8 - Wednesday, October 19, 1994 - North Shore News Kevin Gillies WEST VANCOUVER District 45 school board trustees recently voted unanimously to ban cigarette smoking on any of its property. They join North Vancouver School District 44 who banned smoking on their premises last year. The bans apply to students, teachers, administrators and staff. Before the bans, smoking was permitted on the district’s property but only in designated areas. The new policy brings the districts in line with many povernment and cer- porate policies aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles. As one West Vancouver trustee put it, the board cannot be seen as condoning cigarette smoking. Student smokers, who say they will continue to smoke, believe the policy is unfair and could lead to more confrontation between students and teachers, The issue is contentious because those who do smoke, particularly students, are forced off school grounds to tight up. Should smoking be permitted on school district property? gS a i Sean de-Botte North Vancouver Absolutely. Otherwise the kids will leave the premises. Every break there's about 400 kids lining the school perimeter. It could be Marriah Grey North Vancouver I don't smoke but I think students should have the freedom of choice. Joe Terry North Vancouver Yes but in a designated area, Smoking should not be iHlegal for any age group. Stephanie MeKay North Vancouver I think students should be allowed because it's a public school and it should be less restrictive than a private school. Graeme Wiggins North Vancouver It would be best in a designated area. As it is, there's an anal-retentive hall monitor who comes around and makes smokers do push-ups if dangerous. mailbox: Reform’s Gamble has got to go Dear Editor: ’ Ron Gamble of the B.C. Reform Party is an embar- rassment for Canada in general, and B.C. in particular. His disgusting racist remarks about Asians cannot go unchallenged. Asians in this case being Chinese/Taiwanese people. Many of these people keep B.C. green — they bring money. They bring skills that this country desperately needs. And in general they tend to bring an attitude that we also need for B.C./Cascadia's vibrant economy which is the strongest in Canada. They invariably become useful productive citizens. Only a minute number are criminally inclined — and for such as these, immediate deportation should be the norm. Skip the zppeal process if they’ve been convict- ed of a crime — out they should go. No ifs, ands or buts about it. No second chances for this type of individual because they are a drain on our resources. In fact, all who immigrate from wherever, it should be a condition of acceptance that the host country should be made to take this type back if they foul up. Canada is said to be the most desirable place in the world to live — is it because undesirables cannot be deported? I'd say so. Ron Gamble, you are the undesirable, not the people you so unkindly categorized as being a drain on the system. Robert W. Stirling Maple Ridge they’re on school prop- erty. It’s time News ditched Doug Dear Editor: Most Canadians would agree that the freedom to express a variety of opinions is a trea- sured tenet. And we all know that con- troversy sells newspapers. However, it’s well past the time that your publication siop pay- ing Doug Collins to spew his hateful nonsense. Mr. Collins is either mental- ly disturbed (as evidenced by the degree of paranoia neces- sary to believe in a conspiracy that could produce the history of the Holocaust), or he is, sim- ply, calculatingly evil. Either way, let him find his © own means of spreading his lies. Sandra Bauer Squamish The seniors in West Vancouver really get a kick out of life, thanks to the community's new Seniors’ Activity Centre. The Cenire offers seniors a place to meet, socialize, and learn new skills. A wide variety of activities are available, including bridge, bingo, dances, fashion shows, and classes in fitness and painting. And the seniors are also learning new moves, in the martial arts classes. Shandler, Standing left to right Janet Cai: Edward Kamstra and Yua “Seniors never stop learning,” says Royal Bank employee Pat Owens. The local branch made a donation towards the Seniors’ “Raise the Roof” campaign. The goal was to raise money to expand the centre’s facilities. We'd just like to thank the West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre for ROYAL BANK putting our donation to such good use.