Coun. Sharp pushes N. Van City safety audit | Vioience against women targeted — Contributing Writer JUST how safe do you feel in North Vancouver? Robert Gaister News Reporter robert@nsnews.com REMEMBRANCE Day may have come and gone, but fall- out from a local pub’s decision to keep poppy vendors outside its doors is anything but for- gotten. Lynn Valley resident Lindsay Lindholm, 24, saw a report on the pub’s © decision’ in a recent television newscast and together with several members of cher family hay decided to stop visiting, the Black Bear Neighborhood Pub. “I will never set foot in that place again,” said Lindholm, who has several - uncles with Second World War combat experience. “T mean this is disgracetial.” Black Bear manager Milos Indie said he was blind-sided by uproar resulting from the television coverage of. the event. He points our that the impression left by the newscasts that he had kicked ~ the poppy vendors out is not true. “I don’t know exactly what's creating ~ the impetus (for the outrage). I think it’s people thinking we tossed them and we'd never do that,” said Indic. . : What he did was inform the vendors that in the future they would not be allowed to sell poppies inside the pub. Indic’s decision was based on several complaints he received from the bar's clientele. Several patrons told him they found the poppy sellers’ presence disruptive and inconvenient. “It was kind ofa rock and a hard place situation,” said Indic. He has since revised his strategy to limit the vendors to an area immediately inside the doors of the pub. « “They are probably in the end going to greet the people,” said Indic, “But in terms of actually navigating the floor that will not be an option.” : ; ~ + But Lindholm doesn’t understand the reasoning behind the decision. ; “How much of an inconvenience was it for these poor guys to go to Europe and fight?” asked Lindholm. Pub poppy policy irks patron That’s the burning question in the mind of Coun. Barbara Sharp, who! spearheaded a motion on Monday night to conduct a “satety audit” of the’ North Shore in an effort to curb violence, particularly against women. sate “This motion is timely considering November is the month dedicated to” end violence,” Sharp told council. “One out of every two women over the age OF 16 are assaulted in Canada, 53% of women in Canada are afraid to walk in _ their own neighbourhoods atter dark.” aio Sharp's safety audit would encompass all aspeets of improving personal security on the North Shore, including increased lighting, sate-prooting pub-::-: lic parks and walkways, public washrooms, schoolyards, shopping centres, and» * the pre-planning of buildings, : “A salety audit is how we can examine our environment and see what we can do for our neighbourhoods, schools, parking garages,” she said. “There . are a host of simple things we can do, and we can involve the community quite | readily ... men’s safety is relevant to this, too, but the issue is much more sige nificant to women.” 7 : Coun. Darrell Mussatto applauded Sharp's initiative. He said understand- ing how women feel with regards to personal security is of utmost importance. * “We're already doing many things to help make this city safe, but we could always do more,” he said. “Sometimes it’s hard for me as a male to understand : how women feel (about security). We have to continue to try to make this city safer, 90% of violence is against. women.” : ost The council voted uninimously to endorse a satety audit of the city’s facil- ities, and that the city staff report on how the city can incorporate such sate-- ty matters into any future developments. “ as reo “Violence has always been with us, as our population increases, our prob- Jems increase,” said Coun, Barbara Perrault. “Some areas (of the city) have never been looked at properly. I applaud Councitior Sharp for being proactive on this matter.” : : Lo Coun, John Braithwaite added that including the personal security of seniors, students, and new Canadians was of equal importance, -- ae “We've lost touch with what a ‘safe city’ truly means,” Braithwaite said. “1°: know the concern is high for women, but there’s also a lot of violence that affects youth; there’s racial tension, senior security, this encompasses ‘the whole community.” we ve “A safety audit would help ensure everyone is safe," Sharp said.“What' about those people who are new to our country and perhaps don’t speak or read English? We do need to take that into consideration as m NEWS photo Cindy Goodman LINDSAY Lindholm will not return to the Black Bear Pub after its management barred poppy vendors from the bar. Gratings and manhole covers need not just be fune- 3 . ' tional but could also be decorative; benches could be designed as part of the building or'plaza’ architecture they serve; tree protectors could be wrought iron “art” work. One of the discussion points in the policy docu- ment suggests thar a public art program could be fund- ed by a percentage (“usually 1-2%") of gross construc: tibn budgets “for the commission, design, purchase and . installation of art work in the public realm.” Coun. Lisa Muri, who represents | the district on the arts commission, said the report was a look into the future. coe “There’s opportunities for all of us at the municipal level, the develop- * ment level,” said Muri. From page 3 down the road. They also questioned the costs implicit in the arts commission’s request that municipal statf assist in developing Phase Two. he “: But both ‘ultimately let the matter of Phase Two funding drop until the district's 1999 budget discus- Stons/ 8 of us . a SAS Coun. Pat Munroe pointed out, “We are not pass- “ing a budget here ..; This is.a gesture of support.” «(Policy consultant Leesa - Strirabicki showed .council es of the type of public art that could be part of the planning process for parks, pathways, benches and street landscaping! 08 : Examples displayed stiggested public art can be more that ‘statues and sculptures. an : are now unlimised “In saddition -to the ‘traditional styles offered, the store featur exclusive “accessories he Mexicans are coming! This winter, Nosth Shore residents will be able to enjoy the warmth - and hospitality of México at the new Mexico Arte store at 1093 — . Marine Dr., North Vancouver. Vancouver-based Mexico Ane . Lid. has made the move fronv é - Get into Cross Country — at Mexico Anté: is’ celebrating its ress Mountain Sports atl «Starting at. Louis Garneau hermo.Tight PRESS MOUNTAIN SPOR * “A Passion For The Outdoors”. . Park Royal South Phone ( 1 604) 922-3468 www.cypressmountainsports.com ; Mtarting at: oe $99"* . Is | Park Royal to the furniture district in North Vancouver for. the convenience of its clientele. The family-owned business now has two stores in Kitsilano and the new location on Marine Drive, which will specialize in Mexican’ pine furniture ‘and - ‘home accessories. The new store opened fo business ‘on November 1,. an carries . a. wide © variety‘ ‘of ‘furnishings for every arca of the | home,. including dining room tables,-. . chairs, hutches, armoires, coffee tables and” centres, * entertainment Although there have been many "recent newcomers “to the - Mexican furniture market, what sets Mexico Arte apart is quality, “innovation, — originality, and: “Service. exico Arie’ furniture is made. of solid pine - no plywood, and : comes, with a l-year: guarantee - Furniture Loos ‘Home accessories. Coast. Fi et on materials and craftsmanship. Delivery is free for North Shore residents, and the - styles: are original, created with Canadian - homes in mind. oe The. company -is' now also: anufacturing custom pieces in. sine, , right’. here - in North. Vancouver, incorporating the Mexican Colonial’ style to the woods and life-style of the West Most: “custom-made 10th’ year’ in. business,” a1 "prides itself on being one of “most innovative retailers, field. Its products and servic are backed by’ an infra “that includes'a deli :. worldwide shipping, repair-an - service facilities and a dedi customer service depz _-Mexico “Arte “is-acustom * focused ~ highly” tra “quality consolidation *