TheColumbia Valley - Columbia Valley Pioneer

April 28, 2006
This display of wooden figures represents our society: everyone who may be affected by violence against women.
National Violence Awareness Week
Submitted by Siri Tilling
Family Resource Centre of Invermere
This week is a national week designated to raise
awareness and prevention of violence against women.
Please enjoy our display of wooden figures near the
David Thompson statue in Invermere, showing how
violence impacts us all, and reflect on a time when it
was you or someone close to you. What kind of impact
did it carry?
Violence affects people of all walks of life, and
women and children are the most prone to violence
and the least protected. One in three women in the
world continues to be affected by violence in their intimate
relationship.
Violence comes in many forms besides physical,
many of which are subtle but should not be minimized,
such as emotionally-controlled abuse. Often
before someone is fully aware of their circumstances,
they may have already lost their feeling of self-worth
and their ability to recognise what others consider a
normal way of living. The harm imposed on the individual
is life-lasting, and will also impact family and
other people who are part of their life.
Violence is preventable and the Family Resource
Centre of Invermere offers a wide variety of support
services such as counselling, support, advocacy, refuge
and someone to listen, to any community member
who seeks it.
Our goal is to promote health and well being of
individuals and families by guiding them to take command
of their lives. We can be reached at 342-4242.
The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 17
Skatepark
fundraising
in full swing
By Adrian Bergles
Pioneer Staff
Fundraising will begin in earnest for the new
skatepark with a goal of $169,000. For every dollar
raised, the province will match the amount.
Last fall a successful grant application was
made to the B.C. Olympic Heritage Foundation.
Under the terms of the grant, the Foundation will
match each dollar raised up to $269,000.
Right now about $200,000 is available to
spend on the skatepark, said District of Invermere
director of municipal works Brian Nickurak.
He said about $100,000 has been donated toward
the skatepark so far. He said the district isn’t
planing to contribute money to the skatepark.
Skateboard committee member Dave Penner
said he is very optimistic that another $169,000
can be raised. If that amount is raised, the foundation’s
grant would be used fully, and the final cost
of the park would be almost $540,000.
Mr. Penner asked that anyone with questions
about the project, or who would like to make a
donation, do so at the District of Invermere offices
on 8th Avenue.
New Line Skateparks of Maple Ridge has been
chosen as builder for the proposed skatepark.
Mr. Nickurak said $200,000 would buy a
“very basic” skatepark. He said the design will be
“firmed up” at the beginning of June.
Sexual health clinic planned for Invermere
Submitted by Fiona Bradford
A group of concerned professionals are working
towards opening an Options for Sexual Health clinic
in Invermere. This service will provide confidential
Sexually Transmissible Infection testing and reproductive
and sexual health education. There are over 50
Options clinics currently providing sexual health services
in British Columbia. The communities of Creston,
Fernie, Cranbrook, Kimberley and Revelstoke
already have this service available for their youth.
The Options Clinic will provide service not only
for Invermere, but also those residents that live in the
communities of Radium, Edgewater, Windermere,
Canal Flats, and at the Panorama resort. At this time,
working group members in Invermere consist of a
social worker, a public health nurse, local physicians,
representation from the aboriginal community and
other health services.
Surveys have been completed by the local high
school students in Grades 9 and 12; the response to
the survey showed a couple of key themes.
Almost all of the youth emphasized the need for
sexual health services that are easily accessible, anonymous
and provided by someone from within their
own community.
The Windermere Valley is a popular winter and
summer resort area which causes the population to increase
during the ski and summer seasons. Many visitors
and transitory workers do not have regular physicians
here, and may not seek care for sexual health
issues. It is also challenging for youth to make medical
appointments during the day. The goal is to have the
clinic open by September 2006, operating in the evening
on a weekly basis. The clinic will be located at the
Health Unit in Invermere.
The East Kootenay area has been shown to be an
area where youth are involved in high risk sexual be-
haviours.
A 2003 survey indicated that the Kootenay region
has the highest rate of sexually active teens in British
Columbia; 31 percent compared to 18 percent in the
greater Vancouver area. The report also states that a
third of sexually active youth still do not protect themselves
with condoms.
The clinic is a proactive response to these statistics
and will address the education and practical support
the youth in our community need. Funding sources
are currently being applied for to address the start-up
costs of the clinic. Volunteers will be needed to help
operate the clinic starting in September, and will have
the opportunity to participate in a two-day training
session that will provide the skills necessary to work
at the clinic.
For more information, please call Carolyn Hawes,
Public Health Nurse, 342-2360; or Fiona Bradford,
School Social Worker, at 342-9213.