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THURSDAY
Thursday, February 7, 2013 X Volume 26 No. 11
Kamloops, B.C., Canada X 30 cents at Newsstands
THIS WEEK
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Boys behind girls in graduation rates School district head says issue needs to be tackled By Dale Bass STAFF REPORTER dale@kamloopsthisweek.com
Statistics show male students continue to lag behind females when it comes to graduating from high school — and Terry Sullivan said government needs to put more money and resources into addressing the issue. “Everyone knows it’s an issue,” said Sullivan, superintendent for the Kamloops-Thompson school district and head of the provincial body of school superintendents. “It’s something everybody talks about. It needs some leadership provincially and nationally.” The most recent completion study showed 81 per cent of boys will leave Grade 12 with a Dogwood certificate, compared to 86.6 per cent of girls — and the trend is reflected in similar statistics throughout the province. Scott Sutherland, a spokesman with the provincial Ministry of Education, GRAD RATES SKEWED BY agreed with DATA OMISSION — PAGE A6 Sullivan that the lower completion rate is wellknown and documented Sullivan said the school district has employed some tactics in addressing the issue and the fact boys learn differently than girls. It is also reflected in the foundation-skills assessment tests and in Grade 12 English exams, Sutherland added. He noted that, despite the lower percentage for completion, “B.C. boys are doing very well” and pointed to the government’s education plan as a document that, while acknowledging successes, “is all about improving performance.” Sullivan noted male students are “over-represented in special needs, in dropouts and in discipline situations” as well. He said the education system needs to make changes to its methodology to be more boy-friendly in everything from understanding they have difficulty sitting for long periods of time to rethinking the books chosen for them to read. X See POSITIVE A7
BEATING WINTER’S BLUES Louis Ritchie finds the perfect practice space to let loose on his drum set — an empty parking lot on McArthur Island. The Thompson Rivers University student was practising his drum solo technique for an upcoming gig during TRU International Days, which wrap up on Friday, Feb. 8, at various sites throughout the campus. Ritchie says playing the drums provides a good release from the grind of studies. Dave Eagles/KTW
Family of woman hit by car files lawsuit By Tim Petruk STAFF REPORTER tim@kamloopsthisweek.com
An 85-year-old Kamloops man alleged to have been behind the wheel of a car that struck and severely injured a woman in a North Shore crosswalk last year is the subject of a lawsuit in addition to criminal charges. Chloe Jasmine Demers, also known as Chloe Ardiles, was in a crosswalk at Fortune Drive and Fort Avenue on Sept. 7, 2012, when she was hit by a car alleged to have blown through a red light. The 20-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries and was placed in a medically induced coma for weeks following the collision.
Merle Peter Michels, 85, was charged in December with driving without due care and attention in relation to the collision. Late last month, Demers’ family filed a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court, seeking money to cover loss of income, loss of earning capacity, future care costs and general damages, among other claims. According to the notice of claim filed on Demers’ behalf, the woman suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, a broken tibia and fibula, multiple lacerations, abrasions and bruises to her entire body, a blown pupil and an ACL injury to her left knee. The document claims she has been left with scars on her head and body and now suf-
fers seizures, pain, depression, sleep problems, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and headaches. According to the document, Michels was speeding when he allegedly ran the red light and failed “to take reasonable steps to avoid a collision” with Demers. There is no dollar amount listed in the document. Michels has yet to file a response. He is due in Kamloops provincial court today (Feb. 7) to schedule an upcoming court date. Records show he was in court to enter a guilty plea on Jan. 24, but it is unclear if that plea was entered.
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