Chronicle Since 1908
The
98¢ (plus HST)
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40010318
www.ladysmithchronicle.com
www.chemainuschronicle.com
Serving Ladysmith, Chemainus and area
Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead this Sunday
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Mid-Isle Whitecaps win bronze P. 14
Neighbourhood House lacks a future home Nick Bekolay THE CHRONICLE
Haley Lackie and siblings Miranda and Stewart Caplin have spent countless afternoons and evenings at Chemainus’s old firehall over the last five years. Lackie first visited the Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association (CNHA) when she was 13 years old. Fast forward five years and you’ll find Lackie, now 18, studying child and youth care at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo — a direct result of her Neighbourhood House experience and the relationship she formed with a former CNHA youth worker. Homeschoolers Miranda, 18, and Stewart, 16, found their way to Neighbourhood House around the same time as Lackie when the “youth action crew” they’d signed up with was relocated to CNHA from Chemainus Secondary School. Up until a year ago, Lackie and the Stewarts would visit CNHA nearly every single day to play pool, video games and “mad games of poker.” They don’t visit Neighbourhood House now as often as they used to “because we’re kind of growing up,” Miranda said, but they still come “fairly regularly.” They dislike the idea of housing CNHA’s programs in “a shed,” Lackie said, referring to the proposed relocation of CNHA’s programming to portable classrooms when the old firehall is torn down next year. Miranda, Stewart and Lackie attend Grade 12 Ladysmith Secondary School student Bobby Rice presents a cheque to Elizabeth Newcombe, cooking classes at CNHA every secexecutive director of the Vancouver Island Crisis Society, at a Pink Shirt Day event Feb. 27 at LSS. Stu- ond Thursday where they’ve learned dents and teachers involved in the school’s Aboriginal Education program raised $225 for VICS through a to cook everything from Thai green student-run hot dog sale. To learn more, please see page 4. NICK BEKOLAY/CHRONICLE curry to Egyptian dishes, something
Collision Repairs Need a Makeover?
they’re convinced they’ll no longer be able to do if CNHA moves to a facility that lacks a kitchen. And a lack of culinary instruction isn’t their only concern. “How are you supposed to run a free store from a portable classroom?” Lackie asked “How are you supposed to have a game of hockey in a portable classroom?” Miranda added. CNHA’s current location is equally important because of its proximity to “the Jungle,” Miranda said, referring euphemistically to the forested slopes of Waterwheel Park. “In the park, a lot of people do things that you shouldn’t,” Miranda said. “I remember when I was 13, this place definitely kept me out of it. Say there was a fight. You could come here and nothing was allowed to happen because there was adult supervision. It’s a safe place as well as a hangout.” “Neighbour helping neighbour” CNHA runs its programming out of the old town firehall on Willow Street. Over the last 16 years, the association has invested countless volunteer hours renovating and modifying the 4,000-square-foot, two-storey space to suit its needs. The former truck bays now house a recreation room filled with billiard, foosball and table-tennis tables, a small bank of computers, and couches and chairs. Office and storage space, an art room and a toy zone for kids fill the remainder of the first floor. A licensed commercial kitchen (key to their daily soup-and-a-bun program), a lounge, a counselling office and a small gymnasium occupy the building’s second floor. See Council Page 3
you can
Trust
We are part of an elite group of independent Collision Repair Shops, that believe in providing you with the finest quality in collision repairs & service. Our talented technicians will amaze you with their custom work.
2010 Customer Satisfaction Premier Achiever Award
Quality Assured Collision Services
Call us today & let us amaze you!
13070 Thomas Road, Ladysmith www.littlevalleyrestorations.com
(North of Ladysmith & South of Nanaimo Airport, off the Island Hwy at the Cedar Hwy Junction)
Fax 250-245-3042
250-245-3022