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A PARADE Saturday kicked off the Canada Day and Folkfest celebrations. For six-year-old Sabina, above
left, the parade was the perfect opportunity to show what she had Jearned as a Rangeretie Rascal Club member.
Members of the North Vancouver Intermediate Youth Band, below, also got to strut their stuff on Lonsdale.
Members of the North Vancouver Lion’s Club, top right, manned the pancake and sausage grill. In photo
below right, Leslie, 8, with puppy Kiwi, enjoys the parade from the sidelines. The North Shore News also
sported a float in the parade, which featured local newspaper carriers.

3 - Wednesday, June 25,1986 - North Shore NewS

CANADA DAY, FOLKFEST KICK OFF
N. Shore on parade

1401 Lonadole

B

NORTH VAN BOY FIGHTS ON
Friends support burn victim

THE MOTHER of 13-year-old Mike Pinette says she’s glad
her son’s classmates had the chance to meet him before he
was seriously burned in a house fire last week.

“He’s going to be different, but
the kids are more than willing (to
remain friends with Mike) —
they’ve known him for who he is,"’
said Barb Pinette.

“} just wish everyone who reads
about him knew him.”

Last March Mike enrolled in
grade seven at Ridgeway Elemen-
tary School after his family moved
to North Vancouver from

Reporter

Kelowna.

On June !6 he suffered third-
degree burns to 65 per cent of his
body after an apparent explosion
in his family’s rented East Fourth
duplex.

Fire officials are still in-
vestigating cause of the explosion.

Pinette and her husband Dan
visited Mike’s school Friday to
answer questions the children had:
about Mike’s condition.

“We wanted them to understand
and certainly not to lose faith. And
to keep in touch because there's
going to be a time when he'll need
them.

“We've assured the kids when
the time comes we'll make sure
everyone gets in to see him if that’s
what Mike wants,"’ she said,
noting visits are not likely until
September.

‘‘He’s still in intensive care. His

burns are very bad. I don’t think it
could get any worse.”’

OPERATION SERIES

She said since the accident Mike
has undergone a series of skin
graft operations to remove all of
the burnt skin from his legs and
right arm.

She said he was expected to have
the burnt skin removed from his
left arm Sunday, but a ‘Stouch of
pneumonia’ delayed the opera-
tion.

“He's got a lot of fight in him.
li’s a very tiring time, but he's

strong,”’ she said.

Pinette said the family ap-
preciates the community suppert
they’ve received, and on the
weekend was able to find a home
to rent in the same neighborhood.

Last Sunday team members
from Mike's baseball team helped
the family move.

‘It’s comforting to know so
many people are’ concerned.
Everyone is trying their best to be
strong for Mike,"’ she said.

“We've got no idea what the
future will bring — I just want him
back.”