Children’s centre aids

Brady Fotheringham
Contributing Writer

ON the surface John
Moffat seems like any
other elementary
school principal — but
he’s noz.

Moffat runs Lonsdale
Elementary School's innova-
tive Westcoast — Energy
Children’s Centre, a drop-in
facility where parents spend
almost as much time as their
preschool aged children.

Similar to a day-care cen-
tre, parents are encouraged
to attend and watch their
children’s social skills devel-
op. Unlike day care where
parents drop their children
off and) come back cight
hours farer, the children’s
centre at the Lonsdale school
focuses on social skills and
the parent’s interaction in
tracking, their development.

“The biggest investment
to your child is the develop-
ment of neuro-pathways,”
Moffat said. “A lot of skills
kids need are social based,
not literary based.”

Referring to the tradition-
ai reading of books thar gocs
on in many day-care centres,
Moffat has overseen the cen-
tre which epened in January.
The children’s centre gets
300-400 visits per month
from ali over the North
Shore, Burnaby and sur-
rounding municipalities.

Moffat was awarded the
Friend of the Family Award
during the Family Services of
the North Shore annual gen-
eral meeting (AGM)
Wednesday evening. The

Van student wins science sil

Layne Christensen
‘News Reporser
A Handsworth student
has mined silver at the
1999 Canada-Wide
Science Fair.

Daniel Green picked up a
siver medal for his project,
Defining G Tirough Galaxy

AGAL at the Canyon House
is held to bestow an individ:
wal or organization with
exeeprional work done in the
name of the community.

Family Services of the
North Shore facilitates: pro-
grams for families who are
working through emotional,
legal and financial problems.
Family Services provides
other education and support
programs on sexual abuse,
domestic violence, employee
assistance, palliative care and
immigrant integration.

Also receiving a special
award Wednesday night sas
Kate Blassnitz, a family ther-
apist who works with couples
and teenagers. Blassnitz, 3
10-year veteran nn the busi-
ness, counsels parent-teen
conflicts and people dealing
with bereavement, abuse and
trauma cases.

“When people are hurt,
sad, unhappy and discon-
tented with their lives they
come and see us,” Blassnitz
said.

The guest speaker at the
Family Services meeting was
Dr. Hillel Goelman irom the
faculty of education at the
University — of British
Columbia (UBC). Hillel
stressed recent groundbreak-
ing brain research into child
development done by bio-
logical and social scientists

and the heavy caseload of

social workers.

The results of the brain
research demonstrate the
importance of a stimulating
environment during years
one to three. The environ-
ment of a child and the sup-
port that comes or doesn’t

Evolution. The national science

_ competition was held May 16

to 22 in Edmonton.

The Grade 11 student had
previcusly received the Gold
Award for his project, as well as
the Michael Creoks Physics
Prize, at the 17th annual
Greater Vancouver Regional
Scier:ce Fair ae Science World in
April. Altogether, 429 students

we

FAMILY Services of the North Shore president Kevin
O'Neill addresses a gathering at the agency's annuai
general meeting held June 16 in North Vancouver.

come with that upbringing is
as important as a_ child’s
genetic makeup Goelman
said.

The Westcoast Energy
Children’s Centre at
Lonsdale school has imple-

frora across the country com-
pered at the 1999 Canada-
Wide Science Fair, which is
administered by the Youth
Science Foundation,
Green, 17, was among 51
students from across the

’

mented these research find-
ings.

Single parents and those
from traditional nuclear fam-
ilies bring their kids “to get

out and be with people:

Moffat said.

iver

again,”

province to take home awards
from tiie national fair. B.C. stu-

dents collected sever gold .

awards, 13 silvers, 16 bronzes
and nine honourable mentions
as well as 1] special awards and
one Best of the Fair award.

Sell your stuff.
24 hours a day.
7 days a week.

— TAYLORMOTIVE SERVICE LTD. iar

SIGNS OF CARPENTER ANT INFESTATION...
© Scwdust from wall/ceiling , 7
@ Crackling sound in wall/ceiling

Dr. MILES PRICE

PEST CONTROL 926-0230 7

WORLD TOUR 1999

SATURDAY JUNE 26, AT 7:30 PM.
VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE AT CANADA PLACE

tAdjaceut to the Pan Pacific Hotel near Waterfeant Station)

732- 8014, 597-8440, 850- 6748, 985-9391, 942- 1418
www sahafavoga.ore _

7 COLLISION SPECIALISTS |

for Foreign & Domestic

NORTH SHORE’S

HIGHEST VOLUME
ALL MAKE.

1.€.B.c. VENDOR

@ Quality Workmanship
& Trustworthy Service * LC.B.C. Vendor
° BCAA, Approved ®

By Che Aome of the Hifetime |
f —~Guarantee >
Also Mechanicol Division. d Alternative transportation arranged.

ESPs ‘rocks foreign & Domes). 7 TALKING .* ESTIMATES +
CONSULTATION

174 Ave., Mocth Van ea co 988-7455 9