x north shore news ____MAIL Box | Numbers not the Issue in day care Dear Editor: Re: Kids’ care North Shore News Viewpoint, Friday, June 20. T was amazed at the viewpoint thar the North Shore News has regarding child care on the North Shore. As our schools’ enroll- ments increase, so do those of day cares. After all, every school-age child was once a preschooler! We live in an urban society that is quick to push aside the safety and needs of our most vulnerable members, instead of adopting, a sharing and caring role. To say that the issue of space for children is 24 versus 410 is like say- ing night versus day. There are currently 18 preschool age pro- grams operating on school grounds that I am aware of in North Vancouver. The North Van school trustees have been very supportive and have generously shared valuable and appropriate space for child care settings on schoo! grounds. The trustees are continuing this supportive role by considering an extenuation to the Pemberton Heights Family Support Society and providing support for relocation. Capilano School had a population of 434 in 1971, 224 in 1981, 277 in 1991. They have Summit wanting atop WV’s Mount Strachan Dear Editor: built several new classrooms within the school and are able to maiatain separate band and computer rooms. Three new portables will be added this vear to accommodate the expansion of the staff room, an ESL and LAC room and student population. The school's principal, Lowell Jackic, predicted the student population for 1997 to be 440. The actual enrolment for 1997 was 381. His prediction for 1998 is 410. In 1993 to 1994, the school’s population actually dropped from 369 to 344. North Vancouver District has issued build- ing permits for the three portables for nwo sep- arate sites, and there were no concerns regard- ing the day care staying. Unfortunately, keeping fees affordable for families, meeting jicensing requirements and maintaining programs, equipment and space, leaves no profits for day cares to afford luxuries such as moving about. We must continue working together as a community to accommodate the needs of all children, regardiess of age or numbers. Judie Smith North Vancouver Immigrant impact assessed I have just learned of the exciting proposal to build a restaurant atop Mount Strachan. That land has been lying vacant for far too many years now, and it’s about time it was put to its highest and best use. However, the proposal as it stands is much too modest: adjoining the restaurant there really should be a destination casino. Clearly (as Premier Clark would preface it), gaming would be taken to new heights. Appropriately, both build- ings ought to be constructed of the remainder of the nearby ancient trees (after the bulk of the cut had been sent to Japan as cants). . Up to now, excessive stress has been placed on Cypress Bowls so-called natural values. It could be said that this alpine area has been characterized by too much silence, too much snow and too many trees. As my Lancashire grandmother would have put it: “There's summit wanting here.” Tom Taylor West Vancouver A walk on the dark side Dear Editor: T passed the scene of an accident yesterday and thought of Doug Collins. Dear Editor: Re: “Immigrants are a drain on taxpayers”: Fact or fiction? SFU’s Dr. Don DeVorerz addressed the issue in a recent speech on “Ethics, Economics and Immigration.” Over their lifetime, the average immigrant to the City of Vancouver pays $30,000 to $40,000 more into the national treasury than they take out in services, including English language training. In other words, immi- grants are paying for services enjoyed by Canadian-born residents. In B.C., 24% of the popu- lation is foreigs. born, while 4% of welfare recipients are immigrants, this despite the fact that many immigrants find themselves unable to practice their professions in An hour later, I realized why, I make it a point not to read Doug Collins’ column, just because I don’t like to make myself angry for no good reason. But sometimes | can't help myself. It is like passing the scene of an accident: you really don’t want to look, but that sick, dark side of you which is tucked away in the basest part of your being just has to have a peek. We all have the North Shore News to thank for giving us the opportunity to take our “shadow” out for a stro‘f once in a while. Joan Nuffield North Vancouver JoanNuffield@compuserve.com Teen suicide story appiauded Dear Editor: I was deeply touched by the article published on June 13 Darkest Moments. Michael Becker did a superb job in writing this powertul yet sensitive story. What strength and courage it nust have taken the Bradfield family to be interviewed during this tragic time of grief over their loss of Loren. Hopefully, their message of concern, forgiveness and love will reach the hearts of every citizen on the North Shore. Annabelle Dick West Vancouver Canada. This means most welfare recipients are Canadian-born. In B.C., immigrants create many more jobs than they take. While the prairie provinces have also benefited by immigration, the picture may not be as good in Toronto, which gets more refugees and fewer entrepre- neurs than B.C. Many people are rightly concerned about the impacts of immigration on their schools: overcrowding, the necessity for portables, the financial impacts of English language training. Dr. DeVoretz argues that if the “head tax” immigrants pay went to settlement ser- vices rather than general rev- enue, there would be a net benefit to our communities. 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