Bridge lights brighten the way 10 years Gracie’s Pearis a landmark LIONS GATE Bridge celebrates 10 years in lights tomorrow. By Layne Christensen Community Reporter The 170 100-w2 mercury vapor lamps. thai’ illuminate the bridge's “suspension cables were were first switched on Feb. 19, 1986. Then-premier Bill Bennett and Louise. Guinness, accompanied by edition of the News, argued they were too bright and a “glaring, cheap bit of tinsel.” But West Vancouver resident Frances Wellburn has only fond memories of the day the lights “winked on.” Wellbur, now 69, was aboard the Queen of Tsawwassen. “There was a dull flick then a pink glow. They got brighter and brighter and turned white,” she recalled. Today the lights still hold mean- NEWS photo TAKEN THE night of the light-up, this photo of Lions Gate Bridge snpore on the front page of the Feb. 21, 1986, edition of the North Shore News, The bridge was illuminated in time for Expo &6. , about 600 guests, officiated the light- - up from aboard the. Queen of Tsawwassen, in the harbor beneath the First Narrows. The ceremony kicked off the city's centennial celebrations and ushered in an event that would intro- duce Vancouver to the world, Expo ing to her and she sees them as “‘an extension of civility to the rest of the city.” . The string of ights soon came to be known as Gracie’s Pearls, after then-provincial secretary Grace McCarthy. It was her idea to show- _ case the bridge in time for Expo 86. -».- It was not McCarthy but the ‘Guinness family that made the lights a: reality: 'by.. donating _ $300,000 toward’ their purchase. The Guinnesses were the original owners of the bridge. The family commis- sioned jit in-1938 ‘and sold it to the “province in 1955... : While the lights have made Lions Gate ‘an intemational landmark, they - _were not loved by all when they were first switched on... : to: the: light-up ' were some ‘residents ‘of West Vancouver, | .One, quoted. in ‘the. Apel 18, 1986, WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL SYSTEM. * Over 91% of our students stay in school and graduate.( one of the highest rates in the province. » « North Vancouver students have the highest graduating Grade Point Average i in the province. * This district offers a wide variety of educational programs such as Outdoor school, band, strings, choir, : drama, athletics, continuing education, French immersion, co-op programs, ESL support, Special. Education, and a host of others, which all contribute to a high quality Teaming experience students and. parents value. a, ss . We believe that the excellence and diversity of our programs is one: of the reasons ou students stay in school and do so well. . ‘INEQUITABLE FUNDING IS THREATENING OUR success * We receive the fourth lowest per student funding of all 75 districts in the province. -¢ We receive $400 less per student than the provincial average * We receive $56 less per student than West Vancouver school district. + Over the last four years, per student funding has increased almost twice as fast across the province as ithas in North Vancouver. * The Minister of Education has stated that North Vancouver has been underfunded for years. In 1993, the Ministry of Education undertook a study on education funding and produced a report which oe proposed a fairer way to allocate funds to school districts. This new method of allocation would have § given North Vancouver $1.5 million more per year. Had the recommendations in that report been implemented, our sckool district would not be facing a $5 million deficit today. THERE [S A SOLUTION. To solve this schoo! district’s debt crisis, the Government does not have to spend more money. Ail it has to do is provide equitable funding for all districts. The facts speak for themselvcs. Eight years of chronic underfunding has resulted in a cumulative deficit of $5 million. With equitable funding, our school district will be able to maintain the excellent programs we all value and balance its budget. The Government needs to stop ignoring the problem of inequitable funding before the quality of education in our school district suffers irreparable damage. Save 20% during Lindal’s Winter SunRoom Sale, Add space and drama to your remodeling project and save thousands in the process. Hurry, © offer ends February 29th, 19961 4 Lindal SunRooms ladependently Distributed Bys All we ask is that North Vancouver get a fair share of education funds. Nothing more. Contact your local MLA or Minister of Education, Art Charboneau and ask that they provide equitable _ funding f for our district. SURREY POST & BEAM HOMES LTD. A message from the teachers of Schooi District 44 “Display Home & Sales Office - §574.King George Hwy. Surrey, B.C, V3X 3E9 Ph: 594-2799 Fax; 594-3281