ca C News 28, 1990 LIFESTYLES Nurse says abuse on job must be known by public By JOYCE LANGERAK Okanagan Sunday VERNON (CP) — Even prostitutes don’t tolerate the abuse some nurses are expected to take on the job, says head nurse Joyce Kunzelman. Kunzelman, 31, who’s in charge of the Polson Special Extended Care Unit in Vernon, ‘says regardless of how shocking the facts are, it’s time the public woke up and took a long hard look at what nursing is really about She spoke out in reaction to a statement made by Marguerit} Ford, President of the Alzheimer Society of B.C., during hearings of the royal commission on health care costs held in Vernon in early November. Ford put the blame on nurses for injuries suffered at the hands of patients saying, ‘‘You are clearly doing something wrong.’ Kunzelman disagrees. “For too many years the public has assumed we're doing something wrong, and we want to clarify it ““We came into this place expecting that we're going to care for people. Nobody told me my job was to be slapped on the side of the head or to be kicked in the shins." The sign beside the metal doors leading to the Special Unit warns that residents must not be allowed to exist as visitors enter. Inside, elderly ‘people, some heavily sedated, some staring vacantly, others with their faces contorted, slump in geri-chairs — confined behind trays affixed to the chair to prevent them from getting up. Despite the confinement, the scene is one of feverish activity. Some residents, muttering to them- selves, march up and down the two gleaming corridors leading from the nurses’ station. From the end of the hall, a man shouts, ‘‘Deo! Deo! Deo!’’ over and over. Mercifully, he ends at last with a soft ‘‘Ok."" Almost all the unit’s 38 residents can walk. Four- teen are considered violent. Slapping, biting, and kicking, they strike out at staff members daily. “It is hazardous to work with this type of person,” says Kunzelman. ‘‘I think the nurses need to be given some sort of credit for working in these conditions.’’ One tiny white-haired woman in a pink sweater holds her head in one hand and cries like a baby, “Mama, Mama.’’ At 95, she no longer understands what is going on around her. The noise level is high and constant. In the ‘‘noise’? room near the nurse’s station, an enormous woman reclines in a lazy-boy chair. Bedsheets have been tacked high up on the wall beside her. An- tisocial, she has the habit of spitting into the palm of her hand and flinging the mucus against the wall “You can’t do that in a nursing home,” zelman. people.”” says Kun- “‘That’s where we function — to absorb these In the glass-walled dining room across from the nursig station, residents in Ichairs and g line the walls. Others are standing - restlessly moving around, “We don’t get very many visitors in here,”’ says Kunzelman. ‘Family members feel afraid. They hate to see parents here.’” The ident with A advan- ced alcholism and other forms of dementia brought on by brain damage, are unpredictable. “We spend most of our time here guessing. We guess they’re hungry. We guess they’re not. We guess they’re happy. We guess they’re sad.”’ To enter this unit patients must be unsafe around other people or a danger to themselves. They might wander into traffic, drink disinfectant, or fail to under- stand the danger of fire. Many are dangerously anti- “They don’t know the difference between sitting and standing; the difference between feces and oatmeal. You take them into the washroom and they stand in front of the toilet, and these people truly have no idea what the object is in front of them."’ Some relieve themselves in file cabinets, in plants, even on other residents. “‘When the residents end up here we have to like them. We have to treat them with as much dignity and as much care as if we loved them — as if they were our own family members."’ Staff at Polson Special Unit are there by choice. Turnover is low. Supportive of one another, the 25 men and women who work here are committed to their jobs. They have to be. “‘The work is more disgusting and more dangerous here than anywhere else in the hospital.’’ One staff member, 5% months pregnant, was kicked in the side so hard-it was feared for a time that her baby had been killed. Some disoriented residents bite and kick as nurses attempt to, undress them for bed. Or they strip them- selves naked as soon as they’ve been dressed in the mor- ning. Some grab the front of uniforms, popping buttons and tearing seams. **How do you complain about a little old lady who turns around and hits you? You sound like a whiner.”” Kunzelman knows her unit is far more volatile than some others in the hospital, but such hazards exist in every department. A groggy patient emerging from a recovery room strikes out; a violent drunk is admitted to emergency. The issue of violence against nurses is only begin- ning to surface, says Kunzelman. “‘Nurses are starting to stand up and question whether or not anybody should have to put up with this type of working condition.” Newspapers going green VICTORIA (CP) — Major B.C. newspapers will be asked to pay into a provincial environment fund, an E Ministry p waste. said. Publishers at. in the cost of recycling their produc- ts, said Ron Driedger, director of municipal solid and biomedical newspapers will be expected to use recycled newsprint, he said. 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Anti-lock brake system Automatic locking hubs AM/FM Cassette stereo 1991 PROTEGE ‘union ¥ SATURDAY December 1, 1990 Vol. 43, No. 96 Little accumulation. Castlegar, B.C. Sunday 3 Sections (A, B &C) =A ha, 75 Cents WEATHER Tonight: Cloudy with snow flurries. ows near y: Cloudy with snow flurries. Clearing in the afternoon. 1, Probability of precipitation is 40 per cent tonight and 30 per cent Su: Drama students visit schools --- A6 Highs neor Local musicians win awards »»-BS LEGIS, ATIVE PARL TAMENT BLE IC TORIA & _| Castiegar News LIBRARY A Py Rotary honors Wilf Sweeney --- AZ Downtown plan to next step By SIMON BIRCH Editor Castlegar city council has accepted the draft copy of a plan that could give the North Canton land use, and so forth. An important reason for partic- ipating in this program is te identify and deal with these broader, long-term issues.’ area a complete facelift by mid-1992. The North Castlegar Revitalization ae by Kamloops-| based Urban Systems Ltd. is the first step towards imp the of the core and the long-term marketing and promotion of the area. The report is the result of consultations with down- The notes that similar efforts to revitalize downtown Castlegar in the past have failed. Urban Systems says the lack of success can be attributed to a number of factors, including a limited number of people with interest in the area, focusing on an area that was too small, the lack of support from major property owners in the area and perception that the costs were too high. town business people and i their s and for i ing the Editorial, page A4 existing and Urban Systems divides the area targeted for revitalization ‘into three ‘‘cells’: the commercial core, including the railway overpass bridge; the northernmost part of the commercial area across the railway overpass bridge; and the commercial strip along Columbia Avenue approximately between 6th Street and 13th Street. The purpose in dividing the revitalization area into cells is to allow the phasing in of capital works to im- prove the appearance of the area, the company says. That means one area or cell could receive intense core, Di Business A iati i Jack Parkin said. The next step now is to approach the provincial government for funding to start drafting a plan for the revitalization, he said Friday. Sprucing up of downtown Castlegar needs to be more than cosmetic, Urban Systems says in the report. “*Revitalization is more than planting trees and in- stalling new sidewalks,’’ the company says.~**It involves But attitudes have changed, the company says. “*The mood in the community generally, and in the North Castlegar commercial area in particular, has im- proved considerably over the past year. Major economic have been for the area, including the Celgar modernization project and several capital projects proposed by B.C. Hydro. The time is therefore ripe for the North Castlegar commercial area marketing and promoting the area, ensuting to allowing it to on such as lighting, planting, sidewalks and underground telephone and power lines while another cell could receive lesser redevelopment with additional Report notes good and bad By CasNews Staff The North Castlegar Revitalization Strategy prepared by Urban Systems Ltd. identifies a number of strengths of the downtown area as well as its weaknesses, According to the report, the strengths of the area include: © A number of activities in the area which draw people to North Castlegar, including retail outlets, professional services such as accountants, lawyers and medical services, government and/jnstitutional services such as the post office, liquor store and city hall, and other attractions such as Kinsmen Park and the Castlegar Rail Station. work phased in at a later date. Such a strategy will keep costs affordable, accor- ding to Urban Systems. “‘Another impor point is the this scheme,’’ the company says. the future in extending the revitalization further south please see DOWNTOWN page A2 * The compactness of the commercial centre which comprises approximately seven hectares of land. ‘‘It is possible to walk throughout all of the core in about one half hour,”’ the report says. ‘This must be viewed as a strength, as it suggests the ease please see POINTS page A2 Hearings worry rep By DONNA ZUBER Staff Writer The focus of hearings into grievances filed by Canada Em- ployment and Immigration Union members which began Wednesday in Nelson has union representative Bill Brassington concerned, “I'm a little worried that not enough attention is being paid to mitigating circumstances,’’ he said in an interview. Thursday with the Castlegar News. A total of 26 local Canada Em- ployment Centre workers were penalized up to 19-days’ pay ic ing the federal. g decision to move insurance services to Nelson from the Trail office. They staged a round-the-clock sit-in Jan. JUST A TRIM Ministry of Transportation ‘and Highways TRI-PAC BRIDGE CLOSURE Driedger said, recycled oil in begins recycled paper in the workplace. And as soon as a de-inking plant operating next year, about ways we can accomplish that, we'll be happy to meet with them. Driedger said stores that sell glass containers will be asked to become ‘‘partners: in recycling.” including using fleet vehicles and The Ministry re tation and Highways to advis. Tri-Pac Bridge will be }o% 29, 1990 at November 30, 1990 at 6: Reason for Closure: Drilling for Geo- Technical information Bridge will open for Police, Fire or Ambulance emergencies only For any further information, please callLarry Brown, Area Bridge Manager at 354-6521. We apologize for any inconvenience this may couse D.P. WILLIAMS District Highways Manager ch Jack L. Parkin Bus. 365-6664 Res. 365-2694 rensed wah Mutual Lite of Canada/Mutuat MLestco inc.” two of The Mutua! Group. **Let me help you with your financial needs. ’”’ e Financial Planning e Lifeinsurance e Disability income e Annuities and RRIFs e RRSPs e GlICsand Saving Plans ¢ Investment Funds . ° 'S Employee Benefits Ré The Mutual Group Facing Tomorrow Together Iz Wayne Sto Caroline Soukoroft ADVERTISING OFFICE 365-5210 * FAX 365-3334 PAINTING & DECORATING 4x4 1.8L. Valve with M.P.1. Full Time Four Wheel Drive 14-Inch Steel Wheel with All Seasons * 4Wheel Disc Brakes "$15,990 1991 MAZDA CAB PLUS 4x4 2.6L. 12 valve withM.P.1. Fold down rear jump seats Full size spare tires Anti-lock brake system % 1990 MAZDA MPV 4x4 No. 7-5403-0 2649 FOURTH AVENUE CASTLEGAR 8 365 3563 A.M. n. FoRD RD SALES | np. Tran ac wean 24 364-0202 ML COLLECT JANICE CE TURNER Res. (362-5923 “AVE YOU DRIVEN 4 FORD Lare.y * 3.0L. 13 valve V6 with M.P.1. * Multi-mode 4 wheel drive system * Rear seat heater with control “$22,990 ALL PRICES INCLUDE FACTORY INCENTIVES. * FREIGHT & PDI METALLIC PAINT & DEALER INSTALLS EXTRA. Gary Maloney s CASTLFGAR MAZDA262;/241 9-12 and filed grievances when they were fined. “The decision was made without consultation with the Trail office or the community,’’ Brassington said. “(And) the minister of employment and immigration didn’t respond to pleas and petitions sent between August 1989 and, well, to just before the sit-in. What else could they do.”’ However, Brassington is apprehen- sive that the Public Services Staff Relations Board hearing the grievan- ces will side with ‘‘legal theorists (who) will tell you that moral con- siderations have nothing to do with legal considerations.”” Rory Lindsay, who on Wednesday was the first union member to go before the board, was penalized one- day’s pay for his participation. Members were penalized one-day’s pay for the first day, three-days’ pay for the second, five days for the third and 10 days for the fourth, for a total of 19-days’ pay. Lindsay at- tended the protest on the last day. However, it was his day off. A second hearing, for Anja Blake, was scheduled for the same time. However, her hearing has been post- poned. The balance of the hearings are expected to be heard sometime in January or February, Brassington said. Testimonies at Lindsay’s hearing were heard from CEC managers Jim Switzer of the Trail office and Jack Roddis of Nelson, and Bill Gardner, director of operations for the B.C.- Yukon region. They testified on behalf of the employer in support of the disciplinary action taken and Lindsay testified on his own behalf, Brassington said. “There is no doubt he was there (at the sit-in),"” he said. “‘He can’t dispute that Lindsay’s argument, he said, is that because it was his day off, he didn’t actually participate in the work stoppage. please soe HAMRINGS page AS Vd Week. Cosriews photo by Steve Peden City worker Al Cawte trims a tree which hangs over All trees along the north side of the park had a! c NDP candidate warns of forest industry By CasNews Staff Rossland-Trail NDP candidate Ed Conroy says the entire Columbia River Valley is on the verge of a major__crisis_ within its_forest_ m- dustry. In the next one or two months in excess of 1,000 people could lose their livelihood as a result of possible closures of several southeastern B.C. sawmills. including the Westar sawmill 1 Castlegar, Conroy said in a news release. In an interview Friday with the Castlegar News, Conroy said he's worried Westar Timber in Castlegar could shut-down for as long as six months if the provincial government doesn’t address the problem of inadequate compensation to local logging companies for such things as building roads “*The only thing that can be done is if people who are in a position, (Provincial Secretary) Howard Dirks or whoever, to maybe exercise some force within the provincial gover- nment to deal with the problem more expeditiously," he said. “If they do that we don’t have a problem.”” The New Democrat blames the provincial government which he says is using outdated information to determine how much money to pay logging companies. Conroy says conservation, cut management and sound logging prac- tices are now ‘“‘justifiably- demanded «and required.” **New ecologically sound types of logging, better methods of road con- struction for long-term environmen- tal protection, proper reforestation and site preparation are only part of the industry's fyture, . “Local producers with costs based on '83 and '84 data cannot meet the being placed on them ittle bit of posed done on them last because the set price does not reflect the new reality. This means the cost of delivering logs to the mills and crisis ED CONROY .. more layoffs possible meeting the new realities in this area makes log costs too high to compete in a depressed market."” The provincial government has acknowledged the problem but says the earliest it can act to correct it is July 1991, Conroy said He said he has no idea why the government has to wait that long. Conroy, despite 20 years’ seniority, is one of about 20 tugboat workers on the Arrow Lakes who have been laid off as a result of the forest industry slowdown in this area. He said he thinks there’s enough logs in the water now to supply Westar for only another six weeks unless logging operations resume Conroy defeated current NDP MLA Chris D'Arcy for the Rossland-Trail nomination in May and will square off against Socred Walt Siemens in the upcoming provincial election which many predict will be in the spring Minister won't ban dioxin discharges VANCOUVER (CP) — B.C. En- vironment Minister John A ‘sa- group environmental coalition i laws says Victoria will not move im- mediately to ban dioxin discharges from pulp mills, despite the third major fisheries closure in three years due to dioxin pollution. “The only way to eliminate them immediately is to close all these mills down ‘and that's not a solution,”’ Reynolds said. “*The problem is being worked out - + . and that story has to be told too." Barlier, the federal government announced health advisories and fisheries closures around six coastal B.C. pulp mills because of dioxin pollution in seafoods. to prohibit the release of dioxins from pulp ssn Then to claim The release then referred to forth- coming pulp-mill regulations that will set deadlines for mills to reduce discharges of chlorinated organic tough new provincial regulations for dioxins were already in place, while in fact the province has only an- nounced d i by the end of 1994 and enact dioxin laws now. Dioxins and furans — some of which cause tumors, birth defects and reproductive failure in lab animals — are classified as provide secondary for ef- fluent. British Columbia's deputy en- “*We are spending a billion and a half dollars right now to solve the problem because of the regulations we've brought in,’’ Reynolds said. “We've got the toughest regulations in Canada." He ministry said in @ news release: . Reynolds today emphasized the importance of the province’s tough new controls on dioxin discharges." minister later confirmed dioxin regulations are ‘‘not actually in place yet.” “‘They’re drafted and we're hoping to get them through cabinet before Christmas,"” said Richard fic Party environ- ment critic John Cashore said if Reynolds was “equal to his rhetoric,” the government would ines. The proposed B.C. regulations would set limits for organochlorines and require secondary treatment of waste water dumped by pulp mills in- to rivers and ocean inlets. Pulp-industry groups say 8.C. mills will spend more than $1 billion to eliminate these poisons in their ef- fluents and to install secondary- treatment plants. “The problem is there because we've been putting dioxins in the water for as long as the mills have been there,’’ Reynolds said. The expansion of fishing and har vesting restrictions increases the areas closed around each mill by as much as five times. Four of the areas are located in the Georgia Strait area betweof) mainiand British Columbia and Van- couver Island. They are the Fletcher Challenge mills at Duncan and Cam pbell River and the MacMillan Bloedel mills at Powell River north of Vancouver and near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Also named are the Canadian Pacific Forest Products mill near Gold River on northern Vancouver Island and the Eurocan mill near please see DIOXIN page A}