The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-10-13, Page 6Pree'Cliiiihnast..-S1111
11
PAGE 6—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1977
Block parents needed
Child molesters moving to rural areas
Margaret McGee, chair-
man of the Ontario Block
Parent Advisory Committee
is . concerned about the
children who live in small
towns away from the
metropolitan areas, because
so very few have established
Block Parent Programs.
In the rural areas such as
the counties of Perth, Huron
and Bruce, only a handful of
the towns such as Stratford,
St. Marys, Walkerton,
Wingham and Collingwood
have established programs.
She is also concerned about
the lack of programs in
Northern Ontario. A program
is operating in Sault Ste.
Marie but then there are no
programs until you cross to
North Bay. Margaret would
like to see programs initiated
in Copper Cliff and Timmins
and in every village, town,
and city throughout the
province.
One of the problems in
these smaller and rural
areas, is that the people do
not believe that there is a
need for the program because
they do not have the problems
of the metropolitan centres.
"But it is a false sense of
security," says Margaret,
"and it is time they realize
it." Harrow, a small town of
2,000 people has had three
attempted pick ups in the last
year.
There is a cross-section of
individuals within every
Block parents can
serve all children
Parents who are aware of
the dangers on the street for
the young child in our society
with its increasing violence
have found reassura.nce in an
innovative child -protection
program which is bringing a
new sense of security to
neighbourhoods throughout
the country.
White cards with day-glo
red lettering picturing a
child, hand in hand with an
adult, are clearly displayed in
front room windows in at
least two homes on each
block, This symbol of the
Block Parent Program
represents protection to the
child on the street if he is
hurt. frightened or lost.
The program was initiated
in Canada by the London
section of the National
Council of Jewish Women,
who modelled their program
on similar projects in the
United States. It started eight
years ago after a nine-year-
old London boy, missing for
three and a half months was
found murdered in a creek 20
miles north of the city, the
victim of a sexual assault.
The progra m now has
125,000 members in 150
Canadian communities, The
highly visible sign proclaims
to children in distress that,
help is close by and warns
molesters: "Stay out of this
neighbourhood. We're
protecting our children."
Parents in smaller and
rural communities may
believe that their children are
safe from molesters or
harassment by incidents of
indecent exposure. But, as
the principal of the public
Lower cost
Money
Available
Here
When you .rued money
Mortgage money eet it
here at Victoria and Grey
Trust where money rental
costs are now at a lower
rate.
TICTORIAand
GREY
VG
TRUST CO' ' AN' SINCE 1OR
MNgq.r A.A. WesthoIiy
S24-73$1 G..rIci
school in Wingham, a town of
3,000 in Huron County told the
organizers of their Block
Parent'Program, "We may
he a small society, but within
our society we have a cross-
section of the metropolitan
societies."
There is a
increasing
Turn to page 7 •
society no matter how small
or how rural. These incidents
do occur even though the
local police do not like to talk
about them and are reluctant
to give out statistics.
"We have proven with the
London program that once a
program is established, the
individuals who harass or
molest children go to an area
where the children are not
protected," observes
Margaret.
When the Block Parent
Program was initiated in
London eight years ago, the
cases of child. molesting
steadily decreased. But,
nearby Strathroy noticed a
sharp increase in the number
of incidents. Strathroy now
has a Block Parent Program
and their problem has
diminished considerably. In
1970, Sarnia had 45 attempts
to pick up children, a number
which was cut back to three
by 1976 with the help of the
plan.
There is no question that
the program is a.,deterrent
and that the individuals who
prowl the neighbourhood will
move to safer hunting
grounds if a program is
established.
"This is why I am, so con-
cerned that the area to the
north of London has
relatively few programs,"
says Margaret. "The area
surrounding London is
saturated with programs and
these individuals will make
the drive north because they
know 'that the children in
those towns are not protec-
ted."
Of the three counties to the
immediate north of London,
only Stratford and St. Marys nil€',bbourhoad._nax..e...being
-in Perth, 'Wingham in Huron
and Walkerton in Bruce have
established programs.
Walkerton has just put their
signs in the windows this fall
and the town council has
erected large three by four
foot signs at the three main
entrances to the town to say newsworthy, and we ex -
that their children are lilt(ti perren great 'diffictalty irr
protected. N
committee who is organizing
the program, said that there
was some resistance to the
idea at first, because people
do not feel that the samller-
towns away from the
metropolitan areas have a
need for such a program.
There is no real concern
about child molesters or
incidents of indecent ex-
posure because it is believed
that these incidents do not
happen in their town. The
principal of the public school
in Wingham, however, feels
that there is a need for the
program in Wingham and in
small towns. "We may be a
small society, but within our
society we have every cross-
section of the large
metropolitan societies. The
potential for incidents of child
molesting. and indecent ex-
posure do exist."
The Block Parent
Programs which have been
established need a boost, says
Margaret, because there is no
tangible proof that the
program is working.. Once the
program is established there
is a slump. Block parents do
not have children flocking to
their doors so they do not
bother to put up their signs
because they think • the
children are not using the
program. •
The problem stems from
the very fact that the
program is working, and the
children are only using the
Block Parent homes in a real
emergency. The program is
also working as a deterrent
and warning individuals who
may harm children that they
had better stay away,
because the children of' the
protected
Another problem faced by
Block Parent organizers is
That, after the crest of the
wave of public interest has
passed and a Block Parent
program is established, "we
suddenly become old -hat, not
Wingham is just starting
their program and are being
sponsored initially by the
town's branch of th.e Royal
Canadian Legion. Don
Farnell, a member of the
Christmas Ideas
from Squire Gifts
NE
1
the
'Native Artists'
Coll,,ction
by
Original Canadian classics:
Over the past quarter-century. the Blue
Mountain name has become synonymous with
Canadian craftsmanship wherever in the
world fine pottery is known and appreciated.
And the same period has been marked
by growing international recognition and critical
acclaim for the work of Canada's native Indian
and. Eskimo artists.
Now the exceptional talents of three of
those artists have been combined with the
skills of our Blue Mountain artisans in a new
collection of artware which is both original
in concept and uniquely Canadian.
The classic pottery shapes, in vases, plates
and canisters, carry r( -productions of nine
drawings by Chief William Jeffrey, an important
interpreter of the Haida Indian culture, by
Abraham Apakark Anghik, one of our finest
young Eskimo artists and by Daphne Odjig, the
internationally -known Woodland Indian
painter.The drawings are perrnanently glazed
to the specially -developed "native earth
colour" pottery in a way which both protects
and preserves their integrity.
This new Blue Mountain collection not only
Blue Mountain Pottery represents a "first" through the marriage of
great and original native Canadian with fine
pottery, but is also unique in that it is a joint
venture with the artists, who hold royalty in -
interests in all pottery sold.
JUST ARRIVED
The Wedgwood
Christmas Plate for 1977
ninth in a yearly series - limited quantity
Squiie
HIGHWAY 21 SOUTH, GODERICH
Open T Days A Week
getting coverage of our
program and its events,'
says Margaret.
The London committee
goes to great lengths to at-
tract the attention of the local
daily paper. This year they
are erecting a Block Parent
flag in a ceremony to be at-
tended by the city's mayor to
herald the beginning of
October Block Parent
Month.
"DONATIONS NEEt
Furniture. Tools. 110014.74...
for
Goderich Kinsmen
Auction
(Proceeds toward Kinsmen Center for
the Mentally Handicapped)
CaII For Pickup:
524-6635, 524-4141, 524,2916'
AUCTION DAY:
SATURDAY. OCTOBER 29th. -Y
1:30 P.M.
Location: Goderich Kinsmen Center, Keays A hush
Auctioneer Service Donated by Harold Lamy?
Refreshments Available
I1
ober
d thei
er scl
ighl
ds of
nt c
ick t
my(
e c1
ime
e pi
h00(
SHOPPERS SQUARE
FALL SPECIALS
POLAROID
SUPER SHOOTER
LAND CAMERA
Reg. '29."
OUR PRICE $24.99
PRIMROSE DREAM
31 PC.
GENERAL ELECTRIC
HAND MIXERS
Reg. `25."
OUR PRICE 1 3.99
LADIES' 601101H
BAGS $AND PU
Reg,'4 N :„
OUR PRICE $,'
8 TRACK
TAPES
010 TIME FAVOil
OUR PRICE 4 R $S`
SUZIE
GARBAGE Bi
Reg. 99
OVENWARE
Reg.'27."
OUR PRICE 1 9 •99
.
REGINA
FLOOR .POLISHERS
Reg. '39."
UR PRICE $?. 9 • 99
O
SAMSON -DOMINION
BLENDERS
Reg. '37."
99a
OUR PRICE Z / •
XONEX
8TRACK
STEREO PLAYER
Reg. '175."
$139.00
OUR PRICE
L.P.
RECORDS
TAKE YOUR PICK
OUR PRICE 3i $11• o9
BROTHER'S 808
CALCULATORS
Reg. '24."
OUR PRICE $17• 99
ART MODELS
SHIPS -HORSES
Reg. '5."
OUR PRICE Z • 99
OUR PRICE ,9
ty
POCKET
TRANSISTOR
RADIO
Reg. '8."
OUR PRICE $ 5.9 5
3 SIZES
POTS
TAKE YOUR PICK:
Reg.
OUR PRICE $2,1
CUT OUT THIS
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ADDITIONAL 10'6
THE ABOVE SPECT
MODELS —GAMES —CRAFT!
STARTING
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13th
ATTENTION
STARTING MONDAY OCTOBER 17th
WE WILL HAVE:
* COMP,LETE CUSTOM FRAME SERVICE
* MAT AND GLASS CUTTING
,SAME DAY SERVICE FOR ALL YOUR
PICTURES -PRINTS -NEEDLEPOINT
PHOTOS -CERTIFICATES ETC.
BIG VARIETY TO CHOOSE FROM
AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT.
7�e
72 THE SQUARE
Pat&frigta4k
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