8 - North Shore News - Friday. September 8, 2000 wee MAIL BOX-—— Bears eat berries, that is what they do Dear Editor: P think North Vancouver should hold a contest every year. The person who reports the most bear sight- ings that results in the death of the bear wins a prize. Oniy OVEr-protective parents are cligible though. Reasonable thinking per- sons shall be disqualified. “The bear was clapping his paws,” “the bear was display- ing aggressive tend 3." “the bear might re-offend,” “the RCMP are not trained...” blah blah, blah, blah. Do vou know how many children have been attacked by bears in North Vancouver since its incerporation? Do you knew hew many adults have been attacked or killed bv bears in North Vancouver? Zero. Eoam se angry at the average rnorant citizen it makes me sick. Every parent’s biggest fear is thata child might be abducted. CBS News in the U.S, ran.a story on how asa direct result. of some media coverage, We are scaring our- selves to death. Some reporter ran a story on how easy it would be to abéuet a three-vear-old from Collins ‘ranting’ is very much missed Dear Editor: My God, did I Collins and his ranting. But, one has only to say the word “immigrants” and good old Doug raises trom the ashes with renewed vigor. The problem I have with his fetter (Sept. 3, Immigrants well-protected in Canada) is that he does not seem to be man of his word. Ever since I started read- ing Collins’ words he always had something to complain about his adoptive country. He did not, and still does not, like the fiscal laws, the gun laws, the immigration law, the school system, the miss Living at Palladio combines the natural beauty of Vancouver's Coal Harbour with the ultimate in convenience and urban sophistication. You're just steps away from Stanley Park, gourmet restaurants, entertainment and the city’s vibrant business core. political parties, the govern- ment, the senate, the parlia- ment, the trade unions, the teachers, the young people. the artists, multiculturalism or ethnic groups, to name but of few. What should one do with so much bitterness in his soul? To quote Collins: “Well, there is an casy answer to that.” Wouldn't be expected that Collins ought to follow his own advice and do likewise. He “can always go back” to the country he came from. Jack Chivo West Vancouver jchivo@sprint.ca ADIO Harbour a pre-school, actually didi it asoa demonstration and cau tioned parents to “beware.” CRS countered with their own statistics. Know how many three-vear-olds have been abducted from pre- schools in the history of the United States? Zero. Whar is this) perception that a black bear will Hdl vou in North Vancouver? The natural things is that all animals co- exist on this earth and do se for oa reason. A grizzly attacks and kills someone either as a predatory act, order of detense. That's what grizzly bears do. Tt doesn’t mean that we hunt and kill griz- thes for doing it. ies what thev do. Black bears and brown bears don't hant down and Ki} children) in) North Vancouver. We live in’ Northlands, near Aft. Seymour Parkway. We have bear sightings all the time here, bur we don't tind it necessary to call the police or wildlife officers to “dis- patch” the bear, and we all have kids. Our dogs bark ato the dogs do. “The bear watches for aominute and continues to eat berries. “Vhai’s: what bears do. So take in the bird teeders (the birds will sur- vivet uid teave the bears alone. Trv reading the odd book by experts on bear behaviour and forget these absurd quates about “re offending” and seoon. Re-oftend? Re- oftend at what? What does that mean. Augressive tendencies? What is thas? Hoa bear has never attacked anyone in North Vancouver, what are In summary Ef Pm ever attacked by a bear in North Vancouver Po suppose vou could put on my tombstone “Potold vou so™ but in the meantime if vou see a bear, just leave it aione, get a life, join a health club and start cating natural foods. Fm just kidding about the last part and it will be the subject of my next editorial concerning what IT. Barnum once said, “No one ever got rich thinking human beings were intelligent.” Dave Marskell North Vancouver defending cubs or territerial bears because that’s what Aguressive tendencies? adamandaaron@home.com Make-work commitiee not needed Dear Editor: It is clear from a letter to the News (Aug. 23) by a certain district council- lor, see “Immigrants need help,” that he does not nor want to understand the real so-called “diversity” issue. In his letter dealing with the setting up of a district council diversity. com- mittee the councillor conjured up a whole litany of red herrings. To begin with, we already know that we are all diverse. We certainty don't need a council committee and a bureaucracy to go with it to tell us so. But if someone wants to set up such 2 committee of their own although | would not know for what purpose, they are certainly free to do so. So far, this is stilla free country. Nobody has ever argued that immi- grants do not deserve help and nobody has argued against equality and firness as laid down in the Canadian Charter. The district has already a whole slew of policies in place to guarantee that this is so, not to speak of the financial support already given to various groups, including a grant to a Nerth Shore Multicultural Society. What immigrants do need, presum- ing they are not all millionaires, which would be like most Canadians who are not millionaires cither, is affordable housing, efficient, convenient and affordable public transportation, jobs and job opportunities, sports, parks, recreation, cultural and other commu- nity facilities for their own and their families enjoyment to mention a few areas, And the best way to get such things is by putting the wheel to the shoulders just as others are doing and have done in the past. This is after all why we already have _ Each of Palladio’s 88 two-bedroom residences features the finest quality finishing, thoughtful modern design features and a spectacular vista of mountains, sea and sky. A unique opportunity to become part of Vancouver's most prestigious community, Coal Harbour. And to live life wide open. LUXURY TWO BEDROOM VIEW HOMES FROM £239,900 Grand Opening September 2000 Call 408-8686 for Priority Registration ON! ome deour £0 Coen es AMACON many worthwhile things albeit not enough. Setting up another council gab com- mittee to tell us that we are all different won't do the trick. The question is not whether we are different but what can we do to get more to make this a better place. In other Lower Mainland communi- ties, immigrant organizations have built housing and cultural facilities not only for their own benefit but also for the benefit and enrichment of the larger community. Creating another make-work project and a committee of paper pushers will not improve the lot of immigrants. It will not create a single recreation or cultural facility and it certainly will not promote integration into the Canadian mainstream. Ernie Crist North Vancouver District councillor