Grade 9 Balmoral student back with friends at school By lan Noble News Reporter FOR trilingual 14-year-old Pouyan Khalili, returning to Balmoral junior secondary Monday marked a milestone in his fight against cancer. It’s just one of many major events the slight, well-spoken boy - expects to experience over a six- week period. “Just seeing my friends and everything makes me feel good,” he said on Monday afternoon. On April 6, approximately eight months after he first discovered a lump on his throat, a celebration marked the last time Pouyan came - home from the hospital after endur- . ing chemotherapy treatments. In two weeks, he will discover if the cancer is still present. It’s a long, frustrating wait for - the results, said Pouyan. “I still can’t believe it. I still . can’t believe I had it,” said Pouyan, who, like many Grade 9 students, _ wears a Nike baseball cap. * Unlike others, however, there’s not much hair under the swoosh. \ . Youyas left Balmoral’s French immersion program at the beginning of October. Two months before that, he woke up one morning with a big lump on his neck. He went to the family doctor, who referred him to an ear, nose and throat specialist. The Specialist gave Pouyan antibiotics to fight off an infection he did not . He continued to play baseball and, at the time, felt great. He returned to the doctor for a check-up. But instead of retreating, * Pouyar:’s lumps were expanding. The first one had affected the right side of his face, then another attacked the left side and smaller ones began to a a PP eouyan said he continued to feel great until the biopsy was done at the * beginning, of October. A needle was inserted to take out tissue, but not enough tissue could be removed for a diagnosis. So doctors took out the lump. The cancer was in his neck and behind his nose. Since. then, the all-too-familiar regimen of radiation and chemotherapy treatments and constant vomiting have left him unable to eat. His mouth, he said, was “like ripped inside.” “I could barely drink. I haven’t eaten a meal in six months.” During his treatment, Pouyan’s spirits were buoyed by lots of visitors and prayers. His father slept by his side at B.C. Children’s Hospital. Pouyan said he tried not to think negatively, or dwell on his condition. NEWS photo Terry Peters BALMORAL student Pouyan Khallll returns to school with a new-found respect for his health after missing most of the school year while he bsttled cancer. “Never think about what you are going through,” he recommends to others fighting the disease. “Always have' company just to keep your mind off it.” Pouyan finished his fourth and last round of chemotherapy last month. Other than a dry mouth, Pouyan said he feels well. Pouyan, who's well- versed in medical lingo, said scans will be taken in two weeks to if the cancer remains. In staccato fashion, Pouyan listed the lessons he’s learned from his bat- tle against cancer, “Life is short, do as much as you can with it. “Don’t be ignorant and think it’s never going to happen to you. “Always have God on your mind and pray.” Still, he doesn’t think his trials with the disease will affect the way he lives his life, although he adds he wants to think of the future more and take care of his health. So, naturally, he drearns of being a professional athlet Toronto Blue Jay players he taped on his home recorder viewed by the News. Pouyan plays second base and pitches for a local baseball team. There’s a mischievous air about the exceedingly polite Pouyan, so it's not surprising his favorite baseball player is Roberto Alomar, a talented sec- ond baseman with the Baltimore Orioles who made headlines fast year when he spat at an umpire. “That umpire deserved it,” Pouyan said with a sheepish grin. A busy weekend for local parties By lan Noble News Reporter ian@nsnewscam WEEKEND political news on the North Shore was dominated by the nomi- ‘nation of two Progressive Conservative candidates. That means that a week after the election was called, local can- didates for the four major parties in B.C. have been finalize: A short summary of the week- end’s events shows: i Jawyer David Thomas defeated immigration consultant Kate Manvel! 45 to 29 for the Tory nomination in the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast rid- ing, public relations consultant Dennis Prouse snagged the PC nomination in North Vancouver on Monday; . @ Powell River steamfitter Clark Banks won the NDP nomination for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast; : Thomas, 35, received the backing of former West Vancouver. mayor Mark Sager, who tested the political waters in Ottawa himself before deciding not to run in the June 2 federal election. In spite of polls showing that the Tories need to make huge strides in B.C., Sager said he believes Thomas has a shot at winning the seat. Thomas himself said polls clearly show the PCs will not form the next government. So he’s pinning his hopes on voters taking a long-term strategic look at his candidacy. He believes that if he wins, he can help form the policies and platforms of the PC party over the next four to five years. At that time, a new election will usher in determine ¢, just like the while he was inter- Human rights hearing split between two venues From page 1 availability of space, the cust of the space and the impact such an expenditure would have on other hearings. The News, meanwhile, has spent more than $70,000 in Icgal fees over the three years since the Canadian Jewish Congress filed its May 26, 1994, ‘complaint with the Council of Human Rights - over a March 9, 1994, News column written by Doug Collins. : Following the News’ protest, Patch deter- May 12 to 14 — will be conducted in “a large room” at the Century Plaza Hotel, 1015 Burrard St., Vancouver. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on May 12. . After the first three days, however, the hearing will move to the much smaller Police Commission boardroom. In his April 30 letter, Patch said he was “unable to justify a large expenditure of public money when there is « venue. available that will accommodate the parties and a small gallery.” He said the split venue “will allow a large num- ber of people to hear opening statements and get a flavor of the process. “A smafler number will be able to observe the whole hearing.” He added that the tribunal will monitor the space requirements as the hearing unfolds. The hearing is expected to run for approxi- mately one month. Said Sutherland: “I don’t want to comment on detail in the press. I will say that this case is very, very important. “T hope that relatively minor cost savings don’t lead to disappointed would-be spectators.” a Tory government, he said. As one of a few Tories to be elected in the West, “{ really think I will be able to have a strong influence,” said the bilin- gual resident of Horseshoe Bay. During a short conversation, Thomas did not mention the Liberals but took a stab at the Reform party, the PC’s chal- lenger for the votes of the discon- See Green Tory page 13 mined that the first three days of the hearing — NEWS Promotions Manager Trixi Agrios ... wins newspa- per promotion award. . NEWS publisher Peter Speck - .. @lected to serve on the BCYCNA board of directers. News lands BCYCNA honors THE North Shore News has been recog- nized for overall excellence and marketing expertise in the British Columbia and Yukon Community Newspapers Association’s (BCYCNA) 1997 Better Newspaper Competition. The News placed third overall in the competition’s General Excellence category for newspapers with circula- tions over 25,000. . First place went to the revamped Vancouver Courier, while second place went to the Prince George Free Press. The third place finish for the News marks the fifth year running that the newspaper has been among the top three finishers in the BCYCNA's General Excellence cat- egory. News Promotions Manager Trixi Agrios also picked up an award in the competition’s Best Newspaper Promotion category. Her “Lines” bus- board campaign promoting the newspaper and its content won second place overall. Judge’s called Agrios’ entry. “a bold hard-hitting campaign with a short, punchy message (that) lends itself beautifully to transit and in-paper promotion.” A total of 1,525 entries were submitted to the BCY- CNA Better Newspaper competition. The association includes community newspaper members from all over B.C. and the Yukon. Also at the May 1 to 3 BCYCNA convention, News publisher Peter Speck was elected to serve on the BCY- CNA board of directors. He will head the association’s government relations committee.