C6 Oecember 31, 1988 September (continued) Castlegar are dealt a setback. The film’s producer and writer, Rossland native John Stark, blames B.C. Film for the delay, saying the agency has been sitting on his application for $10,000 in development funds for “several weeks,” f Celgar pulp mill shuts down completely following a labor dispute in which the members of the PWC Local walk off the job. The dispute stems from an incident in which a senior driver is not used to transport a gafety -valve to Calgary. The Robson-Raspberry Ferry Users™°Ad Hoc Committee receives apprgyal- 10g before a Supreme Court Justice in Nelson in “a challenge to the decision to close the ferry.” Meanwhile, the group's proposal to purchase the ferry is turned down by the Highways Ministry “until it's publicly offered for sale,” says a spokesman. The City of Castlegar learns it must return nearly $300,000 in taxes to Westar Timber Ltd. and Celgar Pulp Co., as a result of the companies’ appeal of their 1987 and 1988 tax assessments. However, Mayor Audrey Moore assures council that only industrial taxpayers will pay the refund. Castlegar liquor store employees join counterparts across the province in walking off the job. The pickets are erected in front°of the 4th Street location after local members of the B.C. Government Employees’ Union are informed that contract talks have broken down, B.C. Amateur Hockey Association honors Castlegar’s Paul Phipps as B.C.’s Hockey Coach of the Year at its annual convention held at Harrison Hot Springs. The convention and banquet are attended by over 400 people representing minor hockey from all over B.C. Students at Edgewood, cut off from their school by the BCGEU strike, travel to school by private boats operated by striking BCGEU members who normally operate a government ferry across Lower Arrow Lake. BCGEU members had been prepared to operate the ferry to transport the school buses to Nakusp, but withdrew their offer after local logging contractors sought to have their trucks carried also. Castlegar radio station's proposal to convert an apartment block into a radio station is given a rough reception from nearby residents at a public hearing. The residents are opposed to commercial businesses locating in a residential area. October The call for a Nov. 21 federal election launches Kootenay West-Revelstoke candidates out on to the campaign trail, as Liberal candidate Garry Jenkins, Progressive Conservative Bob Brisco and New Democrat Lyle Kristiansen begin mainstreeting throughout the riding. that not many want to hear the Castlegar and District Project Society's information on the proposed aquatic centre, as only small crowds attend the society's four public information meetings. Meanwhile, the Robson Recreation Society announces it will continue to operate the Robson pool even if the aquatic centre goes ahead. The Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ celebrates its 50th anniversary with a Jubilee Concert at the Brilliant Cultural Centre. Featured guests include the United Kootenay Youth Choir which visited the United Nations this year and Soviet Union soloists Tatiana Petrova and Leonid Smetannikov. council learns that Dr. Monty Arnott, the medical health officer and director of the Central Kootenay Health Unit in Castlegar for the last eight years, is leaving to take an appointment in the Lower Mainland. Council is concerned that Arnott may not be replaced in the near future. Workers at the Southern Wood Products sawmill in Castlegar and six forestry workers in Nakusp accept a new three-year contract with Westar Timber Ltd The results gas survey conducted in 70 ‘Castlegar-area homes show the majority are safe from radon. “From our point of view we have a very minimal health risk,” medical health officer Monty Arnott tells the Central Kootenay Union Board of Heal and Areas J residents give resounding approval to a $2.2 million indoor aquatic facility. The referendum passes with a 78 per cent jn-favor vote combined from all three districts, The United Church in the Kootenays moves to prohibit practising homosexuals from being ordained — at least for the time being. The Kootenay presbytery also agrees to ask that B.C. conference and its executive not recommend for ordination or commission “those people who are not practising faithfulness in marriage and chastity in . Kinnaird Junior secondary school will still be known as “KJ,” as Castlegar school trustees narrowly defeat a motion to re-name the school Kinnaird Middle school. The name change was proposed to adequately reflect the changing nature of the school. Ped. oti, Ai f the three major parties in Kootenay West-Revelstoke promise students more money for education during a one-hour candidates’ forum at Selkirk College in honor of National Students’ Day. Green Party candidate Michael Brown receives the most favorable response from students for his position on nuclear-powered submarines. A local radio station's rezoning application will go to a second public hearing, Castlegar council decides. Members of council perceive that there are concerns and questions that have not yet been answered, says the chairman of the planning and development committee. November Prime Minister Brian Mulroney breezes through Trail and Castlegar in a three-hour visit to lend support to Conservative incumbent Bob Brisco. Following a speech to party faithful at the Fireside Inn in Castlegar, he tours Cominco, while his wife Mila visits the Children's Development Centre in Tadanac. Provincial NDP leader Mike Harcourt condemns the Social Credit government's closure of the Castlegar-Rob- son ferry and tells locals an NDP government would reinstate the ferry service. Harcourt spends three days in various West Kootenay communities campaigning with Kootenay West-Revelstoke federal New Democrat Lyle Kristiansen, Castlegar and District Teachers’ Association presents a report to school trustees at an education forum whic states that 97 classes in the local school district are crowded to “sufficiently” meet the needs of students and recommends the hiring of more teachers. School superintendent Terry Wayling is not happy with the CDTA report, saying it doesn't “present the positive side that there are many good learning situations in the schools.” Castl voters turn out in unprecedented numbers for the city election's advanced poll. In the running for the three vacancies on council are Bob Branning, a lockkeeper, musician Joe Irving, Marilyn’ Mathieson, a former alderman who is running after a three-year absence, incumbent Patti Richards, Dan Shields, a attendant, and Doreen Smecher, a long-time trustee on the Castlegar school board, Doreen Smecher tops the aldermanic poll in the six-way race for three two-year seats on Castlegar council as just over 41 per cent of the 4,212 eligible voters turn out for the election. Incumbent Patti Richards finishes second, followed by former alderman Marilyn Mathieson. a wave of anti-free trade sentiment, New Democrat Lyle Kristiansen Loonies Tory incumbent Bob Brisco by a whopping 3,678 votes in the federal election. The race is the most lopsided since Brisco and Kristiansen squared off in the first of four election, battles in 1979. Brisco, 59, says he doesn't plan to be around to battle Kristiansen a fifth time, indicating his age is against him. Ambitious plans for the development of the exterior of the former CP Rail station on 13th Avenue are unveiled at a special Castlegar and District Heritage Society meeting. Society president John Charters is enthusiastic about the plans, which were drawn up by local landscape architect Nancy Felde, and feels the development will “enhance tremendously the image of this town.” ts lose their battle in B.C. Supreme Court to have the Castlegar-Robson ferry re-opened Castlegar liquor store employees join their counter- parts across the province in walking off the job after contract tatks- broke down between the B.C. Gover- nment Employees Union ond the government. December Gordon Turner announces a $1,000 pay cut for himself as he is re-elected school board chairman at the board's inaugural meeting. He accepts a $6,500 indemnity for the year, turning back the remaining $1,000 into the board's budget. Turner was elected by acclamation, as was trustee Mickey Kinakin, while Bill Hadikin, a 39-year-old engineering assistant, unseated Rick Pongracz of Area J. Mayor Audrey Moore wields the sod-turning shovel with Areas I and J dirctors John Voykin and Martin Vanderpol at a ceremony for the $2.2-million aquatic centre at Castlegar's Community Complex, while numerous local dignitaries and visitors look on in the heavy snow. In the absence of provincial government representatives (due to inclement weather), Castlegar and District Projects Society president Ron Ross announces the government has awarded the society a $700,000 grant for the new centre. Gienger Contracting Ltd. begins the rebuilding of the Robson wharf after being awarded a contract worth about $124,000 from the--federal Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans. The work will bring the facility up to safe operating standards and should be vandal-proof. Pulp Co. agrees to fund the cost of the $50,000 whirlpool for the new aquatic centre. Celgar manager Wilf Sweeney presents the Castlegar and District Projects Society with a letter committing the company to the donation prior to a meeting of the Castlegar and District Aquatic Centre Building Committee. teachers vote 91 per cent in favor of striking, but CDTA president Joyce Adams says teachers won't exercise their right to strike until at least after the new year. The most important issues that have to be resolved include hiring and transfer policies, sick leave, class size and salaries. Highways Minister Neil Vant announces at a public meeting in New Denver that the provincial government will spend $16 million to improve the treacherous stretch of road between Slocan and Silverton at the Cape Horn Bluffs. His announcement that the project could be completed within two years if the highways budget is passed by cabinet this spring is met with anger, as the crowd of mroe than 150 residents demand an assurance that the project will be completed. Provincial Attorney General Bud Smith makes a four- -hoyr whistle stop in Castlegar as part of a province-wide tour to discuss a recently completed report on the province's legal system. The Feport makes 182 4 peoples’ access to the legal system. *s justice of the peace for the last nine years, Paul Oglow, announces his retirement from the post in February. Oglow, who was appointed by an order in council of the provincial government on Oct. 11, 1979, will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65 and will step down Feb. 4, 1989. December 31, 1988 C€7 Tough year for premier By RON SUDLOW Press VANCOUVER (CP) — Premier Bill Vander Zalm ricocheted like a pinball through a 1988 calendar of crises in British Columbia. His shoot-from-the-lip style no longer rang up raves for his grassroots charisma. Instead, with a disenchanted electorate and a party in turmoil, the Social Credit leader eooled his hot-to-touch public profile by year-end to do some fence-mending within the party. Vander Zalm still hap at least a year and’s half to cled i the fall of 1990. “Christ would have been low in the polls,” muttered the Dutch-born premier recently, under siege from abortion advocates, environmentalists and once-loyal Socreds. While a series of crises over Vander Zalm's leadership created almost daily headlines, the government had a few uppers in 1988. Despite a short civil-service strike, there was unexpected labor peace. And forestry and mining led a rebounding economy that changed a provincial deficit to a $129-million surplus. OPPOSE ABORTION The year began with Vander Zalm’s unpopular stand on abortion and ended with a hotly debated sermon on Christianity in government. “It seemed as if there was a new crisis every three days,” said political scientist Terence Morley. “It was an exciting year.” Returning from a Hawaiian vacation days after the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the federal abortion law, Vander Zalm began an anti-abortion crusade by cutting off virtually all public funding. After weeks of outraged argument across British Columbia, the B.C. Supreme Court rejected Vander Zalm's policy. “I think much of the dissent, without a doubt, and I think most people would agree, is my stand on abortion,” said the Roman Catholic Vander Zalm, whose government budgeted $20 million for a family-life program with TV commercials encouraging teenagers to carry pregnancies to term. Another graphic image hit the small screens in early July when a tearful Grace McCarthy grasped Brian Smith's hand and resigned from cabinet. Dubbed Amazing Grace, McCarthy had a major role in recreating the tattered Social Credit party in the mid-1970s when the New Democrats took power for the only time. B Ts pier McCarthy's leave-taking, a week after former attorney general Smith took his seat in the backbenches, was seen by longtime Socreds as a signal that Vander Zalm was losing his grip, on a caucus that daily became more unruly. And when McCarthy, like Smith, blamed what she called a too-powerful premier’s office for her resignation, Vander Zalm had no choice but to put a widespread change of face on his cabinet, his own office and his senior bureaucracy. Principal secretary David Poole, castigated as a puller of too many powerful strings within government, survived that midsummer facelift. But soon after he was jettisoned after interfering in a neighborhood pub plebiscite, Poole was given a $100,000 severance package, after less than two years on the job. Many of Vander Zalm's probleme were rooted in the former Expo site, now a barren spread False Creek in downtown Vancouver. As the province looked for the best developer for the pricey real estate, the RCMP investigated the premier’s relationship with his friend Peter Toigo, a beefy millionaire businessman who tried to by the land after bidding had closed. SOCREDS SUPPORT convention in in a leaky rubber dinghy, sharks circling. But after they listened to Vander Zalm stand up for his actions and beliefs, delegates turfed the notion of a secret ballot on his leadership and solidly supported him in an open vote. “If we do the right things and lose by it, I'll sleep a lot better than if we do the wrong things and lose by it,” the turning y Castlegar and District Hospital's $4.3 million expan- premier said after the Socred's first surprising byelection oss. “And if I can sleep, if I can live with myself, then I'm not too worried.” By the end of 1988, after losing two byelections to the NDP, the Social Credit had slipped to 44 seats from 46. There were 22 NDP members, one Independent and two vacancies. Varied polls suggested the Socreds had fallen more than a dozen points behind the NDP and Vander Zalm's popularity was lower than that of his party. PUSHES eo ‘was> recruited to head up the earibeud Liberal arty, which hasn't held a provincial seat since 1979. When Poole said no, current leader Gordon Wilson said he would soldier on. As B.C, business heads inté free trade with the United sion. Vander Zaim got a rough reception in Castlegar uring a year that saw the premier bounce from crisis to crisis. States, organized labor is out to protect Tough bargaining is expected in Roce care in 1989 “and once that’s done, labor will focus on workers’ health and safety programs, human rights projects and the free-trade issue,” said a moderate Ken Georgetti, in a second two-year term as head of the 275,000-member B.C. Federation of Labor. Those controversial Expo lands will be in the news, too, as a company controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing develops the 84-hectare site purchased for $320 million. Models showed 10,000 housing units in futuristic A§-storey towers, a financial centre, hotel marinas and As for Vaiider Zalm, who stayed eet mloedly apolitical during the federal election campaign, “he was gone 40 days in the wilderness,” said Morley. “He could come back.”