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Enjoying life what mentoring program is about By RICHARD VIVIAN The Champion A n hour a week could make a world of dif- ference in the life of a child. That's why the Big Brothers Association of Halton is looking for at least 10 Milton volunteers. "More and more, children are feeling lost and lonely, so this is a great program to address that need," Lena Bassford of Big Ages 2+ Wanted for TV & Movie Jobs! No Fees!! Men I Women __16-65 years needed for same No extras. Parents call (416) 221-3829 Brothers said of the In-school Mentoring Program. "The children that just need that extra little bit of attention absolutely blossoms. It's so wonderful to see a child who was experiencing some difficulty really start to enjoy life." The In-school Mentoring Prograin matches volunteer men and women from the community with children between the ages of 5 and 12 years. Mentors will spend just one hour a week with a child at their school. Volunteers are asked to commit to participation for a full school year. Children involved in the program have been referred by their schools are seen to be experiencing difficulties either academical- ly or socially - but this isn't a tutoring program, stressed Ms Bassford. Each week, the matches will spend their time playing games, sports, doing puzzles or anything else, within reason. "In one of our matches, the child had a real interest in airplanes, so the mentor and little brother took it upon themselves to become sort of experts in the field," Ms Bassford said. There are currently two matches in Milton, both involving chil- dren at J.M. Denyes School - but Big Brothers is hoping to expand that starting in September. "Obviously the more volunteers we get the more matches we can make. There is an incredible need for this type of program," continued Ms Bassford. "We hear so much about self-esteem - so much that people don't even pay attention to it anymore - but what we've found at Big Brothers is that a child's self confidence affects absolutely every aspect of their life. If they don't believe in themselves, if they don't think they can accomplish things, they won't." Poto by GRAHAM PAINE Anyone interested in volunteering their time in the prograin or Michael, a student in the tn-school Mentoring Program, seeking more information can contact Lena Bassford at (905) 339- works on an electroniC Iab project with volunteer Lary 2355 ext. 224. Sweetman. àood What an absolutely great l I day to be Canadian citizen Canada's hockey triumph over the United States at the Olympics will go down as one of the most memorable moments in our coun- try's history. It's odd, but hockey is what gives this country its identity. It's what we do best and what we care about most. The homs were blaring and the flags were waving in Milton as in every town and city across the country, and it was just a great day to be Canadian. It should remain throughout our lifetime as one of those times when we will always remember where we were and who we were with when it happened. The earliest event of such magni- tude that I remember are the Kennedy assassinations, but just barely. AIl I can recall is a train that carried one of the coffins, and I think it was Bobby's, not John's. The Vietnam War was prominent when I was a teenager, but I remember the protesters more than the war itself. Protesting looked like fun, even if you didn't know why you were doing it. I remember being riveted to O.J. Simpson's freeway drive in the white Bronco, and where I was when the verdict came back not guilty. I kept a television beside my computer for almost the whole trial, but had to listen to the verdict on the radio because I was on my way to a meeting. On the loose September I1 ls in a category of its own. None of us will ever forget that shocking event, especially watching on live television when the towers collapsed. I don't remember when Elvis Presley died, but I was never a fan of his. I do remember when Toronto won the Stanley Cup in 1967 and just about everything from 1972. The first game in the Summit Series I remember Phil Esposito falling when he came out on the ice to be introduced and Canada get- ting an early lead. I went off to my own hockey gaine, confident that it was going to be a slaughter. They announced the scores during our game and everybody was in a state of shock. It had been a slaughter, but in favour of the wrong teain. Later, of course, when they got to Russia, they let school out early and everybody was riveted to their televisions as the country virtually shut down. I started to watch the final game ai school, but then left and walked home because il was too distracting. When Paul Henderson scored I was sitting in my living room by myself, with the rat-tat-tat of my mother's electric typewriter in the background. Lots of other events are memo- rable, such as Joe Carter's home run to win the World Series, but that't sort of in a secondary class. I would have thought that the day the Second World War ended would have surpassed anything in my lifetime, so I asked my father about il. Werc there big celebra- tions in the streets? Did everybody go crazy? He was in Toronto ai the time when it was announced the war was over and didn't recall peo- ple dancing in the streets or wild celebrations. It wasn't a big sur- prise. The war had been winding down for a while, he told me, and everyone knew it was just a matter of time. He did suggest to me, though, that I ask somebody else. We ail have our personal memo- ries we'll never forget, such as when our children were bom, but pretty much for me, the most mem- orable public events during my lifetime, besides September I1, are hockey gaines and O.J. Simpson. I don't think O. J. Simpson has anything to do with being a proud Canadian, but hockey certainly does.