1999: BEFORE we stride boldly into 2000, a few last words about 1999. The ones recorded herein by Ripping Yarns are from the people and personalities who made some of the more interesting observations about North Shore life over the past year. “.. in B.C, it’s a little hard to tell the difference.” Writer and historian George Bowering, on_ his transition from writing about outlaws to writing about politicians. (From a Dee. 10 This Week book review.) o0Q “[’ve been asked to do everything this week except drain English Bay.” West Vancouver mayoral candidate Russ Fraser, on the last week of the 1999 munici- pal campaign. (From Trevor Lautens’ Dee. 3' Garden of Biases column.) Ona “They could have been a ' white supremacist party or the man on the moon party ’ for all the voting public knew.” Unseated North Vancouver District councillor Trevor Carolan, on the lack of infor- mation. available about the North Shore ~ Concerned Citizens Association. (From a Nov. 24 News story.) QaQ “When Iwas at the meeting, I looked out of the window and thought, gee, I better check the colour of the sky and sec if we’re in the same universe today.” Bill Morrell, of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, mailbox a greai yeal for chi on the surprise agreement between the GVRD board and environmentalists on a plan for watershed manage- ment (From a Nov, 14 News Story.) 900 “It didn’t take me long to figure out I was working with some of the dumbest people in the world and the smartest animal in the world.” Stephen Searles, an advo- cate of using non-lethal bear management methods, on educating people aad bears on how to live together. (From a Nov. 5 News story.) O00 “She says she’s teaching her brother how to drive as well.” West Vancouver Police Const. Scott Findlay, after issuing a2 woman an order to appear in court on charges of supplying minors, her brother and his friend, with alcohol. (From a Sept. 39 News story) a0aq “It seems to me that they have their heads buried in a pile of manure.” West Vancouver Coun. Victor Durman, on the Vancouver park — board's refusal to allow the widening of traffic lanes in the Stanley Park causeway. (From a Sept. 29 News sta. a g “I stole it to drive around and break into cars so I could get money to feed my cat.” What a man told North Vancouver RCMP after allegedly stealing a car and then crashing it. (From a Sept. 24 News story.) o00 “Getting divorced is a bit like having open-heart surgery with a chainsaw.” Vancouver film director Elizabeth Walker, on divorce. (From a July 23 This Week story.) o00 “How do you know it’s an election year? So far we’ve heard calls for the (chewing) gum police, the bus stop police and now the newspaper box police.” North Vancouver City Coun. Bob Fearnley, on council debate over new restrictions governing news- paper vending boxes in the municipality. (From a July 7 News story.) oa0 “That’s why we tell kids it’s called dope.” North Vancouver RCMP Const. Tons Seaman, after a North Vancouver = man dropped off a photo film can- ister for developing that con- tained marijuana instead of film. (From a July 9 News story.) 909 “A son doesn’t have a rice.” Dr. Bert Manning, reflect- ing on his son’s death in a Grouse Mountain avalanche and his efforts to expedite the search for his body by hiring a private company. (Fren: a May 26 Ne } ag “You don’t have to be very offensive in order to offend the politicaliy cor- rect.” Retired News columnist Doug Collins, commenting on the free speech aspects of the province’s Human Rights Code and the rise of political ly correct sensibilities. (From a May 19 News story.) Goa “Dead people don’t com- plain, pollute, drink and drive, require medical atten- tion, increase class size, smoke in bed or flush. They don’t even seem to care about their proximity to high tension power lines.” Seasons Memorial Park investor Kristin Hancock, on the appropriateness of a pro- posed mausoleum near Capilano College. (From a March 28 News story.) o00a “Her (Municipal Affairs Minister Jenny Kwan's) criticism of the district’s budget is like getting a lec- turc from the captain of the Titanic on how to sail around icebergs.” North Vancouver District Mayor Don_ Beli, after Municipal Affairs Minister Jenny Kwan criticized the di trict. for increasing taxes. According to the district the increase results directly from provincial downloading. (From a March 26 News story.) ~oaa “We want him to stay on. It was very encouraging.” David Schreck, former North Vancouver NDP MLA and then-deputy principal lemocra acy more important than greed : Dear Editor: In response to recent articles pro and con, for. free trade, one. of. the most important cornerstones of the Western World in their economic success is the groundwork laid out in the. British Common . Law. and the American Constitution; both. guarantee «free pecch, freedom of the press and free “lectins. a, Despite these guarantees there were growing pains along the way. “Imagine a. country without our enshrined iaws:and morai collective will (read - most’. of Asia and Central and BSW GEORGIE 5) ABET STII, 1s BAN South America). These regimes are only too willing to have, large international corporations come in and exploit their vast pool of voiceless labour. Everyone gets rich except the people that put out the prod- . uct. I hope everyone read Noel Wright's Dec. 1 column in which he chronicled the power of these international corpo- rations. A few have espoused that these coun- tries should go through the same grow- ing pains as the Western World did. In my opinion democracy must come first, until elected officials implement the power that the electorate have given them it will not work. Cur MPs must be instructed to enforce the laws that we give them to enforce and not be governed by some non-elected CEO through NAFTA or the WTO or there will be more Battles in Seattle. There wili be a national election soon and al! potential candidates should be grilled on our sovereignty above inter- national greed. Ron Espin nvron@telus.net- LRICHIMON fou ELNERIDOE Sunday, January 2, 2000 - North Shore News - 7 secretary in) Premier Glen Clark's office, on local NDP support for the now ex-pre- mier. (Fram a March 12 3 Stary.) Q00 “We are so grossly over- taxed in this country. The government keeps talking about ‘new sources of rev- enuc’ — where do they think it’s g to come from, Martians?” West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce chairman John Clark, commenting on this week’s federal budget. (From a Feb. 19 News story) O00 “Your position is that I have a bad relationship with people. I don’t. They have a bad relationship with me.” Coun. Ernie Crist, responding to complaints from fellow council members about what they said was his abrasive communication ice worus style. (From a Feb, > Sunday Focus.) 23220 “They throw you the keys and if you catch them, you drive.” Paramedic Mussatto, on how training is involved in d an ambulance. (From a Jan. 13 News story.) —trenshaw@nsnews.com Darrell much Capture Memortes. clifford Framing Gall Since. 1945 5 1825 Arabieside Lane 922-7737 (Directly bebind Windsor Meats) Olt, Lube & Filter i 21 ot. 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