~ COMMUNITY INSIDE EVENTS B2 LESLIE DICKON Attitudes should be more realistic O, PARENTS are trying to get an- other youth centre going in Terrace as a way of stopping excessive drinking. I’d like 1o suggest to these parents that instead of focussing their en- ergy on opening another pool hall/arcade, they should concentrate on the unhealthy attitude the majority of parents and teenagers have toward alcobol. This is the real problem. Two teenagers have died from alcohol poison- ing in the past six months in Terrace; J] don’t think that the presence of a Youth Centre would have prevented these deaths, I think the cause was thelr attitude toward alcohol. Alcohol is one of the few drugs that is legal, in Canada: But instead of accepting this drug and educating people of all the risks, society has shut it up inside bars and houses. It is illegal to drink in a public place. By keep- ing the consumption of alcohol restricted and behind closed doors, this policy encourages ex- cessive, solitary drinking, The attitude toward drinking which is visible in Quebec or French society, is more realistic. There is more of a focus on drinking as being a part of socializing. There, drinking is not the main purpose of the evening, Alcohol can also be obtained more easily by teenagers — it’s just a short trip to the comer store. eon Drinking is more casual in these societies; weekends. Granted, teenagers still get drunk in Quebec and France, but that is not the norm. Alcohol is a relaxed part of their lifestyle. Compare this attitude to that which is domi- nant in Terrace. The drinking age is strictly en- forced, and parents tell their children that drink- ing is for adults, not allowing for their curiosily. So when children reach their teens, alcchal is one of the first things they will try, to prove that they are grown up, there: isn’t a thrust to get ‘‘wasted’” on the ; Parents need to be realistic and ac- cept the fact that their teenager will probably drink and encourage him or her to do it responsibly. Also, if teenagers hit a ‘‘rebellious’’ stage, they will start to drink because they have al- ways been told not to. They know that their parents won't approve and that it’s illegal. But if alcohol had always been available, and their parents hadn't forbidden it, they might have avoided this stage, ~ Most. parents don’t talk to their children about alcohol, except to say, ‘Don’t do it!’ This, of course, makes the kid want to do it more. Parents need to be realistic and accept the fact that their Leenager will probably drink and en- courage him or her to do it responsibly, But it is also.up to leenagers to handle alcohol responsibly, They shouldu’t drink and drive or drink excessively, The controversy Caledonia Senior Secondary had over thelr Aftergrad — a dance at the arena following Uic grad ceremonies — illustrates the problem of socicly’s attitude toward teenage drinking. The past few years have seen more and more grads drinking before the Aftergrad, or smuggling alcohol in. The administration brought up this problem, but instead of address- ing the fact that more teenagers are drinking and discussing what to do about jt, the solution was to’ban alcohol altogether. [f people want la slart up another youth centre in ‘Terrace, it should provide alternatives to drinking. Many teenagers I have taiked to have expressed -an “interest in an underage club. Dances held by young adults in Terrace always geta good turn out. » Anolher idea for the youth centre is a recrea- tion centre, where people could play basketball, volleyball, etc, There is no point in baving more pool tables and arcades, though. There are al- ready twa-pool halls in Terrace. By the way, contrary to popular belief, Gus’s is nol where teenagers goto get drugs, If adults want teenagers to cut down on al- cohol consumption, there arc two things they can do. Make teenagers aware of alternatives to drinking on the weekends, and encourage a more relaxed, open altitude toward teenage drinking: Esslie Dickson is a student at Caledonia Secondary. She will be offering our readers a younger perspective on issues facing society, NITY SECTION B CRIS LEYKAUF Ryan named top volunteer “IT’S LIKE SAYING which of your children you like best.” That was how Lovina Tyler felt about judging the Terrace Stan- dard/ Overwailea Volunteer of the Year contest. Tyler and her fellow judges, Rich McDaniel and Dale Lufkin, studied 24 nomination forms, nar- rowing them down to just three —a Volunteer of the Year and two honourable mentions, “The hair splitting was un- believable," said Tyler, ‘‘Our choices were so very difficult.” Lufkin termed the volunteers “silent soldiers.”’ All the judges were impressed with the qualifications of the can- didates. “‘When I looked over that list, there isn’t anyone I would have laken off,” says McDaniel. “Anyone of them would be most deserving of the award.” Tyler also commented on the great communily spiril in Ter- race, “Terrace is unusually excellent as far as volunteering is con- cemed,”’ says Tyler. But when it came down to the crunch, the judges had to choose. For their criteria, they looked at the number of years of service, impact on the community, and whether or not the individual had received much recognition for his or her volunteering. All three judges were unani- mous in their decision to vote Jim Ryan as Volunteer of the Year. Norah Ferguson and Margaret Cooper were given honourable mentions. However, that Icft the judges in a bind. **We would like to see another award for special volunteering,’”’ says Tyler, , - This award would be for some- one’s who’s devoted his or ber time to one specific area, but has made a big impact in that area. For example, Tyler mentioned Search and Rescue, Volunteer firemen, Special Olympics and Air Cadets, **All those who were nominated under these positions are giving so much to the community,’’ she says. So next year, The Terrace Stan- dard will present a category for specialized volunteering. And now here are this year’s winners. Jim Ryan “There’s a lot of people more deserving of this than me,’ said Ryan. But many would disagree, Ryan is the conductor of the Terrace Community Band and the Terrace Symphony Orchestra, He formed both bands, and has taken the community band to national competition a number of times, last year winning gold. During the Pacific Northwest Music Festival, he proved just proved how deserving of the award he is, Approximately four hours be- fore the communily band was to go on stage, Ryan accidently dropped a 300Ib plus bell on his hand, He broke two of his fingers on his right hand and ripped the skin off the rest. “Pve never been palient,”’ he says of the accident. “I was just ina hurry.’ Ryan was rushed to the hospital where his hand was frozen and his fingers were stitched and splinted. Following that he went tw the REM Lee Theatre to meet his band. “T bad to cram the baton into my hand,” explains Ryan. ‘The band said the shiny splint was easier lo follow than the baton,’’ he says, conducting an imaginary note with his splinted fingers. By the end of the performance the freezing was wearing off, but Ryan was able to make it through. Fortunately, doctors predict his fingers will heal well. “Clarinet players aren’t very good if they don’t have fingers,” jokes Ryan, He also plays the saxophone. As for the community band, they performed superbly, as usual, despite Ryan's splinted fin- JIM RYAN isn't going to let his recent hand injury slow him down for long. This Volunteer of the Year has work to do with both his orchestra and his communi performances, ity band, to get ready for upcoming gers. "“T fee] so privileged, They sure make it worliwhile: for me,” he says. ‘“They’re.a very, very im- portant parl of my life.”’ Margaret Cooper When we phoned Margaret Cooaper lo. talk about her honourable mention, she didn’t wait lo talk about herself. Although slic did says she feels quile excited-and privileged, she said she thought it-was an honour just to be nominated, “T'nv really. thrilled that Jim got i,” she ‘says, . mentioning | the many ‘difficulties’ he’s overcome recently including problems with his health and the loss of his wife. Cooper has devoled more than 25 years to volunteering, working with the Girl Guides, the Terrace Anti-Poverly Society, and the Terrace Stockcar Assoc. “‘] like to deal with people and help them,”’ she says. ‘I’ve had a lot of rough times and I know what it’s like,”’ But Cooper finds volunteering rewarding for her as well. “I never had a lot of money, but I can always give my time,’” she says. Norah Ferguson Ferguson must be one of the busiest volunteers in Terrace. Just recently she worked from 8:30 in the morning till ten at night, six days in a row for the music festival. ‘*This community’s been really good to me,’’ explains Ferguson. “T feel good about giving some- thing back.” She was a little embarrassed about being given honourable meution. “T believe everybody has a re- sponsibility {o make the com- munity a better place to live,” she says. Ferguson is very actively in- volved in the arts in Terrace. This year she’s also organizing the Kinsmen reunion, judging the Miss Terrace pageaat, and is in- volved with Riverboat Days. Fortunately, her husband is one of her biggest supporters for all the community work Ferguson is involved with, ‘It keeps me busy and active,” she says. She also says thal people in Terrace should be aware of how dedicated their volunteers are. “Where would this community be without its volunteers? We're really lucky. Everybody works together here.”