8 ~ Friday, April 2, 1999 - North Shore News Curr NV man goes to every city council meet Liam Lahey Contributing Writer AS North Vancouver City council gathers on each Monday evening to discuss city business in the public chamber, Donald Currie quietly strolls in and takes his usual seat in the back row. The 77-year-old) North Vancouver resident has been a regular fixture at’ che city’s council meetings tor well over 12 years. Currie’s actions are almost predictable as he enters city hall wearing his green jacket and slightly tinted spectacles. The retired fork-lift service- salesman reaches for a copy of the council's agenda, sits down, and watches. He rarely speaks or intervenes. He is what is known as 2 council-watener. A_ municipal voyeur with a passion for local politics. “I wanted to find out how to get involved with making my voice heard,” the affable Currie explained. “When they started to build a tower on the Esplanade back in 1986 I went up (to city hall) to find out mere information ... I don’t think there should be any residences on the water- front.” Born just autside of Swift Current, Sask. in 1921, Currie moved to Vancouver in the 1930s and to North Vancouver in 1959. In 1942 he met his wife Jeannie in Vancouver while serving in the army. When Jeannie was shipped overseas to England in 1942 during the Second World War, Currie transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force as a navigator in the Bomber Pathfinder Force so he could be stationed near his beloved. The two married in England in 1944 and remain together to this day. “There isn’t much to remember that is pleasant from that time,” he said with a distant look in his eyes. “You have to remember the funny stuff and the nice stuff that happened.” Despite suffering from emphysema, Currie rarely misses a council mecting. “It’s my hobby, my night out with the boys you might say,” he explained. “I can cor- respond with the provincial government and talk to Ted White to keep in touch, but the city affects vou directly.” Currie’s knowledge of the North Shore and its political issues past and present is over- whelming. Yer the gentle-speaking man prefers to watch and record rather than get directly involved. “Pve never wanted to run (for a city councillor’s seat),” he said. “I think going into politics in some ways is an ego-trip for many people who run here. Some people who have run (in the past), haven’: even been to a council meeting before, and they have no idea of the work load those poor devils have to deal with.” Currie heaps more praise than criticism on the city’s current band of elected offi- Ge enj NEWS photo Julie iverson DONALD Currie has been watching North Vancouver City councit for over 12 years since disagreeing with the municipality's decision to alluw high rises near the waterfront. Council members value Currie’s thoughtful response to agenda issues and have come to respect his views. cials. He likes the make-up of city council a great deal and will aggressively defend them if he thinks they are being unfairly attacked. He loves Vancouver, Peering out at the city from his } 1th story apartment window on West 2nd Strect, North an apartment he and Jeannic have occupied for 15 years, he said it’s the city’s small town allure that has kept them hap- pily planted for so many years. “It’s big cnough to be a city, bur it hasn’t lost any of that small town charm,” he said. “I hope We as a city never A 17-year-old North Vancouver girl received 22 stitches to her arm and leg on March 21 after being bitten by a police dog. According to the North Vancouver RCMP, — the ieenager and her 15-year-old friend, also 2 female, were spotted leaving a Dollarton area carport at 3:30 a.m. Police were called to the car break-in in the 600-block Bournemouth Crescent, Cpl. Denis Boucher and his dog checkers came to track the suspects. The dog tracked the sus- pects to the 600-block of Plymouth Drive where police discovered another car break- in. Boucher spotted two sus- pects on Eddystone Crescent. Boucher could not tell if the suspects were male or female, according to police. The sus- pects were about 30 metres (100 feet) away. The suspects were carrying duffel bags. Boucher warned the sus- pects at least three times by yelling, “Police, stop, or I'll send the dog.” North Vancouver RCMP Const. Heidi Hoffman. said the suspects kept running. The police dog was let loose. “You have to remember that these girls have just bro- ken into three cars. They are running from police and we don’t know why they are run- ning. And when we say to stop, they continue to run,” lose that.” Currie’s occasional absence trom a council mect- ing clicits more than one glance trom the councillors who have come to expect his presence. His indirect involvement with the city’s politics is not fost on any of them. “Donald has been around for so long, I can’t even remember when (he first attended), he’s a watchdog,” suid Coun. John Braithwaite with a smile. “He gives good comments when he wants to, and he doesn’r always agree with us, but I respect the gentleman very much. He probably knows cach councilor and the mayer better than anyone in this city.” Braithwaite’s appreciation of Currie’s political insights are based oa the elderly man’s gende demeanour. - “He's thoughtful, very thoughttul, he thinks out cach issue before he even comments,” Braithwaite con- tinued. “He's very straight, he doesivt play with polities even though he may be a politician (at heart) .. 1 don’t always agree with him the same way he dovsn’t always agree with me, but if he says something, CH go and check it out.” Coun. Stella fo Dean echoed Braithwaite’s senti- ments. “He's very knowledgesbie, he’s very astute, cften times he comes up with remedies or solutions thar council hasu’: thought of,” Dean said. “Usually he'll comment on something after the fact. He'll either send us a letter con- gratulating us er something contrary to the way we voted. He defends council often when people complain ... he’s very logical. Yes, common sense and logical, that’s what you can say about him.” From Currie’s view, the city has done a good job of keeping things orderly thus far. He doesn’t interfere with city business, but when he does speak, the city listens. “He’s almost like an extended councillor,” Coun. Darrell Mussatto said. “If he were to make a comment to me, I would cer- tainiy think wice about what I'm doing. The world needs more people like Donald Currie.” og nabs juvenile thief suspects said Hoffman. The = 17-year-old was arrested and taken to Lions Gate Hospital for stitches. The police dog continued to track for the second sus- pect who was arrested nearby without incident. “She listened. The other one did not listen,” said Hoffman. Police recovered stolen items originating from the unlocked vehicles including a radar detector and a gym bag containing clothing. Hoffman said that police recommend charges against the teenagers of mischief, theft, possessing stolen prop- erty and trespass at night. The North Van residents are slated for a first court appearance in North Vancouver provincial court in June, The pair cannot be named as it would contravene the Young, Offenders Act. Hoffman said North Vancouver RCMP police dogs were called into assist officers: approximately 1,500 times last year. She said the vast majority of suspects will stop after the police dog warning. Yes. BCAA sells Ou roplan ee ae Because we're in the business of peace-of-mind. Rely on BCAA's Autoplan Agents to give you the coverage you need .. - no more, no less. So, when you leave with policy in hand, peace-of-mind goes with you. Park & Tilfor BCAA insurance Agency The five RCMP dogs in North Vancouver can be used in avalanche retrieval, search YOU SEE A LAWYER FOR ONE REASON and rescue and searches for explosives. —Anna Marte D'Angelo They understand the paperwork and the evidence to be collected They have the knowledge and experience to assess the value of the claim They have the ability to collect a fair settlement THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON TO SEE A LAWYER...YOU NEED ONE ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER 986-4366 AFTER HOURS 926-3181 Criminal matters only. #300-1401 LONSDALE AVE. NoRTH VAN. E-mail: harryh@ahilaw.com