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More teens using cocaine Continued from pg. 1 Along with the information presented by Region staff, the committee also heard about drug use amongst the Peer Outreach Support Services and Education (POSSE) Project's clients. Representatives from POSSE-- which describes itself as a harm reduction and human rights project run by youth for youth in north Halton-- said that of the 254 client contacts the group made between April 2005 and January 2006, 215 of those individuals used drugs. Of those, 76 per cent used alcohol, 70 per cent, tobacco, 65 per cent, marijuana, 31.5 per cent, mushrooms, 29.5 per cent, cocaine, 20.9 per cent, crack, 18.5 per cent, ecstasy and 11.8 per cent heroine/opiates. Halton Hills Councillor Clark Somerville questioned where youths are getting the money to buy drugs. "It's not a cheap habit," he noted. Public health nurse Mary Tabak told him that youths have a variety of money sources, such as employment. She pointed out that Halton is also an affluent community. Oakville Councillor Jeff Knoll asked Nosal about the health effects of marijuana. Nosal said that with heavy use, a person would develop a dependence on it and also see impacts on the brain, such as with thought and memory. "There is more tar and cancercausing chemicals in marijuana than in tobacco," he noted. The committee supported having staff explore options to ensure the availability of data that reflects the health and social status of school-aged children and youth in Halton. The Region's public health staff is currently involved in implementing a variety of initiatives to enhance the healthy development of youth across Halton. This includes working with and supporting youth directly, supporting youths' parents or caregivers and addressing issues within the school environments and community at large. --By Melanie Hennessey, special Business of the year MacMillan's Gourmet Frozen Foods owner Lynda Martin (front right) and her son Cameron accepted the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award Friday at North Halton Golf and Country Club. Other dignitaries on hand also paid tribute to the firm which was joined by Vision 2000 Travel Group and Halton Hills Speech Centre as finalists for the award. Among those honouring MacMillan's were (from left) MPP Ted Chudleigh, Halton Regional Councillor Jane Fogal, Chamber president Wendy Hue, former Chamber president Norm Paget (representing MP Michael Chong) and Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette. For more on the Chamber's award winners see Page 12. Photo by Ted Brown New smoke alarm law comes into effect today launching Working Smoke Working smoke Alarms: It's the Law, a alarms are provincial awareness camrequired on paign developed by the every level of a home Ontario Fire Marshal. under an amendment to In addition to its focus the Ontario Fire Code that on smoke alarm requirecomes into effect today ments and responsibilities, (Wednesday). the campaign will educate Halton Hills Fire BOB the public about smoke Protection and Prevention MEADS alarm technology, installaServices will soon be tion and maintenance. enforcing the amendment "This campaign is a welcome that applies to all single family, semi-detached, and town homes addition to our regular smoke alarm program," said Chief of whether owner-occupied or rented. The new smoke alarm require- Prevention and Public Education ment is in addition to the existing Harry Olivieri. "Our goal is to requirement of having smoke ensure every home in Halton Hills has a working smoke alarm on alarms outside all sleeping areas. "There is no question that work- every level and that residents know ing smoke alarms save lives," said how to maintain them. No one Bob Meads, Director of Fire Services needs to die in a fire." Statistics from the Ontario Fire for Halton Hills. "This amendment was introduced to help make Marshal indicate that in about 50 Ontario residents as safe as possible per cent of fatal home fires that from fire. Homeowners, landlords occurred in Ontario, the victims had and tenants all have a responsibility no smoke alarm warning. For homeowners, tenants, and in ensuring compliance with the individual landlords, non-compliregulation." To increase awareness of the ance with the Fire Code smoke amendment and the importance of alarm requirements can result in a working smoke alarms, Halton ticket of $235, or a fine of up to Hills fire department will be $25,000. Local teenager to help refugees really changed my outlook on life," Mike Holloway was so said Holloway. "It taught me to shocked by the deplorable appreciate what I have." conditions Haitian refugWhile there, Holloway spent time ees were living in last summer during behind a shovel digging a pipeline a visit to the Dominican Republic, he trench, mixing cement, or installing literally gave one boy the shirt off his rebar wire on the homes. back. He said it was hard work, but well In fact, that day the Georgetown worth it. youth gave away all the clothes he MIKE "I want to do the best I can to help was wearing, except for his bathing HOLLOWAY these people. They have so little, but suit, to the refugees who were living they're so happy to be alive and have in a dumpsite. "I felt so bad for them," said Holloway, 16, each other." It will cost Holloway $1,700 to attend the a Grade 11 Georgetown District High School student, who was in the country participating project, sponsored by Absolute, a Canadian in Hero Holiday-- a humanitarian relief pro- charitable organization since 2000. To raise money for the trip a spaghetti dinject that last July saw several high school students from across Canada building homes for ner will be held at 77 Market St. Restaurant in Georgetown this Saturday (March 4) at 6 p.m. Haitian refugees. "I decided right then and there I wanted to go Tickets are $25 each, $15 of which will go back down there to try to help these people out." toward his trip. Diamond and the Ruff will perform classic So he plans to participate in the program again this July, heading back to Sousa, rock at the fund-raiser and there will also be Dominican Republic for nine days to continue dancing, door prizes and a silent auction. Anyone interested in attending is asked to with the building project. He said the trip last year was a real eye- call Holloway at 905-873-7033 or e-mail him at mikeholloway@sympatico.ca. opener. --By Lisa Tallyn, staff writer "It was a heart-warming experience and it