ye Ltional identity. First, he didn’t want to take French immersion because he wanted to speak “Canadian,” like the other kids. I explained that there's . no such thing as a Canadian ‘ ~ language. i. We speak languages, i told him firmly. English and French. He was shocked. What’ s . English?” " : I backed up a bit and ex- plained : ‘that English was a language from a-small far- away island ‘called England and French was from another “! “small: ‘country ‘on’ ‘another: -continent. oy ‘the French people had moved ‘That made absolutely no sense to him at all. .So-I- had to add that first two official strictly personal by Bob Hunter Y SIX-YEAR-OLD KID is going through the trauma of trying to figure out his na- “*Do- ‘they speak “mericaa?”’, No, they speak English. _ Sort of. “Did. they: have Indians * before too?!’ ; Yup. “Did THEY ‘speak ‘Canadian? : : Well, not really. They spoke languages with names | ‘can't even pronounice. About .a week. later, he thought he had figured it out. Proudly he told me: “Im'a Canadian. Am I ‘ever glad I’m not Chinese!” Oops. ‘A little. more’ ex- plaining. Actually, there are Chinese - Canadians... and German Canadians and Ukrainian Canadians and “Pakistani Canadians, etc. ete. : -People: from: pro- bably: every single’ country in. the world live here. isn’t that amazing? “— . | used our own family as an-example. 1,told him that: between. all the grandparents: and great-grandparents and‘: Mommy and Daddy, he was ‘actually part Norwegian, part French," part Scottish, part English, part Irish, part Ger- man, part American and God “knows what: all if you Bo back’ : “ far, enough: Was just so ‘Syd he: ‘got hired He was vaguely. imipressed: but. I still knew, the next ques- tion, that. was coming. . There. -- was a familiar ring of frustra-..- n behind it.: hen,: Daddy?” _ 1 was ready... - “7 Superman,.I said. © - .*‘Superman?”’ .He’s still young enough to believe me usually. But this one wasabit-° much. He eyed’ me warily. ne “‘Supertian’ s.{merican!’? « by a big: American | newspaper and ‘he moved | to the Sates wasn't’ just’ a ete., ‘: the starship. tions on Enterprise.) The kid went away happy, let mic tell you. No Canadian.’ “identity crisis for HIM! Up, : up and away where no man has ever gone! “LONSDALE” ok ”185 Pemberton, North Vancouver “There were great slabs of + § blacktop sticking up and the sidewalk, at one point, looked like it was raised about four, feet above the road.: If it hadn’t been for the snowbank, we'd have: sad. badly’ flooded, *” she said. oto 5 cover your.equipment and installation costs. : :, The.COSP program ends March 31. ‘To qualify. for your grant, ‘thenew | ee equipment must bei in place: and. operating. =. eporter, he was:a: 2 CANA a Mae oes Convérsion takes j ‘just one day, bi |. we are experiencing ‘heavy demand’for “» installing ‘gas services..To schedule. installa- mo “tion, we recommend that you. apply | hO ee : later than February 15," -Call now and ‘we'll help with . your COSP application and conversion , arrangements: Gas Heat Line: peat e @BCHydro Go Gas & Save. ‘Two Banquet. ‘Halls for, 100. ‘1. 49 4. 99 ” Sorry —- no delivery on these items VASIAN FLORIST. ‘1821: Marine Drive, West V; Vancouver. fe African Violets “i inch rpot a Chefs, os" 5 . ‘Eagles “Caterers ~~ |" 6190 Marine. Dr. : , : West Vancouver. 921-7711 Rieger Begonia. “6 inch pot . 922-3968 §.