HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-08-07, Page 13Second Section - August 7,1996
Nomadic skateboarders look for a home
By Chris Shalkos
T -A Reporter
EXETER - Skateboarding is a
sport that's making a come -back
among area youths, however, local
boarders are having a difficult time
finding a place they can call home.
Bryan Jesney, from Huron Park,
Blair Moir, from Hensall and Cam
Sadler from Exeter represent a nu-
cleus of 13 dedicated skateboarders
who are looking for a place they
can practice their sport, but every-
where they turn, doors are being
shut.
The trio practice a form of skate-
boarding, sometimes called trick -
boarding, that involves a highly
technical display of balance and
precision footwork. Like any other
sport, it requires a forum in which
to take place. In this case, a rel-
atively flat and smooth surface.
Ideally, one with ramps and other
obstacles which enables skate-
boarders to launch themselves into
the various jumps and spins that
have come to characterize this
sport.
Without such a facility in Exeter,
local skateboarding enthusiasts
have taken to the public sidewalks
and parking lots with their boards,
but they soon discovered they are
not welcome.
A bylaw was passed by Exeter
Council five years ago prohibiting
skateboards from three downtown
parkettes and from sidewalks be-
tween Huron and Gidley Streets.
Private parking lots also make a
good venues, but skateboarders are
regularly evicted from such places.
Jesney, spokesperson for the
young boarders, said he under-
stands why the bylaw is there and
said if there was a facility for them
they would stay away from side-
walks and parking lots.
"We just want a place to skate.
We don't mean to ruin public prop-
erty or be a nuisance," he said.
Mayor Ben Hoogenboom said the
bylaw was not created because of
complaints about skateboarders, but
stems from the amount of damage
they were inflicting on public prop-
erty such as benches. He added
their presence may intimidate peo-
ple who want to sit on a bench and
enjoy a quiet park atmosphere.
More importantly, the town is
concerned about injuries resulting
from skateboards on public prop-
erty.
"We don't want people to get run
down. We want to protect the pe-
destrians who have every right to
walk on the sidewalks," said Hoo-
genboom. "That bylaw was passed
to send a message for them to be
careful."
Jesney said a permanent facility
would solve these problems and
pointed to the communities of Col-
lingwood, Hanover and Sarnia
which have accommodated board-
ers with skate parks. He suggested
the South Huron Recreation Centre
parking lot as a site for a permanent
venue where they could construct
rind store home-made ramps. How-
ever, Facilities Manager Cam Ste-
wardson, said the Recreation Board
Committee has a policy prohibiting
skateboarding except in designated
areas.
"I would like to give them a place
where they can come and do their
thing but it's too risky. If some-
thing happens we're liable," he
said.
A few years ago the South Huron
Recreation Centre did allow skate-
boarding in the arena during the
summer months when but that fad-
ed when the skateboarders refused
to wear safety equipment.
"They were a hard group to work
with," said Stewardson but added
the Rec board committee would
welcome a delegate to discuss the
issue at a meeting.
Jesney admits safety equipment
is rare among skateboarders, but he
said most would agree to wear it if
it guaranteed them a place to skate.
He explained they take a number of
spills while executing their tricks
but serious injuries are uncommon.
"It's not any more dangerous
than any other sport. Sometimes we
fall but we always get up and keep
on going," said Jesney.
Skateboarding originated in Los
Local skateboarders, from back left, Dave Thompson,
Cern Sadler, front left, Jeff Sararas, Blair Moir and Bryan
Jesney would like Exeter to establish a skateboarding
park. Left, Bryan Jesney demonstrates a double kick -flip.
Right, Blair Moir executes a front side 180 ogle.
Angeles in the mid 50's at the
height of the surfing craze. Today it
represents a $500 million industry
complete with clothing product
lines and custom skateboard man-
ufacturers. A national skate-
boarding association has been
created in the United States and
skateboarders were one of the main
attractions at the televised Extreme
Games held in New York recently.
They were also featured in the dos-
ing ceremonies of the 1996 Cen-
tennial Olympics which was tele-
vised on Sunday night.
The sport reached its height in
popularity in the mid 80's before
dying down for a few years, but
skateboarding has since returned as
a popular past -time among teen-
agers.
Jesney said skateboarders have
been given a bad rap and have
gained an image of being cocky
young people who disregard safety
and public property. But he said
this is largely untrue adding most
boarders he knows are mature in-
dividuals who just want a place
they can have fun practicing their
sport.
Jesney said many area youths are
picking up the sport and Exeter
would be an ideal central location
for them. But for now, the nomadic
group of skateboarders travel from
one prohibited place to another in a
predictable circuit, and will keep
doing so until they find a place they
can call their own.
"We just want a place where we
can have fun skateboarding and not
get in trouble. But no one is willing
to give us a chance," said Jesney.
Where Are
Now?
Where Are They Now? is an extended series on South Huron
District High School graduates and their career choices
11-1 Fiona Koehler: encouraging children to read
APSLEY - "It's nice to keep in touch with the changing world out there but we've kind of
stepped back," said Fiona Koehler, who lives on a 20 -acre parcel of bush area in the Kawarthas.
While living with her family for the past 12 years in what she describes as "a little piece of
heaven," the 1974 South Huron District High School graduate keeps in touch as a part-time
public school librarian at nearby Apsley Central Public School where her work includes ordering
books, cataloging, helping students, holding story time and fundraising.
The school's annual book fair, she noted, "seems to generate more than the board's been able
to provide lately."
According to Koehler, vital librarian skills include computer knowledge, organizational
competence, "the ability to deal with people of all ages," and "being able to follow schedules."
Placing importance on encouraging reading, she gets satisfaction from "reading to the
children and seeing their faces light up."
During the nine years she's held the position, she's enjoyed the variety of children she deals
with. Keeping the attention of a large group and choosing quality reading are challenges she
faces. Concerned reading material influences the values of young reader*, she stresses schools
should be more careful with book choices.
Koehler was offered the job after being an educational assistant for the school's kindergarten
class for a few years. Prior to her experience as a librarian, she worked at various secretarial jobs,
beginning with Exeter lawyer Kim McLean after she graduated from high school. At the time,
she had plans to become a legal secretary and decided to do a work placement at his office before
becoming employed there.
After she worked as assistant to the production manager at Agri Press in Hensel', she
performed secretarial duties at the University of Alberta in botany
and medical departments for two years.
This was followed by a marriage to Keith, originally
from Hensall, a move to Fort McMurray, and the
raising of three children, Bruce, Amy and Laura. As
well as being a librarian, Koehler also does part-time
secretarial work for her husband's contracting business.
In her spare time she boats, skates, skis, gardens and
enjoys "the real country life."
She recalls how when she first arrived in the
Kawarthas, `tit was bush and milkweed pretty much up
to the doorstep" of the family's shell of a log home that
lacked hydro and telephone services for the fust year.
"We kind of came with the idea of going back to
basics...being self-sufficient," said Koehler, who
attended the reunion held at the Homuth residence in
Exeter on July 20.
"It was an excellent turnout...It was nice to see how
everybody was." she said, adding the reunion
comminee had put tremendous work into organizing
the event.
Her memories of high school include cheerleading
for a football team that "was always number one." She
also remembers the energy that went into putting
together the prom, with its elaborate decorations and
murals on the gym walls.
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