6 - Sunday, May 6, 1990 - North Shore News =) ae ee penyplettiaiiperer (iijentecd POU” wy y Misspell ores LL Yb tebaoll 7 B.C. Ferry tales HE RECENT revelation that Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd has tendered the low bid on the con- tract to build two 85-car ferries for the B.C. Ferry Corp. is a boost to flagging North Shore shipbuilding morale. And winring the contract far the North Shore would help take tk: sting out of the recent blow delivered to North Vancouver's shipbuilding industry by the federal government and its cancellation of the $680 million Polar Class 8 icebreaker contract. The job would provide work for 100 of the shipyard’s employees and a host of economic spinoffs for associated in- dustries and the entire North Shore economy. While Versatile Pacific Shipyards Inc. has designated its once massive and vital North Vancouver yard as a ship repair facility, the shipbuilding fight is obvicus- ly alive and kicking in other local ship- yards. And that is the positive message that mst be sent from the North Shore if it is to ensure a shipbuilding industry future. North Vancouver was once the centre of West Coast Canadian shipbuiiding. The industry helped build the North Shore community and establish its exper- tise internationally. Successful completion of ferry con- tracts now will kelp keep the industry alive and could provide an _ industrial bridge to bigger and better contracts. Without a strong local shipbuilding industry, the character of the North Shore would be changed irrevocably, and something great would be lost forever. ‘*Meech Lake says ... you have tc get the support of both Quebec and Ontario. And that is impossi- ble.” B.C. Report’s Ted Byfield, commenting on the Meech Lake Accord in the April 28 Great Meech Lake Debate at North Van- couver’s Centennial Theatre. “He whistles and makes all kinds of noise and she just sort of cocks her head from side to side, trying to figure out, ‘What the Svck is this?*’’ Capilano Pet Hospital recep- tionist Maureen Phelan, describing her cat's reaction to its adopted orphan squirrel. ‘In an age of insanity and noise Publisher Associate Editor Peter Speck Managing Editor Timothy Renshaw Noet Wright Advertising Director Linda Stewart and racket there are very few close sarctuaries. P've always been a slam-bang guy and a builder. But when you get older you start to get a little more sense. Unfortunately, age is the only time you get a little wisdom.”’ West Vancouver resident Ron James, questioning the good sense of West Vancouver District's plan to remove five fir trees in Wood- ward Park. “We're closing the door on per- sonal connections. We communi- cate more through the screen than through the skin.”* Writer and critic Max Wyman, explaining why we need the arts more than ever in this age of mass communications and computeriza- THE VOICE 4 MONTH AND WER VANCULLEW SUNDAY - WEONESOAY - CAIDA North Shore News. tounded ir 1869 as at ingunenaen” suburban newspaper and quaitiec unger Scneguie 111 Faragrapn (1 of Ine Excise Tay Act. 15 pubugned eac’ Weanesday. friday anu Sungay by Notin Snore © ree Hess Lid and astbuted to every Jour on tre Norn: 1139 Lonsaaie Avenue, North Vancouver, BC. V7M 2H4 Dispiay Advertising Classified Aavertising Newsroom Oistroution Suascriations tion. “The fire and police departments come here every year warning of a calamity, and nothing ever hap- fens.”” West Vancouver parks director Kevin Pike, commenting at a junior council mock council meeting on requests for more money for emergency response ca- pabilities. “E like George Michaels and Elton Jotn. I certainly enjoy looking at Dionne Warwick and Whitney Houston.” Canucks hockey team governor and North Shore resident Arthur Griffiths, commenting on _ his musical tastes. 980-0511 986-6222 985-2131 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 MEMBER W. VAN BY 20172? — PART 3 Zoning, visitors to shape stable future WHAT CAN Canada’s loveliest residential community do to avoid hardening of the arteries by its 100th birthday in 2012 — if, indeed, it wishes to? In two previous columns we considered whether West Van’s condition needs treatment at all. If so, we suggested a basic therapy: affordable housing to enable a higher proportion of productive younger families and individuals to live there, and lots more local jobs. The zoning tools to gradually build a stock of more affordable housing are already available to council. It would obviously call for higher densities than hitherto con- templated in certain areas, plus a more flexible approach to spot rezoning — always with sensitivity for the character of the neighborhood. Developers taking advantage of such new opportunities could be required, as a condition of rezon- ing, to provide in all cases a pro- portion of smaller units for sale at a lower ceiling price than those in the rest of the development. The end goal: an inventory of small, tasteful ‘‘first homes’’ dot- ted around West Van, which young families wishing to move there could afford, without lower- ing other property values. The only other need is the polit- ical will to embark on this course — by demonstrating to existing residents that an age-balance community is in their best long- term interests. For the creation of new jobs on any significant scale West Van's greatest potential clearly lies in the rapidly expanding tourism in- dustry. Nature has laid a generous foundation — superb coastal and mountain scenery, beaches, ski slopes, hiking trails and magnifi- cent trees. Man has added (though stil! mostly for local use) marinas, parks, sailing and watersport ame- nities, a clutch of good restaurants and one of Canada’s finest shopp- ing cenires. But otherwise the infrastructure of modern tourism is largely ab- sent in West Van. A single 30- room hotel, a single motel and a trailer park. No big summer festi- val (the September Coho Festival comes too late). No annual sport classic (remember the 1987 Federa- tion of Tennis Cup at the Hollyburn Club?). Not enough golf facilities. No convention cen- tre, big-show theatre or classy nightspot. if more jobs close to home are among West Van’s desirable goals, tourism is the realistic answer — in which case, the above list of needs, especially for much more tourist accommodation, could keep the planners busy for a decade. Obviously, not all West Van- couverites will agree. Former mayor Derrick Humphreys, who coined the “place of excellence’’ tag and was not at all enthusiastic about tourists, frequently urged his feliow citizens to ‘‘stay as sweet as we are.’’ That could be fine too — just as long as the sweetness doesn’t even- tually turn bitter on an aging vine. Excellence can be spice as well as sugar. So over to you, Bill Leithead! xkae DATEBOOK: Bookworms are promised literary treasures and great bargains in the ‘‘quality pre-owned books’’ being sold by the University Women’s Club of West Van Tuesday, May 8, at the community flea market in Park Royal North to raise scholarship funds ... Why are local archives important to all of us? Archivist Sune Thompsen will explain why at the Wednesday, May 9, meeting of the North Shore Historical Society, 7 p.m. in North Van’s Queen Mary School ... And if you want to stay clear of legal hassles in your business, lawyer Gary Harasym can tell you how, when he talks to the Tuesday, May 8, breakfast meeting of West Van Chamber of Commerce at 7:30 a.m. in the Ambleside Inn. haw WRIGHT OR WRONG: You never suffer from eyestrain by. looking at the bright side of things. " a NEWS photo {= H, BUCKS FOR BOOKS ...Don Ross (left), Kiwanis Club of Capilano president, hands happy John Humphries, West Van Library fund chair- man, $9,900 cheque for library expansion program. Club caised the money through its Adopt-A-Book promotion. Shore Second Class Mail Registration Numipe: ets bubscrptions Notin and West! Vancouver $25 per veat 59,170 (average Wednesaay Mama rates avatame on teduest Sudmussions ae = 3 way welcome put we cannol accep! tespansindity Friday 3 Sunday) UNSOhCTed Maternal INCIUGING ManUscHots ang pic 2 which stout be accompanied Dv a Stamped agaresct mrivelope? SDA Divinity, North Shore owned ang managed Entire contents ~) 1990 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All nights reserved.