Wednesday, July 31, 1991 -- North Shore News - 9 Let’s hear two cheers for multicult IF YOU ever cruise along Mayne Island on a B.C. Ferr; “ou vill see a strange Sight (and site). Ic is a bunch of big barns and other buildings put up by a com- mune of Spanish ‘‘refugees."" And it stands out like a set of badly- fitting false teeth. These characters arrived in Montreal in 1984, having been refused permission to stay in Holland and Britain and having heard that Canada was the place to make for, the True North being anybody’s bag. The group included a man, Pedro Vivancos, seven women and 15 children, al! of whom were fa- thered by busy Pedro, who has sired another nine since then fora grand total of 24. Allon family allowance, it is said. They came to Mayne in 1987, Montreal being a little too cool for their warm blood. But the islanders were not too pleased. [t isn’t that they mind Spaniards; they just don’t like these Spaniards. So there were hints in the Vic- toria press that the objectors might be ‘‘racists,"’ the Spaniards belonging to a branch of Islam called Sufism, which is supposed to be connected with the Whirling Dervishes. The islanders’ complaints were many. They don’t like clear-cut- ting, for instance, at which the Spaniards excel. Even less do they like odious smells from overflowing septic tanks, fecal content from same Fire society proposing Ambleside museum WEST VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS OF the West Van- couver Fire Service Museum and Archive Society are hoping to ac- quire a site at Ambleside Park where they can store and display their collection of antique fire ap- paratus and other fire department memorabilia. By Maureen Curtis Contributing Writer Society president Tom Bell ap- peared before West Vancouver District Council last week to ask if his group could use the park’s old swimming pool changing rooms which are currently used for storage. **West Vancouver is lucky that we were one of the first fice departments to start a collection,”’ said Bell. The society has a number of old fire trucks plus a hose reel and a collection of photographs. Care of the site and contents ‘*would not be a burden to the taxpayer,” assured Bell. He reminded council of the many extra-curricular activities the local fire department is involved in, including lighting the bonfires for the carol ships, participating in parades and putting on displays. “1 think we’ve done a good job and I think we deserve a home,”’ said Bell. The matter was referred to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. er disgorging onto a neighbor's property, guard dogs, and noise. There is also a private school for the hordes of kids on land that is not zoned for a school, and what is seen as arrogance and hostility toward those who object to these phenomena. It’s all been bad enough, in fact, for the assessinent authorities to reduce the fair market value of neighboring properties. So much for the joys of multicult, Not that | am sobbing on the islanders’ behalf. It is only right that they should meet multicult face to face because there are quite a few parlor pink socialists and other big thinkers among them. All the same, some of them have taken to calling Barbara McDougall, the former immigra- tion minister, Barbara Doodle. For their complaints got scant response from her. There are mysteries galore in this story. The ‘‘refugees”’ are loaded with dough. They claim to have arrived in Canada with $500,000, but ac- cording to the locals they have had much more than that at their disposal. The Mayne Island prop- erty alone covers 10 acres, They also have three motorhomes, vans and pickups, a portable sawmill, a cabin cruiser and now a former federal fisheries vessel valued at $275,000. On top of all that they have a “fortress-like’’ complex at Rock Creek, near Osoyoos, and are causing some neighborly sweat down there, too. Gunce Doug Collins ON THE OTHER HAND They pay cash for everything, and in response to voiced suspi- cions have assured the press that Pedro, who flits in and out like a bat in the night, is not a drug dealer. They say their funds come from the sale of religious icons. But the immigration department claims they have provided no proof of sales. Vancouver immigration officials view them and their claims with raised eyebrows. A top official, D.F. Brummer, hus stated that members of his staff were reluc- tant to go to Mayne to interview them because of feeling ‘*physi- cally threatened."’ They went anyway, with no harmful results. Are these people refugees? The immigration people don't think so. INTERIORS We’ve been making homes beautiful for 30 years Lower overhead, Lower prices Call for free in-home consultation 929-3277 929-3277 : St . 786. Robech Street 688-2030" - “We believe that no undue hardship would be created for (your) group in returning,’* Mr. Brummer informed them ‘We see Spain as a democratic coun- try..." To complicate things a litte further, four of the women have married Spanish-Canadians, pro- ducing four or five more kids in the process. But the immigration people say that those were mar- riages ‘‘entered into for immigra- tion reasons only.’ The men do not live with the women. The legal wrangles continue and will probably go on for ever. The immigration department says there are no ‘humane and compassionate grounds” for these people to be removed from the refugee backlog — which would give them landed immigrant status — but the federal court has decided that each case must be heard separately. A lawyer’s delight. Let’s hear two cheers for multicult. And another for the islanders who thought they were do-gooders. Wolo Dollar Days Flyer Appearing July 31, 1991 On Page 8, the 24" Brass Touch Lamp will not be available. Woolco is sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused its customers. Wevrerest ROYAL VELVET CLASSIC TOWELS & BATH FASHIONS Just *4. 999 Just $1399 Just * 699 Similar Savings in Nctoerest Bath Fashion Line SHOWER CURTAIN CLEAROUT GROUP 1 REG. TO $38.00 NOW $4 9° PARK ROYAL 926-1103 aonb GROUP 2 REG. TO $63.00 ow *29% LANSDOWNE 273-1180 VSO'SEX Sun. Aug 11. 7:30 pm. Cates Park Festivities begin at 3pm. FREE park & ride from Capilano College The District of North Vancouver Centennial Committee