Dear Sir:

Terrace is a pretty extraordinary community. That’s a fact. We have amazing spirit as witnessed most recently with the culmination of our Terrace is Hockeyville bid and the pre-season NHL game and festivities.

Even as someone who could be considered a hockey-curmudgeon, I got into the spirit, voted and even attended a few events.

A few weeks ago this paper chronicled several individuals who were awarded The Order of Terrace. One of those honourees, Debbie Scarborough, garnered even more media attention last week.

This attention, however, was not celebratory in nature. Ms. Scarborough was interviewed for radio, television and print sources after a tragic fire at the Youth Emergency Services Society (Y.E.S.S.) facility.

I was actually sickened when I learned of the fire.

Scarborough in her humble and unassuming style referred to the need to rebuild the structure as a “setback.”

Debbie’s strength and determination humbled me and moved me to respond to what I feel is an even greater tragedy than the fire itself – the fact that this much needed facility, organized and built (renovated) by hundreds of volunteer hours and thousands of fundraised dollars, never actually opened or operated for its intended purpose, to house at-risk and homeless youth of our community.

I am not interested in debating whether this facility is needed or not, just as I am sure some hockey fans did not want to debate whether or not Terrace “needed” Hockeyville.

Anyone who works with youth in Terrace knows such a shelter is needed and will be fully utilized.

The fact that we had a facility ready, but were unable to open it, is what bothers me most.

Terrace is great for supporting causes and there are people ready to rally for any such event.

We help out schools and clubs through fundraisers; we throw benefits for sick children and their families; we support service clubs when they ask. If a call for help is placed, people of Terrace answer.

To open and maintain the Youth Emergency Services Society building, Scarborough estimates it would take an annual budget of around $650,000.

Yes, this is a lot of money. If you want a breakdown of the cost, anyone connected with the society can explain it.

While Terrace is good at fundraising, this amount of money is not something we can or should be expected to raise.

Even in better financial times this amount is above what any community our size should have to raise to have such a facility.

I think it becomes a shared responsibility to find the money. Interested and caring residents together with municipal (City of Terrace), provincial (Robin Austin as our MLA, Gordon Campbell as our Premier) and federal (Nathan Cullen as our MP, Steven Harper as our Prime Minister) parties must come together to secure funding not only to rebuild this structure but to open it as well!

We can afford a second sheet of ice (municipal), the 2010 Winter Olympics (shared federal and provincial) and BC Winter Games (provincial) so why can we not find monies to open and run this youth shelter?

It is an investment that will pay for itself over time.

I urge all residents to unite around this cause and become involved.

What can you do to help? If there is a petition to government asking for assistance, sign it.

If there is a fundraising event, consider attending or helping out.

If more sweat equity is needed to rebuild, consider picking up a paintbrush or hammer.

My real hope is that people who rallied behind Hockeyville and other similar Terrace achievements will consider lending some time and expertise to this cause.

Even if an ad hoc committee is formed to plan what actions need to be taken to try and get the shelter rebuilt and opened, I encourage people to join.

However you can help, no matter how much or how little, please get involved.

I will.

Greer Kaiser,

Terrace, BC