with you,

In Terrace, the rain turns the
conifers a rich, deep green
which | find very relaxing.

For one hundred dollars, He loves the
maples, sumach and other trees that grace
the town in hues of red and orange at this
time of year.

Yes. That would be me. I have been told
that they are not native to this area, but nei-
ther am I. [ grew up in that part of Ontario
famous for its cavalcade of autumn colours,
‘but I have spent the last five years in
Manitoba. On the prairies, tees turn brown
and die in the fall with a decided lack of
splendour. So, I am thrilled to see such vari-
ety and [ would to thank the person who im-
ported the trecs,

For two hundred dollars. He likes the rain,
Yes, that would be me again. In Victoria the
rain tums the buildings a dismal grey that
becomes completely depressing. In Terrace,
the rain tums the conifers a rich, deep green
which I find very relaxing, and it also
highlights the colours I mentioned above.
Further, the rain creates ‘beautiful waterfalls
on the mountain sides and rushing rivers
near highways.

When people complain about the rain, J al-
ways Say, remember, it may rain every day
but it doesn’t rain all day. In a few weeks I
may have to replace this with, you don’t
have to shovel rain.

For four hundred dollars. He likes animals.
Yes. You gol me again. When I lived in
Ontario, we had a large yard frequented by
local wildlife such as rabbits, groundhogs
and, A not so welcome family of skunks.

Imagine my delight in looking out the
window one momiing and seeing a fox ex-
amining the back yard. Of course when I
brought this. story to work, I was barraged
with other wildlife stories. This included the
not so-welcome bears, one of which knocked
down an apple tree in our yard this fall, But,
overall, the vote was for nature being a part
of a city surrounded by it.

I will close with a question. Does Terrace
have a motto? Maybe it could be “Mother
Nature’s Playground, ”

. Dr, Reg Horne is a member of the Univer-
sity of Northern Britlsh Columbia Faculty of

Natural Resources and Environment Studies. :

based in Terrace, ee

HAVING to say goodbye to @
child, and watch them walk out of
your Life, must be one of the hard-
est ordeals a parent could go
through, Voluntarily choosing to
do this seems unthinkable, but
foster parents know from the mo-
ment they take a child into their
homes, that they will have to say
goodbye.

Karen .Walker-Lavery and her
husband Garry Lavery have been
opening their homes and saying
goodbye to children for a com-
bined total of approximately 40
years.

“T's hard to maintain an emo-
tional distance,’ Karen  ack-

_ nowledges.

Right now the couple is taking a
bit of a break at their large
Lakelse Lake home. They only
have two foster children with
them now — the youngest likes
to tickle visitor’s toes.

They deliberately chose to live

out at the lake because they feel it

is a healthy environment in which
to raise children. Kids can swim
in the summer, skate in’ the
winter, and, says Garrry, it’s a fot
more difficult to hang out in the
mall with friends.

Karten and Garry have been
married since 1990, but before
they’ met cach was an active
foster parent.

Between she and Garry, they
have three adopted children, eight
biological children {all adults)
and have probably cared for 40 or
so foster children.

‘It’s a large committment, but-
neither Garry nor Karen look like
they've suffered from the years of
dedicated care, Instead the couple

seems energetic and content — a”
rare combination in a stressful

world,
‘*We feel all adults are partially

- responsible for all children,” says «.

Karen. “It takes so many people
to raise a child. It’s not just a
parent, it’s a whole community.’’

In Terrace, Karen and Garry
have fostered
1990, They are considered a level
three resource by the Ministry of
Social Services, which regulates
foster parents. As a level. three
home, the couple is qualified to
care for any child, including those
who have mental or physical
handicaps. ,

A family breakdown is the
usual reason why children sud-

denly become in need of foster.

care, Children might stay with
foster parents for a week, or for

children since ©

any ways to be a family

KAREN AND HER HUSBAND Garry have been fostering children half their lives. Their large
home near Lakelse Lake Is a great place for children to take time out and enjoy swimming in the
summer and skating in the winter,

four years or more,

*fAll kids who come inta foster
care have been traumatized by
family breakdown,”’ says Garry.
“-"t's hard: to explain to a child

. why they can’t live at home,’

adds Karen. “They’te separated

from their family and that huzts.”’
Each age group has: its own

challenges for foster parents.

_ Babies and young children are

replacement family for them.”’:
Despite the stresses of foster
care, both Karen and Garry say
their own kids benefitted from
growing u PM with foster children.

. everybody, but the goal is always

to reunite the children with their
families. ”

There are 35; “Fegular foster

_-parents in Terrace, but there is: a-

“There are: many ways to be
part of a family,” says Karen. “It |
doesn’t really matter how you get _
to be part of 'a family; but there is’
no family unless you start one.”

“We: feel all adults are partially responsible for .
‘all children,” ‘says’ Karen.” “it takes ‘so’ many
people to ralse a child. It’s not just a parent, it's: a

whole community. "

very physically demanding, the
couple finds, but they become
healthier and ‘happier more quick-

ly than older children,

Teenagers are less physically
demanding to care for, but much
more draining emotionally.

“Some teenagers are. very
angry about what life has dealt
them,” says Garry, ‘‘and often
you're the butt of the anger.””

“And no matter how hard you
try,”’ says Karen, ‘‘you can’t be a

She says -her. children learned
not to be judgemental and to be
understanding. —

Although she and her husband
been fostering children half their
adult lives, saying goodbye is still
the hardest part of fostering. -

-“*We spend a-year preparing a
child who has to lcdve,” says
Karen. ‘We make sure he under-
stands, and that he doesn’t. feel
rejected.”

tats hard for kids, hard for

TLT Actress marks 30

: ‘SHARON LYNCH in the 1990 Terrace Little Theatre production her-rale of, Lav
ot Sinners, The play was a big hit with local audiences.

_ daughter, “1

ACTING, MAKE-UP, costumes,
props... there’s not much Sharon
Lynch hasn’t done in her 30 years
with Terrace Little Theatre,

Except lighting, she admits.
Too technical,

Lynch has been an active mem-
ber of the theatre group Since, the
fall of 1965.

And in those days you had to be
dedicated to theatre, Teally: dedi-
cated,

Terrace Little Theatre’s first
building was in an old’ com-
munity centre which burned
down and was replaced the band-
shell in George Little Park. |

‘Backstage was a weight room,
and for a washroom we used a
chamber pot: in the - furnace
room,’’ says Lynch.’ Thal’s

- dedication.

Over the years she estimates

.She’s acted in 13-14 plays, her

latest being the role of Margaret
in the upcoming Waiting, for the
Parade,

She started out in comedy, and
for many years never felt she had
the depth te do more serions.
roles, But Robin McColl, director
of Glass Menagerie and Street
Car Named Desire disagreed, and
found a way to tap her potential,

“He used to chew. me out in
front of the whole cast on dress
rehearsal night,’* ‘says: Lynch.
“He got me so mad that Pd do it
(act the part) for him." 2"

It wasn't pezsonal, she adds, He
was only mad at her as a director
towards an aciress,

The: experlence couldn’t have ;

‘been that. bad; since Lyiich. Bays ~~
ie crippled 2

. There -aren’t; many substantial. .
parts in plays. for older women, | Bee

great need for more voluntecrs,
“says social - services Tesource
worker Dale Bigras. .
More homes. in’ particular. arc
needed for teens aged 13-18. |
“You don’t need to be married ar .
be a parent in order to be a foster
parent, This. rational. stems from. |
the -fack that’ we’ all: come: ‘from -
families, so everyone © knows
, something about the dynamics of”
how a family works.
‘Foster parents can ‘also’ be

single men, or ‘people on social

assistance. Foster parents: are
given money to offset the. costs of
caring for a child.: ;

“What's. most: important are: «
your reasons for wanting tobe... —
come 4 > foster” parent,” says 2
Bigras. beg

The Ministry. of. Social Service a
screens prospective — foster
parents. The screening process in-
volves a criminal record check,
an interview, a Lome study, and
three references,

years”

was her favourite.
She credits. the many talented
people who've been- involved _
with Terrace Litle ‘Theatre ‘for -
making the past 30 years. an
ongoing learning experience, -
“We're the oldest functioning
club in .B.C, ., for: community
theatre,’’ she says, ‘‘The past 42
years have given us a lot of depth .
and continuity.’? :
She also notes the remarkable
support the: corhununity: has given
Terrace Little Theatre.
‘The support audiences and the
community give us is just super,’
she ' says, “Other towns don't
even compare, > le,
‘Lynch is looking. . ‘forward: io _
playing the role. of Margaret in
Waiting for the Parade, Margaret”
is a widow in her. fifties who has
one son overseas. and © another
jailed for being a Commuinist,
Lytch was able to Fook into her
family history. when. researching -
her role, Her father was in the alr
force’ during’: ‘World’ War I], and
her ‘aunt’ Jived™ calgary, ‘ahd
helped out with: the war effort.
Coincidentally, ° ‘Calgary ” ‘is “the . :
clly where the play isset.
The role of Margaret ‘might be.’
the last Lynch: plays for a while.’

. The last play she acted in before“,
this upcoming one was Father of. fon
the Bride. That was. two years”.
ago. ae
But this is community. theatre:

And. that means. that Lynch: will’:/
still be an active member of Ter: a