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NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER ORGANIZA TIONS HELP BUSINESS

Chambers of commerce a thriving concern

THE SPIRITUAL centre of
the North Shore business
world is loosely divided
along municipal lines.

Ground zero for enterprising
North Vancouverites is found in
the offices of the North Vancouver
Chamber of Commerce, located at
131 East Second Street. The North
Vancouver Chamber counts a
membership of approximately 500.
The chamber met for the first
time, July 25, 1906.

By MICHAEL BECKER
News Reporter

The organization is a thriving
concern and includes membership
from a diverse cross-section of the
local economy. Active committees
include economic development,
membership, tourism, transporta-
tion, municipal and community
affairs, Folkfest and industry..The
chamber also has a science and
technology sub-committee and a
movie industry sub-committee.

“By way of the extensive commit-
tee system in place, the chamber
membership remains apprised of
community developments and also
maintains an active hand in com-

Real estate a

From page 22

continue to rise. I can’t see it being
diminished,’’ Robb: says. ‘‘The
North Shore bas had a steady
market for a number of years.”’

Rising interest rates are a deter-
rent to sales, especially first-time
home buyers, says Robb, but
unless there is a slowdown in the

‘economy, the market won’t cool

off. :

High interest rates play a lesser
role in the West Vancouver mar-
ket, according to Maureen Bragg,

president of the West Vancouver .

division of the REBGV. Bragg
claims that West Vancouver has
“‘the best reat estate on the mar-
ket.””

The- -municipality’ s large houses
command high prices, cutting out
first-time buyers. West Vancouver
property is a bargain compared to
real estate in Europe and Asia and

NORBERT
TIETZE

NGRTH Vancouver chamber
manager Judy Ainsworth ...
industry committee grappling with
the preservation of industrial
waierfront property.

munity affairs.

For example, according to
chambez manager Judi Ainsworth,
the industry committee is grappling
with the preservation of industrial
waterfront property; the municipal
and community affairs committee
recently made a presentation be-
fore North Vancouver City Coun-
cil in support of building height
recommendations proposed for the
Lower Lonsdale area in a report by

Aitken Wreglesworth Associates;
the tourism committee, in con-
junction with 8.C. Transit, orga-
nized a North Shore bus tour in
May; and last year the three Trave!
Infocentres operated by the
chamber handled some 35,000 en-
quiries.

The main office of the chamber
acts as a business information cen-
tre and provides ongoing support

for small business start-ups.

Said Ainsworth: ‘‘That’s one of
our major roles. We assist people
starting up their own businesses.”

The chamber office maintains a
business-oriented video tape
library and also sponsors com-
munity workshops for inquisitive
entrepreneurs.

The 1989-90 executive committee
includes: Debbie Trinacty, presi-
dent; Bill Perrault, president-elect;
Bob Chambers, vice-president; Len
Macht, vice-president; Bill Heese,
treasurer; David Kenning, past
president; Ray Baroni, executive
member; Craig Clark, executive
member; Graham Crockart, execu-
tive member; Bill Heffernan, ex-
ecutive member; Ernie Sarsfield,
executive member.

The board of directors includes:
Bernie Asbell, Bob Brown, Roger

multi-million dollar industry

is proving an attractive investment.

Bragg predicts a surge in sales in
August due to many potential
Asian investors holidaying in
Canada that month.

Broadfoot downplays Asian in-
vestment having a great influence
on the local market. Immigration
to the Lower Mainland is one of
the causes for heavy demand and
its resulting high costs, but Broad-
foot stresses that the vast majority
of immigration to Vancouver has
been from other provinces.

Asians make up the majority of
foreign immigrants, but the
numbers are relatively small com-
pared to the influx of other Cana-
dians, she said.

Condominium sales and median
sale prices, a growing percentage

of tetal North Shore real estate,

are rising in both North and West
Vancouver.

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NORBERT
TIETZE, JR.

The real estate market is a
multi-million dollar industry on
the North Shore. Alsiost 1,000 real
estate agents are employed here in
more than 73 companies.

“The number of agents are
growing by leaps and bounds,’
says Robb, explaining that real
estate agents are drawn to the
North Shore because of the
lucrative market.

Says Bragg: ‘‘Competition is re-
ally fierce. Rea! estate agents tend
to be big spenders,” but she is
quick to point out that they are
also generous to the community.
North Shore realtors have con-
tributed to many charitable
organizations and community pro-
jects, including Carnation Day and
Grouse Climb sponsorships, dona-
tions of plaques and seawall ben-

ches and participation in Timmy’s
Telethon.

Cayford, Murray Dykeman,
Russell Johnston, Zoltan Kuun,
Ian Lewis, Kieran Macleod,
Patricia Parente, Paul Perkins,
Merrill Shepard, Richard Spray,
Patrick Bruskiewich, Ken Bassam,
Stella Jo Dean, Kiaus Gehry, Brian
Kelly, John Lakes, Anne Mac-
donald, Janet Morris, Ella Parkin-
son, Graham Reid, Bill Sorenson
and Noel Wright.

Staff includes Judi Ainsworth,
manager; Grace Jette, membership
and accounts; Yvette Smith, In-
focentre coordinator and trainer.

The North Vancouver chamber
holds monthly membership lun-
cheons which feature guest
speakers.

In West Vancouver, they prefer
to mix business with breakfast.
The West Vancouver Chamber of
Commerce meets for morning
sustenance and a monthly schedule

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of guest speakers. The West Van-
couver Chamber, active on the
North Shore since 1926, counts
about 160 members and is located
at suite 2-659 Clyde Avenue.

The organization supports sev-
eral committees, including Coho
Fest, planning and _ priorities,
membership, public relations, gov-
emment affairs, transportation,
tourism, and North Shore liaison.

The tourism committee works,
along with the North Vancouver
Chamber of Commerce tourism
committee (under the shared ban-
ner of North Shore Tourism), to
promote the North Shore as 2 des-
tination.

Said West Vancouver Chamber
of Commerce manager Joan
Foster: “‘We have over here what

See Chambers
- Page 25

1001 LOW LEVEL ROAD
NORTH VANCOUVER, BC.

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