1 See | and operated newspaper - Your hometown locally owned | Multi- — Cultural — Week by Betty Barton This week is Multicultural Week | in Canada, Today British Columbia is home to more than three million people from more tan 60 different cultural communities. More than 70 different languages are spoken in our province. The Terrace Multicultural Association continues to be active in promoting "a com~- munity that is united, prosperous and at peace with itself." Due to busy schedules and time con- straints this year, the annual Multicultural Week Potluck Dinner has been postponed. until April 6 in the Terrace Arena banquet room. A provincial Multicultural Policy was unveiled last October, a nine- point policy that is to be reflected in the provincial government’s program initiatives. Terrace and District Multicultural Association representatives Silvia Morales and Jane Dickson say, "It's the first step. The result of many years of work through AAMSA and its affiliated multicultural associations in com- munities throughout B.C. We think it’s wonderful that all the good intentions are finally coming to fruition. We're one of the first provinces in Canada to have a multicultural policy as an integral part of our government’s philo- sophy." The women go on to say that as the policy is implemented, more benefits will be seen locally. Resource information is already being released in the form of multicultural and multi-language health information. The local asso- and District ° Sports |Community News |Arts & Entertainment Features Representatives of some of Terrace’s numerous ethic groups gathe signing a prociamation to declare this week Muiticultural Week. Cultural diversity has been one of Terrace's log-standing social strengths. red at city hall last Frid retrewesy it RE ER ay to witness aleman Mo Takhar ciation is in the process of contact- ing local health agencies, hoping to start a sub-committee on health issues and ensure that all sectors of our community are well informed. The nine points in the province’s policy are: *To promote the full participation of all people ...while encouraging the preservation and sharing of our rich cultural traditions. *To encourage the removal of societal, structural and institutional barriers to full participation. *To ensure that all British Colum- bians have equal access to pro- grams and services. *To sensitize institutions to the multicultural reality of society. To ensure that all British Colum- bians are treated equally and equit- ably. ‘To ensure that every British Columbian has equality in employ- Ment and opportunity. *To ensure that fundamental [ree- doms and equality rights are respected, *To reaffirm that violence, hatred and discrimination based on a person’s race, culture, religious or ethnic origins have no place in British Columbian society and to enact and enforce laws where and when such action is deemed neces- sary. Society has been toying with the idea of a corridor of greenery between Highway 16 and the CN Rail right-of-way in sections of Terrace for years. It would enhance the appearance of our community to visitors and help cut down the railway noise nearby residents have to toleraic. The plan has never really gotten far. CN, Beautification Society discuss trees The Terrace Beautification | But there may be new hope. The Beautification Society has received a letter from CN acknowledging the receipt of their most recent request, to plant hemlock trees along the CNR right-of-way from the Co- op to Sande Overpass. CN says they are willing to consider the idea, provided a few questions can be suitably answered, Will the trees affect normal CN maintenance? Can a lease be arranged between CN and the society to allow the society to enter the property and maintain the trees? And, will the city approve? Will the trees affect any city access or future development? Terrace CN track supervisor Dave Viveiros will be meeting with the society in the near future to discuss these questions in an effort to try to reach some agreement. And if they come up with the right answers, our downtown core could soon be taking on a new, much more attractive look. *To promote and support programs that foster cross-cultural under- standing and mutual respect, multiculturalism and citizenship values, as well as those that pro- mote attitudes and perceptions that lead to racial harmony. . Multiculturalism for Kids A new curriculum program pub- lished earlier this year is providing teachers of young children with a valuable tool for fostering under- standing and acceptance of British Columbia’s multicultural reality. Comprising nine children's books, a teachers’ resource guide and a colourful poster, "Hand in Hand: Multicultural experiences for young children" was developed over the last four years by Early Childhood Multicultural Services. of Vancouver and was published in mid-1990 by Addison-Wesley Publishers of Toronto. The children’s books focus on such themes as numbers, families, communities and celebrations, using a combination of photo- gtaphy and words to reflect cul- tural and ethnic diversity. The text is in four languages — English, French, Chinese and Spanish — to emphasize that there are different ways of reading and writing and to support those children learning English as a second language. The teachers’ guide provides practical teaching ideas for illus- trating the theme of each book and suggest additional resources and activities for placing the theme messages in a broader context. Hand in Hand is designed to "put multiculturalism into the everyday experience of the classroom," says program coordinator Ruth Fahl- man, "It provides teachers of young children with program materials that portray diversity as a positive and accepted part of everyday life." Since its introduction, the pro- gram has received an enthusiastic response from early childhood educators. Hand in Hand is widely used throughout the lower main- land and is now being evaluated by the B.C. Ministry of Education for use in the new primary school program. Information on the pro- gram can be obtained from Early Childhood Multicultural Services in Vancouver, 873-4770. Students opt for Mexico Hazelton Secondary School students, having scrapped plans to take an extended field trip to Greece, will now be going to Mexico. The board of School District 88 was notified of the decision and approved it Feb. 12. The board had advised the students to cancel the journey to Greece a month ago, citing political instability in the Middle East.