NEWS BRIEFS Herom possession A 46-YEAR-OLD Coquitlam man was fined $500 in North Vancoover provincial court recently for heroin Gary Patrick Darch pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place on March 21 in North Vancouver City. Judge Douglas Campbell also placed Darch on 12 months’ probation. Probation ordered A 47-YEAR-OLD North Vancouver man charged with marijuana trafficking received six months’ probation in North Vancouver provincial court recently after he pleaded guilty to the lesser included offence of marijuana possession, Linton Heath Beggs was aiso ordered to perform 50 hours of community work service before Oct. 30. Requests approved THE GREATER Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) has approved requests from the West Vancouver District, Richmond and Delta to borrow $9.2 million for capital projects from the Municipal Finance Authority of B.C. (MFA). West Vancouver is seeking $717,000 fer its Ambleside revitalizetion program, while Richmond wants $4.5 mil- Hion for community centrz and firehall projects. Delta kas asked for $4 million for sewer, water, drainage and recreation projects. Tae MFA borrows capital fuads for municipalities and regional districts throughout B.C. N. Shore group makes plea for organ donors ROB WILLIAMSON used to be an avid jogger who was active in several other sports. By Surj Rattan News Reporter Today his physical condition has changed so much that his doc- tors will not even allow him to cut the lawn. Williamson, a 50-year-old West Vancouver resident, who is a pharmacist and the owner of the Caulfeild Village Pharmasave, was found earlier this year to be suf- fering from advanced heart disease. He is dying and is on the B.C. Transplant Society’s waiting list for a new heart. But he doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him. Instead he wants people to seriously consider becoming organ donors and to discuss the issue with their fami- lies. His friends want the same. So, «o his surprise, they have taken out newspaper ads en- couraging people to find out more about the organ donor process. “This single discussion and phone call may or may not save Rob Williamson. But it is certain to help someone in the future,” the ad states. The ad was written and paid for by a group of Williamson’s fellow joggers who are part of the North Shore Nomads running group. At first, said Williamson, he @idn’t want his name used. “They had done this behind my back, and the fellow who wrote the ad was frustrated that some- one who has been as active as me is now in this position. At first 1 was shocked and said § don’t want people to think I'm a bleeding heart and looking for sympathy. “But they said that was not what the ad is all about.’’ Williamson said just because someone signs an organ donor’s card does not mean that person automatically becomes a donor. Permission from the person’s im- mediate family is also required, something not many people are aware of. “Being a donor is a very per- sonal thing. So many organs are lost because, while people are donors, they don’t tell their fami- lies and by that time the families don’t want to talk about it because they’ve just lost a loved one,”’ said Williamson. He added that he is grateful that his friends have decided to publicize the issue of becoming an organ donor and having family discussions about it. “If all that effort ends up sav- ing just one person’s life, then it’s been worth it. I’m grateful that these people think so much of me personally to do this,’ Williamson said. He added that doctors told him in May that he was dying of ad- vanced heart disease. As a result, he was told he could no longer exercise and that he had to give up his passion of jogging. Williamson has had to give up most physical activities and has been forced to reduce his work week to 3% days. “I've always been a pretty ac- tive guy, but all of that has had to change. Even simple things like taking the lawnmower out of the garage and lifting it onto the lawn.”* THEY CALL it the Four Directions Run, and it’s the way they begin the day at this particular summer camp. By Paul Hughes Contributing Writer North, South, East and West are sacred directions in many native cultures, each one repre- senting a color and race of people, and when the runners reach a predetermined spot along each heading, they pause for a few moments and reflect. “This is the direction of North. Its color is white. It is where our Caucasian brothers and _ sisters come from.”’ And so on through the circle. Last is Native. South is Black. West is Asian. To complete the run is to com- plete a ritual — to start the day by connecting with all the Earth’s corners and all the Earth’s races. Obviously, this is a ritual of no ordinary camp. It is part of the recently formed Squamish Nation Rediscovery program, a 10-day cross-cultural .experience, dedicated to learning about one’s self, the environment, and other cultures. Squamish Nation Rediscovery is part of the Rediscovery Interna- tional organization, which had its beginnings on Haida Gwaii. Thom Henley, who, along with members of the Haida band, was one of the idea’s originators, brought together young people and elders and placed them in an isolated spot surrounded by nothing but the haunting beauty of the Queen Charlottes. Using the wisdom of the Haida elders and the wonder of nature, the young pcople underwent a transformation. They learned about themselves. They learned how to survive in nature without destroying it. They learned to trust and understand other people. From that beginning on Haida Gwaii, the idea spread — to Stein Rediscovery, to Wunkskaw Friday, July 24, 1992 - North Shore News - 3 Squamish find rediscovery in Four Directions Run NATIVE AFFAIRS Wilderness Camp in Alberta, to Rediscovery Four Corners in Col- orado, to Rediscovery Hawaii. There are many more. Rediscovery encampments have not only caught on international- ly, but have captured the support of many prominent people, in- cluding Bill Reid and David Suzuki, who has been adopted by Stein Rediscovery as an honorary elder. Along with camp leader Rick Harry, Squamish Nation Rediscovery has three counsellors: Carol Goulette, Gail Burchett and Johan Stroman. All have undergone a training program under the guidance of Thom Henley at the Lester B. Pearson College on Vancouver Island. In addition to an_ intensive seven-day wilderness first aid course, each has taken basic in- struction for dealing with current social problems, including suicide, sexual abuse and substance abuse. In addition to the Four Direc- tions Run, there are many other activities meant to increase awareness and build self-esteem: bonding games that encourage trust among the players; council fires, where an eagle feather is passed around a circle — the per- son who has the feather has the right to speak ... or the right to silence. There is the ‘‘Spirit Spot,’ a private place chosen by each per- son for daily introspection and nature observation. A quiet time to discover the self. And ihen there are the elders. Many of the young people, shy and withdrawn with the younger counsellors, will open up to the warmth and wisdom of the native elders. Although based on native tradi- tions because of that culture's spiritual link to nature, Rediscovery camps are open to all races. In fact, even Squamish Rediscovery the staff of is from varied ethnic backgrounds. One facet of the camps is that people learn about heritages other than their own, thus promoting a greater understanding. Nor are the camps limited to young people. The Squamish have plans for four camps: two for youth, one for families and one for adults. The first encampment is ten- tatively scheduled for July 26 at Evans Lake, north of Squamish. For more information on Squamish Nation Rediscovery, contact Rick Harry, pager number 1-978-5626, or Gail Burchett at 984-9889. Mercedes-Benz BMW Porsche Toyota Acura Honda The desirable trades are found at: Mercedes-Benz See this issueof Automotive Classified 1375 Marine Dr. North Van 984-9351 THIS WEEKEND ONLY JULY 24-26 AT OUR 2ND LOCATION