Five Nations |
come together

A PROUD DAY: Hundreds of people gathered
in George Little Park June 21 to celebrate Na-
tional Aboriginal Day. Members of the Tsim-
shian, Gitxsan, Nisga’a, Haisla, and Tahitan
Nations attended the event. Organized by
Lynn Wright of the Kermode Friendship Socie-
ty, the day was full of sunshine and celebra-
tion. Clockwise from top: Dan Wilson, a
K’san: dancer. from the Hazeltons area, shows

_off his talent; The .crowd. joins. in. on.the dan-. -.

-eing; Shadow Dancer guitarist Rick Moore
‘tunes up his electric; Male and female dan-
cers glide in sync; K’san elder Bill Blackwater
- addresses the crowd. PHOTOS JESSIE GIES

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - A5

The Mail Bag.

Put animal shelter where
dogs have space to bark

Dear Sir:

We are the distressed residents of Graham Ave.
and Kenney St, near the City Works yard where. the
proposed dog pound is planned.

Many neighbours signed a petition opposing this
site as it is so near residences and as reported inthe
June 18 Terrace Standard, it will negatively impact
20 homes in the area.

A childcare facility in the area was required to
approach three neighbours on both sides before they
were given clearance to care for extra children in
their residence. We received no such courtesy
regarding this animal shelter, ©

We met with city counci! June 9 to express our
concerns.

Witnesses who had lived near two previous dog
pounds in Terrace testified to the frustrating
disruptions in their lives due to the incessant barking
of stressed animals, They were forced to endure this
noise even though they complained often.

When we talked individually with city planners
and council members many were sympathetic, and
some even said they would be doing the same things
as we are doing given similar circumstances.

However, when it came to vote, the majority of
councillors opposed considering other options.

Our backs are against the wall.

Who wants to complain and complain? The city
cannot: legally contravene its own noise bylaws, but
how can dogs humanely be kept quiet, in a 20-kennel
dog pound with one attendant, who works eight hours
a day?

It is cheaper in the long run to place this pound
where contravention of the noise bylaw is non-
existent.

Place this dog pound away from our homes so we
can live in peace and the dogs will have the freedom
to bark if need be without disturbing anyone.

Jean O’Brien, Kara Carrita, Gail Webb, Lucy
and Germano Carrita, Mario Silva, J. W. Taylor,
Fred Philpot, Jim and Vicki Hansen

Terrace B.C.

Wrong move to cut
extended care beds

Dear Sir:

] just can’t believe that the Terrace area is going
to lose more health care beds — this time 25 beds at
Terraceview.

I feel it is a disastrous decision and will have dire
consequences to the quality of care our elderly and
disabled will receive in the future,

At the moment, Terraceview has 75 beds in use
and the only way someone is accepted as 4 new
patient, even if the need is great, is for someone to
die to make room.’ ‘

My family recently experienced this, Our father
had Parkinson’s with dementia that’ was very
physically and mentally:disabling’: °° et)
_ He. passed away’ after, being. a- résident’ of
Terraceview for six weeks but someone had to die. for
him to be able to become a resident.

Until the health care system experienced his
‘spells’ in a hospital setting, the mental health care
system refused to believe he was incapable of looking
after himself and expected the family to care for him.

The guidelines of assessment that health officials
use to judge whether a patient needs 24-hour care is a
farce, in my opinion.

If the prospective patient can make toast and put
some clothes on (and it doesn’t matter how long those
tasks may take) they can be deemed to have
sufficient motor skills.

In addition, if they can remember their birthday,
S.1.N.# and what day it is, they can be deemed to
have sufficient cognitive skills (and it doesn't really
matter how much of their day is spent in confusion).

Mental skills, with dementia and Alzheimer’s
patients especially, can take years to develop into a
continuous mental state of confusion, :

Meanwhile, during the progression of their
confusion, il is up to the family to try to keep them
safe, fed, healthy, etc. A 24-hr job — the stress is
unbelievable! Too many people fall through the
cracks with home care services.

it is a disastrous decision and will
have dire consequences on the
quality of care of our elderly.

Your financial position seems to have a lot to do
with the degree of care you can receive. For example,
housekeeping services are not provided through home
care services, Healthcare — yes, housekeeping — no,

Are they supposed to live in dirty homes because
they can’t afford private housekeepers? . ‘

Companionship is another issue. Lonely people are
more inclined to seek out health care professionals
just for someone to talk to,

This new government, full of these new
professionals, pushing these new management
systems into our new medical system, are forgetting
something. The people they are now shoving out of
the picture were the ones who built it. They deserve
better from us. .

Closing down beds at Terraceview is truly not fair
for the people who have.such a desperate need to be

“taken care of.

I truly hope that this government has ta face
another court battle to fight for the right to die with
dignity. Although Sue Rodriguez. lost her fight,
someone has to win eventually. We are going to need
that right. a

Bonnie Cooper
Terrace B.C.

About the Mail Bag

The Tarrace Standard welcomes letters. Our
address |s 3210 Clinton St., Terrace, B.C. VBG
5R2. You.can fax us at 250-638-8432 or e-mail
us at néwsroom @terracestandard.com. No
attachments, please. We need your name,
address ard phone number for vetitication. Our
deadline is noon Friday or noon Thursday if it's a
long weekend. a i,