A North Vancouver-based Crown corporation is looking at selling, merging or pursuing a joint venture for its telecommu- nications arm. The company, Vestel Telecommunications Ltd., is a subsidiary of BCR Group of Companies, a $1.6- billion holding company that also owns BC Rail and Vancouver Wharves. BC Rail spokesman Barrie Wall said Westel employs 215 people, most of them in North Vancouver. But BCR Group president Paul McElligott said cmployces should bene- fit if the company’s ownership or opera- tions change. “There appear to be a number of options available to Westel. Should any come to fruition, it can only result in expanded career growth and job oppor- tunities ‘for Westel employees ...” he il shops Westel Although Wall would not provide financial information on Westel itself, a press release said the firm’s revenues have grown from $10 million in 1993 to $49 million in 1997. “It has a small but profitable share of British Columbia's tong-distance voice and dara market,” said the release. BC Rail has retained investment adviser Nesbitt Burns to provide infor- mation to qualified investors, assist in negotiations and evaluate proposals. McElligotr said Westel needs to Jook at options for growth such as a joint ven- ture, a merger or sale because telecom- munications is becoming so competitive. McElligoct said the convergence of telephone, cable and other emerging telecoramunication services has high- lighted the need for additional invest- ment. “The industry has become extremely competitive. Increasingly coniplex tech- nology requires significant additional capital and a larger presence in the mar- ketplace,” he satd. Westel began operation in 1993, iol- lowing partial deregulation of the long- distance telecommunications industry. Meanwhile, Ministry of Employment and Investment spokesman Christine Little said the recently-announced plans for Westel do not indicate the province is interested in selling off BC Rail. Former Independent West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA = David Mitchell often called for Victoria to self off BC Rail. In 1995, Mitchell said the NDP gov- ernment had hired investment industry advisers to provide proposals for privati- zation. Then-North | Vancouver-Lonsdale NDP MLA David Schreck acknowl- edged the government had reviewed the privatization option, but decided to hold the firm as a Crown corporation. — lan Noble = said. | Man wants to sue teen attackers From pase a: “half block away on the ’ grounds of Ross Road elemen- tary. Three of the four North ° Van teens live in Upper Lyan . Valley. Police will not give - Poburko the names of the ‘teenagers because it would contravene: the Young Offenders Act.-° “Our rights to lay civil charges are usurped ... The Young Offenders Act really i is the licence to commit may- hem,”. said Poburko. “I have : always felt strongly about that, but never as I do now.” :Poburko said he wants to sue the male teenagers for the 000 damage they did to his: use. and*for the $1,500 damage they did to his new car parked in’ “his driveway. “head”-sized boulder ccording to- “the North Vancouver RCMP, the four’ h a-weapon and committing: mischief: under: : $5, : ‘are’ slated | Vancouver princi court. ‘The:. youths’: from Pe yo as “the . Young . VARRIVAES | Gots Sor “mames are . Poburko described the youths as “animals” the inten- sity of whose attack was amaz- ing. On Saturday night, two brothers, aged 21 and 22, and their sister walked home from a play at around midnight. A group of teenagers, who according to appeared “as high as kites,” attacked the tw high near the Ross Road elementary lacrosse box. According to the police, the victims tried to escape while fighting off the four attackers. The teenagers con- centrated their attack on the smaller of the two brothers. Police said that just as the victims were almost home, one of the ‘attackers picked: up a large stick and hit the vounger brother across the face... Poburko said the 21-year- old was hit three times in the “head. One split.the 21-year- old’s lip to the teeth and up to the nostril, A second wallop broke the man’s nose and split the skin open between his cyes. A third hit with the wood went across his head near his ear. “The amount of blood was incredible,” said Poburko. ’ Poburko said the 21-year- old “looked like Frankenstein.” Poburko, From the Poburko home's kitchen window, Poburko’s sons saw the injured 21-year-old on the ground. Two of Poburko’s sons subsequently went to the injured man’s aid. The teenagers resumed their attack. Poburko’s sons dragged the injured man by the arms into the house. The teens then stood in front of Poburko’s house and screamed they wanted to kill someone. “These animals then attacked the house viciously,” said Poburko. “We were all concerned for our safety. Normally you would expect them (the attackers) to flee and they did not quit,” he said. He said it took the police cight minutes to arrive on the scene. “Do you know how much damage is done in cight min- utes?” said Poburko. The youths were appre- hended after a police dog tracked them near the clemen- tary school. The same group of teens had had a run-in with police earlier that evening in Lynn Valley. Poburko said the arrested teens “knew nothing was going to happen to them. 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No curfew conditions were imposed by the judge in the shooting sen- tence. Meanwhile, the beating vic- tim, a university student, was treated for his broken nose and received stitches in Lions Gate Hospital. Police say he was psychologically traumatized. His brother was not seriously wi OO7 ath : (mectedes. sabt pee sofa bed fame. He foam care aes ge a cvs setae and pelew covers, Hide qpautiies lest : art 267 E ist. WY S an FACTORY FUTON Sat. 1l-Gom Sunday 12-5 pm 994-4504 tnirance in rear lane Steps to dealing with ICBC 1. Gathering evidence to determine fault and the amount of damages 2. Assessing the evidence to determine who is at fault and the preper amount of money to be paid in compensation for damages and No-Fault benefits 3. Collecting the amount assessed from [CBC Each of these steps can be extremely complicated BEFORE YOU SETTLE SEE US ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER 986-4366 AFTER HOURS 926-3181. Criminal matters only. #300-1401 LoNnsDALE Ave. NORTH VAN. 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