When it comes to youth in our communities, there’s a disconnect between what people say and what I observe.
What people often say is that our youth are lazy, foul-mouthed, apathetic and too obsessed with their cellphones to develop social skills.
I think some of those things are true about some youth, but I also think some of those things are true about some adults.
But I believe that by and large, members of the 18-and-under crowd are miles ahead of where they were when I was a student in Flin Flon in the 1990s.
I see youth today organizing donation drives for the food bank, launching “pay it forward” campaigns and joining school sports teams at a rate higher than any era in recent memory.
I see them being inspired by “youth empowerment” initiatives such as We Day in Winnipeg, an event whose entrance requirements are tickets earned via societal contribution.
And I see them showing strong work ethic at our local restaurants and retailers.
Do some youth, even “good” ones, still do stupid things? Do they still get drunk or smoke pot? Do they get into fights and sometimes drive too fast?
Absolutely, but that’s no reason to get out our broad-bristled paintbrushes, now is it?
I’m impressed with so many of our youth in Flin Flon and area. We all should be.
Med bursary
Angela Simpson hasn’t given up on the concept of local entities partnering up to offer a return-for-service bursary to future doctors.
This idea has been kicking around for a few years. Although Flin Flon’s city council and school board were once receptive to it, the concept has fizzled.
Nevertheless, Simpson, a long-time school trustee, brought up the matter at the Northern Health Region’s annual meeting last fall and again at last week’s school board meeting.
And good for her. Many area residents have lamented the days when doctors stayed in Flin Flon for the long haul – 10, 20, 30 or more years.
The most realistic way to regain those long-term physicians is to recruit from within. A return-for-service bursary would cover some or all of a med school student’s education costs in exchange for a guarantee he or she will practice in Flin Flon for a set period of time post-graduation.
This wouldn’t even have to be a med student originally from Flin Flon. Anyone entering med school could take our community up on such an offer.
Unfortunately, like so many other promising ideas, this one has disappeared. Here’s hoping more councillors and trustees, and individuals from other groups, join Simpson in ensuring this promising idea does not suffer a premature death.
Go Bombers!
Gotta love those Flin Flon Bombers.
The SJHL’s hottest team is showing that despite an uneventful trade deadline, all of the championship pieces may already be in place in the maroon and white dressing room.
Having been to a few games this season, the vibe at the Whitney is unlike any in recent times. You can feel the belief fans have in this club.
On the ice, the Bombers are fleet of foot and precise in effort. They also have an intimidation factor that seemed absent from past editions of the squad.
The key now is staying hungry, not peaking too soon and resting players so they still have a full tank come playoff time in March.
Local Angle is published on Fridays.
