NEWS photo Mike Wakefield The gift of music HANDSWORTH student Natalie Silvanovich (left) tries out the grand piano recent- ly purchased by the school, flanked by parent Jack Keast (right) and Dave Courage of the North Vancouver Kiwanis Club, which donated funds. A tundrais- ing concert wilt also take place March 1 at Centennial Theatre. Annual compound rate of 5.74% for C-bond if held for 3 years. 525% Year 3 Th Year 2 Year 1 NEW CAMA DAESAVINGS, BONDS. yy, Led Canadi incudes freight & P.D.E., M. & RP. $24,890 Drive select 4X4. City: 12.3L/100km (23 mi/gal) Highway: 9.7L/100:cm (29 miigal) No limit purchase ¢ financing up to 43 mos, ' ‘ $239 48 mos, O.AC. A includes freight & PD.E., M.S.R.P. $16,390 : B Drive select 4X4. City: 7.6L/100km (37 migal) Highway: 5.7L/100km (49 mi/gal) Esteem Esteem RWagon Sedan [North Van Suzuki 983-2088. From page 14 about fees and whether the lawyer will work on a contin geney bast. “The cost of litigation can run mto the thousands of dollars.” he said. “Its money that’s coming out of vour packer.” He told the audience that most disputes can be solved more effectively through mediation than litigation, which generally costs a great deal more and can take twice as long to resolve. Most disputes that use the former instead of the latter method can be settled within a vear, he said, as opposed to the two or three it generally takes when pursuing the mat- ter through the courts. “IF a (strata) board has a million-dollar claim, vou could be looking at a quarter ourlle r foe fhe North Shore. hundreds of Sunday, February 27, 2000 -- North Shore News - 19 ediation beats litigation indhon dollars in legal tees. If vou mediate at an earlier time not only will vou stop) the meter in terms of legal costs but aise in terms of vour own costs |. Vour time, vour cme tonal costs “With mediation, vou can put veur serengths on) the table, recognize your weak- nesses and help to create an agreement that both parties ve able te dive with, as opposed to a judge's decision that vou may hate. The process is both parties are amenable to i” Gerry Vancouver Condominium Services Lid., a firm that man- ages over 200 condominium buildings in) the Lower Mainland, agreed with Bleay. One of his buildings recently used the mediation process to setde an $881,000 advantageous if Fanaken, of repair bill. Phey were awarded just under half that total: in the settlement, but Fanaken Delieves it was the most expe dient solution te the problem. “Depending on your point of view, vou may say that’s good or bad, but it’s certainly a dot faster than going through the trial process. At least by settling now they have the cash in hand and can get on with their fives,” he said. “Litigation is not casy. [ts jusdce thar you want bur unfortunately that is nor what you're going to get. Be practi- cal about the whole thing and get a settlement.” Further information on the loan program and upcom- ing information sessions can he obtained by visiting the HPO's Web site at or calling 646-7055 or 1-800-407- 7737. Sizes and widths AA-EEEE Newborn to Size 9” “We have the shoe for any foot.” Max ATHLETICS ‘kets & Runners © North Shore Aihletics Foch snaaula Runners * The Right NORTH SHORE ATHLETICS veeeee 10%- -1200 Lonsdale Ave. at. J2th ° ° 990-6888 \ i nsSa@ telis ii 25 whey Seer B eee. vate iiveteten