v A2 CASTLEGAR NEWS, October 25, 1981 “Whistling Bernie Smith” Socred image-maker By CasNows Staff B.C. Social Credit Party president Bernie Smith says New Democratic Party lead- er Dave Barrett is the best opposition leader he's ever seen — so good in fact that Smith has dedicated the rest of his life to make sure Bar- rett remains in the oppo- sition. Smith made the comment Thursday in an interview with the Castlegar News while here for the Rossland- Trail Social Credit Party an- nual meeting that same even- ing in Genelle. It’s the type of remark that reveals Smith's congenial personality yet stiff deter- mination — both of which have helped to reverse the fortunes of the Social Credit Party since he was elected president in 1979. The 58-year-old Smith — better known as “Whistling” Bernie Smith when he was a member of the Vancouver city police from 1945-1979 — took over the reins when the party image was at its low- est, battered by the contro- versial and highly embarras- sing “dirty tricks” letter- writing affair. Since then the party has cleaned up its image and fo- cussed on the solid grass- roots approach to politics — and much of the credit goes to Smith. It was that grassroots ap- proach traditionally thought to be the domain of the NDP — which turned the tide in the Kamloops byelec- tion earlier this year, Smith said. “We out NDP'd the NDP,” he laughs. And he hopes to take that same approach and extend it across the province — in- cluding here in the Rossland- Trail riding — to ensure another Socred win in the next general election, which he figures will come within the next year or two. He said the party has brought in four experienced political organizers — in- cluding two from Ontario Premier Bill Davis’ Conser- vative blue machine, which hasn't lost a provincial gen- eral election in more than three decades. That was in part the rea- son for the annual meeting in Genelle, Smith said — to or- ganize and help the local constituency prepare for the next election. BERNIE SMITH. . He said the Social Credit party has never organized in this way before, in the past relying instead on the poli- cies and charisma of former leader W.A.C. Bennett. But the political scene is much more “sophisticated” now, Smith says and requires hard work and solid or- ganization. “It’s a whole new look for the Social Credit Party. We're now in the process of not only taking a page out of the NDP book, but taking the whole book,” he added. Still, despite the grass- roots approach proposed for the Rossland-Trail riding, Smith isn't optimistic about a Social Credit victory here. “It would be an interesting challenge. It’s not beyond the realm of possiblity (to beat the NDP here),” he said. However, he admitted the party is not well organized locally and is now only start- ing to organize as it should. But Smith says party mem- bership across the province is up and has a much broader base than ever before. Smith encourages voters to get involved in the political system by joining a party — even though it may not be his party. As long as they get involved they will have a say in the destiny of their com- munity, he said. Smith says his current goal as president of the party is to make sure it’s ready when the election is called. He says the party is in "good shape psychologically, reasonable the party is in “good shape Illegal VANCOUVER (CP) — Il- legal suites can mean the dif- ference between a buyer be- ing able to move into a livable house or a shack with a leaky roof. During the last year, as high interest rates followed inflated house prices, rev- enue suites became critical for first-time buyers. Law-abiding people who never before rented out an existing in-law suite to a stranger are doing it. They - look at it as a necegsity — not Se RRR 8 : ° . B.C, Social Credit party president shape financially and excel- lent shape politically.” On a personal level Smith said he’s looking ahead to November when he will make another run for the party presidency. But what has Bernie Smith brought to the party that an- other leader might not have? Smith says he’s pushed for fiscal responsibility within the party; ensured the party's board of directors are the real leaders; created a harmonious atmosphere among members so they can achieve the party goals; and toured throughout the prov- ince carrying the party flag high. He added his most import- ant job is to listen to people, “to hear what they're saying about the way B.C. is being run and to pass on the mes- sage to the government.” He invites B.C. citizens to contact him on any provincial government issue at 3635 No. 3 Road, Richmond, B.C. V6X 2B9. as a means of making money but simply to enable them to keep their houses. i Buyers don’t shrink from breaking the law. And those who can’t would like to. “I have a ‘mortgage help- er,’ but don't tell the world about it,” said a lawyer who rents out an illegal basement suite for $350 a month in his Dunbar-area house. “I wish I had an illegal suite in my house,” said a bus driver, who recently bought’ a $177,000 North Vancouver home and is considering building a suite. “It's a dumb law. It’s none of the city’s business. It's your home and you should be able to do whatever you like in it.” Ilogal suites are those that contravene zoning laws. Dis- tricts zoned RS1 permit only one family to live in a house. An in-law suite is allowed provided it is occupied by a parent of one of the owners. An RS1A zone permits an extra unit in the house pro- vided the owner occupies the main unit. In other areas, the law is repeatedly violated and ig- nored because the city in- vestigates only when there are complaints. City building the owner is told to take it out. The stove and refrig- erator are unplugged, but the city doesn't check back to make sure they are not plugged in again. Illegal suites can cause problems in financing a house through Canada “Mortgage and Housing Corp., said manager John Nicholls. The corporation requires a writ- ten declaration that the un- authorized’ suite will not be used for revenue. But if the purchaser rents it to an inlaw, it is not a Roger Hebert said there have been o prosecutions against illegal suites since 1975. “One or two complaints are made each week, but the city has no system to evaluate them,” he said. If an illegal suite is found, revenue rental. FACE SAME CONTROLS “Illegal suites and legal’ suites are subject to identical rent controls,” said provincial rentalsman Jim Patterson. “We are concerned only with. the contract ‘between the landlord and the tenant.” More upgrading needed for SHSS Despite having spent some $900,000.to upgrade’ Stanley Senior dary another $40,000 to bring the school up to local fire .de- school, Castlegar school board is faced with spending a New key policy adopted by board Castlegar school board has taken steps to ii confirmed .Monday all the locks have been hed a: firmer grip on keys to district schools. The board Monday ap- proved a new key policy to keep better track‘of the keys. The move follows an ear- lier decision to replace the locks on all exterior doors to district schools. Maintenance supervisor Nick Bonderoff Report evaluates veterans’ OTTAWA (CP) — Some pension benefits for widows and widowers of war vet- erans should be more than doubled, a Senate committee recommended. In a report calling for sev- eral important changes in the veterans pension system, the To Business With The Small Business Week, sponsored by the Federal Business Development Bank intended as a special tribute to the owners and managers of smal business e terprises who contribute greatly to the economy and well-being of this coun- try. Special activities will be taking place at the FBDB during Small Business Week — activities intended to increase the amon: pensions Senate health, welfare and science committee said there is “a large and unjust dif- ference” in the treatment of spouses after the death of a disabled veteran. The spouse of a veteran considered fully disabled — when the effects of war- related injuries are rated at more than 47 per cent on a complicated formula — gets a full monthly pension of $608.60 after the veteran's death. But the spouse of a veteran whose disability was rated less than 47 per cent gets m 2, For example, the spouse of _ a veteran whose injuries were counted to be 45 per cent — only two per cent less than full disability — gets only $228.22 a month — about one-third of the full pension. The committee said the spouse should get a per- centage of, the full pension equal to double the disability rating. In the case of a veteran with 46-per-cent disability, the surviving spouse would thus get 90 per cent of full pension, or $547.74 a month. regarding the many forms of assistance available to those people running a or ab . Get down to business with the FBDB and receive valuable up-to-date business information from both government and private sources. . ud’ Patricipants include rep: from any Dept. of 9) an Trail Chamber of Commerce. Canada, C i College, on Oct. 29 between 7 p.m. & 10 426-7241 for further information. This special event is taking place at the Crown Point Hotel in Trail p.m, Contact our Cranbrook office at SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, OCTOBER 25 - 31 I Bank Sponsored by the Federal ob. in ion with the Trail Chamber of Commerce. FEDERAL BUSINESS BANQUE FEDERALE DEVELOPMENT BANK DE DEVELOPPEMENT Your success is our only business. Canada “Since wid as wellas widows, were equal partners in marriage (with their vet- erans) we believe that they also have served and that Canada should care for them,” the committee said. oma a Caldsel GROCETERIA & LAUNDROMAT & SHAKE SHOPPE We Are Open 364 Days a Year M - Saturday 8:30 - 10:30 p.m. Sunday & Holidays 9 - 10:30 p.m. 1038 Columbia 365-6534 a), t ind the new keys have “do not copy” stamped on them. However, trustee George Anutooshkin wasn't so sure the board was any better off than it had been with the old Trustee Malcolm Scott told the board Monday that the Castlegar fire chief has re- quested the additional work. Scott added that the $40,000 figure “was way more than what we had ex- pected.” The board referred the work to next year's budget. Meanwhile, board chair- man Ann Jones said the dif- ferent standards the district has to cope with should be brought to Education Min- ister Brian Smith's attention. Jones said the board has to meet education ministry locks and keys. A suggested the new keys could simply be cut — in spite of the “do not copy” stamp. But Bonderoff said the stamp would make it harder for the keys. to be-cut- by. making key cutters aware the keys aren’t supposed to be copied. Corp. of B.C. standards and local by- laws — and they're not al- ways the same. KIWANIS ‘SKATE-A-THON a Sat., Nov. 7 PLEDGE WHEN ASKED “It’s an open secret. Every- body is renting out a suite. It's the only way people can survive,” said Paul Pang, Vancouver real estate agent and urban appraiser, In 1977, an insurance agent bought a new house in East Vancouver for $80,000. Pay- ments were $490 a month on a $50,000-mortgage at 11 per cent. Taxes were $580 a year. His family then could afford to yse the downstairs space for a study and a party room. This year, he refinanced the $47,500 mortgage at 21 per cent. Payments are $850 a month. Property tax is suites survival tactic close to $100 a month. He lost no time in converting the study and party room into a suite that will rent for $400 a month, Some owners take great pains to conceal their illegal revenue. They do their own installation without permits. One landlord got around suspicion by installing a wet bar sink, a two-burner hot- plate and a microwave oven in what purported to be a recreation room. He collected rent in cash, which he used to buy groceries. “Who can trace cash?” he asked. fe Was p REMINDER! Your Mailer Is A Great Way To Get YOUR United Way Contribution. 'NO ONE WILL CALL ON YOU THIS YEAR Help Support the United Way Cut and wrapped ONLY $1 .O90. Curing and sausage moking extra Triple D Meats Leech Road, Canyon, 6.C., 428-8613 AT’S TIME For you to consider becoming actively involved in the important decisions that | | | affect the educational experiences of our children ;- — class sizes children — effective long term fiscal planning — curriculum planning which will meet the -future ‘needs of our — adequate facilities schools the community in the operation and planning of our special needs pro- gramming for our special needs students — strategies to involve | — learning conditions in our schools — progressive person- nel policies — sustaining a co- operative and pro- ductive working environment. Area NOMINATIONS for SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE CLOSE Oct. 26, 1981, Noon POSITIONS VACANT No. of Seats Castlegar (2) Areal Area J (1) (1) Term 2 year 2 year 2 year Interested persons requiring further direction should contact Mr. J. Dascher, Chief Returning Officer, at the School Board Office — Columbia Ave., Castlegar, Tel. 365-7731. SPONSORED BY THE CASTLEGAR DISTRICT TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION (CDTA) ‘ ys _.__.Pass Creek schools have also Sandy Crossley: Getting Every two weeks, Sandy Crossley visits one of the 35 babies that she regularly sees. She sits on the floor and gently places the infant over a cushioned “wedge” or round bolster-type pillow. She takes the tiny arms in hers and places them over the ends of the pillow and rolls the baby back and forth, back and forth, Through these exercises, the baby's small body is learning muscle tone and control. Sometimes she places a mirror in front so he can see himself, Then she packs up her gear and heads out in her car to the next house, but hot before she his explained to the parents how to use the equipment and how best to help the baby develop. ‘At the next house thé tod- ler is visually impaired. San- dy takes out a handful of bright rubbery toys that have a variety of textures. Some feel grainy, some are covered with masses of soft spongy points, but all have easy to grasp appendiges‘and squeak when you squeeze them. Sandy teaches the toddler how to use her hands to make the toys squeak. “It's im- Sandy Crossley with the ‘feeder’ seat. portant for blind children to learn to use their hands.” Sandy loans the parents a few of these toys so that the child can play with them. At the next home she brings out a “jumpoline,” described by her as a “cheap trampoline.” It looks like a large round innertube from a tractor or truck, and over the top is placed a rubber mat, pulled tight like a drum. “phis is good for children with poor muscle tone.” At the next place Sandy pulls out of her bag a wooden “shape sorter” and teaches the young child how to place the shapes in their corres- ponding holes. First. they work on the side of the box with the circle, then when the toddler has mastered that, the box is turned and two shapes are revealed and 4 CASTLEGAR NEWS, October 25, 1981 A3 }a good beginning | LINDA HALL Getting to Know Your Neighbor the child learns to distinguish between a circle and a square. Sandy Crossley is the In- fant Development Worker for this area in a program that has been going on for four years, and Sandy has been with the program since its: inception..She describes her work as “homebased” and says that her purpose is to help parents, help their delayed infants develop nor- mally. “I work with the child who does not pass the develop- mental milestones, for ex- ample the child who may not be sitting up in a year, or the child who makes no sounds. ‘We don’t wait until the child is three to see if he’s speak- ing. If he’s making no sounds at all a parent should be very concerned about his hear- ing.” Sandy provides activities and exercises to help each baby develop to his full potential. All of her work is highly individual. Sandy has had to learn a lot about a lot of different infant p: _. Hats off-to School: District: =: “Mules is mules” 1 wrote JOHN CHARTERS’ Reflections & Recollections in a spring 1980 letter-to-the- editor. 2 In it, I suggested that while mules may need a strong application of a 2x4 to get their attention, “people is people”, and are supposed to be open to logic and sug- gestion. : This letter had followed a vigorous and, at times, ac- rimonious meeting at the- then Castlegar Elementary School, between School Dis- trict No. 9 Board represen- tatives and parents. It was a kind of climax to several: years of earlier letters-to-the-| editor, strikes, lockouts and widesptéad _ bitterness in reiaiions. 1 felt, as did a number of others, that the board had lost contact with both its employees and the public and that we had to regain that contact. At the same time I expressed the hope, based upon my knowledge of the intelli aaa board, employee and public , had fire and intruder alarni systems installed. A number of new pro- grams have also been in- stituted, including one which is dear to my heart — a pro- gram for the gifted child. The pilot program was begun in ip teh Grades 2and 5 to be wea’ by’Grades 3 and 6 and 4 and 7. ‘This program,’ which is board-initiated and differs ‘ham © denartment of edu- cation “enrichment pro- gram”, is aimed at identi- fying children who. not only are intellectually advanced but have, as well, an unusual potential in creativity, de- cision-making and planning. of importance, since the Uni- versity of B.C. and Uni- versity of Victoria are again requiring a second language as a prerequisite to degree graduation. The program, which enrols 868 students, is subsidized by the federal government. Rus- sian is also offered at the 6-6-7 levels, but is funded lo- cally; Ron Heuer, teacher of the severely learning dis- abled, has been appointed as the teacher. Jacques Slik, an education- al psychologist, is working at the district level on a special needs program as supervisor of special services and will be specializing in counselling and Ron Heuer Since these qualities tend to capacity for hard work of the new board chairman, Anne Jones, and new board mem- ber Doreen Smecher that the situation might be turned around to the benefit of all. From my observations, and from an interview with Director of Instruction Mike Lauriente, I am convinced that it has, and that, to quote Mike, “the situation has been handled really well at all \The after a fairly early age, it is essential to identfy them at an early stage in their educational ca- reer. Therefore, all children within the grade level are given a series of tests, as well as class teacher input, for ‘backup. i “Every kid,” as Mike Lau- is teacher on a one-to-one basis for children with severe learning disabilities, and Alexia Turner is the teacher of the “English as a Second Language” (E.SL) Program for refugee \ children; and Eileen Tregoning, speech therapist, is working for a second year on a preventa- tive and i riente says, given a kick at the can.” Muriel Walton and John Eg- gleton, working with a tea- h t ini levels.” For i e disruption caused by the burning of the Kinnaird Elementary School was min- imized by prompt relocation of children and classrooms, with the cooperation of par- ents and’ teachers. While this. major building program was going forward, Kinnaird Junior Secondary School got a new band room and library; Woodland Park and Robson schools have, or are getting, learning assis- tance rooms; and a large addition has been made to the Silver Birch School; while Stanley Humphries is having extensive renovations for fire committee, are in charge of this most valuable program. The addition to the Silver Birch School. will facilitate the development of a job- training program for moder- ately and severely handi- capped students, 15-19 years old. This program is also unique in that it has input from the ministry of human resources, ministry of edu- cation, the ministry of mental health and the ministry of manpower and immigration. A full-ti for identification of children with speech disorders. . Faced with the choice of the “we can watch it happen- ing or be a part of it” philsophy, the board has opted to be a part of the growing computer age. Thus, a micro-computer program is firmly established in the dis- trict curriculum. Last year District 9 was designed by the department of education as one of the 10 districts in the province to form a part of a pilot com- puter program. There are now 20 micro-computers op- erating in the district — 10 in. MacDonald, is responsible for the program in the district. Brian” the ‘y schools, five at Kinnaird Junior Secon- dary and five at Stanley bri ai “This given Kinnaird Junior Sec- ondary School in 1980 by the External Evaluation Team; the fact that the district was “selected by the department as one of the two high scoring districts in the province in the three basic subjects of reading, science and math- ematics, Students in this dis- trict achieved at a superior test level in these subjects and the department would like to know how it was done. ‘Thirdly, the Casiiegar dis- trict was chosen by the B.C Teachers’ Association as oue of the two districts in the province in which to hold a pilot project study confer- ence on multiculturalism. The conference, which ‘has been in preparation for the past six months by repre- sentatives from the. BCTF, the Castlegar District Tea- chers’ Association, the school board and community organ- izations, is meeting even as this column goes to press. In brief, things have been turned around. A lot of fine things are happening on many levels, thanks to the efforts of a number of people on the board, the mainten- Babies are referred to Sandy by physicians, Public Health nurses, social workers and by parents themselves. Sandy sees a variety of in- fants, from those slightly de- layed in speech to those with either increased or decreased motor patterns. She told me that babies with increased muscle tone are very tight and tense, their arms and legs don't move freely.Decreased mus- cle tone was described as “those floppy babies” by Sandy, like rag dolls. I was very interested in the large assortment of toys and equipment against the wall and perched on the shelves in Sandy's small of- fice. The sturdy wooden pushcarts, she told me, are used to help toddlers walk. Besides being able to put their toys and blocks in them, when the young child holds - onto the handles in a stand- ing position, he learns to walk by pushing the cart in front of him. The solid con- struction makes’ it virtually impossible for the front of the cart to fly up and unbalance the child when he pushed down on the handle. linspected a “feeder seat,” which looked like a glorified “cuddie seat,” but with diff- ‘erences. The seat is much deeper and holds the baby in securely. For the youngster with increased muscle tone, it separates his legs and “puts the child in a good position for eating.” 3 e ance staff, teaching staffsand ‘jg the administration, as well as to competent board leader- ship. ‘As one who, for the past 85 years, has been convinced of the need for good public re- lations in our complex edu- cational system, I would like to offer special congratu- lations to new trustee, Dor- een Smecher. ‘As chairman of the Public Relations Committee, she has, with the enthusiastic as- sistance of committee repre- sentatives from all employ- ees, created an invaluable in- strument for understanding Other prog and ap- include “French safety, and a heat- ing system conversion; and Twin Rivers, Kinnaird Elem- helping teacher” Doug Pin- kerton, who is providing in- service training for teachers program is coordinated by Rik Hall, who is also re- sponsible for inservice train- ing for teachers. entary , Kinnaird Junior TBecond Ooti: ia and \ Other of local and in French at all levels. This is success are the good report and P in the dis- trict. The district newsletter “No. 9 Newsline”, which was launched in June 1980, is in- formative, amusing and a real unifying link for the dis- trict. Toys for use with the visually impaired. Besides the shelf of toys for the visually impaired, she also has a closet full of cause and effect toys. “All toys,” says Sandy, “should be cause and effect. When you turn a knob on a mobile it should turn. When you put the cor- rect shape in the shape box you hear the bang on the bottom of the box.” She pulled out large puzzle pieces with big knobs for in- fants just gaining the “pincer grasp” — the grip between thumb and She being updated. As of this’ past August, Sandy has an assistant to share the load. Jeannie Moylan has joined the program and will be visiting homes as well. Sandy would like to thank the Castlegar United Way for its generous donation to the Infant Development . Pro- gram, Much-needed exercise equipment and toys were fi- nally able to be purchased. Besides her work with de- layed babies, the Infant De- ion is al- sendale Hospital. “I always wanted to be a nurse. I took care of all the lame birds...” ‘When she was 16 she went bowling once a week with the “special” class and thorough- ly enjoyed working with, and getting to know, handicapped children her own age. After Sandy married Ted Crossley, the couple moved to Prince George where their first child, Byron, was born. But: Rossland is Ted's home, and they soon found th back in this area. then showed’ me a few toys she doesn’t recommend, puz- zles with pieces too small or pieces with incorrectly col- lored objects, such as bright green dogs. The delayed child needs to see himself, and Sandy rec- ommends placing a large full-length mirror against the couch and letting, the baby sit in his cuddle ‘seat or “feeder seat” and Jook at himself. “So babies get the idea that they are there.” . Sandy works one morning a week out of a small room in the Volunteer Exchange Of- fice. The rest of the time she is on the road, her bag of toys and equipment beside her. She drives as far as Fruit- vale, Montrose and Kaslo to visit the parents and babies who need her help. In her office she keeps a large collection of books that par- ents are welcome to borrow. Detailed, confidential as- sessments are kept on each child, and they are constantly so involved with a number of projects designed to help parent and child alike. The newest is Pilot Parents and will help mothers and fathers of handicapped children cope. . Parents of handicapped chil- - dren are through workshops to help those par- - ents whose children have been newly-diagnosed as han- dicapped. woe Another ongoing ‘program is with the Early Childhood Education classes at Selkirk College. A playschool with handicapped children and their siblings is held once a week. The mingling of handi- capped and non-handicapped children in a playschool situ- ation has had good results, and the college students get a “hands-on” experience in daycare. Sandy was born in Sas- katoon and lived the first 10 years of her life there. She They took in two emotionally disturbed foster children and Sandy admits that “after working at Essendale and being able to leave after eight hours,” this 24-hour job could at times be very trying. She does recall many happy and rewarding moments, however. eel S iin her; spare’ time’ Surndy: loves to go out to the-shop; take out the hammer and'saw and make things out of wood. She has built wooden toys, a balance board, lamps and many other things. Even the city of Castlegar is privi- ledged to own a bit of Sandy's work. “When Ellen was four, I worked for five noaths on an LIP grant, building the playground.” She makes many of her own Christmas and birthday presents. Her work, however, is de- manding and her one dis- moved to Burnaby, finished: appointment is that.she has’ her schooling, and went into . psychiatric nursing at Es- so little time to keep up with: this hobby. 5 Using doll as model, Sandy demonstrates the ‘bolster’ pillow.