Between 40 and 50 teens gathered at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Public Library for a youth forum on the Stanley Cup riot called Lets talk about it Saturday afternoon. The event also attracted several politicians and would-be politicians.
Staged by the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»District Students Council, the forums objective was to prove youth care about Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»by coming up with a way to make amends and show young people in a better light, according to organizers. So many young people were involved in the riot, so its something that youth should take on, explained Leah Bae, president of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»District Students Council.
She said youth from across the Lower Mainland attended and floated several ideas about how to respond to the infamous night of destruction that followed Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. One pitched the possibility of organizing a parade. It wouldnt necessarily be centred on the riot itself, but it would be just about our love for our cityan expression of thatand moving forward, Bae said.
The 16-year-old, who enters Grade 12 in September, added the councils executive team hasnt settled on a project, but will debate alternatives in the coming days.
But many participants at the forum were in a forgiving mood, according to Bae, who said some felt those involved had suffered enough public shame. One teen proposed welcoming them back into society. The parade idea ties in with thiswelcoming back and accepting the people that rioted, she said.
The VDSC will be releasing a report on the outcome of the forum.
Quitting time
Ive quit a couple of part-time jobs in my time over, in my case, admittedly minor principles, but never thought to write about it. Kai Nagata did. The 24-year-old CTVs Quebec City bureau chief based at the National Assembly ditched his job last week and then outlined his reasons in a lengthy blog entitled Why I Quit My Job.
Its an interesting and worthwhile read and it went viral thanks to Twitter and Facebook. It was later posted on local sites such as the Tyee and more broadly on Huffington Post Canada, generating a passionate, timely, and lively debate both for and against Nagatas decision, motives and the state of journalism today, including a critical take from the Couriers own Sandra Thomas (see page 8). But before Nagata landed and resigned from his CTV job, he called Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»home. Im told the now unemployed reporter went to Templeton secondary in East Van. Last heard he was heading west on a road tripperhaps back to Vancouver? If so, welcome home, Kai.
Election time
The next civic election is approaching quickly. Aside from the city council and park board races, nine school board seats are up for grabs. Four Vision Vancouver, three COPE and two NPA politicians currently hold positions. During the last school year, the districts budget, a battle between the VSB and Ministry of Education, and the potential closure of five East Side elementary schools dominated headlines. Email the Courier this summer with thoughts about what other education issues should be covered, any unique story ideas or what subjects have escaped scrutiny. The municipal election is slated for Nov. 19.
Twitter: @Naoibh
