“| NEWS photo Poul McGrath LEFT to right, teacher Jim Adams, student John McLaughtin and past participant Pamela Hollingworth. Friday, April 21, 2000 - North Shore News - 2? Ors in their own country Forum fer Young Canadians opens government doors Jan-Christian Sorensen Contributing Writer A Handsworth secondary school teacher is in a class all his own. Histery teacher Jim Adams is the only instructor in the country to have twice been selected to participate in Forum for Young Canadians — a non profit program that gives high school students and teachers trom across the country a backstage pass to same of the nation’s most notable political land- marks. Held annually in Ottawa, Forum is divided into four week-long seminars and features guided tours of the House of Commons, Senate and Supreme Court, among other tederal buildings. Each year across the country senior high schools are encouraged to nomi- nate up to three eligible students for the program on the basis of academic stand- ing, interest in politics and community involvement. Forum organizers then cull that list down to just over 500 students. A total of 52 students from across British Columbia took part in this year’s edition, held during the end of March and first-half of April. Two other teach. ers also represented the province during the event. Adams, who last took part in Forum in 1992, was part of a contingent that presented a “Youth Manifesto for che ‘Twenty-first Century” to the Senate. The document, which oudined youth Community space added Anna-Louise Pentland e. Contributing Writer “THE upgrading of : Capilano Mali will go ‘ahead, but not quite as ® planned. - The owner, Beutel Goodman Real Estate Group, has agreed to provide the extra 3,100 square feet of community space North. Vancouver City council demand- ed before letting the project con- tinue. On April 10, a request by the Beutel Goodman went to council to rezone the site to accommo- date about 95,000 square feet of additional space, to be split even- ity between retail and a new 10- } theatre movie complex. The 2,900 square feet of cur- rent community space is used for f°a meeting room and by North hore. Community Services for office space. aa The additional 3,100 square ame fect had = been requested to mee accommodate the Child Care ésource Society, which is merg- ing with the NSCS this spring. |. . At Monday’s council meeting, ‘Alan Boniface, an architect with Christopher Bozyk Architects Ltd., said Beutel Goodman will agree to provide the extra space. - “There’s a clear history of public space in the building. The m owner is quite willing ta meet the needs of the community,” he said. Boniface also said the request would cost B the owner about 25% of their 24,000 square M feet of available office space. He estimated B the rents would be $10-$15 per foot, costing the owners about $60,000 to $90,000 per Pmonth. - The proviso to accepting the request is that the operating costs of the space contin- ue “to be paid by the community. These clude utilities, security and property taxes. Lisa Stuible, treasurer of the board of the NSCS, said she was surprised and pleased development eapectatons on such rsucs as world Pouce, education and econonuc develop ment, was drafted by over 350 vouths from I75) countries Caring a World Parhament of Children held last year in France. It's a document that Adams would like to present to the provincial govern: ment as well. given the opportunity. He said that while one benefit ot Forum is the open-deor access granted tor both heuses of Parliament, the most valuable experience by far was the opportunity, to meet the people that work there everyday — figures such as the Hon. Speaker of the House Gilbert Parent and Hon. Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gras, who both took time to talk to the group. They were also entertained by Governor-General: Adrienne Clarkson, who held a question and answer session betore hosting 4 reception for the partic ipants at Rideau Hall. “Forum is an attempt to get people behind the scenes and deal with the neg- ative impressions that they have (of gov- ernment),” said Adams. “You just can’t get access like this anywhere else.” He said the program served to open his eves about the true daily demands placed on an MP. “Don't ever tell me about the lazi- ness of civil servants in Ottawa. If any- body can hack that pace, they're doing well.” John McLaughlin, a Grade 1) stu- dent at St. Thomas Aquinas School in North Vancouver City, welcomed the opportunity to garner a fet hand look ar rhe janer workings of government “Tt was really fun meeting all the dit ferent people trom around Canada and seeing how government works.” he said. “Seeing it live sso much different.” McLaughlin said thar the program's rigorous daily schedule fest linte cine for shut-eve. “fr was just session after session,” he said. “We only got about four hours of sleep a night.” bor the first time in Forun’s 24-vear history, international contingents of stu- dents and teachers trom as far away as Australia, [reland and Russia were also Invited to participate. Adams said the addition of foreign delegations afforded him a rare opportu: nity to compare notes with colleagues around the world and discuss differences in methods and curriculum. He would like to see the inclusion of international participants be made a reg- ular part of the program trom now on. It’s a notion that Forum for Young Canadians executive director Clare Baxter fully supports. “All the templates are there and it should be a very easy thing to do,” she said. “A lot of countries have already expressed an interest in participating.” Adams said that the friendships he forged with teachers from afar will last forever. “It was the most emotional week Ive ever spent,” said Adzms. “There were days where we were misty-eyed. We con- sider ourselves ambassadors now.” NEWS photo Terry Peters. PARK Royal Hotel owner Gregg Holubitsky and independent consultant-pis~ner Bob Heaslip announced plans to replace the existing hotel with a larger one. H NORTH Shore Community Services will be grow- ing at Capilano Mall. Joshua, 4, (foreground) and mother Lisa Stuible along with Joshua’s sister Savannah and Li Boesen, welcome the news. with the owner's quick decision. “We're very excited — it's fantastic. It works both ways though, We bring a lot of people into the mail and they offer us che space,” she said. Boniface said that “sod will be turned” by January 2001, but that it is possible extra community space may be provided to NSCS before then, if it is available. “Though I don’t think they (the owners) have any legal requirement to do so until they have their. permit in hand,” he said: From page 1 plans go ahead. Further public information meetings will also be held with neighbouring businesses and residents. Holubitsky’s family has owned, operated and managed the hotel since 1973 along with well-known restaurateur Mario Corsi. The current partners have stated their intentions “to continue to play an integral part in the ownership and management of the new hotel facility.” Fans of the past can rest assured. Lots of big fireplaces and stained glass features will be tel requires approvals included in the new design. Holubitsky also wants to assure his regular patrons that while there may be new walls, there will still be old-world spirit and charm. Heaslip agreed. “The .neat thing about being able to build a new hotel is that it allows you to create new memories, capture old ones and involve the environment,” he said. Progress will depend on district staff, coun- cil and municipal advisory committee reviews, If the approval process gues as planned, a pub fe bearing could be scheduled as early as this Construction vould begin in the spring of 2001, with a spring 2002 opening. TransLink seeks public input TRANSLINK is working with municipalities on the North Shore to develop a plan to better serve res- idents* transit needs. The plan is know as the North Shore Area Transit Plan, and is intended to improve tran- sit service on routes within the North Shore and to other major municipal centres. TransLink will host open houses and work- shops to collect public input on a number of potential transit service improvements. Open houses are scheduled as follows: @ Wednesday, April 26 at Parkgate Library (located in Parkgate Village), 3675 Bantf Court, North Vancouver. Open house from 4- 7 p.m., workshop from 7-9 p.m. @ Thursday, April 27 at Lonsdale recCentre, 123 E. 23rd: St., North Vanccuver. Open house frora 4-7 p.m., workshop from 7-9 p.m.