he. ca Castlégar News December 24, 1988 astle are thriving CITY MUNN Once upon a time, motels were often perceived as depressing road side joints with dripping taps, lumpy beds and suspicious odors. But that kind of ma-and-pa oper ation may disappear wth the proli feration of well-equipped, chain operated motels offering unbeatable value for the buck. Take, for instance, Sleep Inns, a new subsidiary of the huge U.S. Quality International hotel group. The world’s first Sleep Inn is sched uled to open in April in New Minas, N.S. Each room at the inn, though smaller than a standard hotel room, will have a queen-sized bed, desk, bay window, mini-bar and remote control color TV with a built-in VCR (videos will be available in the lobby). Room keys are eliminated; instead, a \guest's credit card will be pro grammed at check-in to operate the door lock, and guests who don't have credit cards will receive special cards. In the morning, guests will receive free coffee and croissants. This price for all this? GOOD TO BUDGET Donald Curtis, managing director of Quality International Canada, says a room at Sleep Inn will cost $29 or $30 a night. That's per room, not per person. There will be an additional charge of $5-$10 for a third occupant who would get a cot, but cribs for infants will be provided at no extra charge. In the United States, where dozens of Sleep Inns are also under con struction or planned, the basic room charge will be $20 ep $29 US. (Sleep Inns was Originally named McSleep Inns, but the McDonald's hamburger chain sued for infringe. ment of trademark and a U.S. judge ruled Quality couldn't use the Mc prefix.) Sleep Inn executives like to ‘talk about filling a void for economically priced hotels that offer modern, comfortable amenities, but actually, with some variations on features and prices, Journey's End Motels and a few other Canadian chains offer the same type of accommodation. As for the United States, a 1987 study identified some 50 countrywide .suburbs and smaller chains in what is called the “economy limited-service lodging industry.” The granddaddy of them all is Motel 6, which charged as little as $6 a night when it opened its first motel back in 1962, and now charges $20-$30. As with fast-food chains, custom ers can expect the same efficient ser vice and lean, clean environment at chain motels. Journey's End charges more than Sleep Inns plans to, but it is aimed at economy-minded business travellers rather than the broad range of budget travellers — seniors, families and women travelling alone tar. geted by Sleep Inns The standard Journey's End room features two large double beds and a desk. Local phone calls are free and a newspaper comes with the mornig coffee. Rates range from $37 to $47 a night for a single at the 82 Journey's End motels in Canada — there are 12 in the United States. A second adult pays an additional $7, while third and fourth occupants pay $4 extra apiece. There is no charge for children under 12 sharing the room with at least one adult HALF HOTEL RATE Statistics Canada says the average hotel room rate in major Canadian cities in 1987 was $75 for a single The motel chains keep prices to roughly half that by locating in communities and by providing a limited number of amenities. Thus, the “no-frills” buzz word — meaning no big lobbies, no meeting rooms, no restaurants, no room service All of which adds up.to good news for. economy-minded travellers. In fact, syndicated travel columnist Arthur Frommer calls the budget motel “the single greatest- achieve- ment of the American travel indus. try Expect more and more of them to open across Canada as both Canadian and American chains look to expand BUILDING BOOM Journey's End, whose success since 1980 has helped trigger the current interest in economy lodging in Canada, continues to expand steadily, while Sleep Inns is sched uled to build 36 motels in Quebec and Ontario and another dozen in the Can Tire to expand TORONTO (CP) — Canadian Tire Corp. plans to spend $165 million, the largest capital expenditure in its history, to almost double distribution and warehouse capacity by 1991 Citing a burgeoning customer base across Canada, president Dean Groussman said new facilities primarily a 90,000-square-metre dis tribution centre in Brampton, Ont will help the corporation and its associate dealers keep up with changing times. ‘The new distribution centre Will incorporate the latest in materials handling and distribution-scheduling technology to provide prompt and efficient service to our customers,” he said The company denied that the possibility of increased competition in Canada from U.S. retailers or the opportunity for it to sell its wares in markets opened by free trade in the northeastern United States has anything to do with its need for more space. riding, scuba diving. Near Parksville, Vancouver Island, B.C. Mild Weather In All Seasons Our Guests Say “The log cottages are the best I've ever seen ‘You have worked hard to add the personal touches that make us want to come back. It’s charming here The West Coast Experience of a Lifetime! Share the untouched beauty of our sandy beach. Log comages and ocean view condos in a forest by the sea. Restaurant. lounge and meeting room. jacuzzi, indoor pool, nature trails. Near skiing, golf, fishing charters, boat rentals, horseback Rates as low as $47 per night Ask us about cur condomintams — an attractive Toll-free Reservations 1-800-663-7373 Information 1-604-248-2072 ‘ R.R.#1, Parksville, B.C. VOR 2SO Maritimes over the next four years: Country Inns, a franchise opera. tion of the American hotel group Carlson, plans to build 120 inns in Canada and in three U.S. states over the next 10 years. The first Canadian units are slated to open in the Mari times and Manitoba in late 1989. Room rates are expected to average $45. Charles Suddaby, of the Toronto office of management firm Laventhal and Horvath, says several other American chains are also eyeing the thriving Canadian market. TELEPHONE 365-5210 EWS GAR E Gary Dianna Koot ADVERTISIN New i (Farce ON PAINTING & DECORATING 2649 FOURTH casTLeGAR 8 © vin 2s! G SALES tAvlibas TRALBc. vie peed 364-0202 TOLL FREE OFFICE 365-5210 avenue 365 3563 FORD D SALES LTD. 7800-663. -4966 VE YOU ORIVEN A FORD LATE: y: and for the Castl month of January. copy News Business Directory will be accepted up to § p.m.| Tuesday, Dec. 27 for the Brian L. Brown CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANT 270 Columbia Avenue Castlegar © 365-2151 Certified General Accountant Office 368-6471 Residence 365-2339 1250 Bay Ave.., Trail Appliances APPLIANCE PARTS AND SERVICE We Also Service: *Kenmore * Inglis * Hotpoint» €tc * CASTLEGAR PLUMBING & HEATING LTD. 1008 Columbia Avenue * 365-3388 HERMAN” iz|3 ©1908 Unocoat Frans Sytcate MUIR FEATURED “*If she doesn’t show, d’yer wanna come to Niagara Falls?’’ Now Has a Full Line of LAZER XT AND LAZER 128s EX KOOTENAY INFORMATICS South Slocan Junction 359-7755 Moving & Storage Plumbing & Heating CASTLEGAR PLUMBING & HEATING For all your plumbing needs and supplies © FIXTURES * PARTS * SERVICE CALL 365-3388 TRAIL CUSTOMERS ONLY CALL 364-0343 WEST K CONCRETE LTD. PIPELINE PITT ROAD CALL PLANT 693-2430 CASTLEGAR 365-2430 Williams Moving & Storage 2337-6th Avenue, Castlegar Invite you to call them for a tree moving estimate. Let our representative tell you about the many services which have made Williams the most respected name in the moving business Ph, 365-3328 Collect (CasNews |) Printing Letterheads ae pes Business Cards Brochures Business Forms * Invitations Any Printing Don't forget our Web Printing Servic For details, call us. t Library, ant Bldgs., 501 Victoria, B. C. Vev waa Belleville st Febi 28 repairs Castlegar city council will set aside $9,000 for repairs to the Zucker- berg Island bridge ., .A2 Year-end review The Castlegar News takes a look at the top news stories of 1988 in its annual year-end review special section C18 LOTTERY NUMBERS The $1,000,000 winning number in Friday's Provincial lottery draw is 6951908. The winning numbers drawn Friday in The Pick lottery were 2, 3, 6, 7, 26, 39, 47 and 55. Sports highlights CasNews reporter Brendan Nagle reviews 1988's top local sports stories... BT Vol. 42, No. 1 RY La , eck Sim 60 Cents Castlegar News CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, WEATHERCAST Tonight: Mainly clear skies with lows to -12°. New Year's Day Mainly cloudy with highs near -5' The outlook for Monday: Periods of snow. Chagce of precipitation is 20 per cent tonight and New 1988 3 Sections (A, B & C) L Castlegar News y BUY or SELL by AUCTION USSELL OPEN MON. Sar #5 UCTION “sear satires 399-4793 * Most Advanced System Gets more deep down soil than any other cleaning method * Upholstery Cleaning Too mice prepa sal ad ot Call Us Today! FREE tatumarae PHone 365-6969 Optometrist D & M Painting & Insulation © Blown Insulation * Batts & Poly DUNCAN MORRISON 650-5th Avenue 365-5255 B.C. O.D. OPTOMETRIST 1012 - 4th St., Castlegar PHONE 365-3361 Tuesday to Friday alm. to 4:30 p.m Saturday 9a.m. to 12 Noon Chimney Service JIM'S CHIMNEY SWEEP * Service * Repairs * Installations 229-5375 (soltour) HORten COMPUTERS AND ACCESSORIES GRANT OF Wour 365-3760 Foot Care MODERN REFLEXOLOGY AND FOOT CARE 2808 Columbia Ave. S. Castlegar = Planning a Wedding? We Sell Distinctive Invitations, Napkins etc COME SEE US AT CastlegakNews 197 Columbia Ave Plumbing & Heating Radiator Repair Mike’s Radiator Repair & Sales New Location 690 Rossland Ave., Trail Open 8:20 : 5 p.m. Monday Fridoy 9:30-2, Saturday Doily Pickup ond Delivery in Costiego Phone 364. 1606 After Hours Emergency or Pickup Call Perry, 364-1506; Tim 359-7951 Mike 359-7058 SILVER CREST PLUMBING 713 Tamarack St., Castlegar Call 365-3044 Roofing ROOFING * Guaranteed Work © Fair Prices ° a Years in Business ree Estimates JAMES SWANSON AND SONS Ph, 367-7680 A sa PROTESTS AND POLLS . . . Castlegar had its share of news in 1988, much of it captured on film. Clockwise from top left, ferry users gather on the idle Castlegar-Robson cable ferry to protest the Social Credit government's decision to end the service; Prime Minister Brian Mulroney hits town during the federal election campaign on his way to a second consecutive majority government; another protest, this time by opponents of herbicides who sat on local railway tracks to show their dislike of CP Rail's application to use the herbicide Spike; an overturned tanker truck literally put emergen cy crews to the acid test when its load of sulphuric acid spilled on to Columbia Avenue. For.a rundown of 1988's events and more photos, see the special year-end review inside Septic Service CASTLEGAR FUNERAL CHAPEL Dedicated to kindly thoughtful service COMPLETE FUNERAL SERVICE Cremation, Traditional Burial and Pre-Arrangement Plan Avail Granite, Bronze Memorial lable Is Cremation Urns and Plaques PHONE 365-3222 Bartle & Gibson The Plumbing & Heating Centre American Standard ® Valley Fibrebath Jacuzzi * Crane Duro Pumps & Softeners PVC Pipe Fittings * Septic Tanks Electrical Supplies 2317-6th Avenue, Castlegar Phone 365-7702 COLEMAN COUNTRY BOY SERVICE Sump & Septic Tank Pumping Phone 365-5013 3400-4th Avenue Castlegar By SIMON BIRCH and BRENDAN NAGLE Optimism. That’s the key word among some of Castlegar's ing citizens as 1988 winds down and the city gears or the new year. “I think it’s going to be an excellent year for the city,” Castlegar Mayor Audrey Moore said of the coming year. “We're going to build the best centre in the West Kootenay area. “I think I've got a good, experienced, hard-working council and I expect great things,” Moore said. “I think it's going to be a banner year. Moore added she is “very optimistic” that Celgar Pulp Co. announce plans for an expansion of the pulp mill in the early part of the new year and predicts an increase in the city's building permits. Richard Maddocks, the Castlegar and District I Board's i Pp! officer, is also optimistic about 1989. “There'll be more growth in 1989 than there was in 1988 I think” Maddocks said. “That's my guess, providing interest rates stay relatively stable.” Maddocks said he hopes 1989 will see the $4 million Castlegar and District Hospital expansion go ahead and perhaps “one-of the other bigger announcements” such as a pulp mill expansion or the addition of generators to Hugh Keenleyside dam, despite B.C. Hydro chairman Larry Bell's assertion earlier this year that that project is several years down the road. Meanwhile, at Selkirk College, board chairman Elizabeth Fleet is hopeful that ee for education will be more generous (in 1989),” . “1988 was a very tight year financially”. Fleet said the pressure on facilities in Castlegar has become “extreme” in some cases. She said the out 1989 AUDREY MOORE very optimistic will be asking the provincial Ministry of Advanced Education and Job Training for additional funds to help the college cope with the burden of increasing enrollment in the confines of the Castlegar campus. The college is also hopeful 1989 will bring new courses such as the golf club management course in Nelson and the recently proposed expansion to the tourism and hospitality course, Fleet said. As well, she said the college wants to expand the building systems technician course The new year will also students from Tokyo. “Our internatiohal education program is still expanding with 14 new students arriving in the new year,” Fleet said. “This summer we will again be welcoming a short-term tour group from our sister college in Tokyo.” continued on page A2 bring more exhange