Friday, December 26, 1997 — North Shore News - 3 Newsmakers of 1997 YOU win some, you lose some. In 1997, the North Shore had its share of winners and losers. Today the News presents a cross-section of the more prominent Jocal residents who won and Jost during the past year. WINNERS Arthur Griffiths EN the most obvious regard, 1997 was a bad ong tor West Vancouver's Arthur Griffiths. Tt was a year of transition for the member of the famous family’s second generation as John MeCaw’s Orca Bay corporate machine further pushed “Junior” from the Vancouver Canucks/ Grizzlies fold. As of Dee. 1, the man who had the vision for a Vancouver NBA team and GM. Place, was working out of a downtown office, far away from his former cozy corner-office digs at GM Place. Bart in many respects, Griffiths vear wasn’t all that bad He demonstrated ao enormous amount of class ~~ if not restraint -- as Orea Bay ran roughshod over his family’s legacy that is professional hockey in Vancouver. Instead of parting barbs, the rvpical script acted our dunng high profile corporate ceups, Arthur put his best smile forward and praised Orca Bay. Don’t worry about Arthur, he'll be tine, And you haven’t heard the last of Arthur Griftiths. The father of four has set for hinself his most ambitious goal te date: bringing the 2010 Winter Olympics to Vancouver. A tall order to be sure. Rut many people doubted Lite Arthur could build a new downtown arena, let alone wrangle a much-coveted NBA franchise. He did beth. With sre. Go get ‘em Arthur. — Andrew McCredie John Reynolds WHEN John Reynolds threw his hat into the Reform party fray prior to the last federal election, many people figured it was a lark. Those people no doubt had never met the barrel-chested Lions Bay resident. Reynolds not only won the West Van-Sunshine Coast Reform party nomination, he won the election, and returned to Ortawa as an MP after a two-decade absence. (He served as a Conservative MP in the 1970s.) In berween his stints in the nation’s capital, Revnolds wore a number of ‘career hats — including radio talk show host and stock market promoter. His past came back to help, apparently, as Reform head honcho Preston Manning blessed Reynolds with one of the Opposition party’s hottest shadow cabinet positions: immigration. (His North Vancouver counterpart, Ted White, has not held a shadow cabinet position, although he was part of the original Reform sweep of the West. White has heid the Reform party’s direct democracy critic role). . With immigration sure to be a hot issue in 1998, we'll be hear- ing, more from John Reynolds. — Andrew McCredie Gary Troll MONEY isn’t everything, but winning $13.8 million definitely qualifies one for the winner category. Gary and Carol Troll did just that in the past year, and managed to keep their heads in the process. “Just put it in the bank and go back to work,” said Gary three days after picking up his lottery cheque. As the third generation owner of Trotls Restaurant in Horseshor Bay, Troi) finds himself on a bit ofa roll. The restaurant has become a landmark and the extra cash cer- tainly won’t hurt. But he better hope his luck doesn’t run out because his twice-a-year visits to Las Vegas could turn into a money pit. LOSERS Warren Kinsella GIVING new meaning to the word political opportunist, Warren Kinsella was definitely one of the big losers in 1997. A failed Liberal challenger to the North Shere Reform party juggernaut, the Ortawa lawyer was soundly defeated by Ted White for the North Vancouver seat in Parliament on June 5. Kinsella first made news on the North Shore when he chal- lenged White during an Oct. 18, 1996, debate at Centennial Theatre. North Van MP White arranged the debate with News columnists Doug Collins and Trevor Lautens taking on Bloc Quebecois MP Pierre de Savoye. Kinsella questioned White’s motives for arranging the debate, and was thoroughly booed by the pro-White audience. The inci- dent proved to be the first of many confrontations benveen the ovo men. And while the election campaign pitting the wo men of ideals against one another was a boon for newspaper reporters, the nvo- way threats of lawsuits, oper charges of racism and dirty trickery were not the kind of election campaign North Vancouver voters deserved. Viewed by the skeptics as an Orrawa Liberal insider parachuted onto the North Shore to usurp the Reform incumbent, Kinsella denied such allegations and often said he was delighted to live here and raise his young daughter in “one of the most beautiful places in Canada.” Three day's atter his deteas his Mahon Avenue home was on the market. Today, he is working asa lawyer in Toronto, For a man whe vowed to fight ‘the voices of division and dis- unity” in North Vancouver, Kinsella did hie but further entreneh the public’s shaky faith in ove pohtical process a> Andre MeCrrdie — Robert Galster Prominent local residents who won and lost at business and other endeavors this year vee aye NEWS photo Cindy Goodman GARY Troll, owner of Trolts Restaurant, displays the muitimitlion-doliar smile of a lottery winner. HEWS Grad Ledwidge THE past year was good to West Van-Sunshine Coast MP John Reynolds, shown on the campaign trail. Pat Quinn ELEVEN proved fateful for former Vancouver Canucks general manager Pat Quinn. One year into his second decade of service with the NHL team, the cigar-chomping West Vancouver resident was unceremoniously dumped by Orca Bay Sports & Entertainment. While at the helm of the perennial also-rans — as GM and coach — the big Irishman compiled a 290-317-91 regular season record (a 478 winning percentage). To his credit, however, from a first-year season record of 25-46- 9, Quinn built the Car.ucks into a team that tallied 101 points dur- ing the "92-93 campaign (46-29-9). And a year later the team, with Quinn behind the bench, pushed the New York Rangers to seven games in a Stanley Cup final run still being talked about by the Canuck faithful. The following season, however, was the beginning of the end for Quinn as he put Rick Ley behind the bench —- a move many felt was based more on Quinn’s legendary loyalty than on a sound hockey decision. A season and a half into his bench duties, Ley was replaced by Quinn for the remainder of the °95-96 scason. Last year the inex- perienced Tom Renney was tapped tor the job. He was subse- quently replaced by Mike Keenan after Quinn was given his march- ing: orders. The post-mortem on Quinn’s reign reveals a number of distrac- tions — the construction of GM Place, the running of The Greater Vancouver Open and the encroaching corporate duties asked of him by Orca Bay — but in the end it was Quinn’s inability to har- ness the potential of a team boasting some of the best — and high- est paid — plavers in the league. Do not shed a tear tor the Mighty Quinn, however. In the old boys’ network that is the National Hockey League, Quinn is considered a lifeame member. Look for him to play a part in the soon-to-hit-the-ice Adanta NHL franchise. (If you're going to shed a tear, do so for the owners of the Canadian Cigar Company in Wesr Vancouver.) — Andrew McCredie DRAWS Inge Schamberzki WINNER or loser, one thing North Shore Health Region chief exceutive officer Inge Schamborzki cannot be accused of is inac- tion. Ir has been 2 busy vear at the health region office and its CEO has tound herself’ at the centre of controversy at every step. Depending on who's tatking, Schamborski is cither decish ¢ or rash, a strong leader or tvrant, and Last but not least, fairly compen sated or grossly overpaid. The year started off with 2 bang when Schamborski dismissed Liens Gate Hospital's top admunistrater, the popular Lynette Best, NEWS photo Cindy Goodman ARTHUR and Joanne Griffiths enter the new year with Olympic-size dreams dancing in their heads. NEWS photo Terry Peters ion CEO Inge Schamboreki , but is not without her detractors. : NEWS photo Cindy Goodmen WARREN Kinsella and wife Suzanne ride out a rocky election night for the Liberal challenger on June 6. Calls for Schamborzki’s dismissal were issued almost immediately by doctors and nurses employed within the health region. Schamborzki weathered the storm however, and with the support of the NSHR board maintained the move was part of a staff prun- ing exercise aimed at making the region more efficient. Next up came word of the board's decision to renew Schamborzki’s contract for another three years. She stood to receive a raise over her current salary of $155,000 which led to grumblings trom various unions in the health portfolio. Physicians concerns centred more around their working rela- tionship with the embatrled CEO than her salary range, but never- theless took their toll, Ar one point, the doctors stated they would cut all communication with the health region as fong as the CEO remained in her position. ‘The NSHR board under the chairmanship of Diana Hutchinson has remained steadfast in its support of Schamborzki. ‘The final call? Abit ofa copout: Schamborzki is a draw, {U's untikely shelf be viewed as a fikable character in the health care delivery system, but how many bosses ever are? — Robert Galster