FOURTEEN PEOPLE TO GET A SHOT AT A NEW LIFE

Three Schools Offer Courses For Judge Gove To Allocate In
Court

Up to 14 people will be given a chance at a new life, thanks to a
unique partnership between The Province, the Downtown Community Court
and three local schools.

As The Province's Operation Phoenix comes to a close, it will leave
behind a legacy aimed at giving offenders a hand up and out of the
destructive cycle of crime and drug addiction by offering them a
chance to go back to school.

"This is a very gratifying end to one of the biggest projects this
newspaper has ever undertaken," said Province deputy editor Ros Guggi.

"We hope this legacy project will truly make a difference in the lives
of 14 people in the Downtown Eastside. We are grateful that the court
and local educators have generously agreed to take part."

In December, The Province approached Judge Thomas Gove, who has
presided over the community court since it was set up in 2008 to deal
with chronic offenders driven to crime by poverty, drug addiction and
mental illness. We asked whether the judge would consider offering
school to some of those who come before him, if we could find the spots.

Gove came on board immediately, as did Sprott-Shaw Community College,
Vancouver Community College and Outward Bound Canada with a total of
14 free courses.

"In spite of many social and health problems, most of the individuals
who came before the Downtown Community Court did want to make
a change in their lives," said Gove.

"Some of these folks would benefit from learning a trade that would
lead to good employment," he said. "Others would benefit from simply
expanding their knowledge of the world around them."

Sprott-Shaw president Dean Duperron is enthusiastic.

"We were asked, 'If somebody wanted to change their lives, would you
guys help?'

"His answer was: 'Absolutely.'"

Sprott-Shaw is offering at least six spots, tuition and books
included, in any of the college's 140 programs.

"We believe in a justice where once the individual admits he has done
something wrong, he takes on the responsibility of changing and works
to repay the community," said Duperron, who is of Metis descent and
was homeless for part of his teenage years.

Vancouver Community College is also ready to welcome six students and
cover the costs of tuition, supplies and transportation.

"We are ready to meet these people where and when they're ready to
come into school," said Deanna Rexe, interim vice-president of
enrolment and strategy. "Our hope is that education meets its promise
in helping individuals change the circumstances they find themselves
in."

One of the greatest tragedies of the Downtown Eastside is how people
with extraordinary potential are unable to develop their gifts to the
benefit of themselves and society, said Julian Norris, director of
development and innovation for Outward Bound, which is allotting one
or two spots for the project.

"The intention and hope is that they come away with a deeper sense of
their own gifts and strengths and the ability to live those out in the
world," said Norris. "For us, it's a privilege to be involved with
something that is about finding hope in the midst of desperate
circumstances and building something positive from it."

Norris said students would be placed in a community program that best
suits their needs. Options include the Women of Courage program, the
Aboriginal Youth Asset Building Adventure program and the newly
launched Veterans Program.

Candidates will be identified by a probation officer, their case
management team or the court's triage team, and then given an
assessment to determine suitability.

The program is tentatively scheduled to start in March, with the aim
to fill all 14 seats within a year.

Sharon Belli, manager of community engagement with the court, believes
it won't be difficult finding candidates.

"It's an amazing opportunity, and there would definitely be suitable
people, both in terms of the program being a good fit for them and
also as a hand up . . . and an opportunity they've been waiting for."

Gove said he would not "sentence" someone to school, but would allow
for it as part of a community order.

"In the end, the person will have to want to attend the school and
take the program," said Gove. "Otherwise, it will not be
worthwhile."

Duperron said the opportunity is only as good as what the person makes
of it.

"A person choosing this option truly needs to choose it, and really
want to make this step," he said. "This is not something you can
mandate. It's a valuable gift, but only if you value it."

The Three Schools

Vancouver Community College

Vancouver Community College enrolls nearly 25,000 students a year in
more than 140 programs. It offers a range of vocational programs,
including business, IT, apprenticeship training and culinary arts, as
well as courses in adult literacy, ESL, basic math and other programs
that do not require a minimum level of education. Established in 1965,
VCC has a campus downtown and another on East Broadway.

Sprott-Shaw Community College

B.C.'s largest private career college educates more than 4,500
students in 140 programs annually. It offers both degree and diploma/
certificate programs in fields such as health care, tourism,
hospitality and business administration. Programs are career-oriented
and the school helps students find jobs upon completion of the program.

It has 20 campuses in B.C., Alberta, and overseas.

Outward Bound Canada

Outward Bound offers wilderness courses for adults and youth across
Canada. The programs are designed to develop participants' confidence,
decision-making abilities and leadership and social skills using
outdoor expeditions. In B.C., all courses qualify for high school
credits. In the last 40 years, more than 100,000 Canadians have gone
through an Outward Bound course.