Sunday. December 21, 1986 - North Shore News News Viewpoint Blood and shelter nly two things are certain about iilegal ‘‘tin- law" suites, once apain a centre of controversy in North Van District: they are a social pro- blem rather than a legal one—and they won't go away. They won't go away because they clearly fulfill a strong market need and because of their sheer numbers. For obvious reasons nobody knows exactly how many there are, but the figure for North Van alone, for example, is estimated by real estate firms to be al least 18 per cent of all single-family homes. The market they serve is twofold. Firstly, individuals and families wishing to setde in the community but unable (to afford conventional commercial rents. Secondly, homeowners urgently in need of extra mor- (gape money. Well aware of this situation, local councils have hitherto (urned a blind eye to illegal suites untess or until a specific complaint is received. Without adequate data, this has so far been the only practical course. Complaints from ncighboring single- family homeowners spotlight the more serious social aspect of the problem. In cases of rowdy tenants, parking nuisances or eyesores, complaints must obviously be acted upon. But where no objectionable factors exist, should mere imagined fears for adjoining property values suffice to evict law-abiding neighbors and curtail another's in- come? Certainly, all suites should be licensed, (axed and inspected for safety. But why should shelter depend on blood? Why is a relative of the landlord automatically “‘better”” for the neighborhood than a decent, quiet, non-related tenant? THAT CHRISTMAS CRECHE on the coof of Highlands United Church in Edgemont Village has a heartwarming little family story at- tached to it this year. The original woos, sculpture was crafted by the late Hugh Rapanos in 1962 and has been displayed every year since then. But time and weather take their toll, and last year the figures had become too worn for further use. Enter Hugh’s son Gary, an employee of the Edgemont Super-Valu and no mean craftsman himself. In mem- ory of Dad, he lovingly rebuilt and replaced the figures—thus ensuring that the former’s beautiful gift will continue to be a centrepiece of LIFESAVER ... former cadet Pau! Serijker (I) with plaque awarded by 103 Thunderbird Squadron for saving life of heart attack victim Osborne Cooper (r) with CPR procedure on SeaBus last month. Centre, Teri Osborne. Edgemont’s Christmas celebera- tions for many more years. she SADLY MISSED by his many friends and associates will be William H. (‘‘Bit!'’) Finlay, presi- dent of North Van Unit #45 of the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans, who died 10 days ago, aged 54, after a valiant batile with cancer. Active in the unit until a few days before, Bill had been ac- claimed president for a second term only two weeks earlier. Sur- vived by wife Lynda and family, he was laid to rest Tuesday after funeral services conducted by unit padre Rev. Raymond Murrin in St. John’s Church with full color par- NEWS photo Stuart Davis LETTER OF THE DAY boosters out of touch Dear Editor: An organization called ‘‘Friends of Public Broadcasting’’ placed an open letter in the November 20th issue of the Globe and Mail, directed at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Com- saunications and Culture. The ad- vertisement was sponsored by the usual raft of ‘‘nationalist’’ establishment gurus: Walter Gor- don, Peter C. Newman and Chaviva Hosek; among others. “Eriends...’? solemnly informs us that ‘*...Canadian culture is too fragile, and the CBC too essential to allow public policy te be for- mulated by ad hoc decisions.”’ The general thread of this rather convoluted letter is that Canada is liable to come apart at the seams unless a large amount of lolly is thrown in the direction of the CBC. Something called Canadian culture has been placed in mortal danger by that of the U.S., and our only salvation is to have a mandatory 50 per cent Canadian SUNDAY © WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY 1139 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 2 | i Peter Spec Noel Weight Barrett Pasner linda Stewart Publisher: Editor-in-Chie! Dispiay Advertising 980-0541 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 95a 7191 + Distribution 9a6.1337 “Managing Editor Subscriptions 286-1337 Advertising Director North Shor News, “. : of * ae ede . Entire contents 1986 North Share Free Press Lid Al nghts reserved a ADMIRING carpeting af Marineview Personal Care Home, West Van — purt of $2,800 gift by three Lions Clubs... (l tor, rear) Leos Max Lennox, West Van; Keith Fowlstone and Tom Wardell, Ambleside-Tiddlycove; (kneeling) manager Nan Bawden, Howe Sound Leo Doug Moore, nurse Sandie Gilkes. Noel Wright = ty honors. AN&AFV 445, incidentally, is the home of the famed Beer Drinkers & Louse Change Saciety., Yesterday, members again presented a hand- some cheque to [da Paddock’s Christmas Bureau. Bill was there is spirit. HITHER AND YON: Fifteen years as g.m. of North Shore Credit Union brought Ron Davies a handsome engraved silver tray from board chairman Jack Bright at the staff Christmas party. Under Ron, NSCU has gone from 28th to seventh in size in B.C., as assets soared from $4 million to the pres- ent $210 million Former air transport industry exec. Don Willis, tongtime pastoral assistant at St. Monica’s Anglican Church, Horseshoe Bay, has einbraced the cloth—being recently ordained as deacon in charge of the northwest B.C. Indian parish of Kitkatla ... North Van Arts Council under the chairmanship of ‘‘Mr. Heritage’, a.k.a. Jack Watts, has formed an tee content on the airways. We are in- formed that satellites, and backyard dishes have diluted the reach and influence of earthbound . a business thar could lose us a country.’’ How to save a country? “Radio frequencies are public property ... all who use them are trustees to the public.” There you have it. Nationalize the airways and force people to patronize public broadcasting by giving them no alternative. Move over, Winston Smith. Finally, the photos Terry Priors INTO THE BIG LEAGUE ... North Shore Credit Union gencral manager Ron Davies collects his reward in silver, donations—estimated need is $10-$15 per owner—with its dog licence renewal notices ... Popular North Van psychic and medium David Young is leaving us, but not as a disembodied spirit. Spies tell he’s taking his talents to England sometime next spring ... And Isabel Colpitts of the West Van Legion reminds you of the urgent blood donor ciinic spon- sored by the Legion this Tuesday, Dec. 23, from 2 to 8 p.m. at the West Van Rec Centre. +e * WRIGHT OR WRONG: Christmas is a good time to remember that you're as old as your doubts~—and as young as your dreams, © sunday brunch ® inter-municipal Heritage Commit- tee charged with pressing all three North Shore municipalities to establish a Heritage Policy for the protection of threatened buildings—of which Jack has compiled a fairly comprehensive inventory. [f you would add to it, call him at 987-6214 ... West Van community activist Jim) flum- phries, a 38-year resident, is look- ing forward soon to having four of his five married sons and their eight grandchildren (two apiece) all living almost next door, Already West Van residents are John, Peter and Gerry, and now Dick is retur- ning home from Ottawa after 15 years with the federal government to join the William Mercer actuary firm Mary Moscovitch of the West Van SPCA has pitched in with $1,000 towards the $30,000 needed to remove the rocks and brambles from the dog-run along the Seawalk and give local pooches a more comfortable trail alongside their masters and mistresses. The municipality will be soliciting BILL FINLAY (1932-1986) ... never surrendered. ith reality rest of the crew want to preserve Pals of Public Broadcasting want the peasantry to fork out untold millions to set up a new all news and inforrnation network and a non-commeicial public network to be called *T.V. Canada”, pre- sumably a BBC clone. The Friends of Public Broad- casting has lost all touch with real- ity. The Canadian public have long ago lost sympathy for the left lib- eral drivel shovelled out to them by the CBC. Walter, Chaviva, Peter and the Canadian culture. They have a task before them. The anointed must first explain to the unwashed exauuy what is Canadian culture. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Communications and Culture has a duty to the peo- ple of Canada. It must send a loud unequivocal no to the Friends of Public Broadcasting. R.U. Jarvis Director B.C. Frec Speech League