Celebrating 25 years of evolution and growth The women’s centre greets a milestone and looks to the future By FRANCES BIRDSELL CHAIRPERSON TERRACE WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTRE SOCIETY THE FIRST incarnation of the Ter- ‘race Women’s Resource Centre was a Canada Works grant submitted by Terrace and District Community “Services in 1978. Four women were hired at $138 a “week. to start up the Terrace Women’s Growth Centre in January 1979, with office space situated on the second: floor of the Tillicum Twin Theatres building — right down the hall from Iona Campagnola, fed- - eral MP for Skeena. I was one of those four. Terrace and District Community Services was also interviewing at the same time for a research team to look at women and violence issues, from which arose Ksan House Socie- ty, and the Transition House. We quickly decided that we nee- ded to be on street level and access- ible. Bill Young, owner of the Tilli- cum property, gladly moved us ta the little building at the back, on Lazelle Ave. (now Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Terrace) which we shared with Terrace and District Community Services. In 1981, we negotiated with the City of Terrace to lease a building from them near the arena at a very reasonable rent, We later invited the city administrator and the mayor and each council member to come for a tour of the building and find out what we were all about. We do the maintenance and up- keep and have just given the build- ing an inside/outside face lift. In 1981, a huge shift happened in the federal Liberal government, and Women’s Program funding was being reviewed. With help from numerous mentors, and the active assistance of the office of Jim Ful- ton, MP for Skeena, we lobbied the politicians extensively to consider funding women’s resource centres in small, isolated rural areas where | there aren’t really other places to £0 to seek assistance, as a woman. But the intent was to identify and deal with the underlying issues and work for the betterment and advan- cement of women of all ages in our communities, while providing that safe space to meet and plan and or- ganize. And celebrate. The Secretary of State provided funding for Women’s Resource Centres across Canada in 1981. We It was great, until government changed ils policy for buying seed- lings. But the Golden Spruce needed to generale money to sustain itself, hot a women’s centre. In 1984, the women’s centre be- came the first feminist worker-run collective in Canada, under CUPE, to be unionized, It was based on a goal of social change and balance, with the vision of interlocking col- lectives. The ‘building across the strect from the women's centre was made into an office/drop in centre as the Family Place, housing two long-term programs run by the society: Skeena Child’ Care Resource and One Stop Access. When the Women’s Centre is We lobbied extensively for women's resource centres in isolated, rural areas. moved into our present building at 4542 Park Ave. in September. I was the first coordinator there. The Canada Works money had long ended and I wrote the propesal while on unemployment insurance, part of a core of volunteers keeping the centre somewhat open and operational. The proposal itself was vetted by numerous people, and the lobbying coincided with mammoth pressure being brought by more urban feminists to deal with status of women issues. In the spirit of trying to be self-fi- nancing for our women’s centre operation, we started the Golden Spruce Transplant Nursery, which operated with 500,000 Sitka spruce seedlings in 1980. closed, you will see men, women and children stream across the street to the Family Place to get the infor- mation, free toy, or referral that they need. It will be 25 years in January that Terrace has’ had a women’s centre presence. We held an annual general , meeting on Sept. 30 and elected a full board. We are holding a board-staff de- velopment workshop in early De- cember, and plan an Envisioning Gathering for aur membership and friends in the new year. We plan to be here 25 years from now. J think we're looking to EMPO- WER. We want to walk in balance, and make the world a better place for all. A guide to holiday craft sales CHRISTMAS CRAFT sale’ season has arrived, Here are just a few of the arts and eraft sales taking place in the next few weeks that are bound to put you in a holiday mocd. The Farmers Market Christmas Craft Sale quet Room from 10 a,m to 4 p.m. This Friday and Saturday also marks Skeena Junior Secondary school band’s annual Christmas Craft sale. For more information, tum to page Bl. If you were looking for an excuse take for a pleasant drive up the new- ly-paved Nisga’a Highway (organizers remind you it’s now blacktop all the way!), why not check out an upcoming craft sale in New Ajiyansh? The Nass Valley Farmers’ Market hosts its 12th Annual Christmas Craft Sale Dec. 3. Organizers say there will be more than 40 tables featuring baking, je- wellery, food, knitting and crochet- ing, clothing, toys, First Nations art- work, dried flowers, raffles and gifts, It’s being held between 6:30-8:30 p.m. al the auditorium (bingo hall). To find it, take the first turn to the From B1 Warrior For the first time, Atwal felt like she wanted to quit. ‘“Kasie, ] can’t do it,” she told her friend, “She’s like, ‘Sukh, we have ta do this’.” Well-wishers from B.C. 5th Annual Christmas Craft Fair Friday, November 28th 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday, November 29th 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thornhill Junior Secondary School Featuring Our "Weight To Boke” Sale takes place Saturday, - Noy, 29 at thé Terrace Arewia; Ban-’. Rehab and Anderson, the man who inspired their relay, were waiting. “I need rehab!” Atwal joked as the crowd cheered, When asked what kept her going each day on her relay, Atwal says, “I think it’s the people you sur- round yourself with who make the difference. Won- ders can happen.” FUNNY FACES: This work, titled "He Ain’t Heavy... ", IS a photogra- phic work by Kara Myrh. It's on view at the Terrace Art Gallery as part of an exhibit running to Nov. 30. right as you enter the village. You're asked to bring a non-per- ishable food item to the ACW table, Donations will be distributed in Christmas hampers. Next, sample the astonishing var- iety and quality craftsmanship of Terrace's local artists and artisans at one of the best-known and mast anti- Robert Dougdale is holding auditions for the TLT Dinner Theatre on November 30th at 7:00pm at the McColl playhouse for... Mos Foster’s hore on the Flight Path Roles are available for | man and 3 women in this laugh a minute comedy that will play at the Skeena Valley Golf and Country Club. February 6,8,13,14,19,20 & 21st, 2004 cipated craft sales of the year — the Terrace Art Association’s annual Christmas Arts and Craft Sale. The sale takes place Friday, Dec. ‘5 from 5 to 9 p.m, and on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 am. to 4 p.m. At press time, tables were still available, Call 638-8888 for informa- tion. LUSDS Sear a Our LNG ticket outlet is Courtesy Travel 4718A Cte Ave y GD oe = There’s a choice ‘A CHANCE TO WIN this T-shirt was just one of the incentives offered to hospital employees like George Dejardines (right) and other visitors drap- ping by a display table at Mills Memorial Hospital during Addictions. Awareness Week. Above, Mary Greaves, left, and Carmen Mailloux of the Royal Purple and Jim Westerman were just three of the RAAD (Reducing Abuse of Alcohol and Drugs) committee members who were out in full force at the hospital last week offering free cookies, coffee and tea along - and information about addictions and how to get help. The RAAD committee manned the display table saven hours a day, for seven days in a row in an effort to get the message across. JENNIFER LANG PHOTO Come into our office located Want A Photo? Did you see a photo in the paper that you want a copy of? The Terrace Standard along with Northern Photo Ltd. now provides this service. at 3210 Clinton Street and indicate the photo of your choice and size. ‘Aghoot ia town's Wibrant GZ “ge a.“gte Other sizes available. 4 x6 5x7 Phone for pricing. Price includes printing fee from Northern Photo and purchasing fee from the Terrace Standerd. All photographs are copyrighted to the Terrace Standard, (Note: 90% of photos taken are digital photos of high quality jpeg. Black and whita prints also available from black and while negatives.) | 4" x 6” northern photo “Your Headquarters For Digital Cameras And Digital Imaging Services” 4-4736 Lakelse Avenue TANDARD. Ph: 638-7283 Fax: 638-8432 | the book "people! STANDARD GIFT GUIDE MISTY RIVER TACKLE & HUNTING Your Full Service Tackle & Hunting Specialists