Cc Bid “ee (OE RATA OUA IIS ONE AAEM ERE RAR RINSE GRE HEY, NO FAIR! HOW come YOu ALWAYS GET A SHARP slap on the wrist -was administered to your scribe six years ago when he called them “imports.” By which i meant they were really classy —— like Mercedes cars, Sony VCRs or Veuve Cliquot. .. And classy they are. But that explanation cut no ice at the time with North Van’s Maureen Harvey or Winifred Rose (are you still out there, ladies? Your old phone num- bers don’t seem to work any more). In January 1989 they'd just launched the North Shore War . Brides Club, later expanded to the ' Greater Vancouver War Brides Club. Its aim: to provide a social forum for local representatives of the 48,000 overseas brides — pre- dominantly British, plus others from Holland and European coun- ~ tries — brought here half a century ago by Canada’s Second World War soldiers, sailors and airmen. Today they're all senior citi- zens, many widowed, some lonely. But they'll always belong to a most .Temarkable generation of woman- hood. -. ‘Many of them girls still in their late teens, they were forged as adults in the crucible of war. They served in the forces, in the fucto- ries, on the the farms and in civil defence as the bombs rained down, And each one fell in love with a Canadian military man serving Peter Speck + Publisher 985-2131 (101) 1139 Lonsdale Avenue “North Vancouver B.C. V7M 2H4 North Shore Managed Doug Foot Comptroller 9385-2431 (133) overseas, married him and eventu- ally followed him back to Canada. This 50th anniversary of Victory in Europe is a fitting time to salute them, and the salute comes in a new book, BLACKOUTS TO BRIGHT LIGHTS: Canadian War Bride Stories edited by Barbara Ladouceur and Phyllis Spence. Its 300 pages with over 50 pho- tos contain the oral histories of 36 war brides from all parts of the United Kingdom who relive their “coming of age” amid the air raids, devastation, invasion scares, black- outs and cut-to-the-bone rationing: of war-battered Britain. The book gives a fascinating insight into the many vital roles these women played in the war effort. It describes their romances and marriages to their Canadian war- riors. It recounts their varied adventures at the time they sailed Chris Johnsen Operations Manager 985-2131 (166) : news viewpoint OR A politician considered by some to be soft at the centre, North Vancouver District Mayor Murray Dykeman made a gutsy solo stand at Monday night’s council meeting. The green wave ‘hat rolled through North Vancouver District hall swept away the plan to build residential housing in the district’s Cove and Mountain forest areas as an esti- mated 400 residents descended on the hall te oppose any proposed development of the two urban iand reserves. A convincing 10,619 area residents aiso signed a petition, which was presented to council, opposing the development. And council, awash in a citizens’ torrent of environmenial green, was overwhelmed. It voted 6-1 to consider designating the areas Parks, Recreation and Open Space. Mayor Dykeman’s was the sole dissenting vote. ETA BUTE DTA RO RAH IRI CELI DI 10 LAE OT LETTE EE RLS ES ELE ATLA EEE A public hearing in the fall will present a forum for further debate on the contentious issue of district development. For develop- ment of the remaining treed landbanks on the North Shore is the over-riding issue in the Cove and Mountain forest debates. The potential revenue from such deveiop- ment runs into the millions of dollars; but once the trees are gone, they won’t be coming back. Mayor Dykeman might be wrong in his singular stand against preserving the forests, The Seymour citizenry, sold on the idea of their area being predominantly treed and tranquil, obviously thought he was. But the North Shore needs housing some- where, and, while others around him flip- flopped, the mayor stood for more considera- tion of that reality. Not a popular stand, per- haps, but not soft at the centre either. Chalk one up fer Mayor Murray. to Canada — many already with babies or toddlers — and tells how they adjusted to life in widely dif. ferent regions of their new country. The great majority of them, including even some who had bumpy starts, took Canada in their stride, formed lasting bonds with their husband’s homeland and made worthy personal contribu- tions to it. And the great majority of the marriages have lasted happily — although, sadly, more than a few of the brides are now widowed. One thing, however, is certain. As a group of 48,000 sharing the same heroic wartime background, their like will never be seen again. Which makes BLACKOUTS TO BRIGHT LIGHTS, published by Ronsdale Press of Vancouver (738- 1195) at $16.95, a very welcome addition to this year's Victory-in- Europe memorabilia. Not feast because the stories of these unique “imports” — of their spirit, courage and humor — are also rich in entertainment value. MANY HAPPY RETURNS of tomorrow Monday, June 12, to West Van Kiwanian Bill Jackson ... And Golden-Plus congrats that same day to North Van's Rex and Edna Hundleby, celebrating their 52nd anniversary. WRIGHT OR WRONG: Use your head to handle YOURSELF — your heart to handle others. Timothy Renshaw Managing Editor 985-2131 (116) Linda Stewart: Sales & Marketing Director 980-0511 (319) quetes of the week “(Sometimes) it’s really a pain in the you-know-what to he a politician.” North Vancouver District Mayor Murray Dykeman — after reveal- ing in council debate over the future of the Cove and Mountain forest areas that he had received life-threatening phone calls related to the issue — on being a politi- cian. (From a June 7 North Shore News story.) “A vote is a powerful thing and a toice is a powerful thing.” GUARD (Group United Around Responsible Development) repre- sentative Lisa Muri — after North Vancouver District Council reversed a previous decision and agreed to consider designating the Cove and Mountain forest areas as Park, Recreation and Open spaces areca le coor — on the power of community activism. (From a June 7 North’. Shore News story.) ; a “Unfortunately, the NIMBYs (not in my backyard) have man- aged te sway the NIMTOOs (not in my term of office) for too long.” So North Vancouver resident David Ingram, during North Vancouver ° District debate over the contentious Montroyal Connector, delivering an |: : update on the battle of the acronyms (From a June 4 North Shore News story.) , ““God keeps you humble if you - are in retail.” . : West Vancouver retailer Lynn Stevenson, on life and death in the world of retail sales. (From a June: 4 North Shore News Inside story.) Look to the Maritimes for real need to. Dear Editor: i Re: North Van City and Distric amalgarnation. . While I'm all in favor of amalga- mation to do away with costly duplication | wonder if the folks in PELL: ever thought about joining . New Brunswick or Nova Scotia? After all there are only 120,000 people living in P.E.t., which is less than the combined population: of Peter Kvarnstrom Display Manager 980-0511 (103) Valorie Stephenson Classitied Manager 986-6222 (202) amalgamate North Vancouver City and District. But P.E.L has a provincial premier, a whole lot of MLAs, ‘a bunch of cabinet .ministers, several federal MPs, two .senators, a mayor and council in Charlottetown, as well as a Supreme Court. Now that’s big government! I wonder if there's anyone left to be governed? Boh Morris Vancouver Vrixi Agrios —_ : Promotions Manager ‘4 §$€5-2131 (213) North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph 111 of the . Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press Lid. and distributed to every door on the North Shore. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 0087238, Mailing tates available on request. Submissions are welcome but we cannct accept responsibility for unsolicited malera! including manuscripts and pictures, which should be accompanied by a Stamped, self-addressed envelope. Administration © Display Advertising Heal Estate Advertising Classified Advertising Newsroom Oistribution Display & Real Estate Fax Newsroom Fax Classified, Accounting & Main Office Fax 985-2131 980-9511 MEMBER ie VARCOUVER ARGA SDA DIVISIO! 61,582 (average circulation, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday) Entire contents © 1995 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved.