Family most important right, say children
Young people voted for family as the most important right in UNICEF Canada’s National Election for the Rights of Youth last week.
The contoversial vote involved over 1,000 schools across the country, but no Centretown schools participated.
The Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board didn’t participate because it said the vote undermined the rights and responsibilities of parents. Many public schools didn’t participate in the ballot because the board says teachers simply didn’t have the time.
Revitalization summit date set
The City of Ottawa has finalized plans for a Downtown Revitalization Summit, which was endorsed by City Council on Oct. 6.
The summit will be a day-long workshop, with community and business representatives working to develop proposals for a City of Ottawa action plan promoting the revitization of the downtown area.
The goal is to build on “Re-Do-It” proposals from 1994 and to develop and implement new initiatives.
The summit will be held on Jan. 29, 2000 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Those interested in participating should call Beth Desmarais at 244-5300, ext. 1-3503, by Dec. 17 to confirm, as space is limited.
United Way sets new record
The United Way wrapped up a record-setting campaign in Ottawa-Carleton last week, raising about $15.2 million.
Organizers said the final tally represented about 98 per cent of their $15.5 million goal – the most money they have ever raised in the region.
They are confident the full amount will be raised in coming days, as funds from federal government campaigns and mail-in donations trickle in.
Funds raised by the United Way go to over 100 programs in 50 member agencies, such as the YMCA, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.