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I'll take Ontario. That's what I conclude returning from my long-awaited vacation to Alberta. Having heard all the positive things I wondered what my reaction would be on my first visit to Canada's newest land of opportunity. More jobs, more money, more fun. It seems there's no such thing as an unhappy Albertan, They all claim to love their high-paying jobs, their bustling ci- ties--- Edmonton and Calgary-and their wealthy pro Vince, But I'll still take good ol' Ontario. First-off, let me say lie absolutely nothing against Alberta. I disagree with Peter Lougheed's stand on the oil issue, but that's no reflection on the populace of the provmce. Tine first thing that struck me about Albertans is that they're not " seems most folks out there came from someplace else. Like Ontario, Hound there are many, many transplanted Om tanans lmng In oil-rich Alberta, And all the ones I talked to love it there, In fact. few had anything good to say about this province, and all were adamant If you're 16 years of age or over, and have so.me time on your hands, Mark Yantzi and his co-workers are lookng for you. It's Volunteers in Corrections Week from Oct. 28 to Nov, 3 and as well as saluting the 100 or so people already involved they are looking for more. _ What ts SO rare as a day In October" Now that does not quite have the melllnuosny of poet James iowell Russell's famous “What IS so rare as a day In June"" But n makes a lot more sense to a Canadian According to Mr. Yantzi, a probation officer volun- teers in the corrections field add a caring dimension. They humanize a process which can easily become bureaucratic and institutional. A day m June" ICs a ulch Heat wave, mosquitoes. and the grass growing as though H were trying to reach the moon Twelve-hour day for the farmer Water too cold for swnmmmg. except for kids Weed- mg the garden Now a day In October IS something else Provided of course. October IS behavmg Itself Once In a de- cade, It becomes a little tired of being the finest month of the year and throws a tantrum. In the form of an early snowfall As far as I'm concerned, a volunteer position in this field would be one of the most meaningful positions a person could hold. The benefits of such a program for probationers and convicted criminals is obvious. As a volunteer you would help to dispel that "you don't care, it's just your job," attitude that often crops up between probationer and probation officer. But any month that mmhlnes Thanksgiving Indian summer duck shooting, last of the golf on lush fairy ways, great rainbow trout fishing, and Northern Spy apples will take a lot of heating There IS a stillness on il fine October day that we get at no other time of the year We can almost hear old Mother Earth grunt as she births the last of her bounty squash and pumpkin and rich red apples that <purt With sweetness when you bite Into their crisp With a'case load of 100 or more a probation officer has very little time to devote to each individual. A volunteer can give this time. _ _ -.- _ _ . Perhaps the least recognized benefit is one derived by the volunteer himself. He gets an inside view of the judicial system, something everyone should do at some time. _ The criminal court system, next to the government, is perhaps the most misunderstood governing body of all. It's full of loop holes and weaknesses. Ask anyone who works within its confines. It's volunteers who view the system through the community's eyes who can straighten out a few of the angles. Mornings are cool and often mtsty By mm a m.. the high yellow sky 15 filtering. from an meffahiy blue sky through the madness of color, the breathtaking palette that is this country's autumn foliage “I tinfthe volunteers intriguing?' said Mr. Yantzi. Hung with the sweetness and SunnmeSs of October Jerry Jam es" Bill Smiley "They get a better picture of what is going on. They're not looking at it through an office door. They are always asking why we are doing something. It makes us stop and take a good 16ok at it." , Combine this open attitide with a chance to help a fellow resident gone astray and what have you got? A good reasonm become a Volunteer in correcllons. Beginning in mid November, Mr. Yantzi will be re- ceiving applications from persons interestedin volun- teering their time. Three orientation sessions will give interested persons the nuts and bolts of what is going on. ' ' "The go'al of these orientation progrims is to pro- vide as much information as possible and then let them decide,"' said Mr. Yantzi. He has developed a "call us, we won't call you." attitude. " "This is something that could be develo'ped more," said Mr. Yantzi. Probation is a very negative thing. You can't do this and you can't do that. But the very fact that here is a person who has done it and was suc- cessful, gives a positive note to the whole thing." - Persons who have beeh on probation themselves are urged to help out. - _ - - _ _ " _ .. Working with a probationer on a one-to-one basis, learning mediation skills in the Victim-Offender Re- conciliation Project and helping victims and of- fenders towards an agreement; interviewing of- fenders and writing pre-sentence reports and offering your special skills in public relations, recreational ac- tivities, newsletters etc., are areas where you could devote two hours or two days a week in crisis situa- ICs one thing for Ontarians to bitch about Billy Davis and his ever-present Conservative government. I'm one of the great complainers in fact. But it gets tiring and a trifle aggravating when our home be- comes the constant target of ridicule from people who don't even live here. there lurks a little sadness We cling to each golden day. trying to forget what follows October. the numb- ness and dumbness and glumness of November. sure- ly the lousnest month on the calendar about not returning to stale, stagnant Ontario. One of the favorite pastimes I found in Edmonton was running down Ontario and our government; -- Thanksgiving Is, m my mind, the finest holiday wee- kend of the year. though it has lost much of Its “holy day" effect and has become a bit of a gluttomuvs faml- ly" reunion. a last King at the cottage. or a final go at the ducks. the fishing, and the golf I can think of a number of reasons why many people would wish to live in Alberta. There's no shortage of employment, judging by the help wanted section of the mammoth-and supremely boring-daily paper the Edmonton Journal. And most jobs out there pay considerably more than a comparable position here. There IS certainly no shortage of bars and/or night- clubs, and there seems to be an abundance of attrac- tive females. And. of course, there's the Edmonton Eskimos and the Calgary Stampeders. Perhaps we don't express It except In church and m edltonals. but I honestly believe that the average Carr adian does give a tamtum "thanks. God". at this time of year Thanks for the bounty Thanks for the free- dom Thanks for being alive In a great country at a great time of year I know I do But contrary to what most Albertans will tell.y0u. there are some problems associated with living there, October us so splendid, With Its golden sun. Its last brave flowers. Its incredibly blue sky and water, Its panorama of vivid colors m every patch of trees, Its clear air. that every poor devel m the world who has never experienced it should do so once before he dies We Canadians are the lucky ones We see It and smell and feel It every year. for a brief but glofious taste of the best m the world It's a great month for the gourmet Besides the tra- ditional gut-stuffing of turkey and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner, there as a wealth of fresh pro- duee that doesn't yet cost an arm and a leg. and hasn 't degenerated Into the sodden artJerally colored stuff Howard Elliott Waterloo Chronicle, Wodnuday. October 31, 1979 - Page 7 a fresh rainbow, are now sacking them away m the freezer. and forgetting their old friends who have tre- come a little too decrepit to (much In a. blind or wade to the hum m we water Sob Hint Is there anything to beat a butternut squash. halved and baked. with a hug gob of butter working its way Into the flesh" And there's always the chance of a meal of fresh trout or mast duck Though I must admit that they are becoming seareer all the time. thanks to that infernal Invention. the deep freezer The sportsmen who used to drop around with the odd duck Ithe flying kind), or For the housewife, October is a re~geanng for an "on The kids are out of the way her summer tan IS shot. so its “me for redecorating, jmmng organna Mons. huymg some smart new elmhes And a great chance With the earlier darkness, for heelonng the old man. who can't escape to golf or smhngnr fishing Potatoes are firm and taste of the earth There are still a few golden peaches on the stands Apples are cr1sp and juicy, not like the wet tissue affairs we buy in January There are still lots of field tomatoes around. before the frost Can anything be quite as delicious as an ice-cold tomato. right all the vine, eaten over the kitchen sink so you won't slobber all over yourself no your greed" we have to put up with In Winter and early spring Housing prlces are ridiculously high-as are beer prices. The pluses of living in Alberta would seem to ou- tweigh the minttses--except for one thing. It gets damn cold. _ In Edmonton I found it very difficult to go out for a quiet evening. The entire night-life of that city seems to cater to the fast-paced lifestyle that goes along with a wealthy populace. . That's one thing Albertans can boast of that we cant Judging by the construction going on in Edmon- ton alone, the Alberta government must spend more In half-a-year than the Ontario government makes ttt one year. - Friday, November 2, 1979 "Community Corrections vs. Incarceration" An OPEN MEETING to give the public an opportunity to look at various community initiatives as an alternative to institutional program- ming. Panel discussion and question period. Friday, November 2, 1979 - 8:00 pm. Police Annex, 134 Fre- derick Street, Kitchener, Ontario. -iiLilG, I still prefer the quiet stability of a city like Waterloo as opposed to the constant bustle of an Ed- monton or Calgary. Or 'roroettoAtr that matter. - I guess that means theyYe blessed with a progres- sive, fiscally minded, proud government and we're stuck with stale. stuffy, secretive old Billy Davis and friends. Thursday through Saturday, November 1-3. Prison Arts Display can be seen at Conestoga Mall. See this extensive display of art work done by inmates and make a bid to purchase if you wish. This event is part of "Volunteers in Corrections Week" October 28th to November 3, 1979. Thursddy, 7:30 pm. Mun Repreation Centre, King & Allen Street, Waterloo, PUBLIC MEETING "Vo- lunteers with Women in Corrections," with Gillian Sandeman, former MPP, presently executive director Elizabeth Fry Society in Toronto. tions) to 1elh'ht"r'l'"v"t else. It would be time well spent. Just, call rk Yantzi at 529-1800., A _. In the meantime for those of you who haven't quite made up your mind to become directly involved, but are interested in the program, a number of activities have been planned for this week. The following events were sponsored by the Cambridge House Community Resource Centre, Kitchener Hou'se Community Re- source Centre, The John Howard Society, Mennonite Central Committee. Volunteer Probation Program- me/Victim Offender Reconcilation Project and. Youth in Conflict with the Law. ' _ In spite of all that, I'll still take Ontario. I think