APRIL 21, 1999 sae Bright Lights Business = Classifieds > Crossword ; Knight North Shore Alert Sports Wright aot Store Free Press» WS Lonsdale Aaerve i : i ¥ 60 Pages Keg experience 218 Meat and potatoes fuel high energy surroundings Sais SEL ER IPOT ATO PNT PH LUE AS The Voice of North and West Vancouver since 1969 Ninth inning p50 Is this the last year for C’s Torchy Pechet? B.C. Canada’s fastest growing biotech region Business pi5 FREE Family fights to Stay in Canada Deana Lancaster News Reporter denna@nsnews.com THE tale of Angelica Perez is worthy of an action flick. Perez, Rodolto Bazan and their two children tlhed Mesico in the sum- mer of 1997. The North Vancouver family’s fight to Canada was prompted bv drag cartels, a corrupt: government and threats of kidnapping and mur- der. “Mavbe because it does sound like a novel of an acnon movie, the Canadian Immigration doesi’t want to believe us,” said Peres. Bazan was a highway patrol off- cer in’ Mexico and, according to Perez, attracted the unwanted atten- tion of drug tatlickers when he interrupted the smooth exchange of payment for their goods: while an patrol, When the tatfickers tried to force him to work for them, rather than against them, Bazan refused. There was no protection to be had from the Mexican government, said Perez, because many of the politicians work hand in hand with the drug cartels. The family fled the country and arrived in Canada two vears ago, with jtst one suitcase containing belong ings for the four of them. They had little money, no job prospects and spoke almost no English. They turned to the Harvest Project on the North Shore for help. “We gave them clothes, met their basi, needs, supplied administrative services, like helping them with resumes,” said David Foster, CEO of the Harvest Project. As soon as they were able to, the entire family began offering their time ay volunteers to the project. Perez took a business course at Capilano Callege and soon found 3 See MP paac3 “Ditness Weld as the club NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge WEST Vancouver firefighters, left to right, Jeff Oates, Tony D'Angelo and Jay Brownlee show the fire department's broken ladder truck. The municipality is home to many highrises. The fire department needs some money to repair the vehicle. Lack of aerial rescue vehicle limits W. Van firefighting abilities Catherine Barr Contributing Writer WEST Vancouver’s only aerial rescue fire truck is out of order. The 100-8. (30.5 metre-) ladder vehicle was taken out of service last Thursday atter an inspection turned up various mechanical detects. According to fire chief Ron Olson, the unit has been pulled trom service due to faulty brakes, bad springs and unsate steering. Residents living above third-storey heights in West Vancouver wil) have to rely heavily upon equipment from North Vancouver for help if'a fire hits their residences. This ; For about dollar a day... Membership will GETS YOU STARTED On Monday, Oisen lobbied council for additional funds to repair the aer- ial truck. He said the aging West Vancouver vehicle would require over $20,000 in repairs before it could even be considered for active service. But, in the interim, he is trying to convince the municipality to buy a new aerial unit, Anew truck would cost the municipality anywhere trom $850,000 to SE million. And even if funds were approved, it would take approximately one year to deliver the vehicle and put it into service. Last Seprember, council approved $952,000 for a new 55 foot (17 m) “guint” truck and one new puaper truck, but neither replace the aerial lad- der vehicle. See Concentration pane 3 Change Your LifeStle! PER MONTH to ge to in Vancouver.” TIME Mogezine 2 COQUITUR san oe sob 421-7099 SURREY (821 AL 588-1517 24HR LANGLEY (077 waLEwtnooe 8. $33-3113 ‘TOHR FITHESS DOWHTOVEN 1195 we 6tOREU IT AON 6 Deed nea 8 tT 662-7774 681-3232 876-1009