Entrepreneurs work out futures at college

IT IS often said that if you want a job done right, you have to do it yourself.

By lan Noble News Reporter

At Capilano College, the revised.

The new message is this: if you want a job atall. you have to do it yourself.

That's the idea behind a insurance recipients.

“For many students in the Entrepreneurship Program #4 Capilano College. the idea of owning their own busi-

‘ness 38 not a dream, but rather a necessity in a labor mar- ket where the right job can be hard to find,” said college business management coordinator Jessie Pendygrassce.

She said the intensive four-month prog:um has attracted students who see self-employment as a viable jlternative to the uncertainty of a changing labor mar- cet.

Students build on the work experience and skills they have acquired and receive instruction in essential busi- ness skills such as finance, marketing, research, com- puter skills, communication skills and sales techniques.

By graduation time last month, cach of the 16 stu- dents had completed a business plan. For many of them, that plan is their blueprint for self-employment.

Student Annette Lacroix exemplifies the goals of the program.

A 20-year federal government worker, the 39-year- old wood hobbyist was pinched by the feds* downsizing " ‘squeeze.

adage is being slightly

program for uneinployment

She moved to the west coast two years ago, and -

entered the Entrepreneurship Program without any idea of how to run a business.

““T had no inkling,” Lacroix said. “I could make planters and I could sell them but it never got beyond

. MEMBERS OF the North Shore Jewish community gath- ered Sunday during a ground- breaking ceremony for what is

to be the first synagogue on the _ North Shore.

i By Layne Christensen ‘. Community Reporter

Construction is slated to begin in January on the Har-El: synagogue, Hebrew school and community cen-. - tre located at 1305 Taylor Way, near the Upper Levels Highway i in West Vancouver, Rabbi ‘Imre Balla wil} ‘preside over a congregation of about 400. Past president of Har-E] and building project manager. Norman Greenberg said the ground-breaking was “a dream come true” for the congregation, which has been with- out a permanent home for 20 years. Members of Har-El have worked to restore Brothers Creck-as a salmon-spawning ground. The creek runs from the top of the British Properties, through the synagogue site and down to the Capilano River. “The ground-breaking ceremony was held six weeks after racist grat- fiti was found at the building site. See photos on page 34.

Cave waterfront buy | applauded

group opposed to waterfront development and critical of council for reconsidering the Cates

THE ACQUISITION of. waterfront, prop- “erty. in. eastern Seymour by North Vancouver District saw council receiving verbal bouquets instead of the accustomed

NEWS photo Paul McGrath CAPILANO COLLEGE Entrepreneurship Frogram graduate Annette Lacroix received the training necessary to help her start a business selling products made from reclaimed wood.

NEWS photo Mike Waketield MEMBERS OF the Royal Canadian Legion, Shalom Branch, (left to fight) David Wolochow, Maurice Lifchus, Shirley Rose and Paul Comisarow attended the sod-turning ceremony for the Har-El syn- agogue in West Vancouver Sunday. ;

NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL By Martin Mitllerchip

Landing proposal.

“Credit due is credit that should be given. Congratulations to the owners, the province and

Wednesday, October 4, 1995 - North Shore News - 25

the scope of a habby.”

Since graduation, that’s changed.

Her business ts called North Shore Reused Woad Products Manufacturing Co.

Lacroix collects wood used for pallets. crates and similar purposes and rescues them from the dumpster.

She removes nails and foam and sands the wood before she fushions it into two lines of products.

One line includes firewood accessories such as racks for woud and kindling

Her gardening products line includes planters, compost sereens, garden tools and totes.

On Thanksgiving. her business launches with a table at the Pier 96 flea market.

Brazimport international Services is the brainchild of 41-year-old) Brazilian immigrant Arnaldo Rotenberg.

His firm is trying to expand trade Hinks betwecn Brazil and Canada. Like many of his classmates, he had his idea to lead him to self-employment before entering the Capilano program.

The value of the Entrepreneurship Program is that ii gave him direction, he said.

Rotenberg has set up a home office and will repre- sent companies wishing to enter Brazilian and South American markets.

He also plans to test the waters for such firms with market research.

Rotenberg said computer, vitamin and keyholder manufacturers have expressed an interest in scoping the Brazilian market.

Even students who won’t be pursuing businesses they have researciied praised the Entrepreneurship Program.

Deborah Gamel said her idea for a sales agency for a hosiery did not stand up to the intense scrutiny she gave it during the program.

Even though the hosiery business is not feasible, Gamel, 42, said she learned a Joi through the program.

Referring to the business skills mentioned by Pendygrasse, Gamel said, “I didn’t have those kind of skills before.”

Now, “! could just take my knowledge and pop it into place for whatever I want to do.”

The next. Entrepreneurship Program tentatively begins Oct. 30.

Programs are also planned for the Squamish and Sechelt campuses of the college.

faces assault charges

A 15-YEAR-OLD North Vancouver -youth was charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and possessing a dangerous weapon alter a crowbar and machete fight at a party in Lynn Valley on Friday.

Police attended a home in the 800-block of Lynn Valley Road in response to a report- ed “knife fight.” according to a North Vancouver RCMP spokesman.

Police found a bleeding 19-year-old man sitting on a curb. He was taken to Lions Gate Hospital where he was treated for head gashes and a broken nose.

Police say the man was attacked after two teens, who ‘ were not invited to the party, were usked to leave. They returned with a group of their male friends, armed with crowbars und machetes, according to witnesses. Police said “various people” in the -home were assaulted.

The next night police responded to a complaint that the same teens were outside a

brickbats from local residents.

Council recently approved the purchase of an ~industrial-zoned Jot on the Dollarion Highway earlier: this. year -in conjunction with the province's s. Nature Legacy Prograny at a cost of $1.56:million. 7 The land: is ‘situated between Cates Park and the Noble Towing and McKenzie Barge proper- ties, the site of a controversial multi- -family r rede- velopment proposal by United Properties Ltd. A public hearing to rezone, the fot from indus- ‘trial to PRO (parks; recreation’ and open space) "was attended by some of the same residents who

recently urged council not to reconsider the adja- cent Cates Landing proposal.

That development will go to public hearing after public feedback on the report of the Waterfront Task Force has been collected.

The task force recommended against medium and high density waterfront development.

The task force's deputy chairman Maureen Brage congratulated the mayor, council and province for the purchase of the lot.

Her counnents were echoed by some members of Save Our Shores Again (SOSA), a resident

10 council and staff for supporting the extension of Cates Park.” said John Addie.

Added Dave Sadler: “This industrial-zoned land was purchased for $18 a sq. ft. In compari- son, district residential lots cre selling for $33 a sq. ft. while {undeveloped) waterfront: land worth about $80 a sq. ft

“T believe you got the taxpayers of this district one heck of a good deal

Sadler's 11-year-old daughter Julia told coun- cil, “Twenty-five years from now when Tam 36 and [ walk through the woods and sit down by the water T will remember and thank you! '

house party in the | 100-block of Dyck Road.

Police arrested two teens, age 18 and 19. who were sit- ling in a vehicle. The 13-year- old suspect was apprehended by a police dog after.a foot chase, said police,

Charges are — pending against the two arrested older teens. ‘The 15) year old was charged under the Young Offenders Act.