City out to lunch on raves

All night dances are far

Safer than ‘pit parties’

Dear Sir:

Re: '‘City kiboshes raves’? (Terrace Standard, Nov. 5, 1997}.

I shake my head in disbelief at our city in general, and Steve Scott in particular. 1 frequently attend these ‘raves’, in fact, I have yet to miss one.

Not only do I attend the ones held in Tertace, but also in Prince Rupert, and I have traveled as far as Vancouver and Victoria for the more advanced raves, with sponsors and professional DJs.

Lagree with Steve Scott on one point, that there is currently a wave of raves, It is not often that so many youth from al] of our surrounding cities are all riding upon the same wave.

Finding a place to hold a rave is often a problem, as it usually starts around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. and ends around 6:00 or 8:00 a.m. Most halls schedule their cleanup at an earlier time, and is the main rea- son why the recent Halloween rave was held in Ross wood.

‘Obviously Steve Scott knows little about raves, and acts based on assumptions. Adult chaperones are not necessary, for the people that put on these raves are over nineteen years of age and responsible.

People who have been drinking are turned away from the dance, and to drink alcohol at these func- tions is frowned upon, no matter what age,

Drugs, like ecstasy, surely are available if you look hard enough, but a rave is not based around the use of it. In Terrace, drugs are available at

- schools, private parties and other social functions, including raves, Do we shut down all youth facilities because of a minority that take drugs?

Mr. Scott also mentions lots of electronic dance music, and the key word is dance. People attend raves to dance all night.

Yes, raves are different than the usual dances. For one thing, there is more preparation with hair and

dress attire. Instead of supporting the local cold beer & wine and liquor stores, we support clothing Stores, drug stotes and others, buying clothes, glow- Sticks, sparkles, glitter, and hair products.

The atmosphere at a rave is caring, loving and friendly, there is no violence, There are fancy

- lights, glowsticks everywhere and lots of water

bottles, containing water (dehydration is a concem when dancing all night). Over half of the people are stil] dancing after 8 to 12 hours, and in the morning head home to bed, exhausted.

Obviously Mr. Scott has not ever danced for any extended period of time, otherwise he would realize

that there is no energy left for misbehavior. While:

dancing, young people are not drinking and driving, having sex, fighting or vandalizing property.

No one gets hurt and no crime is being com- mitted, unless dancing fully clothed to “‘electronic music’” has suddenly become one. Ravers are aged between 16 and 25, averaging 19. There are no bul- lies looking for a fight, or older people pushing drugs, as this is nol tolerated at raves.

The raving generation is similar to the hippie gen- eration, who listened to music parents despised, wore their hair in strange ways and dressed differ- ently. Judging from news clips, movies and books, there were many more drugs at their dances and music festivals than at raves.

But dancing is the most popular activity that many generations of young peopic have in common over lime, If you are under the age of 19 in Terrace, there is no place to go and just dance, as all ihe dance facilities serve alcohol. And you wonder why half of the people in the bars are underage.

Private parties are not good dance facilities due to lack of room and noise complaints from neighbors.

When [ travelled to Costa Rica at 13, teens were the majority in the discos, but they were not served alcohol, Needless to say, vandalism, loitering and violence was unbeard of, as they were all having a good time, dancing inside the discos with their friends. Parents would pick up the teens at various curfews, or be there for an evening out.

Ravers are not interested in drinking, just danc- ing. By curtailing all-night raves, a safe, legal op- tion of dancing all night and having fun is removed.

Life of northern pioneer unfolds in book |

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 19,1997 - A5

CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

The —

Mail

How many police complaints or interventions have there been during or after raves? How many teens hospitalized due to assaults, drug or alcohol overdoses? Compare that to ‘‘pit pazties”’ where teens are drinking and driving, fighting and being hurt. (Two teens killed recently in Prince George.)

How many years have teens asked for a youth center? Here we are, years later, still waiting. Mr. Scott’s attitude is demeaning. The City of Terme, and the adults that live here are always quick to criticize, but they never want to do anything for us,

So don’t start whining when the youth go to take these jobs upon ourselves, Young people in Ternee are isolated geographically: and culturally, -and when they organize activities themselves, Scott raises obstacles and barriers rather than providing constructive altematives. The negativity towards and dislike of young people by many Terrace adults is astounding,

We try to organize safe, fun events, and that's the best we can do, and so far have had no problems, No fights, no alcohol, no vandalism, just happy people dancing.

We cannot afford paying a commercial rate, as the money to hold these raves comes out of the pockets of young people, Ta hold a rave is ex- pensive ($2,000 to $3,000), renting the music unit, hiring DJs, renting the space — all of which sup- ports the local economy.

Profit is not the concern, it is breaking even, and making sure that everyone has the best time pos- sible. There is no major fund raising or advertising for raves here in Terrace, and to pay a commercial sate Would mean losing money.

Businesses and the City of Termce are bilter towards giving teens money to throw such events, so if a commercial {ce is to be paid I will personally come to your door, Mr, Scott, because I know you will be eager to help out.

Throwing a rave in Terrace is difficult as it is, but now Steve Scott has made it that much harder. Again it is the teens that are given the short end of the stick thanks to Mr. Scott.

Rosa Mikaloff Terrace, B,C,

Bag

Four myths of recall

Dear Sir:

Comments in recent letters to the editor, as well as quotations from the Premier and Helmut Gies- brecht are creating some confusion about recall. Here are four myths about the recall process,

' Myth #1 — Recall was intended only fox the removal of an MLA for gross misconduct.

Not true. There are other laws on the books that deal with illegal acts by MLA’s, The Chief Elec- toral Officer of B.C, has stated that he will accept whatever wording a recall proponent advances as the reason for recall.

This is a clear indication that the Recall Act places no controls over the reasons for recall — that is left strictly up to the electorate to judge.

Both Glen Clark and Helmut Giesbrecht voted for the law in its present form and should know that,

Consider the following quotation from the legisla- tive debate on the Recall and Initiative Act from July of 1994.

“‘No longer in B.C. can any politician of any party simply say: ‘Too bad! We're here for four or five years; We'll do whatever we want, and you can defeat us four years from now.’ With this bill, we now have to be conscious of the wisdom of ovr constituents... We have to have faith that the voters of B.C. have the wisdom to make decisions, and all of that wisdom certainly does not Jic in this cham- ber’’ .

The speaker? None other than Glen Clark him- self.

Myth #2 — Recall in Skeena is partisan and is sour grapes by those who lost the last election.

Again false. This is a grass roots initiative and in- cludes voters from across the political spectrum, in- cluding many who have never before been involved

No matter who wins the by-election to replace Heimut, the naw MLA will be responsive to the voters and will represent the riding In a manner ac- ceptable to the electorate.

in politics. The motivation for recall in Skeena is simply to make our representative accountable to the voters.

No matier who wins the by-election to replace . Helmut, the new MLA will be responsive’ 16''the’ -yoters and will represent the riding in a manner ac- ceptable to the electorate.

Myth #3 — We will have perpetual elections in B.C. now that we have recall. '

The electorate of Skeena simply would not |

endorse recall unless it is used for good reason. People who think that recall will become com- monplace do not have an appreciation for the amount of work that goes into a recall campaign.

Further, only one election for any electoral dis- trict may be held under the Recall Act during the period between general elections.

Myth #4 — The Canadian Taxpayers Federation

(CTF) is spending on recall cither '‘Tens of thou- sands of dollars’’ to quote Glen Clark or “Hundreds of thousands of dollars’’ says Joy Mac- Phail. While there is nothing wrong with receiving out- side help (all of B.C. will benefit from a successful recall), the CTF has speat only $694 on our local campaign. It would be interesting to know how many taxpayers’ dollars the current government has spent on countering recall.

The CIF’s motive for being involved in recall is to hold the government accountable for the budget lies during the Jast election. In Skeena although many agree that the government should be held ac- countable for having mislead the public, there are numerous other reasons to be displeased with our current representation.

Lorne Sexton, Chairman Committee to Recall Helmut Giesbrecht

re oe

HISTORY CAN be pretty dry unless told through the words of those who lived it

So that's why Cyril Shel-

~ ford’s From War to Wilder-

ness is a welcome publica- tion.

It’s a collection of letters his dad, Jack, wrote to fam- ily members covering his departure from England to fight in the Boer War in

- Southern Africa In 1900 to.

his setiement at Ootsa

Lake, south of Burns Lake,

in 1916,

“Through Jack Shelford’s > words we get a personal les- > gon in the folly of war, the expansion of the British Empire and of the European settlement of this part of the world.

The letters take us to some

Fr

: Boer War, into the United States through New York,

: to Alaska, down into British . 2 Columbia and up the Skeena River and then overland to a = homestead at Ootsa Lake,

‘A carpenter by profession,

4

of the worst fighting of the.

-actoss the continent and up

From War To Wilder. ness Cyril Shelford. $19.95. Available In Ter- race at Coles and Misty River Books.

Jack Shelford joined a cal- vary regiment in March 1990 and shipped out to South Africa barely a month later.

Ti was there he met several Canadians who seemed to have influenced the decision to come to this part of the world when his military ser- vice WAS Up.

“People in Canada work together in small com- munities,’’ wrote Jack Shel- ford. ‘‘They can obtain land as a preemption they claim and with hard work they can build a cabin of logs out of

the forest, clear a few acres -

of land, .and then get full

title in a very short time.’” “T fail to see how it will

be possible for me to do this

Cyril Shelford

in England, where all the good land is owned by soneone.’*

While that kind of broad statement comes under the category of easier said than done, it provided Jack Shel- ford with the basic frame- work for the reat of his Life,

‘What makes From War to

Widernss very readable is. Jack Shelford’s sensible way of writing his descrip- tions of his new country and new way of life.

Tales of winter travel and of the first days on the homestead are readily ab- sorbed and Icave the reader with a keen sense of events,

OF particular interest are the routes of transportation used by European setilers before the railway and be- fore the modern road system we now enjoy. The Skeena River acted as a water high- way and a wail to Bella Coola acted as a main con- duit for Francois Lake and Ootsa Lake settlers.

I's clear that Cyril Shel- ford assembled this book ss a tribute to his father and to his uncle, Arthur, who

shared in the adventure of |

setilement.

But it’s also clear that Cyril Shelford means for this book to be a guidepost for today’s young people. -

He says as much in his dedication: ‘‘This book is

dedicated to my grand- children, and all young people coming out of schools, in order to show them that there is a bright future for them — providing they develop clear goals and strive towards attaining them.’’

“Goals in life seldom come easily, which makes them all the more rewarding once achieved,’’

That last sentence could easily be the motto for the Shelford family.

From Ootsa Lake the fam-

ily grew up and outward in,

influence and size. Family members fought in the First World War, Second World War and established them- selves in business and in politics.

Cyril Shelford |s best known as a northern advo- cate during his lengthy sez- vice as a Social Credit MLA and agriculture minister in two northern ridings,

Shelford’s also written his own memoirs, From Snow-

Wood}, about the province's

Spare us this expense -

Dear Sir: A Terrace Standard news item tells us that the

‘Nanaimo RCMP and the City of Nanaimo bave . Charged: Kari Simpson $2,993.00 to cover police

costs when she spoke in Nanaimo.

Ms, Simpson brings a message of intolerance and held a meeting kere which was available only to persons with a ticket. Therefore the meeting was not open to all the citizens of Terrace.

Why are the people of Terrace paying for Ms. Simpson to give a private lecture? Ms. Simpson knows well how unwelcome her message is yet she expects the taxpayers here to pay her expenses,

If she intends to get a grant from the City of Ter- race to cover her bodyguards’ costs why doesn’t she apply for a.grant like other groups do? I, a8 a homeowner in Terrace, would not choose to give | Kari Simpson $3,000. —

Recently, when Marilyn Manson was to appear in an Albertan city, no public hall would rent to the band because of the incidents which often attend the band’s public performances. That city was spared subsidizing costs of the band’s bodyguards.

If councillors intend to subsidize residents of the Lower Mainland such as Ms. Simpson, please noti- fy voters of this at an all-candidates meeting. Then we can vote for people who will not squander tax- payers’ money on speakers giving private lectures,

Marguerite Clarkson Terrace, B.C.

Of bears and fish

Dear Sir:

I would have responded sooner to Rob Brown’s column ‘‘Conflicts and Interests in B.C, Bear Man- agement (Terrace Standard, Oct. 8, 1997) but 1 have been busy reviewing Mr. deLecuw’s paper,

First, Tony Hamilton is the bear expert for the Ministry of the Environment, not Mr. deLeenw.

Mr, deLeeuw’s article is full of his personal beliefs and not based on fact or proven inventories. In fact we do not have proven inventories for all of B.C. Mr. deLecuw even contradicts himself. ”

He states that trophy hunters only take animals which offer the greatest challenge (page 32) while on page 29 be states that ‘‘killing this animal is rel- atively simple.”

The only reason that the province chose to go on province-wide Limited entry hunting is driven by politics and not because of a province-wide conser- vation concem.

If Mr. Brown believes in Mr. deLecuw’s experiise then he must also agree with Mr, deLeeuw’s fishery paper ‘‘Contemplating the Interests of Fish: The Angler’s Challenge’.

Here he states ‘However, applying their principle of humane treatment of animals to all aspects of their sport, including angling, spells doom to all sport fishing because the humane treatment of fish clearly precludes their being hooked, played till ex- hausted, landed, and finally killed or released. Sear- ching for a suitable justification for the cruel treat- ment of fish in angling, while at the same time re- 1 Wiring, t the bumans., treatment of game n hunting, oily tightens the noose arourid the necks of both ac- tivities.” .

Gil Payne, Past Regional President B.C. Wildlife Federation ‘Terrace, B.C.

Fair play for who?

Dear Sir;

In the Nov. 5th issue of the Terrace Standard, Mr. Alec Robertson of the B.C. Treaty Commission is attempting to define ‘the words ‘‘fair play’. I don’t think he’s taken the time to look at it from every angle.

This is what it looks like when you're on the bot- tom of the pile, Alec.

The third party is the party that is directly affected by the outcome of the treaty negotiations for all time, Yet they were given litile or no voice at all in the treaty process. We were only handed two but- tons in this vicious game — the yes button (do nothing) and the maybe not button (referendum). There is no other choice.

Ase you trying to say we should push the yes but- ton just because the negotiations have taken a long time and cost a lot of money?

There could be a hangman’s noose attached to that bution Alec, you’d better have another good look. Or maybe you'd rather go back and rewrite the niles?

Lioyd Brinson Nass Camp, B.C,

LENE ESERIES ARATE RTT ROTATE

also : most vital resource. With Pionéered about carly life at shoes to Politics, and Think his uncle Arthur, Shelford Ootsa Lake.

published We