Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jan 2007
Source: Kootenay News Advertiser (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Kootenay News Advertiser
Contact:  http://www.kootenayadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2651
Author: Kerstin Renner

METH - PERFORMANCE AT KEY CITY THEATRE WANTS TO RAISE
AWARENESS

METH - with increased awareness over the last few months meth has 
become a buzz word, stirring up emotions and triggering debate. This 
is just what Bonnie Eugene hopes to achieve with an event that bears 
the word as its title. She is the Aqam (St. Mary Band) Community 
Governance Facilitator and she is working with ANKORS and other 
community groups in Cranbrook to present the workshop.

"We really want to talk about addictions and where they come from," 
Eugene explains the goal of the event. It is centered around an 
interactive performance by Headlines Theatre about addiction. The 
group shows their play once and then repeats it, however, they are 
giving the audience the opportunity to do an intervention at any 
point. Anybody can change the outcomes of the performer's actions or 
even put themselves in the character's spots to change the situation, 
Eugene explains. Gary Dalton, Education Coordinator with ANKORS says: 
"This gives the community an opportunity to add their story."

There will be several counsellors and mentors at the event as well. 
They will be introduced at the beginning of the workshop and they 
will also stay after the play is over to make sure people have a 
chance to get in touch with them, Eugene points out. To her, the 
aftercare of participants is extremely important, and she believes it 
is not healthy for people to open up and be vulnerable and then be 
dropped and forgotten about at the end of the show. This is why 
Eugene is planning to have a follow-up event in February where people 
can continue their discussions.

The workshop is open to anybody and Dalton says the focus will be on 
getting the community to team up and deal with the issues around 
addiction. Eugene hopes the event will show people how to be 
healthier and to give those already affected "the tools to help dig 
ourselves out of the ugliness of addiction."

METH will be held at the Key City Theatre on Wednesday, January 24, 
at 7:00 pm. Organizers suggest participants donate $5 as their 
admission, but Eugene stresses the money should not be an obstacle: 
"If the cost is an issue, if transportation is an issue, don't let it 
be an issue." She says people who are interested in joining can be 
picked up or met somewhere. Bonnie Eugene can be contacted at 
426-5717, ext. 235.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine