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Just say 'no' to casino, school trustee says

By Laura JansenStaff ReporterMay 31 2006

One school trustee is hoping to encourage others to take a stand against a potential casino in Maple Ridge.
First-year trustee Stepan Vdovine will bring a motion to the school board table tonight to propose the board take a stand against the possibility of a casino or new gaming centre here, claiming that such an endeavour holds too much potential harm for youth.
“I think the biggest concern is, what kind of impact is it going to have on the young people?” Vdovine said Tuesday.
He’s not requesting that the board send a letter to Maple Ridge council, which has been consulting the community about expanded gambling in Maple Ridge, but rather asking trustees to back him up in his conviction. If everyone agrees, he said he may propose an official letter be written.
Vdovine lined his motion with a number of excerpts from a 2003 provincial government study on problem gambling, which cites relatively high numbers of British Columbians in the 18-24 set as having problems with gambling.
“I think it’s going to be disastrous,” he said.
He said he feels his fellow trustees will support the motion, referencing the letter sent by the board supporting the call for Grant's Law, which would bring about strict pay-at-the-pump policies for gas stations open late at night.
The campaign came following the death of gas station attendant Grant De Patie in March of last year.
The board supported the campaign to protect youth working in potentially dangerous environments.
While gambling is illegal for all persons in the K-12 age bracket, Vdovine said he feels it is still an issue the school board should be concerned about.
“What I’m asking the board to do is send a message to council,” he said.
Vdovine said he hasn’t dug around to see if gambling is having a negative impact on youth in nearby communities with casinos, such as Coquitlam and Langley, but is certain it can do more harm than good.
He said this is especially the case since the government puts so little of the money it generates back into helping those with gambling problems, which is mentioned in the report referenced in his motion.
“If we bring this in, it will create some problems,” he said.
At the same time, he said he realizes that as with drugs or alcohol, gambling will not spell doom for all youth, and that if people want to gamble, that is their choice.
The motion will be presented at tonight’s school board meeting at the District Education Office, 22225 Brown Ave., at 6 p.m.
© Copyright 2006 Maple Ridge News

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