24 - Wednesday. July 24 1991 ~ Nortn Shore News devoted to the Stein Festival Evelyn Jacob SPOTLIGHT FEATURE ORTH VAN- COUVER'S John MeCandless is weary of discussing the Stein Valley Festival's recent fi- nancial woes, “Thwe're just focused on the dollars aspect then seems ome we've dost sight of what the stem Valley Voices of the WilGerness Festival is all about, t's not about money,” he pleads. But without money, the testival wouldn’t be able to fulfil its man- date of debating and furthering causes such as wilderness preser- vation and social justice. McCandless’s troubles began last summer when angry Pemberton loggers threatened to block the Stein Festival in response to the blockade of Duffey Lake Road by a group of native Indians. Organizers didn’t want the per- formers to become entangled in the controversy, so they moved the event to Tsawwassen two short weeks prior to opening. The move cost the Mt. Currie and Lytton Bands — traditional fi- nancial backers of the festival — dearly. Although the Vancouver media put the deficit at $180,000, McCandless told the News that last year’s event left the bands $64,000 in the hole. The founder and executive director of the Stein Festival doesn’t appear overly concerned with the Current state of affairs, despite the impression lert by Vancouver's two daily newspa- pers. “Two Indian bands withdraw support tor Stein Festival, read a Vancouver Sun headline. Mc- Candless insists, however, that the only support the bands have relinquished is financial, The $120,000 profit reaped from the 1989 testival, he said, will help olfset the Toss, and AteCandless says he intends to repay the debt from any protits generated by this vear’s event. He and former Lytton chiet Ruby Dunstan, meanwhile, have estab- lished a now foundation. Voices Forthe Wilderness, that will assume all tingncial liabihty for the festival beginning next year. Uni then, MeCandless and Dunstan must shoulder any poten: tial losses, Although the move clearly shows his Confidence in the testi: val, McCandless can't help but teel a lithe nervous. “Ruby and Lare out on a tt nancial limb so it's hard not to worry. UTE be dificult collecting enough pop battles to pay it back,” he savs. Butit’s a risk he as prepared to tuke: “breally believe the Stein can bang about social chanue. | can show you scads of letters tam peopie tefiing as how the testaai JOHN MCCANDLESS of | North Vancouver believes the Stein Vatley Festival can f bring about social change. McCandiess organized the first festival back in 1985. NEWS photo Cindy Gooaman Changed their ives.” MeCandless’ devotion to the Stein Pestaal ow nothin aew. é te organized the pest one in FY83. so it’s his baby. At that tne he had wanted to organize a raliy to rane awareness of the pristine wilderness area inte which Fletcher Challenge was threatening to build a rogd ard lox. The band elders disagreed, believing a rally would simply be preaching to the converted. McCandless said they told him not to bring together like-minded people, but rather those from diverse backgrounds and develop a consensus an how to save the Stein, “Now.” said McCandless. “that is the most important thing to me. As long as we have polar- sucoesstul” quarters, 2 DAY GAME RENTAL waonon the province ft thunk the tdders vine rebye sweet tie Pwo veurs aga Me Candless and band member metwoh the head ottletcber Challenge. ftugh #let- cher in his New Zealand bead: Two months later the forest industry giant announced a moritonue on fogs en the Stein unol such time as the bands and B.C. yovernment come to an agreement on how the land should) be utilized. Saves MeoCandless: “An agree: ment is really what's needed be- fore we can Beton with the business of bemg alive.” Some wonder why the Voices of the Wilderness Festival has been held ina different B.C. loca See Feast pare 25 2 DAY CHILD MOVIE RENTAL * MONTHLY DRAWS GAME BOY DECK ENTRY WITH EVERY RENTAL z, _VHSIGENESIS 3% SEGA/IGAME GEAR i NINTENDO! GAME BOY TURBO GRAFX est ancouver Seafood & Grill 922-3312 2168 Marine Dr. SQ Gy Topay Ar 2 pM & 8 pm Check Box Office fer last m minute ticket availability. Pe tr ee Salmon Wellington Freak ‘BC. Subnon suffed with wafoed meusie * —_ 10°: and herb cream cheese weapped in phulle padry (BS. Try our Statday Branch Special §5,25} Chunk y Me SHIRTMAKERS na s MADE TO MEASURE i — You decide the styte — French cuff or regular sieeve ; -— Monograms can be provided | — Over 1000 patterns to chaos. + 2x2 Egyptian cotton * poly & cotton © 100% cotton trom $38-S85 2531 Granville St. at Broadway FREE parking at rear 731-9190 Dinner from 5:00 pm Brunch - Sundays 10:30 am - 2:30 pm Closed Mondays Fle et trees Pre ore rae etn ape eet eerncpe rea leet retreat PAAAAAAAAAAA