Wildlife Crystal Camera

Park sees meth use surveillance

expansion increases proposed
Pg. 3 Pg. 4 Pg. 6
TRU School of Journalism

A Clocktower Production

Same-sex
Newsbreak
The real Spidermen
Since 1999

Date-rape drug
Thursday, April 14, 2005

debate in
Kamloops usage increases
By Tyler Olsen one or two victims of such drugs a
Newsbreak reporter week. And that number, Dodd said,
By Robyn Roste is misleading. “We probably don’t
Newsbreak reporter Magda Nodzykowski headed see nearly as much as goes on,”
for a concert planning on having a Dodd said. “But we know it’s out
Annabree Simpson married her good, loud time. The 23-year-old there. We know it exists.”
partner, Natasha Elder, at Riverside student woke up the next morning Because most victims of drugs
Park in Kamloops almost two years with only scattered memories of go straight to the emergency room,
ago. the night’s events. Nodzykowski, which does not statistically track
“We got married as soon as the who attended the cases, precise
legislation was changed,” said concert at a local numbers are not
Simpson, who cried tears of happi- Photo by Ina-Cristine Helljesen bar in late available. But,
ness. In April 2003, the B.C. Angus Fraser climbs the rock face at Roche Lake. F e b r u a r y, Dodd said, “In
Appeal Court overturned a B.C. believes that the last couple
Supreme Court decision restricting someone slipped years, we’re
marriage to heterosexuals only. “I a drug into a drink seeing an
didn’t think this day would ever of hers. increasing num-
come.” “I just don’t ber of these
Same-sex marriages are legal in remember any- [cases].”
seven provinces and one territory. thing, just random Dodd said
An amendment to the Civil flashes of that that women
Marriage Act, called Bill C-38, e v e n i n g ’s between 16 and
would extend to same-sex couples e v e n t s , ” 25 make up
the same rights granted to Nodzykowski most of the
heterosexual couples across recalled. She said cases that he
Canada. If the bill is passed, gen- that, according to sees. Men have
der-specific terms would be friends,she been known to
removed from the act and same-sex appeared fine for Photo by Ina-Cristine Helljesen have been
couples would have the opportunity the majority of A photo illustration of the drugged as well,
to be legally married. By making the evening until date-rape drug being put however.
this act federal, there would be a the side-effects of into a woman’s drink. Yet, for all
standardized law across the the unknown the attention
country. The bill has been under drugged kicked in and she began surrounding drugs being slipped
debate since it was tabled in acting erratically, and speaking into drinks, Dodd said, by far, the
February. nonsense. most common rape-associated
Betty Hinton, MP for the Fortunately, with the aid of a drug is still alcohol.
Kamloops Thompson Cariboo friend, Nodzykowski, who does The term date-rape drugs usual-
riding, supports the traditional not know who may have drugged ly applies to Rohypnol, Ketamine
definition of marriage. “I’m not her, made it home safely. Hydrochloride, and GHB.
anti-gay-people. I’m not!” Hinton What happened to “These drugs are prevalent at
said. “It’s not about human rights. Nodzykowski is not unusual in house parties, these drugs are
Photo by Ina-Cristine Helljesen
It’s about protecting the right to our Kamloops. Graham Dodd, the head prevalent in the bars and the key to
Iain Stuart Patterson, an adventure tourism instructor at
Canadian way of life.” doctor at Royal Inland Hospital’s avoiding these drugs is preven-
Thompson Rivers University, designs climbing routes.
Continued on Page 7 emergency room, said that he sees tion,” said Dodd.

Kamloops is big on garbage INDEX:

By Suzie Atherton
Newsbreak reporter
A new fee system that will
come into effect next January
may be the incentive Kamloops
residents need to reduce their
high per-capita garbage rate to
the level of cities like Vancouver
and Kelowna.
Kamloops residents each
produce an average of 356 kilo-
grams of garbage a year, com-
pared to 218 kilograms in
Vancouver and 241 kilograms in
Kelowna. These cities have City . . . . . . . . .Pg. 2
curbside recycling programs,
and the garbage collection pro-
grams encourage production of
People . . . . . . .Pg. 3
less waste through a fee struc-
ture and lower caps on amounts
allowed.
Special Report
Kamloops, with residential Street Smarts Pg. 4-5
waste making up 60 per cent of Vancouver Kelowna Kamloops
garbage sent to landfills, is 218 kg 241 kg 356 kg
Politics . . . . .Pg. 6-7
behind Kelowna and Vancouver per year per year per year
in encouraging residents to
reduce waste and in offering
curbside recycling services.
Health . . . . . . .Pg. 8
This illustrates the per capita amount of garbage that
Continued on Page 7
city residents produce each year.
Page 2 Newsbreak Thursday, April 14, 2005
The future look of
Hillside Stadium will
include three new fields
and a fieldhouse.

Artist’s rendering courtesy of the city of Kamloops

Construction delays mean inactivity on the fields Newsbreak Staff

By Ethan Ribalkin
Newsbreak reporter
The $24.4-million Hillside
Stadium improvement project was
expected to be finished by May,
but construction setbacks in track
and turf development have caused
the schedule to be extended, chari-
ty events changed, and forced the
B.C. Lions training camp to go
elsewhere.
“At this point in time Hillside
Stadium will not be ready until the
end of July,” said City of
Kamloops assistant parks manager
Greg Zeeben. The construction
delay was created when the city
decided
to go with
geothermal
heating. Recently,
the piping for this technology was
installed under the track at Hillside
Stadium.
“We were looking for alterna-
tives for heating and cooling the
pool and field,” said Byron
McCorkell, director of parks, cul-
ture, and recreation for Kamloops.
The testing process for the technol-
ogy was lengthy, and this com-
bined with the winter cold snap
threw the schedule off by a cou-
ple of weeks.
“This will lower
hydro, gas and power bills
by 40 per cent,” said
McCorkell.
“It will become a premier stadi-
um facility,” said McCorkell. “It
will have the capacity to hold inter-
national events.”
The delays have caused the
Kamloops Track Club to go else-
where for its annual fundraiser. “I
hope the club isn’t negatively
impacted,” said McCorkell.
Construction obstacles have
also caused the B.C. Lions training
camp to go elsewhere this spring.
Debbie Butt, director of communi-
cations for the B.C. Lions, said if Managing Editing Team
the field had been ready, the Lions Special projects editor:
would have returned to Kamloops. Sarah Huston
“We had a great camp in 2004,” Page editor:
said Butt, “but the field is not Ethan Ribalkin
available.” Graphics editor:
When the dirt and dust has set- Alain Saffel
tled, McCorkell hopes to make a Photo editor:
larger deal with the Lions organi- Janine Stevenson:
zation for a three- to five-year con- Editing team editor:
tract for the training camp. Marcel Tetrault
A referendum for the Hillside
Stadium project was held on Nov. Editing Team
1, 2003 and was narrowly Tyler Olsen
approved as 54 per cent of the Ethan Ribalkin
nearly 19,000 votes were in favour
of the development. Graphics Team
Megan Nielsen
Andrea Werner

Sun Peaks hit Photo Team

Lu Huang

by tax audit Ina-Cristine Helljesen

April Hoffman
By April Hoffman Page Designers
Newsbreak reporter Suzie Atherton
Thanks to an ambiguous tax rule, more than 60 Joe Fries
commercial property owners at Sun Peaks have found Mary Beth Hall
themselves in the midst of a “project” tax audit per- Leanne Keen
formed by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Chris McKay
resulting in property owners receiving bills worth over Karen Slivar
tens of thousands of dollars in back taxes.
Special Project
If the audit is considered successful, property own-
Poonam Bains
ers at other British Columbia ski resorts could find
Photo by Megan Nielsen Robyn Roste
themselves in the same situation.
The GST rule causing all the problems states that Paul Robertson points to some recent lightning strikes in the province. He is
Staff Adviser
when a person purchases a property with the intention watching them as an indication of the start of the wildfire season.
Shawn Thompson

Eye on the wildfires

of renting it out, they can use the property for person-
al use up to 10 per cent of the time and still be exempt Technical Adviser
from paying the GST on the property. Dennis Keusch
The problem is there is no set rule defining the
terms of 10 per cent.
Since the GST was first implemented in January,
Watching weather to stay ahead of the inferno Journalism Chair
Alan Bass
1991, accountants have interpreted the formula as 10 By Megan Nielsen briefings a day during the the centres via computers.
per cent of 365 days a year since the properties are summer, monitoring the Besides the information How to reach us
Newsbreak reporter
available for rent year long. This way the property Kamloops region. He is on collected from weather sta- Phone: (250) 371-5958
owner has 36 days available for personal use. Revenue Watching for lightning call from April to October. tions, Robertson is in con- sthompson@tru.ca
Canada is now saying that’s not the formula, and is strikes, monitoring storms Robertson said that this stant contact with
calculating personal usage based on 10 per cent of the and catching wildfires year the Kamloops region is Environment Canada. He
actual time the property is rented. The result is proper- before they spread is just an “slightly drier than normal also obtains images from Newsbreak is produced by the stu-
ty owners receiving bills worth thousands of dollars in average day in the life of conditions,” due to the early satellite to determine what dents in the School of Journalism
back GST tax. weather forecaster Paul run-off in January and weather systems could be at Thompson Rivers University in
A number of people at Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Robertson. February, but it is nothing to moving in. Kamloops,
Lodge are being audited. Nick Kwasniak, owner of The Kamloops Fire be alarmed about. The 2003 The factors that predict British Columbia
Bear Country Lodge Property Management company, Centre monitors the section fire season, where a total of fire conditions are tempera-
Opinions expressed in Newsbreak
has confirmed that 12 of his clients have also been of British Columbia from 264,747 hectares of land ture, humidity, precipitation, are those of the contributing writers
audited. the northern border of Wells were burned, was a “one-in- wind speed and wind direc- and do not necessarily represent
Stan Braun, an accountant at Hartwick and Gray Park to the United 150 year season” that tion. As the temperature the views of the University or its
Accounting Co., also has clients being audited. “There States border, covering an Roberston said he would not rises in the summer and staff.
is no law or Canada Revenue Agency rule,” said area of 7.5 million hectares. expect to see again soon. fuels, like brush and trees,
Braun. “In the past the basis has always been that the It is divided into seven About 270 weather sta- become drier.
property is in the rental pool 365 days a year and that zones: Clearwater, tions in British Columbia Lightning is the main
has always been the accepted way of calculating it.” Kamloops, Salmon Arm, monitor conditions, some of cause of wildfires, starting
Revenue Canada spokesperson Dan McGrath said Penticton, Vernon, Lillooet them set up temporarily near 50 per cent of fires in the
the availability argument can be used both ways and and Merritt. a wildfire. Each station is region every year, the other
the property is available for personal use 365 day a Robertson, who retired equipped with the Canadian half being started by people.
year. “The two sides have read the same law and inter- from Environment Canada Forest Fire Danger Rating Robertson is keeping a close
preted it differently and it’s a point of contention,” in 1997, is the weather fore- System that assesses condi- eye on some early strikes in
said McGrath. “In order to resolve it, the taxpayer can caster for the Kamloops Fire tions and potential for fires. the province, which could
appeal. It may well end up in court and the court will Centre. His job is to give These stations collect data predict an early start to the
determine which interpretation is appropriate.” two forecasts as well as two from the area and send it to wildfire season.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Sudanese
suffer again
By Mary Beth Hall
Newsbreak reporter
In tropical Sudan, the largest
country on the African continent,
genocide rages in the western
region of Darfur. The United
Nations Commission of Inquiry
reported on Jan. 25 that “govern-
ment forces and militias conducted
indiscriminate attacks including
killing of civilians, destruction of
villages, forms of sexual violence,
pillaging and forced displacement
throughout Darfur.”
The United Nations estimates
that this ethnic cleansing campaign
has already resulted in 200,000
deaths and 1.6 million homeless.
More than 200,000 Sudanese peo-
ple have fled to refugee camps in
neighbouring Chad.
The Kamloops Salvation Army
church and thrift store is donating
clothing and money to help
Sudanese refugees that are arriving
in Canada for asylum.
While the Salvation Army is
helping Sudanese refugees in
Canada, the Canadian Red Cross is
helping refugees in Chad camps.
Campaigns across Canada are still
collecting funds in hope that more
people will give to the humanitari-
an crisis.
There is no shortage of charita-
ble souls in Kamloops. Citizens
saw images in the media of entire
Southeast Asian villages destroyed
by a tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004.
Companies and citizens of
Kamloops donated $215,000 to the
Canadian Red Cross to alleviate
the suffering of these strangers a
world away.
William Reese, president of the
International Youth Foundation,
said the worldwide amount of
tsunami aid totaled three to four
billion dollars within a month of
the tragedy; enough to help rebuild
hospitals, schools and develop
employment programs in the
afflicted countries for the next
decade.
Celine Calfa, the service area
manager for the Thompson region
of the Canadian Red Cross, has
ended the campaign to raise money
for the tsunami tragedy. But funds
for the disaster are still pouring
into her office. She expects the
donations from the Kamloops area
will reach $2.25 million in total.
Calfa is hoping that Kamloops
citizens who plan to donate money
to the tsunami tragedy will agree to
have their donations given to
another campaign that the
Canadian Red Cross supports, such
as the crisis in Sudan.
Referring to the tsunami disas-
ter, Calfa said that “People recog-
nized the catastrophe and the
urgent need for relief.”
“When it comes down to it, the
magnitude and level of devastation
of the tsunami, and the loss of lives
inspired people to respond. When
people see in the media the number
of deaths going up and up, they
relate and respond.”
Calfa said campaigns that get
the most donations “depend on the
level of devastation.”
The United Nations, the United
States and the European Union
recently defined 2.2 million
Sudanese as “war-affected.”
The new centre (above) will act as a new entrance to the park and include a gift shop, food services, sit-down concession,
theatre and eco-inquiry area.
Discovery Centre leaps towards completion
By Ethan Ribalkin
Newsbreak reporter
The Kamloops Wildlife Park is
developing its Discovery Centre,
part one of its three-phase $10-mil-
lion expansion project expected to
be finished by April 2008.
Since the Wildlife Park is the
only terrestrial zoo with credentials
from the B.C. government, the
Wildlife Park’s New Vision project
was created to develop its facilities
and programming to become a
popular provincial attraction.
In April of 2003, Kamloops
gave the Wildlife Park $3 million
from tax payer’s money, the lead
contribution to the park’s expan-
sion.
In the spring of 2004, MLA
Kevin Krueger announced a $2-
million infrastructure grant (base
of funding) to the park for the
Discovery Centre.
In 2003, the council decided to
Mentor program gives seniors chance to help
By April Hoffman
Newsbreak reporter
A new Elder Mentor Program
sponsored by the Kamloops Food
Bank and the Kiwanis House of
Kamloops is taking a step forward
in community care by using the
wisdom of local seniors to help
those in need.
The help being offered deals
with issues that stem from poverty,
like helping to find affordable
accommodations, providing par-
enting advice and teaching skills
such as how to cook on a budget.
Having lived through the
Depression, the volunteers are
familiar with coping in tough
times.
When food bank executive
director Margaret Spina took over
last September, she saw that in the
28 years of operation the numbers
of women and children (single par-
ent families) had spiked signifi-
cantly, from 677 in 1997, to 2957
in 2004.
Spina paired that increase with
the life experience that her senior
volunteers could offer, and the
Elder Mentor program was born.
Patricia Weatherill, a 73-year-
Newsbreak Page 3
Graphic provided by Wildlife Park
give the Wildlife Park $750,000 a
year from 2004 to 2007 for the $3-
million total, subject to the park
raising $5 million between the
same years.
“The city already gives $45,000
a year to the Wildlife Park for cap-
ital upgrades,” said Dave C.
Hilton, parks manager for the City
of Kamloops.
“The city also gives $207,000
for operating costs on an annual
basis over the course of the year.”
This brings the city’s annual con-
tribution to just over $1 million
from taxpayers.
“The Vancouver Aquarium is
attributing the marine life, but no
one else in the province is doing
Photo by Ethan Ribalkin
the terrestrial life,” said Rob Purdy,
general manager of the B.C. Zef, an 18-year-old tiger will spend the rest of his life at the
Wildlife Park. park and will be replaced with an animal native to British
The total cost of the Discovery Columbia. Most non-native animals have been replaced.
Centre is $5.2 million, and the halfway to our goal,” said Rob start the Discovery Centre.” The
Wildlife Park has so far raised $3.2 Purdy. “The funding we’ve project is expected to be finished
million. “Essentially we’re received already will allow us to by April 2006.
with no money or clothes, you give
them a couple of items and you
have given them the world. You
see the weight come off of their
shoulders and they really appreci-
ated it.”
The volunteers work in the new
thrift store located on the top floor
of the North Shore food bank, and
will soon be participating in pro-
grams at the new drop-in-centre to
be located across the street at 164
Wilson Street.
“We are now seeing people
who were afraid of walking around
Photo by April Hoffman
the block, who are now able to
Executive director Marg Spina (centre), with elder mentors communicate and are confident of
Patricia Weatherill (left) and Joe Shields (right). their new-found abilities,” said
old retired phone operator was one whole life. It was the way I was Spina.
of the first volunteers involved. brought up, doing good for some- “This comes from the elder
“The program started with one,” said Weatherill. “If you feel mentors.”
Patricia,” said Spina. “She has good it makes the world bright and The Elder Mentor program also
office experience, and is a warm shiny. Since I’ve retired, I don’t works by reaching out to seniors
caring person with many talents think I’ve been as happy as since by making them feel comfortable
and communication skills. She I’ve been here.” using the food bank, while adding
would introduce people on how to Another devoted volunteer is to the volunteer’s lives by provid-
use the telephone, take messages retired tour bus driver Joe Shields, ing a social outlet.
and greet the public. Most of us 71, who has been with the food Spina said that seniors only
take skills like that for granted, but bank since October 2003. make up two to three per cent of
people with a disadvantage or a “It’s a good place to work,” said food bank customers. “It’s really
disability—it’s not so easy for Shields. “I think it’s great. You hard for the seniors to ask for help,
them.” help a lot of people out and let whether the need is food or friend-
“I’ve done volunteering my them feel safe for awhile. People ship,” said Spina.
Page 4 Newsbreak Thursday, April 14, 2005

Pursuing a higher high

Crystal meth is an increasing problem among young people in Kamloops
By Ina-Cristine Helljesen have a total number on seizures lead to substance abuse.
because those statistics aren’t com- Crystal meth has dangerous
Newsbreak reporter
piled. side-effects. A person who takes
Crystal meth may be the fastest The prevalence of crystal meth crystal meth can suffer sleep depri-
growing illegal drug in Kamloops in town is confirmed by Derek vation for days and have a reduced
among those up to the age of 24. Ryan Hickerty, 22, who said he has appetite. “Once I could not sleep
Over the last five years the signs of used the drug here. Hickerty said in for nine days and at that point
addiction to crystal meth and other an interview that he has paid things aren’t even real,” Hickerty
amphetamines have increased dra- between $20-$25 on the streets of said. “Everything feels cartoony
matically in town, making the Kamloops for half a gram of crys- and you see black shadow-people,”
drugs almost equal in popularity to tal meth, which was enough to he said. Conners confirmed that
cocaine, according to statistics keep him high for a whole day. visual hallucinations and paranoia
released by the Kamloops Society “Gib (crystal meth) gives me a are well known side-effects of
of Alcohol & Drug kind of rush,” he crystal meth. “I have people in here
Services in
Once I could said. “It’s (the Phoenix Centre) that, for
not sleep for

‘‘ ’’
March. like coffee example, cut out the wires of their
In 2000, nine days and without the television because they thought
fewer than 10 nervousness people are listening to them,”
young people at that point because it Conners said. “We see people with
sought treat- things aren’t gives you their noses caved in because they
ment for crystal energy and have been snorting too much,”
meth and other
even real keeps you Conners added.
amphetamines Derek Hickerty
awake for Conners said that crystal meth is
through the extended equally popular between both gen-
Phoenix Centre, but, for the 2004- periods of time. ders. “You find that girls go on it to
2005 fiscal year, the number I know a lot of people who take lose weight...and the guys like it
jumped to 90 people. The Phoenix crystal meth, and more and more because they feel they are on top of
Centre is operated by the people are experimenting with it the world.” The increased energy
Kamloops Society of Alcohol & everyday,” said Hickerty, who took can give people the feeling of
Drug Services. his first dose when he was 16. power and superiority and make
Jeff Conners, a youth addiction In November 2004, the Phoenix exercising easier. “It’s so easy to
counsellor at the Phoenix Centre, Centre created a program to deal get perfect abs when you are high,”
said in an interview that crystal with crystal meth. It has since been Hickerty said. He said he can easi-
meth is becoming popular among recognized nationally and was pro- ly work out three or four hours
young people in town because it’s filed in an hour-long Fifth Estate while he’s on crystal meth.
cheap, easily accessible and has a broadcast on March 23. Conners said it is hard to kick
prolonged high. “I don’t know the Data compiled during the treat- the addiction of an extremely
exact percentage of users coming ment program shows that the seven addictive drug like crystal meth
through here identifying crystal people who participated were because it becomes difficult to live
meth as their major problem right doing better “spiritually, psycho- without the effects of the intoxica-
now, but I believe it’s close to 50 logically, socially and physically,” tion. A person can become
per cent,” Conners said. said Conners. He added that more depressed for weeks and then is
Cpl. Fran Bethell said the study is needed to estimate the more likely to go back to using the
RCMP hasn’t seen evidence of an long-term effects of the treatment. drug. Hickerty said that sometimes
increase of crystal meth in Cpl. Bethell said the police are when he did not have crystal meth
Kamloops. “We have heard about also fighting drugs through preven- for a day, he would feel sick and
it and we are certainly concerned tion programs aimed at elementary weak. “I was working at a mill and
about it, but we haven’t experi- schools, and charging people with there were a couple of days, when
enced the increase ourselves in possession of illegal drugs in the I tried to stay clean, I would either Photo Illustration by Ina-Cristine Helljesen
terms of seizure,” Cpl. Bethell hope that, once convicted, they not want to go to work and not pro- Crystal meth is a physically addictive and psychologically
said. She said the RCMP doesn’t will get help with the problems that duce well, or not go to work at all.” destructive substance. (Photo is an illustration only.)

‘Look ‘em in the eye and always say please’

By Scott Trudeau
Special to Newsbreak
The five of us are standing in a half-circle
beside a garbage bin at a place they call the
Hole in the Wall. The Wall is one of many
locations scattered in the city’s downtown
alleyways. On some nights, panhandlers
sleep here. As a bottle of wine is making its
way around some of the guys who make a
living on the streets, Gordy Camille, Dean
Simon, Jake Jules and “Splat” take a swig.
It may be a difficult way to spend the day
because panhandling, believe it or not, is a
hard way to make a living. The first meal of
the day for these guys often comes at noon,
courtesy of the New Life Mission. Five days
a week, the mission serves up a hot lunch to
panhandlers, the homeless and anyone else
struggling to make ends meet. Under the
roof of its entrance, five men are huddled on
a small bench. One has a pair of dark, pierc-
ing eyes framed by shoulder-length black
hair. His name is Jake Jules. I ask him what
it’s like to be homeless and forced to pan-
handle to make a living. Jules insists that a
university student doing a story on panhan-
dling needs to experience it first hand.
“I’ll take you around, show you where we
go,” he says. “We’ll start with lunch.” Inside,
the meal consisted of brownish-orange-
coloured soup, sloppy roast beef, rubbery
potatoes and brown-singed lettuce supposed-
ly resembling a salad.
A walk uptown following lunch is the
perfect time to learn the rules of panhan-
dling. “Look ‘em in the eye and always say
please,” says Jules. “Never ask a woman
with a child.” After arriving at the downtown
core, I observed Jules’ technique to learn
how the job works before approaching a
couple named Steve and Christine Griffin.
They refuse, telling me that typically, the
panhandlers they have seen look down and
out. Glancing at my appearance (jeans, clean
shoes and a winter jacket), he responds,
“You don’t look down and out.”
I asked 10 more people. “Can you spare
50 or 75 cents, please?” A few say “Sorry,
can’t help you.” But most snub me, acting as
though I don’t exist. I ask Jules how he deals
with the discouraging feeling of coming
away empty handed time after time. “You
get so many no’s in a day,” he says. “You
gotta’ get rid of that negativity.”
And with that, we were off to the liquor
store to purchase a bottle of “liquid encour-
agement.” Before drinking, Jules says a
prayer for me. As the bottle is passed
from one set of hands to another, Splat
speaks. “It’s a community,” he says. “We
look out for each other.” Five minutes later,
the bottle is dry, we have a buzz on and
we’re headed back to Victoria Street. Jules
and “Splat” tell me to ask a guy and his
teenage son. The guy stops, opens his arms
and gives me a hug. “That’s all you want?
Twenty-five cents?” he says. Turns out he’s
a regular customer. He hands me a toonie.
Before I know it, three hours have passed,
dusk has approached and the temperature
has started to drop. The lone toonie is all I
have to show for four hours of work.
After getting turned down again, this time
by a lone lady, I ask if she has any ideas on
how a panhandler should be dressed. “No.
Just be yourself,” she says. More than
appearance, maybe the public’s perception
of panhandling is playing a larger part in my
lack of success.
Jules walks over and looks me in the
eyes. “It’s not that easy is it?” By this time,
Gordy, Dean and Splat have left; gone to
purchase another bottle of wine. Even
though I collected only two bucks after ask-
ing 27 people, Jules likes my attitude. He
offers me a job on the spot. I politely refuse.
“It’s too hard on my self-image.”
Thursday, April 14, 2005 Newsbreak Page 5

Photo by Ina-Cristine Helljesen

Jan Corba plays cards to pass the time at the New Life Mission on Victoria Street in Kamloops. He rents a small room in town and stops regularly at the cen-
tre for food and companionship. “The New Life Mission provides a safe and encouraging environment,” said Terry Butcher, the dayroom co-ordinator.

The deep roots of homelessness

By Marcel Tetrault what causes people to require their society. seems like the kind of person that “The army wouldn’t even take
Newsbreak reporter services. “People that all they “If I hadn’t (gotten help) when could be an asset to an employer. me,” he said. Ineligible for disabil-
know of their fathers was that I did, I would probably be dead by The kind of person that should be ity, unable to obtain employment,
In the last year and a half, 42- they’d call them over and burn now,” said Powers. “I used to run able to go out and get a job. But it Powers has to find a way to live on
year-old Cass Powers has had them with their cigarettes. around with guns and knives. I doesn’t work that way. the $490 in income assistance
three different roommates, and he “They grow into youth, and are used to be quite a different person “According to their legislation, every month.
has punched out all of them. violent and troubled because they from who I am today. I’m not eligible for disability,” said “There are very few options for
“One of them, I punched out are full of rage and hurt. They get “I used to use the abuse as an a 42-year-old individual, with a
twice,” said Powers. into trouble with the law, they fall excuse, so I don’t have to take Breakdown of funding criminal history, and a mental ill-
Today, he no longer has any into addiction,” said Butcher. responsibility,” said Powers. Women’s Shelter ness on top of that,” said Powers.
roommates, or maybe it’s more “Other people have a mental ill- Powers had been in and out of ($547,832) Mitchell believes that tying eco-
accurate to say that today he has ness. It’s a complex problem.” provincial prison for 12 years. But nomic development to social
dozens of roommates. Jocelyn Mitchell of the during his single stay in a federal development is vital.
Today, Cass Powers sleeps in a Kamloops Community Committee prison, Powers told a psychologist “Put strategies in place that con-
hostel when he can, on the streets on Homelessness agrees. “When that his behaviour was due to the nect people with the economy,”
of Kamloops when he can’t, with we talk about homelessness in this abuse he suffered as a child. said Mitchell. “That’s the answer.”
between 50 and 200 other home- country, we are not just talking “He told me that it was an inter- Housing “If you are doing an economic
less people. The number varies about the guys living down at the esting story,” said Powers. ($635,657) development in Kamloops, why
Services
with the weather and the economic river. We are talking about moms “But then he also said it was a ($1,332,766) not encourage companies that are
Youth
and political climate. and kids and families living in bunch of bullshit. No one had ever ($517,576)
in the construction field to open up
Powers is blunt when asked cars,” said Mitchell. talked to me like that before.” Between 2001 and 2004, some of their employment needs to
what led to his current lifestyle. “All those at risk people, those Powers said that was when he Kamloops spent $3 million to unemployed youth that could be
“Drug addiction,” he said. It all people that are one paycheck away realized the abuse, both that suf- combat homelessness. trained,” said Mitchell. “After all,
started when he from eviction. fered as a child and the abuse of these are our people.”

‘‘ ’’
was about 13. Some crisis drugs, was a factor in his behav- Sheldon Kitzul, executive direc-
Powers had a The army happens and iour, he was the one that ultimately Powers. “They think I’m well tor at the Kamloops Safe Housing
violent child- wouldn’t you are out on made the decisions. enough because my hands work, Society, agrees that employment is
hood, and start- the street. “I realized that I had to take my feet work, I can talk, and I’m a a vital component of any plan
ed smoking pot even take That’s it for responsibility for my actions,” said fairly intelligent individual. Which designed to address homelessness.
to cope. me. you, too bad.” Powers. “Nobody had a gun to my on the surface is true.” “But there are huge access prob-
“People use In an head when I put a gun in that girl’s “They are not taking into lems to employment,” said Kitzul.
escape mecha- Cass Powers attempt to deal face.” account the fact that I have no “We had one guy who just got
nisms,” said with home- The realization had an impact skills and I have a criminal offered a job on a construction site.
Powers. ”I smoked pot to escape lessness, the federal government on how Powers lives his life. “I’ve record,” said Powers.“I’ve applied He has no tools, he doesn’t have a
from the abuse.” launched the National been out of prison for 7 ½ years at 7-eleven and McDonald’s. They hard hat, he has nothing, so how is
“They call marijuana a gateway Homelessness Initiative in 1999. now,” he said. “I had never stayed have a right to run a check on me. he supposed to go and start work?
drug,” he said. “In my case it was Kamloops has so far received $3.7 out more than three months As soon as they punch my name He is already way behind the eight
true because it opened the door to million of this funding. before.” But he emphasizes that into the computer, forget it. Forget ball,” said Kitzul.
other stuff. But I packed all of that In 2001, the City of Kamloops without help, he would have con- it.“The second time I got out of Mitchell said that the communi-
stuff in...with support and a lot of organized the homelessness com- tinued to live in a destructive man- jail, I was in my early twenties. I ty must be involved in alleviating
help, from places like this.” mittee to determine how the fund- ner. “If you corner a dog, he’s tried to join the army,” he said. “I the poverty that limits people’s
He is talking in the dayroom of ing would be spent. The money going to bite you,” said Powers. went in there and I sat down and I options and leaves them feeling
the New Life Mission on Victoria provided emergency housing, “It’s the same thing with a person. was talking to the guy, and he that there are no alternatives.
Street. People mill about, chat, youth services, improved food You corner a person, give him no asked me if I had any dealings with “Communities need to take owner-
drink coffee and play cards. services, and more. other alternative, you are going to the police. I decided to be honest ship of their poor,” she said. “I do
Up to 120 people come through “All of those things improve the have problems.” and told him I had a record, told not believe that poverty is some-
the doors of the mission every day day-to-day life of folks,” said “Things are much better now. him I just got out of jail for armed thing shameful. I do not believe
for food, rest and friendship. Mitchell. I’m a lot calmer. People don’t robbery,” said Powers. that communities should hide
“There are a hundred reasons,” And help the homeless deal bother me. I don’t get upset.” “He just kind of looked at me poverty. I think that communities
said Terry Butcher, the dayroom with the issues in their lives that Powers comes off as calm, and said, ‘Yeah, like we are going should stand up and say we want to
co-ordinator, when asked about make it difficult to function in articulate, and intelligent. He to give you a loaded M-16.’ ” do something about it.”
Page 6
Ernie Schmidt, leader of the United Peoples’ Action Party.
Voting on
the vote
By Sarah Huston
Newsbreak reporter
More voter power and a mixed
party representation are what the
proposed change to British
Columbia’s electoral system is
about. A referendum will take
place on May 17.
Kamloops residents can expect
more candidate choices and new
electoral boundaries.
With the proposed single trans-
ferable vote system, emphasis will
be placed on individual candidates
rather than political parties. Voters
will be ranking candidates on pref-
erence and not on party platforms.
In January 2004, the Liberal
government formed the Citizens’
Assembly, comprised of 160 ran-
domly selected British Columbians
to debate a new electoral system
for British Columbia.
According to the Assembly’s
recommendation, single transfer-
able vote, each party’s share of
seats in the legislature will reflect
its share of voters.
“Voters will feel more satisfied
because there are more candidates
to choose from,” said Ray Jones,
Kamloops representative for the
Citizens’ Assembly.
Kamloops would become part
of a larger region that may include
up to five constituencies with five
elected candidates.
According to Liberal MLA
Claude Richmond, the drawback of
the proposed single transferable
vote system is the restructuring of
boundaries. “The boundaries that
are drawn in are silly, we
(Kamloops) might be grouped with
places such as Salmon Arm,
Merritt and the south Caribou,”
adding that large boundaries could
force people to travel to another
centre to speak with a MLA.
Grant Fraser, Kamloops candi-
date for the Green Party, thinks the
public will benefit the most
because people will no longer be
exposed to “fear campaigning,” in
which, “parties make the voters
feel that they have to vote for their
party in order that the other party
will not get elected,” he said.
“This (system) encourages indi-
viduals over parties and reduces
the authority of the political parties
as they operate today,” said Terry
Kading, political science instructor
at Thompson Rivers University.
Photo by April Hoffman
Camera
eyes set
to spy on
Kamloops
By Sarah Huston
Newsbreak reporter
The proposal by Kamloops city
council to install surveillance cam-
eras to provide a safer community
could infringe on the privacy rights
of residents according to a report
from the former Information and
Privacy Commissioner of British
Columbia, David Flaherty.
The report states, “As video sur-
veillance becomes more accessible
and pervasive, the need for guid-
ance for all public bodies becomes
more pressing.”
Currently, there are no federal
or provincial laws that exist which
prevent a city from installing a
video surveillance camera in pub-
lic places, only laws outlining the
purpose and how the information
Water: Getting smarter, using less
By Andrea Werner
Newsbreak reporter
Summer is the season when
green thumbs like to show their
love of gardening, while at the
same time the city urges residents
to conserve water in order to ease
the pressure on pumping stations.
Watersmart gardening is one
way to cut back on irrigation and it
could be making an appearance in
a neighbourhood near you this sea-
son. It even has its own category in
the annual Beautify Kamloops
contest.
Xeriscaping, which involves
landscaping with native shrubs,
uses the natural environment and
plain old good gardening tech-
niques to save water. Xeriscaping
requires less hand watering and
can use over 50 per cent less water
than traditional landscapes.
Water is the topic these days
because this February residents
Newsbreak
Schmidt creates his own party
By Tyler Olsen
Newsbreak reporter
His heart may have recently, as
he puts it, “gone kaput,” but after a
five week hospital stay, Ernie
Schmidt is trying to shake things
up in provincial politics. Schmidt,
75, is one of four Kamloops resi-
dents leading his or her own politi-
cal party into the coming provin-
cial election.
Five years ago, Schmidt ran as a
Canadian Action Party candidate in
the 2000 federal election, picking
up 544 votes. He said he would
have liked to have seen the party
expand provincially but was told
funds were lacking. So, he decided
collected can be
used.
In addition, there is no
legislation in Canada for video
surveillance, only the collection of
data and the disclosure of informa-
tion.
“The general principal is people
should have general rights to priva-
cy, the right to be left alone and the
right to not have excessive moni-
toring,” said acting director for the
Privacy Commissioner, Jay
Fedorak.
“Collecting information on a
large amount of people is risky
because you are not just collecting
the specific information you need,
you are also collecting information
on other people as well,” said
Fedorak.
Although the Kamloops RCMP
supplied with water from the South
Thompson intake site at 1300
River Street experienced clean
membrane-filtrated water flowing
through their taps. The water came
from the new $48.5 million River
Street Water Plant.
The 2005 user rate for those res-
idents will now be about $458,
compared with previous annual
McArthur Island Park Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.
to launch his own political party,
the United Peoples’ Action Party.
With a newly installed defibril-
lator in his chest, Schmidt shows
no signs of fatigue. His party plat-
form is rich with populist senti-
ment. He said he wants to get cor-
ruption out of government, to ban
contributions to candidates and to
make education up to the first uni-
versity degree free.
Schmidt, who grew up on a
farm in Barriere, feels strongest
about electoral reform. Instead of
parties receiving funds through
donations, Schmidt would like to
see candidates get equal financing,
paid for by a portion of the provin-
cial sales tax with abusers perma-
is neutral regarding privacy rights,
it sees surveillance as useful for
further investigations into crime
and assault.
“We feel that it is more of an
issue of keeping the community
safe than of privacy rights,” said
Cpl. Fran Bethell.
Kamloops Crime Stoppers has
recorded 735 break and enters to
business’ and residences, 534 auto
and truck thefts, 1,968 thefts from
autos and trucks and 1,020 assaults
for the year ending October 2004.
Kamloops city council has pro-
posed using surveillance cameras,
in an effort to reduce property
costs in the $200 range.
Utilities engineer Mike Warren
clarified the initial cost of the clean
water.
“The original contract to supply
and install the membranes was
$19.8 million.”
The city is currently saving up
$750,000 a year for membrane
replacement based on the current
Photo by Andrea Werner
Thursday, April 14, 2005
nently barred from all public
office.
It’s Schmidt’s dismay at main-
stream party politics that has led
him to where he is today. “Forty
years ago, if you had said I’d get
politically active, I’d have said you
were crazy,” said Schmidt.
The former logger and truck
driver is realistic about his party’s
chances of breaking into British
Columbia’s two party political cli-
mate. While he would love to form
the next government, Schmidt said
he would be happy to run 30 or
more candidates and elect one or
two. “I don’t do this for any fame
or glory,” he said. “I see a terrific
country going downhill fast.”
A view of a Kamloops
street. Photo
illustration.
Photo by
Sarah
Huston
crime and
theft in the
city.
Most surveillance
cameras are placed in areas that
are considered high-crime in areas
such as strip clubs and bars, said
Robert McDiarmid, head of the
Bar Association in Kamloops.
Kamloops has two strip bars.
Chris Rae, owner of Rendezvous,
said she has no problem with video
surveillance, but “it would kill my
business,” said Rae.
Risk manager for the City of
Kamloops, Terry Pile, who brought
forward the proposal to city coun-
cil on Nov. 30, 2004.
“We are in the preliminary
stages in looking at what location
we will install the camera,” said
Pile.
10-year warranty, but Warren said
that cost could drop because the
membranes may last more than 15
years. In the future, as membrane
technology becomes more com-
mon, cost is also expected to drop
for replacement filters.
Public Works and Utilities
director David Duckworth, hopes
residents will consider the cost and
where this clean water will go.
“I’m hoping people will realize
that water isn’t a free commodity.
It actually costs a lot of money to
provide to each household,” said
Duckworth.
On peak summer days in May
through August the city pumps as
much as 110 million litres of water
a day to residents. In the winter-
time, an average of 30 million
litres a day is pumped.
WaterSmart encourages resi-
dents to conserve water in the sum-
mer when pumps are working at
full capacity.
Thursday, April 14, 2005 Newsbreak Page 7

Same-sex marriage
Continued from Page 1
She said that its always been up to the provinces to interpret the law,
and it shouldn’t be a federal decision.
Hinton doesn’t think that this legislation should be the focus of debate
in parliament. She also thinks if the government doesn’t start focusing on
other areas, Canada will lose credibility in the eyes of the rest of the
world.
Hinton said there are more important matters than Bill C-38. “In the
grand scheme of things it (Bill C-38) is important, but it doesn’t affect our
day-to-day lives,” she said. “There are far more pressing issues than this.”
Jim Cullen disagrees. As an assistant professor in the bachelor of
social work department at Thompson Rivers University and the president
of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Kamloops, he believes that Bill C-
Photo by Ina-Cristine Helljesen
38 is a human rights issue.
In his Feb. 16 address to parliament, Prime Minister Paul Martin said David Dundee, lawyer at Paul and Company in Kamloops, says women without income or
that Bill C-38 would safeguard the rights of the people in Canada, protect property who are forced to leave spouses no longer have legal options.

Cuts to family legal aid

minority rights and guarantee religious freedom.
Martin claims that this will produce equality for all. Hinton said that
Martin is using this controversial and emotional bill to distract Canadians

‘tragic,’ says lawyer

from the real issues.
In the pursuit of democracy, Hinton sent out a survey in February to all
108,000 houses in the riding. The results of the survey will be available
in Hinton’s next newsletter. The survey asks, “Do you believe the defini-
tion of marriage should be altered to include same-sex couples?” And, By Ina-Cristine Helljesen and Company in Kamloops. statistics reveal that twice as many
“Do you support the Conservative Party position to create the status of Newsbreak reporter “Those cases are just tragic and referrals were granted in
civil unions?” She hopes that this will give citizens a means to express they stick in my craw every time.” 2001/2002 compared to the next
their views on this legislation. The $34-million or 38 per cent The number of applications two years combined. In
Despite her personal beliefs, Hinton said that she would vote accord- provincial cutback made in family filed for legal assistance in 2001/2002, 11,119 referrals were
ing to the results of the legal aid between 2001 and 2004, Kamloops decreased from 981 to granted, whereas in the following
survey. “I wasn’t sent to has left people who need it most 625. year the number was only 4,061. In
Ottawa to reflect my without any legal representation at The right to legal protection 2003/2004, 4,409 referrals were
opinion,” she said. “I the most critical moments of their provided by the Charter of Rights approved, slightly higher than the
was sent to Ottawa to lives. in criminal cases does not extend previous year.
reflect the opinion of my Referrals granted for family to family law matters, said Heidi On Feb. 1, legal aid services in
constituents.” legal aid assistance in Kamloops Mason, field operation manager at British Columbia received a $4.6-
Opposition for Bill C- have dropped by more than one Legal Services Society in British million increase in government
38 is mainly from reli- third, from 544 to 349, due to Columbia. funding for family law services,
gious leaders and those funding and changes in eligibility To be eligible for legal aid, raising the total funding to about
in favour of traditional rules, show statistics from the there has to be a history of domes- $55 million. The new money is
marriage. Some argued Legal Services Society. tic violence. A person is also eligi- intended to expand services for
that the government The most “heartbreaking” cases ble for legal aid in family cases family clients who are at most risk.
doesn’t have the right to are those where a spouse with no where the children are at risk either “Nobody will say it’s bad, but
redefine marriage. income and no property is “booted of violence or being permanently quite frankly it’s a drop in the
Others said that this out of the house,” and no physical moved out of the province by the bucket when you consider what
would interfere with violence has taken place, said one parent. was taken away was more like $30
freedom of religion, David Dundee, a lawyer at Paul The Legal Services Society’s million,” said Dundee.
fearing that religious
officials could be
required to perform
same-sex marriages or
allow the use of sacred
places for the celebration
Kamloops garbage: Kelowna and Vancouver residents
have more recycling options
of such marriages. are not based on the amount of Vancouver and Kelowna are
Continued from Page 1
The Supreme Court waste produced, said McNeely. A allowed two bags of garbage,
assured those concerned “A certain amount of that (a residence that is valued at while amounts allowed for curb
that forcing religious change in waste management poli- $400,000 pays four times as much side recycling are unlimited. If a
leaders to perform same- cies) has to be driven by the pub- as a residence valued at $100,000. Kamloops resident wants to recy-
Photo courtesy of A. Simpson & N. Elder sex marriages or com- lic… Previously there hasn’t been Beginning next year, the city will cle materials rather than add more
The marriage of Annabree Simpson pelling traditional groups a directive to change and now be “shifting all of the costs for col- waste to the landfill, he or she is
and Natasha Elder took place at to allow their sacred we’re feeling that there is,” said lection and disposal to the resi- responsible for transporting that
Riverside Park almost two years ago. places to be used for cel- Jim McNeely, the streets and envi- dents,” said McNeely. waste.
ebrations of such mar- ronmental services manager in Currently, residents of Kamloops resident, Wendy
riages would be unconstitutional and violate freedom of religious rights. Kamloops. Daniele, long
Cullen, president of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Kamloops, The city ago gave up on
acknowledged that groups have expressed fear that this bill will affect expects that the having the city
religious freedom. But, he argues, in reality the bill protects these rights new fee system take control of
because religious leaders will not have to perform same-sex marriages. where a house- the waste man-
“We don’t live in Iraq or Iran; we don’t have a religious government,” hold will pay agement issues
said Cullen. “There is a distinct separation between church and state.” according to the in Kamloops.
The main opposition to this bill has come from Christian churches. size of container Daniele says her
Cullen said that because Christianity is not Canada’s national religion, they choose for two-person
civil marriage should be free of religious and moral bias. “But it’s also their garbage household
inaccurate to say ‘Christians are against us,’” he said. “That’s not true. It’s will help reduce places one half-
fundamental minority religious groups who are against us.” residential full can of
Canada’s second largest Christian denomination, the United Church, waste. garbage at the
supports same-sex unions. Cullen pointed out that other denominations, To help with curb for weekly
like the Anglican Church, are also considering supporting the legislation. awareness, “we pickup. To
Cullen said that saying all Christians are against homosexuals is like say- would discour- accomplish this,
ing that all Muslims blew up the World Trade Center. age the use of “I’ve adjusted
Bill C-38 would finally create an opportunity for equality across the the largest con- my life to visit
country, said Cullen. “It gives meaning to the words equity, social justice tainers,” said the recycle
and social rights.” He also said that legislating same-sex marriage will not McNeely. The Photo by Lu Huang bins.” Were
guarantee equal rights for homosexuals, but that it will create an environ- city is also look- The trunk of Newsbreak reporter Suzie Atherton overflows there a curbside
ment for equality to grow in. ing into imple- with recyclables being taken to the recycling depot. Starting recycling system
Simpson is glad that the Canadian government finally regards her mar- menting a curb- next year, these items may be eligible for curbside pickup. in place, Daniele
riage as legitimate. Most importantly, Simpson said, is that people realize side recycling said, “I could
that homosexuality is not a choice. “A big thing people tend to use is that program. Kamloops are allowed up to three readjust to that.”
gay is a choice, something that I had ultimate choice in, that I would “Right now, the solid waste bags of garbage, an equivalent to In Vancouver, 32 per cent of
choose to have my family and friends reject me over it,” said Simpson. department is funded through the rollout bins that many homes in waste is residential. In Kelowna,
“It’s not choosing to be gay – it’s choosing to acknowledge who I am.” property taxes,” the amounts paid the city use. Residents in 35 per cent of waste is residential.
Page 8 Newsbreak Thursday, April 14, 2005

Midwife option not available in town Hospital with partner Steve nurses available to provide mater- “They are using some innova- tors at the clinic. At the time of the
By Suzie Atherton
Newsbreak reporter Latrans and midwife Kyra Warren nity care across the province are tive techniques (at the Thompson delivery, whomever of the six doc-
at her side. decreasing and our training pro- Valley Obstetrical Clinic),” said tors is on call, he/she will be the
Shawna Mackenzie-Latrans dis- There are no registered mid- grams for these professions as well Kuhn. But, he said, there are some doctor attending the birth.
covered that when it came to wives in Kamloops. “We have not as midwifery fundamental “That’s a big belief in mid-

choice for her pregnancy, she had
little in Kamloops. Finding that
person who would be by her side,
guiding her for the next nine
months, and helping her through
delivery, led her to Kelowna.
Mackenzie-Latrans, after
watching her mother have her sec-
ond child with a midwife, became
aware of the birthing choices and
decided that midwifery care was
what she wanted during her preg-
nancy. Mackenzie-Latrans gave
birth to her daughter, Semiah, on
Feb. 3, at the Kelowna General
‘‘ ’’
been approached by any mid- are not keeping That’s a big belief differences wifery-the continuity of care,” said
wives,” said Ryan Kuhn, up with this in midwifery... between the Mackenzie-Latrans.
spokesperson for the Thompson decline,” said a approach You establish a relationship
Cariboo Shuswap Health Service report from the the continuity taken by the with a face and a body, so that,
Area. B.C. Women’s of care. clinic and when you do start getting really big
“We’re certainly not against it,” Hospital and midwives. contractions and it really hurts and
said Kuhn. Midwifery care is one Health Centre. Shawna Mackenzie-Latrans Each pre- you are really scared, you have
choice during pregnancy. If a woman natal checkup some sort of relationship to fall
The other choice, having a fam- in Kamloops at the back on. Some sort of trust estab-
ily doctor deliver the child, is also does not have a family doctor, or if Thompson Valley Obstetrical lished.”
not easily accessible to women in her doctor does not handle obstet- Clinic could mean meeting with a Midwives are paid approxi-
Kamloops. Finding a family doctor rics, she is referred to the stranger. “We try to encourage peo- mately $2,500 per patient, an
who takes obstetrical cases is get- Thompson Valley Obstetrical clin- ple to meet each of us. It’s much amount that includes all pre- and
ting more difficult. ic, based out of Royal Inland nicer to have met that person,” said post-natal care; doctors are paid
“The numbers of physicians and Hospital. Dr. Liz Ewart, one of the six doc- approximately $500.

Photo illustration by Karen Slivar

Katie deGroot, a Grade 7 student at Marion Schilling Elementary, has benefited from a scent-considerate policy at the school.

Scent-considerate policy eases suffering

Schools adopt scent-considerate policy to alleviate allergic reactions of staff and students
By Karen Slivar
Newsbreak reporter
Scents can make you sick.
That’s what students and teachers
have learned at Marion Schilling
Elementary School in Kamloops,
after a student became ill when
exposed to cologne.
Perfume and fragrance can trig-
ger asthma, migraines and aller-
gies, said Veda Peters, education
co-ordinator for the B.C. Lung
Association.
Fragrances today are made from
chemicals that are “cooked in a
lab,” said Peters. Chemicals can
enter the body through breathing,
eating or skin contact. When your
nose smells a scent, you are inhal-
ing chemicals.
These chemicals are making
Grade 7 student Katie deGroot
sick. “Sometimes I get a headache
when I’m near hair spray, and
dizziness near paint and gasoline,”
said deGroot. When around scent-
ed beauty products she has trouble
concentrating and is moody. “I’m
normally not moody,” she said.
As a student, deGroot said
scents have affected her perform-
ance at school. “(I’ve) been getting
slower in school,” she said. In
math class, she used to be one of
the first five to finish a test and
now she’s last, she said. So far this
year, deGroot has missed five to
seven days of school due to her
allergies, she said.
So what changed? Grade 7 stu-
dents are more aware of them-
selves and are starting to wear
beauty products to class, said Judy
Wigmore, deGroot’s mother. “The
use of scented products is like sec-
ond-hand smoke, the effect of the
smell goes beyond the user,” said
Wigmore.
It has “been a real education for
everybody,” said school principal,
Mike Lesnik. In November 2004,
the school adopted a scent-consid-
erate policy requesting students,
staff and visitors to refrain from
applying scented products during
visits to the school.
The policy is similar to that of
South Sa-Hali Elementary School,
adopted in 2000. There was a
“noticeable increase in unscented
kids,” said Wigmore.
Schools are not the only place
with scent-considerate policies.
The Kamloops Symphony concert
etiquette asks people in the audi-
ence to refrain from wearing scent-
ed products. Its been in effect for
three to four years, after two inci-
dents involving asthmatics.

Medical condition exhausts student

Grade 12
student,
Danielle
Pedersen buildings is only about a block. class. However, 10 minutes is just
By Janine Stevenson
has a However, it is still a challenge for not enough for Danielle.
Newsbreak reporter
medical her daughter. “There is no time between
condition Danielle Pedersen is a special Danielle “can go about three or classes to go to lockers. All my
which makes needs student at South Kamloops four blocks, depending on the con- books are carried to each build-
walking Secondary School. The 2003 amal- ditions, but it’s very painful for ing,” said Danielle. “There’s pres-
difficult. She gamation of Kamloops Secondary her,” said Pedersen. It is not only sure to be faster. If you take your
has to wear a School and John Peterson special needs students who find the time, teachers get upset.”
full-length Secondary has been problematic time between classes too short. “The student reality is, there are
leg brace. for her because her classes are now Krysty Craig, a Grade 11 stu- two buildings that have to be used
Attending in two different buildings. dent, also finds the break too short. in the appropriate way,” said Vic
South Danielle has brittle bone dis- “It is difficult if you have class at Bifano, principal of South
Kamloops ease, a condition that requires her John Peterson because there is not Kamloops. “If you come to South
Secondary, to wear full-length leg braces to enough time between first and sec- Kamloops Secondary, you’re
requires school. Her bones are very frail ond block,” said Craig. going to have classes in both.”
travelling and break easily. This has Breaks between classes were Bifano said that all special needs
between two Danielle’s mother, Elsa Pedersen, changed after the amalgamation to students are timetabled to allow
buildings- worried about Danielle’s move- accommodate students getting to adequate time for movement.
about one ment between buildings. class. Between first and second Danielle’s mother thinks each
block a part. “Essentially she is walking on period is a 10-minute break for stu- building should contain all classes
her ankle bones,” said Pedersen. dents to go to lockers, collect for each grade, one building for
Photo by
Janine “She can’t hurry.” The mother esti- books and other materials they grades eight through 10 and the
Stevenson mates the distance between the two may need and walk to their next other for senior students.