March 09, 2010
SWIM CLUB WANTS LOWER POOL RATES
Kokanee Summer Swim Club wants to encourage more beginner swimmers to join the club and learn to swim well. To do this, they need lower pool rates.
Club Treasurer Suzanne Holland spoke to Town Council on March 1 to explain their goal and ask Council to cut the annual pool fee from $3,000 to $1,500. The usual fee per swimmer is $150, of which one-third goes for insurance. The club wants to reduce this to a more affordable $95. In addition, there is a rate reduction for three or more children from the same family. The club wants a break on the season pool rate in order to achieve their goal.
Kokanee Swim Club had 21 youngsters enrolled in the swim program last year and operated at a deficit covered by previous savings. As the treasurer pointed out, the club cannot fund from savings indefinitely. They must have more beginner swimmers, as well as some new equipment.
The club has hired a swim coach much of whose pay will be covered by a summer employment grant. This coach has been very successful with his swimmers going to provincials, and he is prepared to stay with Kokanee Swim Club for two or three summers.
The club believes the new coach will encourage older swimmers to stay in training and encourage younger swimmers to develop their skills.
The local swim club program focuses on endurance and strength training, and promotes competitive swimming as swimmers improve their skills. Swimmers from the club can go on to learn life saving and coaching skills which can lead to employment opportunities as they qualify.
Council asked some questions then referred the matter to budget.
YES 2 IT PROGRAM INTRODUCES CAREER CHOICES
Think back to when you were in Grade 8. Did you have a career path already chosen? If you did, you were one of the lucky ones. If you didn't, you would have benefitted greatly from the Yes 2 It Program.
YES 2 IT stands for Youth Exploring Skills To Industry Training and is an interactive, hands-on activity for students in Grade 8 centered on skills used in trade careers.
PSS teacher John Kitts applied to the YES 2 IT group for grant funding used to provide activities for students March 2nd which included meat cutting, plumbing, carpentry, hairdressing and electrical.
Princeton area trades people provided a series of demonstrations to the students followed by hands-on activities, student awareness and exposure to different career opportunities.
Students participated in a pre-activity by researching a variety of trades. Parents were also included in the program and were provided an opportunity to join in the demonstrations and assist their children during the hands-on activities.
"The more true-to-life the experience, the higher chance students will get excited and realize the potential of a career in the trades," Kitts told the News Leader.
Kitts says the program was successful thanks to the local trades people who assisted.
Demonstrations were hosted by Heather Herrick of Rootz Hairstyling, Kevin Thompson, Fred Bergsma of Fred & Company Builders, Steve Smeaton of Overwaitea and Todd Barnes of Hayes Creek Electric.
SKILLS BECOME A COMPETITION
Skills/Compétences Canada (S/CC) is a national, not-for-profit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trades and technology careers among Canadian youth. Their unique position among private and public sector partners enables them to work toward securing Canada's future skilled labour needs while helping youth to discover rewarding careers. The program goals are: - To provide a unique, proven, effective and efficient program to raise awareness in the current and emerging skilled trades and technology careers, by bringing Canadian youth into a competitive spotlight. - To actively lead in developing dynamic partnerships with agencies and organizations involved in promoting current and emerging skilled trades and technologies by identifying and using best practices.
A lack of information regarding the opportunities in trades and technology currently prohibits many young Canadians from considering a career in skilled trades. Through provincial, national and international skills competitions, they help make these occupations more visible to teachers, students, parents and the general public. The competitions are an incredible display of hands-on expertise, talent and determination which showcases the many promising futures to be found in trades and technology.
At Skills/Compétences Canada they are dedicated to introducing Canada's youth to the many opportunities, benefits and rewards of skilled and technological jobs. They believe that improving the expertise and confidence of the next generation pursuing technical careers will benefit us all.
Princeton Secondary School student participate in the various levels of Skills Canada competition and usually place high in them.
This year Ben Beller took Gold in Sumo Robot and was joined by Quinton Kent who won Silver and Colton Calihoo who took Bronze in the same event.
Ian McKenzie won Bronze in the Automotive Service category with Adam Dobbs taking Bronze in the Culinary Arts.
Students also took part last week in an online 'virtual' competition.
Participants included Adam Gullason and Morgan Dobbs in TV/Video Production. They were assisted by Derek Bergen and in the Mechanical Drafting Competition a total of three students were competing from Princeton. They included Dan Howarth, Brandon Racich and Mitch Lamoureux.
