GVRD DENIES RESPONSIBILITY Mystery oil spill iil A SECOND oil spill in Burrard Inlet is being blamed for the oiled birds found on the North Shore and Vancouver, ac- cording to environmental cfficials. And its location remains a “‘mystery,’’ despite week-long search efforts by Environment Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service. An Environment Canada spokesman said the Greater Van- couver Regional District is respon- sible for the first, one-mile long spill of diesel — near the south end By KIM PEMBERTON News Reporter of Second Narrows Bridge. Spokesman Sheila Ritchie said the spill came from the Greater Vancouver Water District's pump- ing station, But GVWD operations superin- a NEWS photo Mike Wakelleld SUSAN DOUGANS of the Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. and a volunteer clean one of the slick stricken ducks. The ducks are bathed in warm water, coated with cornstarch to soak up the oil, and finally fed a | nutrient and stomach coating. is waterfowl tendent Huns Krause denied the spill originated at the 29-year-old Station. “Ever since they started to point the finger I’ve looked into it, but I'm quite sure it wasn’t us,’’ he said. “We haven't lost any diesel from our pumps. They’ve got a big deal somewhere and they want to come up with an answer and any answer will do. I'm just fed up with this.” Canadian Wildlife Service biologist Rick McKelvey confirmed diesel is not affecting the birds. “There are no reports of birds with diesel on them. These birds, and it’s a relatively small number, have a very thick, black oil on them,’’ he said. McKelvey said it is not known whether a freighter is responsible for the second oil spill. “I can't say categorically it was a freighter. We had a lot of foggy conditions and it could be any other ship deciding to clean their bilge,” he said. The Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. and Stanley Park Zoo are helping environmental agencies care for some of the birds, but both are reporting difficulties. Susan Dougans, coordinator cf the rescue association, said many birds have resisted capture and face the possibility of dying from exposure. “Once the birds get oil on them they’ve lost their water-proofing. A lot have died from the cold ocean water. Hopefully they'll come to shore, but a lot are staying out,’? she said. Dougans said 34 ducks have been brought to the shelter — from Stanley Park, the Capilano area, Deep Cove and Brighton Park. Larry Lesage, curator of Stanley Park Zoo, said between 50 and 70 birds were counted with oil on their feathers off Stanley Park. But rescuers have only been able to capture 15 ducks, mostly scaups. “Unfortunately we have high tides and they can’t get on the beach,’’ he said. He estimates the survival rate for the birds at 20 per cent. Dougans said if anyone finds a distressed bird he should wrap it in a towel to prevent it from digesting the oil, and contact the rescue association at 420-1320. Christmas food drive donations up for ‘86 CHRISTMAS FOOD donations to two local Christmas charities were ‘‘way up’’ this year but the number of needy families fed is down, the organizations report. “The total figures were up and the number of families was down,”’ said North Vancouver Christmas Bureau head Ida Pad- dock. ‘‘But the food was way, way up.” In West Vancouver, West Van- couver Santa Claus Fund head Ruth Stout also said the number of hampers distributed was down slightly from last year’s total. ‘“*We packed 244 food hampers,”’ said Stout. ‘‘Last year it was 256 hampers.”’ Food hampers were stuffed with all sorts of goodies, Stout said. “Everything you can think of, everything a family would need to keep them going a while.’’ As well, the NVCB’s Toyshop By STEPHEN BARRINGTO News Reporter and the WVSCF's toy hampers were a big success. “We had more clients than ever,’’ Paddock said of the Toyshop, where parents of needy children could come and ‘shop’ for Christmas toys for their tots. The WVSCF gave away 15 bikes, Jovingly repaired and Testored by West Vancouver firefighter Don Steinbart, to help make some local youngsters a bit more happy. Both organizations credit the News with helping to make the drive a success. The News, along with 43 local businesses, helped to collect food for hampers. Starting Nov. 30, depots were set up as drop-off points for food donations and the banners, posters and window screamers helped spark awareness of the drive. News efforts fired up the com- munity to give from the heart, said Paddock. The helping spirit was greater this year, said Paddock, ‘‘I credit the News.’” News promotions administrator Janice Silver said that in the past people had automatically used the News as a food depot for the two Christmas charities. “We needed more drop-offs because there were so many people out there who needed to give,” said Silver. ‘‘More people are wan- ting to become involved.” 3 - Friday, January 9, 1987 - North Shore News WV lawyer jailed for theft A 41-YEAR-OLD West Vancouver Jawyer was sentenced to six years in jail Tuesday ‘after be pleaded guilty to defrauding his company, the FPI Develo>™~ -nt Corp., of about $1.2 million. Charles Danielson, president of the company’s B.C. branch at the time of the thefts, used forged documents to get the cash, which he spent on houses in West Vancouver and Whistler, travel and cars. In November, he pleaded guilty to stealing the money from FPI between January 1985 and April 1986. Revenue Canada discovered the missing money while in- vestigators were looking at the FPI’s tax status on April 11, but Danielson voluntarily divulged his crime to the RCMP on April 29. No appeal of the sentence is planned by Danielson’s lawyers. jody found off wharves THE BODY of a native man was recovered off the rocks near Vancouver Wharves, at the foot of Capilano Road, Monday around 2:45 p.m. A spokesman from Ports Canada Police said foul play is not suspected. An autopsy was carried out Tuesday, and initial reports indicate death was by drowning. Dead is Harvey Benson, 51, of Vancouver. ‘ I . Bomb planted. in car. A SMALL bomb was rigged by wire to the starting circuit ‘of a North Vancouver woman’s car Sunday... - North Vancouver RCMP said the woman had parked her car in the 1400 block of Lonsdale. When she went to start it at approx- imately 3:40 a.m. there was a loud explosion, and flames shot into the air. Police said the car had no hood before the explosion. The woman was not turt, and RCMP are investigating. Police ‘warn of raffle fraud TWO YOUTHS selling raffle tickets for ‘the North Vancouver Boy’s Choir raised the suspicions of a North Vancouver woman : Wednesday. The woman asked the youths to prove they were legitimate, and. one obliged by singing Jingle Bells and provided’ an official's name and phone number, which turned out to be false. Unfortunately the woman hed purchased twa $5 tickets before. calling the number. North Vancouver RCMP searched the area, in the 200 block of East 21st Street, but were not successful in locating the pair. A spokesman requested if other residents have been approached that they call the RCMP. Police noted that the possible prize of the raffle was a 1986 Volkswagen Rabbit. Both youths are described as approximately 18 years old, medi- um build, wearing jeans and black, leather jackets. One had dirty blond, curly hair, while the other had short, straight biond hair. INDEX Classified Ads..... 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