Health survey motion passes
A motion was passed by Powell River Board of Education trustees at the March meeting to ask parents of grade seven students for consent to participate in the BC Adolescent Health Survey this year. Students in grades seven through 12 participate in the survey.
It is a questionnaire used to gather information about young people’s physical and emotional health, and about other factors that can influence health.
It is conducted by the McCreary Centre Society in collaboration with the provincial government and public health system, and with the cooperation of BC’s school districts.
Currently in School District 47, high school students’ parents are informed that their children will participate but consent is not required. “We’ve always had passive consent at high school and the last few years we’ve added the grade seven survey,” said Jay Yule, superintendent of schools. “After looking at the questions I thought I should make a recommendation to the board that we ask for informed consent from [grade seven] parents.”
Students at all grade levels could opt out if they did not want to participate in the survey.
Students at Brooks Secondary School completed the survey Thursday, April 4.
Parents can find more information about the health survey by visiting McCreary’s website.
Gun amnesty
BC residents with unwanted guns in their homes will be able to dispose of them in June.
The BC government has declared a gun amnesty for that month, with police departments collecting weapons from the public.
“The simple fact is that every gun turned in to police in June will be one less gun that could fall into the hands of criminals,” said Inspector Brad Haugli, president of British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police.
People who wish to surrender guns, replica weapons or ammunition can call their local police, who will come and pick up the firearms. Police are advising the public not to take the guns to the police station. The amnesty will not apply to guns that have been used to commit crimes.
The government said similar programs going back to 1997 have collected thousands of weapons and ammunition, including a machine gun and a rocket launcher.
Attorney General Shirley Bond said taking guns off the BC streets reduces crime and makes the province safer.
