HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-06-09, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1999. PAGE 7.
Katimavik an eye-opening experience for Blyth teen
Skye Lantinga
says.
There were frequent con
flicts, sometimes resulting in
members of the group drop
ping out.
“You really learn about
conflict resolution,” says
Lantinga. “If there is a dis
agreement, you have to work
it out.”
However, she had some
relief from constant company
as her job placements were all
solo while other participants
both worked and lived togeth
er.
Her first situation took her
to a seniors’ home in
Kedgwick, NB, a French
community.
While she has OAC
French, she says it was
enough for her to get by but
not well enough.
Lantinga says it was amaz
ing how fast they picked up
English. When they began
speaking English around her,
her learning slowed.
From November to
February, she was located in
Courtney, BC, working with
the Chamber of Commerce.
“It was one of the most
exciting jobs,” she says, “and
our house was right on the
ocean.”
Though she says time went
by quickly, the group mem
bers were not allowed to
return home for Christmas as
some could not afford the
cost.
Everyone stayed together
and had a lot of fun, she says.
“We went to the seniors'
homes and did a lot of volun
teering with organizations
like the Salvation Army. We
even got snow for Christmas.
Lantinga moved a little
closer to home for the final
three months of her work
experience.
In the Dundas and Ancaster
area, she worked for the con
servation authority at the trail
centre.
As this falls into the area of
career interest for Lantinga,
she was very excited about
the job.
Between working on a trail
brochure and helping with the
interpretive program,
Lantinga had the opportunity
to be trained with
Interpretation Canada due to
support from her work spon
sor Beth Stormont.
Though Lantinga says at
times things were very tough
(she called home more than
once saying she might be
home the following week),
she says the experience was
great and it is something
young adults should consider.
“It opens your eyes to a dif
ferent way of doing things,”
she says. “There are so many
different people.”
The hardest part of the
entire experience for Lantinga
was the lack of sleep. Coming
from a home in Blyth, where
she has her own room to get
away from things, she found
it difficult sleeping with so
many others in the house and
up to five other girls in the
same room.
“Some people’s habits are
so disgusting, but everything
worked out well.”
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
In spite of the bad days and
really tough times, Skye
Lantinga of Blyth stuck it out
as a team member for
Katimavik. a government-
sponsored youth employment
project.
Lantinga first heard about
the eight-month program
through a relative who works
in government. Through his
suggestion, she applied, not
thinking she would actually
get accepted.
However, last June she got
the call to join the project.
Beginning in late August,
Lantinga joined 10 other
youths from across the coun
try on the first three-month
leg of work placement.
Being forced to reside with
so many strangers, all
between the ages of 17 and
21, was often a struggle, she
Brussels
chainsaw
idea
on hold
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
There will be no chainsaw
sculptures in Brussels this
year.
At the June 7 meeting of
council, Clerk-Treasurer
Donna White said that while
there had been significant
interest, none of the people on
whose property the trees had
been cut down, wanted a
sculpture.
Also, supporters were
unable to raise the money.
“Perhaps we can raise the
funds for next year and when
a tree is cut down in a more
suitable location, we will be
ready to proceed,” said White.
Knechtel’s has agreed to
place a donation box in the
store to cover the approximate
$1,000 cost for the tree sculp
ture.
For lifelo
An investment in the health of our children
for today and tomorrow.
a You Can Make
ra Difference
X
Xf HUNTINGTON
DISEASE
HUNTINGTON SOCIETY
OF CANADA
1-800-998-7398
• In the 1999 Budget, the Government of Canada demon
strated its commitment to improve the health of pregnant
women and their babies.
• The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program already funds
280 community-based projects across Canada and in
400 First Nations and Inuit communities. The Program
offers 20,000 pregnant women the support they need
to give their babies a healthy start in life.
• Now with additional funding of $75 million over three
years, more than 35,000 Canadian women whose health
or whose baby's health is at risk will benefit from this
investment in communities all across Canada.
• The new funding will make it possible to increase efforts
to prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, the leading cause
of preventable birth defects in children.
• There are a lot of other ways to give our children a good
start in life. For details about this and all of the other
services for children, call for your free copy of the Guide
to Federal Programs and Services for Children and Youth.
For a copy of the Guide or other materials you may find
useful about the health of your children, please call
1 800 O-Canada
(1 800 622-6232),
or TTY:
1 800 465-7735
or visit our Web site at:
www.canada.gc.ca
Canada