SPURRED ON BY COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Rescue ‘copter group
is in high spirits

PROSPECTS seemed so
hopeless to members of
Coast Mountain Air Rescue
Society until just a few
weeks ago that they were
ready to sell their newly
purchased rescue helicopter
and give up.

But now, thanks to
community interest
tnggered by the recent
Seymour mountain rescue of
stranded hikers, backers are
rallying to their support and
hopes are flying high so it
looks hike the North Shore
will have its own air rescue
service after all.

The $200,000 Bell Jet
Ranger helicopter has been
grounded in debt from
the beginning when the
volunteer rescuers) mor
tgaged their homes to raise
enough = capital Another
blow was struck when they
found they were required to
pay $16,000 import tax even
though the majority of
aircraft are exempt

They managed to raise
cnough moncy for the taxes
and used the hehcopter in
the M Creck disaster last
fall But) now insurance

premiums of $4,000 keep the
helicopter in the Richmond
backyard of the group's
pilot, Gene Lesage :

But Stephen Mullins,
spokesman for CMARS.told
last week's meeting of the
North Vancouver Chamber
of Commerce that donations
of between $200 and $500
per day are coming in as well
as equipment from com-
panies.

The group’s operations
manual has been approved
and they have the necessary

landing permission and
government go-ahead tu
service the area from

Squamish all the way up the
Indian Arm

The charge to whatever
group requests the
hehcopter is $460 an hour
plus fuel and gas In the
cases of M Creek and
Seymour Mountain the
RCMP picked up the tab.

At the moment CMARS
has to borrow a helicopter
from Pacific Hehcopters to
do a rescue bul as soon as
the insurance ts paid they

draperies
by S. Laursen

Draperies, Bedspreads
tl’ Venetian, Vertical and Wooden BI is

will be in full operation.

Anyone intrested in
making a donation or taking
a membership in the society
can contact John Bentley at
684-7172. Coast Mountain is
also looking for a corporate
sponsor.

MAY 01 TO 15 COME TO THE GREAT

200 BAGS ON SALE
FROM $25 to $250.
DOWN BAGS FROM s9a.

ae
Ame

)

a , a *

ae:

Student hosts sought

EACH summer for the past
few years, Capilano College

has held an_ English
Language Immersion
Program for Quebec

students, and each year they
are faced with the same
initial problem. They need
billets for the students.

This year the students will
be here from May 23 to July
3 and the College is looking
for families either within
walking distance of the
college, or near bus routes,
who will share their homes
and some meals with the
students. A fee of $320 will

SLEEPING BAG

SALE

Bs

eICE 3

SERLINE'’
G. $169. oo

A3 - Wednesday, May 5, 1982 - North Shore News

ALL CLEAR for the go-
ahead with their

helicopter project, Coast
Mountain Air Rescue
Society Director Steve
Mallins gives thumbs up

to the project as he sits at
the controls of the
Jet Ranger helicopter
bought by the members.
(Ian Smith photo)

be paid to cover expenses.

Since the purpose of the
immersion program is to
expose Quebec students to
the culture and language of
English Canada, host
families will be asked to
speak only English with
them.

In past years families have
been very enthusiastic about
their boarders — many return
to host students year after
year and establish lasting
friendships.

For more information or
to volunteer a billet, call
Joan Gillis at Capilano
College, 986-1911, local 238.

A

INSIDE

A gift

to last
PAGE C1

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