Volume 80 Issue No. 27 Retired professionals: Proven benefit to community The demographic face of the Peninsula has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. Now, all three municipalit- ies have a strong mix of both family-oriented, middle-aged residents and retired professionals. What is refreshing is. that many of the retired professional people are eager to use their abilities in a less stressful and regimented environment. The recent formation of the Peninsula Communities Social Planning Council is one example. Deryck Thomson is the former executive director of the G.R. Pearkes Centre, a professional social worker with 42 years of experience and the founder of two non-profit erganizations dedicated to provincial family and social ' services. He’s already familiar to many health care profes- sionals on the Peninsula as the driving force behind the Peninsula Association of Substance Abuse. In the past two years, that organization organized self- esteem building workshops for parents and youth at schools in all areas of the Peninsula. The organization received accolades from the community and demands for more workshops for parents and youth. In addition, with the help of the Dallas House, a counselling service was set up three days/week in a building on the Sidney School grounds. This year, the substance abuse organization is asking for funding to operate the counselling service five days/week. “On the whole, I believe the program has been effective,” Thomson said. ‘‘While other things are on the increase, substance abuse has leveled off.” Now, Thomson is shifting his focus to a higher level and is leaving the P.A.S.A.P. organization with a capable board of directors. : With increased population and more families on the Peninsula, Thomson and other health care professionals, including the Interministerial Secretariat (a local committee with representatives for health, education, social services and the attorney-general’s ministry) recognized the need for “an independent citizen social planning body to operate at arm’s length from direct service providers.” Essentially, the social planning council will identify needs by residents and coordinate service of those needs by independent agencies. In a recent survey, the social planning council found that in the past ten years, the social service needs of the Peninsula have changed dramatically. In 1982, Peninsula residents identified transportation as their number one concem. Service by social agencies was second with 24-hour emergency crisis response at number three and, down at number 10, family service from social agencies was listed as the primary concer by residents. Financial assistance ranked 13. Now, ten years later, affordable family counseling was listed as the top priority. With the benefit of a professional social worker with a proven track record, the Peninsula has a jump on reacting to social needs. “The name of the game is to ensure the quality of life doesn’t slip and ensure we live in a safe and pleasant community,” Thomson said. This is one example of the advantage the Peninsula has over some other communities. The benefit to the community from retired professionals is immense, providing their involvement is encouraged. ™* Review Serving the Saanich Peninsula Since 1912 9726 - First St. P.O. Box 2070 Sidney, B.C. V8L3C9 Sidney, B.C. V8L3S95 656-1151 Publisher: Rory McGrath Editor: Glenn Werkman Reporters: Valorie Lennox Advertising: Corrie Morozoft John Gelder Production Manager: Tamie Sargeant Office Manager: Lori Fitzpatrick Circulation Manager: Wendy Denison AN ISLAND PUBLISHERS NEWSPAPER 4 PRIZE LP CCNA DRA DIAN COMm (ane 32: > ag », GGA g Fy. ong S, 30 Pan ene ass 0S ese PAPERS COM Perfect 29 hand Editor: Last week while camping at Qualicum’ Beach, my wife and I were having our usual evening cribbage game. Lo and behold, I dealt her four fives and then proceeded to cut to the Jack of Diamonds. A perfect 29 hand. Lorna’s birthday is not until August but I am sure she will accept this memory as her gift. We very much enjoy your paper and please keep up your coverage of school sports. R.J. (Bob) Ritchie Sidney Pit-iful peace Editor: Re: Unlicensed pit used by Cen- tral Saanich, The Review, June 17. Well done! Finally you have raised the alert about the improper Calder pit dumping operation on Central Saanich Road. Somewhat late perhaps, as it is now filled to overflowing with up to 400 truck loads of garbage a day. But lo! A-permit has suddenly been duly and properly acquired. Which raises the question: Where did the six empty trucks I encoun- tered yesterday on my way home deposit their juicy morsels? Maybe you should engage the Watergate investigating team to enlighten us? For there is more, far more in the offing. This neighborhood is in for a long, hot summer of more noise, dirt, danger and aggravation, Indeed, the Calders’ neighbor has now applied for a permit to improve a five-acre strawberry bed. For this, the hired agrologist declares, 60,000 cubic meters of gravel will have to be dug up, trucked out and replaced by “fill” — and a major drainage system put in place. Just to improve the size of the strawberries on those five acres, for there would be no actual monetary return, asserts the agrologist. By the way, these travails are to be of indeterminate length. Two years? Five years? Ad infinitum? Gravel pays big money, I am told. It is bad enough that ALR land and the bucolic peace of our Peninsula are threatened daily by freeways and urban development. But instant gravel pits? There goes the neighborhood! F. Kerfoot Victoria Programs for all children in area Editor: I agree with Ms. Barbara Fraser that the article on the Peninsula Community Association’s sum- mertime program does not merit front-page coverage (Summertime fun only for ‘poor’ children, The Review, June 10). I approached The Review as Ms. Fraser would not allow me access to the telephone numbers of any board member of this association. I also asked that The Review not print any information until I had further discussed this matter with a board director. (Should not the director's name and numbers be public information especially if this program is funded by public money?) The issues seemed to have been overlooked by both parties. Firstly, the PCA’s admission policy which “allows” children to attend their program if their parent’s income is within their guidelines. This policy is contradictory and does not make distinction between wealth and needs, only family income, Children attending may live on waterfront property, go to expensive independent schools and still be eligible for a subsidy because family income falls within their guidelines. It does not take into consideration the work- ing status of parent/s, their wealth, or their needs. If the programs cannot be offered on a community-wide basis perhaps the government should revisit the issue. Should we not try to offset the subsidy so that more children may attend? Should annual income take into considera- tion part-time employment? Should not the needs of the chil- dren come ahead of wealth? ~ We are sending a message to our children if we discriminate by wealth. Can the PCA normally offer a program to only one seg- ment of the community? Would the levying of a subsidy on families with a higher income and a similar need be morally or unrealisticly wrong? Secondly, there is a lack of affordable summer programs for children of working parents in this community. It is encouraging par- ents to leave their children unat- tended or in the care of older siblings for extended periods of time. I recognize the good work done. by the PCA in the past however they should review their policy to ensure that advantaged and disad- vantaged children can play together at summertime camps and outings. Lesley Bradbury Sidney Unjustified charge Editor: Coun. Bill Gordon’s allegations (Letter contained litany of untruths, The Review, June 24) display what is, in a member of council, a woeful ignorance of the matters he discusses. We are asked to believe that council was in no way responsible for the increase in their own pay — it was just something they couldn’t escape. This is nonsense. Council has the power to rescind the bylaw. An earlier council faced with the same situation did just that. Continued on Page AS