Check Out
“Free For All” at
PeaceCountryClassifieds.ca 1-888-689-6328
February 24, 2011 - Vol.8 - No.08
Inside
‘PESTS’ call for improved oil & gas regulation - Page 5
Artists of the Peace - Page 18
prrrdy.com
Local teen to wear gunnysack dress to prom By Jennifer Fernandes A Fort St. John teenager is giving up her prom night one of the most special evenings in a young woman’s life to wear a beautiful dress and share in the spotlight with the rest of her peers - to help poverty stricken girls obtain their own educational dream in Niger, a country with the third lowest Human Development Index in the world. Kerri-Jo Fehr, a grade 12 student at North Peace Secondary School, age 17, plans to wear a prom dress made of gunnysack, or the kind of rough burlap material commonly used to store potatoes, in order to make a statement about the kind of excesses that sometimes occur in our society, and to draw attention to the better use of such occasions like raising money for charity. “I’m not saying don’t wear pretty dresses,” Fehr said, “but it’s a challenge to this kind of thinking, not a criticism.” Fehr explained that prom night, in her opinion, is a great way to speak for charity because it is a time when her and her peers are graduating with their whole lives ahead of them with many opportunities to make a positive impact on the community. “We were put in contact with this group in Niger
through a friend and I thought we’re spoiling ourselves once in a lifetime with prom, or so we think, because really we’re spoiling ourselves everyday in this country.” By wearing a gunnysack dress to prom, Fehr hopes to raise $10,000 towards the education of the girls who live in poverty as well as buy supplies and teach them skills such as sewing that would give them the ability to gain employment in the future. All the money raised will be directed to the vocational school for girls who are at risk of being sold into prostitution or being married off very young. At the school, the girls learn reading/writing, math and French in addition to money management skills and how to work with textiles such as knitting and sewing. This is not the first effort at raising money for Fehr who has also raised money for relief efforts in Haiti, and by filling shoeboxes with presents and shipping the boxes to people in Nicaragua. Urban Systems Ltd., a Fort St. John company stepped forward to honour Fehr’s charitable efforts Feb. 15 and presented her with a surprise $1,000 donation towards her goal. The company donated the funds through its foundation that earmarks funds for community giving, in particular youth and education, and that has previously assisted Big Brothers & Sisters as well as three communities in Uganda with water wells and schools. Locally, they have assisted the community garden and the women’s resources centre. If you would like contribute, cheques can be made payable to ‘Kerri-Jo’s Gunny Sack Prom’, and sent c/o of Jason Pederson, 8308 – 90 Avenue, Fort St. John, B.C. V1J 6M3. A direct deposit can also be made to an account in the same name at the Fort St. John Credit Union.
Left to right – Kerri-Jo Fehr, Jake Hughson, Edward Stanford, Sara Pieper, Adam Greenwood, and Mike Himmel at Urban Systems Ltd in Fort St. John. The company surprised Kerri-Jo Fehr with a $1,000 cheque Feb. 15 as part of Urban Systems Foundation’s commitment to award funding to inspiring young people who focus on community giving. Kerri-Jo Fehr’s efforts will help girls in Niger obtain education and employment despite living in poverty-stricken conditions.
Tumbler Ridge District not giving up on bioenergy - Page 19
We’re on FACEBOOK! Toll Free: 1.877.787.7030 Fort St. John: 250.787.7030 Fort Nelson: 1.877.787.7030 Dawson Creek: 250.782.7060
Contributed photos
CapiTaL Motors www.capitalford.ca Dealer #CA7019
Dawson Creek
Local: 250-782-2589 • Toll-Free 1-888-643-2636 1609 alaska avenue, Dawson Creek