Foreign school is expected ito benefit locals WHILE ENVIRONMENTALISTS view encroaching development as a threat to the Maplewood mud fiats wildlife habitat, John Christianson, vice-chairman of Ca- nadian International College Inc. (CICI) board of gov- ernors, points to the economic spin-offs a Japanese college campus will generate on the North Shore. CICLI is a joint venture of Nelson International School Inc. (NISI) and Japanese business interests. On April 15, NIST opened a Japa- nese school in Nelson. The Maplewood facility, fron- ting the north side of Dollarton Highway one mile east of the Se- cond Narrows Bridge, is scheduled to open April 1, 1989. The college and residential complex will ac- commodate 278 students currently enrolled in first year programs at the Nelson school. The Japancse students, age 19 to 30, will continue second-year studies including English fitera- ture/bilingual, intercultural, inter- national business and Canadian environmental courses. “We don’t believe we are having an appreciable effect on the swamp because we are Sar away from the sensitive area,” —CICI vice-president John Christianson Total first phase cnrolment is expected to number 360 students. Phase two, when the college ex- pands to offer third and fourth- year courses, will see enrolment grow to an estiniated 1,170 stu- dents. The college also plans to of- fer Japanese language and cultural studies for Canadians as well as continuing education courses. Said Christianson: ‘You can’t build a house without causing some disruption. We don’t believe we are having an appreciable effect on the swamp because we are far away from the sensitive area, “*The way to think about this is in terms of the impact in the Van- couver area. What we’re doing is we're exporting services without the services ever leaving town,’’ he said. Christianson said the economic impact of the Nelson school, in- cluding student spending, parent visits, municipal taxes, local hiring and wages, and operational spen- ding, has been ‘‘huge.’’ CICI estimates the economic impact of the North Vancouver campus at $6.5 million per year By MICHAEL BECKER News Reporter with a total yearly injection to the local economy of $21 million fol- lowing phase two. “These kids are from fairly well-off families. They enjoy shopping,’’ he said. ‘‘During our first family visits to Nelson we had 86 parents come in. Ho was in- between seasons and = every available (hotel) room in Nelson was filled. We expect at least half of the parents will visit the North Vancouver campus at least once. Somebody's going to have to build a hotel over there."’ The company estimates an ex- penditure of $6.3 million to pay for the construction of the first phase of the campus. The first phase will sce the development of six acres of property for a classroom and administration building, four residences, a dining hall and kitchen and a gymnasium. The second phase, costing an estimated $11 million, entails the construction of additional academ- ic, residential and recreational fa- cilities. According to Christianson, his- torically only five per cent of Jap- anese venturing abroad to. study ever complete programs to return to their country with degrees. ‘We feel it’s important that they can be in an environment where they can understand western culture, yet not Jose their own culture. The campus will be an enclave,"’ he said. While - approximately 30,000 Japanese left Japan to study abroad in 1984, the number is ex- pected to grow to approximatcly 100,000 in the next few years. NISi, formed by a group of Manitoban educators, connected with ex-Japanese school teacher Kazuyuki Takase in May 1987 when the group was searching for a way to boost flagging enrolment at the Nelson school. Takase, who has developed a system of English language classes in Japan employ- ing 3,500 teachers and serving ap- proximately 40,000 students a year, had been unsuccessful in a bid to set up a Japanese college in Canada for two years prior to the meeting. 3 - Sunday, July 24, 1988 - North Shore News [oS SRE La owe NEWS photo Cindy Betlamy Having a baill THIS PIGSKIN isn’t as heavy as it looks — it’s 12-year-old Nicholas Hubinette’s in- flatable beach toy. Nicholas, who will be entering Grade 7 at Hillside Junior Secondary when summer fun is over, was enjoying the recent hot weather at Dundarave Beach when this photo was taken. The weather office promises more sunny days are on their way. PERMANENT HERITAGE COMMITTEE APPOINTED est Van's heritage inventory complete WEST VANCOUVER’S Heritage Inventory, which includes 101 homes and buildings of historical, architectural and contextual significance, as well as numerous landscape features, has been completed. “It’s almost a pictorial history of West Vancouver — a real col- fector’s item,’’ said Mayor Don Lanskail at Monday’s council meeting. Council was happy to endorse the inventory and approve the Pol- icy! Framework and recomimenda- tions drawn up by the Interim Heritage Advisory Committee, starting with the appointment of a permanent Hetitaye Advisory Committee to advise council on matters related to the protection, enhancement and premotion of heritage resources in the municipality. By MAUREEN CURTIS Contributing Writer A registry of such resources will be referenced within the rezoning, development permit, building permit and demolition permit pro- cess, and all applications affecting heritage resources will be referred to the advisory committee for review and recommendation to municipal staff and council. Owners of the most important heritage resources will be en- couraged to assist with further documentation and to request vol- untary designation of their proper- ty under the Heritage Conservation Act, while owners of secondary resources will be encouraged to carry out sensitive renovation, res- toration and redevelopment. ‘There is no financial incentive to voluntarily designate your property. It’s a matter of pride.”’ —WYV planner Richard Wagner Council was a little concerned, however, with what heritage des- ignation would entail for the homeowner and municipality. “This is not a controversial work,’’ Interim Heritage Advisory Committee chairman Wallace Beck assured council. ‘dU’s something the homeowner should feel comfortable with,” Beck said. Municipal social planner Richard Wagner explained that the district would only be responsible for maintenance of a_ heritage property, or compensation to an owner, if it was involuntarily des- ignated. For instance, a house in a multiple-family zoned area would decrease in value if it received heritage status, and the municipality would be liable for compensation. The committee is only suggesting that the district put heritage desig- nation on the primary heritage resources that are municipally owned. The old ferry terminal building being restored at the foot of 14th is the first building to have received this distinction. Those voluntarily designating their property would be responsi- ble for upkeep and would be restricted as to possible renovation or redevelopment. “There is no financial incentive to voluntarily designate your property. It’s a matter of pride,’’ explained Wagner. Beck said that the heritage in- ventory is Jikely one of the most comprehensive in the province. “We hope that future gencra- tions will look back on this as rather an important step in the preservation of our heritage,’’ said Beck.