Golf society holds annual general meeting WHEN THE North Shore Public Golf Course Society (NSPGCS) holds its annual general meeting today, mem- bers will have reason to cele- brate. Kevin Gillies Contributing Writer The 7:30 p.m. meeting at the Seymour Golf and Country Club will be the first AGM for the orga- nization since construction began in August on the Northlands Public Golf Course — the first public, 18- hole course on the North Shore. This January will mark eight years since the NSPGCS formed to pursue the construc- tion of a full, public golf course on the North Shore. The meeting will feature Pacific Northwest area (and Northlands) golf course designer Les Furber, who will update members on the construction’s progress and the course’s layout. North Vancouver District Mayor Murray Dykemian and Councillor Ernie Crist are just a few local politicians expected to be in attendance. . The meeting is also open to non-members interested in joining the society (for a $10 fee). The idea to build the golf course was hatched by local insurance businessman Don Davis and late North Vancouver School trustee Anne Macdonald over coffee at a North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce luncheon in 1986. According to Davis, it was in November, 1986 that Macdonald “marched into my office with her arms going and saying ‘let’s get this golf course going.’” The NSPGCS was formed in January, 1987. Since then the society has grown to include more than 2,300 members. Few argue that existing golf facilities are stressed by a growing demand. For the NSPGCS, it has been a long, arduous process to bring the Northlands project to fruition. There has been a plethora of debate, discussion, planning and bartering along the way. While an early-1993 survey indicated 72% of the public (of 533 respondents) supported the project, — 87% of golfers behind it and 42% of non- golfers in favor — its opposition kas been loud and vigilant. Three years ago, opponents of the golf course argued that the land Body searchers THE FAMILY of a murdered North Vancouver woman is asking the public to join in a search for her body on Saturday near North Vancou- ver’s Seymour Demonstration Forest. By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter Lynn Duggan, 54, was murdered and ner body remeused from her apartment sarin time between June fteand Vues 14, VOOR. A Tide over was too valuable; that the project represented $40 million in lost land sale revenues. Brian White, an Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Resource Management professor at Capilano College said he feels the Northlands project is aimed at attracting wealthy, elderly people into the area. He added that golf courses are usually environmentally hazardous. “They are tiny toxic landscapes which pollute ground water resources for the benefit of a small, wealthy population.” He is concerned about herbicide and pesticide use which will drain into the Maplewood Mudflar. — a wildlife sanctuary and estuary. In addition to his concerns for 66 In the seven-and-a-half years it has taken to get this far, we could have built the Great Wall of China. 99 - Don Davis ground water pollution, he feels the golf course will use up too much water resources for maintenance purposes at a time when Greater Vancouver’s population growth is already putting too much demand on the drinking water supply. Former NSPGCS president Bruce Hamersiey said the new course will generate revenue for the municipality. He said that Fraserview Public Golf Course was raising $600,009 annually for the Vancouver Parks Board. He added that the District of North Vancouver would retain ownership of the property and its value would appreciate. He claimed that: “Municipal golf courses have the highest usage per acre of any park use, are envi- ronmentally friendly, provide income for the municipality, create employment, provide a positive pastime for young people, leave green belt in developed areas, pro- vide badly needed recreational facilities and increase the value of surrounding lands. “This is not a difficult deci- sion,” he asserted. The Blair Rifle Range was orig- inally considered for the plan until the society discovered that the lower half of the rifle range had been sold to Cressey Developments. They also discov- ered that the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and B.C.'s Ministry of Crown Lands, a year after the murder, Duggan’s skull was discovered near the Seymour Demonstration Forest, north of the North Vancouver Cemetery on Lillooet Road. Duggan's body has yet to be found. Her brother, Brad Duggan. said as many people as possible are invited to join the search this Saturday. The search begins at 9:30 a.m. “Anybody who will help us is greatly appreciated,” said Brad Duggan. Last Saturday, about 15 people concentrated their efforts in a search Of ties neat the hae a RE ee te a tt Se nt Hen ten joint owners the Blair Rifle Range on Mount Seymour Parkway, had determined that a golf course could be an appropriate use for the land, but only ata higher elevation. That study concluded that the course would have to be private in order to be financially feasible. Because of the landscape it would also be a “cardiac” course. “Our plan was for a municipal, public golf course,” Davis said. “It always has been.” After the Northlands area was selected as a preferred location, four studies of the area's develop- ment — including the golf course —— were commissioned at a cost of approximately $500,000, according to Davis. Public meetings and debates along with political wrangling eventually pushed the original course opening back far enough that it became a centennial project for North Vancouver District's 1991. Again the project was delayed as more studies, discussions and planning took place. ; In 1992, a “preferred plan” for iand use at Northlands included a 142-acre golf course plus a double- ended driving range and a 12,000- sq. ft. clubhouse. It also included residential development, schools and recreational park space. The golf course was to cost $12.5 mil- lion of the entire development’s $25.5 million price tag. Subsequent changes have included the elimination of the dri- ving range and a decrease in the land allotted to developing the golf course. The course will now occupy 120 acres of land with no driving range. Land previously meant for the driving range, 30 acres, will now go toward developing schools and recreational parks. Construction started last August and the course is expected to take final shape somewhere between July 1996 and September 1997, Davis said. “In the seven and a half years it has taken to get this far, we could have built the Great Wall of China,” Davis lamented. The first official sod turning took place in June, 1993; just weeks before Anne Macdonald passed away. While she wasn’t here to see the course open, it is appropriate that she will have the first drive. District council has agreed to name the road entering the golf course Anne Macdonald Drive. sought demonstration forest, he said. This Saturday’s search will focus on flat land. Brad Duggan said the search will be conducted rain or shine. He suggested searchers wear boots, warm clothing and water- resistant jackets. Searchers should also bring ski poles, shovels, rakes or other items in which to move the ground, Anyone interested in participat- ing in the search should follow the posted signs located between Capilano College and North Vancouver Cemetery on Lillooet Road. 100th anniversary in - FALL SPECIAL | yg @ 1 Duettes 40%" 1 Verticals 45%" bor Wednesday, November 9, 1994 — Narth Shore News ~ 15 Prat eee ee re Vela DS em aendel Ge NEWS photo Cindy Goodman FRED PETER judges some artwork entered at West Van Seniors’ Centre. Selected work will be scheduled for a two- week exhibit at the Ferry Building Gallery. CORRECTION The North Shore News would like to advise its read- | ers that the display Ad, which appeared on Page 7 of the North Shore Néws on Sunday, 1994 | November 06 regarding “Unity in Diversity Week” | | was placed by The Local Spiritual Assembly of the - | | Baha'is of West Vancouver. Publication of the | Proclamation was not authorized nor paid for, in whole or in part, by the District of West Vancouver. | Further, it should be noted that the addendum i remarks to the Proclamation were not made by Mayor M.W. Sager nor do they form part of the orig- inal Proclamation. /o Selected Designer Drapery Fabric &Drapery Hardware introducing “VIGNETTE” By v4 pb } SETESO dd Teepe Venetians 55%"" WoadenBlinds 40%" LONSDALE AND BLINDS 922-1708 | 1441 CLYDE AVE., WEST VANCOUVER