Dear editor,
Do you know anyone with cancer? I do — and have lost loved ones to cancer. Have you? I would say that practically every person we know has lost a loved one to cancer. Smoking is one of the causes of some cancers. I have a sister who has recently been diagnosed with emphysema. That is a scary, scary disease.
I lift my hands up to all the community members who have, throughout the years, spoken out to have a smoke-free hall here in Tsulquate. The Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw council have stepped up to the plate and banned smoking in the hall. Along with this smoking ban, a new interim bingo committee has also been formed. The downside to being smoke-free is, that the community’s bingos held each Tuesday and Friday evenings has seen a vast decline in attendance!
There is a bingo in town that, due to provincial regulations, does not allow smoking in its hall. There are smokers who still attend that bingo. I myself still do attend bingos at another facility here in our community that still allows smoking, it is by my choice.
I would like to send kudos to Chrissy Johnny, for her commitment and dedication toward running the new, fledgling bingo on Tuesday and Friday evenings. She, her partner Joe and foster son Dave, along with the bingo caller Loraine, have persevered, despite low attendance. I want to take this time to urge community members to see it in their hearts to once again support this bingo – which will support community members as well as provide financial help toward upkeep of the hall.
As part of their community support, they have initiated a food drive for the North Island Gazette Hamper Fund by collecting food items, issuing tickets for each item donated and issuing gift cards in appreciation. They will continue doing so at each bingo and will be having a $1,000 bingo on Dec. 12. For every item donated, attendees receive a ticket to win. Thank you for your support to the new bingo.
Cathy Swain
Port Hardy