NEW EXHIBIT

HEADS UP!

An exhibit featuring the architecture of salmon canneries along the West Coast. Also presenting studio works from the UBC School of Architecture and multimedia presentation by students from the Vancouver Film School.

It's cool in the Cannery --Dress Warmly!

Cannery Seeks Search And Rescue Stories

The Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site is currently looking for search and rescue stories involving fishermen for an exhibit opening in 2004. Hundreds of men and women have risked their lives at sea to save the lives of others. The SOS exhibit will be a tribute to the coast guard, fishermen and other individuals who have attempted to rescue fishermen caught in life threatening situations. Whether their operations were successful or not, these people have demonstrated heroic actions. There is a need to tell their stories. Please contact Viviane Gosselin if you wish to share your search and rescue story.

Tel: 604.664.9282 or email: viviane.gosselin@pc.gc.ca

OPENING HOURS
April 5 - May 31: Thursday through Monday, 10am - 5pm
June 1 to June 30th: DAILY, 10am - 5pm
July 1to September 1: DAILY, 10:00 am to 6 pm
Sept 2 - Oct 31: Thursday through Monday, 10am - 5pm
12138 Fourth Avenue, Richmond, BC V7E 3J1

Admission rates (GST included) $6.50 adult, $3.25 child, $5 student/senior, $16.25 family. Children under 6 and Gulf of Georgia Cannery members are free. Group rates and bookings are available in advance. www.gulfofgeorgiacannery.com. Program information: phone 604 664-9282 or email viviane.gosselin@pc.gc.ca

LONDON FARM

No admissions charge -come & enjoy, for more information on, events, tours, hours of operation, etc, call 604-271-5220

STEVESTON CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Lord Byng Elementary School, 3711 Georgia St., Richmond, Corner of No.1 Rd. and Georgia St., 2 blocks south of Steveston Hwy.) 10:30AM WORSHIP SERVICE, Coffee on after 10.00. Introduce yourself to someone! CHURCH OFFICE: 29 - 11631 7th Ave., Richmond, BC V7E 5V6, 604-271-3786, www.steveston.org If you need any help or directions please ask. We are happy to assist you in any way we can.

Editorial

The Value of Hurtful Conflict: PART TWO

What value can there possibly be in conflict? Is the only hope in resolution?

Last time we looked at how one'ss performance improvement is directly correlated with increasing one's capacity for conflict. If that's true, it calls for an approach quite different from the old 'fight or flight' reflex. We have to consider: What would happen if we purposely committed to staying in conflict a little longer.

The commitment to work through a conflict could be life changing because it can dramatically increase not only what you can learn about what's going on around you, but also what's going on in you. Conflict is a necessary process for un-learning on a daily basis that challenges and reshapes our position for better solutions.

Naturally, this kind of commitment is easier to make with someone you love and respect. But there are plenty of situations where conflict has to do with people that don't quite fit that category! Then what?

They say you should 'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.' I always thought that had to do with paranoia, but something I read several years ago in John Maxwell's book, Developing the Leader Within You, has stuck with me. He suggests that if we want to develop our leadership potential we should embrace the criticism of people who don't seem to be on our side. Why? Within the criticism we can usually find the seed of some truth; and the people close to us are there precisely because they do not hurt us. So where else can we grow in this way? In other words, maybe
we need to keep our enemies close not just so we can keep an eye on them, but so we can hear what they are saying to us. If we are willing to embrace the pain of conflict, we have found a means for precise and dramatic character development.

It takes courage to confront reality with the realization that it may well involve discovering aspects of good, bad and myself. The valuable result to keep in mind is that the process takes us to deeper levels of psychological maturity, feeling confident and empowered to cope with difficulties by dealing directly with them. Ironically, the avoidance of conflict actually leaves us feeling less confident to cope. In this way then, conflict isn't part of the problem, it is part of the solution.

Perhaps it has seemed an unlikely topic, but once you start thinking about it, conflict is too widespread in people's interactions to be so little discussed. The Bible says, 'Blessed are the peacemakers' because they are so very much needed! Be a peace maker, not by avoiding hurtful conflict so much as expecting it; anticipate it discerningly with a fresh commitment to work at resolution, keeping in mind that the capacity to handle increased conflict is as important as resolving it.

Rev. Kenton J. Kutney

Steveston Christian Church

www.steveston.org

For PART 1 see last month's Community Events