6 ~ North Shore News — Sunday, April 25, 2000 BE creation of the Lynn Valley Official Community Plan was an exhaustive process that involved community members and North Vancouver District planners in years of meetings. _ It remains to be seen whether the time and effort invested was worth the effort. While there was no full agreement, resident consensus was that some increase in population density and a corresponding increase in multi-unit housing was the necessary evil to sup- ‘port. a redevelopment of Lynn Valley’s centrai core. That redevelopment, however, was “predicated on a pedestrian-oriented town centre and a mall that would be redesigned with a more village-like look. Council of the day also hoped VIEW POINT: rate a new library and archives build- ing. Unfortunately for the residents of Lynn Valley, any redevelopment of its town centre will be driven by eco- nomic necessity with community con- siderations taking the back seat. The result will be a mali that includes big box stores that are intended to attract customers — and their cars — from: farther afield than the neighbourhood, and site plan- ning that will proceed in piecemeal fashion as the “best” offers come for- ward. What the community, planners or council might wish as a first choice for the library is not likely to happen, and it remains to be seen whether the pretty looking drawings of pedestrian precincts presented to the public two years ago will ever give rise to reality. Péneerien RETURNS FROM Hts §2 PAY TOUR WiTH some SOUVENIRS: eM. Mysece! f ‘that the rebuilt mall would incorpo- Indigo has 1 made-in-Toronto image which they want to. keep. I can tell you where they can keep it, sandit’s:mothere.” ; ss Robert Poburko, president of the Lynn Valley commu- nity: association, commenting on the fact that executives of the big-box book company have been unwilling to. con- ‘ proved community design guidelines in plan- ning:for their.new Lynn Valtey mall store. Indigo is plan- ing’a: roof which is flat rather than sloped as the guide- t out.’ (From an April 16 News story. ) | ‘are Some very talented people locally and, ; ly-enough, we tend «to. overlook . them =the ‘American | border: is - only 10, minutes wal wee - Entertainment lavyer Arthur. Evrensel on the impor- ance; of. the Leo Awards to made-in-B.C. films and televi- ion. (From an April 21 This Week story.) ; sews, fourised in 1969 as ‘ suburban ‘newspaper ‘and qualified. under Schedule agiaph 111 of the Excise Tax Aci, is published ons. Mail. Sz Product Agreement fio. . Fe Mailing rates available on request. Entire D HEN Pebtications Company. Al served,” Average “ circulation’: for ( day is 61,582. - Distribution Manager ; 525-1337 (124} bemoansnews.com writers. — ‘College o} MY e-mail regularly brings unsolicited gems of wisdom from unknown A recent brief exam- ple seemed particularly thought-provoking for - this Easter Day. It read: Dear God: Why didn’: you save that little schoolgirl shot by her _ Six-year-old classmate? Yours sincerely, Concerned Student. Dear Concerned Student: [ am not allowed in schools. Yours sincerely, - ’ God. . Although more: than 70% of Canadians claim to be Christian, their God is ‘now no longer officially allowed ., in most other public places cither, not just schools. Last year. NDP MP Svend --Robinson tadled a petition to remove the God reference from the preamble to : Canada’s constitution (it failed). A Saskatchewan judge wants to kick the. Bible out of Canadian courts: no more swearing on it to “tell che truth, the ‘whole truth and nothing but the truth — so help me, God.” Trinity Western College, B.C.’s Christian degree-granting university, has: its teaching grads rejected by the B,C. f ‘Teachers, which fears that — because TWC students are required to ~ refrain from pre-marital sex — its grads could be prejudiced against gays, les- .. bians and common-law parents. At the -multi-faith service at Peggy’s Cove, ‘Nova Scotia, for the 1998 Swissaic crash victims, Ottawa protocol officials for- bade the participating Christian clergy _ £4 Creative Services Director dtecvcnnsccerseccereserevousegeesesecvsecouses , Noe wright to mention Jesus or the New Testament.. These are just a tiny few examples of the ongoing war on — Christianity now being led by Ottawa and its Charter warriors in the Supreme Court: | Utter a single word deerned offensive to the Jewish cr Islamic. faiths, visible minori- ties, aboriginal bands clairaing title to the whole of B.C., radical. - feminists or the new: © _ secular “religion” of homosexuality, and you'll find yourself hauled in short order before a. “human rights” uibunal with powers to ruin you, financially without due process of law. So why is it open season nowadays for bashing Christianity — after 2,000 years still the primary source of our national values, our concepts of justice, - hither and you democracy, caring, tolerance and respect. - |: for the individual? Far from perfect Canadian Christians may be. But many of their achievements at home and abroad are hardly something to be ashamid of, . In particular, our Christian welcome: . to the Earth's less fortunate inhabitants has created one of the world’s most’ peaceful multicultural societies. -.. How come that Christians ~- still . well over two-thirds of all Canadians, even those whose church-going is con- fined to Christmas, Easter and funerals — are increasingly the target of barbs, putdowns and restrictions, net least _from “politically correct”. governments? | The answer, I suggest, must lie’ LETTERS OTHE Enrron must inte your hame,. full address and. tel one numbes.. ©: Senealt via o-mail tn: irenshamensnees. . -to' North Van’s Bette Booth and ‘Davi Baia... Many happy returns of tomo es ~ Politicians won't kill Christianity that first Easter: sin and hatred finally : ' defeated by forgiveness and love; the. :. cruel obscenity of the Cross vanquished “by the triumphant joy of the Resurrection: © Among the world’s major religions that unique wademark of Christianity forgiveness and-love — has enabled Christians down the ages to survive, ” share their faith with others and, in so doing, create one of the world’s greatest civilizations. In today’s Canada, “politi cally correct” politicians, judges, career. atheists, special-interest groups and © human rights tribunals have as little real chance of ‘destroying Christianity as all . its. other enemies who have tried so hard over the past 20 centuries:-*-.- Corinthians 13 says it best of alf “ about the secret weapon that makes - ” Christianity unconquerable: And now, : abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but “the greatest of these is love aoa: Warm birthday greetings this same: di row, Apr. 24, to West Van birthday, boy - Jeff Adams... And wish more of the: same Tuesday, Apr.'25, to North’ Vai Kiwanian. Bill Bell vues * somewhere in the bitter-sweet story of. $.com - 1139 Lonsdale Avenué, North Vancouver, :_. Afeléphione”