NORTH SHORE resident Rete McKay likens her community to life — you get out of it exactly what you put into it. By STEPHEN BARRINGTON News Reporter And McKay has put so much in- to her community that she will soon receive an award of merit from the North Vancouver Com- munity Arts Council. But with characteristic modesty, the hard-working McKay main- tains that she is unworthy of the praise f.eaped upon her. “I’m very honored,"’ she says of the award. ‘‘But there are others who hevs done:much more than I have.”’ Despite her protests, a quick look at Mc’xay’s list of activities leads one ‘o believe that nobody could have done more. Responsible for the special events rurtion of the North Van- couver Expo 86 committee, McKay organized over 90 fair-related events on the North Shore. As coordinator for the Arts Council’s Art in Public Places Committee, she watched over the placement of B.C. art in various North Van- couver public buildings. Some of her other involvements include the Arts Council board of directors, the city’s Advisory Design Panel and the North Shore Family Services Society. The exact number of hours she puts into this work is unknown. “Right now I’m kind of resting, taking it easy,’’ she says. ‘‘But I'd say I do 900 hours a year.”” She says she has enjoyed coor- dinating the Expo events, adding she will be sorry to see the fair end. ‘I’m glad all of Expo came off so great.” Although the 64-year-old great- grandmother has only one year un- til her retirernent, she vows that will not stop her from continuing igh Traini Carson Graham Handsworth Hillside Sentine! West Van High Windsor COMMUNITY WORKER extraordinaire. Rete McKay takes a Sew minutes off from her busy schedule to show off the view from her apartment home. her work in the community. ‘‘!’m counting the days when I can go down and collect my pension,”’ she jokes. She has previously tried her hand at pottery and metal sculpture. Her first metal creation, a figure made from melted nails, commands a special place in her apartment. ‘‘It’s awful,’? she Jaughs. “But I keep it as a reminder to say, ‘You're not such a smart ass.’”" Now her busy schedule of com- munity work leaves her with little time for clay or metal. When she does have a few spare minutes to herself, McKay turns to the Japa- nese discipline of Ikebana. “That’s my tranquillizer,’’ she School nM says of the Japanese floral art. ‘‘! turn off the TV, take the phone off the hook and do an arrange- ment.”” Her floral creations run the gamut from traditional to abstract and she is so good at Ikebana that she has earned a teaching certifi- cate in the field. But again, she claims she is un- worthy of the title. “{ don’t want anything for myself,’’ she says of her communi- ty work, ‘I’ve always felt I have to contribute to the community. I feel very strongly about that.” And as an added bonus, she likes what she does. ‘‘That’s my reward,”’ she says. ‘‘Doing what I love.’ iver Cour mses Conducted by North Shore Driving School Ltd. in cooperation with the North & West Van School Boards For further information call 988-1138 Leader in High School Driver Training since 1961 Cilp & Save 33 - Wednesday, October 15, 1986 - “orth Shore News enesaeeapte Store sports expertise PAGE 39 THE ‘GROWING FEET’ SOLUTION FOR FAMILIES WHO SKI HARD. DESTINATION OFFERS A TWO SEASON LEASE ON SALOMON BOOTS THAT LETS YOU CHANGE SIZES AS OFTEN AS NEEDED. When your skiing needs MORE! $159 $4 79° * Salomon * Salomon * Salomon $229° * Salomon $249 PLUS! You get a $35 credit note when you turn in your boots at the end of your lease. “OPEN DAILY MN ESTINATI SKI RENTALS 1160 Marine Dr., North Vancouver 984-4394 984-7191 Equipe Jr. SX 61 SX 81 SX 94