The Castlegar Sun

Slow, painful d

BRENDAN HALPER
Sun staff

When Dale Callow took over a
taxi business in Castlegar along
with nearly $100,000 in existing
debts, he knew it wouldn't. be
easy.

He was right. The problems at
Central Taxi began shortly after
he first stared in August 1991—
with the bookkeeping. Callow
ended up spending $2,000 just to
straighten out the books.

“I've only got a grade nine
education,” Callow said. “I've
got the smarts to run a taxi busi-
ness, but not the books.”

Maintaining cars, putting up
with inspections and enduring the
i . of

of license for several cars at once
Proved to be obstacles he could
overcome, Revenue Canada how-
ever, wasn't.

Callow was penalized $3,300
(payable immediately) after a

wing visit from a Revenue
Canada Auditor on January 21.

It had been assumed by Cal-
low that his drivers would calcu-
late and pay their own income
tax, as he considered them to be
self-employed. Revenue Canada
disagreed, saying that since the
drivers drove Callow’s cars, they
were under his direct employ-
ment, th he was i

‘What would you rather be doing? Crutsing in the
Caribbean

= Booted

ble for deducting their taxes. .

On February 10, Revenue
Canada seized Callow’'s bank
account, leaving him faced with
only one option—filing for
bankruptcy. The following night
he parked the cars.

“I'm a victim of circum-
stances,” Callow said, to the
Castlegar Sun last Wednesday. “It
really hurts.

“This also puts seven full-time
and eight part-time drivers out of
work.”

Continued from 1A
against Social Credit. She savs
she only tried to sway the unde-
cided toward D* Arcy

“T can't Sell what { dont
believe in,” she said. “Chris
D'Arcy recognized and appreci-
ated the things Bill Vander Zalm
did for our area.”

Bakken says she hadn’t specu-
lated whether her support for the
disgraced premier played a part
in her membership review.

The local party president said
that after the last election it’s
clear that Social Credit needs to
clean house.

“You don’t have to be a rocket
Scientist, just look at the results

of October 17,” Pellerine said
“We didn't get defeated. we got
decimated.

Party needg to he
changed to rebuild our€redibility
We need new ideas, new people
because the electorate has com-
pletely rejected the party.”

Bakken said she talked to Van-
der Zalm last week and that he is
still feeling puzzled and a tittle
hurt. She said they both feel he
didn't do wrong and she doesn’t
agree with people who want to dis-
tance the party from Vander Zalm.

“That's where the problem is.
We never had bad government
under Bill Vander Zalm,” Bakken
claimed. “My feelings for Bill

weren't wrong. I feel very sad
about the whole thing. We |the
former Socreds) were like a fami-
ly and that family fell apan. Now
is Tike Were POI RROUEH
Period of mourning, bug:you can't
sweep the. negative stuff under
the rug, you have to deal with it.”

At tonight's meeting, Bakken
hopes to explain what she thinks
wemt wrong and how to fix it.

“I'd like to see the party go
back to what it was and be the
best party in B.C.,” Bakken said
“I'm not all that concerned about
losing my membership if I don’t
believe in it. But I'd like to help
Social Credit get back to what
they were.”

Continued from 1A
Columbia, across from the Grey-
hound station.

The developer, Sandy Reid,
said he understands if people are
taking a “wait-and-see™ attitude.

“They're going to see it go up
pretty fast,” he said.

Reid and co-developer Gary A.
Williams of {no relation
to the city administrator] met
with Castlegar officials last Fri-
day.

Reid said the Columbia Ave.
site had been his initial prefer-
ence but a restrictive covenant on
the property turned him away.
That covenant was removed by
city council on December 3, let-
ting Reid re-think his plans.

Other proposéd locations
included the vacant area south of
the Sandman Inn and the empty
lot known as the “elliptical site”
just north of Kinnaird Bridge.

Reid preferred the Columbia
Ave. site for its easier access and
centralized location. He said it
will help connect downtown
Castlegar with development to the
south, such as Castleaird Plaza.

Reid’s partner, Gary A
Wiliams, will handle the con-
struction and says he plans on
giving local tradesmen first crack
at job openings.

The mall's major tenants are
already committed The
Metropolitan will be a 20,000
square foot department store
accompanied by the equal sized
Giam Foods super market

About 20 smalicr stores line
the strip mall, protected from the
elements by a 14 foot overhang
ing canopy.

A conipletely covered mall
wouldn't be feasible, said Reid. It
would require a major tenant
such as Sears or The Bay— com-

—___J

SUN STAFF PHOTO / Jim Zeeben

Soil samples have already been taken as development
of the new/mall seems closer than ever before

panies which only expand to
areas with laryer populations than
Castlegar

Construction will start on the
Colombia Ave site this spring.

Before mecting with the city
on Friday. Williams took soil
samples from various locations
on the site, checking ground and
water quality

“Doing a project of the size
you can't leave anything to

4.

chance.” he said after the first dig
“So far the quality of soil [for
building on| looks excellent.”

Another sign this proposal will
reach fruition is that the develop-
ers have begun compiling expen
sive, detailed drawings

“He's getting some building
plans drawn up right now,” the
city administrator said. “That
indicates to me they are quite
serious about this.”

TAX! TAXED - Castlegar Central Taxi

taxi fleet. “I'm a victim of circumstances,” Callow said.

A glimmer of hope appeared
after 24 hours of being shut
down, when Callow’s drivers
offered to provide the funds need-
ed to cover the amount owed to
Revenue Canada.

When Callow attempted to
resume business however, he found
that he had lost his contract with
Air B.C., who tured to Castlegar

Chamber luncheon

SHARLENE IMHOFF
Sun Editor

Members of the Castlegar and
District Chamber of Commerce
gained knowledge into the
adverse affects illiteracy can
have on small business and the
community as a whole.

Susan Port, regional co-ordi-
nator for a volunteer literacy
Program designed to teach adults
reading skills, addressed a small
group of chamber members dur-
ing last week’s chamber lun-
cheon .

Port Stated that illiteracy is”
not just the inability to read, but
the total inability to fully partici-
pate in the community.

“The number of people who
iue illiterate has not increased,
instead, the levels of literacy
have increased throughout the
last few years,” Port said. “As
well, people are not reading to
their children anymore. If you
want your child to be a readet,
he or she must be read to.”

Today, one out of every 20
people are seriously illiterate,
two out of every 20 people are
slightly illiterate and four out of
every 20 people can only read
simple material.

“These people are under a
great amount of stress. The are
also more likely to be unem-
ployed, decline promotions and
become frustrated easy.”

The affects on the national
economy, according to Port, are

City and B.C.

BRENDAN HALPER
Sun staff

An agreement reached last
December between the city of
Castlegar and B.C. Hydro,
regarding the site of the proposed
Twin Rivers Park is becoming a
reality.

The business deal gives BC
Hydro statutory right of way over
the park lands which the city
owns and in return the city will
receive $200,000 from Hydro, for
the acquisition of additional land.

Councilor Marilyn Mathieson
said the city is hoping that any
excavation in the Columbia River
for possible future Hydro pro-
Jects, would be used as land fill in
the areas of the park which are
considered to be flood plain

The documents giving Hydro
easement over the park land were
to be signed at a special council
meeting on February 14.

B.C. Hydro’s Project Manager
for Lower Columbia River
Development Peter Calder. said

For us having rights in the
tuture, we're helping them (city
of Castlegar) acquire the land and
complete their plans carlier—we
(B.C. Hydro) look on it as a wav
of freeing up any restrictions
while ensuring that the city can
go ahead with the park plans *

Calder said that if the Hugh
Keenleyside Dam is ever upgraded

Taxi, Callow’s competition.

“That was a major contract,”
Callow said. “There's no point in
carrying on now.” Air B.C. was
his largest contract, and he feels
the amount of revenue lost ($2-3
thousand per month) would be
too great despite financial help
from his drivers.

Callow claims he saw a poten-

owner Dale Callow stands by his inoperative

tial in the business when he first
took over, but now feels, “It's
impossible to bring it out with
such an overload of debt.”

He also feels the Federal Gov-
emment is largely responsible for
the demise of his business.

“If they had not done that I
would still have the Air B.C. con-
tract,” he finished.

Ponders illiteracy

Susan Port

staggering

“Businesses have reported
losses in productivity, accidents
and compensation into the mil-
lions of dollars,” Port said

Currently 11 tutors are work-
ing locally on a volunteer basis,
teaching adults to become read-
ers. Throughout the West Koote-
nay, 36 volunteers are working
with learners.

Port admits that it’s an uphill
battle for any adult learning to
read

“You have to be highly moti-

Hydro sign bus

to a power-generating facility, the
option of lowering the river level
to get more energy from the dam is
already included in the agreement.

“We're still in the process of
making sure it is acceptable to

vated to survive,’ Port contin-
ued.

In the next decade, over half
of new jobs created will require
an education level higher than
that of grade 12

“There should be a co-opera-
tive effort between business,
union, educational institutions
and of course government to
make sure future needs will be
met,” she finished. “As well,
small businesses should push
colleges to offer more services
for illiterate people.”

iness deal

take the material out of the river,”
Calder said, adding that this is not
a signal that the power plant is
going in. The agreement simply
helps to keep future options open
to both parties concerned.

Sexual abuse case precedent-setting

TRAIL TIMES

A Christina Lake woman has
received a precedent-setting
judgement in a case stemming
from sexual abuse dating back 20
years.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice
John Hall ruled that Kathy Gray,
30, is entitled to $85,000 in com-
pensation from her uncle George
Reeves, despite current time lim-
its under the law.

Megan Ellis, one of Gray's Van-
couver lawyers, said in an inter-
view Tuesday moming that “this is
the first time in Canada a woman
has successfully sued after the lim-
ations period has expired.” She
added the decision should open the
door for many others.

The current statute of limita
Hons for civil suits 1s two vears
from the age of majority, which
means those filing in BC
do so by the time thes are 21
However, in his decision released
Friday, Hall said the current
statutes “were not drawn with the
childhood sexual assault victim
in mind and as a result, they are

must

not in all respects satisfactory.”
Hall also pointed out the dif-
ference between a “traditional
type of personal injury case”
such as someone getting punched
and childhood sexual assault
cases. “Here, the injuries suffered
by the plaintiff, (as in a great
many of these cases), were not
recognized and could perhaps not
be recognized until long after the
actual ults had occurred.”
Gray sued on the grounds she
has suffered serious depression
and sexual dysfunction from the
incidents, which occurred at fam-
ily gatherings where both she
her uncle were present. Ree
who ts retired and lives near
Trail, abused her (mainly touch
ing and fondling) at least 15
times between ages four and 12
the coun heard
She filed the
February 1990 after consulting
lawyers Theresa Stowe and
Megan Ellis about what could be
done The two) Vancouver
lawyers encouraged Gray to pro.
ceed despite the current Limita
tions Act

cml sumtin

Wednesday, February 19, 1992

The Castlegar Sun

Kootenanny cancelled from Sunfest

Headlining band Kentucky Headhunters cancel all Canadian tours

Sun Staff

The Castlegar Festival Society
has announced that Kootenanny
‘92, the outdoor country-music
concen scheduled to take place
during this year's Sunfest cele-
brations, will not be held due to
the sudden and unexpected can-
cellation by their headlining
band—the Kentucky Head-
hunters,

The band promoter has advised
that the Kentucky Headhunters
have cancelled all Canadian tours
in 1992. Along with the cancella-
tion of the band’s participation in
Sunfest celebrations, were con-
cert cancellations in Chilliwack
and Ponoka.

“We are extremely disappoint-
ed by the announcement which
has come very late in our plan-
ning stages for Sunfest ‘92,” said
Festival Society President Derm

School district votes unanimous

BRENDAN HALPER
Sun staff

Trustees of School District No.

Jackman. “Because of the late
timing of the announcement, the
Festival Society feels that find-
ing other country artists of the
same calibre and magnitude will
not be feasible.”

Despite this bit of unfortunate

Plane racing on the Columbia
River as well as full coverage by
The Sports Network (TSN).
Other events such as: Lion's
Club Family Day and 20th
Anniversary Frog Jumping
Championship; West Kootenay

‘Because of the late timing of the
announcement, the Festival Society feels that
finding other country artists of the same calibre
and magnitude will not be feasible.’

— DERM JACKMAN
Festival Society president

news, Jackman says a full sched-
ule of major events is still
Planned for Sunfest ‘92.
Currently, Sunfest has been
Successful in securing the Hydro-
plane Regatta, which will feature
a dynamic weekend of hydro-

is a major employer in Castlegar,
the possible loss of several hun-
dred timber jobs from the former

Vintage Car Club Swap Meet
Show & Shine; the West Koote-
nay Model Airplane Show; Pete's
T.V. Sound-Off Competition;
o ‘ein The oe

West Kootenay Camera Club
Photo Salon and the Fire works

behalf of the School District sup-
Porting the transfer, and
addressed to the c ion

Display, just to name a few are
Sure to please the large number of
Spectators expected to attend this
year’s Sunfest.

As well, the Festival Society
has registered the Sunfest week-
end with Canada 125.

Canada 125, a Participaction
Program, was created to encour-
age meaningful activities which
celebrate “Our People, Our Land
and Our Future.”

Despite the bad news that Koo-
tenanny will not be part of this
year's celebrations, Jackman
maintains he is optimistic about
the upcoming festival.

“Although the announcement
that Kootenanny ‘92 will be post-
Poned until next year is disap-
Pointing, it is by no means
di

ranging from 6 - 8.

mild for this time of year.

8.7/16

Precipitation: Rain

We are ig with
further plans and are certain that
Sunfest *92 will still be the best
Sunfest ever,” Jackman finished.

ly to support sale of TFL

would have a major impact on the
school system—but on a higher

plane, [e: ic) stability in a
y is very i "

9 Castlegar voted i ly to
Support the transfer of Tree Farm
Licence (TFL) number 23 from
Westar to Pope & Talbot, at Mon-
day's school board meeting.

The TFL covers an area from
the south end of Lower Arrow
Lake, north to just below High-
way I near Revelstoke.

Chairman Gord Turner said
there will be negative effects on
the school district if the transfer
of T.F.L. 23 does not go through.

He pointed out that as the mill

= Budget

‘it (transfer of the TFL) certainly would have a

major imp

t on the school syst ’

— TERRY WAYLING

Wayling feels the question of
forest management in the interest
of maintaining a sustainable
resource, is important as well. As
a result, the brief will contain an

Superir

Westar mill, would in tum result
in less students, hence a loss of
teachers and support staff
throughout the district.

A brief will be composed, on

reviewing the transfer.

“I guess it's kind of a self-
serving brief,” said District
Superintendent Terry Wayling. “It
(transfer of the TFL) certainly

“Basically, we're supporting
the community and the initiative
to keep people in work,” Turner
said. “Pope & Talbot would do
that if they get the TFL.”

Turner added that the school
board wants to see the communi-
ty remain stable.

Continued from 1A
a rush after finding out thar if we
want a chance to address council
March 2, we have to submit our
questions and request a time slot
on the agenda.”

O'Connor said he. along with
other members of CURB. are con-
cemed about the coming budget
meeting and feel the city has placed
restrictions upon its openness.

“We-foel the meeting should be
much more Open. Don't restrict it,
otherwise it will only be an exer-
cise in futility.” O'Connor said
“If they are really sincere about
hearing the people, they won't
place restrictions.”

Questions throughout the
evening commented on council's
Plans for increased spending
without first securing sufficient
money.

“They shouldn't be able to
spend money they don't have yet
I'm afraid that taxes will increase
so much in Castlegar that no will
be able to afford to live here,”
said one member of the audience.

Other questions about the
City’s budget were asked, such as
city staff wages and the cryptic
language used to write the bud-
get. However, the majority of

—_——

ernoff, who decided to become a mem
Rash Bureaucracy after Monda‘'

surpassed the 100 mark.

comments from attend-
ing the meeting questioned the
city’s past business and anti-
development practices, work
ethics and even past lawsuits—a
notion of what could be brought
up on March 2.

“We have people hired and we
have people elected to run this
city. The city their business and
the city is our business, we are all

West Kootenay Power exceeds ene

Submitted

West Kootenay Power achieved
cumulative energy savings of
15,700,000 kW.h in 1991, exceed-
ing its year-end target by 16 per
cent. Now in its third year, WKP’s
PowerSmant initiative has made
energy efficiency inroads into
every customer Class. The savings
represent enough electricity to
power 1150 residences.

“Achieving our energy efficien-
cy goals required not only techni-
cal expertise, but the full suppon
of our customers,” said Joe Dren-
nan, President and CEO of West
Kootenay Power. “We provide the
incentives, but Our customers pro-
vide the impetus.

lis very satistying tor us to
know that our programs are meet-
ing our customers enenry conser
vation expectations. That, |
believe, is the reason for PowerS-
mart’s strong showing in 1991, and
will be critical to ifs Success in the
years to come.”

s in this b y
finished O'Connor to a loud
applause.

When questioned about the
Openness of the upcoming budget
meeting to be held at the com-
plex, Councillor Kirk Duff, who
will chair the meeting, says he
expects everyone will have the
chance to voice questions, even if
they are not on the agenda.

Response to residential pro-
grams continue to be high. WKP
has performed 3200 HomeGuard
audits of electrically heated homes
and 900 customers have completed

ial conservation de

‘tt is very satisfying
for us to know that
our programs are
meeting our
customers energy
conservation
requirements’
— JOE DRENNAN
President and CEO

Another 5,200 customers have
Purchased energy efficient appli-
ances. The company has provided
$1,020, 000 in financial rebates
under these programs and

RB, signs a membership card for

Duff, who said he attended the
meeting out of curiosity, also
commented on CURB’s reaction
to the proposed budget, saying
that even though the city is plan-
ning ahead for many capital pro-
jects-everything hinges on
available funding.

When asked what his com-
ments were regarding the meet-
ing Councillor Jim Chapman

$743,000 in-low interest loans.

Largely driven by PowerSmart
initiatives, compact flourescent
lights, are now available at com-
Petitive prices inmost retail light-
ing outlets. Efficient motors, which
had only five per cent of the mar-
ket tow years ago, these programs
have amounted to $242,000.

As part of WKP’s continuing
commitment to energy manage
ment, the company is participating
in a collaborative study, which
began in 1991. to identify conser-
vation potential in British
Columbia.

A significant legislative break
through occurred in 1991 when
PowerSman conjunction with
the Provincial Government helped
shape improvement in the Building
Code and implement provincial
standards of cnergy efficiency for
electrical applianc
levels of energy efficiency previ
ously encouraged by financial
rebates are now mandated by law
through B.C’s New Energy Effi

As a result

ber of the Coalition Unaccepting
y's meeting. Moorlag says the membership total has

SUN STAFF PHOTO / Shariene Imhof!
said, "I think we just witnessed
grass roots democracy in its truest
form.”

When CURB's meeting con-
cluded after 10 p.m., many peo-
ple stayed to further discuss
Castlegar’s future economic
diversity. CURB membership
cards were available and nine
more people signed up to become
official members.

ciency Act.

Energy experts performed
audits on the company’s own facil-
ities and have identified and imple-
mented measures that will save up
to 30 per cent of WKP’s own
internal energy use. Work is ongo-
ing in this regard.

Over the long term, PowerS-
mart programs will help mitigate

Number of
Hours

WEATHER

The forecast for Wednesday;
Cloudy with a few sunny breaks.
Chance of showers with highs

The extended outlook calls for periods of rain with a
southwesterly flow of air keeping temperatures quite

A LOOK BACK AT THE PAST WEEK:
Temperature: Max/Date Min/Date

1.3/10 4.3

Snow

16.6 0.0

REMARKS: A mild, wet week with light rain recorded
on 6 of the 7 days. Precipitation (usually snow) in the
mountains was considerably less than recorded in the
valleys. First calls coming in from farmers planning
early spraying. Ed. Note: Congratulations to Kerrin Lee-
Gartner on her gold medal performance!

Forecast provided by The South - East interior Weather Office
at Castlegar, B.C.

ARROW LAKE RESERVOIR’

Feb. 15 - 1412.4 ft. » Feb.

Mean

Total

Normal Number
of Hours

12.7

Province renews
Cominco permits

TRAIL TIMES

The province. renewed Comin-
co discharge permits Friday plac-
Ing no new restrictions on the
Trail operations other than those
the company has indicated it
would meet upon completion of
various projects either underway
or announced.

The renewed permits for air
and water discharges run until the
end of 1995, and call for a review
of Cominco’s operations by June,
1994. Washington state and local
environmental groups had called
for annual reviews during the
public consultation process held
as part of the permit review.

“We were really hoping the
new permit would provide strong
incentives for Cominco to imple-
ment a new, cleaner lead smelting
Process as fast as possible,” said

handling areas.

+ elimination of discharges
from a contaminated sewer asso-
ciated with the (old) lead smelter
by Dec. 31, 1995.

The permits also call for the
end of air discharges from the
sinter, and blastfurnaces by Dec.
31, 1995 and the slag fuming fur-
nace by the end-of 1996. The first
two will be eliminated when the
new lead smelter begins opera-
tion, at which time Cominco ,
intends to start work on a new
slag treatment facility.

"The Ministry has added con-
ditions to the. permits that will
result in major improvements in
air and water quality,” Rick
Crozier, acting regional manager
of environmental protection for
the province, said in a prepared
Statement. “They follow a tight
but realistic time frame for the

David King of the Washi
Rural Organizing Project. “The
long-term time frame for signifi-
cant improvements is really a big
disappointment.”

Major conditions included in
the permit regarding discharges
to the Columbia are:

* an end to slag discharges by
Dec. 31, 1996. Cominco has indi-
cated it intends to switch to

ground disposal.

mpany to make imp
needed to get a new lead smelter:
Process Operating.”
Crozier said the air permit
will “signifi

impr
reduce” the release of sulphur
dioxide, lead and other metals
into ks
Graham Kenyon, Cominco
environmental manager, said
there are no surprises in the per-
mit renewals, but some of the

* collection and of

contaminated surface water from
the plant site by Sept. 1, 1994.
Work began on this project in
1990 with the construction of
new storm sewers, containment
ponds hooked into the treatment
Plant, and the paving of materials

rgy efficient expectations

the pressures of load growth by
ensuring wise consumption by
both existing and new electric cus-
tomers. That means energy and
financial savings for customers and
the company. Over the next
decade, West K: y Power

mpany projects will have to be
accelerated.

“Some of the dates have been
advanced a bit. They are pressing
us to accelerate these things and
we will have to do the best we

be particularly difficult to meet.
since it requires a major increase
in treatment plant capacit

“There are some minor

expects to reduce consumption by
100 million kW.h through PowerS-
mart

Resource centre to assist laid off

A resource centre has been
established with federal. provin-
cial and Cominco funding to
assist workers recently kid off by
the company

The centre opened today with
three stall hired from the ranks of
those whose jobs have been cline
inated. The centre is located at
1IS9 Pine Avenue

The centre will be overseen by
a joint advisory committee, which
held its first meeting Friday. The
committee has representatives of

the two Steelworker locals, non-
union staff, company and provin-
cial government. Commitice
members are: Rick Georgetth
Brian Pipes. Rick Lewis, Brian
Onyschak, Ken Benyon and Jim
nd Dwight Browns,
) resources Consullant with
the province. School board chair.
man Jean Cormack 1s chairing the
commitice
Cormack said the centre will
hot be a yob search service. Its
role is to assist laid-off emplovees

imp , but we are not
very happy with what we see so
far,” adding the group has not
had time to go over the permits in

Cominco workers .

assess their personal situations
and training needs and develop
action plans for finding jobs.

“Th may seem pretty

yrmack told The Times.
“But changes and adjustment
although oftes traumatic for
those involved, present
opportunities for challenge and
growth.”

Cormack would not say how
much funding the centre has butt
ts sufficient tora year’s opera
tons