March 17, 2004 News e the other press © Catherine Jones OP Contriubtor The common nighthawk isn’t so common anymore, and that’s just one of many species of Fraser Valley birds that are under threat of extinc- tion. Thankfully, however, there are people like Kevin Bell of the Wild Bird Trust dedicating their time and knowledge to helping save these birds. On Wednesday, March 17, Kevin Bell, former Manager and Chief Naturalist of the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre, will give a presenta- tion on the topic of Threatened Bird Species in the Fraser Valley as part of the annual Speaker Series presented by the Fraser River Discovery Centre Society and Douglas College Institute of Urban Ecology. Bell’s presentation will begin at 6:30pm at the Fraser River Discovery Centre, 788 Quayside Drive, New Westminster, BC (adja- cent to the Westminster Quay Public Market). Admission is by donation, with a suggested amount of $5. Coffee and refreshments will be served. Ross Vennesland, of the BC Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection, will wind-up the series on April 21 with a Tale of Herons, Salamanders, Orchids, and Shrews. For more information on the Speaker Series, please contact the Fraser River Discovery Centre at 604.521.8401 or email at info@fraserriverdiscovery.org. You’ve Got to Have FRIENDS Kelly Parry News Editor Maple _Ridge-Pitt | Meadows, Coquitlam, and Delta school dis- tricts will take part in a new $55,000 pilot program designed to help reduce the risk of anxiety disor- ders among BC’s schoolchild. The pilot program, called FRIENDS, is an early intervention and prevention program that was developed in Australian for grade four and five students. Teachers, educators, and counselors are trained to identify children with anxiety disorders and deliver the program in cooperation with child and youth mental health clinicians. It’s estimated that almost 65,000 students in BC schools suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. Children suffering with anxiety dis- orders may become socially isolated, often refusing to go to school. Many develop eating disorders or use drugs and alcohol to reduce the level of anxiety they feel. The long-term effects of untreated anxiety disorder could result in lower education lev- els, unstable employment, and other mental health issues such as clinical depression, eating disorders, and panic disorders. In addition to the proper medical treatment, FRIENDS intends to help children with the environmen- tal causes of this disorder. Through the program children gain skills such as: * Dealing with difficult situations * Recognizing the signs of anxiety * Relaxation techniques * Positive thinking = « Problem solving * Emotional resilience * Using peer support Conflict resolution Australian numbers report that 80 percent of children who com- plete the FRIENDS program no longer display signs of anxiety disor- der. Emotional and social develop- ment are important building blocks for student achievement. Children who feel good about themselves and their accomplishments are more likely to achieve in school and then further on in life. If the pilot programs are success- ful, they could be implemented province-wide as early as fall 2004. The program is part of the Child and Youth Mental Health Plan and is being delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Education. ° AN HANDLE ™ J Vote for the Greatest Canadian Kelly Parry with their culture and heritage producer, believes that News Editor CBC television is on the hunt for the greatest Canadian of all time. From April 5 through May 14, 2004, CBC will collect the votes from Canadians and pit the top ten Canadians against one another in a series of inno- vative and entertaining pro- grams scheduled for Fall 2004. In a press release issued last week, Slawko Klymkiw, execu- tive director of network pro- gramming said, “The Greatest Canadian is a terrific program concept—entertaining, irrever- ent, and thought-provoking— one that reinforces CBC Television’s connection with Canadians, and links Canadians in a unique and exciting way. It will ignite a lively debate among Canadians—in the workplace, around the dinner table, in the classrooms—about who our heroes are, what they've achieved and what it means to be a Great Canadian.” Inspired by a BBC Two spe- cial that named Winston Churchill as the Greatest Briton, the series will run for five weeks and present “ten high-profile advocates” arguing the case for their chosen nominee. Viewers will be able to vote throughout the series by toll-free phone and through the CBC website. A two-part finale will reveal the Greatest Canadian. Mark Starowics, the show’s Canadians are ready to debate their heroes and seek out what it means to be an outstanding Canadian. Starowics says, “This project is as much a celebration of the diversity of opinions in this country as it is a search for The Greatest Canadian.” To be eligible for the honour, the nominee must be a person, (not a group, animal, or ficti- tious character), Canadian-born, and be someone who has made a significant contribution to the country. You can find out more about the show and its nomination process at the program's website at . Happy St. Patricks Day! From The Other Press http://www.otherpress.ca