The following two articles where published in the BCSTA Education Leader February 1998 Issue. It is an example of how people working together can "achieve the impossible." It was also a lot of fun.

BY John Greaves

When high-school teacher Emile Belak's

request for support for her idea came to

the board, my first reaction was, "What a great idea."

    My second reaction was to feel that it would be almost impossible to accomplish, given the time lines, the great distance and especially the cost. Despite these obstacles, I wasn't surprised that the board supported the idea and offered to help in whatever way it could. Some of our district's most ambitious accomplishments have seemed overwhelming at their outset.

    The group of students I met arrived at 2:30 a.m. They looked tired and apprehensive but before long they fit right in to our community. When it was time for them to return to Quebec, many of our guests did not want to leave and we were sad to see them go. We have all learned a great deal about each other, about citizenship and relationships. The Boundary area of B.C. received a great deal of recognition, which I am sure will benefit us for years to come. Most of all, we have learned that working together we can achieve the "impossible."

    I am proud of the members of the Boundary community and the school district for taking on Operation Freeze Lift and turning the Ice Storm Disaster into something good for this group of affected students.

John Greaves is chair of the S.D. #51 (Boundary) School Board.

IT'S A STORY OF ONE caring person, becoming the concern of a school, the generosity of a community, and then the recognition by a country. What a project!

The story begins when math teacher Emile Belak turned on her television to witness the destruction caused by the ice storms in Quebec. Emile felt a personal responsibility to help and was able to get support of the high-school staff and Mr. Kemprud, the superintendent. Trustee (Roma) Brown presented it to the board of school trustees for approval.

The idea immediately caught fire and numerous people who were willing to assist appeared. Transportation was the key factor. The Ministry of National Defense was approached to provide air transportation from Montreal to Vancouver. Cindy Munns, from the Ministry of Forestry, picked up the idea and was supported by her supervisor who advised her to contact the ministry in Victoria. The communication reached the highest echelon and was acted upon immediately. Before the end of the day 50 seats were available. (This later became 82 seats.)

The impact on the host families was impressive. Our visitors were well mannered, spoke English well, and were considerate and appreciative of their host families as was evidenced by the tears, on both sides, at their departure. One family had two dozen students watching the Super Bowl in their home and commented upon their departure that they wished that their teens behaved so well and cleaned up after themselves.

The gem in the crown was the going-away presentation by the local Doukhobor community (U.S.C.C.). The meal, a typical Doukhobor cuisine, was excellent and the service by the ladies commendable. The speeches by the chairman of U.S.C.C. emphasized the "spirit" that exists between the brotherhood of man and that we should look to the needs of others. Presentations and gifts from merchants were distributed in a goodie bag to the students and their chaperones. As all good things must come to an end, there was a somber assembly of hosts and billets in the small hours of Saturday, Jan. 31.

What did Project Freeze Lift do for Grand Forks? Aside from national recognition, it showed that a small community with limited resources could open up their hearts and homes to people from a far-away province who were suffering. The blending of the different cultures and recognition of our sameness far outweighs any government commission on cultural differences. For 10 days, Grand Forks and Quebec felt a unity, or oneness, as Canadians.

- Reprinted from the Grand Forks Informer