W. Van

senior

jailed 10 days for sex assaults

AN 87-YEAR-OLD West Vancouver man who pleaded guilty to a variety of assault charges against four girls was sentenced Wednesday to 10 days in jail and place on proba- tion for two years.

By Robert Galster Contributing Writer

Faced with three charges of sexual assault and one charge of indecent assault, William Arthur Hand dis- played little emotion as he sat with his lawyer Brian Mickelson during the sen- tencing. Hand's wife of 57 years Margaret, 85, sat direct- ly behind him.

West Vancouver provin- cial court Judge Reginald Grandisen read his sentence with the victims and their families in attendance.

Grandison outlined Hand’s offences in detail ona victim-by-victim basis. They included fondling of the girls’ vaginas and breasts, both above and beneath their

clothing.

The offences took place in Castlegar while Hand was visiting his daughter between 1974 and 1991.

The judge also considered Hand's time of service to his country in times of war and that he has not reoffended since undertaking 16 sessions of counselling following the Most recent assault when he was 83 ycars old.

Grandison said Hand's “good reputation has been sullied,” but added that that alone is not sufficient punish- ment for the crime even at his age.

“Incarceration is appropri- ate unless there are excep- tional circumstances,” said Grandison.

He said a jail sentence would “ring clearly” in Hand’s mind and serve to send out a message to other potential offenders.

During an earlier hearing, Mickelson told the court that although his client is, by def- inition, a pedophile, he is of the opportunist variety not the

See Sentence page &

FORMER VANCOUVER Stock

'. Exchange (VSE)’ senior execu- ‘tive. Clay Shultz has joined the hotly contested Liberal nomina- tion race for North Vancouver- Lonsdale. - 7

By Brent Mudry _- ‘ Contributing Writer

» Shultz filed his nomination papers on Feb. 14, joining the six Liberal contenders already declared.

. “lam flattered by the attention that they al! seem to want to shower in this

" riding,” said incumbent NDP MLA David Schreck.

. Shultz’s declaration gives North ’ Vancouver-Lonsdale the largest field of Liberal hopefuls since lawyer Sindi Hawkins won the nomination in

- Okanagan West in November from

Trustee set for sessions

PARENTS WILL get a chance to speak with

Ex-VSE bigwig competes

five rivals. No date has been set for the nomination meeting yet, and 42 days notice must be given unless the NDP quickly issues a writ for a general election. ;

The. existing contestants include Rob Heywood, a former RCMP superintendent, Bob Kucheran, execu- tive director cf the B.C. Pharmacy Association and Sid Mirhashemy, an employee of Dick {rwin Chevrolet in North Vancouver.

Shultz dismisses early speculation that he may become finance minister or be given another cabinet position if Gordon Campbell leads the Liberals tu victory.

The chartered accountant, an asso- ciate of Coopers & Lybrand, notes his nomination papers indicate interests in finance, social services and govern-

Premier's pari | secretary faces ciiallenges

From page 1

mental affairs.

In the fast election, Schreck won the North Vancouver-Lonsdale riding in a tight three-way race.

The considerable Liberal interest in North Vancouver-Lonsdale indi- cates that.there will be another tight battle for the riding in the coming provincial election.

Shultz says he began to seriously consider entering the race in November, and ke quickly received quiet support from Campbell's inner circle.

“People close to leadership have been quite encouraging to me,” he said. :

In the past month, Shultz has had contact with Campbell, but he says ne commitments were made.

“He has a totally hands-off policy -

lame

government-appointed school | trustee Bob Smith in the next few days at two functions.

On Saturday moming, at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church, 2725 Lonsdale Ave., Smith will address a forum organized by local Liberal MLAs Dan Jarvis and Jeremy Dalton.

: Smith will discuss his findings since his Jan. 18 appointment and future .plans for the district, as well as answer questions.

‘Smith. will also speak - at Leo' Marshall Centre at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday ata "function organized by the “parent advisory council.

back to the earliest days of the Harcourt government, when the cocky young Clark was appointed deputy house teader and Schreck his assistant.

Schreck was also appointed parlia-

mentary. secretary to Clark when Clark was appointed Minister of Employment and Investment, which oversees Hydro.

Clark appointed Schreck to Hydro‘s board in 1993.

Schreck said he expects to be more than a figurehead in his new position and points to his at-the-table role in inter- provincial trade negotiations when he was parliamentary: secretary — in Employment and Investment.

“I'm .an important member of the team, as are all caucus members,” he said.

Just how successful he will be in his new position will be determined by his ability to get the ball rolling on the Lions Gate Bridge issue, said West Vancouver-

Photo submitted PREMIER GLEN Clark and NV MLA David Schreck stick together. Garibaldi MLA David Mitchell.

Schreck said he’s already bent the ears of Clark and new transportation minister Corky Evans on making the long-overduc short list of bridge options public.

Meanwhile, speaking on the Hydro scandal, Schreck contends he couldn't

independent

prior to the nomination,” Shultz says. Shultz concedes he is a late-comer ,“

to the race, but he expects to waste no’ time in meeting with community lead-.

ers and constituents to gain a stronger feel for the needs of the voters.

At this point, he secs the major issues are the crossing to Vancouver, education and public safety.

If he wins the nomination, Shultz

pledges to move to the riding from Vancouver's West Side. where he shares a condo with his wife and fam- ily.

“I have already started looking around ai areas, * he said.

Despite his VSE career, Shuttz is quick *o distance himself from sug- gestions he carries any Howe. Street influence.

Shuttz was terminated as executive vice-president of the VSE after he lost out in| a-bid for presidency of the exchange to Michael Johnson.

ntary

possibly monitor the thousands of trans- actions done each year by Hydro.

“T should not have to check on the chair and chief executive officer. They are trusted officers of the corporation,”

said Schreck.

He added both knew they were not to directly invest in a company involved in an offshore venture with Hydro. BC Hydro policy states employees must avoid an appearance of conflict of inter- est, as well as actual conflicts of interest.

Mitchell told the News that to appoint Hydro director Schreck to a Cabinet position, given the mess Hydro’s now in, would have been political suicide for Clark. The “hard, cruel world of partisan politics” prevented Schreck from getting a Cabinet appointment, Mitchell added.

Mitchell noted Schreck, as partia- mentary secretary, will have influence on and access to Clark other MLAs won't have. “Hopefuily, that will have some benefit on North Shore issues,” said Mitchell.

NEWS photo Mika Wakefield

TRADITIONAL CHINESE music at Capifano Mall, performed by musicians Lan Tung (ett and Chris Sin, was among activities and sntertainment organized by the North Shore Multicultural Soclety to celebrate multl- cultural week. Feb, 19-23. Performances of African music, Canadian folk songs and the Scottish bagpipe were other highlights that illustrated the cultural diversity of the people of the North Shore. ;

mews Briefs

Woman | poisoned

A 27-YEAR-OLD North | . Vancouver. woman. was’ |. found dead in ber 1300-.|— block. McBride -. Street ..{° residence on Wednesday ‘: at approximately: 10:30 am. ; Kelly Anis Bruce will

undergo an awstopsy | to” determine -* the... exact . cause of death,.. but, |- North Vancouver RCMP - investigatcrs believe her: death was caused by. extremely high levels ‘of carbon monoxide built: up in the residence as 2 result of an’ old’ furaace ‘with poor ventilation. .- -|: ” Fwo other . adults were also in the house and were transported to Vancouver General

Hospital where they are: a

being treated for carbo! monoxide poisoning

Emergency crews’ were |

called in after .a neigh-° bor saw the unconscious - occupants through a: window. :

Rew look 4 for News.

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