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Dear Editor. A while ago Killarney mayor Rick Pauls encouraged the Town of Killarney to impose a curfew on youth under the age of 17 to be in by 1:00 AM. October 1 was the deadline. In an Article published in MacLean’s Magazine on September 10, 2009 Mayor Rick Paul blames the problem of youth crime on a society that has gone to soft. He states in the article, “Today in school you can’t fail a kid because you might hurt their feelings. You don’t try out for the little league anymore, everybody gets on the team.” I would suggest that the mayor look a little closer at the good things that are taking place with youth in and around Killarney. I would encourage him to visit a small town north west of Killarney called Ninga during hockey season. A small army of volunteers run what is affectionately known as the “the real NHL”, the Ninga recreational hockey league. Here almost a hundred kids are involved in recreational hockey. All teams have dedicated coaches and all get on a team and all get to play. No matter what level or ability everyone plays. Practice and games are on Thursday Night and tournaments are on Saturday. The schedule is manageable and registration is affordable and the coaching is as good as you would get in any minor hockey league. I think there is something to be said for letting all the kids play. How else will a youngster learn? Secondly in regards to his comment about not failing kids in school these days, a visit to his local school would be in order. As a parent I am glad that our youth in school are very well supported by the teachers and the many teacher's aids. I am very grateful that our rural schools are doing everything in their power to set kids up for success and are taking the extra time with the kids that are struggling because, in reality, many of the kids really don’t need to fail when the resources available are being implemented. I want to close by putting a plug in for some of the Killarney youth. It was last year that I coached my two son’s grade 5 and 6 basketball team. We played an older age group at Killarney School and needless to say we took a beating. However, the Killarney coach who is also the school principal had obviously instilled in his team the value of playing and having respect for the other team. The Killarney grade 7 8 boys basketball team played hard, won by a huge margin and we lost, however they won with class and really encouraged our younger team. It was one of those very special games that all coaches could identify with. It was the time when one of the boys on the Killarney team stretched out his hand to hoist up one of our team players who had fallen during the game. It was that time when the Killarney team congratulated our younger players for a shot well taken and high fived them after a free throw was made. I think parents watching were completely entertained and thoroughly enjoyed a game well played by both sides. And all the kids played! No one sat on the bench because other players were better. Both teams set an example of respect and enjoyment for the game! The Killarney coach obviously did a great job teaching the skills of basketball, but he also instilled a winning attitude. To me it was a win, win, situation. I am looking forward to another great season of basketball and hockey. Perhaps the mayor and town council of Killarney would benefit from a season of Middle School Basketball or a season of hockey in the “Real NHL”! Respectfully, Rev. Orland Usick Boissevain, Manitoba
Newspaper Details
Baldur Gazette
Baldur, Manitoba, CA
Tue, Nov 24, 2009
Page 4
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CA 10 Jan 2026
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