oseph Allenback i is: 17 years old. ‘He has been
adopted three times, lived in several foster homes, spent some
-time in correctional centres, and spent other time on the streets.
Joe was born in Winnipeg but-does not remember anything before
he was seven years old. He says: he has blocked that portion of his
life out, but at this time is not sure why. He knows nothing about
his biological parents but plans to start tracing his background
when he turns 18 this summer, in the hope of ‘earning more
about ‘himself,

Joe’s first memories are of an adoptive. home + in Cloverdale,
which he knows was his second adoption. He lived for a year and
a half in that home, but did not have a good relationship with his
adopted family. He was constantly in trouble in school, did not
get along with other kids, and was continually in the middle of
fights. Joe was eventually moved to a foster home in New West-
‘minster, where he lived for eight months. His unruly behaviour
patterns continued, and he ran away for the first time when he
was eight and a half years old, with a couple of other kids from
. the home. -
_ About that time the authorities put Joe’s story in the Province
- newspaper hoping to find a placement for him, He remembers a

Terrace Review — March 13, 1992