6 - Sunday, September 20, 1986 - North Shore News News Viewpoint Get moving NOW! his fall, local government politicians and hope- fuls will be well advised to get moving carly. There's likely to be stiff competition for atten- tion. It now seems almost certain that Premier Vander Zalm will exercise the only sensible option open to him by calling a provincial election, with October 29 or 30 touted as the most probable date. In that case, with the closing of Expo and B.C.'s other pressing economic problems looming large, provincial candidates from all the parties can be expected to dominate the media, advertising resources and community hustings until November 1. That’s almost a week after nominations close for mayoralty, council and school board candidates in North Van District and West Van—the two municipalities where, this year, all seats are up for grabs—and only two short weeks before local voters go to the polls again on November 15. Such a schedule leaves precious little time for council and school board incumbents seeking re-election to make their pitch with the certainty that anyone is listening, and even less time for new faces among challengers to make themselves and their platforms known. All North Van District and West Van candidates would be smart, therefore, to declare their intentions as soon as possible and hit the campaign trail right away. Otherwise, there’s a real danger that they may be swamped, until too late, by a torrent of provincial election activity—leaving, during the crucial first half of November, a politically sated and lethargic public. “ELECTIONITIS’’, that annual month-long malady afflicting the local body politic, threatens to assume epidemic proportions this fall—with Bill Vander Zalm look- ing at a Hallowe’en trip to the polls and two of the three North Shore councils and school boards reaching the end of the road two weeks later. This November West Van joins North Van District and City by in- troducing the biennial system of electing the mayor plus ali aldermen and trustees in one fell swoop every two years. Relaxed spectators will be North Van City Mayor Jack Loucks and his merry crew who are enjoying a mid-term “off? year. The grapevine to date suggests all North Van District and West Van council incumbents (aside from a possible question mark about West Van Ald. Diana Hut- chinson) will be seeking another kick at the cat, with West Van Mayor Derrick Humphreys and District’s Mayor Marilyn Baker and Ald. Murray Dykeman having already declared their candidacies. For excitement the spotlight seems likely to be focitsed on West Van where Mayor Derrick, seeking what would almost certainly be a final fifth term, is being challenged for the top spot by retired forest industry exec and former West Van alderman Don Lanskail who stepped down in 1982 after 20 years on council. Across the Capilano Mayor Marilyn so far has the field to herself but with still six weeks to nomination day (Oct.27) anything can happen. Watch this space for further reports On the patient's condition, e *¢ &@ ‘THE RICH, plus some less rich guests of socially conscious businesses, turned out in force Tuesday for Woodward's glittering SQUARING OFF for Nov.15 municipal elections ... West Van Mayor Derrick Humphreys (left) and challenger Don Lanskail (righ). LETTER OF THE DAY SPCA strikes back at Hunter's ‘tirade’ OPEN LETTER TO BOB HUNTER Congratulate yourself! You have managed by your column dated September 10th to blacken the name of an honored and revered Society, its Branches throughout the Province, and members and supporters with one fell stroke. I am referring of course to your tirade against the B.C. SPCA, Vancouver Branch, and your ability to damn the entire organization for the misguided judgment and wrong action of one man. Of course, you, like Mr. Col- lins, have never (or never shall) make any gross error or wrongdo- ing! - Are you really aware of the ac- tual type of dedication that is evi- dent and proven of the work that is carried on by this Society, both by employees and volunteers, over the past 90 years? Have you ever Teal VOICE OF MONTH AND WEST VANCOUVEH Jit oh SUNDAY - WEDNESDAY - HOAY 1139 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 $7,656 +. Display Advertising Classified Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom Distribution Subscriptions 980-0511 985-2131 986-1337 986-1337 Nosh Share Mews 6 es Publisher: Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Advertising Director Peter Speck Noel Wight Barrett Fisrer Linda Stewart Entire contents 1986 North Shore Free Press Ltd All nghts reserved i. NEWS photos Noel Wright OLD ARMOURY, new name ... venerable home of 6 Fd Eng Sqn on Forbes Avenue, North Van, rechristened last weekend in honor of Lt.Col. J.P.Fell, the unit's first C.O. Left, present C.O., Maj. Bil! White, and Mayor Jack Loucks inspect the parade prior to the dedication ceremony (right). Noel Wright “Design in Motion" show. At $75 a head the gowned, tuxedoed crowd of slightly over 2,000 thronged the stately splendor of the Orpheum's rambling foyers, refreshed by gourmet delicacies and free bars, before taking their theatre seals for a fashion spec- tacular by international producer ~ Peter Laurence. A closing raffle brought two members of the au- dience a sable fur coat and a 1987 Ford Mercury Sable respectively, but the evening’s big winner was the brother of a lady called Chris, into whose keeping Woodward's chairman, ‘‘Chunky’’ Woodward, handed a cheque for a cool one hundred grand. She’s the sister of Rick Hansen, Vancouver’s epic Man in Motion, taken the time to give of yourself at your local Shelter, witnessing firsthand the care and love given to those creatures who ‘‘cannot speak for themselves’’? We pride ourselves at the West Vancouver Branch that no animal is put to sleep unless terminally it! or in- jured beyond being saved and this is always verified by a qualified veterinarian, and yet you have the audacity to state — ‘“‘As for the SPCA what do we really expect of an organization that started out © Sunday brunch e now wheelchairing across Canada on the home lap of his fund raising world tour for spinal cord resear- ch—which was what the lavish party was all about. The rich do have their uses! * * s SOME QUESTIONS just can’t wait to be asked, as Noelle Battle, 21, daughter of North Van’s Gwen Skakum, discovered last weekend. Touring the BCTV News pavilion at Expo, she and boy friend Richard Rutledge, 24, son of Jack and Rose Rutledge of North Van, were picked as ‘‘VIPs of the day”’ to do a short broadcast. The next thing an astonished Noelle and BCTV staff knew was Richard proposing to her and giving her an engagement ring—on air. with A NEWS photo Stuart Davis RICK HANSEN donor ... News publisher Peter Speck and wife Mary (I) with Mike and Bobbie Goodsell, Bill and Tusi Gannon at Woodward’s fashion fundraiser. trying to protect animals fromm in- humane treatment, and ended up functioning mainly as a kind of animal Buchenwald where un- wanted pets are put to sleep.’’ Perhaps, Mr. Hunter, you have a miraculous solution to society's unconcern for the reproduction of unwanted animals and you could serve us in an advisory capacity (with your god-like perfection) how to deai with ail the cats and dogs, etc. that are landed on our doorstep, and at other Lower cameras rolling. The whole scene was carried that night on the 5 and 11 p.m. news and the happy couple plan to tie the knot next summer. * * € WRAP-UP: The economy will never work the same way again, so change with it or pay the penalty, warned B.C. Business Council president Jim Matkin, addressing North Van Chamber of Commerce Thursday ... Former curlers, skat- ers, swimmers, tennis, hockey and bridge players of the old Capilano Winter Club hold a reunion even- ing of nostalgia, music, dancing and fun from 7 p.m. next Saturday (Sept.27) at the Park Plaza Club—call F. Patterson, 580-9850, for details... New ministerial assistant and executive assistant respectively to Energy Minister Jack Davis are Roberta Kelly and Betty Waters, former president and secretary of his North Van- Seymour constituency association ... Meanwhile, happy birthday to North Van Kiwanis Wally Mulligan (Sept.25) and, one day late, Joan LeBlonde and Pam We- seen (both Sept.20). * ¢ #* WRIGHT OR WRONG: The only job where you start at the top is digging a hole. NEWS photo Noel Weight JIM MATKIN ... business booster warns Chamber. Mainland Branches, and which become our responsivility to feed and relocate. In return for all the assistance you could give us, we promise that we will not judge all newspaper columnists and the media by the unfeeling and unjust opinion of one North Shore writer. Keaneth Griffiths President W. Van SPCA