28 - Sunday, March 6, 1994 - North Shore News

ediation often the best
settling disputes &

route in

AT HAND

HELP*S AT Hand. by North Shore
. Community Services (NSCS). is a
forum for discussing government
policies and programs, benefits.
consumer and legal rights. taxation
and public services. “Answers are
intended only as a general guide
and should not be applied to indi-
vidual cases without further consul-
tation.
QUESTION: A few of my neigh-
bors and I have been having
dispute with another neighbor.
We have all lived on the same
street for years and have had
good relationships.

Recently, however, we are
experiencing problems with a
neighbor who is acting really
strange and causing some prob-
lems, which [ won't discuss here.
It is so serious that we have con-
sidered legal action.

None of us feels very good
about this idea because it seems
like a severe action to take
against a neighbor.

In the meantime, things just
vet worse, What cun we do?
Answer: Not everyone wilh a
problem such as yours wants lo go
the legal route. Not only that. not
everyone can afford to hire lawyers
or wail (0 have their problems han-
dled through the legal system.
Perhaps you have heard about
the process of mediation, which is
where two or more people agree to
sit down with a professional media-
tor to work out their differences.
The mediator helps the parties to
discuss and clarify the problems
and arrive at solutions. The media-
tor does not take sides — each party
gels the opportunity to be heard

without being pressured, interrupted

or blamed.

Most matters are usually
resolved within ane or twe sessions
of a couple of hours each.

The idea of the process is to help
solve problems before they get out
of control. Mediation only works,
however, when both parties agree to
the process. Find an appropriate
time and a non-threatening way to
approach your neighbor and ask
him to consider mediation.

Mediation has been successful in
‘solving disputes including noise

problems. parking regulations, par-
entiteen conflicts, landlard/tenant
issues, small-claims disputes, sepa-
ration agreements and chitd custady
and access problems.

For further information on this
hist issue, you can call Dial-A-Law,

66 Each party gets
. the opportunity to be
heard. 99

the free legal information iclephone
service. and ask to listen to tape
#440 on Family Mediation, The
phone number is 687-4680. For
calls outside Greater Vancouver.
call {-800-565-5297. Service is
available 24 hours a day with a
touch-tone phone and during regu-
tar business hours {rem rotary dial
phones,

To locate a mediator, look in the
yellow pages under Mediation.

This colunn is prepared with
financial assistance from the
Notary Foundation. For mare
information call NSCS at 985-7138.

Feminism’s roots explored

~ FEMINISTS WERE hard at work ”

‘long before anyone coined a term to
_ describe what they did, says
Marlene LeGates, historian and
-, women's studies specialist at
» Capilano College. :
. Infact, she says, the second
through 19th centuries.yielded trea-
sures in feminist work, although the
‘word “feminism”. wasn't coined
until the 1880s. _

ak

LeGutes will present this year's
Mary Catherine Paterson Mernorial
Lecture at Capilano College. Her
topic, “Portraits from our Feminist
Past.” celebrates women’s protest
through the ages.

She has been widely published
in the fields of women’s studies and
history. and holds two masters
degrees and a PhD from Yale
University.

She served as visiting professor
in history and women’s studies at
Simon Fraser University and taught
at UBC before joining Capilano
College in 1978. She ts currently
completing a book on the history of
feminism.

The free lecture takes place at
7:30 p.m., Tuesday March &, in
room 148 of the Capilano College
“C™ Building.

AND NATURE
TOURING WITH US

FROM MARCH 11 TO APRIL 20

SAFE COAST GUARD

ie) FR f V 7 IN to Ucluelet and enjoy

accommodation on shore or on board the Canadian
Princess a and an exciting cruise to see the whales.

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Enjoy a Juxury narrated bus tour to the west coast

of Vancouver Island then view the mighty Grey
Whales from large comfortable cruisers.
PLUS

+ Accommodations on shere or on-board the Canadian Princess
+ Visit Coombs Old Country Market

(the orily market with goats on the root}
+ Walk through the majestic Cathedral Grove old g‘owth rainforest
+ Tour world fameus long beach

OAK BAY
MARINE GROUP

from Vancouver return

2 DAY/1 NIGHT

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ASK ABOUT CURIDAY 2NIGHT 2 CRUISE PACKAGE
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UCLUE

NC.

PRE-GRAND
OPENING SPECIAL
AEROBIC
GLASSES |

1445 Marine Brive

Price + G.S.T.- watches
while suppties last.

Offer applies to women
only. 19 years and older.
* Aerobics classes only.

. Supervised programs for
-toning, building & cardio

TNESS

CEN TAE