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The 13th chapter of Kids Help Phone was recently launched in Kitchener Waterioo, making it the 38th chapter in Canada elp for young people Hm need is just. a phone call away And soon every studept in the city will know the number | â€"800â€"666â€"6868 "It gets flooded out at tuumes because there is no drainage." Said Sumpson Kids Help Phone makes presence known in Waterioo And since the asphalt path never had proper drainage in lls*:’) years of existence, according to the neighbourhood historian and watchdog. people are taking their safety into their own hands as they try to negouate the pathâ€"blocking puddles and icy patches. > ©â€"He‘s been living on Hune ingdon Crescent for more than 15 years, and watched what he calls the "deferred maintenance" of a commuâ€". nity trail, connecting his street to Northfield Drive, turn it into an evesore. Even more worrying for him than the .c ruxfi"hling asphalt. undulating fencing. and inaccessible stairs is the hazard it‘s become to chilâ€" dren and local seniors who use it as a shortcut to Northâ€" field Drive. "It happens all the time kids stumble and fall." said Simpson. Simpson said the city/s responsible for the path *yet maintenance | like <leaf removal and.snow removal happens infrequently setâ€" tmg up obstacles for pedesâ€" trians and bicyclists onald Simpson is a Dwnmr who takes pride in his neighâ€" beurhood and keeps an eve wn the kids on their way to Sir Edgar Bauer Catholic school, across the street from his modest Lakeshoreâ€" area home. State of walkway concerns senior By Amoaza Bamay * Chromicle Staft By Bos Vrmanac Chronicle Staff "Kids call for a variety of reasons," said Kâ€"W chapter president Patti Wilson "Relationships, emotional or physical abuse, emotional of ing, drugs. alcohol abuse, or it might just be as simple as _ dis main objective is to make the community aware of the organization, its ser vices and the challenges faced by children, youths and young adults Simpson recently con tacted the mayor‘s office about the problem, but was n‘t happy with the response. "This is the only way some of these lads cam get to school, and the conditions are terrible." "There should have been concrete put in 1990 when they built the school," said Simpson, about when his fight with the city began. "This is the only way some of these kads cam get to With recent work on Northfield _ completed. Simpson _ and _ others thought the city would turn its attention to this neighâ€" bourhood problem. After all, he brought a petition to council inâ€"2004 with more than twoâ€"dozen signatures pointing out the problem. But still nothing‘s been done Simpson knows of one child ysing that path who \ll“l‘l}(“d a serious ‘arm injury last year. The acciâ€" dent had the bovy in hospital for a week with a compound fracture. * & "The properties on Huntâ€" ingdon are very low and all the drainage comes down from Northfield Drive." Continued on page 6 Start the new year right... 16 is a very tough age to be on your own. | wish there Wilson said the service is especially close to her heart "I left home when I was 16, and fortunately | didn‘t find 1oo much trouble and over the years I‘ve managed "We want them to know that there‘s someone there for them." . needing someone to talk to or confide in with a whole new look! "These are not just some fAy â€"byâ€"night people giving When a child calls the Kids Help Phone number they reach paid trained counsellors & So now she wants to make sure the service is available to young people who may be in a similar sit had been a serviceâ€"like this then. That would have been a great help." "Another call came from _ the child‘s area where they a fiveâ€"yearâ€"old and a sevenâ€" _ can find assistance yearâ€"old who wanted to know how to make maca Continued on page 7 "The youngest caller so tar was a fourâ€"yearâ€"old boy who wanted to commit suiâ€" cide," Wilson said. Counsellors are prepared to help young children to those in postâ€"secondary school + their own ideas." Wilson assured. . 883 King Street N., Waterioo (610) 772â€"1127 677 eimont Ave W . 1120 ictons &1 N HEERS ~â€" & DESIGN CENTKLSs â€" CR 565 King St. N. @ Northfield in GTO Gas Bar www.atwireless.ca _ 880+1477 When a counsellor takes a call they‘re able to tap into a database of resources in the child‘s area where they can find assiftance romi and cheese because their father was passed out drunk on the couch and their mother was nowhere to be found "There are some real sad situations out there." Jackberry Mike & Data GIFT CERTIFICATE