INSIDE ‘COMMUNITY EVENTS B2 ‘TERRACE STANDARD. COMMUNI The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 8, 1999 - B1 SECTION B ALEX HAMILTON 638-7283 SARAH de LEEUW Innocent until proven guilty sk my mum. I’ve always had a preoccupation with fairness. When I was little, my favourite phrase was ‘‘That’s net fair!’’ Granted, 1 often said it in re- lation to everything my mother asked, fair or not fair, but the thought was still there. Nowadays I argue far less often with my mother, but that same desire for fairness runs through me in a thick streak. Added to that sense of faimess is also a dash of skepticism. When | heard about the boat loads of “illegal immigrants” entering British Columbia, ‘‘jump- ing the queue and abusing the system,’’ it didn't seem fair. Every news article I read referred to ‘llegal immigrants,’ not ‘new arrivals,”’ Politicians were clamoring for space to say ‘‘send them back,’ and the apprehensive callers filled radio phone lines to say how unfair it was to willy-nilly let boat loads of people in only to take Canadian jobs. It took the arrival of the second boat for the dash of skepticism in me to kick in, What was the story behind the headlines, I wendcred. So I starting asking, beginning with an immigration lawyer in Vancouver. Low and be- hold, the real unfairness was not the arrival of people on boats, it was the media coverage they were getling. It will be this coverage that informs and affects these new artival’s duc process. The day after the third boat arrived, rusted and teady. to sink in the west coast Pacific Océan..}.. waters off Vancouver Island, it'made The Pro- vince and The Vancouver Sun’s front page, The opening paragraph of The Province newspaper began by talking about “strengthening Canada’s laws on illegal immigrauts,’’ Here's the thing. These boats filled with men, women and children who have risked their lives to touch Canadian soil, are not immigrants. They have not done anything illegal and they are jump- ing no queucs. They are doing exactly what Cana- dian laws tell them to do. And they are by no means alone, their numbers small when compared with the many more refugee claimants who have arrived in a less spectacular ways and have not caught the attention of lhe media quite so com- pletely. Canada has sigued a declaration with the United Nations convention on refugees. As such, we have the obligation to grant anyone who enters Canada, by sea, air or land, and who makes a refugee claim, the right to fair and just process. This process includes the right to be thought of as a genuine refugee until a tribunal on refugee Why is if under 500 peoptc, less than two per cent of claimants, have garnered so much attention and come under so much attack? status finds you otherwise. Tf you are found to not fall under one of the five grounds considered legal reason to claim refugee status (fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationalily, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group), you will be sent home. But you have the right to plead your case, and you need only arrive in Canada and say you are claiming refugee status, to be granted the right to make application to that process. Now for some perspective. Approximately 444 people have arrived by boat from China in the last month, floating in on our cold water faced with a _ heated frenzy of media coverage. As of August 10, 1999, a total of 7,061 Kosovar refugees have arrived in Canada. Each year, Ca- nadian Immigration allows for approximately 30,000 refugees to remain in our country. Why is it under 500 people, less than two per cent of claimants (not even those who will be granied the right to stay in Canada), have gamered so much attention and come under so much attack? Maybe some of us want to reserve refugee status for those most deserving. Maybe some of us believe refugces should make their claims outside of Canada, and only be tet in when their need has been sulficiently determined, While these are valid points, they are separate from the arguments the media seems un- willing to drop, namely the discussion of “illegal immigrants jumping queues.”’ Let’s hope there is not onc single person in this province who is making assumptions about race or class when thinking about migranls who step off rusting ships onto our coast. Lel’s hope cach of us recognizes the right to be thought of as in.’ _nocent until proven guilty, deserving until proven ‘undeserving, © Anything else would surcly be vafair, “> san House needs furniture The society is looking for donations of any household items SOMETIMES WE all need alittle help from our friends. The Ksan House Society, which ~ provides {ree counselling to male and fe- inate. Victims of sexual as- sault, and rons the Emer- gency Shelter, the Transi- tion House ‘and women’s counselling services, is as- king for . donations of household furiture and ac- cessories for its new home. We'll take anything that will make the house welcoming and not so clinical —Carol Sabo, execulive — director Ksan House Society The society has purchased - a small house al 4724 Lazelle Avenue to actas ils new office. Bul when staff move into the building Sep-. tember 15, they won't have | many furnishings. . “We're a rton-profit socicty,”’ said Caral Sabo, execulive director, ‘‘we- don’t have any money to buy furniture,”’ Sabo said the house's living room will be used as a meeting place for the Sex- ual Assault Centre, so she'd like to make il the area as CAROL SABO, Ksan House executive director, and Ianda Price, coordinator for counselling programs, are set to move into Ksan House Society's new home at 4724 Lazelle Avenue September 15. confortable as possible. “We want ‘to get away from an office set up, We want lo make it homey,’’ she said. “It’s much nice to sit ina living room environment than around a boardroom table.”’ The home will also pro- vide counselling rooms,. a children’s room and offices. Sabo said she’ll take dona- lions of anything that will make the home more wel- coming. People who donate furnishings will be issued tax deductible receipts. ARTIST Irene Horner admires local First Nation artwork by Collier Bright at the Red Raven Gallery located in the Skeena Mall. Red Raven gallery flies again THE RED Raven Gallery and the Skceena Mall feed off one another. The Mall provides vacant retail space free of charge for artists to display their work, and the gallery brings in shoppers and tourists fooking to purchase focal art, It’s good for the artisls and good for the mall, said Irene Homer, who helps run the gallery. “It’s just a prime location,” Homer said. The gallery was first created in 1991 to support local artists, giving hem a chance lo present their work to the public, “Tt gives us starving artisls a good op- portunity,” said Linda Mantel who sells her . cross-stitching at the gallery. ‘‘I’d have to wait for a craft sale in the fall or Chiristias otherwise," The gallery was dormant for six years une ti] a spot in the mall was offered to artists in Juue. “It gives locals a chance to sce there are a lot of talented people in Terrace,’’ said art- ist Madeline McAllister, who sells painted pots, crochel and Moral arrangements at the gallery. *'] didn’t realize there were so many art- istic people in Terrace,” Eighty-three artists use the gallery to ex- hibit work for a nominal fee. ($5). In tum, many of (hem volunteer to belp rin the fa- cllity. Homer said some people run errands while others volunteer hours manning the slop. Artist are grateful lo use the gallery be- cause they don't need to produce large quantities of work, like Ibey do for a show. “They don't need 40 or 50 items,’’ Horner sald. They can bring in four « ar five pieces to get exposbre.” The new home necds pic- tures, furniture, plants, light fixtures, bookshelves, gravel for the backyard, exterior and ‘interior paint, coffec tables, a lawnmower anything people are willing to part wilh. To donate furniture or other accessories call the Ksan House Society at 635- 2373. Around Town Berard Haitink K.B.E. and writing skills. ing skills. lower Ievel City Hail. or sinall scale disasters, Tim Phillips was superb! IT WAS my good fortune to be in London, England August 18 aud sec the European Union Youth Or- chestra play in the Royal Albert Hall. What @ thrill it was to witness Terrace resident Tim Phillips playing the guitar in this concert — Symphony No 7 by Mahler, under the direction of conductor As a past president of the Pacific Northwest Music festival and a long time resident of Terrace, it is always so rewarding to watch our young people achieve as they follow their dreams and further their goals. The hall was full and the concert was televised. 1 wish Tim continued success and offer a big bouquet fo his parents, friends and teachers who have en- couraged him thus far. A job well done. Olga Power Help for breast cancer patients THE BREAST Cancer Visitor Program provides women diagnosed with breast cancer an opportunily to receive pecr support and resource information from traincd volunteers. To request a breast cancer visitor, call Melanie Olson 250-798-9555. Adult literacy program offered THE COMMUNITY Readers and Writers Program (an adult literacy program) is in Its third year of operation. This program matches trained volunteer tutors with adult learners who want to help improve their reading Problems with reading and writing are very common. Two out of five adults are affected, Not being able to read or write docsn't mean a person isn’t intelligent. It just means they are in need of sume reading and writ- Suc Carson, program coordinator, is planning the next tutor training session lo start early October, If you are interested in becoming a tutor and helping an adult learner with reading and writing call Suc at the Volunteer Bureau 638-1330. The Bureau’s Community Readers and Writers Program is now located in the Volunteer Burcau’s new location, 3215 Eby Street, Volunteers needed THE CANADIAN RED CROSS Society desperately needs volunicers to join its Disaster Services Team, which provides assistance to people affected by large Volunteers are needed to help provide one or all of the basic emergency social services — shelter, food, clothing, personal services and registration and inquiry.