DNESDAY, June 16

1993

“Wednesday, June 16, 1993

Letters to the Editor

The Castlege ar Sun

PUBLISHER MARILYN STRONG
SHARLENE IMHOFF CATHERINE ROSS
EDITOR ADVERTISING REP
NICOLE BEETSTRA
PRODUC TION/OFFICE
LINDA ANDERSON
PROOUCTION MANAGER
CHRISTINE MOYER
ART DIRECTOR
MELODY SEMENOFF
ADVERTISING REP

MARGE LALONDE
CIRCULATION MANAGER
JOHN VAN PUTTEN
SPORTS REPORTER PHOTOGRAPHER
KAREN KERKHOFF
REPORTER

Direct Department Phones
General Office 365-5266
Circulation 365-5266
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Display Advertising 365-2278
Newsroom 365-5579
Fax 365-7762

SM
The Cagtigaar Sun
1\N
465 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C. V1N 1G8
1S POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT AND A
MEMBER OF THE STERLING NEWS SERVICE
Established November 28, 1990

Published by Sterling Newspapers Lid.-
Weekly on Wednesdays
Member of Canadian Community Newspapers Association
B.C. Community Newspapers Association
and B.C. Press Council

editorial comment

Turn off the tap!

© most of us in Castlegar, all we have to do
is look out our windows, or drive five miri-
utes from our homes and we can see an
abundance of cool, and refreshing water
As we gaze upon the Lower Arrow Lake, or the
Kootenay or Columbia Rivers, we find it hard to
believe the water conservation is something Castle-
gar should have to practice. “Water conservation?
No way! We have all the water we need here.”
While we sit in our cozy homes with water virtu
ally surrounding us. most of us aren't concemed
And when we think of water conservation we pic
ture dry dust-bowls in Saskatchewan. or large pop
ulated cities such as Vancouver, where a drop of
water is almost as precious as a handful of
sparkling gems
It's precisely that dangerous type of thinking that
‘has gotten us into ‘hot water’. We still tend to think
that our consumption, compared to the amount of
water in the Arrow Lakes is literally a drop in the
bucket. We couldn't be more wrong
Recent research done by the B.C. Water and
Wastewater Association has identified Castlegar as
being the highest consumers of water above Trail,
Nelson, Revelstoke, Rossland and Creston. In fact,
thie most damning piece of information gleaned
from the research was that Castlegar residents used
384 gallons per day per capita (GDC) above the
average peak usage of 712 GDC. But the worst
Statistic leamed was that not only is our daily per
capita consumption 60 per cent higher than our
neighbors, it is the highest in the province! It’s not
surprising when you consider that Castlegar water
consumption has increased by 30 per cent since
1986. That equates to 250 gallons per day, per per
son. This by the way, does not include industry
If you still don’t think this affects you, consider
this—from 1982-1992 Castlegar’s annual total
water consumption doubled, while during that
same time population had only increased by five
per cent. Castlegar’s water system was simply not
designed to support that kind-of usage. The city’s
water system was originally designed to supply
seven million gallons per day to a population of
9,600. But, in July 1991 that 9,600 population
capacity was exceeded by Castlegar’s population of
only 6,750. Despite the fact that we have a heavy
industry base, water usage by residents is still high-
est in the province. It stands to reason that some-
day, somehow, Castlegar residents will have to
answer for their flagrant consumption of a natural
resource
But more than likely, most residents will contin-
ue to water their gardens, rain or shine and let a
resource literally and indiscriminately spill down
the drain—auntil it hits them where they most feel
it—their pocketbooks. If water consumption con
tinues to rise, city officials might very well have to
raise the water tax in order to maintain @ system
which was never designed to support such abuse
It's time to tum off the tap

ERRORS.

The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for
damages arising out of errors in any advertisement beyond the
amount paid for the space actually occupied by that portion of the
advertisement in which the error occurred. whether such error is due
to the negligence of its servants or otherwise. . and there shail be no
liability tor non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount
paid for such advertisement

All advertising subject to publisher's approval Contracts must be

John

Lets get realistic; some of
today's most heinous crimes are
being committed by mere ‘chil-
dren’, and due to their tender
age they afe getting away with
murder—literally,

I can't believe that you,
Karen, agree with and condone
the practice of letting these kids
get away with just-taps on the
wrists, if that

Your claim of being such a
worldly and experienced person
is becoming difficult to believe.
With all the extra time you have
had to ‘experience’ life (almost
double my age), I would expect
you to support the idea that the
punishment should fit the severi-
ty of the crime—no matter what
the offender's age

Take the recent example of
two boys, age 10 and 12 who
were viewed by surveillance
cameras abducting a two-year-
old from a shopping mall in
England. The baby was later
found beaten to death. You can’t
tell me this was not a premeditat-
ed act. Can you honestly say that
the two don't deserve a punish-
ment to fit the grotesque nature
of their actions? Not likely!

Imagine for a moment sitting
in the court listening to several
weeks of testimony from the
family of the deceased baby.
The family would have to
explain how the loss of their
child has permanently affected
them, witnesses from the mall
who saw the two.youths with
the baby would testify, and the
police would describe where
and in what condition the baby’s
body was found

Stop imagining because it
really did happen

dead, and it's something the

a child is

family will have to live with for-
ever

While the two accused may
appear to be ‘just cute inno
cent children,’ think about the
mind inside driving these cute
outer shells to commit the
most disgusting and inhimane
acts—then try to tell me the
accused murderers do not
deserve to reap the punish-
ment for their actions

Try juveniles as adults?

While this example is from
the other side of the world, you
don’t have to look.very far or
very hard to realize that we live
in a rapidly changing world, and
we are not immune to this type
of horrendous scenario—not
even Castlegar.

Castlegar is not a Utopia. The
tentacles of this type of crime
have started to weave their way
into even our community. All
you have to do is look no fur-
ther than Stanley Humphries
and the recent violence there

It seems that while society is
advancing we have lost touch
with the REALLY important
things in life. While people are
eaming too many gray hairs wor
rying about trivial things, like
monetary success, they have lost
all sense of the importance of
human life in genera

I think people are starting to
realize that the actions of today’s
children are less than childish
The children are beginning to
mirror what they have grown up

watching’ reading and listening
to, and it has changed them to
the point of distorting what they
think is acceptable behavior.

If we don’t start to strongly
deter this type of violent action
now it will only escalate into
more severe problems later.

Come on John! I can’t
believe you think a young child
should receive the same pun-
ishment as a hardened criminal.

I do agree that a murderer, no

- matter what their age is, should
answer to that very serious
crime. But to think about
putting children behind bars
makes my blood run cold

We are supposed to be a civi-
lized society, not one that
throws our children to the dogs.
These young offenders are a sad
product of our society. We have
already done them an injustice
by virtue of the amount of dys-
functional families, divorces,
and the rampant use of drugs

Some of these children, and
that 1s exactly what they acc
children, never had a chance
from the day they were born
Can you honestly tell me that
you NEVER

By your view, if you had

committed a
cnme?
been caught commitung that
crime you would now be sitting
behind bars with seasoned crim
inals. More than likely the enly
thing you would learn behind
those bars is how to commit
even more crimes. You would
also learn how to keep away. or
protect yourself from those
inmates who have a preference
for younger prisoners

I'm sorry if this subject is
offensive to you. But it IS
offensive to offer up younger
offenders to the hardened crim-
inals on a'silver platter, and
that is exactly what will hap-
pen when offenders are
crammed together in a facility
which was not designed to con-
tain children

Another thing—let's face it,
our justice.system is NOT
known for it’s innovative reha-
bilitation programs. What pur-
pose will it serve to stick a child
behind bars with the sole pur-
pose of punishing him? As a
conscientious and humanitarian
society we need to balance that
punishment with an effective
rehabilitation program.

All of us make mistakes, and
while I admit that a crime on
another person is a calculated
action and not truly a mistake,
we need to show offenders that
we are a society with compas-
sion. To throw a child to the
dogs, with no compassionate
forethought whatsoever, only
demonstrates that in effect we
are cut from the same cloth as
the Youthful offender

Now don't get me wrong. I
totally agree that young offend
ers need to answer to their
crimes, but I suggest that if we
are going to start throwing chil-
dren in jail we need to make a
few changes first

I suggest that facilities be
built which will house the
young offenders, but the main
thrust of the facility should be
rehabilitation, not punishment
If a youth is sentenced to twen
!y years, then when they reach
21 they would
the “big hduse.” In this way
they will be better able to pro:
and hopefully
they will be well on their way

graduate” into

tect themselves

to rehabilitation

It’s easy for you to say “ptac_|
ish them all”, but let me ask
you this final question. Would
YOU be able to look a child in
the eyes and administer the
lethal injection which will put
an end to their short (and prob-
ably sad) life?

What is happening to the English language?

Dear Editor:

John and Karen's discussion
on what has become known as
gender-neutral language put me
in mind of a letter I wrote in
response to a column of Ron
Norman's on the same theme
about six months ago when
Norman was writing for the
Castlegar News, My letter was
published but for some reason
my closing “
left out

As my letter is just as perti
nent to John and Karen's col!
umn as it was to Norman's I am
sending you a copy and I ask
that in the spirit of the recycling
movement it be considered,
with this letter, as comment on
the “Sexist terminology” col-

Another.reason

Dear Editor:

On Thursday, June 10, my
family and I had appointments
with a Nelson optometrist. We
shopped and had supper as well;
up until now, normal procedure
during a visit. (In the past thirty
years we've spent thousands of
dollars in Nelson).

After our appointment, I
returned to my car ten minutes
after the parking meter had “run
out” and noticed the dreaded and
irritating parking ticket on my
window shield. Muttering under
my breath, I thought well ’'U
Pay it right away and get off with
two or three dollars". NOT A
CHANCE! The gouging “rip-off”
price -was eight dollars! (They go
up to ninety!) In my mind there is

Yours for..." was

umn in your June 9 issue

Yes, English is changing, as
do all languages, sometimes for
the better, sometimes not. One
of the changes not for the better
is the introduction of “chairper
son" and the worse
“chair” in place of the long
established and more eupho
nious “chairman,” the word
around which Ron Norman has
written his thoughtful column
of November 28.

This and other similar
changes have been foisted upon
us by militant members of the
feminist movement who feel
that women are being slighted
by the suffix “man” in words
and phrases such as
“spokesman,” man-eating tiger

to shop locally

geous ripping off of visitors and
the citizens of Nelson.

By the the last time my
wife, Joan, got a parking ticket (if
I remember the prices correctly
the fine was $6), (reduced to $2 if
paid on the same day),

My wife did pay it on the same
day in the “FINE-O-METER”
box but mistakenly paid the full
$6. We received no refund for the
overpayment so I wonder what
pocket the $4 will go into?!

Those of you who live in or
shop at Nelson must let the
Mayor know how you feel. As for
our family, I don't believe we'll
be doing much shopping or stop-
ping in Nelson until the powers
that be-smarten up.

even

Yours truly,
E. Fraser

and Norman's “Chairman,”

This is not so. Under “man”
my unexpurgated Oxford Uni
versal Dictionary giyes as. its
first meaning "A human being
L (Latin) homo ....now surviving
in general or indefinite applica
tions in the sense ‘person,’ (e.g
with every, any, no ...)"

In this sense the word com-
prises all of the racial groups of
mankind, all individuals wherev
er they may choose to place
themselves in what we have
come to see as the sexual contin
uum. Clearly, the changes are not
required, even in the name of
‘inclusive language.”

It is a pity that we have so
passively accepted this mayhem
on our language: we have lost

more than we have gained by
iHowiny a thousand years of the
evolution of our language to be
set aside by a few with so little
understanding that they see dis.
comination or exclusion where
there is none

To pander to this minority we
must now live with awkward and
not fully descriptive names such
as “The Museum of Civilization*
instead of the original accurate
and elegant “Museum of Mai
To one who is inclined to take a
charitable and egalitarian view
of mankind, this is an abomina
tion,

Yours for the siblinghood of
person

Fred G. Marsh.

Thank-you Castlegar

Dear Editor,

On behalf of the Castlegar Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society, I
would like to thank all the volunteer canvassers who gave of their ti
and the citizens of the community for their support for our April Cancer
Campaign. Through your efforts and generosity we were able to exceed
last year's total by more than $2,000. All donations allow us to fund

cancer research

as well as provide educational programs and patient

services to the-community. Thank you

/ Joan Martini
Campaign Chairman

Obituary
John S. Polovejchak-Ponak

John S. Polovejchak-Ponak passed away peacefully at his home on
May 30, 1993 at the age of 77 's. He leaves to mourn his loss his
five daughters, Marleen Conrad and Linda (Doug) Coulson of Castle-
gar, Sharon (John) Chumm of Kamloops, Dianne (Ron) Sarnecki of
Kelowna and Lori (Sandy) Findlay of Salmon Arm, one sister, Olga
(Joe) Cushner of Castlegar, 13 grandc hildren and 8 great grandchil-
dren. John was born in Nelson on March 26, 1916. He was raised and
attended school in Trail. “Speed” was well known in the Trail commn-
nity first as a Trail Jr. Smoke-eater and then as a motorcycle enthusiast
and competitor in hillside Scrambling. John retired from Cominco after
30 years of service in 1974. Funeral services were held at St. Rita’s
Catholic Church on June 3, 1993 at 10 a.m. with burial at Park Memo-

al Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were uhder the direction of the

‘astlegar Funeral Chapel

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners, Local 2300, would like to
take this opportunity to thank West's
Department Store for their decision to go
with a union contractor.

It is in our interest to recommend
patronage by union members to
businesses supporting us.

{

completed within one year from contract date ingent order
accepted

Why must Canada

Last week I was invited to take
“my tum” in The Castlegar Sun's
weekly column—and ever since
then many different troubling
issues have been fighting for
precedence in my mind. But I
have to admit that the thing that
worries me most in Canada these
days is the disturbing reality of
the massive Native claims against
more than 90 per cent of the land,
water and resources of British
Columbia, and _ similarly
throughout Canada. It greatly
disturbs me that this province
could soon be brought to a stand

* still (while endless lawyers get

richer and richer) as these multi-
tudinous claims begin to tie up
much of what is going on in
B.C.. From commercial fishing,
to housing developments, to log-
ging and mining, and recreation-
al proposals—all may be
grinding to a halt as these costly
and far-reaching claims come in
from all directions.

Despite the clear message
from last October's half billion
dollar referendum—that Canadi-
ans want all people treated equal-
ly—our politicians (both federal
and provincial) appear to be mov-
ing swiftly ahead with agendas of
their own regarding these vast
Native claims. Their “fast track
negotiations”, “divide and con
quer strategies” and “aura of
secrecy” are reasons for serious
concer. It is truly
the complicated and far-reaching
interests of the British Columbian
and Canadian large majorities
appear to be weekly represented -
in the hasty process now under

way. This process lacks the trust
of many Native people too.

The question I continue to ask
is "why must Canada be the
guinea pig in the history-making
purge of land ownership?” Every
country in the world has aborigi-
nal people of some kind—people
who unfortunately are really in
possession of their original
lands. Why is Canada expected
to re-invent the wheel and
reverse 500 years of history?
Why is. our country, already
insurmountably in debt, expect-
ed to undertake a already suici-
dal debt increase by alienating
its lands and/or buying back its
lands and making vast retroac-
tive payments for past use?

0 one would deny that the

ve people were treated badly
upon arrival of our distant Euro-
pean ancestors many years ago—
as unfortunately were the occu-
pants of all other lands on earth,
when external conquest or occu-
pation occurred. And as for those
so-called “Men of God” who
committed shameful abuses in
those prison-like residential
schools, nq, paper would ever
print the words needed to do
them justice. But now some high
minded theoreticians and politi
cians would have us go to the
other extreme and walk away
from our long-established inter
ests to become wandering tnbes

looking for a homeland. Two ,

wrongs db not make a right

It is indecd a major tragedy
that this whole business of phe
nomenal Native claims

Canada. a process that is

against

be the gu

appalling, costly, negative, anti-
social, divisive and unconstitu-
tional in view of the October
referendum, is. proceeding against
the wishes of the Canadian

majority, as well as those of
many native people
Canadians are largely fair-
«minded folks who are ready and
willing to go the extra mile to
show good will to the Native peo-
ple. Instead of undertaking this
vast purge of ownership of the
land, water and resources of
Canada, thus inviting economic
poliucal and national suicide
why not make an all-out effort to
persuade the Native people to
opt into” Canada rather than
opt out
After an initial gesture of good
faith in the form of sincerely
“(from the

writt apologies

. . 9

inea pig’
churches, governments and
schools) for past atrocities, why
not undertake a comprehensive
program of far-reaching measures
of good will and love for the
Native people?

Why not offer them Significant
Canada-wide incentives (for at
least a five-year period) such as
“first night of refusal” for educa
tion and technical training, jobs
and business opportunities, indi-
vidual acquisition of logical
parcels of land for homes, farms
and businesses; preferential rates
on government mortgages and
loans; top priority in the courts
for resolution of outstanding mat
ters of justice; general amnesty
for those in prison for minor
offenses, or awaiting trial for
same; a five-year period of
encouragement and celebration of
Native people, their arts, crafts,
cultures and “grass roots” w
dom, dismantling of the archaic
reserve system, with all land
deeded directly to the Native peo-
ple; offering them the hand of
friendship on all fronts.

Surely this win-win type of
approach would be more accept
able to all Canadians than the
erratic win-lose agenda of our
present governments. Then we
could:at last get on with our lives
and live together as equals in a
united Canada—and maybe Blue
birds (along with joyous Ravens)
would fly over “the white cliffs
of Canada” once again

Harry Killough is a long-time
Castlegar resident, and a peace
activist

no justification for such outra

[oF op, with love

Pop has been sick again. He had to spend 9 couple of days in the
hospital with a plumbing problem. Now he’s back at the Manor

He was feeling low and lying down when I visited him on Saturday
1 sat on the edge of his bed, talking to him, touching him. He became
uncomfortable on his back so I helped him on to his side

As he rolled he muttered something. I wanted to be sure I'd heard
correctly so I asked him to repeat it, “Oh dear.” he said, “I'm so tired
Don’t be surprised if I decide to go to sleep one of these days and not
wake up again.” I though about his words, then asked, “Are you talking
about moving on Pop? Are you ready to die?” He looked away. I
though he hadn't heard me, or didn’t want to talk, but then he looked
back at me, his eyes dulled by illness and age, ““Yes. I suppose I am.”

I leaned over impulsively and hugged him as best I could through
his blankets, “Pop, it's o0.k., you can go. You can take my love with you
and leave yours with me.” He wanted to retum my hug but couldn't get
his arm free of the covers; he struggled weakly, then just lifted his head
to press a wrinkled, whiskered, cheek to mine, “Yes son, I know. I love
you, always have.” We held our awkward position for a long moment
There was a deeply felt connection, an exchange of strengths, Pop giv
ing me his peaceful acceptance of imminent death, and I, giving him
the love and gratitude I feel for my life and his presence in it

I sat up, helped Pop settle back onto his pillow, and he drifted off to
a fitful sleep. I watched him as he slept. I saw the little old man he has
become and was grateful to him for living long enough for each of us to
lear he has been as good a father as he knew how to be. There is noth-
ing to forgive. He as given me all he could. He has not always been my
pal, but I have always been certain of his love. .

Although Pop is now physically wasted, and very often confused, he
is still showing me the way. In these final days of his life he continues
teaching me by his example. He is alive to his dying. He is at peace
with the inevitable.

Ted Crosfield

Canada Post Truly Canadian

Canada Post Corporation helped to put Castlegar, Canada on the
world map

Employee involvement in a community program brought to the Tarry's
Elementary Odyssey of the Mind Fundraising campaign $250 from Canada
Post.

Accepting the cheque from Mr. Fred Stoll, Superintendent at Castlegar
office, is Sandra Joanne Postnikoft

Pictured are: Back row (L-R) Mr. Russel Rilcoff (coach), Mrs. Gail
Maki-Richards (coach), and Janice Postnikoff. Front row (L-R) Tracy
Barabonoff, Lisa Coe, Catherine Crni, Krystle Kalesnikoff and Tamara
Rilkoff. These 6 girls placed 20th out of 57 teams in their division at the
World Odyssey of the Mind finals held this June in Baltimore, Maryland
Sandy states that “the community is extremely proud of these girs. Not bad
for a little community like Tarry's!

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT

YOU
CAN

W)

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with an

automatic banking
machine

and a handicapped
entrance

7-3rd St

365-7782

RA OPEN: Mon. thru Thurs
& Sat 5

Bank of Montreal 9 am - 5:30 pm

Castlegar

Fri. 9 am - 9 pm

420 Columbia Ave., Castlegar

‘Citizens of Catlna

Guess what you can do in Castlegar

Downtown

IF Pinas. check out our new parking lot

13th Avenue behind Railway Station + Access in from the south end of 13th

We value your patronage and are doing our best to make
your visit more convenient!

Sponsored by The a of ee & The Downtown Businesses

AL
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The Castlégar Sun

ie