By Deana Lancaster
Contributing Writer

Joanne Wesley thought
she'd investigated every
possibility for her son’s
future.

Richard is 30, but “he’s
my baby,” says Wesley.
Twenty-three years ago he ran
a stop sign on his bievele and
was hit by a car. The accident
left him) with a permanent
mental disability.

His mother became his
nurse, teacher, physiotherapist
and friend.

With her help Richard
completed a program at the
Pacific Vocational Institute to
become a baker. and he now
works at Capers food store
and restaurant in Dundarave.

Last vear be moved out of
his mother’s apartment and
into his own across the street.
She’s close cnough to help
him when he needs it.

Most of all, she cares about
him.

“In school he was always
ostracized fur being different.
He stil] doesn’t feel thar he
quite fits in, bur he’s learning
slowly that even though he’s a
bit different he still has a place
in the world.”

But Wesley began to won-
der where that place will be
after she dies.

“IT realize Um getting
older, and IT won't be around
forever,” she says. Nor does
she expect any of her other
three children to take care of
him after she’s gone.

“You can’r expect siblings
to do what moms do,” she
says. So she made a new will,
and appointed a trustee to
help him manage his finances.

“But it’s not part of a
trustee’s job to drop in and
see how he’s doing cither.”

Then she looked into the
Planned Lifetime Advocacy
Network (PLAN), which is an
organization formed by par-
ents of adult children with dis-
abilities.

Its purpose is to create a
network which supports and

cares for the children after
their parents have died.

But it wasn't exactly what
she was looking for either,

That's when she read in
the News about the Quayside
Co-Housing project. planned
for the Dome Mart site at
West Sth and Chesterfield in
North Vancouver City.

The concept is based on a
small village setting. Its to
include a mixture of residents:
from young = families to
seniors, and trom all income
brackets.

To meet that objective, the
profit from the units which
are selling at market price will
be used to subsidize three of
the units for “affordable hous-
ing.” There is also to be one
rental unit.

The units each have their
own private entrance and
kitchen, but there is also a
dining room, kitchen court-
yard, living room, and ameni-
ty space to be shared by every-
one.

Richard bought one of the
affordable units, a bachelor
suite. Hle put five per cent
dawn and he'll be able to
make the mortgage payments
on his salary from Capers.

In the community setting
of the co-housing village he'll
be able to eat, visit and spend
time with his neighbors.

“This is like an answer to
my pravers,” Wesley says.
“He’s going to be in a com-
munity that appreciates him.
They think he’s wonderful for
having come so far, even
though he’s had so much
against hint.”

Not everyone is excited by
the project.

In order to subsidize the
affordable units, the co-hous-
ing group is asking city coun-
cil to allow an increased densi-
ty for the project.

At the council meeting on
March 24, neighbors of the
site expressed their displea-
sure.

Marion McGavin, who
lives on West 6th St., above
the site, said she’s worried
about her quality of fife and

“It’s not just a
case of you
lose your view,
or your this or
your that.
There’s real
people
involved.”

NEWS photo Grad Ledwidge

RICHARD Wesley and mom Joanne at the future site of the Quayside Co-Housing
Village, which aims to create a community with a mix of residents. Richard
Wesley, who has a disability, was able to buy a bachelor suite under the project's

“affordable units” program.

her property value.

She suggested council
approve the development: of
more upscale terraced strata
homes, which would attract
higher-income residents.

Although Wesley under-
stands the residents’ concerns,
she says there are more impor-

tant issues at stake.

“It’s not just a case of you
lose your view, or your this or
your that. There's real people
involved.”

It seems council agrees
with her — the bylaw to
change the site’s zoning has
passed third reading and

NEWS phcto Mike Wakefield

SUZANNA Kouwenberg’s Fagan eyes the loot as Mike Torok’s Oliver (left), Alexis Parker's The Gentleman
(second from left) and Suzanna Kouwenberg’s Artful Dodger look on. Braemar’s French and English Grade 7
classes have given a hip twist to the old classic. Oliver with a Twist runs this coming Wednesday and
Thursday, April 9 and 10, at the schooi, 3600 Mahon Ave., North Vancouver. Tickets, $6, by phone at 988-8711.

needs only final adoption.

Wesley is thrilled.

“I think (the co-housing
group) deserve a medal. They
had a vision of a different way
of living, of neighbors who
care about each other, and
with hard work and energy
they are making it happen.”

Around Town

EK
ARTS EVENTS
Compiled by Martin Millerchip

Around Town is a fre -ervice provided for non-profit and communi-
ty arts groups. Please fx a press eelease for your entertainment event
to 985-2104. Deadline for Wednesday inclusion is the previous
Friday. The News tries 1 ensure items appear in the paper at feast once
before the event take Jace, but space constraints may limit the num-
ber of submissions p:inted. For guaranteed publication contact classi-
fied (986-6222) or display advertising (980-0511).

Dundarave Cafe: Realism and Whimsy. Paintings by
Margaret Key. To Apvil 11.

Ferry Building Gallery: Colour Concept: Still Life and
Landscapes, the paintings of Leonard Brete and Jim
fickling. To April 6. Patuted Surfaces, a two person esxhibi-
tion by painter Carole Arnston and ceramic artist Lewis
Kryzkowski opens April 8. Artist’s dialogue April 8, 11
a.m. and April 15, 7 p.m. Hours: LL a.m. to 3 p.m., closed
Mondays. Info: 925-7290.

Leo Marshall Curriculum Centre, Artists for Kids
Gallery: Bugs, Birds and Beasts, Jack Shadbolt’s first young
people's exhibition. Weekends, noon tot p.m. “Fo April 26.
Info: 987-6667.

North Vancouver City Halk: Kenneth Patrick Butler pre-
sented by the North Vancouver Comimunicy Arts Council
to April 17. Business hours.

North Vancouver Museum and = Archives: Fire!
Firefighting through the ages. April 1G to Gctober 12.
Flames, Historic photegraphs look at the roll fhimes played
in the transportation of shingle bolzs to the mills of Bucrard
Inlet. To April 30. Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.
Info: 987-5618.

Presentation House Gallery: Reader By The Window, an

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