FOR SEXUALLY ABUSED Committee hits ‘lack of solace’ SEXUALLY ABUSED youngsters on the North Shore often have no place to go for solace or safe- ty, says a joint North Vancouver District and City watchdog group. By CHARLES MAYER ‘‘Up to 25 per cent of all juvenile offenders before the court (system) are in need of residential care,’’ says a report of the Family Court Committee. Committee chairperson Ald. Mary Segal said in the report that detention facilities such as Willingdon often turn away youth from municipalities other than Burnaby, where it is located. ‘‘In addition, facilities are required for youths who are victims of family breakdown or of sexual, emotional and physical abuse,’” the report noted. Other points touched on by CFCC focussed on short- comings in treatment facilities for youngsters with alcohol problems. Because the North Shore has relied on five detoxifica- tion centres scattered around the Lower Mainland, and since these centres are becom- ing overcrowded, the report says North Shore residents are having difficulty getting treatment. ‘‘There is only one drug Pomp at council NORTH VAN City council chambers was the scene of uncharacteristic pomp and circumstance Monday night as aldermen and mayor were officially sworn in. In the presence of two red- uniformed mounties, new aldermen John Braithwaite, Roderick Clark, and Dana Taylor were sworn in by Judge Jerome Paradise. Ald. Braithwaite returns to City council after a seven- year absence. Also sworn in were re- elected aldermen Stella Jo Dean, Ralph Hall, and Frank Marcino, and _ re-appointed Mayor Jack Loucks. The inaugural meeting took place after the tradi- tional invocation given by Rev. Bev Ward, of the First Baptist Church. Presented with gifts for past services were former aldermen Gary Payne and Elko Kroon. YASHICA FX-70 RuIS PACKAGE FEATURES ° YA ° YASH ICA FX-70 BODY A 50mm 2.0 STANDARD LENS e YASHICA CS201 FLASH ¢ YASHICA 28mm [2.8 WIDE ANGLE LENS e YASHICA GADGET BAG x . Resources and alcohol counselling ser- vice on the North Shore,’’ the report pointed out. ‘‘This service (called Alternative) reports a 25 per cent increase in the number of juveniles referred to them in the past six months.’’ Treatment service cutbacks by the provincial govern- ment’s Ministry of Human raised concerns among CFCC members. They feel the cutbacks will compound problems for the sexually. abused children. With the disbanding of the Human Resources’ Sex- ual Abuse Team, reported cases of abuse will go directly to police, crown counsel and the courts without supportive counselling. More than 20 sexual assault incidents on _ the North Shore are referred to the counselling team every month. Recommendations put for- ward by the CFCC to District and City include increasing resident membership in the family court watchdog group to carry out a ‘‘court watch function.’’ Secondly, that both City and District councils state clearly the number of re- quired meetings a year for CFCC. Finally, that the two coun- cils rescind the requirement of a student or ‘‘young per- son’’ be a part of the committee. All recommendations were supported unanimously by District council Monday. —