6 ~ North Shore News —- Sunday, July 30, 2000 Ferry fal C Ferries isn’t making many friends on the North Shore these days. After the fast ferries fiasco and the corporation’s contentious $30- million expansion scheme for its Horseshoe Bay facilities, travellers passing through the area now face the threat of a possible ferry strike. The 4,000-plus members of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Onion have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action if a new coltective agreement is not reached by ‘midnight tomorrow. | While BC Ferries can ill afford to Graw more fire from the public regarding its service, it is not solely _ to blame for this latest predicament. Since the last contract expired in the fall of 1998 the union has thrice VIEW POINT— lures contract offers by the ferry corpora- tion. A strike would not be just a minor crimp burt a major snafu for the tens of thousands of tourists and commuters who use the province’s 40-vessel ferry system every day. BC Ferries has asked the provin- cial Labour Relations Board to deem all its routes an essential ser- vice, thus eliminating the threat of job action on the part of the union. The last Labour Board classification came in 1998, when only 50% of the zoutes were classed as essential. Both sides have said thes are committed to resolving the out- standing issues and avoiding any disruptions in service. It’s put up or shut up time. The clock is ticking. given the thumbs-down to new “you said it ~ oo “¥ think that’s when women came out of their little - shell, which was good. Because why did they have to.be nurses or teachers. or secretaries or telephone opera- “tors? That’s ‘all there was for women. Now we can be ‘whatever we damn well please.” “ Louise Christoffersen’s reflects on her job as a rivet + catcher at the Burracd Dry Docks during the war. (From @ July 23 Sunday Focus story.) © ‘ 900 - “He was a dignified, intelligent man with a touch ,. Of iron.” *? North Shore News publisher Peter Speck on longtime News columnist and editor emeritus Noel Wright, who passtd ‘away Monday morning at the age of 82. (From a : July 2¢ 26 News story) “Whether it is a life in the womb, a child who is untorn,:a senior or elderly or any person, .no life should bc taken.” 21-year-old . Capilano College “student and j-o-life advocate: Maria Cusano on the stabbing of Dr. Garson Romalis in Vancouver. Cusano plans to launch a pro-life club at the college in September. (From a July 28 News : people see a stray and feed it and boom, they've got a colony ... we'ze trying to dry up the gene ‘wa it’s the only solution for overpopulation.” : .Cove’s Donna Liberson, : ‘howe Community Action Team Supporting Animal Welfare (CATS) group “has-been‘ trapping feral cats.and having them spayed or neutered. before taking them for adoption or releasing + them back into the, wild. 1 (From, a Fuly 3 News stor’ Dy DO YOU HAVE'A NEWS TIP? : Business Hours: Michael Becker - : News Editor - 985-2131, local 114 - 985-2104 oes . mbecker@nsnews.com | -. Korth Shore Hews, (waded in’ 1989 as an independent The News THE fraternity of genuine gentle- men journaiists in B.C. is, regret- tably, small. With the death lasts Monday of Noel Weight, | it got much small- ” Regular North Shore News readers will have known Noel as the author of the newspaper’s page 6 Hither and Yon columns in its Wednesday and Sunday editions. They would have fallen into the assorted camps that attend the wir of any columnist werth his or her audience: pro, con, entertaited, enlightened, out- raged, amused. oThey would likely not have been aware, however, of the wark invested in each: Hither and Yon picce nor of the clarity and crispness of each when delivered to the newspaper’s editor. | They would also likely not have been caware that the author of said works was 82 when he wrote his last News column; — - which was published in the July 19 edition. I was, and I still marvel at the man’s stamina and fighting spirit. Long-time readers and Hither and Yon fans will have known much more about Noel Wright." They will know, for example, that he © .. was ior over. 10 years the newspaper's edi- tor-in-chief; that he was for many years its lead editorial writer and head opinion spin- “ner; that he was a meticulous craftsman. Community leaders, politicians and other prominent North Shore citizens might also know that Nocl Wright.was for - “» many years the editorial department's head . representative in the communi its emi loses its nence grise, its graceful British public per- sona. They would know that he continued until his July 24 death to represent the paper at events and social gatherings with that same well-mannered grace. But there was much more to Mr. Wright than readers and other North Shore News acquaintances would have been able to piece cogether ftom his columns and community work. Consider, for example, that he didn’t start his newspa- per career with the. News until he was cli:s2 to 60 — an age when most People are retired or finalizing plans to retire. As the News’ Bob Mackin reported in last Wednesday's excellent story chronicling Noel's death, he initially approached North Shore News publisher Peter Speck back in 1976. Had some ideas on how to improve the newspaper and give it.that “London look”... that Noel rightly determined the publisher", --was aiming for with his rapidly growing publication. Being a keen judge of talent, publisher Speck made quick assessment of the slightly built Englishman's portfolio and ideas. . A deal was struck. Mr. Wright inquired as to the invest- ment of time that might be needed for the project... ‘Two to three days per week, estimated the publisher of what’ was then a weekly newspaper. Mr. Wright’s first two-to: three-day _week turned.out to de six days... ~ It was the start of a long-term mutually : beneficial relationship. : For Noel, it provided a venue foi his , - considerable journalisic talents; for the : News it provided the editorial foundation an upon which to fashion a legitimate com- munity newspaper from an advertising’ —*: shopper. Next to Peter Speck, Noel Wright: is the person mest responsible for making ~” the North Shore News what it is today: one of the country’s best and most success- ful community newspapers. But again there was much miore ta Mr. Wright: public relations man; photograph er; linguist; and, in post-war Germany, a: senior intelligence officer with the British occupation forces. . He was also an indefatigable world trav- eller until immediately prior to the heaith complications that took his life. : TP too knew but pieces of Nox!’ s 5 bie an his personality. On a professional levet he was etic lous to a fault. His manners remained intact and his patience unflappable in the face of the sig: nificant fire that rains upon the head of any _¢ditor in charge of a newspaper that stands for more, than making meney. For example; he weathered with dignit and grace the opening press council storms that blew up around columnist Doug Collins. He revelled in firing sharp and accurate _ editorial darts into the inflated hysteria cul. tivated by the forces of the politically co rect. He was a resolute defender of free speech and an insightful analyst, of the political scene on every level. © He was the newspaper's self-appointed cadens of birthday greetings to all and #2 sun who was integral to its personality...’ . Noel’s loss will be difficult to measure tin the long run. All I know for ¢ is that I miss him LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must inclide your name,” full: address and ‘telephone number. ~ Submit via e-mail to: mborker@nsnaws.com CRber Route News Ths 895-2181 |. (ites 3); . S guburban newspaper and quatified under Schedule "$01, Paragraph 102 of the Excise Tax Act, is published © "each “Wednesday, Friday’ and Sunday by HGH “> Publications Company and distributed 19 every doar |; “A. mi the North’ Shore. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreessm No. 0087238, Mailing rates avaliable’ ‘on cequest. Entir ~ contents © 2000 HCN Publications Company. rv rights reserved. Average . circulation” tor Wednesday, Fritay and Sunday is 61,582. - Terry Peters Editorial Manager 985-2131 (180) © < 4 Cistribution Manager f 985-1327 (124)