FRIDAY June 21, 1996 honored BY GUCHAEL BECKER News Editor KHAT-LA-CHA (man with a kind heart) is being hon- ored today. Squamish First Nations Chief Simon Baker, 85, joins fellow founding members of the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society in a celebration at the centre in Vancouver. Baker was instrumental in getting the resource ceitre off the ground in 1943. He’s been involved with the project on many levels ever since. Said society vice-president Stan Dixon, “We're naming the multicultural confer- ence room. It will be the Chief Simon Baker Room. About eight rooms will be given names, but the most important room is the conference room. “Simon right now is not too healthy. but he doesn’t give up when he’s needed to go out and help people,” said Dixon. About 200 people from throughout B.C. are attending the day-long event. Dixon describes the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre as a “guiding light” for all First Nations people who migrate to the city. . The resource centre includes a kinder- garten, a baby-sitting service for young mothers who work, an alcohol and abuse program, and other programs to help peo- ple better themselves and prepare for. employment. It's also a networking centre for First See: Landmarks page 3 @ Bright Lights.....................72 BB Crosswold.......ccccccsreccwn 4 Home & Gardien.............13 | @ David Mitchell. i North Shore Alert..........4 -did not perforn the work,” Weather Saturday: Mainly sunny High 24°C, low 11°C. SQUAMISH Nation Chief Simon Baker is being honored today by his many friends for his role in creating and sustaining the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre. The Vancouver ceritre provides support services for natives. ' Father launches court action over school instruction BY ROBERT GALSTER Contrivuting Writer ONE shouldn’t underestimate the importance of the Industrial Revolution. Charies Haynes certainly doesn’t and feels strongly enough about the matter to take his son's teacher and school district to court over nt. ina claim filed with the BoC. Small Claims Court Haynes alleges that the B.C, Ministry of Education provided the school district with money to hire Natalie Jleres, a teacher at Sentinel’s French Immersion program, and to educate his son Ross. “Mrs. N. Lieres was paid. accepted pay- ment and did not return funds for this work but states Hinwnes’ June 6 statement. Specifically Haynes says the teacher did not follow her own course outline by spending a mere four or five classes on the Industria! Revolution —- a section worth 25% of the course. “She gave us a contract at the beginning of the year which was a course outline ... and she didn’t follow the course outline,” said Haynes. The problem started last Christmas when Ross Haynes’ Science Humaines (French immersion version of social studies) class grtdes started to slip. Upon a closer look, his father found that the class had fallen behind schedule. Haynes estimates Lleres’ alleged failure will cost him more than $3.000 in tutoring fees during the summer: “We're going to make sure be (Ross) understands the role of the Industrial Revolution on democratic society.” In addition to Sentinel teacher Lleses, the claim names West Vancouver Schocl District 45 Superintendent Doug Player and District 45 bourd chairman Ken Hayeock. “My concen is fd like to get my money back.” suid: Haynes. “fh think the issue is accountability of the teachers” work. Haynes’ claim also states that “the activity Mrs. N. Le ved in while she was sap- posed to be doing the work has harmed my son's sel! esteem and has ‘turned hin off the subjects of history, social studies and French language, which has seriously undermined the tS years of French Education bis parents have been at pains and cxpense to provide for Ross Haynes. “This action on the part of Mrs. N. Lleres has created a disability that will impede his life long carnings in the area of French Language usage.” Laura Bakan, the lawyer acting on behalf of all the named defendants, said the claim is unfounded. “I've done these before aad in Canada, to date, there's no legal cause of action of educa- tional malpractice,” said Bakan. In the statement of defence she denies any wrongdoing by the defendants who “provided adequate instruction to the infant Claimant.” The statement adds that harn that may have come to the younger Haynes was in fact “caused or contributed to by the negligence or fault of the iifant Claimant and/or bis parents.” But Ross disagrees and supports his father’s claim adding: Son disappointed [ didn’t get the education she (Licres) said we would,” said Ross, “Anything | do now affects me for the rest of my life.” Asa resulcof the fiasco Haynes is chiming a further $6,250 ($256 per vear for 25 years) disability award, “This is a disturbance to our family,” Haynes. “We've spent a lot of effort to teach him (Ross) Krench.” said