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Week of March 23

Sarnia community must do more to support our youth Sir: Sarnia teens have a lot to offer. Many are talented in the arts, music, fashion, skateboarding, etc.
Letters to the editor

Sarnia community must do more to support our youth

Sir: Sarnia teens have a lot to offer. Many are talented in the arts, music, fashion, skateboarding, etc.

What is our community doing to help encourage this? In the wake of what seems like an epidemic of suicide among our youth, it makes sense for this community to provide organized programs and events for our youth that could aid in preventing teen suicide.

Nowadays, it seems like the city’s focus is on repairing the damage already done, rather than preventing it. What happened to things like drop in centers, where kids could hang out, make friends, and play sports? Or where youth could hold events, like concerts, hosted by local high school bands?

In the past, schools provided open drop-ins for teens of different ages to gather in the gym, hang out and talk to older teens or volunteers who could relate. It was a positive, safe place, where the focus was on making friends, providing a safe place to talk with mentors and develop talents.

How great would it be to convert the old Germain Arena into a roller rink? Kids could skate around, listen to music (local concerts even) and hang out with friends! High school kids could volunteer for their community hours and have fun at the same time while cutting the costs to run the program.

Local venders could have food booths, selling snacks to the kids. It could be open for families during the day and to kids at night. What do you think?

Saying prayers for Sarnia teens. Something has to be done for them. The focus needs to be on prevention; too many have been lives lost already.

Mandy Bosilo

Sarnia

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Columnists spoke truth about organizing public events

Sir: Re: the March 16 guest column by Steph Black and Michael Clark: “We need to participate or more events with disappear.”

I wanted to stand up and shout YES! to these two. It is so great to hear somebody express these thoughts.

As a volunteer event planner, I can say it is a gigantic task to put together these shows.

You need to be a CEO, financial guru, PR person, mini-legal department and every other job down to the janitor, and have the interpersonal skills to deal with all.

And without the assistance of sponsorships, it would be game over.

As well, 85% of our vendors come from out of town: Windsor to Barrie and everywhere in between, so promoting Sarnia is also a big part of the equation.

These artists come, they see and they love our city —especially Centennial Park. What a great coup for Sarnia!

Our event is free, or you can give a donation to a great cause: Pathways Health Centre for Children.

We want everyone to come to visit us, and we want to let everyone know about us, but that’s a very challenging task because the cost of publicity/advertising/promotion/signage is one of the biggest expenses.

I heard this said at a volunteer event the other night: Noah’s Ark was built by volunteers; the Titanic was built by professionals.

Kudos to Steph and Michael!

E. GrimshawArtzscape

Artzscape

Sarnia

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Methadone clinics used to segregate addicts from others

Sir: I would like to set the record straight on methadone clinics. They are not there to help addicts; they are there to keep addicts out of regular doctors' offices.

Methadone clinics segregate the "bad" people (addicts) from the "good" mainstream people, which come at a huge cost to those needing addiction services.

I asked an addict receiving services at a methadone clinic in Sarnia if she would rather be treated there or at a regular doctor's office. She replied: “Definitely a regular doctor's office. There are way too many addicts and dealers at the methadone clinic. It's the worst place in the world for someone who's trying to get clean."

When I asked another person if there were drug dealers at the clinic, he said, "Are you kidding? That's where I make most of my money!"

Methadone clinics are about segregating addicts from the mainstream population. This is done because of the discrimination of the mainstream toward those with addiction issues, not for the benefit of the addicts.

Drug dealers know where to go to prey on people with addiction problems.

Methadone can be prescribed in a regular doctor office and dispensed in regular pharmacies, just like any other medication. The fact that it's not is a dirty little secret.

There's a lot of talk about inclusion of marginalized groups like the mentally disabled and addicts. Unfortunately, it's just talk.

Where the rubber meets the road is action, and the way things really happen is that the marginalized stay marginalized, not by accident or legacy from the past, but by intent.

Sarnia has a huge opioid problem and segregation isn't the answer.

Gary Roach

Sarnia

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This year’s Sarnia Sting team ready for the playoffs

Sir: The Ontario Hockey League playoffs are coming and the Sarnia Sting are looking good.

It’s been an up and down season, having beaten the good teams and losing to lesser teams. But the playoffs are a whole different ball game and anything can happen.

The Sting have good goaltending in place, the veterans are hungry for playoff success and the possibility of a pro contract, and the young guns are gaining confidence each game.

President Bill Abercrombie and general manager Nick Sinclair have recovered from years of draft picks spent.

It’s time to go for it, time to make some honey.

Are you ready hockey fans? Come out and support The Hive.

Cam Ross

Sarnia


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