Whitehorse Daily Star

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Paolo Gallina

MLA recognizes children’s artwork and community members

Paolo Gallina, the Liberal MLA for Porter Creek Centre, is celebrating positive ideas and goodwill in the community by recognizing children’s artwork and highlighting community members in his new Gratitude Campaign this year.

By Whitehorse Star on February 18, 2021

Paolo Gallina, the Liberal MLA for Porter Creek Centre, is celebrating positive ideas and goodwill in the community by recognizing children’s artwork and highlighting community members in his new Gratitude Campaign this year.

Last month, Gallina called on children 12 and under to submit “a fun, colourful drawing of something they are thankful for.”

Five grand winners were recently selected from more than 50 pieces of handiwork.

Each winner will receive an art pack, a donation of $30 to the charity of his or her choice, and 25 blank cards featuring their designs.

Gallina will also be displaying the winning artwork on bus bench advertisements, social media posts and in greeting cards thanking Porter Creek Centre residents for their sacrifices during the pandemic.

Stella Marie Burns, 10, of Whitehorse, is one of the five winners.

Her piece depicts a swing set scene, complete with a vibrant sun and sprouting flowers.

She writes she is “thankful for her friends and the time she gets to spend with them at school.”

Gallina will be stopping in to Jack Hulland and Holy Family elementary schools to speak with students further about the value in practising gratitude on a daily basis.

He will also be using social media in the coming weeks to recognize people and businesses in the community for being kind and staying safe since the eruption of COVID-19 early last year.

“Now, more than ever, it’s important to focus on what we are grateful for and to encourage our children to think about what they are thankful for,” he said Tuesday.

“Our children need to be our champions during these challenging times and they need to feel they have a role to play.

“In turn, we need to listen to them about what is going on in their world right now. This campaign has been a delight, and it really helps reinforce the importance and the impacts of the decisions I’m a part of when it comes to people-centred health and wellness in Yukon.”

Comments (32)

Up 1 Down 0

Klondiker1 on Mar 6, 2021 at 5:31 pm

@yukoner1- what kind of human lists a kids name and claims the kid wins coloring contest because of anything but trying hard and doing great work?

Up 2 Down 0

Non-partisan on Feb 27, 2021 at 12:32 pm

Wow some of these vitriolic and self-righteous comments are just plain rude, insensitive and nothing but mean-spirited. Perhaps Paolo ought to run an art contest for you adults to get you back in touch with the concept of kindness. God willing you’re not raising your children (if god forbid you have them) to be this s$@tty.

Up 0 Down 0

Pokemeinthearm on Feb 25, 2021 at 4:04 pm

@FamilyFolk
For someone who seems pretty progressive, you're being rather mean-spirited. Making fun of someone you've never even met by telling them they think slowly is an insult to neuro diverse folks.

Up 0 Down 0

FamilyFolk on Feb 25, 2021 at 1:25 pm

@Groucho d'North
You're critical of my math but still used my figure as an example. I'm not sure I could think as slow as you if I tried.

@Khmer Rouge
"it is not about the artwork but rather it is about the drawing of children into the cause of politics and pandemics"

Children literally participate in politics every day. They have leadership and negotiations expressed on playgrounds at schools, participate in student councils, voice concerns over issues they experience such as bullying... a drawing contest constitutes less of a political engagement than their every day life at school from kindergarten through to grade 12 so what are you going off about?

"However, the fact that you see yourself as a representative of a class or category of persons is a BIAS!" .. I don't see myself as a rep, I am by definition part of that category based on literally when I was born... I'm not attacking millennials, there is no lateral violence here, I'm identifying myself as one.

I'm drawing attention to the issues that the Boomer Con's conveniently ignore while they push a false narrative of what constitutes as good and meaningful leadership or governance.

I'll take a drawing contest politician over one that stifles property development in favor of lining the pockets of the real estate agents...

Up 5 Down 3

Groucho d'North on Feb 24, 2021 at 2:37 pm

@ Familyfolk
I'm not sure where you went to school, but I was taught that 14 is greater than 0. But I have never been a student of Liberal math.

@Moose, I have long criticized government (any party) to not measure their performance by how much money gets blown out the door. If you want to impress me- show me how much of our tax dollars were saved to acquire the needed goods or services.

Up 6 Down 3

Khmer Rouge were children too... on Feb 24, 2021 at 12:55 pm

@FamilyFolk - Just so you know I too am not a boomer. Your comments are ageist and discriminatory. Why do you think so generally? You are full on engaged in biased thinking. Your privilege is being afforded this platform to spew your vitriol.

The number one symptom in any mental health concern is cognitive distortion (bias). We know that mental ill-health concerns are skyrocketing in the younger generations and this is a consequence of the repetitive doom and gloom narrative perpetuated in the anti-social media.

Again, it is not about the artwork but rather it is about the drawing of children into the cause of politics and pandemics... Where they should not be. I teach my children to think critically about the issues of the day and to avoid the emotionalism inherent to artistic expression in decision-making.

Perhaps you envision children in Covid Factories all around the world making vaccines, syringes, and masks while handing out pamphlets for the cause.

You have great deflection skills which will serve you well in the Great Liberal Re-Narration project; one way of thought to rule them all and in the darkness bind them...

I am not sure why the Star keeps editing my posts to the point that they make little sense while allowing people such as yourself to use the same?

Anyway, we know that children’s art etc were used during the wartime era to get their support and buy in for the war effort in WW1 and WW2 - FFS! Same for the Cold War, and Korea, and Vietnam etc.

We know that there has been a parallel increase in mental ill-health. This increased exponentially with the advent of antisocial media pumping out continuous reminders of ‘our’ nihilistic tendencies; truly sociopathic - Depressing times for sure!

By the way Millennials can be biased against other Millennials; Blacks can be biased against other blacks; Whites can be biased against other whites; FNs can be biased against other FNs! It’s called lateral violence, internalized violence etc. - FFS!

However, the fact that you see yourself as a representative of a class or category of persons is a BIAS!
What is going on in the world today! You probably believe that the sky is blue...

Can I buy a clue for 500 please!

Up 10 Down 1

Pokemeinthearm on Feb 24, 2021 at 10:35 am

Wait. Colouring books can offset apparent damages done to affordable housing? Jeez I guess the politicians have been doing it all wrong. Maybe they should have taken more life lessons from Mr. Dressup and applied them to their policies.

Of course, this is all just a joke, but maybe the concept of kids crafts offsetting anything is as laughable as the tax I pay on my home heating fuel offsetting the amount of carbon we produce in the Yukon?

Up 6 Down 7

Moose on Feb 23, 2021 at 8:15 pm

@Groucho - List all the projects you want, but the numbers don't lie. The current Liberals spent over 4 times as much as the Yukon Party on lot development, which is what we need for more housing.

PLUS there was a big affordable housing unit plan supported by the City of Whitehorse, Anti-Poverty coalition, Chambers of Commerce and First Nations in 2013 or 2014 which was cancelled by the Yukon Party (Brad Cathers) in favour of building the new shelter instead aka social housing. They took all the money that was supposed to be for affordable housing from the federal government and instead plowed all of that money into the overkill Salvation Army building which they also conveniently bought from one of their backroom supporters who couldn't sell their contaminated property. But that's a story for another day.

Plus why are you at all concerned about affordable or social housing? I thought you hated socialism like all good conservatives?

Up 3 Down 6

Patti Eyre on Feb 23, 2021 at 6:36 pm

Leave it to Josie to insult children, strong words from a strong whatever he is!

Up 3 Down 6

FamilyFolk on Feb 23, 2021 at 6:05 pm

@ Groucho d'North
Thanks for the history lesson. Here's a math lesson for yourself.

Total number of units built according to you divided by number of years in power 201 / 14 = 14.36 houses built per year rounding up in your favor. The Con's 14 year housing legacy is summed up into 14 new housing units per year, majority of which you identified were for seniors, the wealthiest demographic in Yukon.

Might I add that the YP strategically removed asset ownership as a barrier to entry for government subsidized housing through Yukon Housing Corporation... So not only did they serve the wealthiest population by providing them with the largest support for housing through their previous mandate, they made it easier for them to live off the tax payer dime despite the ENORMOUS wealth discrepancy. Nice argument you got there. (for the record I'm not against senior housing, but I prefer a system that serves people fairly)

@ Khmer Rouge
"I will type this slowly for you" I'm not convinced typing slowly is an option for you... please don't strain your index finger too hard.
A) I don't have a bias against Millennials, I am one.
B) No one is scaremongering by recognizing children's art or their struggles during depressing times. You're pushing a false narrative.
C) A colouring contest isn't getting children involved in politics. It's engaging their creative side, something the Con's are notorious for stifling.
D) Mental Health has ALWAYS been an issue... the great depression, the Spanish flu, WW1, WW2, residential schools, alcohol-drug-physical-emotional abuse... this list is near endless so I'm at a loss of words as to how you've come to the conclusion that this has only become an issue as of late. It's almost like you get your news from only one source.
E) "Stop indoctrinating the youth into your cult feel-goodism because it is not about you!"
The party you are pandering to literally voted for youth indoctrination by voting against conversion therapy only a few years ago!
"Boomers out here in full force trash talking anything that doesn't uphold their lack of values..."

Up 7 Down 1

Oya on Feb 23, 2021 at 4:04 pm

Please keep politics away from kids. Please do not indoctrinate them so early.

Why not do some real work for Yukoners? That's what you're getting paid for.

Up 16 Down 5

Groucho d'North on Feb 23, 2021 at 11:19 am

@Familyfolk
As one of the old fart boomers you’re critical of, I’ll qualify your opinions in the still learning category. Some of us have been around here for a while and our memory processes still function.
Regarding your comment about the attention to creating new housing over the past 14 years, I suggest you do some research to better understand what was accomplished by the Yukon Party governments. In their 2011 election campaign they said they would focus on seniors’ housing needs, and they delivered the goods. In 2015 a six-unit seniors residence was built in Mayo, they also built nine seniors’ housing units in Haines Junction, six in Faro, eight in Teslin, 12 in Watson Lake and 30 in Whitehorse.
The new 34 unit supported housing building on Alexander St. was in addition to the 48 unit seniors residence known as Waterfront Place, and way back in 2006, the Fentie government built the Athletes’ Village for the 2007 Canada Winter Games so that once the games had concluded the facility could be converted to another 48 unit seniors residence.
Now harken back to the promises made during the 2015 federal election about improving housing. The Trudeau Liberals promised an Affordable National Housing Strategy - yup, we’re still waiting, maybe it will happen when the First Nation clean water promise has been delivered, or just after those 2 billion trees get planted?
To be fair, the Liberal Yukon government was also waiting for the federal Liberals to make good on their campaign promises regarding Housing so the Silver Liberals' track record may have been better than it currently is – we’ll never know.
I understand that people new to the Yukon would not be aware of our housing history and looking it up on-line is difficult because our current government deleted all the housing media announcements (and much more) that occured prior to the 2015 election. I guess they did not want any comparative data available - but I'm glad you brought the matter up.

Up 17 Down 7

The Khmer Rouge were children too... on Feb 22, 2021 at 4:39 pm

I will type this slowly for you: IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CHILDREN’S ARTWORK!

@ FamilyFolk - Your reference to “boomers” is untrue, inaccurate, and demonstrative of your bias against Millennials - Gen X’ers, Millennials and Gen Zedders who are upset too with this blatant co-opting of childhood into the political cause... And if they are not now then they will be later... When they are able to fully appreciate the damage caused by all this scaremongering.

Again, children should not be involved in politics and pandemics. It’s simply scaremongering - Let children be children. Parents, politicians, and people need to get their acts together and figure this schit out!

This is why mental health is becoming a global issue. Making fear out of nothing at all. We know that rates of mental ill-health are skyrocketing amongst the younger generations - It is the “true” pandemic; depression, anxiety, ptsd, addictions, and behavioural addictions etc.

Stop indoctrinating the youth into your cult feel-goodism because it is not about you!

Up 10 Down 25

FamilyFolk on Feb 22, 2021 at 1:47 pm

It's good to see the Con Boomers out here in full force trash talking anything that doesn't uphold their lack of values...
"Liberals are good at children's art" yeah and Cons are good at exploiting child labour.

"don't eat the paste" Cons will feed it to you without telling you it's paste and then tell you the socialized Medicare required to save your life is a bad idea.

"I wonder how many colouring books are in the desks of the back benchers"... not enough to offset the affordable housing damage that the Cons caused by literally doing nothing for 14 years.

"Out of touch" so was Currie and the Cons on the Peel Watershed, First Nation reconciliation, adequate energy production for the territory, affordable housing, taxing the rich, meaningful social support services, a non-discriminatory health care system, enhancing our territories infrastructure... I could go all day with this.

The Boomers in these comments are all one in the same... outdated, misinformed, and literally looking for things to be mad about... I've never seen people get so upset about children's artwork before. It's rather pathetic.

Up 22 Down 10

jc on Feb 22, 2021 at 12:24 pm

I know Paolo as well, yes nice guy. But....nice people are not necessarily leaders or willing to make tough decisions. I am sorry, you may call the others crotchety, but they are expressing disappointment in an elected official's work, that being the colouring contest. It is kinda akin to..." let them eat cake". People are suffering right now, in many ways, and we crotchety people just want some real solutions, even if it means working a little harder than organizing a colouring contest.

Up 15 Down 27

P Creek on Feb 21, 2021 at 9:19 pm

I know Paolo fairly well and I think he is a great guy unlike many of the crotchety commenters here. Also, he actually lives in the riding that he represents unlike both the Yukon Party and NDP candidates challenging him in the election.

I'll stick with the guy who actually lives here, thanks.

Up 19 Down 10

The Khmer Rouge were children too... on Feb 20, 2021 at 3:35 pm

He/she/they are leading by example - Do what you are good at. Liberals are good at children’s art.

This, Really?
“Our children need to be our champions during these challenging times and they need to feel they have a role to play.”
Our children should be children and uninvolved in the affairs of politics, and pandemics - LET the SUPPOSED adults figure their schit out!

Get back to work Paolo!

Up 21 Down 10

Yoduh on Feb 20, 2021 at 3:24 pm

Paolo Gallina?
I must have been living under a rock since the last election. Who is he, and where did he come from?
What a firecracker he is, the invisible man?

Up 22 Down 12

Charlie's Aunt on Feb 20, 2021 at 12:52 pm

Wondered who the unknown face and unheard from person was in the picture. I live in his riding, saw him once when he was campaigning and have never seen or heard anything about him since. He must have been busy sorting out his crayons. Kid's involvement is great but spare me on the thinking that this is important work for an MLA, especially now. If that's intended to gain votes, I have a news flash, the kids don't vote.

Up 13 Down 8

Joshua on Feb 19, 2021 at 9:04 pm

Wilf would you consider being Josie's campaign manager in the upcoming civic election for Mayor? Let's get Josey in where he belongs.

Up 28 Down 10

Crayola on Feb 19, 2021 at 5:10 pm

Colouring contest? Puh-lease.

Let’s deal with some real issues in your riding perhaps. Rampant property crime and the brewing tidal wave of traffic from Whistlebend that Mountainview can’t cope with. Maybe the unavailability of building lots or the overinflated housing market.
As tempting as it is Paolo, don’t eat the paste.

Up 36 Down 13

Groucho d'North on Feb 19, 2021 at 1:02 pm

I wonder how many colouring books are in the desks of the back-benchers?

Up 39 Down 12

Shara L on Feb 19, 2021 at 12:37 pm

Oh barf. Is this what Cabinet Ministers in waiting do with all their free time? Why does this guy get a whole article for this bs?

Up 24 Down 16

Josey Wales on Feb 19, 2021 at 7:05 am

gee...looking at that photo, and yes it does speak a thousand words?
Gotta say real shame my first participation got trashed.

A colouring contest, for all the sacrifices "we" made...wow talk about tone deaf.
But hey, Mr. politician got us talking about him...that was the goal.
Seems we, even I am reading the script?

My first was far better, perhaps a revisit?

Up 21 Down 28

FamilyFolk on Feb 18, 2021 at 9:27 pm

I find it rather refreshing to see politicians in the news for inspirational community engagement. Engaging children in creative and expressive ways is fun, and sharing their art with the community as something they can and should be proud of is something these kids will remember forever. Very cool.

Up 39 Down 17

Jc on Feb 18, 2021 at 8:40 pm

Out of touch. Clearly he has a paying job. Must be nice to pontificate. How about you do your job. People are out of work ! Businesses have shut down ! I’m just disgusted with the Liberal entitlement! I get we need to be nice, but we also need leadership. Vote this guy out!

Up 36 Down 15

Yukoner1 on Feb 18, 2021 at 4:45 pm

"Stella Marie Burns", whose parents are long time Liberal supporters, one of which is in a politically appointed position by the Liberals. Being awarded by a Liberal MLA. Uh huh.

Up 20 Down 21

Sue Sez on Feb 18, 2021 at 4:17 pm

Thank You for championing children by reminding them of daily gratitude, even if it has been a tough winter.

Up 36 Down 9

Joe on Feb 18, 2021 at 4:15 pm

Who is this guy? Never heard if him.

Up 57 Down 18

WBender on Feb 18, 2021 at 3:10 pm

Is this the pinnacle of his political career? A coloring contest?

Up 44 Down 18

Jake The Bosun on Feb 18, 2021 at 2:01 pm

Who is this guy? Anybody heard of him before?

Up 20 Down 28

JustSayin' on Feb 18, 2021 at 1:08 pm

Not a fan of the current government, but this is pretty stellar. Good Job!

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