Quintessential listening Vocal group performs classical works.
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Community gives kids place to play
I
PROGRAMS HELP students get into sports.
group funds 125-135 children each year, providing up to $200 per child. “It’s a tiny splash in a very, very empty bucket of need…” she said. “The BY GREG SAKAKI community has to realize THE NEWS BULLETIN that the cost of sport is becoming unattainable in Sports are a field of some areas.” dreams. They always have For the poorest famibeen and they always will lies, she said, sport is a be and those dreams are luxury item that they can’t reasons why Nanaimo even consider, not when will keep trying to give its they’re forced with making poorest kids a place to choices about food, shelplay. ter and clothing. Sports “There’s can somea narrative times help, that’s out but not there in always, and Today we publish the popular culit breaks second part of our series ture, people her heart, on the effects lack of rising out she said, to income has on children and of some see, at the programs available to help. serious life inner-city Tuesday’s stories about challenges schools, the child poverty rates are to play bigattendance available on our website. time sport,” records for said Rob primary Stevenson, football coach school, and the health at John Barsby Secondary of some of the kids, and School. “Young people, shoes with holes in them. they’re dreamers still, “And it is not always laziwhich is something I think ness. It is not always drugwe all were when we were related. It is not always young.” bad parenting. It is not A lot of coaches and always a choice. Poverty is sport administrators and never an active choice … advocates in Nanaimo Their history stems from want to allow children to a history of a history of a dare to dream because history. So something has of the many collateral to change.” benefits that come with And when something sports, they say – health, does change, it’s a victory. friendship, leadership, coThe Nanaimo Boxing operation, self-esteem. Club has been running its KidSport is one organiza- Ringside Rescue program tion that offers financial for more than 10 years, assistance locally. Liza a co-operative effort Taylor, chairwoman of Kid- between the club and the Sport Nanaimo, said her RCMP to make a differ-
Quote Of The Week
A smile is a curve that can set a lot of things straight.
Council asks city staff to trim rate hike for Nanaimo taxpayers BY KARL YU THE NEWS BULLETIN
Children in poverty
Quality & Service at Budget Prices
250.390.1871
VOL. 26, NO. 74
Increases for property taxes and water and sewage usage rates are among items discussed as the City of Nanaimo works toward approving its 2015-19 financial plan. Brian Clemens, city finance director, made a presentation to council on Monday about the draft budget, which included increases of 7.5 per cent for water usage, five per cent for sewer usage, plus a 1.8-per cent hike for property taxes. Water treatment and policing costs will be major issues facing council in the five-year plan, according to Clemens. He said the city’s water treatment facility in the south end is projected to begin operations in 2015. The annual operating cost is set at $1.2 million. The city is authoNANAIMO TAXPAYERS rized to have 140 memfacing a 1.8-per bers at the Nanaimo cent rate increase RCMP detachment to property taxes and the budget for in draft budget for 2015 is $21.5 million. 2015. Under a plan in 2008, council committed to adding 24 general duty and 10 support staff members over five years. To date, 15 members and eight support staffers have been added. “The budget this year, the five-year plan this year, has been prepared under different circumstances by the new [officer in charge]. It includes 19 additional RCMP members and three support staff over the five-year term, including three in 2015,” said Clemens. At a budget meeting Wednesday, council asked staff to come back with a budget with a zero-per cent operational increase and a oneper cent increase in taxation to cover asset management, which pays for infrastructure like storm drains. The budget process must be completed by May. Once that is done, city council will look at a core review of services, according to Mayor Bill McKay.
Quickfacts
GREG SAKAKI/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Barry Creswell runs the Ringside Rescue program for at-risk youths at the Nanaimo Boxing Club.
ence in the lives of at-risk youths. Program costs are minimal, and if families can’t afford it, the children can still come, said Barry Creswell, Nanaimo Boxing Club coach. “A lot of kids that come from underprivileged homes, they’re in that situation not because of them, but because of society, and their whole life…” he said. “Their mom’s got other issues or their dad’s
got other issues that the child doesn’t have, but is unfortunately stuck with the reality of not having enough money.” The kids who show up for boxing practice are tough, he said, “because life is tough for them,” and then they get in the ring, where money doesn’t matter.”
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