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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-11-27, Page 1137 Y--48 dODERICH, ONTA JQ,*431; SDAY,NOVEMBER2r1,1985 e44 *CENTS PER COPY. Bluewater Centre wants to chant BY SHARON DIETZ Editor's note: The [tames of the yowig offenders interviewed for this story have been changed to protect their identity; Brent served two years of a three year sentence in a provincial reformatory before coming to the Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders. He likes the secure custody facility for.16 and 17 year old of- fenders created when the Young Offenders Act came into effect last April. "There's more freedom here, more op- portunity to earn privileges," he says. "You're in with guys your own age and it isn't as intimidating. You're not influenced by older guys." Josh agrees. "Of all the places I've been in, this is the best and I've been in group homes, detention centres, training schools, the whole bit," he says. "The staff were like guards at other in- stitutions," he says. "All they wanted was to put intheir shift, keep you in line and go They hey didn't want to hear about your problems." The philosophy behind the Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders is to affect positive changes in young lives which can lead to a life free of crime, according to the superintendent of the centre, Carl DeGrandis. Speaking at the opening of the secure custody facility in Goderich on Friday, DeGrandis explained that separating 16 and 17 year old offenders in specialized in- stitutions offers the opportunity to develop programs for them. This is an age group that we can still af- fect positively in order to help them make changes in their lives. We won't be able to make a complete turnaround in the time that we have them, but we believe we can start the process and aid the people who need to carry it on after discharge - parents, teachers, counsellors or whoever." The need for specialized institutions such as Bluewater existed before, but only became possible since the implementation of the young Offenders Act last April, said DeGrandis. "When you have 400 people in an in- stitution and only 60 are 16 and 17, you find it hard to streamline programs for them. We have needed to do a better job with this age group and now we have the opportuni- ty to do just that." Most of Bluewater's residents have lived through "dramatic and traumatic" life ex- periences and need individual counselling and rehabilitation programs to help them overcome their pasts. "All of our residents are assessed when they come in," said DeGrandis. "We try to find out what brought them here and why, then we develop an individual plan of care, involving interested parents whenever we can." "It's rare that parents don't care," said the former superintendent of the Toronto Don Jail who became provincial manager for the implementation of the Young Of- fenders Act and Bluewater's first superintendant. De Grandis said the centre's approach is to continue the process in the discharge program to increase the possibility of a young person's successful adjustment to his home community upon release. { e lives If you have to spend time in a secure custody institution, the place to be is the Bluewater Centre, says one young offender who has been in groups homes, detention centres and training schools. The Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders, a secure custody institution for 16 and 17 year old juveniles, was officially opened Friday by the Derek and Matt are among the first residents to serve time in Ontario's first secure custody facility for young of- fenders. Convicted on charges of break, enter and theft, theft under $200 or theft over $200, they received secure custody sentences after their third or fourth of- fence. Derek says it wasn't so much the kids he hangs around with, but his lack of interest in school, his frustration with the system and his parents' rules plus a need for money that led to his brush with the law. He finds school frustrating. He gets along well during the first term in a school year but as the year progresses, and he is responsible for remembering more work, his ability to do well on exams decreases and by the end of the year, he is failing. He needs to be able to accomplish things faster and a school year is too long to wait for achievement. He wants to get his Grade 12 and find a job and earn some money so he can be on his own. Things aren't coming together fast enough. While serving his time at the Bluewater ('entre for Young Offenders, Derek finds he can earn his school credits faster. Because the classes are so much smaller, the teachers have time to spend with him and he feels he's getting the attention he needs. He's studying physical education, Minister of Correctional Services, Ken Keyes. The philosophy of the centre's programs is that this is an age group that can still be affected positively in order to help them make changes in their lives, says Carl DeGrandis, superintendent of the Bluewater Cen- tre. (Photo by Dave Sykes) Man in Society, English and math. Time goes much faster at the Bluewater Centre. He stayed two weeks at a detention centre 'before- cornin :" to theGoderich facility. "Two weeks in the detention centre felt like two months where here tufo months feels like two weeks," he says. In the detention centre there was nothing to do but sit in a room all day and he was permitted only 40 minutes of recreation. At the Bluewater Centre the day is busy with school classes, recreational activities, jobs to do and cleaning the dormitories. Matt stayed six days in a detention cen- tre before coming to Bluewater and he remembers he couldn't wait to get out of there. Studying English, math, Consumer Studies, physical education and law in the accredited high school at the centre, he hopes to have five credits by the time he finishes his sentence. For Matt, who had a fulltime job two summers ago, break and enter was "something to do." He couldn't find a sum- mer job and after having one the previous summer, he missed the money and the purpose to his days. His parents would have given him the money for the things he wanted, but he doesn't like to be dependant on other peo- ple for his spending money, when he can earn it himself if he has work. He resents some people's desire to find a reason for what he did. "There isn't a reason for eventaction4" he soy. Matt gets along well with his parents and they visit regularly and support him. They have participated in family counselling sessions. He's determined that when he has served his time, he will put this behind him, finish school and find work. For Derek, the return to his home com- munity isn't going to be easy. He's two years away from finishing his Grade 12. He doesn't want to live at home because his parents haven't given him any freedom or space since he was charged, but he has no income and can't be independent without money. He has to live at home if he's going to finish school and he doesn't know how he will manage when he returns home. In the meantime, he's just waiting to get out and hoping he will be able to get his Grade 12 and find a job. Getting credits while he waits has helped and he hopes to be released early so he can enroll in a semester program which will enable him to be more succesful at school. The establishment of an accredited high school at the centre has really put an an- chor to the whole program, according to Turn to page 2 • Renewed interest surfaces for fitness centre BY DAVESYKES Canadians, if one can hark back to the early Participaction commercials, were labelled as a sluggish, almost slothful lot, whose health at age 30 wasn't even comparable to that of the 60 year old Swede. While we may have preferred to sit on our resources during the opulent and affluent days of the early 1970s, we are slowly gaining ground on those elderly, but fit, Swedes. In terms of physical fitness anyway. Over the past decade, Canadians have become much more conscious of their bodies; more conscious of what they consume, and more conscious of the benefits of fitness and lifestyle. And the fitness conscioLs Canadian has become a willing spender. dolling out millions of dollars for sweat suits, jogging suits, running and jogging shoes, weight equipment, squash racquets, and memberships to health and fitness spas. While the pursuit of fitness may be viewed as trendy, the medical profession has convinced Canadians that fitness is both preventative maintenance for the body and a way of life. A healthy way of life. We have grown less tolerant of the flabby midsection, once revered as an evident sign of affluence. We have also grown less tolerant of excesses whether it's drinking, smoking or eating. People are genuine in their pursuit of fitness and those who make only spurious attempts to participate stick out in the crowd. Locally, the pursuit of fitness has led many in the community to suggest that Goderich is sadly lacking facilities. Is there a deficiency? Do we need to pursue the concept of a complete fitness facility? It has become the salient issue of the day as people have openly expressed their opinions on the issue through letters to the "I see total fitness facility as prime health need," says Dr. Cauchi editor while others are actively securing signatures on a petition sheet. The matter of building a community centre -complex is not new to Goderich. It is an issue that has been studied, researched, talked about and put on the hack burner on more than one occasion in tha past decade. But now it has surfaced in a new light and people are talking about it with renewed interest and a renewed sense of commitment. The concept of a town community fitness centre is appealling to almost anyone in Goderich regardless of age or sex. What has prevented the first shovel from being thrust into the sod is simply, money. It takes big bucks. Proponents of the community fitness centre are fully cognizant of that, but are of the firm resolve that a community the size of Goderich should have a fitness facility. And while the elements may vary slightly, the proponents envision that the complex would contain an indoor pool, a gymnasium, squash courts, shower and changeroom facilities and perhaps a lounge. Dr. Don Neal, who recognizes the need for a total fitness facility and colleague. Dr. Mario Cauchi, both suggest the complex is as essential as many of the town's hard services, like sewers. "1 see a total fitness facility as a prime health need. It is as necessary to good health as sewers," Dr. Cauchi explained. "What we have in town now is piecemeal and inadequate. Goderich is behind the times." The emphasis of a fitn .sfacility would be on preventing disease, Dr. Cauchi explained, adding that as a physician he sees such a complex, I a encouraging prevention of disease through lifestyle; (b)treating existing health problems through increased activity. "Older patients could help their arthritis with swimming exercises and people with chronic lung disease could benefit from exercise but there's no facility in Goderich," Dr. ('auchi said. "Psychological disorders such as alcoholism, depression and lonliness could be helped at such a facility. I envision it as a place to be physically and socially active; an outlet for stress. A facility would not be a luxury. It is a necessity." Dr. Cauchi and his wife. Lorraine, agree that with increased liesure time, increased pressures and stress on the job and an increased awareness of health and prevention have made fitness an integral component of lifestyle and happiness. The Cauchis believe the municipality must "take the lead" in the venture intimating that private enterprise only discourages those who can't pay. The funding, initially, must come from the community but they suggest the facility have a physiotherapy deaprtment for treatment. Those sentiments are also echoed by Dr. Neal who emphasizes that a facility would mostly benefit the town's aging population. While both physicians concede the facility would appeal to all ages, they cite a definite need for exercise by senior citizens. "Older people have no place to continue exercise or swim programs programs. The need exists right across the spectrum of ages because there is no place to go right now," he explained. "People who come to this town and are used to swimming and fitness facilities are disappointed." The fitness community centre would address both social and physicall needs in the community Dr. Neal intoned adding that it would be of benefit to all age groups in the community. "The social and physical benefits tie together. Older people need an indoor facility for exercise programs, people in their most productive years, between 30 and 55. need an outlet for stress and younger people need it for physical and social needs. Also it would be good for young children to continue swimming programs," he explained. The Goderich Squash Club, of which Dr. Neal is a member, has been examining the prospect of a permanent facility. The club now rents the gymnasium of the nursery school, community centre facility on Cambridge Street for $2,100 a year and have use of the gym, where the portable court is located, each weekday from 4 to 11 p.m. and some weekends. The club, if it is to expand,. would obviously like to be part of a larger project, rather than build on its own. Turn topage 3• A The issue of pita jumps at oderich's agricultural park was again tabled by town council until it can meet with .the recreation board and the trotting association to discuss control of access and hours, of operation. "The motion determining the location of the jumps was passed after long discussion and the difficulties of the track were contemplated as part of the motion. We're ndt here to decide whether the jumps would be a good idea because of the proximity of the horses—that's been decided," said Coun. Glen Carey. Of the three conditions to be filled in the motion, the matter of adequate insurance has been resolved leaving control of access and hours of operation to be determined, he said. Kevin Campbell, of the Goderich Trotting Association told council that BMX bikes crossing the track might not be safe. "We had problems with baseball players this year and we don't want anyone getting hurt. A horse isn't as controllable as you might think," he said. Deputy Reeve John Doherty agreed that the horsemen's concerns were grave ones. "We have more horsemen than we have BMX riders and they (the BMX riders) can cause a hell of a lot of danger as far as I'm concerned. There's got to be some control down there," he said. Making the BMX jumps compatible with the racetrack by controlling hours of access is what council should be doing, said Carey. "So many times we approve something and then some way or other upset the apple cart. I don't see why we can't marry the two and make them compatible," he said. Reeve Harry Worsell said council should table the issue until next spring since the jumps could not be built in the winter. His motion was defeated. Hours change at public washrooms Hours of operation • for the public washrooms at Courthouse Park have been reduced by Goderich council after pro- blems with vandalism. In the summer months of June, July and August, the washrooms will be open Mon- day to Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. During the rest of the year, they will be open Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR 11111111111. Santa visits Santa Claus made his annual visit to Goderich last Saturday and area children were delighted. A picture story of Santa's parade appears on today's community sec- tion front. Arm wrestling Arm wrestling has gained popularity recently. The Hotel Bedford sponsored an arm wrestling event, Saturday and a Signal -Star photographer was there to catch the action on film. See today's sports page for the facial expressions that count. Sailors lose The Walkerton Blackhawks extended the Goderich Sailors losing streak to five' games when they visited town, Friday. For all the hockey action; see this week'' sports section beginning on page 9A, sec- tion B. Postmaster retires Mel Farnsworth, Goderich postmaster for II years, has retired following a 34 year career with Canada Post. Read about the Monday morning Farnsworth went to work and discovered a live chicken in the letter slot. See Susan Hundertmark's feature in today's Signal -Star. 4