NWCC News Thousands take College Courses. Did you know that the College is reaching ap-. proximately 10 per cent of the adult population in the College Region? in 1977, 4313 students tock advantage ' of full-time, part-time and mobile programs offered by the College. Courses have been offered in prac- tically every community with a population greater than 500. ne : Breakdown , By program , Vocational-full-time, mobile welding, hydrauties, ets. oo 1182 Academic-technical (full-time and part-time) 291 Community Education and Part-time Vocational 2053 Total for College Region 433 f ° . By Area Terrace 1864 Queen Charlotte Islands 218 Prince Rupert 433 Kitimat 432 Hazelton 246 Smithers 770 Other 295 Total 4313 Medical-Steno Course ' Some years agoit became apparent that there was a ‘real need in this area for a Medical Stenographer's Course. , After extensive interviews with local doctors and other professionals in the medical field, all of whom gave invaluable help, the course was put together. We attempted to set up the course in such a way that on completion the student would have: a knowledge of medical office practices; a basic knowlege of the anatomy of the human: body; a good working knowledge of the terminology used in the field of medicine; a knowledge of how to use reference books such as the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties, Schedule of Minimum Fee, etc., as well as having the ability to type accurately and quickly. A library of tapes has been built up. These tapes were dictated for us by local doctors and over the three books which deal primarily with terminology. Tests for various sections of the course have also been dictated for us by local professionals. This course is offered at the Terrace Campus; butis is also new being offered on a trial basis off campus at Hazelton and Smithers. It is an intensive five-month course; so the students who compete have had to put in a great deal time and effort. Feed-bac, however, has been most gratifying. The first graduate has written: “I wouldsay that the course I took at BCVS-Terrace, gave an excellent introduction to the clerical aspect of the medical field; and it has proved invaluable tome. I am now taking a night schoo! course in Lethbridge for a Medical Records Assistant.— and all it has proved to be is a review of everything 1 studied at BCVS.” Another student who is working in a smal] hospital in Central British Columbia writes — “After only six months I have been put in charge of the Medical Records Department — Thanks.” , Feed-back from employers is equally gratifying. Two students were employed by the local hospital within the last month. the medical Records Librarian says — “They are both going well, and Iam so pleased with the quality of their work.” FILM EVBNENGS vec nsn steric ee Two high y‘rated films will be touring the Region this month. They are “Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion” and “Z"’, Call the nearest CES office for time and place. Admission is $1.50 or $1.00 for students. , : DATELINE April 14-16, Challenges for Northern Women. A three day confereice in Terrace organized by the Women's Studies Advisory Committee. There will-be workshops on Women and the Law, Country Woman’s Self- sufficiency, native Women's concerns, The Battered Woman, and more. Starts 7:00 p.m. Friday evening. Registration $2.00 with free day-care available at all times. Phone 635-5246 for further information. April 17, 18, 19, 7:00 p.m, Don Ryan will speak on the topic ‘‘the Department — How does it Operte?” As part of the Aboriginal Studies. Program, Mr. Ryan will relate his experiences as an employee of the Depart- ment of Indian Affairs and how the department has responded to the needs of native people. April 18, Terrace, Room 206, Admin. Bldg. April 19, Hazelton, Hagwilget Band Office. April 17-19, University Liaison Team. Represen- tatives from the three B.C. Universities, BCIT and Northwest Community College will be visiting high schools in the eastern part of the College region. Adults interested in meeting with these represen- talives are very welcome and encouraged to call the local school to determine when it would be best to attend. ; . April 17, Hazelton, April, 18 Smithers, April 19- Houston. : 7 wy . a Si ” Witnesses of their faith stand at the corner of Kalu) and Lakelse Streets, Thursday. * development line threatened VICTORIA {CP) Opposition, forest in- dustry and municipal spokesmen urged the British Columbia government Wednesday to reject a recom- mendation to’ close the B.C, Railway's debt- ridden $190 million Fort Nelson extension, The pleas came after the recommendation was made inaninterim report by the royal commission . examining the affairs of the BCR which was ta- bled in the legislature. The commission found that termination of the 400-kilometre line bet- ween Fort St. John and ‘Fort Nelson, completed in 1971, would save B.C. taxpayers between $60 million and $70 million during the next five years, The report, submitted to the government Dec. 40, recommended that the extension be eliminated as soon as possible and no later than this spring when substantial repair work would be required. “It's a terrible recommendation,” Opposition leader Dave Barrett said. “It is totally damaging to the rational of the northeast sector of this province.” SEEKS EXPLANATION He said that Economic Development Minister Don Phillips, a. BCR director, owes a ‘‘public explanation why he has made no statement, and why the government has left the area with no word at all that the recom- ‘mendations were as disastrous as this.” ’ -“~his province cannot tolerate the thought that that most important transportation link to the northeast sector of this provinee is under any threat of closure.” Barrett, a formernBCR president, said it was entolerable that the government had not made a decision after informing: the com- mission that it had only three weeks to make’ its recommendations, The commission was pressed into filing a ‘separate report on the Fort Nelson extension by Dec, 31 because of BCR plans to upgrade the line which would have required an early calling of tenders so the work could be done during the summer, If it hadnto wait another year, §4 million would have been added to the projected cost of $35 million, DECISION NEEDED Barrett said it is ob- vious that a political decision will have to be made—putting an end to “the fraudulent nonsense that there Is a separation of Crown corporations - and government that the premier has attempted to se aa Phillips said the report will be presented to the BCR board of directors, and that the government would study the report, He said it was im- possible to give the report to the BCR until! it had been tabled in the legisla- ture, and refused to say why the government had not tabled it until required to do so by law. . The minister said it was too late to shut down the extension this spring—because of short notice—and that it “will remain running until some further decisions are made, and those fur- ther decisions will be made as soon as the report has further study.” n Phillips said that the final decision will be made by the government, and refused further comment, Jim Rustad of Prince George, chairman of the northern interior sector of the Council of Forest Industries, said his group has always viewed -the BCR as a road to resources. JOBS ABANDONED “We feel that the developmental « portions should be looked at in a different light than the developed portions. We feel that there is no viable alternative mode of transportation to the railrcad in the Fort Nelson area, and that abandonment of the line means abandonent of jobf, of mills and vir- tually whole com- munities.” The commission recommended that the povernment provide financial aid to the vil. § lage of Fort Nelson to offset the loss of the rail line, and suggested that goods be shipped by alternative methods, such as trucks, ‘although extra cost will be in- volved for most ship- pers.” Kitimat saves —$600,000 | by Scott Browes “Taxpayers in Kitimat have been saved from paying $600,000 in School Board = equalization paymenis to the provincial government, says secretary treasurer of Kitimat School District No. 80 Brian Graydon. The new provincial government budget changed the mill rate basic levy in the province and according ito ‘Graydon saved a lot of local monies by doing so. The original proposed mill rate for each district in the province was 42.5. “This year’s budget lowers this to 39.75 and subsequently decreased the basie levy — the point at which the School Board shares finances with the provincial government,” says Graydon. The Municipal Board of Revision dropped the assessment of one mill in Kitimat from $46,000 to $140,000 This was done via a drop in the town assessment from 146 million toe 140 million, Graydon says the $600,000 saved will be used for ‘general upgrading’ within the district. He added that Kitimat is one of the few School Districts that pays all of the cost of education in the district. School District No. 88 (Terrace) announces Kindergarten Registration Day will be on B Wednesday, April 19, 1978 for childran living in Terrace, Thorahill, Kitwanga and the Hazelton area. it is important that children register at this time to assist with planning for September. Kindergarten chitdren registering must be five years old by December 31, 1978, required. Birth certificates are All Kindergarten children living west of Munroe Sireet in Terrace should register at Parksida School. Ait other Kindergarten children should register at the primary school nearast their home. . ‘ The times for Kindergarten Registration are: “9:00 a.m. - noon; 1:00 p.m, -2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 1978. ; Transportation Assistance may be appliad for by parents of Kindergarten students living outside the 24% mile watk limit established by the. Department of Education, and travelling one way by