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Destination Steveston
Why yoga?
B.C.’s tiny, historic Steveston village has transformed quickly in the last decade to become a hotspot for coffee lovers and culinary aficionados.
Take a peak inside the Healthwise feature that explores the many benefits of yoga and how you can achieve them with a few simple stretches.
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Program helps struggling kids open up Children from homes where there’s addiction, mental health issues find support
If Mary wasn’t beaten three times a day, her husband wasn’t happy. She eventually fled the abusive man, and the province, with her five-year-old daughter in tow. Her other two children were taken by the ministry. Starting life anew in Richmond, Mary (not her real name) got a job and enrolled her girl into kindergarten, but ghosts of the past followed her across the country. And the fear of losing her daughter made her extremely anxious any time the child was out of sight. As well, for a time here in $
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Richmond, Mary was involved with another man who was a cocaine addict — a fact that was not lost on the girl. By the time Mary’s daughter was 10, her behaviour had become antisocial. The girl’s anxiety was high and her emotional walls were thick. It was about then that Mary heard about the group Resilient Kids. The mom credits the group for turning their lives around. “They were just amazing, she was able to open up.” The girl has remained friends with kids she met there and the progress continues. “She’s talking in class, making friends. You can really see
the walls coming down.” Resilient Kids is for children in families where a parent has addiction or mental health issues. However, Roz Walls, who organizes the group, says it’s really for any family that feels it has an issue, whether there is a diagnosis or not. The program has been operating in Richmond for a few years as a part of a Strengthening Families run by the Ministry for Child and Family Development and Vancouver Coastal Health. Some families are referred by the MCFD or by school counselors, others are self-referred. The idea to form the group
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Beer, Wine, Pop, Juice, Water
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RICHMOND BOTTLE DEPOT
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604-649-0108
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CHUNG CHOW/RICHMOND NEWS
BY EVE EDMONDS
• Free list of Available & Sold homes • Full details w/photos
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Nine-year-old Anthony Chan of Westwind elementary shows how the circulatory system works, as part of Science Jam at Richmond Centre, on Tuesday as part of the Year of Science, a province-wide initiative to promote research and innovation.
eedmonds@richmond-news.com
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came out of a number of focus groups held in Richmond in November 2008 “We asked people in the community what they needed, what has worked for them, what would make their lives better. Out of that came a number of things, one of which was a group for their kids that would build resiliency.” More specifically, parents wanted a place where their kids could get exercise, have fun and learn how to talk about what was happening for them at home. “It’s a very kid-friendly environment. We have a lot of activities, a lot of games.” see Resilient page 4
RCMP first to use pivotal tool Non-toxic fire extinguisher fitted in every squad car BY ALAN CAMPBELL
acampbell@richmond-news.com
Richmond RCMP officers are the first in the Lower Mainland to arm themselves with a new tool. For the last couple of months, local police have been equipped for the first time with a fire extinguisher that is now fitted to every squad car in Richmond. No other detachment in the Lower Mainland has yet rolled out the extinguishers — the content of which is non-toxic, completely biodegradable and can be used to deal with smaller incidents, such as car fires. It’s being looked upon as another string in Richmond RCMP’s first responder bow. The extinguishers have not yet been called into action since they were put into service. But Richmond’s top cop, Supt. Rennie Nesset, believes the ColdFire extinguishers will prove to be a valuable tool for his officers. “As first responders, it is important our officers have the tools they need to protect the community,” Nesset said. “ColdFire allows us to fight small fires until Richmond Fire-Rescue arrives on the scene.” Other detachments are now considering installing the ColdFire extinguishers in their patrol cars. But it was five years ago that Nesset first became aware of them, when it was initially used as a protectant and fire suppressant. “As the years went on, I became more and more aware of its capabilities,” he said. “The training only takes around an hour and a half and all the cars, I believe, have them.” ColdFire is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic, biodegradable water based agent that can increase water’s ability to cool thermal affects of fire and extinguish and pre-
8171 Westminster Hwy. (at Buswell, one block east of No. 3 Rd.) Walkway access also from Save-On Foods parking lot
Mon-Sat 8:45-6:30 Sun 10-5 (604) 780-4959
see ColdFire page 4 07283111
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