MAIL BO Support seniors housing Dear Editor: fam pleased that the need for supportive seniors housing is getting the coverage it deserves in your paper. For four years, | was president of the Norgate House Society, which built Zajac Norgate House vou featured in the Sunday, Feb. 20, edition. Nevertheless, J am disappointed that your article did not go far enough in highlighting the chaflenges facing development of housing for our seniors. I can- not emphasize enough the many obstacles between a desire to build and a viable success- ful housing development. The fundamental requirement is a dig swack of money. If you had a ten of it many of your problems would be solved. We did not have it. Few projects do have it. We managed to build our project without federal, provincial or municipal capital. Nevertheless as a board we had the ability to foster and promote sig- nificant partnerships in the community. These partnerships enabled us to get the money we needed from a number of sources. In particu- lar, the Mei Jr. and Marty Zajac Foundation and The Real Estate Foundation provided a significant financial contribution. North Vancouver District teased the land under favor- abie lease terms. Our board was comprised of professionals with backgrounds in accounting, real-estate law, engincering, business and health adminis- tration. These people gave years of zheir lives to Keep diatribes to bashing Grits, NDP the project withour remuneration. The board was involved from initial: plans on paper through completion. Without professional vol- unteer input, there would be an additional cost to building a housing project. For example, our lawyer Jobr ‘Third provided all the legal work for free. As well, | took several years out of my career to focus on this development. | think this contribution would be difficult to repeat everywhere. The Norgate House Society board never wanted 10 build a project and once completed walk away leaving seniors at risk. In the Zajac Norgate model, there is a caring social envi- ronment that is not found in other senior’s housing developments. ‘The success of the pro- ject today still lies in more volunteer invelve- ment. The social, recreational and fitness pro- grams are thriving due to more community involvement. Additionally, the North Shore Health Region is instrumental in developing care models that are keeping people healthier and out of hospital. There is no doubt that we need to find solutions to providing supportive and low- income housing for our seniors. | hope, how- ever, that when people demand housing for seniors they do their research and incorporate the support systems necessary for successful and healthy housing. Maureen McKeon Holmes Past President Norgate House Society Car-based crossing Dear Editor: Re: E. Allen. “We need narrows crossing solutions,” (Feb. 16 North Shore News). E. Allen is correet in say- ing that for years people have been putting forward proposals for a third crossing of Burrard Inlet. In the 1960s, third cross- ing proponents predicted doom and gloom for the Lower Mainland if such a crossing wasn’t built within 10 years. They did the same in the 1970s and the 1980s. Su far doom and = gloom hasn’t arrived and I don’t think there is any reasonable com- mentator out there who would argue that the absence of a third crossing has in any way hindered the economic development of the North Sbore or the region at large (not to men- tion Whistler, Squamish or Pemberton). “PROFESSIONAL INCOME TAX PREPARATION Seniors discount Pick up & Delivery available Dear Editor: I read with interest Noel Wright’s Feb. 20 column. I hope that the school children of the North Shore do not use the North Shore News as a study aid. Mr. Wright is obviously unaware that there were no residential schools for abo- riginal people in Newfoundland because the indigenous peopie have been exterminated. Mount Cashel Orphanage - was the abusive home to non-aboriginal orphans. Jf Mr. Wright feels that taxpayers’ money should be __ used to bail out the churches for generations of abuse directed at aboriginal people then I suppose it is only fair that the taxpayers bail our the costs of non-aboriginal abuse. - | suggest that Mr. Wright go back to bashing the Liberals and NDP and stop his poorly researched dia- tribes against the recovery of aboriginal people from cen- turies of colonialism. _ Say Noel, how about mentioning Gustafsen Lake where the RCMP lied to the media, your profession fell for it and the Canadian gov- ernment used land mines to sapesty 1089 Marine Drive 990-4892 Music Books, CIs, Instruments, Accessories Rent To Qwn a Guitar corner the sovereignists There you have a story that bashes the RCMP and the federal Liberals. If you need any more help just let me know. Remembering Riel and Dumont. Paul Stevenson Vancouver Call: 988-2992 COMBINED 26 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Announcing a bridal Ope House Saturday and Sunday, March 4th and 5th Yew our beautiful collection of special occasion dressing in styles for the entire bridal party- from flower girl zo mother of the bride! Ge inspired with wonderful gift and decorating ideas! Enter a drawing for an April Cornell tablecioth with 4 napkins! Free gift for every bride that registers in our registry. ease call your favorite La Cache store for hours and details. AV@t near a store? Look on our website at wwwv.lacache.com! Do you realiy know what's going on in the District?! . Visit Ernie's Website ‘1 Gnbala pcutpolitictany com/ériste”«j-- Ce es “ a oe beep ae ewe designs by Abpreé’ Cornell Park Royal North Pee ee Oe REET OPE TR ee 926-3250, | ate is not the answer But for all those who do still support a primarily car- based third crossing, | urge you to take a look at other major cities in North America (such as San Francisco and Los Angeles) that have sought to solve traftic problems by building more and bigger roads. To put it mildly, ir does- n't work. More and bigger roads lead to more and bigger problems with congestion, pollution, — livability, and debt. So I turn the charge of parochialism back on TransVision’s backers. For it is only by ignoring this experience that one can say that another car-based crossing of Burrard Inlet will be anything but a headache for all concerned. Craig Keating Councillor North Vancouver City 7Ask Dave O’Nezz @ ' Expert Advice on et Cieaning g Will =Scotchguard : carp: ro re ms be cliective after § carpets are cleaned? 2 f How long will it last? @ The “Scotchgard” & (3M) Carpet protec- I ‘ tor may be durable § s even after cleaning, but & how fong protection will last depends primarily on how much use the carpet [j B receives and how well it is cared for. Your professional § z carpet techniclan/inspector m can determine whether or p not adequate Carpet § m Protector remains after § f cleaning. For optimum per- a formance it Is best to have f S Carpet Protector re-applied @ - a after professional cleaning # by an authorized § Scotchgard (3M) carpet § protector applicator. 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