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PRINCETON RECEIVES MORE $$$
A protocol of consultation and cooperation was signed by the provincial representatives of BC's municipalities, regional districts and school districts and school boards last week in Richmond.
Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) President Marvin Hunt and BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA) President Penny Tees participated in a formal signing ceremony, renewing the two organizations' commitment to work together on matters of mutual interest.
"School Board Trustees, Regional District Directors and Municipal Councillors are all locally elected officials, committed to improving their communities," UBCM President Marvin Hunt said, "This protocol of consultation and cooperation speaks to the value and benefits of working together at the community level to put services in place that make BC a great place to live, work and learn."
"Schools are more than classrooms space. They are places to meet and play - the very heart of a community. BC's municipalities, regional districts and school boards make decisions that affect the every day life of citizens - from deciding on the placement of roads and schools to developing community centres and recreational facilities. By working together, UBCM and BCSTA are supporting our members to continue their cooperative work at the local level through provincial initiatives that spread the word about local successes and encourage creativity and innovation," BCSTA President Penny Tees said.
Local innovation was celebrated following the protocol signing ceremony, as The School Community Connections Programs awarded $35,000 in planning funding to Nicola-Similkameen School Board Chair Gordon Comeau and Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District Director Gerri Logan. The school board and regional district are undertaking a cooperative project to convert a closed school into a new community wellness centre in Princeton. The centre will include a stage for the performing arts, meeting rooms and lesson space as well as a daycare facility.
LOCAL ROTARIAN VISITS INDIA
Between November 26th and 28th of last year, Rotarians from District 5060 (which includes Princeton) as well as Rotarians from New Zealand, Argentina, Russia and Australia met in Arga, India to help in India's massive campaign to immunize over 1-million children under the age of five years.Princeton Rotarian Ken Blower, along with his wife Sharon, represented the Princeton Rotary Club on this journey.
Blower made a presentation to his club members at last Tuesday's Rotary Club luncheon meeting accompanied by a short DVD on the actual immunization program and details on the event in Arga.
Blower explained the Polio Immunization Program was organized with involvement from the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and UNICEF.
The first day in India, November 26th, saw all participants take part in what was called a 'Polio Rally' which was mostly a parade down the streets of Arga handing out flyers describing the program and locations where the immunization would be taking place.
The second day was the actual Polio Vaccination Day, where volunteers from the four different organizations in the partnership would administer the vaccine - which amounted to two drops of liquid taken orally.
The third day of the event included a mop up phase and a door-to-door campaign in the neighbourhoods of Arga.
Blower explained that although every child under five that could be located could have had the polio vaccine at no cost, some families still refused it.
Blower said he and his wife were in a group of 35 volunteers who worked long hours to spread the polio vaccine during the three day event. The DVD presentation put pictures and faces to the families and volunteers Blower described.
One observation he shared was how clean the people of India were considering the fact that they clean and wash their clothes in murky water and often dry their clothes on rocks and hillsides.
Rotary International has been instrumental in it's stance on polio eradication and has co-sponsored Group Immunization Trips for a number of years.
FIGURE SKATING CLUB HOSTS EVENT
Princeton Figure Skating Club will host their annual 'Carnival' on Sunday, March 12th beginning at 1:00 PM in Princeton Arena.This year's event is titled 'Medieval Magic' and will feature guest pairs skaters Mitchell Wallace, 18, of the Raquet Figure Skating Club in Victoria and Ivana Hecimovic, 12, from the Vancouver Skating Club.
The pair train out of 8 Rinks in Burnaby and placed Ninth in the Nationals.
Admission for 'Medieval Magic' is $5.00 per person or $20.00 for a family of four or more.
Flowers will be available for purchase to give to skaters on the ice and the Concession Stand will be open during Intermission. The winner of the $5,000.00 draw will also be announced.
The annual Figure Skating Club 'Carnival' is an opportunity for members of the club to show off their talents and display some of the skills they have learned in the past season.
The event is open to anyone interested in the program and interested in supporting local youth activities.
