Inside
● ●
BEWARE OF THIN ICE P. 3 EDITORIAL P. 6
● ●
AQUATIC CENTRE PLANS P. 4 LOVE VANDERHOOF P. 7
E xpress OMINECA
Publications Mail Contract # 40007840
$1.30 Inc. GST Vol. 36 No. 39
Serving Vanderhoof ● Fort Fraser ● Fraser Lake & Area www.ominecaexpress.com
Need for men’s shelter
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
The Harlem Crowns
Sam Redding Omineca Express With the National Day of Rememberance and Action on Violence Against Women coming up, the Omineca Express spoke to Sylvia Byron, who runs the Omineca Safe Home, about the possibility of creating something similar for the men of Vanderhoof. “I think there’s a need for a men’s shelter everywhere,” said Byron. “Definitely. I think that men’s services don’t get the appropriate response. We have men struggling. There’s a need for men’s services in this community, there’s a need for housing in this community. Violence and addiction is complicated. It’s not just because people want to choose that. It’s because they’ve learned it, they’re struggling and they’re in poverty. They don’t feel there’s any options. So unless we have an option for people to reach for help, they may choose to reach for addiction.” Byron wants to look at a prevention strategy that includes advocacy for both men and for women. She is a feminist, but she believes that things won’t get better unless both sides are taken care of. “There’s not a lot of options for men,” she said. “And I don’t think that’s fair.” Another thing Byron would like to see is permanent, longterm housing for single people. “We have B.C. Housing for people with families,” she said. “But if you have a really big family, there’s not many options and if you are just a
Sgt. Keays showing an enclosed area where the homeless might take shelter. single person, there’s basically nothing. And they’re getting less and less available, all the time.” Byron would like to see something in place that would be almost exactly the same as the shelter available from the Safe Home. At the Omineca Safe Home, women are provided with advocacy, counselling, childcare, referral, and accompaniment. As well as a safe place to stay away from violence or violent households. “You can’t force people to do stuff, they need to be able to access it on their own time. You need a place for men to go, when they feel unsafe or unsafe in their community. Or if they feel like they’re going to be unsafe to be around.” Vanderhoof RCMP Detachment Commander Sergeant Jason Keays believes that a men’s shelter is desperately needed in Vanderhoof, especially dur-
ing the next few months when it will be so cold for anyone forced to live on the streets. “We have apprehended people before for fear that they would succumb to alcohol and the cold,” said Sgt. Keays. “I would welcome a men’s shelter, at least a cold weather shelter that could be unisex.” Keays took a walk down the street and found several places where people will commonly take shelter from the cold. The post office and the lobby for the bank are a couple of places where people can stay warm but this only causes friction between the homeless and the rest of the community. “There absolutely is a need for a men’s shelter,” said Sgt. Keays. “The Omineca Safe Home does a terrific job, what I’d like to see is a place where men can warm up and know they’ll be safe. Let’s start the ball rolling.” Continued on page 3
The Harlem Crowns give a small bit of assistance to one audience member’s slam dunk.
VANDERHOOF TOWN MAP
Vanderhoof
Map Town
2013
The Omineca Express will be printing 3,000 copies of the Annual Vanderhoof Town Map on January 29, 2014.
This map is a useful tool for newcomers to our community as well as for tourists. Maps are distributed at area motels/hotels, tourist Information centres, and at the District office. Each customer will receive 50 maps to hand out. If you would like to advertise with us call: 250-567-9258 for more information
Produced
by the Omin eca Expre ss