BOUT 1,100 people, mainly women, showed at the Hyatt for the 10th annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards ceremony, which gains in popu- larity yearly, The awards encourage and recognize women whose activities and achievements contribute to the health and future of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, and 72 wamen were nominated in eight categories — Arts and Culture; Cammunications and Public Affairs; Community and Humanitarian Service; En- trepreneur/Innovator; Education Training and Development; Health Sciences and Technology; Management and the Professions; and Recreation, Fitness and Sport. No one from the North Shore won, but we had lots of nominees, all longtime volunteers. From North Van, the nominees were Kwantlen College nursing program coordinator Joan Belfry; B.C. Institute on Family Violence executive director jill Hightower; Crofton House teacher Ziatun Mahedi:; City of Vancouver com- munity liaison engineer Sheri Reed; and world-class cyclist Alison Sydor. West Van nominees were the Knowledge Network's Nini Baird; the B.C. Children’s Hospital Aux- iliary’s Daphne.Cole; the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation’s . Yulanda Faris; West Van Library Board chairperson Margaret Mur- ray; North Van Crisis Shelter founder Gulbanu Rajan; amateur swimming coordinator Mies Schootman; Capilano Suspension Bridge/Park owner Nancy Stib- bard; Leadership Vancouver founding co-chairperson Ann Sturrock; and, from Lions Bay, - UBC dance educator Jean Cunn- ingham. There were lots of North Shoreites in the audience — Van- couver Sun editor lan Haysom showed — The Sun sponsored the Communications award; Spectrum PR president Nancy Spooner was there with her colleague Matt Wilcox, who's now experiencing the thrill of single parenthoad but looks absolutely terrific anyway; PR consultant and program chairperson Marg Van Wielingen with her printer husband Greg Louise Aird BRIGHT LIGHTS Durst; North Van architect Margot Paris; and Science World founder Barbara Brink. Other notables included Kim Campbell’s executive assistant Diana Lam; Vancouver mayor Gordon Campbell, who was thanked by landscape architect Moura Quayle, when she won the Communications and Public Affairs award, for spearheading North America’s first urban landscape task force; and the deputy minister of something — unless they dump Bill 33 and move to Azerbaijan, | refuse to give the NDP any positive publici- ty. The ceremony was co-emceed by actor Leon Bibb and North Van's Vicky Gabereault, who was absolutely hilarious, and included a clever and touching show during which actors periormed testimonials by/for people whose lives had been straightened out through YWCA programs (the Y, by the way, celebrates its Cana- dian centennial this year). Nice evening. No fireworks, but everyone had a good time. ! do have a couple of requests, though — after Grace is said, can we not break into applause? And if! can get through July without hearing the phrase ‘‘in terms of,’’ or the words “empowerment” and “excellence,” I'll take a sailor to dinner, ak Speaking of the Hyatt, GM Mark - Andrew has a rather tall order. UBC RECREATIONAL programs director Sonya Lumhoist-Smith with Lions Cunningham at the Women of Distinction awards. - He and his wife Kristi, who are living at the hotel with their three children, two of whom bus it to school in West Van, want a house. Five bedrooms. Brand new. No fixing-up required, Reasanably priced. In Ambleside. So, West Van realtors, when you stop laughing — or if you find such a house — give him a calf. kkk There's finally a proper evening event to which you can take your kids. On Sunday, July 11, Theatre Under the Stars will host An Even- ing Under the Stars, which is a benefit for Children’s Hospital's HIV care unit. The evening will include, ac- cording to the invitation, “Great Music, Street Entertainers, Face Painters, Incredible Edibles from the Gallery Cafe, and Superb Theatre!” For tickets, which are $50 for adults and $15 for kids, call Tick- etmaster or the hospital founda- tion at 875-2444. Hillside drama students win contest “GRADE 9 drama students from Hillside middle school won a Sony video pack valued at $4,096 in the ‘It's Cool to be You”’ contest. The contest, aimed at addressing peer pressure, self-esteem and identity, was sponsored by the B.C. Dairy Foundation, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry Responsible for Seniors and Drug and Alcohol programs. Hillside drama teacher Nancy Masterman-Boyd, who created a drama unit around the contest, designed a set of self-esteem/self- awareness exercises to lay the groundwork for video production, Film-maker Bill Malone taught students framing and storyboard skills. The students submitted eight videos in the contest. Only those with original music and completed editing were entered. Students available for short-notice jobs THE CANADA Employment Cen- tre for Students reports that 579 student job vacancies had been posted in the North Shore office as of Wednesday, June 16. These figures are up 18% from 1992. Casual labor jobs have been providing many students with steady summer employment. Students who are available on a short-term basis register with the office and cali the day before they are available for work. When employers require students on short notice, the Casual Labour Department is able to fil! the posi- tion within a couple of hours. Students can mow the lawn, weed the garden, paint the fence, help with the housework and much more. Homeowners can count on the Canada Employment Centre for, Students to provide qualified and enthusiastic employees. Whether you have a job that takes an hour or a month, call the North Shore Canada Employment Centre for Students at 666-9192, or drop by the office at #101-1200 Lonsdale Ave., ‘North Vancouver. th : Bs NORTH VANCOUVER PR consultant husband Grey Durst. Enjoy O% off on leather clothing | up to and accessories for men and women — _ HOURS ARE MONDAY TO SATURDAY 9:30-6:00 FRIDAYS 9:30-9 PM, SUNDAY 12-6 PM 347 WATER ST. GASTOWN 682-6424