6 — Wednesday, February 18, 1998 — North Shore News Kiss off OMANCE is dying — if it’s not aiready dead and buried. hyxiated by modern times and the upcoming culture of inclusion at all costs, — In the aftermath of Valentine’s Day, most romantics would be excused for being a tad depressed. Pages in the media are given over to items moaning about the unfairness of Hollywood romances involving older men and youager women and pushing the rights of homosexual men to marry women se they can have children. And meanwhile on the province’s col?ege campuses: anti-romance at every turn. At Langara College, for example, a Valentine’s Day decoration ' depicting a man and a woman about to engage in a kiss is removed from cam- pus after complaints that it was north shore news VIEWPOINT istration. College staff who had put the poster up were naturally reluctant to discuss the matter. Comment of any sort would surely offend someone and like- ly lead to human rights hearings, pub- lic embarrassment and eventual dis- missal. They were, however, quoted in the college newspaper as saying the sit- uation was “beyond silliness.” It’s encouraging that the colicge still has a newspaper and that it is still allowed to cover stories involving men- tion of interaction between male and female humans. What’s far less encouraging is the state of social dysfunction across the land. When romance between the sexes is cause for such humorless knee-jerk actions on local college campuses, the 1 PAID ENATORS BEING 3 ANYTHING LESS HAN MPs WON'T future of mankind looks more grim . ORICEB (de wn y), EZ than ever. Happy Valentine’s Day. “homophobic” reached campus admin- FOSSIL. FOOL EMISSION mailbox Industry should pay for tobacco ills Dear Editor: . : Your (Jan. 28) Viewpsint.commentary on “Tax addic- _ tion” has the right lead — “Smoking stinks and hurts a lot . of people.” 7 _ _ . «But you are pointing in the wrong direction when you accuse, the government rather than the tobacco industry of being responsible for the tobacco epidemic that kills nearly 8,000 people in this province each year. _,.. To date, the powerful multinational tobacco industry has successfully bought off every attempt by governments in Canada to bring in laws that would stop the industry from marketing to children, maintaining secrecy about the toxic chemicals in products and leaving taxpayers to pick up the horrendous costs of the damage it docs to people’s health - and. lives. It also leaves the cost of smoking prevention and . Cessation programs to governments and taxpayers. Our government has more than doubled its investment - in these programs this year to $5 million, and I would like *, ta see that investment double again nexe year, but through ‘contributions from the industry. _ It’s time tobacco companies took responsibility for the harm they do and the British Columbia government plans to make them accountable. The British Columbia government does take in close to $500 million in tobacco taxes (almost all of it from tobacco victims and not the industry!) — these taxes come nowhere near the $1.5 billion in direct and indirect costs tobacco addiction costs this province. Finally, I have often said that British Columbians would gladly give up every tax dollar on tobacco if it means that they are choosing not to smoke. Smokers are victims of a predatory industry. Make no mistake about where change is needed. Joy K. MacPhail Minister of Health Minister Responsible fcr Seniors , Farewell to West Van’s Margaret SOME people are born with a gift for instantly recognizing human strengths and frailties — but invariably with understand- ing, kindliness and a frequent spicing of quiet Such a woman was Margaret Constance Humphreys, who died after a short illness on January 31, aged 83. As “first lady” of West Vancouver for eight years (1978- 1986) during the may- oralry of her husband, Derrick Humphreys, she had a unique opportu- nity to exercise her inborn talent for assessing — usually with remarkable accuracy and often with delightful touches of humor — the many personal- ities and situations with which the cou- ple came into official contact. A gracious hostess, she accompanied . her husband everywhere and was his unfailing helpmate during those busy years. When ‘Vest Van voters elected and re-clected Humphreys, they got double value for their vote: they picked not just a full-time mayor, but a full-time may- oral TEAM, working daily on their behalf. In the rruest sense she dedicated herself to being a best friend of West Van. The child of Scottish immigrants from the Orkney Islands, Margaret was born in North Van, worked there as her businessman father’s secretary and met Derrick, then a North Van City alder- man, on the North Van Bowling Club greens — lawn bowling being their joint * Efelong passion. They were married in 1964 and moved to West Van on New Year's Eve, 1965. Twelve years later, after a brief stint in between whiles as a West Van alderman, Derrick — with Margarct at his side — marched into municipal hall to claim the mayoral In addition to her involvement in the LO.D.E., West Van Lawn Bowling Club and her cight-plus years of intensive civic activity Margaret was blessed with considerable artistic gifts, in particular - as a talented seamstress and card design- er. So it was particularly sad that in more recent years she was overtaken by failing eyesight which left her legally, if not quite completely, blind. As a close friend for more than 20 years — in good times and bad — I shall miss her deeply. As, I know, will many other West Vancouverites whose lives she touched with warmth, perception and so often that trademark dash of dry humor. Margaret’s life and service to the community she loved will be honored at a Remembrance Reception this Saturday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m. in the West Van Legion upper half on 18th Street. Everyone welcome. 900 wy STILL WEST of the Capilano, West — Van Heritage Week is presently in full. swing — with special exhibits, presenta- tions and other celebrations at the’ Library, Park Royal North, the Ferry Building (Argyle & 14th), the Museum . & Archives (Esquimatr & 17th) and the | Silk Purse (1570 Argyle). 2 2 Tonight (Wednesday, Feb.18) — if you” read this in time — pop along to the Seniors’ Centre at 7 pm for author. Doreen Armitage’s slide talk on the history of Howe Sound. Thursday at 7 p.m. Dave Hutch and | Karen Kristensen show how to make'a * beach-side garden with native plants at * the Museum & Archives. And Friday : from 7 to 8 pm in Park Royal South the -, Eagle Song Dancers give a presenta- : tion on Squamish Nation culrure. Lots more for pedigree-proud Tiddlycovians to do and see during — their four final “heritage” days through ~~ Sunday, Feb.22. Call 925-7295 for full information. o00 THE BETTER LATE DEPT. wishes many happy returns of last Sunday, Feb. 15, to West Van School Trustee Ken Haycock who celebrated his 50th on that day ... And birthday grectings today, Feb. 18, ro North Van Kiwanian Wally Mulligan. 900 WRIGHT OR WRONG: Fashion passes, style remains (thanks, Coco Chanel!). ~. aa fea LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must include your name, tull address & telephone number. VIA e-mail: trenshaw @ direct.ca Norte Shore Hews, founded « 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and quakted under Schedule 111, Paragraph 111 of the Excese Tar Act, 6 pubkshed each Wednesday, Freday and Sunday by Nont Shove Free Press. Ltd and drstributed to every door on the North Shore. Canada Post Canadven Publications Mai) Sales Product Agieement No 0087238. ‘Mavbng rates available on request. 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