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Making his mark
For you history buffs out there, what important event occurred 30 years ago today, on Feb. 6, 1976?
This proposal, headed by a High Prairie man, changed the face of the criminal justice corrections system. His dream, if you will, is still in existence today because it has been such a valuable addition to the system.
Over 30 years ago, Wilfred Willier had a dream and a vision. In a November 2002 interview Willier, who worked in the corrections department for the Alberta government, told South Peace News he noticed something wrong while setting up a security camp in High Level.
“I had taken a survey of the inmates at the camp,” says Willier. “Out of 24 inmates 15 were in there for not paying their fines. I thought there must be something better.”
He contacted Chester Cunningham and before you knew it, the fine option program was born.
Today, people unable to pay their fines work them off and pay their debt to society. The community service work they do benefits the community.
Willier says people should not have to go to prison because they are poor and could not afford to pay fines.
“They’re not criminals,” says Willier. “It’s not a crime to be poor.”
It took Willier and his friends two years to get the fine option program going. It’s a credit to Willier and others to have a vision and see it through that benefits the poor.
Willier, as he should, takes great pride in that single accomplishment.
“It’s good for the community and it’s good for the individual,” says Willier. “It saves the government money. You can’t keep a man in jail because he can’t pay a $100 fine.”
But there was a time we did.
Hat’s off to a High Prairie man who truly made a difference!
- C.H.C
Please, not again!
Russian goaltender great Vladislav Tretiak wants to see another Summit Series between Canada and Russia.
Why? In all the hockey battles between our two nations - whether hockey fans want to admit it or not - only the Summit ‘72 Series was played on a level playing field.
It’s what made it the best.
Four games in Canada in front or our fans using our referees and playing on our ice. Then, four games in Moscow using their refs in front of their fans and playing on their larger ice surface.
All other series between Canada and Russia have been played on either of the two countries’ ice surfaces, most of the time using our referees. Either way, it was not totally fair.
There is no hope of ever catching lightning in a bottle twice. There is no more genuine hatred between the nations, not like when it was Canada versus Communism. It doesn’t exist any more with the fall of Communism and the fact most of the players from the two nations play on the same NHL teams.
Let’s remember 1972 for the great series it was and forget about plans for another, which would only fill the pockets of promoters.
You see, 1972 was special because it wasn’t about money; it was about pride.
And we won! In Moscow in front of hostile fans. It was arguably our proudest moment as a nation.
“The best hockey I ever saw,” says Tretiak of the ‘72 Summit Series.
Tretiak’s right. Let’s keep it that way!
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