Patricia Coppard Vancouver Courier

VANCOUVER Public Library is reconsider- ing its open room- rental policy in the wake of a protest staged last fall against former North Shore News columnist Doug Collins.

Victoria lawyer Doug Christie booked the central branch’s meeting recom fast Septensber in the name of the Canadian Free Speech League. The group, which was raising money to help fund Collins’ court action aimed at overturning sections of B.Cis Human Rights Code, was met with 150 pro- testers who accused its mem- bers of spreading hate.

Last week, the fibrary board announced that it would hold a public forum, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb. 9, to gauge public opinion on whether the rental policy should be amended.

Sadie Kuehn, — spokes- woman for the Affiliation of

reniai

Mialticultural: Societies and Service Agencies of BC. — one of the groups that pushed fer the change --- said: the library should not be provid- ing a venue for groups that “preach hate and intoler- ance.”

When organizations fike the Canadian Free Speech League gather, she said, inci- dents of violence against iden- tiffable groups, such as Jews, ine, -

Kuehn said she received hate messages in the mail and on her answering machine after the British /European Aid Foundation met at the Scottish Community Centre a few years ago to discuss restricting immigration to Europeans.

“We aren't suggesting that these groups not be able to meet — they can meet in almost any place,” she said. “Providing them a venue (at the library) lends them a cer- tain air of acceptance.”

But Christie said the library is one of the few venues beyond the reach of “economic intimidation.”

The Free Speech League has tried to meet at private

City debates plan

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swarmed the meeting to blast the plans, which include realigning the ‘S’ curve by Lost Lagoon and eliminating the Chilco bus loop.

In a Wednesday meeting, the TransLink board accepted the causeway scheme and approved its share of the cost (an estimated $2 million).

A Vancouver City commit- ‘tee met this week to debate its support for the scheme — opening the floor to hear public delegations at city hall yesterday afternoon.

Representatives of SPEC (Society Promoting Environmental Conservation) were encouraging citizens to show up and protest against what it is calling “a backroom deal.”

Vancouver — councillors have been divided over con- cerns for vehicle safety and a reluctance to tamper with green space in the park.

However, Staniey Park falls within the jurisdiction of the park board, and ultimately,

ma. the decision on whether to “proceed with the project “all hinges on us,” said commis- sioner Allan De Genova.

Widening the causeway and realigning the ‘S’ curve _would mean the immediate loss of 41 trees, with the pos- sible felling of up to 90 others during the construction process. —

Construction work cur- rently taling place along the causeway sidewalk has not _resuited in the removal of any trees. s . The park board has tenta- "tively given its support to the

“new proposal because it includes the reclamation of the bus foop as green space, and the eventual phase-our of private vehicles from the bridge.

Following Monday’s turnout, though, the park board voted to make a final decision Feb. 21, after an as yet-unscheduled public meet-

ing.

-Park board commissioner. °

Allan De Genova said that “since Monday, he has had

many positive calls about the proposal.

“I think people felt it was being rammed through,” he said of Monday’s meeting, “but the more [’'m hearing, the more positive stuff I'm hear-

ing. able response. Part nwo of this is going to be very interesting.”

here’s been an unbeliev-

Doing Business the Ol? Fashioned Way

Long time Nonth Shore residents, Bruce and Gayle Bradshaw are cele brazing their 20th year operating

Bradshaw Carpets. tr these days of

“technological overload.’ it's refreshing to know that there are still businesses being run the old fashioned way; with

Be excellent service and a genuine smile

from the proprietor. Bradshaw Carpets Lad., at 507 -

15ch St, West Vancouver is a family ¢

run business that has fiourished at this

8 location for over 16 years. When you §

come into Bradshaw Carpet'’s 1900 sq, ft. showroom you'll see a great selec- tion of products; from the most inex- pensive to the most expensive, and in addition to featuring great products they have only the tup professionals

Bes performing their installations. “Their {

installers are used to doing extremely

high-end homes but are good in a

E home of any calitire.”

Although they are focated in West Vancouver, Bruce tells us,"West Van does not mean high prices. People think, ‘my goodness, West Van. I cant’

afford 10 shop there,” when in fact they can’t afford not to. Our pricesare &

as good or better than anyone's.”

ay In addition to rugs and hardwood § floors, Bradshaw Carpets offers

wool carpeting, synthetic carpeting,

# marmoleum resilient flooring and cork

flooring & ceramic tile. Bruce says, “We will do everything periaining to your flooring needs. We're a family

at business that aims to help wherever j we can. We take pride in what we do.” *

The Bradshaw's also have a sec- ond location, The Whistler Design

x”: Shop in Function Junction, Whistler p BC. The Whistler store handles com- plete interior design: kitchens, furni-. 3 * ture, draperies & ceramic tiles etc.

Come down to Bradshaw Carpets 20th Anniversary in West

icy

locations, only ta have the owners cancel the contracts atter threats of union intiler- ence and boycotts, be said.

The alternative — holding meetings in secret — is not acceptable in a democratic society, said Christie.

“Pm not going to hide to talk about free speech ia my country.”

John Westwood, executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, said) it would be dangerous for the library to prejudge the kinds of groups likely to break hate laws.

“If people are breaking any laws, they can be hauled betore the human rights cri- bunal,” said Westwood, who dismissed the idea that meet- ing at the library gives the group legitimacy.

“If the Flat Earth Society wanted to meet there, the library would allow them and no one would presume the library was giving them any legitimacy.”

Victoria Public Library has maintained its open room- rental policy in the face of fre- quent protests -— including “Nazis enter here” signs

rec

tacked to the — building's entrance — after allowing the Free Speech League to hold meetings there.

In) October, the B.C. Human Rights Comission dismissed a complaint by the Victoria Labour Council,

Green Party and Status of

Women Action Group alleg- ing that the policy “poi- soned” the atmosphere of the library.

Chef hbrarian Sandra Anderson said) she hopes Vancouver stands by its poli- cy, since limiting tree speech could easily extend to books on the shelf

“Public fibraries are the most. inclusive organizations there are,” she said. “Unless you allow as wide an expres- sion of opinion as possible, it makes no sense to have a pub- lic library.”

Last June, the Canadian Library Association handed the library an “intellectual freedom award” for its stance.

“We don’t think that hbraries should be in a posi- tion of determining who has a right to access that service,” said Miriam) Moses, who chairs the CLA’s intellectual

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freedom committee.

Cols, 4) former News columnist, has fought to have part of the B.C. Human Rights Code declared uncon- stitutional after a tribunal tound Collins and the North Shore News guilty of breach- ing the Human Rights Code by publishing opinion ruled to be offensive.

The case was referred back toa human rights tribunal by the B.C. Supreme Court in December.

Last Monday, Christie got leave to appeal the judgment to the B.C. Court of Appeal. The case is ser to be heard June 22.

Teens found on Seymour

Prom faac 1

woman was and brought her to satety.

NSR was called at 10:40 pm. Sunday to find two Langley teenagers who had gone missing on Mount Seymour.

A 17-year-old boy and 15- year-old) girl had left. their snowboards in a car and gone for a hike while ovo friends continued to snowboard.

The teens were found by NSR volunteers at 1:53 a.m. Monday and recovered at 2:30 am. They were suffering swollen, cold feet. Royston said.

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