Friends of Canada
dedicated to unity

CANADA used to be view-
ed as a tolerant, prosperous
land of compromise.

By Barbara Black
News Reporter

And Canadians went along with
the image. Now, however, with
problems of sovereignty, language
and fand claims raging far and
wide, Canadian hearts are not
glowing and morale is sinking like
a leaden sun.

In his foreword to the Citizen's
Forum report, chairman Keith
Spicer glumly states that “Canada
looks to Canadians like a
pessimist’s nightmare of Hell.’

What happened? Weren't we all
supposed to be friends?

Amidst the discord Canada does
have friends. Friends of Canada,
they are called, and people
belonging to the group are
dedicated to addressing our coun-
try’s current lack of unity.

Art Grant, of North Vancouver,
is one such friend. As B.C.
chairman for the Council for Ca-
nadian Unity, which sponsors the
Friends of Canada initiative, he
joins 500 others in B.C. who are
concerned about
rampant in Canada today.

The Council for Canadian Uni-
ty started in 1964, and, according
to Grant, was instrumental in the
1980 referendum on Quebec
separation in rallying the ‘‘non”’
vote groups together, despite dif-
fering views. This is an example
of how the group aims to foster

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the negativism.

1H IEEE

OEE EOF

&é@ We want to
shift the mood
to one of
respectful listening,
rather than
polarization. 99

Art Grant, B.C. chairman

for the Council for

Canadian Unity

bener understanding among Ca-
nadians.

The Council is #2 non-profit.
non-partisan faiional organization
funded mainly from the private
sector and program revenues.

Grant joined the group fast
year. In the aftersnath of Meech
Lake he realized his concern for
Canada required involvement in
some personal way.*'! realized we
were sitting on the edge of an
abyss,’’ he says, looking dapper in
a suit jacket complete with a Ca-
nadian flag lapel pin.

Although being a director takes

up a lot of “time, energy and
emotion’’ it is obvious Grant is
confident the Friends of Canada
can make a difference.
“By informing people about the
different points of view on Cana-
dian issues they can reach a high
degree of mutual understanding,”
he states.

“We want to shift the mood to
one of respectful listening, rather

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than polarization,” says Grant.

The council is currenty working
on developing local chapters.
There is already one on the North
Shore. Friends of Canada current-
ly boasts among its members
former West Vancouver mayor
Don Lanskail. North Vancouver's
Peter C. Newman, West Van-
couver resident the Hon. H.R.
Bell-Irving and juror Alfred
Was.

Functions of focal chapters
would inchide organizing forums
in the community where citizens
can hear speakers offer their
Perspective on topics such as
aboriginal rights, separatism and
language rights.

The council also aims to in-
crease public access to government
information and ultimately to
assist in the development of gov-
ernment policy.

“All Canadians have to be in-
cluded,’ asserts Grant. Part of
the agenda of the Friends of
Canada is that the contribution of
all Canadians must be recognized.
“We want new Canadians to feel
they can be a part of this group
because they have a role to play;
their perspective should be
reflected in any compromisc.**

“We've got to get Canadians
thinking positively about
themselves,’” Grant says with un-
wavering enthusiasm.

For information on Friends of
Canada write to: Arthur Grant,
Chairperson for the B.C. Cam-
paign, Friends of Canada, 7860
§i5th Street, Delta. B.C... V4c
5N3, or phone 1-800-263-3336.

SIO DIO ODER REE

NORTH wAeGUVER
apilano Vilage.

Sunday, August 11, 1991 - North Shore News - 25

NEWS photo Stuart Davis

IT’S TIME for Canadians to voice support for their country, say
Friends of Canada. The group seeks te ease the current tension
in the country and build a greater sense of unity. Arthur Grant
(pictured), B.C. chairman for the Council for Canadian Unity and
North Vancouver resident believes Friends of Canada gives
people a chance to do something for their country.

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