6 ~ Sunday, November 8, 1987 -~ North Shore News News Viewpoint . —_—_—— Know the facts CCUSING a man of a conflict of interest is serious business. West Vancouver residents should not point accusing fingers at Ald. David Finlay UNLESS they are prepared to pursue the issue to the courts. Accusations and innuendo can ruin careers. For all intents and purposes, West Vancouver Council has cleared Finlay of an alleged conflict of interest for the unrelated work his law firm did for International Land Corp., the development company presently making a bid to build a residential/marina development at Fish- erman’s Cove. According to the municipality’s solici- tor, unless money has changed hands, or unless Finlay has exchanged his vote for a contract for the municipality, there has been no wrong-doing that would necessitate Finlay’s absence from voting on the Fisherman's Cove development. However, according to the provincial government’s municipal inspector, ‘‘elected officials must be scrupulous in both declaring when they may have an interest, and in avoiding even the perception that their votes may be influenced by an outside association.”’ But Finlay has put his dealings up to public scrutiny by coming forward and openly announcing his associations, and then excusing himself from further proceedings and allowing members of council and the public to decide whether he is eligible to vote. Hardly the workings of a man trying to cover up an under- the-table dirty deal. Municipal officiais are voted in to represent the public fairly and honestly. If a politician breaks that promise, like a common weed choking surrounding flowers, he should be yanked from the garden. But ac- cusers must know the facts before they point fingers, and be prepared to follow accusations through. “The harder the IF YOU THINK the corporate world ended on Oct. 19, ‘‘Black Monday,”’ take a peek at the new business success story of 1987: Helijet Airways — founded and run by two of our North Shore neighbors. Just 12 months ago Helijet launched Canada’s first-ever scheduled helicopter passenger service between downtown Van- couver and downtown Victoria with a single Bell chopper. So pos- itive was the response from the target market — business and gov- ernment travellers for whom time is vital — that, within seven mon- ths, they replaced the Bell with three top-of-the-line twin-engined Sikorsky S-76s. Daily flights have now increased from 16 to 24 anda second route to Victoria has been added from Vancouver Airport, where their new heliport was cer- emonially opened last Sunday. Now for a while the watchword is ‘‘consolidation” but there are plenty of ideas for the future on the drawing board. Among them, possible Victoria-Seattle and Van- couver-Whistler routes. Partners in the prospering enterprise are West Van’s Alistair MacLennan, Helijet’s chief execu- tive officer, and company presi- dent Daniel Sitpam of North Van. Alistair, 39, with wide experience in corporate promotion, is. the business brain of the operation. Born in Salmon Arm, raised and a resident in B.C. all his life, he’s married with a four-yenr-old daughter. Bachelor Daniel, 31, is the practical helicopter speciatist with a flying background ‘in the northern oil and gas itidustry. British-born son of an aergnautical engineer, he emigrated to.Montreal in 1962 and moved to Vancouver 11 years later. os Both bosses give.; unstinting praise to their staff of 36 for the company’s dramatic} progress — “an outstanding team of highly dedicated and self-disciplined pro- fessionals,’’ Alistair calls them. Wish the company luck and Alistair will give you his eight- word philosophy: ‘The harder we work, the luckier we get!’’ ashe MOVE OVER, Federation Cup! To close off its 75th Anniversary celebrations, West Van is hosting another international event next weekend — the West Van Open photo submitted “TENNIS ANYONE?” ARTISTS Sue Bengtson (1) and Jill Pless. THE VOICE OF NOHTH AND WEST YANCOUVEDT SUNDAY + WEDNESDAY + FHIDAY 1139 Lonsdaie Ave. North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 58,489 (average, Wednesday Friday & Sunday) 980-0511 986-6222 985-2131 986-1357 986-1337 Display Advertising Classified Advertising Newsroom istribution Subscriptions North Shore News, Vearacgragae rt Parade, Penang ie sd ANC OUWEr ules nas POpOt ately Ton un sobcdedd (materi oc by a lamiped addrentsed enericgs: AD atideatee SDA DMISION Publisher Managing Editor Associatu Advertising Director Speck Barrett Fisher Neel Wright Linda Stewart Jouthan Stachapen and quabbed under Scneduie i fore bree Pree, hebteaen Petre ot 4 Suuscaptun, Submissions ate welcome but ett CluteS which enould be accord Editor Entire contents © 1987 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. NEWS photo Tom Surley SUCCESS STORY OF THE YEAR...Helijet’s North Shore bosses Duniel Sitnam (J) and Alistair MacUennan open their new heliport at Vancouver International Airport. Chess Tournament, Nov. 13-15 at the Seniors Centre and Park Royal. It’s definitely not for beginners. You have to be a member of the Chess Federation of Canada to enter the Open Section, Candidate Section and Amateur Section. Tiuwever, in order to leave no serious chess buff out in the cold, they've added three other categories for non-CFC members: Juniors, Seniors and Ladies. In- vitations have been sent to every chess club in Canada and tourna- ment coordinator Leon Krawczyk says they’re also expecting more than a few U.S. entrants. Spec- tators are welcome at all matches. Honorary Arbiter is Grand- master Duncan Suttles. West Van’s 91-year-old Bill Money — the mushroom man and one of Canada’s most senior chess players — has put up a special prize for the Junior category. Other spon- sors contributing to the total prize fund of over $5,000 are Park Royal, Business Telecom Equip- ment and Wolff Marine Supply. For those unacquainted with such arcane chess terminology as the Queen’s Gambit, the Najdorf Variation and the Sicilian Defence (2,000 possibilities in the first 10 moves alone), next weekend is a great opportunity to learn more about the ‘“‘brain game’’ - maybe even enough to take it up yourself. eee WRAP-UP: The fate of that con- troversial $600,000 bandshell planned for Ambleside Park will now be decided by the cheque book ‘‘voters’’. It’s on hold until next March after Jim MacCarthy reported to West Van council Monday that the Anniversary Committee remained short of the price-tag by around $300,000. The project kicked off in the spring with Victoria’s $100,000 gift plus $25,000 from a TV auction, to which corporate donors added on- ly $200,000 in the five months up Noel Wright to ‘Black Monday’’, the Oct. 19 stock market crash ... Want an ex- cuse for an outing? From Nov. 18 to Dec. 7 try ‘‘The Gallery”’ in White Rock’s Central Plaza. Ex- hibiting their colorful flower acryl- ics and oi! landscapes there will be longtime friends and_ sketching companions Sue Bengtson and Jill Pless, both Vancouver School of Art alumni and West Van Tennis Ciub stalwarts. Gallery owner An- nemieke Hillhouse, herself a former West Van tennis buff, will also make you feel right at home .» And then there’s St. Lawrence e@ Sunday brunch ® College in Ste-Foy, Quebec, which is planning its 30th reunion bash for the weekend of June 17, 1988. Any former ‘St. Laurentians’’ hiding in the wilds of the North Shore should write: SLC 88, St. Lawrence Campus, 790 Neree- Tremblay Street, Ste-Foy, Que., G1V 4K2 for info. set WRIGHT OR WRONG: Yes, all is fair — except declaring war on a former girlfriend or boyfriend. NEWS photo Cindy Bellamy SMALL BUSINESS JUNGLE...Susan Bell of the North Shore Enter- prise Development Centre with ‘‘fish’? by Ursula Medley, whose small business creates props and costumes for theatre and movies.