8 - Sunday, July 28, 1991 - North Shore News INSIGHTS North Van City Council has ‘turned deaf? to needs of youth A DISTURBING pattern has resurfaced in North Van- neighborhood groups, cannot suggest further changes to youth DEREK A. CAVE Trial Lawyer Over 20 years experience in the trial of major injury cases © Contingent Fees — * We handle all costs "687-0258 926-4133 couver politics, the last sighting of which was one year ago. The past two weeks have seen North Vancouver City Council stall or vote down critically need- ed action in the form of a youth dance club and the hiring of a Youth Services Co-ordinator posi- tion. The council’s inaction leaves younger citizens of the community asking the discouraging question: “What is the point of par- ticiy ating in the community pro- cess?’’ For years, people of the non- voting age on the North Shore were not given an opportunity to provide input into the delivery of services and to the development of policies that affect youth. However, changes started with the formation of the North Shore Youth Advisory Commission made up of municipal staff and council representatives, services providers and youth. Last sum- mer, this group implemented a program to solicit’ input from youth, in the form of a North Shore Youth Conference. {In October 1990, 300 youth participated in a brain-storming session at the Youthspeak Con- ference, the outcome of which was a report highlighting priorities for youth. A multi-purpose youth centre, centrally located, which would provide meeting space and dances on weekends, was the number-one solution suggested for the lack of places to go and things to do for By Irwin Costindie Contributing Writer A second result of Youthspeak was that 30 youth formed the North Shore Youth Council, which has since been meeting on a weekly basis. To the youth who have stuck with the council, despite its lack of finances, facility, paid co-or- dinator, skills development pro- gram, and more, the decision by city council is upsetting. A little room has been estab- lished during the past year for youth to make their voices heard in the community — to participate in this ‘‘democracy."’ But now city council’s move makes it appear that nothing has changed, and nothing will ever change for youth: that the con- tribution and participation of young people is not valued, that we have no power, that we can’t have a dance club, and that in a year or two everyone will have forgotten about Youthspeak and everything will go back to being ‘“*normal."* If city council has turned deaf to the plight of youth, then the hearing aid needed is the hiring of a youth services advisory worker, already approved by North Van- couver District Council. The youth council, as well as other services until this is done. Young people need skills devel- opment workshops urgently, so that they can understand how to organize, hoid meetings, do public speaking, do promotion for youth events and more. If this is done, the youth coun- cil can start to grow and serve the interests of all sectors of youth. Perhaps that is what city council is afraid of, and that any other talk by them is just lip-service to the community. Need there be headlines in the North Shore News describing yet another West Vancouver house party turned police battle? The simple youth answer is what the youth council describes as the Pressure Cooker solution. A central facility where upwards of 300 youth meet to dance and hear music on Fridays and Satur- days. Bowing down to a handful of corporate taxpayers on Marine Drive, rather than solving the youth problem for 10,000 future taxpayers is an outrage. A. motion to reconsider the hir- ing of the youth services co-or- dinator position is a must for Monday’s council mecting. Stop- ping the political games, and starting to give youth the power to control their lives is also needed. Fostering acom- munity-conscious and committed young citizenry will) solve the **youth crisis’ for years to come. That First Spring Car Wash Won't Scrub Away Winter's Damage! local youth. A youth newspaper, a drop-in youth health centre for Lonsdale Avenue, and skills development workshops are also urgently need- d ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER $98 = Barristers & Solicitors 945 Wost 1st St., North Vancouver 2 Ween guarsttee IMPAIRED DRIVING 984-4111 = (next to Beaver Lumber) Saturday 10em-2pm AFTER HOURS FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION FAX Crim nai Matters Only - to district and city council, to hire 926-3181 986-4366 956-9286 one worker to act as a liaison per- 300-1401 LONSDALE, NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. son between youth and govern- B 1 : } AGaOCLSSIC. cronarion| | MINIT ~ TUNE & BRAKE (ills The North Vancouver Youth Advisory Committee following in the wake of Youthspeak made a proposal, which was unanimously endorsed by afl members and sent bp aed espa Dass RRA YN ahs MASS Cea Renae on SEE EERO aS S25 save N ae at ETE . 4 WHEEL BRAKE neo ANY, one yeaa PACKAGE : OUR BRAKE PACKAGE INCLUDES ELECTRONIC ENGINE ANALYSIS Sere neatente ieee CHECK ALL ALTERS ‘ACE DRUMS AND ROTORS CHECK CHARGING 5 SYSTEM RESURF; CHECK wheel BEARING, CALIPERS, TIMING Ri HOSES, ADJUST CARBURETOR (F F NECESSARY) PARKING GRAKE CABLE "EXTRA FOR POINTS & CONDENSOR North Shore Credit Union would like to thank the Autoclassic Restoration team for the superb restoration of our 1941 Chevy Pick-up Truck. LUBE, OIL & FILTER CHANGE OIL* REPLACE OIL FILTER LUBRICATION CHECK AIR FILTER CHECK ANTI-FREEZE CHECK ALL FLUID LEVELS $4 ges “UP TP 4 SSEITRES OF 10W30 08 ‘SURCHARGE MAY APPLY ALL THIS FOR $4 4999 erira. This coupon must be presented for to mos vehicles This coupon must be. discounis. Only one coupon per service Otters may nics be combaed. [=] NORTH SHORE for] CREDIT UNION Fpitai inyour Communilg” “A FULL SERVICE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION WITH A \ DIFFERENCE " OTHER FUEL SYSTEMS - BATTERIES - CHARGING SYSTEMS - STEERING SERVICES COOLING SYSTEMS - SHOCKS - CARBURETORS - MINOR ENGINE REPAIR ORTH VANCOUVER Sse MARINE ORIVE WEST VANCOUVER 1525 CLYDE AVENUE ‘VISIT. YOUR MINIT-TUNE AUTO CENTRE AT 986-0386 MESA REN ERU IRE NERS TERE BRIA ESSN CONE EE TENE NSIT DS SIG 926-7353