falis to death ONE PERSON died and two others were injured — one seri- ously — on North Shore moun- tains over the weekend. By lan Noble News Reporter The North Shore Rescue Team said James Hermann, 22, of Burnaby appeared to have slipped Sunday and fallen to his death on the south slope of Grouse Mountain. He was found at the base of the cliff on Monday morning. North Shore Rescue said James had gone hiking alone Sunday afternoon and stopped at a popular viewpoint on the old British Columbia Mountain Club cabin trail. Hikers spotted his pack at the viewpoint and informed North Vancouver RCMP. The victim was found at 7:45 a.m. Monday morning, after 25 rescue team members spent the night combing the area. James’ body was recovered by helicopter longline at approximately 11 a.m. On Saturday, the North Shore Rescue Team received a call about a North Vancouver woman who had fall- en 60 to 90 metres (200 to 300 feet) on the west side of Mount Seymour in the vicinity of Second Peak. Search and rescue manager George Zilahi told the News Evalin Berther, 23, had neck pain ‘but was not in serious condition when found by rescue team members on an “icy, treacherous” slope. ’ Berther was flown by helicopter to the Mount Seymour ski area parking fot, then taken to Lions Gate Hospital. . Meanwhile, on the other side of - Second Peak, a group of Venturers had been sliding o: the slope. Ove Venturer, Philip Gander, 17, of Burnaby, slid into a gully system and down 1,500 to 2,000 vertical feet (457 to 610 metres), said Zilahi. North Vancouver mountaincers Derrick Lachapelle and Randy Hunter, a Lions Bay Search and Rescue mem- ber in training, descended the slope using crampons and ice axes, Zitahi said. An hour later, they reached Gander, who was unconscious and suffering See Rescue page 4 i snore ; ey SCHOOL Dist Ny WEST VAty | 1, Weather Thursday: Mainly sunny High 12°C, low -3°C. SCHOOL DVS":. AMALGAR NEWS photo Mike Wakefield ANTI-AMALGAMATION PROTESTERS Alana Linder (ieft), Megan Angus and Caroline Ayriss say no to a proposal to join West Vancouver and North Vancouver school districts. The plan is being panned by West Van parents, school trustees and council. Free schooling for foreigners SOME FOREIGN students are getting a free public education on the North Shore because of a legal loophole. By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter Over the past two years, foreigners have volun- tarily given up custody of about 45 school-age chil- dren to guardians living in North or West Vancouver, according to a North Vancouver provin- cial court official. The foreigners, mostly from Asian countries such as Korea and Japan, officially turn over guardianship primarily to family members who live on the North Shore. With a North Shore guardian, the foreign stu- dents meet the requirement of the provincial School Act and obtain a free public education in B.C. Said West: Vancuuver Garibaldi MLA David Mitchell, “There are many critics of our education system, but the truth is that our education system is a major magnet for immigration to Canada ... We have to crack down and make sure people are not sneaking in through the back door.” Some are taking advantage of a little-known legal formality issued under the Family Relations Act. Under the act, a British Columbian may volun- tarily give up guardianship to a child for legal rea- sons involving family break-up and custody court orders. A foreign parent may take advantage of the legal guardianship formality by filling oul an application and making a short court appearance in North Vancouver provincial court. The applicant may also request a court: inter- preter. B.C. taxpayers pay for the court proceedings and the public education. The legal guardianship loophole may be costing money-strapped North Shore schoo! districts at least $540,000 in lost revenue. (West Vancouver School District 45 (WVSD) charges an international stu- dent $12,000 fora full term of school.) District 45 accepts forcign students who come to Canada with student visas already in place, said Len Archer, seerctary treasurer of the school district. See Student fees page & Mi 1994-1995 school year: 163 for-: eign students enrolled: in. West Vancouver public school brought in $1.8 million in fees i 1995-1996 school year: 174 for- eign students in. West Vancouver public. schools; $2.1 million in fees. Se : ® 6,558 students attended West Vancouver schools as of Jan. 31. Mi West Vancouver charges foreign students $12,000 for a full term... $7,200 for a spring term. oo Wi West Vancouver School District. 1994-1995 budget: $1.1 ‘milllo: reported surplus. : @ = North Vancouver School District 44: no foreign students, no fees. ™@ North Vancouver School District budget projected to be about $5 million short at the end of this fiscal year.