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The Oakville Beaver, W e d n e sd a y F e brua ry 5, 2003 - A 5 Just tell youth the "plain old truth': speaker By Melanie Cummings S P EC IA L TO T H E BEA V ER Adolescence is a time of ulti mate confusion. It is a time of per petuating anomalies for youths, parents and social service agen cies. According to Dr. Reuven Jhirad. a Burlington-based family and community practitioner who specializes in adolescent care, the teenage years are the most ignored among all generations -- when more is expected with the least amount of guidance. But, in Halton at least, that is about to change. At the first ever Truth About Youth forum, held at Halton Regional Centre last weekend, the 70 people who attended Friday's opening session proposed 25 top ics of discussion. Like Dr. Jhirad. who said he learns more from his young patients, than they do from him. community leaders are hoping to glean the same from this sector of the region's population. " We must show respect for youth. We can't be false or fake to them. Just tell the plain old truth and communicate in whatever for- . mat on whatever issue." said Dr. Jhirad. who was the keynote speaker at the weekend confer ence. To raise confident, happy and healthy young people " all you need is love..." said Dr. Jhirad, " and adequate nutrition, housing, social support, clothing, financial support, access to health care and adequate legal support." After Dr. Jhirad's presentation, youths took centre stage, and one by one raised their voices. In cre ating iheir own agenda for the conference -- a process called open space -- they wrote down their concern on paper, along with Glen Thiessen · Oakville Beaver their name, and announced it to the group. Luke Marshal of I'he Next Best Youths, parents and service Thing plays for the crowd Sunday providers then posted a time and as part of the Truth Alxtut Youth place to gather and discuss their forum on the weekend. topic. Anyone interested would for youths to hang out? meet them there and then. · Runaways. Among the topics chosen were: · Subsidized public transporta ·Affordable housing for youth. · Why aren't there more places tion for youth. · Sexual health services. ·Anti-gang information. · Lesbian, gay, bisexual issues among youth. · Access to services and jobs for disabled youth. While Saturday was dedicated to discussion, Sunday closed with a live concert featuring local bandsi The conference aimed to find ways to improve life for youths across the region after a report released last month revealed that existing services don't meet their needs, aren't well-known, or are difficult to access. The idea for the weekend con ference came out of a youth serv ices steering committee composed of 13 local youths representing students, street kids, and at-risk youth. The group formed in October 2002 as a result of a need identi fied by the region's social and community services department. Suggestions that arise from the weekend forum w ill be document ed, prioritized and put forward in a future Youth Services Plan. Fireworks synonymous with July 1 (Continued from page A1) rounding communities continue to attend this event in the evening in anticipation of seeing a fireworks display. "Despite advertising 'no fireworks' in promotional advertising for the event, people do not seem to comprehend that celebrating our nation's birthday, demonstrating pride to be Canadians and express ing our patriotism could possibly take place without the traditional display of fireworks," said Bronte Village BIA chair Kerry Salari. The Bronte Village BIA is currently approaching corporations to provide financial support over a five-year period. The business organization is also approaching residents for dona tions. `The Bronte area has approximately 10.000 homes, and if only half of these home owners contributed $1. it would raise $5,000." said Behrens. "This would go a long way to reaching our goal for 2003." Fireworks have not been part of Bronte's Canada Day celebra tions since 2000 because federal and municipal grant money has not been made available to the Bronte Village BIA for fireworks, said Behrens. Last year the BIA considered asking individual families to donate fireworks for a display, however that still required the hiring of a licensed pyrotechnician. "It was an idea that didn't go beyond the exploratory stage." concluded Behrens. Contributions can be made the Bronte Village BIA office at 100 Bronte Rd., Unit 2, at the comer of Lakeshorc Road West. For information call 905-825-3258. ^ Cobble^IQN&nberS ^ "Masonry & Fireplace Design Specialists" DESIGN & INSTALLATION OF GAS. ELECTRIC AND CONVENTIONAL FIREPLACES: ·stone & brick facings M A JE S iT C V ERM O N T Les Coccinelles hosts Valentine's dance Boating symposium Feb. 19 Les Coccinelles of Oakville pre school will hold its second annual Coccinelles Ball at the Le Dome on Saturday Feb. 1 5 to celebrate Valentine's Day. The evening will include dinner, raf fles, a silent auction, and dancing to an interactive DJ. Tickets cost $50 each and can be reserved by calling Lena Genier at 905257-6564. Tax receipts will be issued for $10 plus the full amount of any donations. All proceeds will be used to improve the environment and materials used at Les Coccinelles of Oakville pre-school. Les Coccinelles opened in 1979 to meet the needs of Halton's Francophone community. The pre-school is a non-profit organi zation administered by parents through an executive committee that manages the accounts, fundraising, field trips and parental participation in the classroom. Les Coccinelles is located at Ecole Patricia-Picknell in Oakville, and serves as an anchor point to bring the Francophone community together. The Oakville Harbours Advisory Committee (O H A C ) and the Halton Regional Police invite all boaters to the OH AC 's Third Annual Boating Symposium on Feb. 19 from 7 - 9 p.m. Taking place at the Town of Oakville Municipal Building. Oakville/Trafalgar Rooms, the symposium w ill have presen tations by the Canadian Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Halton Regional Police Service Marine Unit, Canada Customs and Excise, O akville Fire Department, and TO W ARF. Boaters who have not yet obtained their Pleasure Craft Operator Card will have the opportunity of taking the test after the presentations at a cost of $22. HEAT-N-cfLo eleccna(lam e · wood surrounds ·cast stone mantels · built-in cabinetry All t y p e so fm a s o n ryw o rk& r e s to r a tio n 905-337-2066 Now featuring Dimplex Electraflame Electric Fireplaces V IS IT TH E S P E C IA L IS T S TO S E E TH E D IFFERENCE ... 406 Speers Road, O akville (across from Rona Lansing) df» HOPED ALE S H O P P IN G C E N T R E Valentines Otf Superior Selection of Helium Merchandise Balloon Always Exciting Bouquets New Items! For All Valentines Cards for the Your Party _ _ Whole Family N eeds'# Over 10,000 Items! Consistently Brand Names at Extremely Low rices J o in U s F o rT h e 3 rd A n n u a l Oakville-TrafaJgar Memorial Hospital Good Health Expo NEV^Mental Health Awareness Fair M e n s W e a r Saturday, February 8th, 2003 9:30 am to 3:00 pm Hopedale Shopping Centre, Oakville (Third Line & Rebecca Street) TA ST CAT 1 , WINTER CLEARANCE up to HOPEDALE SHOPPING CENTRE 905-469-1879 It's almost Valentine's Day! 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