@ — Wednesday, September 1, 1999 - North Shore News Safety rect From pane \ included: @ that a method should be developed to properly moni- tor — essential = equipment requirements; @ that safety-approved climb- ing helmets should be worn by all hikers; @ that contour maps should be studied and brought along on every hike; @ thar cell phones or other means of communication should be brought along on cach hike; @ that parents and search and rescue should be informed of route plans prior to a group's departure; @ that Scouts Canada should ensure people taking, children into the wilderness are proper- ly trained to deal with emer- gencies. Philip McLeod died as a result of suffocation after falling down a 23-metre (75- foot) embankment into a _ gully at Alberta Creek on Mount Harvey — two kilo- metres {1.2 miles) east of Lions Bay. The boy was on a hiking expedition with his scout group and was travelling with four other young Boy Scouts, an older scout, and two adult leaders. None of the younger boys had ever been on a mountain with snow condi- tions like those they experi- enced on Mount Harvey. The decision to climb the Mount Harvey route was made by one of the oldcr scouts — the son of one of the scout leaders. The scout leader was unable to verify if his son had called to check cli- mate and avalanche condi- tions prior to the hike. Atthe time of the accident, even hikers with years of expe- rience were avoiding the Lions Bay area, according to North Shore Hikers’ Club member Alex Ferguson. “Some of the North Shore Hikers have 60 years experi- ence,” Ferguson said. wouldn’t take a novice up Mount Harvey in such bad conditions. If they were train- ing, they should have been. training in a safer place.” When McLéod turned up for the hike, he was wearing inappropriate shoes, and size 38 ski pants, although his waist size was only 28 inches. The boy was loaned a bicy- cle helmet to wear, because he didn’t have a hiking helmet with him. The scouts were given a brief demonstration in the “plunge step” (used for travel- ling downhill) and i in the use Our North Vancouver office has ‘moved inside Lynn Valley Center next to the ‘liquor store. =. Our new hours are ‘Mon. - Fri. 9am - 9pm / Sat. 9am - 6pm Sun. 12pm - Spm. lendations re of an ice axe. They had no actual on-snow training. When Mebeod tell, he made an unsuccessful attempt to stop his fall with his ice axe using the wrong end of the axe. McLeod’s bicycle helmet was smashed in the fall. His shoes had come off, and he was buried face-down in the snow. In the coroner's report, the scout leader is quoted as saying he thought the trail was easy and well-marked, and that climbing ropes and har- nesses had not been packed because they were not required. None of the boys were wearing crampons on their boots, which would have given them a better grip in the snow and ice. This particular group of Boy S-outs, noted Yeager, had been involved in previous inci- dents that required the assis- tance of Search and Rescue. In October 1997, a group of hikers was split up after a boy with new boots ran into difficulty. The boy and a scout leader became lost and hypothermic. Scouts Canada’s Andy McLaughlin told the News NOTICE OF COUNTER PETITION PROCESS ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC ART RESERVE FUND As part of establishing a Special Reserve Fund (Municipal Act - Section 499) TAKE NOTICE THAT the Council of The Corporation of the City of North Vancouver proposes to finally adopt “Public Art Reserve. that the organization was cur- rently reviewing the coroner’s recommendations. He said a B.C. ‘Fask Group was formed immediately after the acci- dent. “We have ‘200; 000 mem- bers out on outdoor activities every year,” said McLaughlin, “and accidents are rare. But any incident is one incident too many, and we’re commit- ted to being even safer.” Since the accident, Scouts Canada has produced two outdoor safety guides: one for scout leaders and one for kids. McLaughlin said the books are like a checklist of ques- Fund Bylaw, 1999, No. 7153", the intent of which is to estab- lish a Special Service Fund to provide for the funding of Public Arc as defined in the City of North Vancouver Public Art Policy. The Bylaw No, 7153 represents the entire City of North Vancouver. ALL PERSONS desiring to petition against Bylaw No. 7153 by completing the Counter Petition Form, must do so on or before WEDNESDAY, October [3, 1999 at 4:30 p.m., (closing hour of City Hall). Council may only be prevented from proceeding with the adaption of Bylaw No. 7153 if more than 5% (1120) in number of the electorate of 22,382, respond against the undertaking. Therefore, if 1120 electorate petition against Bylaw No. 7153, it shall not proceed to final adoption unless the Council of The Corporation of the City of North Vancouver proceeds to receive the assent of the electorate through a referendum ballot. Set tions to ask: “Are we in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, with the right equipment?” Tim Jones of North Shore Rescue, who along with mili- tary personnel was involved in the Lions Bay rescue opers- tion, described the incident as “a very disturbing call.” “} applaud the coroner’s recommendations,” he said Mondav “i don’t doubt the integrity of the volunteers, burt they shouldn’t have been practicing in such difficult conditions. They could have just gone up Mount Seymour.” if fess than 5% of the electorate, or less than (120 people petition against Bylaw No. 7153, it shall be placed before the City Council on Monday, October 18, 1999 after 6:00 p.m., for final adoption. Counter Petitions muse ba in writing and signed and datad by the resident elector, detailing name and address. £ norch vancouver ey o for the project ened. ; if you are interested in improving transit service on the North Shore, wailing and able to devote -the necessary time to Committee business, and feel you have something to offer.to the ; Committee, please contact janis Rowe at 985-7761, local 296 for a copy of the merbersh. application, The deadline for applications is September 14, 1999. Further information about the Committee, can be obtained from Dragana Mit Transportation Engineer a at 983-7343. : “a If needed, counter petition forms are available at the Reception Desk of the City Hall, 44] West 14th Street, North . Vancouver, BC,V7M 1H9. The may be sent out and received by mail, or facsimile transmission, or in person, and they” may be copied for distribution. Please contact Bruce Hawkshaw, City Clerk at 990-4234 or City Hall 985-7761 for che Counter Petition Forms, for more information, or for a copy of Bylew No. 7153, between the hours of 8:30 a.m.,and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday : from September 1, 1999 to October 13, 1999, excluding Statutory Holidays. Counter Petitions shail not be received: nor certified as sufficient if received after 4:30 p.n., on October 13, 1999. ; PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS - FOR THE NORTH SHORE AREA TRANSIT PLAN Bruce A Hawkshaw, City Clerk WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP TO IMPROVE TRANSIT SERVICE ON THE NORTH SHORE? WE NEED THREE VOLUNTEERS FOR A PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE!