Appe -WGW,how 00" sssenenees eften docs one get the chance to write a newspaper col- umn on the eve of a new millennium? Obviously, once every 1,000 years is the quick answer. The more lengthy one being that it is not really the end of the millennium until a year from now. We're going to ignore this lat- , ter argument even though, techni- cally, it may be the correct one. ‘The fact that we are changing all four digits in going from 1999 to 2000 has clearly caught the public’s imagination. ‘Wm aftaid that next year, when we zo from 2000 to 2001, is going be a bit of a yawner, ever. though the experts insist that it will be the real start of the new century. "The public’s attitude on this is - not all that surprising because our ‘modern society is infatuated with record-breaking numbers. “Remember all the fanfare and pu blicity last year about Mark cGuire hitting 70 home runs?’ This year the fuss was about the’. . ow. Jones average breaking 10,00: . cotta these are’U.S....” ause of course U.S. cul-. m: not’ sure what i is going to happe ‘in the new millennium but ‘T'do have,a number of predictions bout thi that are.not going to appen. “Ln fact these are more than pre- ictions, they are sure.bets — you -take them to the bank. Prediction number one is that ‘ow. don’t have to worry about running out of food, money, water . because of Y2K.~ ; y thing that might be in short supply after New Year’s Eve . 999 is champagne and ifyou can’t: manage without that fora hile then you have’ more things - 7 worry-about than Y2K. - All the dire warnings of'a Y2K jeltdown basically constitute just a lot of hot.air from so called. ”, who want to get their ‘pictures in the paper aiid make tons’ of money writin, articles and . selling books. “They have succeeded, of course, hich: is doubly. annoying. since I missed ‘out on doing it myself. YeThe Only real ‘danger in all this has en that people might listen - nonsense and generate arti= ficial hortages:by stockpiling pro- visions, making a run on the banks | ind so on. |. ut it looks like the people are. smarter, than the “ experts” and | that’s not going to happen. My second fearless prediction is - that: North and West. Vancouver ° vill: not be taken over by the United Nations. “ parently some of the more, ¢-wall‘cults-and extremist groups are convinced that'the UN" is going to implement a plan to » take over the world i in the new ly people can’t - tead, which is aot alt that’ surpris- hen you think about the - kooky ideas they are promul; ating. : f they.could they woul Id know from recent newspaper articles that UN headquarters is a cesspool of bumbling, i incompetent, uncaring, ibe assesses turn of century fac cat bureaucrats. The only could possibly cake” over would be Fantasy Garden World and that would be stretching their capabilities tu imit. Another thing that is not going happen in the foreseeable future is the breakup of Canada. Guy Bertrand and Stephane Dion are the two people that we have to thank for this. It just took two smart guys with a bit of. backbone to make it clear to Quebecers that separating from Canada would be a very long, difficult, painful process and would probably result in the carv- ing up of the province. T don’t think we’ll ever see another referendum and if we do there is no way it will pass. My final prediction is that rhe residents of Vancouver’s North Shore will not be the first in the world to see the sun on the morn- ing of January 1, 2000 (who says you don’t get hot forecasts in this column?) Given our geographic location, we will, of course, be pretty much the last. to see the sun rise in the new millennium. Furthermore, given the kind of weather we've been having of fate, we will be lucky if we see the sun through the fog much before the end of January. But rather than moaning about this, I think we should take advan- tage of it and stake a claim to being: “The last in the world to see the new millennium’s sun.” It’s not a great claim to fame, but they say that any kind of publicity is better than none at all. If these are the things that are not going to happen what, if any- thing, is going to happen, you might ask Friday, December 31, 1999 — Well, it looks like it is going to be a pretty good millennium Canada, as far as millennia go. Admittedly difficult to forecast 1,000 vears out, but there is reason to be opti- “Prediction mistic about the number one is that you don’t have to worry about running out of food, money, water or anything else because of Y2K.” near future. The federal govern- ment and most of the provincial gov- ernments (with the notable exception got their financial acts sogether after years of sacrifice — by us taxpayers that is, not by the gov- ernments. Unemployment is at its lowest level in 20 years, the Canadian stock market } is finally starting to surge ahead, resource prices are recovering and the national unity problem is going on the back burner. As a result, the economic out- look for Canada is rosier than it has been anytime since the 1970s. of B.C.) have finally continue to provide B.C. Realtors with ** telecommunications services. RSL Communications, Ltd. recently announced that its. subsidiary, RSL COM ‘Canada, (formerly Westel Telecommunications Ltd.), has renewed its’ contract with the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) to remain the official telecom- munications service provider to Realtors across British Columbia. Since February 1995, RSL COM Canada has pro- vided services to the real estate industry in B.C. From the onset, the BCREA program has been extremely successftl. Province-wide there are thousands of Realtors using “RSL COM?s. telecommunications services including long distance. In 1996, the BCREA extended its exclusive pro- . gram to the Real Estate Institute of BC (REIBC) and the British’ Columbia Association of the Appraisal Institute of Canada (BCAAIC).. Under the new contract, RSL COM Canada will provide a communications solution that incorporates : . domestic and international long distance, local access, :» toll-free service, paging, cellular, Internet access, bill : analysis software, and a suite of data sqlutions includ- ing frame relay and data back-up services. “RSL COM Canada remains a good fit for the BCREA. It has positioned itself as a niche player in the affinity long distance market~ with a very targeted focus. “While RSL- COM Canada is part. of a global telecommunications company, it is important to_ts.. that our progtam is managed at a local level. This .., allows them to be very responsive to our members’ needs,” said Robin Hill, executive officer, BCREA. . : “Our relationship with RSL COM Canada began © with low long distance rates, however, it has evolved to. meet the changing telecommunications requirements of Realtors: RSL°COM Canada has expanded their products and services to keep pace with our needs, plus they offer the convenience ofa -single bill for ous vari- ous telecommunications services,” said Robin Hill... . RSL COM Canada’s roots run deep in the province “of BC. Formerly. Westel Telecommunications, the - fouth ef became part of the RSL Communications family. of companies, in 1998.: “The BCREA endorsc-: ent-is ‘as important.to.our company. as a global tele- “com provider as it was four years ago when, asa small _ fegional player, we were awarded _of the largest Sharegroup programs in the country. . ¢ contract for one” * “Ia the‘fiercely competitive loag distance market -we.are delighted that the BCREA has demonstrated their confidence that we have the best communications solution available, to take their members into the new: | millennium,” said David Alsop, president and CEO of RSL COM. Canada: © Find out’ more about | RSL. Communications, *.. itd. at. its Web’. site: . . ue : Real Estate Association renewed the co North Shore Nows ~ 31 As long as the federal govern- ment doesn’t muck things up by going on a spending binge, it looks like the country is in fora prosperous time over the next few years, and possibly even longer. Certainly there are things to worry about, including the envi- ronment, poverty, our relationshi with the native peoples and heal care for an aging population. Also, in B.C., our provincial government has to get its act together. But it is a lot easier to solve these problems when we have a healthy economy and, despite our problems, B.C. is still the greatest place to live in. 1 think we can look forward to - the new millennium with optimism _ and if we all work together we can make it a good one. ; in this spirit I sincerely wish all of you a happy and successful New . Year and a great third millennium... . — Trent Appelbe is a real estate: agent and an_ economist with Re/Max Crest Realty. He can’ be. reached at 988-4797 or by e-mail at. . ; North Van company assists Realtors” ‘A North Vancouver-based company will ASL. COM Canada presicent David Alsop and Gan Bennett, président ‘of the B.C, n their orgenizations.