EERIE ROLE District attacks school squeeze IN AN attempt to find a temporary solution to the overcrowding at Dorothy Lynas elementary, North Vancouver District Council has agreed to fast-track rezoning and area siting. amendments that will allow the con- struction of a 10-class- room demountable build- ing at the school. NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL ‘by Martin Millerchip The new building would sit on about’ 25% of the all- weather playing field in the same general location as the present portable classrooms it would replace, but will encroach a further 10 metres (33 ft.) onto the field. A demountable building can be dismantled and re- . assembled elsewhere. . The proposal will go to a. public hearing on: March 15 following council's unani- mous decision, Monday night. A public hearing of ‘amendments to the district's single-family zoning regula- -tions was postponed to. April 12:to accommodate an antic- - ipated large public interest, ~ Derothy Lynas was orig nally designed to accommo- date 400 pupils. but over- crowding at the Indian River school has been a constant source of parent frustration since it opened in 1990, The number of portables, on the site has grown from one to eight and enrolment has mushroomed to 591. , Alls: of the existing portable classrooms. are cur- tently sited. in violation of district policy on temporary buildings, _. Coun. Jim Cuthbert told council that school enral- ment is forecast to rise to just -over.700 by 1996 and described the situation as “clearly a crisis.” ‘North Vancouver School District 44 officials are mect- ing with the district to ensure that “future growth in Seymour and’ Deep Cove is not underestimated agiain, but Coun. Don Bell, past school board chairman, said that it will be “five to seven years before a new school could be available for oecu- pancy even with fast-track- ing.” District planning staff say that while the L0-classroom addition will result in the site’s being used more intensely than originally planned, it will resolve the current overcrowding prob- lem while providing a beter learning environment for stu- dents than the existing porta- bles provide, CALL US: 983-2208 ae eat Dee NEWS photo Cindy Goodman TANNER BARRY (right), a member of the Warren Miller Extras, is all smiles in the start hut curing the Seymour Mountain Sky's the Limit Ski Challenge last Saturday. The fun-fiiléd day included team slalom events, the Firehouse Follies, and team obstacle course competitions. For more news on the Socal hills see page 10. ebel Liberal gets as ssociation Mitchell forms independent riding group for West Vancouver-Garibaldi WEST VANCOUVER- Garibaldi MLA David Mitchell, elected as a Liberal, formed an independent riding association last week, By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter Mitchell had been pressured by some riding association members to rejoin the Liberal caucus when Gordon Campbell became leader, said his new riding association president Caroline Meredith, Mitchell met with Campbell before Christmas about the issue: according to North V ancouver- Seymour MLA Dan Jarvis. Mitchell teft the Liberals to sit as an months ago after a fallout with for- mer Liberal leader Gordon Wilson. Meredith said Campbell, with the support of the Liberal caucus. had agreed to take Mitchell back. : “He (Mitch fl) Uhought about it THE MOTHER of North Vancouver teenager “independent Liberal” 18 . very carefully. He is so principled and wished to be an independent.” said Meredith, But Jarvis said a “considerable number” of the Liberal caucus were opposed to Mitchell rejoining their ranks approximately.one month iLO. “He's not the type to carry the ball with the rest of us. We would decide on doing something, and if he didn't like it. he'd just zo off and do what be wanted, : “He is a lone wolf.” said Jarvis, Mitchell was in Ottawa and unavailable for comment to press lime. Jarvis rejects Mitchell's claims, that he can best represent his con- stituents as an independent. who is not restricted by party policies. “tf the majority of my con- stituents want me to vote ca certain way. |} wil,” said Jarvis, adding provincial Liberals are not “robots” of the party. ; Jarvis said Liberals. under Campbell. were allowed free votes rounds of shootouts. nailbiter that included overtime action and two in the legislature on everything except items such as the budget. Some Liberal watchers speculat- ed that Mitchell coud have grace- fully rejoined the Liberal caucus after Wilson was rephiced as leader, Mitchell had supported long- time Liberal, Gordon Gibson, for the party leg adership during the con- verion, — Jarvis, like many “old guard” Liberals, criticizes Mitchell for “using “ the party to get clected. “David doesn'L owe anything to anyone, but he did come to the Liberal Party and ask to be a candi- date,” said Jarvi “He was financed to run ina very safe seat.” said Jarvis. According to the new West Vancouver-Garibaldi Independent Riding Association, the nvajority of exccutive members of the riding'’s Liberal association have. joined Mitchell's new group. Meredith said six out of 10 executive members and four out of six members at large went with Sharon Kariy Mitchell in the new independent constituency association, She said the new constituency office commissioned a poll in January of approximately 400 resi- dents which came up with the fol- , lowing survey results: f 7 53% surveyed said Mitchell was doing a good job; B83 38% indicated Mitchell should rejoin the liberal caucus: ; B 30% preferred him to remain independent: @ 10% said he should join a differ- ent party: 8) 22% didn't know or had no opin- ion about his party affiliations. Meredith said Mitchell's con- ¢ cerns right now involved doing a/ : ' good job for his constiluents. “I think if you watch the tegisla- ture, when David rises to say some." thing. all heads turn to hear what he: has to say,” said Meredith. But Jarvis said Mitchell was ike. Gordon Wilson and Judi Tyabji asi - “knack of getting’ , faras having ¢ a said the silver medal is an and Olympic hockey star Paul Kariya says she has no problems with a shootout determining the gold medal in Sunday’s classic finale. By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter “If those are the rules in international hockey. those are the rules.” said Sharon Kariya from the family’s North Vancouver home. “Ideally it's a team sport so either a win ora lose should be a team effort.” she added. Her [9-yvear-old son is touted as a future nN ational Hoe key League star, He was one of the saders of the Canadian underdog team: that inal it to the Olympic hockey final against Sweden. Sweden won 3-2. taking the gold medal ina. Paul Kariya scored one of the two goals in regular action, He made one shootout, but missed the next during the second shootout round. ending the game in favor of Sweden. Sharon Kariya said her son's dejected look and the solemn faces of the rest of the team were nommal reactions right after a tosing game, But she said the team soon put the loss in perspec; tive. “E think everyone felt good about what they had done afterwards.” said Sharon Kariya. The Kariya family watched the Olympic hockey final at the Burnaby Winter Club where Paul Kariya played hockey as a youngster. “The kids were OK. but a few adults kept leaving for Httle walks.” said Sharon Kariya. She said the young Canadian team had prac- accomplishment for the Canadian squad. The cighth-place team, - team went into the competition as a seventh- or Olympic hockey shootout OK, says proud nota lised for a shootout. She said Paul Kariya was emetionatly and! physically exhausted and planning to rest for a. few days. : Sharon Kariya said her son will decide soon: whetber to return to the University of Maine or. join the NHL, Paul Kariya was drafted fourth averall by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the NHL’s 1993 daft. Paul Kariya attended Plymouth elementary, and Argyle secondary schools in North Vancouver before graduating from high school in Penticlon, where he played hockey for the Penticton Paathers. THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: Do you have praise for, or problems with, the recent federal budget?