« cee am NEMS Saturday, June 27, 1992 @ friend in ‘une 15, 1992, I was on a trip the former U.S.S.R., relative to establishing my ancestral roots. Asix-day stop in the city of Tiblisi, Georgia, allowed me to do local sight- seeing besides an extended trip to my ancestral home, some 15 miles from the Turkish border. On my last day in Tiblisi, I was strolling down the street in search of a music store to try and purchase a Paul McCartney recording in the US.S.R. which was not sold out- side the former So- viet Union. oe I was not certain where the music store would be. At the time I was wearing a white t- shirt with a red maple leaf and ‘Canada’ imprinted across the front. stopped to ask a motorist parked at the curb to see if he could help me locate the music store. Before I could say anything a voice behind be said “You Kanada, please you Kanada.” I turned around and spotted a young man in his early 20s. He smiled and said “You speak English, yes!” I said yes, I was from Canada. I asked him where he was from. He replied “Here. I live here.” I asked him where he learned to speak English. He replied “Here. I buy English books and watch for people like you, so please talk to me in English.” I replied, “That’s fine.” He asked me “How I help you?” I told him my daughter and her boyfriend asked me to buy them a Paul McCartney record. He replied “You can’t buy in the store. But I show you store.” On the way over, he asked me if I believed in God. I replied, “If you are asking me about God in that building or that building or that building (pointing out to the three churches), no. “I believe there is a universal God and that’s the one I believe in.” “You are a good man,” he said. Pavel (Paul) said, “Did you hear we had a serious problem here in Maple leaf makes Georgia May. I was there and I have seen with my own eyes when these terrible peo- ple killed a woman and her child with clubs.” “Who are these terrible people?” I asked. “Nobody will tell us, even today we don’t know. How soon did you hear about this in your country?” he asked. “And please talk in English, please,” he repeated. - At this point he broke down and got tears in his eyes. I told him we had this on our TV within 24 hours. “We did not have any informa- tion on this for three weeks,” he said. At this point we were entering a music store. We approached a female clerk who informed us that Paul Mc- Cartney records are sold within three days and there wouldn't be any until the next shipment in July. We left the music store and got onto the side- Wi . e turned to me and said, “I Hie a Paul McCartney record. You got Kanada money?” I said, “No just rubles.” “Ah, rubles garbage,” he respond- ed. “Well,” I said, “I’m afraid I have to go because we leave in one hour to fly to Yalta.” Pavel said, “I get you record, I give you my record.” “We have no time,” I said, “and I can't pay you.” “I take taxi and be back in 20 min- utes, where I meet you?” “Outside my hotel Adjaria,” I said. “No, too many KGB and commu- nists there, we meet in that park over there.” Twenty minutes later as I ap- proached the park he was already waiting for me with the record in his hand. He asked me ifI had a pen. He wrote on it “To my friend in God” and signed his first name only. After some extensive handshaking and hugging we parted company. My maple leaf t-shirt and the record remain my prized possessions. ( HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA _) BREEZE EGGSHELL FINISH (TEERERAL PAINT o Wa PAINT e WALLCOVERINGS e BLINDS “Your Home Fashion Centre” \365-62 14 = 613 Columbia Ave Castlegar onarre 3.761 City has earned a place in my heart y best Canadian experi- Me= is a long one. It be- gan in 1947 when I came to Castlegar from Vancouver to teach for one year. It continues to this 'y- When the train emerged from the rect link to the outside world but there was a wonderful sense of com- munity and friendliness. No one locked his door — or had to. here were people of many na- tions and occupations prospectors in the Christina Mountain tunnels high above the Lower Arrow, I drew my first breath of the most beautiful wine-like air I ever tasted, while far be- low on a blue ribbon of water the Minto churned a frothy path northward toa hundred hamlets on the lake and the tug Elko guided a log boom southward to Waldie’s mill. The CPR Castle- gar rail depot, town centre for gener- ations, was a hive of activity, but the dirt roads beyond were almost empty and the oiled-surface highway wound its lonely torturous way to the smelter at Trail. t was an isolated river valley © community, rural and serene, with only the railway as the di- mountains, trappers in the woods, farmers and orchardists along the beachés and Indi- an artifacts on the beaches, all set against a background of unparalleled scenic beauty, and all of which has changed ever more rapidly with the years. First came the Na- tives, then the traders, miners, log- gers, paddle steam- ers, trains and even- tually planes, agriculture, industry and waves of immigrants. It was like watching a kind of doc- umentary summary of our country, an experiencing of the continuing history of our land. No wonder I’ve stayed here for 45 years. I can’t wait to see what new things the next 45 will bring. f- Share the Experience of Canada and Its People. Happy 125 Canada The United Steelworkers @ Saturday, June 27, 1992 arpa wh. Nelson has cake for all NEWS STAFF Let Nelson eat cake. Canada Day cake actually. The Nelson University Centre Education Society is assisting the Nelson Chamber of Commerce in constructing an eight-foot-wide cake. NUC Society president Aleen Norris said about 45 community groups are each donating a cake for Canada Day celebrations on Wednesday. “The cake is to symbolize the strength and diversity of the Nel- son community,” Norris said. She said each group will have their own logo on the cakes they bring in. All the cakes will be pieced to- gether and ready for viewing at 10 a.m. on Canada Day next to the parking lot at Lakeside Park. But like any cake, it is meant to be eaten and Nelson will do that. For a free serving, be at Flagpole Stage at 11 a.m. for the official cake cutting. ™~ Trail set to celebrate 125 in style with Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER The people of Trail don’t need an excuse to celebrate — but they. have one anyway. With Canada Day fast ap- proaching, the Home of Champi-- ons is planning a fiesta to re- member. “I think it’s going to bea super time,” travel counselor Stephanie Fabbro said of the July 1 celebra- tions. “Last year there was a really good turnout, and there will probably be lots of people again this year.” People certainly will want to see things like the Ray Ferraro Celebrity Sidewalk Imprint. This fundraiser will see local stars’ hands be printed in con- crete and auctioned off to the highest bidder. So far Karen Lee-Gartner and Ray Ferraro have left their mark for the charity. Fabbro also said there was go- ing to be non-stop fun from noon until night, but added that there are some things you really don’t want to miss. “The Gyro Park Family Day is fun-fille Ray Ferraro super fun for everyone,” she said, “but the whole day is very family oriented. “It’s some place you can take your kids and have a good time on Canada’s birthday.” And a birthday just isn’t a par- ty without fireworks, so the Trail City Centre Association and the Trail District Chamber of Com- merce are chipping in and light- ing up the sky. “There will be birthday cake at d events 8:30 p.m. and fireworks after that,” Fabbro said. “The best place to see them is the esplanade along the river. I think it'll be great to see the fire- works.” But the city isn’t the only Trail organization planning a birthday celebration. Dewdney Tours is having a 33- day party in the form of a cross- Canada tour. sya “It’s just our way of celebrating Canada’s birthday,” said tour co- ordinator Cathy Hansen. “We heard about Canada 125 and thought ‘Heck, this is the per- fect time to see the country.” The tour will leave Trail Aug. 29 and will have participants en- joying a dinner cruise along the Red River in Winnipeg, strolling through the Parliament Build- ings in Ottawa and feeling the mist of the Niagara Falls. “We just want people to see their country and have a good time doing it,” Hansen said. ; But both Hansen and Fabbro agree. No matter what you do this year, get out and enjoy Cana- da Day and the Canada 125 .cele- brations. ‘Celebrating Canada's 125% Birthday Setting the scene for our own Silver & Golden Anniversaries in 1993. ~ Kootenay Savings Where You Belong m@ Trail @ Fruitvale @ Castlegar @ Salmo @ South Slocan @ m@ Nakusp ™ New Denver @ Waneta Plaza M@ Kaslo “IN