Page 2 Cassiar Courier February 1989 This month we are printing a B.C. Government news release first made avail- able in September, 1988, together with a description of the B.C. Community Action Pro- gram, a new funding program of the provincial government, in the hopes that someone in Cassiar may be concerned or interested enough to initiate some community action here. Province of British Columbia GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES MAJOR NEW DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE PROGRAM The B.C. government has announced a three-year plan that will add $60 million to the fight against drug and alcohol abuse. Labour and Consumer Services Minister Lyall Han- son said the new plan supplements $26 million a year currently spent on substance abuse programs, more than doubling these resources over the next three years. Hanson said a major thrust of the program will be toward prevention of substance abuse. “Unlike treatment programs, which are targetted only toward people with problems, prevention programs teach everyone and give people the information they need to make the right choices to prevent drug and alcohol pro- blems. “We want everyone in the community to partici- pate. This is a problem that hits home at the community level. We want to encourage individuals, groups and agen- cies to come up with innovative and effective solutions to this difficult and serious problem.” : Some highlights of the $60 million “Community Awareness and Action Plan” are: -Funding of innovative prevention and treatment programs at the local level, to assist communities in developing and finding their own solutions; -Expansion of outpatient treatment services and development of additional services to address the unique needs of specific target groups; . -Increasing the capacity of supportive recovery homes, providing additional long term support to those individuals determined to change their life- style and achieve long term recovery from sub- stance abuse; make -A province-wide, mixed media campaign to in- form individuals, families, communities and tar- get groups that drug and alcohol abuse can be pre- vented ; ; -An Impaired Driver Awareness Program, which will be taught to Regional Correctional Centre in- mates who have been convicted of impaired dri- ving offenses. The program will provide them with the knowledge and skills to make responsible choices about using alcohol and drugs; -Expansion and improvement: of the CounterAt-_ tack Program by funding hand-held breathalysers, media campaigns and research into developing more effective programming. Hanson added: “This is a major government ini- tiative, but money alone will not solve the problem. We must see a change in attitude toward substance abuse at all levels. Ultimately, the use of alcohol and drugs is a personal responsibility, so we will be working with com- munities throughout the province to help provide people with the information and resources they need to combat the problem.” He concluded: “‘As Minister responsible for al- cohol and drug programs, the Workers’ Compensation Board, ICBC, CounterAttack and Liquor Distribution, I believe this plan demonstrates the value of consolidating all these programs in one lead ministry.” B. C. Community Action Program The goal of the B.C. Community Action Program is to encourage communities to identify local issues con- cerning alcohol and drug abuse and its impact on the com- munity, and to empower community action groups to take effective action. The approval process for funding will rest with the local Minister of State in conjunction with regional repre- sentatives of Alcohol and Drug Programs. The preliminary funding allocation is for $2.2 mil- lion in 1989/90. Projects can be treatment or prevention oriented. Funding is to encourage individuals and their communities ~ to’ become involved in innovative projects that increase -public awareness while educating people to the fact that alcohol and drug abuse is preventable and treatable. - Funding would also be time limited, require spe- cific objectives, and be subject to ongoing evaluation. In- noyative programs that are successful can apply for con- tinued funding through Alcohol and Drug programs. ELIGIBILITY OF APPLICANTS Funding is available for voluntary, non-profit groups or community organizations. Applicants in this category need not be formally incorporated bodies, nor Opposition Leader Mike Harcourt The oil spill on the western coast of Vancouver Island has shown us once again that it’s a fragile world we live in. We’re learning the hard way that the environment and the economy are two sides of the same coin. The disaster killed thousands of sea birds, endang- ered marine life, and scarred miles of white sandy beaches. Along with the terrible environmental damage went econ- omic injury to the people.of the region -- the important tourism industry faces an uncertain future, the herring harvest and groundfishing are threatened, and the lucra- tive shellfish harvest has already been banned. Setting aside for now what our provincial govern- ment failed to do in response, I want to give credit: to en- vironmentalists and local residents who led the way in dealing with the spill. They volunteered their own time and effort to immediately tackle the immense job of cleaning up the damage, often working with just rakes, garbage bags, and their bare hands. New Democrat MPs and MLAs visited the stricken area to aid in the clean-up. We’ve called for immediate ac- tion on both the environmental and economic fronts. We want the provincial government to show leadership by ENTE ROPES LA: A TE RS IE EY. VR a taking a second look at the pending Pacific Accord gov- erning off-shore oil exploration and drilling. The oil spill also raises serious questions about the shipment of oil in offshore waters, particularly in winter weather. Without complete assurance that a spill like this won’t happen a- gain, British Columbians have every right to say “no” to off-shore drilling and tanker traffic. And we want to ensure that the area’s fishing and tourism industries -- vital to the economic life of the re- gion -- are fully compensated for the losses they'll suffer from the spill. That income must be replaced by those responsible for the disaster, the operators of the American oil barge, and not by B.C. taxpayers. Unfortunately, the Socred government was parti- cularly slow in acting. The minister responsible didn’t even bother to visit the area for a full week. At a time _when leadership was required, his response was to say: “We're ready to follow, but we have to be advised what to do.” What’s worse, at every opportunity he took pains to say it wasn’t “his problem”, it was in fact a federal res- ponsibility. He’s wrong, dead wrong. This most certainly is his problem; it’s everyone’s problem. Is this any way for the trustees of our children’s future to behave? Is this the kind of forward looking leadership we need as we ap- proach the 1990's? ‘ I believe we’ve got to realize as a province and as a people that we must be economically AND environmen- tally sound. The two are inseparably linked these days and if we continue ignoring that reality, we'll pay the price again and again -- now and in the future. SP 2a GA LOO LEE LTE ILE LI OGE ENT SE Sas LITT PS registered as charitable organizations for taxation pur- poses. Local government agencies and educational institu- _ tions are also eligible if the community supports and par- ticipates in the proposed project. Profit-making indivi- duals are not eligible for funding. It is expected that the various local groups and agencies concerned with alcohol and drug abuse will consult and cooperate so that if more than one proposal is received from a community, these proposals will be co-ordinated. CRITERIA FOR FUNDING To be considered for funding under the B.C. Com- munity Action Program, a project must advance the ob- jectives of the Program, which are: -to develop a network of community action groups in each region of B.C.; ' -to increase community participation in responsi- bility for the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse; -to explore innovative prevention and treatment interventions in the community; ; -to identify effective local methods of preventing _ alcohol and drug abuse, which may have application to other B.C. Communities. Each proposal for funding will be judged according to the following criteria: -evidence of community support and participation; -identification of local issues and priorities concer- ning alcohol and other drug use; -project addresses a specific issue or target with a time limited plan; -sound rationale linking plan with intended out- come; -clearly defined strategies; -measures of effectiveness, including specific out- come measures and how these will be collected and re- ported; -detailed budget for current fiscal year, including salaries, materials, administrative expenses to operate and report on the project. ACTIVITIES NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING Although the above criteria encourages a wide range of proposals, some activities will not be accepted, including the following: Pieters 1. Ongoing operational or administrative costs of existing organizations; 2: acquisition of real property; sh, profit making activities; 4. purchase of training, consultation or materials out- side of Canada; 3h projects incompatible with current knowledge a- bout alcohol and drug abuse and prevention; 6. research, other than evaluation of program effec- tiveness. DEADLINE Proposals from eligible applicants, which meet the criteria for acceptable projects, will be accepted by the Regional Manager, Alcohol and Drug Programs for each Region, on or before January 1, 1990, for the 1990/1991 year. REGIONAL MANAGER Mr. Ron Crawford, Regional Manager Alcohol and Drug Programs Room 619 - 280 Victoria Street Prince George, B.C. V2L 4X3 OFFICE - 565-6757 FAX - 565-6824 - Legal Notice - PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA “CHANGE OF NAME ACT” NOTICE OF APPLICATION Notice is hereby given that an application will be made to the Director of Vital Statistics for a change of name, pursuant to the provisions of the ‘Change of Mame Act” by me: Harold William Ahclem, of Boulder Avenue, Dease Lake, B.C. To change my name from Harold William Ahclem to Harold William Blackburn. ; Dated this 28th day of October, 1988. CASSIAR BITS & PIECES Congratulations -- married in December, but too late for the paper, were Jacklyn Taggart and Andre Witt. - They left almost immediately for Val d’Or, Quebec, where Andre has a job with C.M.D. Goodbye to Bill and Ginette Ashcroft and family. Bill was manager at the government liquor store; he has been transferred back to Terrace. Congratulations to Lorne Armstrong, who was re- cently awarded a plaque to mark fifteen years of service with Stikine School District 87. We received a post card last week from Mighty Moe. He is basking in the Florida sunshine for the winter: and should be back around May. Just to keep in touch, he wants a weather report. Well, Moe, so far this winter has been fairly mild, except one cold spell at Christmas for about two weeks (30 to 40 below). Snowfall has been above average (11 feet), with a record amount predicted for this year. Now aren't you glad you asked? Thank you to the Lions, Lionesses and Leos in Cassiar, from the children of Good Hope Lake. Thank you to Erickson Gold community for the donations to the Children’s Christmas Party at Good Hope Lake. Thank you to the school bus drivers: Mary Ryan (4 yrs. service) » Glen Compton Freddie Field Robin Bunz ; from Good Hope Lake Community Happy 29th (ha! ha!) Birthday, Rick. -Albert & Wenndee Tt was nice to hear the dulcet tones of Paul Broh- man on the radio the other morning. Too bad he doesn’t seem to have more faith in the Courier! Did anyone notice the “New Moon” shining last Sunday night at the Cassiar Lounge and then at the Cas- siar Curling Club!! Ae NEW ARRIVALS Proud parents Mark Bilton and Dara Sibley an- nounce the arrival of Kelsi Natasha on January 4, 1989, weighing in at 7 1b. 13 oz. A sister for Brett. Born to Scott and Liz Creyke on January 9, 1989, a son, Andrew Paul Eric Joseph, weighing 7 Ib. 2 oz., at Whitehorse General Hospital. Born to Brian and Kathy Mercer on November 22, 1988, a daughter, Laurel Kristine Amelia, weighing 6b. 12 02z., at Whitehorse General Hospital. A baby sister for Ross and Neil. Another hearty son born to very proud parents Lorraine and John Drzimotta, on Christmas morning, December 25, 1988 at 7:34 a.m., weighing in at 7 lb. 9 02. Brether to also very proud and (don’t forget) “big” Daniel who says: “But I wanted a goil.” Daniel is quick to add: “I like him and he likes me and his name is Logan Gwant.” The hospital Ladies Auxiliary presented the par- ents with a beautifully engraved silver mug because Logan Grant was the first Christmas ’88 baby born at Surrey Memorial Hospital. a aad chad Hello to Karen McGregor, recently arrived from Karen is the new manager of the liquor Prince George. store. She has been with the liquor branch for eight years. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MORGAN Love, Mum, Dad, Jay and Steve oo 2 = Se PSS ae PSS = "Ss ao oS et iy ib Cassiar Courier February 1989 Page 3 Letter to the Editor Dear Sir: After my recent letter to you and addressed to Mr. Rubis from Noroadco, in response to his interview of the previous issue, I received a telephone call from Mr. Rubis to discuss the letter. I appreciate the fact he took the time to call and discuss some of the comments I made. Mr. Rubis did in- form me that Noroadco had not taken over the highway in this area as yet, due to the usual slowness on the part of Victoria in completing the paperwork involved. Thus the © deplorable condition of the highway is still due to the in- ept ability of Victoria and the Department of Highways that presently maintain Highway 37. Mr. Rubis did assure me that when Noroadco does . take over we would notice a DEFINITE improvement within one week. He also indicated that we could call and let him know about any problems we encounter with the condition of the highway. He said he was interested in knowing of problem areas so they could be attended to. Please inform Courier readers that it appears Mr. Rubis is genuine in his efforts to improve road conditions when Noroadco takes over, so they should contact Mr. Rubis as problems develop, rather than wait until things deteriorate to the deplorable conditions that exist now. Sincerely, B. Lundale {\ S Sar B - P= ee otecer tee te = = = = = = = Sporting activities can result in injury to the mouth and teeth. These injuries are often permanent and repairing the damage is costly. proper mouth protection. protection possible. It is easier and cheaper to prevent the injury by using It 1s imperative that you get the best There are a wide variety of mouth protectors on the market, including mouth guards and/or helmets with chin and facial guards. suitable to your child's needs. Let your dentist help you choose the product most