SOMO on Wat NRC nae ee en Fast ferry faces fina With repairs complete, Pacificat relaunched Robert Galster News Reporter robert@nsnews.com WITH drydock repairs under its belt, the first fast ferry is about to embark on its final round of sea tri- als. Last Thursday, tor the second time in nine months the vessel was launched into Burrard Inlet trom the drydock Seaspan Careen. the Last June. the first launch drew digni taries, including Premier Glen Clark, who looked on as the vessel was floated to. the sound of Lonsdale Quay. event drew net Courtroo escapee sent to jail Bob Mackin Contributing Writer ERIC Valois will spend 18 months in jail because of his 1986 escape from West Vancouver Provincial court. ar-old from Montreal, who was tound guilty 2 of escaping lawrul custody, was sentenced dnesday bv Judge I. Trueman at) Vancouver incial court. The federal prison sentence was six months Jess than Crown counsel Ellen Gerber’s requested two -vear term, bur substantially more than the single dav sought by Valois’ lawver Peter Benning. Benning tailed in his bid ror Trueman to consider the time Valois spent waiting ina British jal tor his extradition to Canada. Ferries” But this tinte around, the dre to its carly morning England in the fall of 1997, Federal prison vathorities in Quebee wanted him to finisin a 1982 sentence tor armed but he wasn't returned to Canada until March last Trueman turned Benning down when she sid: “The extradition has nothing to do with the charge being cor: sidered today.” Valois jumped out of the prisoner's dock ar West Vancouver Provincial court on Jan. 30, 1986. He was there for his second appearance on charges of ing explosives, an unregistered weapon and nar- Valois had been sted at his uncle’s West neouver house on Jan, 26, 1986, Acting on a tip and armed with a search warrant, West Vancouver Police found a suitcase at the house containing dynamite blasting caps, a .38 calibre revel mo B.C. ckets and small quantities of cocaine and hero- in. Trueman called Valois’ escape “extremely effective” because he dodged prosecution on the weapons and explo sives charges. Valots cluded authorities in: North America and Europe unul Is when it was believed he had drowned trying, to escape froma Greek prison ship. He resurfaced in 1996 in a British drug sting. By then, the weapons and explosives charges in West Vancouser had been dropped because kev evidence was lost or descroved. “Running to another country as a means for cycape should not be made attractive for figitives,” Trueman s. Valois, who pleaded not guilty, didn’t testify at his two- dav triat in December. On Wednesda yeoman for lenicney because his escape was a “spur ofthe moment” act. “There was no premeditation,” he said. Valois said he hoticed the exit door as he sat shoeless in the courtroom, He jumped out of the prisoner's dock “and hoped for the best.” Valois said personal hardships have marked his life At age five, he was home the dav his mother was facily stabbed by his father. With little money or parental support during his childhood and teenage years, he said. “I fell into drugs and into crime Instead of university, Valois said he went to prison. “Most people have not had these things happen te them at my young age,” he said. Valois was brought to the Kent maximum security prison in Agassiz last August to face the escape charge. He finishing the fina! third of a ar sentence fora 1981 crime spr That conviction involved charges for robbery, posses- . sion of a prohibited weapon, escaping lawful custody, con- spiracy to commit an offence and disguise with intent to rob. His current term ends May 11. The new 18-month sen- tence begins the next day. relaunch, Wetore the JAG car and 1.000 passenger future ferry was returned to the water, BC Capt. Trafford * the repaired vessel on Wednesday. Jor focused on technical aspects of the leaving the issue of its runaway costs to bean counters.” The latest cost estimate tor the now stands ara tial projection of $70 million. a cheering crowd gathered at Meanwhile, the entire fast ferry project has ballooned te : cal cost of § the construction of minum catamarans te service the Nana Horseshoe Bay route: proponents of the pro look jeet chim the ferries will shave an estimated 30 minutes from the current 1+ On a Muster d. fan hulls served to form a wing tunnel), showed a group of windswept reporters the site of a repaired fast terry crack. Itowas locat ed on the underside af the vessei along a tin like structure jutting out from the hull. “The main point is ar ne pomt was the main hull breached at ally” sa very minor issue as far as Pim concerned .. wvlor led) a tour of first ship 117 million, up from the ini 445 million, up trom ay O million. The project called for WV ch Catherine Barr Coutributing Writer O young West Vancouver entrepreneurs are out of work and out of luck in Horseshoe Sean Kennedy and Pepe Dillgenti used te operate street vending tein Horseshoe Bays But this week, council decided not te renews cach of che vendors’ business licences because many oof the Horseshoe Ray merchants objected to their presene Phere is no need tor pedlars and there is ne cost benetit to the aninicipaliry” wrote Dan Sewell of Sewell’s Marina. He told council en Monday night that vendors nowadays are not like the “Nat Bailey” type and are, he said, legitimate competing businesses. Many of the letters reesived by council ssed a similar sentiment. “(Horseshoe Bay) is not the PNE and does not fend itself to the cireus-like armosphere created by the street vendors, wrote Clyde and Jean Miller. Four letters of objection were received by council, including letters of concern from the owners of Baskin Robbins, Banners, Sewell’s and the Bay Cate. Even the Hor. y Busi and Community Association (HBBCA) has withdrawn Its “The carts and pedilars operated at a very minimal overhead and minimal licence Friday. March s@a iW three bigh speed alu hour vovare the ove catania ‘Favior y whe avior “Ets a Big catch A member of the Worth Vancouver RCMP dive team helped recover a car March 2 from the Burrard Inlet near Charles Street. The 1986 Subaru wagon was reported stolen in North Van earlier that day. PEPE Ditligenti won't be able to sell - coffee and baked goods as a street vendor in West Vancouver. cost while impacting significantly on the ants who pay significant tay and overhead expenses,” wrote association airman Dave Patrick. The issue started int Kennedy applied for permi a hot dog cart in the area. Under the then- applicable municipal policy, street vendors were limited co selling ice cream, popeorn and soft drinks. Kennedy's application was approved with the understanding that the situation would be reviewed each year. Until 1998, he was the only street ven- done water butts iuikters “Tin delighted,” found Newt up tor the bel week's worth of tinal sca trials scheduled: to begin nest week, Although Tadlor maintained the vessel will he able to reach its advertised speed ot 37 knots (68. responsible for BC F - North Shore News - 3 lals beara. the 5. 1999 i pairs Could have | without the vessel out + anted to have said Tavior or what crews weuered vessel isa SB kin-hi Gordon Wilson, minister rries. iss suill awaiting ation trom oa consulting firm: currently performing a technical avdit on the ship. NEWS photo Julie Iverson ps street vendors dor operating in the area. Last year. Diligent: apphed tor permis sion te operate a coffee and baked woods sending operation. But his operation proved ta be pve too many for the com: peting community. Council has therefore not only denied cach of the two men their business licences, it has revoked its poliey of 1982 and 1983 and has banned forever any kind of street vending in West Vancouv Both Kennedy and Dilligent!: said they were disappointed and had lost. a subst tial investinent, as well as a main soure income. Dilligenti said his losses will top tive figures, Both men said: the sittation could have been handled better. not fact, [| feel, is what has brought us to this place.” Dilligenti told council. Kennedy said he wasn’t surprised at councils decision, When asked if) he blamed Dilligenti for rocking the prover- bial beat, he said: “1 blame council. (1) assessed on a per-vendor Dilligenti and their famil t Vancouver. enti’s facher the Horseshoe Bay ar . called the council decision “reprehensi- ble.” He scolded the politicians for a lack of vision and disrespect for the free enter- prise system. “I moved out of West Vancouver and Pm glad,” he said. “Te (West Vancouver) is just not with the times.” los, who lived in for over 20 vears