~ 36 - Sunday, August 25, 1991 — North Shore News HIGH PROFILES Chamber boss committed to community BRUCE YOUNG laughs when asked what he likes to do when he has some free time. ‘‘I really don’t have any free time. [’m a new businessman and it’s a seven-day-a-week operation,’’ says Young. And if his job as owner and partner of a North Vancouver travel agency doesn’t keep him busy, then his position as presi- dent of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce certainly does. © NAME: Bruce Young © AGE: 47 © RESIDENCE: West Vancouver © BORN: Toronto * OCCUPATION: President, North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce; iravel agency owner. ° FAMILY: Wife, Faith, one son, one daughter. Young has been ithe chamber boss since June and has only lived in B.C. for a short time. But, he says, he has always been involved with chambers of commerce — organizations he feels are vital to the growth of local businesses and economies. He moved to West Vancouver three years ago from Toronto, where he spent 23 years working in various capacities for General . Motors of Canada; the most re- cent post being the company’s plant personnel director. ‘*After 23 years, 1 looked down the road and decided I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life.”” So Young and his wife, who have two grown children still liv- ing Uack east, packed their bags and made the trip to the North Shore where he opened up his own travel agency. One of the first things Young did when he settled on the North Shore was to go knocking on the door of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. By Surj Rattan News Reporter “tT used to work with four dif- ferent chambers back in Toronto. As a business owner, I first joined the chamber as soon as I came out here,"’ says Young. ‘“‘North Shore people tend to do business with each other.’” He adds that one of the chamber’s long-term goals is to become more active and visible in the North Vancouver business community. “*We’ve (NVCC) just gone through a planning process, but it’s not anything we really want to go public with right now. One of our long-term goals is to represent the North Vancouver business community and to work with the two councils,”’ says Young. “We're trying to be proactive with issues for the business com- munity. We’re trying to be more visible and we're trying to increase the awareness of what the chamber can do for businesses.” One of the more pressing issues facing North Vancouver businesses and the area's economy is the closure of Versatile Pacific Shipyards Inc. (VPSI) and what the future holds for the com- pany’s $60-million floating Panamax dry dock, the only one of its kind in the Port of Van- couver, VPSI has said it plans to close its North Vancouver shipyard and hopes to sell its dry dock to an unnamed Asian buyer for $14.8 million or, failing that, have the federal government purchase it for $7.5 million. NEWS photo Mike Wakefield NORTH VANCOUVER Chamber of Commerce president Bruce Young helps a cfient plan e trip in hie North Vancouver travel agency. The company said it needs to sell off its dry dock to help pay off its long line of creditors. But Young says the chamber is committed to keeping the dry dock in the port. **The closure of Versatile has impacted the people who work there. But the issue of the dry dock is an issue all to itself; it is different from the issue of Ver- satile closing down in North Van- couver,”’ says Young. “*Versatile is looking to pay off its creditors, but that dry dock is essential for the future of ship- Bruce Young - in his own words How is the travel business do- ing?: “We have found that Vancouver is a very stable market. We are not seeing -the recessionary impact from our corporate clients. They are still travelling as much as they have in the past. But the vacationers are now beginning to look for bargains, which doesn’t always give them the best vacations. “‘People are still travelling. Qur business has been stable, but it’s also very competitive. There are something fike 43 travel agencies on the North Shore.’’ What is the best part of being the president of the North Vancouver Chamber of Com- merce?: ‘*Personal growth. The opportunities for me as a three-year North Shore native have allowed me to grow with the business community. The chamber has been very good to me and my business, and as president I can give something back. Those things are helping me grow.” . Does the North Vancouver Chamber work closely with the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce?: ‘‘Not as closely as I would like. We have different objectives, The North Van- couver chamber has about 590 members and North Vancouver also has a large industrial base.”’ to provide milk, bread, fruits and vegetables, etc. ..FEED THE HUNGRY IN OUR COMMUNITY © $20 helps us buy a weekly bag of groceries for one family © $60 helps sustain a family for one month ¢ $720 assists that same family for a year Please help those in need. All donations are tax deductible. a = = SUE AND MAIL WITH YOUR GIET TODAY =~ . YES! | want to provide food for the hungry. ag t G $20 1 $60 0$720 0 Other $4 Ss—=—D ~ Name _———————— _____f “ S Address. . City, Province o Y. & = Postal Code 13 THE FOOD BANK = 1650 Quebec Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 3L6 t a Hf ee ' | 699-3664 building on the North Shore. We're supportive of keeping the dry dock on the North Shore.’” Getting back to the question of free time, Young says if he had it he would be using it for such favorite activities as tennis and boating. 1 WEEK ONLY The Building is Coming Down Entire Stock Must Be SOLD Save up to iy CAST ALUMINUM Never Rust 3 pe. Set 26” Table & Chairs $239°° 5 pe. Set 32” Table & Chairs $s 00 (PICK-UP PRICE) 5 piece sets Umbrellas Chaise Lounges 100 Umbrellas 20 styles of Chairs 15 styles of Tables 10 styles of Lounges . 0% off * Resin Sets from 5199-1,495 trom *29** - 299 trom 569% - 399 from °29%5 . 499 from 549° - 199 from 54° . 149 from 519% to 299°° 514% to 299° 549% to 999% 49" to 399”