Al8 - Wednesday, November 7, 1984 - North Shore News Former street kid provides direction KELLY MORTENSEN knows what it’s lke to be a bored teenager. But the adolescent who ran with North Shore gangs 18 now a_25- year-old youth worker trying to provide some direction for kids in the Lower Losndale area. By JOANNE MacDONALD “If they have no place to go, that's when we. start looking at things hke van- dalism, drug abuse, suicide, because they all stem from boredom,”” says Mortensen. “docan really empathize with kids, putting a rock through a window. It is a great way for excitement. The cops come, you run, it’s” fun, you've got a story to tell your friends. It’s shaking up some dead time.’ Getting md of the dead tume is Mortensen’s goal. Ever since he got a break and was given a job as an assistant instructor in an ad- vanced rock climbing course at age !6, he has been trying to make things better for kids. His) first assignment, working with vouths from a group home, gave him the direction he needed *‘‘! was helping them grow and | was growing mvself. and it really turned me on Since then Mortensen has worked tor the Calgary Pro bation Department as a “Life skills) for Youth worker’) and as a davcare wotker at North Van couver’s Queen Mary Com munity Schoo) He moved into his current position when major funding was obtained trom the Van courer and Kiwanis Founda tions last January, with an annual budget of $34,000 Has unentor lta Ap plebauin, whom Mortensen describes as oa father and a triend supersises the pro Riam oand ois alse dinator oof Queen Community School COO OF Maty “The results of this service have been favorable on what we've been able fo provide and what weve been able to do This is the first tume this type of service has ever been used on the North Shore he says boat Kiccarad toa. va Kaght Gon Sulbbaarines and Amusements ltd on Lonscdale for the past five years. Despite ongoing bat- tles with North Vancouver City hall over his licence and rent, Riccard: has continued to operate his business ‘‘for the kids.’ Says Riccardi “Kelly's done pretty good, coming down helping out with the kids | think there's a definite need for that You've got to have some- body down here that’s with the kids, to show the kids at isn't all going to be hard “Pm surrounded by seven mayor bars This is the mast densely populated areca of the North Shore DPhere’s a lot of kids involved here They ve got nowhere to go.’ he savs “ol give them a good atmosphere, and they have to abide by my rules They really lke this place. they like Kelly and they tke what shappening What gives Mortensen the mentive Foo Continue has work despite the vandalism and in the face of the rebuc tance oof some hids to become mvolyed” Thrice things One oof wasnt dommg at) chdin ot have the assistance of tra and) his ability to obtain funding or wouldn't be done Pwo ooatis a good thing for ome 1 can leatn new skills and Gdemeon shalls ot have Three my Strate the altcady fricnds family and my fiancee 7 he hearing loss? See us foe goor hearing ad Sarvice sales fears trattecdes and aciva e northwestern heanng centre “ 985-5552 1910 Lonsdale North Vancouver coe fer t © tered) Micor On says. More than that, he says he is trying to combat apathy by trying to make kids aware of their personal effec- tiveness and abilities. “Recreation is a wonder- ful thing for kids, because when we're playful is when we use all of our learning strategies If we can get kids aware of the skills they have and go through the process with them of how they've learned those skills — how they formulated the idea, how they got over the tear of the challenge, and what was the outcome then we've Riven the tools to do anything.’ says Mortensen Does he feel he has made a difference to the kids of Lower Lonsdale? “YP know the kids have made a difference ino me look at this area, some olf the stuff that goes on in this atea, some Of the things that these kids have to tive with and | see them run up and give me a hug and smule lt makes me belese that at's teally what we feel and how we osee the world inside ourselves that gives us the quality of our life A child's smile Cred wo ocan oo mmelt you 7" he streets KELLY MORTENSEN (inset photo at left) provides friend- ship and challenge for such youths as Ryan, Norman and Eddie who don't otherwise find it on the streets of Lower Lonsdale. 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