——— MAIL Box:

Advice to youth: don’t
jump to conclusions

Dear Editor:

Permit me to enlighten the thinking of your
young correspondent, Emily Craig (North
Shore News March 3 “Adults Need to Lead By
Example”). She replies to my "A message to
Youth — Grow Up”.

Lask Emily: Did you read Hana Mercer's arii-
cle on the denigration of parenthood?

Did you study your MP Ted White's adverte-
rial stats on juvenile crime?

Did you not perceive that the Australian jirve-
nile court judge’s words (not mine) were not
directed towards an intelligent young person of
your character and industry? The judge obvious-
ly wishes he could see fewer of the young people
in his court who misuse and abuse the system
and order we abide by.

Teenagers like you are not found in such
places. Emily, you have made false assumpticas
in your emotional rush into print.

1 “volunteered” my time — and my life — in
1943 to the hazardous occupation of aircrew in
a war which, following victory, entitled us both
to the freedom of speech allowed in these pages,
even though its publishers have been fined by a
kangaroo court for their interpretation of that
same freedom.

At age 76, with ailments and afflictions of my
twilight years, my volunteering days are over.

As for my “preaching,” Emily, my generation
earned the nght to be listened to.

It paid its way and made its financial contt-
bution to a succession of governments, believing
it was money dedicated to our old age support.

We saw it squandered on irandouts and boon-
doggled — still! Yes, Emily, vour generation will
have to support your parents (babyboomers). In
my fetter, which attracted your criticism, |
opened with a quotation from George Berard
Shaw.

I offer you another on leadership which 1
hope you might employ in your future career,
lines that motivated me in the leading of my staff,
penned by Lao Tze circa 3500 B.C):

“A manager is bess when peaple scarcely
know he is there; not so good when they acclaim
him; worse when diey despise him. But ofa. good
manager, his work all done, his task fulfilled, they
will all say: ‘We did this ourselves." ”

One so eloquent as you, Emily, will certainly
be successful, but please, you must not be jump-
ing to conclusions,

Russell C. Shelton
West Vancouver

Opinions betrayed ‘ignorance’

Dear Editor:

What an unfortunate dia-
tribe of ignorance and bigotry
in M. Davidson’s letter “Upset
over group’s demands” in the
March 5 issue. son.

He/she begins with the

uestionable assertion that
anada is a Christian coun-

In discussing the issue of
Iranian fire-jumping, his/her
only argument against it is
that Christians would not be

ethnic

permitted similar concessions
to their religious customs in
other countries.

Surely M. Davidson couid
come up with a sounder rea-

In Canada we are not
bound to follow the rules
used in Islaniie dictatorships.
try. We should set standards of
tolerance and acceptance,
and recognize and encourage
communities to
express themselves.

Provided, of course, that
their activities do not offend
the rest of saciety.

The protester goes on to
show his/her complete igno-
rance and confusion between
Sikhs, Indo-Canadians and
Muslims, and seems to
attribute violence te all of the
communities as a result of a
Particular event. Shame on

you!
Carl Ian Walker
North Vancouver

DISTRICT OF WEST VANCOUVER
.. Parks and Recreation Department...
" 44.. Building Community

Proceeding with Recreation Facility Master Pian recommendations,
the District of West Vancouver is reviewing a number of
recreation facilities and sites.

__ Drop-in Open Houses are being held for you
to share your comments on the

 faquatic Centre Study

Come and view concept design options for an expanded Aquatic

_ Centre and tell us what you think:

4:30 to 0:30 pm, Thursday, March 30” ‘& Thursday, April 27"
West Community Health Centre, 990 - 22 Street, WV
and the:

Civic Area Land Use Study
(Centra! Recreation Site)
Come and view recommendations for the Civic Site and the larger

Civic Area:

* Anew Community Centre & an expanded Aquatic Centre
¢ Acentral public gathering and meeting space

* Outdoor spaces for sport, activities and youth

» New street entrances, pathways and underground parking
* Future development scenarios for the site and the larger

study area

4:30 to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, April 11% & Thursday, April 13°
West Community fHealth Centre, 990 - 22” Street, WV

For further information, please cali:

925-7200

[ have designed it

Wednesday, March 22, 2000 - North Shore News - 9

ted white, m.p.

advertonal. March 22. 2000

VISIONS AND PHOTOS

My report of March 1st, which dealt
with the taxpayer funding of grants for
so-called "millennium" projects,
generated a fot of feedback In the form
of letters and calls to my office. It was
interesting to note though, that support
for taxpayer funding came only from
grant recipients themselves, or from
persons claseiy connected to the
applicants. Everyone eise was upset
that their hard-earned tax dollars were
being dispensed to a ong list of special
interest aroups. In addition, most of
those who were opposed to the grants
expressed the opinion that if any of the
projects had been truly worthwhile the
money could have been raised in the
community, or from the private sector.

As a result of all the interest in this topic,
i decided to write a report about two of the

letters | received. The writers were both

supportive of their owr particular
"millennium" projects, but { think you wiil be
as surprised as | was with the content of
one of those letters. (Permission to publish
was, of course, obtained from the writer.)

YOUR HOUSE/OUR HOME

The letter containing the surprise came
from Suzanne Wilsor of the Year 2000
Photo Project, Your House/Our Home.
Here is an excerpt from her letter:

"I thought you might be
interested in hearing about my
Millennium Project taking place in
your riding, my Year 2000 Photo
Project, Your House/Our Home. I
to be self
supporting, All of the funds come

§ from myself and donations from the

participants. This is our
celebration. There is no funding
from any government or private
agency. I felt that part of a year
2000 celebration should show that

| projects that can be self supporting

should not apply for funding.

My project is Usted on the
Millennium Bureau of Canada weh
site, but funding from them has not
been applied for or received.

The purpose of my Year 2000
Photo Project, Your House/Our
Home is to leave a photographic
and written record of the homes
and families of the City of North
Vancouver in the year 2000. This
record of photographs, stories of
the his ‘ories of families and houses,
and greetings from the year 2000 is
being given to the North Vancouver
Archives in December, 2000. A
display of all 2000 homes will start
on December 12, 2060 at the
Archives.”

Of ati the "millennium" projects | have
read about and heard about, Suzanne's
project seems to me to be the most
relevant, creative, and worthwhile. Not
only has she set out to leave a wonderful

) historical record for future generations, but

her work is being done without any request

f for taxpayers’ dollars from our spendthrift

government in Ottawa. For these
reasons, i hope you will consider
actively supparting tha Year 2000 Photo
Project, Your House/Our Home, by
making a donation, or by offering to
help Suzenne prepare a photographic
and written record about your famiiy,
and/or the history of your North
Vancouver City house or your

apartment. The telephone number for.

the project is 988-6283.
VISIONS OF THE NORTH SHORE
The second of the two letters
mentioned at the beginning of this report
came from Linda Feil, Executive Director of
the North Vancouver Community Arts
Council, and Co-Chair of Vislons of the
North Shore, which, as | mentioned in my
report of March 1st, received $288,575
from the Millennium Bureau of Canada.
Following are some excerpis from the

for future generations.

promotional material which accompanied {|
her letter.

“The Visions of the North Shore
Millennium Project is remembering
and recording our heritage,
reflecting our present through
artistic creation and challenging
our youth to express their visions of
the Norti: Shore and its future.

(it) embraces the new millennium
through a heritage and visual arts
coiiaboration thar celebrates 12
sites that have significant historic,
naturai and cultural relevance to |
the North Shore.

Tweive print artists have been
commissioned to create an original
work reflecting the site and
tegether the works will form a
portfolio that will enrich
community collections and public
places. At each site, an interpretive
display will include archival photos,
historic narrative and the First
Nation place name and _ story
associated with the site. A
commemorative publication and CD
ROM are planned to complement
and complete the information at
each Iecation.”

The sites chosen to be part of the
project are: Cates Park. Lynn Canyon
Park, Maplewood Farm, Carisbrooke Park,
Ambleside Park, John Lawson Park,
Dundarave Pier, Horseshoe Bay, Grand
Boulevard, Lower Mosquito Creek, Foot of
Lonsdale Avenue, and Moodyville. The
artists will be Taiga Chiba, Pierre Coupey,
Wayne Eastcott, Damian George, Bonnie
Jordan, Jennifer Judge, Jean C. Morrison,
Rass Penhall, Setsuko Piroche, Joan
Smith, Arnoid Shives, and Xwa Lack Tun
(Rick Harry). 1

| would have liked to have seen a
detailed budget for this project, because it
is my understanding that the $268,575
from the federal level is matched by equal
amounts from the municipalities of the
North Shore and the Provincial
Governrnent. in other words, taxpayers
have actually contributed at least
$864,000 to Visions of the North Shore.
Unfortunately, no. budgetary: information °
came with the letter, and there has been no |
response from the North Vancouver Aris
Council to my phone message of two.
weeks ago. The phone number for the
North Vancouver Arts Council is 988-

BOTTOM LINE .
Clearly, Visions of the North Shore is a |

much more complex project than is the
Year 2000 Photo Project, but is likely
costing us upwards of $864,000, while the
Photo Project is entirely funded. by
participants and supporters. Both projects |
are claiming that they will leave a legacy

8844.

‘You will come to your own 4
conciusions about the relative merit
and value of the two projects of course,

but had | been at the table when Visions |.

of: the North Shore was being put
tagether, | would have baen pushing for
zero to minimal reliance on taxpayer
funding.
few of our loca! artists would have been
happy to DONATE: thelr time and.
creations to a community celebration of

the end. of the millennium, if only {-

sumeone had asked. And perhaps our :1
local municipal union locals would have .
come together with a volunteer force to
carry out the necessary construction
work in the parks, if only someone had |.
asked. And perhaps our local business

community. would have donated the {:

photographic, art, and building
supplies, if only. someone had asked. -|
Unfortunately, a: dependency on your :
tax doliars appears to have gotten in the
way 0f initiative and creativity. Oh well,
it's only money.

K seems to me that at least af: