The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Newly inspired to serve their community, a group of Hapnot Collegiate students plans to clean up offensive graffiti around Flin Flon. Thirty students from the high school were in Saskatoon recently for We Day, a massive youth event designed to foster unity and positive change. At Tuesday's school board meeting, two of those students, Tayler Kittle and Taylor Oliynyk, shared with trustees how much of an impact the event had on participants. So much so that students will now aim to remove what Kittle called 'negative graffiti.' Graffiti, be it on rocks or buildings, has for decades been a fact of life in Flin Flon and area. But recent years have seen an apparent rise in obscene graffiti, and residents are taking notice. 'Id just like to say it is really (embarrassing) bringing new people to town and wanting them to get a good impression when the first thing they notice (is) how run down everything is and the graffiti,' read a recent posting on the Flin Flon Post It Facebook page. At the board meeting, teacher Chelsea Russell, a chaperone for the Saskatoon trip, proudly told trustees how students spent the bus ride home talking about ways to improve their school and community. Speakers at We Day included actor Martin Sheen, actress and activist Mia Farrow, and a youth with a bad stutter who raps. 'It was just a great opportunity,' Oliynyk told the board. Hapnot students who attended We Day ranged from grades 9 to 12. It was an initiative of Free the Children, an international charity and educational partner that works with schools to implement the 'We Act' program. Other highlights from the board meeting: Trustees declined a request from the Flin Flon Bombers to sponsor $250 worth of tickets for school-age children this playoff season. Trustees Vicky Davie, Karen Yeo, Tim Davis and Trish Sattelberger voted down the request, while trustees Murray Skeavington and Glenn Smith were in support. Trustee Angela Simpson was absent from the meeting. Superintendent Blaine Veitch announced that three student-teachers are doing placements at Ecole McIsaac and Ruth Betts Community schools. McIsaac has Holly Bjornson and Louise Poirier, while Ruth Betts has Chelsey Veitch.
