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the HERALD Friday July Community News Acton student says give PEACE a chance By LISA BOONSTOPPELPOT The Herald As a Spanish- born student Sonia Bujan of Georgetown fit the criteria of a Police Ethnic and Cultural Education Project Pro gram of the Halton Regional Police The police knew it her school councillors knew it everybody knew it except for her Id never heard about the PEACE program she admits now sitting in the Halton Regional Police station in Georgetown wearing dark pants and a blue shirt like the police patrol officers The councillors at Acton High School where I go said I should take part in the pro gram Since she had an interest in criminal investigations she decided to take the police service Acton Village Constable Bill Riddel t shows Sonia a student of the Police Ethnic and Cultural Education Proiect PEACE how a works at the Halton Regional Police station In Georgetown Sonia a Georgetown resident Is one of nine ethnic and cultural minorities working with the police service this summer as part of PEACE The program started three years ago to establish mutual respet between a changing community and the police station Herald photo Local swimmer on her way to compete in San Francisco By ROBERT RISK Herald Sports Editor For 12yearold Georgetown resident Miller her first big swimming competition is also a long Jong way from home all the way to San Francisco in fact Miller a member of the Mississauga Swim Club for the last four years was the only one from the club to be selected to represent Ontario at the Far Western Long Course Champion ship Swim Meet being held from August 14 The meet is for swimmers aged 1114 with Ontario the only team from outside California She said the furthest she had ever before was to Cleveland for a meet and Ottawa for the provincials both with other members of her team This trip she will be accompanied by less familiar faces for seven days Im a little scared about go ing especially since its so far away I dont think it will be too bad since I know some of the peo ple from other clubs that Ive become friends with at some of the swim meets Her father Miller said Robyn is only the second one in the history of the Swim Club to be selected for the California meet To qualify as one of the swimmers Miller competing at the Long Course Championships in Ottawa in the group placed se cond in 200 metre individual medley third In metre freestyle third in 100 metre freestyle fifth in 200 metre freestyle and sixth in 100 metre fly The trip is all paid for by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation Robyn has some money from us to buy some things but thats about it Were hoping shell do well because were told the teams from On tario usually bring home more than its share of medals from that meet also said she is hopeful of winning most likely in 50 metre freestyle her favourite event She speculated that the 200 metre individual medley might be another good race for her Im really looking forward to swimming there Its supposed to be a really nice pool Itll be nice meeting new people and seeing how I can do against them This is the last event of the year for who will have a break in club activities until the next season resumes on September when she will move up to the 1314 yearold level since she turns on August Having to compete against older swimmers is also something Robyn said she is look ing forward to It will be tougher but I know my times will improve since Ill be challenged to do better I plan to keep on swimming for quite a few more years so I have to keep getting faster Robyn Miller is on her way to San Francisco to compete as a member of Team Ontario at the Western Long Course Championship Swim Meet held Aug A member of the Swim Club Miller was selected for the provincial team due to her top placings at the Long Course Championships in Ottawa earlier this summer Photo submitted up on the offer and started her job July 2 I started the job without any idea what it was all about she said Now Im glad I did Miss is one of nine students of minority ethnic and cultural backgrounds who were hired by Halton Police in July to take part in the PEACE pro gram a project the police believe is helping them address the challenge of the times The project was designed to provide an opportunity for students of ethnic and cultural minorities to gam first hand ex perience of the role and function of the police officer in the com munity states the Halton Regional Polices annual report By definition the project also introduces police officers to this representative group an impor tant segment of the population I The students are divided into the various police stations in Halton For eight weeks theyll be paid to experience handson he role of the police officer in the community Now into her fourth week Miss Bujan has already met Halton Chief of Police James Harding worked with the identification department shot a firearm trained at Ontario Police Col lege rode in a police helicopter went to court and patrolled Acton with Acton Village Constable Bill Police college was great They didnt try to hide anything from us she said They wanted us to know the reality of what be ing a police officer is like Miss Bujan spends much of her time at the station with Village Constable whos been teaching her how to fill in police reports and operate the police computer Hes found that although they dont have too much in common since shes only and hes middleaged they have no pro blems relating and get along great Ive learned about her and her family and it changes your outlook he said You learn to accept someone for what they are and learn not to judge them Miss Bujan and her family ar rived in Canada two years ago from Spain where Miss learned to speak English and Euzkera the language of her Bask ethnic group She is also familiar with the East Indian and Portuguese culture through her mother and the Spanish and Scottish culture through her father In the short time shes been at the station Miss jan said shes also learned about police officers now realize how many- rules police have to follow especially the rules they have to consider before they shoot their gun she said I was also taught how im portant it is for police officers to be friends with each other so they can rely on each other as a team Being at the station has also erased a stereotype she held about police I had an image of policemen in cruisers I thought that was all they did she said Being at the police station has made me realize that so many people do so many things There are a lot of different duties than just cruis ing Shes come a long way from the first day she started when she had no idea of what being a PEACE student was all about Now she says she wonders why more students dont apply for the PEACE job Its such a privilege Im so proud to be involved with this program she said Its everything you could want for a summer job because it pays you learn new things and gain ex perience is the third year Halton has run the PEACE project FLYERS Watch for these MONEYSAVING flyers inside this edition of THE HERALD Beaver Lumber PARTIAL CANADIAN TIRE PARTIAL GEORGETOWN FOOD MARKET PARTIAL If you did not receive your flyer please call our circulation department Monday to Friday 9 am s pm