2 — Sunday, October 12, 1997 — North Shore News N. Shore law services win reprieve Zui funding for Iccal community law office to be chepped by 26% By ian Noble News Reporter ian@nsnews.com THE Legal Services Society’s threat to pull the plug on subsidized law services on the Norch Shore has been retracted. But not all the news is good for the North Shore Community Law Office, which runs under the stewardship of North Shore Community Services. Community services director Kim Collett ce) Oe Yo Books, Brick-A-Brac says the law office’s $345,447 budget will be cut by 26%, or $89,816 next year. Sull, the reduction is better than the alter- native --- the loss of what are called “poverty law” services, which help che poor, disabled and these who don’t speak English well. “It feels absolutely fantastic, the Legal Services Society’s decision te contin- ue funding local services. “It's a service the community desperately needs.” She agreed the 26% hit is large, but added that restructuring will allow poverry law: ser- vices to be retained. Collett said the community services board received word of the budget curt last Monday, so beard members will have to sit down and determine how services will be restructured. Monday’s announcement means the poor and disabled will continue to have access to legal services in areas such as bankruptcy, All Clothing (except pink tags) ” said Collert of Canada Pension Plan, housing, haman rights, (CBC claims, insurance, fame changes, emplovment insur- ance and workers’ compensation. After the Legal! Services Society announced the ini- tial chop in the sum- mer, an alarmed Collett told the News that poverty law clients would theoretically be able to use a legal aid office at Robson and Seymour downtown. But that office is already overloaded and COMMUNITY ser- vices director Kim Collett now faces testructuring task. Martial Arts more than 80% of the North Shore clients ar disabled, making travel to downtown difficult said Collett. The Legal Services Society, which doles out money given to it by Victoria to legal aid offices in B.C., announced the cuts were to be part of a $2-million trimming. The Legal Services Society was facing Victoria-imposed funding cuts itself. a The North Shore and Langley offices were# to be scrapped and renlaced with “enhanced area directors.” : But that plan has been shelved. Society board chairman Pinder Cheema said: “We reconsidered an earlier decision to close these offices because over the summer we | received additional information that demon- § strates the clusure would create an undue hard- |S ship on people in Langley and North Vancouver, especially on these who necd §f poverty- -law services.” Sylvan solves math problems. A thorough assessment uncovers a student's skill gaps and pinpoints exactly where the learning process has broken down. § % That's important because it allows @ Sylvan to develop 2 personalized program that is the key to your one F REE month Plus an official martial $9995 arts uniform only & FUN & FITNESS * CONFIDENCE x * SELF DEFENCE * SELF DISCIPLINE * for you & your family * Ages § and up OM Furniture & & Appliances R call Sylvan today. West Vanconves 4e Sylvan [aA igarning 926-3365 ‘b entr Helping kids oz their best.” ron 1 The Salvation Army _ ey Thrift Store aon : 241 Lonsdale, North Van 980-4413 Fe Call today 984-0947 to reserve your place 1525 Welch St., North Vancouver (top floor) Season Pass Early bird Deadline October 3 97 All season passes come with a guarantee: * Our guarantee is applied automatically to all passes * We guarantee a minimum number of operating days according to the pass you purchase If we don’t meet our minimum, your discount for the following season is GUARANTEED. Please call us at our guest services office at 926-5612 — or drop by Cypress Mountain Sports at Park Royal Shopping Centre from 10 am daily. CYPRESS BOWL = THE BEST IN LOCAL SKIING SHUTTLE BUS 878-9229