OKANAGAN HOCKEY ACADEMY: Drug Abuse High in South Okanagan

Originally published in the Oliver Chronicle:

Drug abuse high in South Okanagan

Article By: Lisa Joy

See Link Below

Meeting South Okanagan teenagers on their turf—the streets—it becomes clear that if there were an exam for illicit drug terminology, costs and effects, they would get an A+.
The teens know what’s available, for how much and the type of high it gives. The drug of choice is ‘BC Bud’ marijuana for $30 - $35 a gram and $150 - $220 an ounce. You can choose Hawaiian, white rhino, skunk, blueberry, California orange or banana. If you prefer ecstasy, for $25 a pill, there are green, red or ones with cartoon pictures. Then there’s GHB, a mellow ecstasy for $50 a baby jar. Crack cocaine is widely available and sells for $8 - $10 a rail and if you want to freebase it, just add baking soda. Hash is hard to find but the oil is easy to get. Mushrooms cost $10 a gram and acid is a bargain at only $5 a hit. Methamphetamine, which the teens say is a stronger form of speed, costs $15-$18 a point.
And there’s the prescription drugs sold on the streets like Tylenol 3s for $2-$2.50 a pill and Dexatrin for $2-2.50 a pill.
“There’s lots of candy on the table here,” said Mike Bell, a youth street worker for South Okanagan Integrated Community Services Society, who spends much of his time on the streets reaching out to the youth.

Access the following link for the full article:

http://www.oliverchronicle.com/archive/2002_48.htm

OKANAGAN HOCKEY ACADEMY TRICKLE DOWN METHOD

An OHA parent recently wrote in to describe how OHA spends a disproportionate amount of their revenue on the Major Midget team, coached by Alan Kerr.  This team also appears to have a number of sons of OHA coaches.  Have a look at the comment:

"My son is on the AAA1 team with Robert Dirk. He is a good coach and my son is learning a lot. My chief complaint is that most of the money and development are concentrated on the top team with Alan Kerr. They've played nearly twice the number of games and they travel constantly. It's obvious our funds are funding the top team and the development of the Kerr clan.

We will not return next year unless they guarantee my son a spot on the same team as the Kerr boys. I will not participate in the funding of the top team again."

OKANAGAN HOCKEY ACADEMY: THE COACH SHUFFLE

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs President Andy Oakes is pleased to announce the appointment of Bryant Perrier as the teams New General Manager.

“Obviously our organization is not happy with the teams current record and a change needed to happen in order to get the team on the right track. This is a move made to improve the structure of the organization. Bryant has been given the role as we feel given the right responsibility and accountability he will get the team turned in the right direction. “

“I would like to thank Alan Kerr for his effort and energies as the teams General Manager over the last year and a half.” Andy Oakes, President.

4 days later James Kerr was traded to the Vipers in "fairness" management said.

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So they take the guy with a losing record, an owner, and shuffle him over to the development program in Penticton, BC.  This feels a lot like the Catholic Church.

ALAN KERR FIRED AS PORT ALBERNI BULLDOGS GM!

We would really like to get to the bottom of this story. Okanagan Hockey Academy has claimed Alan Kerr has returned to Penticton as part of their long range coaching plan to develop the younger age groups. Kerr was arguably the worst coach in Bulldog history for favouring his son, James Kerr, with copious amounts of ice time at the detriment of the development of other players.  How many head coaches in the BCHL are permitted to coach their own sons? Shouldn't this nonsense end at PeeWee level?

Kerr was fired from the Bulldogs as GM and James Kerr was immediately traded.

 Kerr is now in Penticton working with the OHA Major Midget team which includes his younger boy Nicholas and a nephew, Chris Kerr. How strong are the blood lines when it comes to favouritism? Is Kerr up to his same bag of tricks?