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Worth a shot
Paula Cowell has only been on the job a couple months but we like what we see so far.
Cowell, High Prairie’s recreation director, is trying to get a new program started that would involve children working at the town’s recreation facilities.
The “Everybody gets to Play” program is very simple in nature and has a chance of succeeding. One good idea about the program is children and youth can volunteer and “earn” the right to use facilities like the indoor pool and arena.
The program is not without risk. The old story is that the children and youth of the well-to-do parents will take part in the program and get free access to the facilities. In essence, the ones who can afford it will get a freebie they don’t need.
And, there is a danger the indoor pool will become a “glorified babysitter service”.
But so what? There is a bigger value to be gained here than handing out the odd freebie.
Cowell hits the nail on the head when she says that in order to solve problems in the community, we have to get the children and youth involved.
“Children who are involved in recreation programs are more happy and are proud of their facilities. This is about community enhancement and development,” she says.
Right! Pride will prompt the children and youth involved to keep a watch out for vandals in and outside the building. Many extra sets of eyes will help local law enforcement officials.
Not only the children will watch, but parents.
It is also a good idea removing children from the streets after school.
“I don’t care if we become a babysitter; at least these kids will be taking part,” says Cowell.
The program is worth a shot.
Anyone interested in the program can attend a meeting Feb. 6 from 9-11 a.m. at the Aquatics Centre.
- C.H.C
No laughing matter
We have to admit that Craig Bissell is up in heaven today laughing his guts out.
This newspaper gave him a rough time about his stand that M.D. of Big Lakes councillors attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conferences across the country each year. Bissell said that rural M.D.s had to look out for their interests and not let the big city wigs do it for them.
Well, here’s what happened last November. FCM president Gloria Kovach, of Guelph, Ont. issued a statement in part that said the following.
And, for the record, we’re not making this up!
“Building roads while neglecting cities and communities will give us miles of smooth new blacktop connecting economic black holes. Without vibrant, successful cities and communities, we’ll have roads to nowhere . . . supporting neither trade nor travel.”
When the you-know-what hit the fan, she issued a second statement.
“We regret that the recent FCM statement regarding the need for continued federal investment in municipal infrastructure was misunderstood.”
Blah, blah, blah!
“On the contrary, we wanted to underline the need for continued federal infrastructure investments in our municipalities,” she added.
There’s a lot we could say but what would be the point?
Kovach is one scary dude. We’re not laughing.
- C.H.C
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