> “ | Centre’s plans now 2 in jeopardy a From page everybody else.” Horton said the resource centre on disabilities Mountain & Elighway was one of four beneficia- ries of the Antigua Challenge, a golf @ tournament held at Point Grey Golf -and Country Club in May. The event attracted some big names in the golf world, including Ryder Cup player ark O'Meara. . The event, said Horton, was orga- nized by Golfsport. The company’s principal was Brian Slobogian, a West im. Vancouver resident who is also sole director and ane of two principals of ‘the embattled Eron Mortgage. The firm’s licence was pulled Oct. Bae 3 by B.C. registrar of mortgage bro- : fee investor’s knowledge, conducted kers Robert Hobart. ‘.. He alleges that Eron’s operations resulted in the company being in a ma conflict of interest. - :. Hobart added Eron switched funds between projects without the improper risk evaluations, and had k-keeping problems.” .. “Essentially, some investors may be unsecured for much of their investment,” said Hobart. Horton fears the centre’s $30,000 is gone. “My. understanding,” said Horton, “is that Mi (Golfsport) is one of the multiple companies Brian connected to that have been frozen. We haven't r Our Money from May 18 and it’s unlikely we il get our money.” - ; oon tnapho snr centre made calls £0 { rt throughout July, August and Septem and: got the run around. She said the group has been told that a major sponsor had.“not come fee through” and that a cheque had been cut. SWe’ve been getting all kinds of answers.” ‘The grants the charity has applied for require that the charity raise funds and the grants provide matching amounts. “So now we have empty space and a garage sale coming up that will not raise anywhere near the kind of money we need,” said Horton. Horton said the money was to be the organiza- tion’s contribution to a new library and resource centre for the more than 200 people who use the centre’s services cach year. ef aoe The group wanted to turn empty office’ space ‘ into a library, including con:puters with Internet access and large-print . The centre’s board plans to mect on Oct. 20 to discuss whether the centre can continue with the project or has to put it on hold, said Horton. Horton said the resource entre provided 50 NEWS photo Terry Peters NORTH Shore Disability Resource Centre board president Pam Horton wants to knock some wails down to build a library, but a $30,000 kick-start to the project has been stalled. volunteers for the golf tournament and coordinat- ed an auction and a gala banquet. The year before, the resource centre was also involved in a Golfsport golf tournament. That event, called the West Coast Classic, took place at Swan-e-Set Bay Resort and Country Club in Pitt Meadows. The tournament featured long-ball attraction ; Johin Daly and raised $20,000}for thesesoutce cen- The phone number at Golfsport.is ‘ho longer in service. Price Waterhouse said Golfsport is part of Capital Productions Incorporated. Price Waterhouse added that Capital is not in receiver- ship, but is scheduled to be in receivership by the end of the week by court order. Talk, says Joy By fan Noble News Keporter fan@nsnews.com HEALTH Minister Joy MacPhail has a message for feuding North Shore doctors and the North Shore Health Region — start talking. “If they cannet work out their differences without out- side assistance we will look at a mediation process. But really we ite urging the doctors to sit down with the board first. “The best solutions will come through agreement and consensus,” said MacPhail Tuesday afternoon. The doctors cancelled a mecting that was supposed to be held Tussday with board Chairman Diana Hutchinson. At the time, the doctors thought the Ministry of Health was working on an “initiative” and didn’t want to pre-empt.it. by meeting with | Hutchinsoat 2 ho oP. Sl: “I guess there was a misun- | derstanding “on that,” said MacPhail. “It’s unfortunate. I would urge them to meet now.” district denies charge ™ uid-be guardian askéd the judge if she would “approve ”'so that the boy can go to school. “He is a good student,” ett replied, “That’s something between you and the «The next case involved a 16-year-old buy already enrolled in ’s 5 ing school in Vancouver. The mother of the tified that her textile business in Iranisun ~ ; She isa landéd immigrant in Canada. Ra She did not nor want her son in Iran because he would have to. 50 into the anny and, “I want mehigch education.” - The mother said.she would “ ian; was a -West.Vancouver-man who has nown the family for 15 years. “I have concerns with what I find to be busi- ss‘ interests of parents taking precedent over ental obligations,” said Burdett. She'said teenagers often need more help from ts: tan’ younger children, particularly if y are:new to the country. “Tam a gure concemed about misplaced pri- ,” said Bi . school. dge said she was “very reluctant” to ardianship order, but did not wish to boy’s education. “Georges _associate-principal John ce said the school’s policy is that parents, 10. for, whatever. reason, are away from home long period have a guardian for their child. ne“The court system maybe needs to under- 5 ‘that these kids are really at risk if the Is do not have adequate information to tify a guardian because in some cases idianship is a fleeting and a very plastic con- id Lawrence. : id guardianship has become an issue in vo years and that administrators at his not tell the parents to go to court for ‘changes. ncouver District 44 School Board pw, Hesnwood said a report was pre- pared last year t so-called “satellite kids.” at We were secing were a lot of relatively bogus guardian- arrangements,” said: Heywood. “It seems certain families Certain countries aren’t particularly fussed about giving away ariship' of their children in order to have them educated ae That’s what Jud; a ptoper gu: H ‘Heywood ‘said the School Act stipulates that students must have family or guardians living in the community. He said it is the court’s job to decide who is a suitable guardian and denied the school district advised parents to get guardianship changes. As to the judge's school board criticism, Heywood said, “Excuse me, bur these are che guys who are in charge of inter- preting laws, not school boards. For them to be taking a prima donna attitude that we are causing inconvenience for them, I'm sorry, that’s their job.” Heywood said it is beyond the mandate of the school board if Safe schooi environment !auded by applicant IT was unfortunate that North Vancouver Schooi District 44 caused a family to come to court to formalize an anicable guardianship arrangement. Ellen Burdett said last month during family court to a North Vancouver couple who decided to have their nephew from United States live with them for a year. The couple and the 16-year-old boy were before the Lourt so that they could become legal guardians of the teenager. The teenager wanted to be enrolled at a North Vancouver secondary Said Judge Burdett, “Whe said to come here?” The aunt testified, “The princi told the principal had to be done. The aunt testified that her nephew lived in a violent part of a U.S. city. When the teenager took the stand, he told the judge that it was “nice up here” and that he “didn’t have to worry about people carrying guns and people shooting at you.” As to his U.S. high school he said, “There are metal detectors and everything and you have to worry about what's going to happen to you.” The judge asked him if he was going to miss his mother and siblings. “Yes,” he said softly. The teenager added he planned to go to college. His uncle testified that it was in the teenager’s best interest to live in North Vancouver. “Down there, he constantly has to Jook over his shoulder,” said the uncle. The judge said that an informal arrangement such as this one between brothers and sisters over the care of nieces and nephews was not unusual. What was unusual and unfortunate was ihe school board’s involvement, said the judge. North Vancouver District 44 School Board chairman Guy Heywood said the board does not give parents legal advice concerning guardianship changes. received its own legal advice that indicated the board was not competent to determine who was ardian for a child. Thar is the job of the court. leywood questioned why the teenager in this situation was entitled to receive a free public education rather than paying $12,000 as a fee-paying forcign student. —Anna Marie D’Angelo there is a problem with the law. West Vancouver District 45 School Board Chairman Clive Bird was unavailable to press time. Meanwhile dunng one family court day last month before Judge Doug Moss, the court dealt with two applications of vol- untary ianship changes. : In. the ‘first instance, 2 man-and pvo young women stood pal phoned the school board and that’s what the school board ¢ said that the school board before the judge. : The man said that he would like to be his niece’s guardian for the next eight months. The niece, 16, was with a friend who came along to act as interpreter. The uncle explained the girl’s parents - were in Taiwan. A lawyer prepared the change of guardianship application. Judge Moss told the man he was not going to accept a lawyer’s “blanket statement” that it was in the child’s best interest for him to be her guardian. The judge toid the man to take the stand. The man gave evidence thar he had lived in North Vancouver for six years, and that he was a Canaclian citizen, 51 and retired. The judge questioned how someone who was 51 could be retired. The man spoke softly and ralked about doing volunteer work in helping people from his original country. The judge checked out some papers that stated the girl’s parents were landed immigrants who intended to reside permanently in North Vancouver. The witness said the girl’s father was last here, the week previous, on Sept. 1. The parents were in Taiwan selling their home. The father is a captain in the navy. He will visit North Vancouver in October and return here perma- nently in June, said the witness. “Just a coincidence that that is the end of the schoo! year,” said the judge. The witness said the parents deposited $2,000 into an account for their daughter. The witness said he charged the girl $600 a month room and board. The judge granted the guardianship change to be in effect until June. But the judge said he had concerns that the school board was “pushing” on to the court the obligation of assessing who was a fit guardian, believing that a family court counsellor should probably do a proper assessment in these cases. Earlier, another uncle wanted to be ian of his nephew so the 17-year-old could go to school in West Vancouver. The boy's mother. from Alberta said her son did not like the school system there. Said Tudge Moss, “The only reason you are here is because uic schou! board is not going to accept hin) unless he is guardian.” The boy is covered by Alberta medical and his parents are to pay for extra school costs. The judge said again, “Clearly you are aly asking for this because the school board has directed you to lo so.” . : ; The teen denied the school board said anything. . ” The judge granted the'voluntary guardianship change.