LVR student Mikaela Rubak-Mazur is the winner of The Advocacy Centre’s art competition focusing on human rights and the exercise of legal rights. The Advocacy Centre, in collaboration with the Legal Services Society of BC, held the competition earlier this year and invited secondary school students in the region to make submissions. “We were impressed with the quality of the art of the submissions made,”said Amy Taylor, manager of The Advocacy Centre. “Ms.Rubak-Mazur’s submission captured that feeling of hope while recognizing the struggles
many people face when they exercise these types of rights.” She produced a painting that will be displayed at the centre’s Castlegar office for a year and then returned to Rubak-Mazur. The Advocacy Centre, which is part of Nelson CARES, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. “We are delighted that Legal Services was willing to
collaborate with us on this art contest that encouraged young people to focus on rights many of us take for granted. The art contest epitomizes what The Advocacy Centre has represented for three decades.” The Advocacy Centre is a non-profit, community-based organization that provides legal information, education and problem solving for low-income residents of the West Kootenays as well as specialized victim assistance to victims of relationship
violence, sexual assault and child abuse. The Advocacy Centre began work in Nelson in 1988. Arts Contest winner Mikaela Rubak-Mazur accepts her prize from Advocacy Centre representative
Becky Quirk while Nelson CARES board chair Ron Little looks on. Photo submitted.

From left to right: Mikaela Rubak-Mazur , Becky Quirk, Ron Little