8CR Group president and CEO Paul McElligott will join TimberWest. dan-Christian Sorensen News Reporter Sorensen @nsncws.com AFTER 11 years as president and CEO of the BCR Group of Companies, Pav! McElligott is heading for greener pastures. It was announced Wednesday that McEHigort had left BCR for TimberWest . Forest Group, where he will ‘assume the role of president and CEO. McElligort, who has been a member of TimberWest’s board of directors since 1997, Will continue to lead BCR until . Jan. 5 of next year, He will offi- cially take the TimberWest reins on Jan. 22. TimberWest owns more . than 330,000 hectares of pri- vate timberlands in the coastal region of B.C. with an annual sustainable harvest of 2.4 mil- fon cubic metres of Jogs as well as Crown land harvest tights of 1.2 million cubic metres of logs. : - BCR Group of Companies spokesman Alan Dever said at the split was an amicable _ one.’ McElligott agreed to continue as a director of BC Rail after it was determined that his new position did not place him in a conflict of inter- est. “There’s no question that “BCR is not the same company -he took over 11 years ago,” See Search page % Dsana Lancaster . News Reporter dlancaster@nsnews.com targets KS. West Vancouver couple launch initiative Karen Robbins Contributing Writer PARENTS from West Vancouver and Surrey are appealing to Ortawa to change existing laws regarding violent offenders. Members of Justice for our Children have been pounding the pavement getting signa- tures for their petition that demands stiffer sanctions for child predators and better educa- tion initiatives tor potential predators, West Vancouver resident Wanda Dixon, co- founder of the organization, said so far the group has obtained approximately 5,000 sig- natures — including those of Heather Thomas’ parents. Dixon and her husband Glen launched the organization a week after Heather disap- peared. She said they felt quite emotional about the little girl’s disappearance and want- ed to help. “We just want to close the revolving door and prevent violent offenders from repeating their crimes,” she said. The couple approached Surrey North MP Chuck Cadman, an advocate for victim's rights and justice reform, who helped them with the wording of their petition and promised to take the signed petitions to Ottawa. WHY is Dallas Coliis taking on the major political parties and running as an independent? “Because | love - Canada,” he says. The hair salon owner also hopes to inspire peopte to think about important issues. slackburn gave much to No DOREEN Blackburn left behind more than memories when she passed away on Oct. 22. ‘The .Wese Vancouver resident spent two- thirds of her life on the North Shore — and much of that time had been spent volunteering and working in the community — to make it a safer, healthier, more beautiful place to live. - “She was a remarkable woman. Her heart . was so much into whatever it was she was work- ing on,” said her daughter Fiona Blackburn. So thing Doreen had .a big heart because in the almost 50 years she lived on this ide of Burrard Inlet, she worked on plenty. ‘ ; - Not long after emigrating to Canada from Engiand in 1950, . ing, ” ie's’a “DOREEN Blackburn con- sidered issues carefuliy. » typical Libra,” said Fiona. Dixon said they also comtacted Dawn Jette, a teacher in Surrey and a friend of Jodi Thomas (Heather’s mother). Jette had written letters to several newspa- pers complaining that Starbucks, Office Depot and Rogers Video would not put up posters about Heather in their store windows. “My letter was published and that same day | had about 20 strangers calling — one was the CEO of Starbucks — but also Wanda,” Jette said. She joined forces with the Dixons and the organization grew from there. “The people who fave helped our are quite incredible,” Jette said. “After such 2 tragedy, it is nice to see people working together out of the good- aess of their hearts.” The group is aiming for 20 million signa- tures from across Canada, Dison pointed out that if every parent in British Columbia and Ontario signs the petition, that will be 5.4 mil- lion signatures. “Then we're well on our way,” she said. They are hoping to get the petitions to Ottawa by the time the House of Commons sits again in February, but Jette pointed our that they won't stop there. “If they don’t listen we will continue to fight until changes are made.” Dixon said that people looking to help can download a copy of thy petition at the organi- zation’s Web site at . introduced Elmer the Safety Elephant to preschool and elementary children on the North - Shore. She also began writing about West Vancouver council meetings for the News’ predecessor: the North Shore Shopper and eventually, her interest in politics led her to run successfully as a municipal alderman. . : : - “Ic didn’t matter what the issue was: someone — wanting to cut trees that had grown too tall, or the opposite; or a new poop-and-scoop bylaw; or a new development that was being considered. She weighed everything so carefully — she was a “Ican remember every Friday night a West Vancouver police officer would drop off this stack of reports, and she would spend the whole week- end reading them and thinking about them so she would be well prepared for Monday’s meet- NEVZS photo Mike Waketieid JUSTICE for our Children co-founder Wanda Dixon says the 5,090 signatures they have so far will kelp change the law covering sexual predators. salon chair politics ” News Reporter mgood@nsiews.com A man with soak- ing hair .. wrapped up in a towel gives. © hair salon owner Dallas Collis the thumbs-up. ~ “Good morning, Mr. Prime Minister,” he says. = “It’s a little early for that,” Collis concedes, with a note of. - “NEWS photo Cindy Goodman "CBRE It’s not that Collis, who is- . « ‘ See Dallas page $: the West Vancouver Ratepayers Association, Citizens for Good ~:.-: Government, Friends’ of Cypress, the North’ Shore. Heritage “°° Committee, and numerous planning and design commissions. “°°. - . She also had a special interest in youth, and played a role in set- ting up the Wes: Vancouver Youth Advisory committee. an “My sister and I were remembering the other day that when - niom ‘was-on council we were both students at Sentinel. We :” _ remembered this young fellow that used to call mom up — he was : a little older than.my sister and 2 — arid he would sit at the table .: - with her and talk about politics. He’d come over to pick mom’s™: brain about how to do things. That young man was Mark Sager.” = Sager went on to become a councillor and then the inayor of. West Vancouver. |; 10 Jt It’s in recognition. of her commitment to young people: that her friends and family have set up the «Doreen. Blackburn Meracrial Award fund, to be given annually to a West Vancouver: : student who is civic-minded, and shows community spirit through" volunteering. . ao A memorial service is to be held in her honour tomorrow, Nov. - 25, at 1 p.m. at West Vancouver United Church. In lieu of flow- ers, donations may be made directly to the award fund, care of. Doreen and her husband Erskine moved to the North Shore. She . soon became president of the Lions Gate Women’s Auxiliary and Following her three terins as an alderman, Doreen worked at . West Vancouver. School. District: 45, 1075 21st ‘St.,* West served on the North Shore Safety Council, through which she a the provincial courthouse in North Vancouver as a provincial sec- > "retary, and her civie-mindedness continued: Shé Was involved with" “ Vasicouver, B'C, V7V-4A9080"0 8 Se