2 — Sunday, August 8, 1999 — North Shore News From page 1 Chandler, Pilar Izzard inquired after Corbet’s knighthood. Tzzard’s husband, West Vancouver artist Daniel Izzard had resigned from the academy in June. Corbet “received this hon- sur in May of this year by recommendation of FIM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother,” Chandler informed the Izzards in his e-mail response. The knighthood had been kept quict because “Christian and his father, Lord Corbet, felt that it be best. that such an honour be held in a reserved manner.” A letter from the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, St. Jemes’ Palace in London, confirmed no record of a Sir Christian Cardell Corbet or investiture of knighthood. When contacted by the News on Thursday, Corbet, who signs his name followed ‘by the letters “Kr, PCPA, FRSA,” confirmed that the initials Kr do in fact stand for eknight” and that this hon- our was bestowed upon him “by recommendation of a couple of members in the Canadian Portrait Academy.” The title was purchased for $150 US from a Victoria-based mail-order and Interne: company, Nobilitat Regalia, which issues “certificates of honour of knighthood” with the disclaimer that they arc “in no way to be accepted as dignities conferred by HM. the Queen or ler appointed representatives.” Of his supporters who bought him the title, Corbet said: “They just thought it was something nice, a litde bit extra to give to some guy who has given so much to "Canadian art, who has pUurG put together these exlvbitions and who puts out aa additional $10,000 to $15,000 a year ir order to keep it running.” Of his detractors, he saict. “I trust that these people should maybe find something a little better to do with their time than to be sitting back and nailing some young guy for forming 2 nation- al portrait academy.'] don’t believe that any of those people are truly here to benefit Canadian art when they play these ridiculous Pm-going-to-get-you games.” While Corbet calls the royal commotion much ado about nothing, Payne and other members of the iocal artistic commu- nity think otherwise. “{t’s a matter of integrity,” said Payne. It has also raiscd the ire of members of Corber’s three-year- old portrait academy, a self-supporting, body of elected painters and sculptors. Victoria portrait artist David Goatley, 45, an “associate acad- emician” with the CPA, this past week asked the academy fora fall refund of bis membership dues, a sum of $175 which he paid out last month. Goatley says he joined the academy because “I think the sucitty’s aims — to promote portraiture in Canada — are excellenz. “The society, to its president's credit, has done a good job of promoting portraiture, and drawing together a really quite high calibre of artists for its exhibitions.” Goatley had reconsidered his membership, however, because he was “unhappy with the bona fide credentials of its president. I’m not sure that his claims about himself are borne out by the facts.” Father of dead man alleges police threat From page Rory Manning was among five people struck by a Jan. 27 avalanche on the - Grouse Grind trail. Four people survived. The 24-year-old Ontario man’s body was found May 24 by NSR volunteers. An autopsy concluded he suffocated. Manning claims RCMP Insp. Keith Thorne threatened him with arrest after he wanted access to the trail to find his son. Manning also claims Thorne told him in front of six witnesses that such a search would disrupt the operations of Grousc Mountain. “And I quote,” Manning said, “there’s a ski business tu be conducted on this mountain and you guys are just. going to realize that.” - Manning said the objective of his com- plaint is twofold: “When there’s risk per- ceived on a:mountain around a heavily ulated area that the appropriate pre- cautions be taken. And when Comething does happen to people in our situation, that the police i investigation be conducted by somebody who has some training in how to behave ‘towards people in a crisis situation, not scmebody who i is going to threaten them with arrest.” Thorne was unavailable for comment Friday. Said Graham: “It’s not as if we’ve done somethinz wrong, it’s a question of how (M anning) felt we should search quicker and we can explain why we didn’t. If he’s concerned about comments of a particular officer, then we can explain those com- ments in the proper context and show that, in our view, there’s nothing improp- es, Graham said Manning was never threstened with arrest. He was simply told that an unauthorized search ending in fur- ther injuries or death would net Manning and CAST criminal negligence charges. “The decision to send people i into the mountainous arca was mine,” Graham said. “These are the decisions you make in hazardous situations. I would not put my resources or North Shore Rescue volun- teers at any substantial risk to recover human remains. We're not trying to be cold about this, but that’s the sad reality of working in mountainous rescue situa- tions.” Manning filed a statement of claim in B.C. Supreme Court July 27. He claims the RCMP, B.C. Ministry of Artorney- General, Grouse Mountain, Greater Vancouver Regional District and the North Shore’s municipal governments contributed to Rory’s death by negli- gence. OF PARK ROYAL. THE artist with his 1997 portrait of the iste Princess: * of Wales, reportedly a gift for Diana's sons. . BIGGEST PRIZE POOL in GREATER VANCOUVE 7 $15,000 i-l PRIZES. REFEREES IN ALL AGE DIVISIONS. EVENT T-SHIRTS FOR ALL PLAYERS. - SKILLS COMPETITIONS. : ; ENTER Ar PARK ROYAL on ANY Y SUPERSTAR CALL THE SLAM LINE 922-1233 ® ease EATON’S Times have changed. ‘north shore.