NV HOUSING FOR MENTALLY ILL Health minister backs group home decision HEALTH MINISTER Peter Dueck says the Adult Care Licensing Board acted properly in disregarding the city’s opposition to the Sherwood Park group home at 310 East 26th St. In a letter to Mayor Jack Loucks, Dueck said, ‘'It is the du- ty of the board to review applica- tions for licences only in accor- dance with the legislated require- ments set out in the (Community Care Facility) Act."* He said the act stipulates group homes providing care for less than 10 ‘physically active adults’? must only meet municipal bylaws affec- ting family dwellings. He said council's resolution to request a freeze on licences for group homes until the process for approving them is reviewed ‘‘docs not alter the board’s responsibility By KAREN GRAM Contnbutng Writer to continue to issue licences when an application meeting all re- quirements is put forward."' Council requested that neighborhood input be included in the approval process. Dueck did not say review the IcgisJation. “T support the efforts under way to assist the mentally ill who are able to return to live in and be part of their communitics,"" he said, adding that he regards the North Shore as ‘‘a_ priority area for he would development of residential care’ because in relation to its popula- tion, the North Shore has the fewest group homes in the pro- vince. As well, he said his department is trying to locate mentally ill pa- tients near family members. The recent drive to open group homes is related to the gov- ernment’s decision to close River- view Hospital and transfer 300 pa- tients into group homes. Sherwood Park Group Home was granted an interim licence in mid-November despite united op- position from residents and coun- cil. Nine Riverview transfer pa- tients have now moved in. Next door neighbor Leneen Webb said she thought democracy had been thwarted by the approval. hey NEWS photo Nell Lucente CHRISTOPHER METCALFE, general manager of Hyco Technologies Corp., displays a scale model of the Aries transparent submersible soon to be manufactured on the North Shore. Two of the transparent submurines will be built for tourist use in Mexico. Worth Van firm secures $30m in submarine deals GLASS BOTTOMED boats took a technological leap for- ward recently when a North Vancouver company announc- ed it has won a multi-million dollar contract to build two transparent submarines for tourist use in Cozumel, Mexico. The company, Hyco Technologies Corp., has also secured additional orders totalling more than $30 million, says general manager Christopher Met- calfe, who believes the subs, built with thick acrylic walls, will greatly expand marine exploration and enhance tourist experiences. “The technology (for acrylic subs) has been around for a long time, but we have taken the design for only one or two people and built subs that will hold a larger number,’’ said Metcalfe. Metcalfe says his subs, one of which can dive 2,600 feet below the surface, may help discover the legendary giant squids believed to exist at great depths. As well, green eyed sharks with six gills, rather than the usual five, will be visible from the sub. These sharks were just recently discovered and have never been seen alive above 1,000 feet, Met- calfe said. ; The contract for an eight- passenger sub with a diving capaci- ty of 2,600 feet and another 48- By KAREN GRAM Contributing Writer passenger sub with a diving capaci- ty of 250 feet is worth $5,586,000 Cnd. Both submersibles will be built entirely in North Vancouver. “We know there is a good pool of skilled Jabor we can draw on here,’’ said Metcalfe, adding Van- couver is the centre of sub-sea engineering in the world. The first two subs will be com- pleted in 1988, but Metcalfe says the company will concentrate on building additional submersibles for three to five years. They will be put into use in tourist spots around the world, including the Caribbe- an, South Seas, Far East and Mid- dle East. Hyco has only been in business for 18 months, but has acquired the assets of the now defunct In- ternational Hydrodynamics Co., a North Vancouver firrn since 1962. The company, which employs about 40 people, concentrates on commercial applications for sub- mersibles, not miltary, says Met- calfe, ‘We're not pushing the mil- itary applications." Although Metcalfe, himself a diver with many years experience, thinks the marine life along British Columbia's coast is some of the most exciting, he doubts his subs will debut here. “The problem (here) is the short season which would make the pro- ject unecononiical.”” Weather: Friday, cloudy and rain. Saturday, periods of rain or snow. Highs near 5°C. INDEX Classified Ads....19 Doug Collins...... 9 Editorial Page..... & Home & Garden. ..15 Horoscopes.......12 Lifestyles TV Listings What's Going On : ‘“ylolent doniéstic dispute on Christmas Da: - room: ‘here ita : _ shortly before 6:30 a.m. ~ ‘ ae ment are pending aging ee - Friday, January 8, 1988 - North Shore News Ski thefts up at Cypress — SKI THIEVES working the - Gypress Bowl ski srea are walking away with twice as much equipment as they did last year according to West Vancouver Police. “Skiers must lock up their’ skis, We’ fe having a real problem with this,’* said Const. Dave Bingham... . The costs are piling up. with close to 40 oki theft incidents 4 reported to police since the ski season opened . early December. Losses are averaging $350 each. West Vancouver Police wilt be holding a Ski ‘Watch ideutifica- tion program noon to 4 p.in., Sunday, Jan. 10 at the downhill ski area, Cypress Bowl. Ski equipment will be roarked free of charge with 2 driver’s cence number. : To prevent ski theft while on the mountata ‘police recommend : skiers siways use ski-check of lockup devices when available; use cable orks to secure equipment to permanent locations; never leave akie unlocked on a car ski rack; avoid feaving akis out of sight. . ' CPR saves man’s life © QUICK CPR, applled by the femily ‘of = North. Vancouver’ ‘man 4 who went into full cardiac arrest Dec. he was fastramental in ‘save. couver and one. from. Vancouver, were’ arrested arid are’ facing _ charges of theft and possession | of stolen | propert ; A second stolea car. was ‘Feeoyered lates. the’ police stopped ared 1971, Toyota jist after’ 10 Pp: oA 25-year-old: ‘resident’ -of : the’ 200-b! “returned home: “from: a “party - shor - room to an sajoiee sulte in *, Charges of assault sing bodily “hart, common " assau al threatening, possession of: an offensive weapon and Untowful co!