su 2 Castlegar News June 2s, 1985 WEATHER SYNOPSIS: A cool moist unstable air mass over the r sun, clouds and showers. Possible afternoon thunders! ion today will continue to give o mixture of wers. The tlow alott will continue to bring riter Castlegar has something to offer tourists heading to Vancouver to see Expo 86 says a spokesman for the world’s fair. Bill Strongman of the Sel- kirk Toastmasters’ Club, and a member of the Expo speak- ers bureau, told about 20 Castlegar Chamber of Com- merce members Thursday that communities like Castle- gar can pick up on the tourist trade that will be coming to B.C. next year as a result of Expo, which is being held May 2 to Oct. 13, 1986. And Strongman said he believes Expo is going to be successful because “40 coun- i believe it's going to pts Those countries have itted themselves to basting pavilions at Expo. People will also be coming LAND OF 072... . Young and old enjoyed a live produc- tion called The Magical Land of Oz put on Thursday at to Expo to see the 17- storey Expo Centre, which houses a 360-degree Omni- max theatre, Strongman the Castle Theatre. The local performance was spon- sored by the Castlegor Rotary Club. CosNews Photo by Ryan Wilson said. They will also come to see the Canadian pavilion with its nautical theme. The Automated Light Rapid nsit will also be show- cased at Expo. In addition, on the main site there will be three plazas — one for transportation by land, one for transportation by sea and a third for trans- portation by air. As well, at least 25 corpor- ations will be participating in Expo, Strongman said. One such corporation is General Motors, which will have dis- plays featuring old cars as well as futuristic vehicles. Strongman said Castlegar will want to attract tourists money” — not only at hotels, restaurants and service sta- tions, but other places as well. “People we could draw on are those coming from Al- berta, Saskatchewan, Wash- ington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana,” he sai “After four or five days in Vancouver they (tourists) are going to want to see what else B.C. has to offer.” Strongman noted that people outside of B.C. don't know much about this area. Citing the natural scenery, BILL STRONGMAN . Spoke on Expo Strongman said that Castle- gar has something to draw on. He added that the slogan for B.C. Tourism is Super- natural. “We here have the natural .. . and it is super,” he said. Strongman said people like ONE AT WESTAR to get away from the cities and Castlegar is an ideal spot for tourists because it’s not too far off the beaten track, but at the same time “the wilderness is within min- utes. “We have something to of- fer the tourists — a beautiful natural setting,” Strongman said. “We have an oppor- tunity — the opportunity is Expo 86, which is going to be attracting a lot of people to the province.” Strongman also urged Expo 86 to help city have a lot to offer,” man said. Larry Bosse recalled the amount of tourists in the area a few years ago when the Rogers Pass was closed as a result of a bridge washout and traffic was redirected to Highway 3. “L expect there will be that much traffie (during Expo) even with the road open,” Bosse said. “Expo is not a party like some people in the Interior seem to think,” he said. “It’s a jal venture to Strong- chamber to consid- er joining the newly-formed local Expo committee. “We need people willing to do a little work for the com: munity,” he said. During the question period, one chamber member asked whether there is any chance of the West Kootenay as a whole co-ordinating its approach towards Expo. Mary Wade Anderson, temporary chairman of the local Expo committee, said members of other area Expo committees will be part of a regional committee. Strongman said that some members of the Expo com- mittee feel it should be an entire area co-ordination. “Individually we don’t have that much, but as a group we promote B.C. worldwide.” In addition, the province is not forgetting about small communities within the province, Bosse said. He noted that Expo will be sending out a “mini-Expo” to communities around B.C. for display to people who aren't able to go to Vancouver “so everybody in B.C. gets a chance to see where their tax dollars went.” Chamber member Wally Horning noted that when- ever the chamber talks about tourism he also notices that there are seldom people rep- resented from the hotel, res- taurant and service station industry. “They are the obvious ones that will gain,” he added. Two fires hit area unteer fire departments were kept busy this week fighting two separate fires. Castlegar fire department was called out Thursday night as back-up at a fire at the dump site near Westar Timber’s Celgar Lumber Op- erations. Earlier that day Robson fire department was called out when a ae equipped shop caught fire. Castlegar deputy, fire chief Theron, Isfeld,.said his _de- partment took one pumper truck and six or seven men out to Westar. “It was no big deal,” he said, adding that Castlegar was used as a backup because there was a strong wind blowing that night. “We boosted their pump- er,” Isfeld said. Westar sawmill manager Jim Cross said he isn’t sure how the fire started. He said the fire began in the wood residue area of the dump site. Cross explained that the bill cuts off the ends of pieces of wood, at Westar which some employees take home for firewood. The em- ployees move the end pieces into the dump area and load them from there, he said. Cross said somehow a fire started, but noted that mill did an “ men were at the scene until midnight. He said there were be- tween 30 and 40 people fight- ing the fire. Cross said he was not sure the Castlegar fire department was needed at the fire but he didn't want to take any chances. “The last thing we wanted was it spreading,” he added. Cross said no damage was caused by the fire, “just wood waste.” “The trouble with dump fires is that they can burn and stay burning. What we were trying to do was keep the flames down and use the ploy ing job” fighting the fire. Cross said the fire started between 5:30 and 6 p.m. and to push material on the fire away from the rest of the dump to get it isolated.” Meanwhile, about 15 fire- fighters responded to a call early Thursday morning in Robson across the river from the B.C. Hydro pumphouse. Fireman Jack Lloyd said both Robsor fire engines were brought to the scene about 12:40 a.m. He said firemen had the fire out in about three min- utes. Lloyd said the shop, which was fully equipped and being rented from B.C. Hy- dro, used to be a repair shop for pick-up trucks for the Crown corporation when the Hugh Keenleyside dam was under construction. Cause of the blaze and amount of damage is not known. GRAD WORRIED continued from front pege streamed” back into regular classes for the first time since the Individual Progress Classes began, said Wayling. “The research we have indicates that the SLD (severely learning disabled) youngster does not benefit from staying in a special class placement for a long period of time,” Wayling said. “That's our hope,” he added, “to mainstream kids | as soon as we possibly can given the resources a Research stressing the benefits of putting SLD students back in regular classrooms comes from school districts on Vancouver Island, Chilliwack and North Vancouver, where it has proven successful, says Wayling. The decision has been approved for Castlegar by both the school board and the Ministry of Education. Wayling says three of four groups of six children with severe learning disabilities will consecutively spend 40 days on the average this year in an “intensive” SLD program, to be followed by p! in a regular room. The regular teacher will confer with the child's learning assistance teacher to familiarize himself with the pupil's problem and teaching methods selected for the child. The learning assistance teachers who now conduct the Individual Progress Class will be and each class in the district qu learning assistance teacher 10 per cent of the time, said Wayling. Wayling says this method of teaching severely learning disabled children is thought by the Ministry pf Education to be an improvement on Castlegar’s present system, where children with either severe learning disabilities or those classed as being the “educatable mentally handicapped” are lumped together in the same program. And although Wayling declines to give exact figures, the number of children being referred to Individual Progress Classes this fall appears to be growing beyond the capabilities of the present system. “Certainly the demand is there — there appears to be more than we have been handling in the past,” he said. “We feel by using this kind of model (for children with severe learning disabilities), we will be able to see 15 to 20 to 25 youngsters in a year, whereas in the past we've been able to only deal with 10 or 12.” The new method is also less expensive than expanding the present system, which costs approximately $100,000 a year, said Wayling “Our resources are limited and we can't everything we would like to all kids,” he added. The new program is to be run on a one-year trial bagis If it proves unsuccessful, a second class solely for severely learning disabled pupils will be considered for the 1986-87 school year Depending on what our budget situation is at that time, the board would make that determination,” Wayling said. deliver > Lorraine Ernst, president of the Fruitvale and Trail Association for Adults with Learning Disabilities, says the new program is a poor move. “If you take (children with severe learning disabilities) out of that setting and place them in a regular classroom with 31 kids, they aren't going to get the help they need,” said Ernst, who's been on tutoring those with learning ms. Ernst said a SLD child placed in a regular class might be able to get by for a year, but would likely be unable to cope in the second year. These non-coping children often develop “secondary pr such as ig from activities, havi P or being rel to attend school at all. “It’s like you or I, if you're batting your head against a wall, you only go so long and give out,” said Ernst “If it were me, and my child was put into the class and he needed the one-to-one, and M& couldn't cope in that classroom, there's no way I would do it.” Both Osachoff and parent. Bernice Bec! ad, whose 10-year-old son is also in the sevgrely learning dffabled class, says ideally they would like their children to be in regular classrooms. “If it works, gee, that’s great,” said Osachoff. “If these teachers are able to teach these kids and give them what they need, that’s great. But can they?” Both parents are doubtful. Osachoff keeps a five-year old letter from Creston clinical psychologist 0.G. Death. erage which reads in part: “It is highly likely that Robert (her son) will always require a special class placement at school rid Ken Hill, one of two learning assistance teachers for the Individual Progress Classes admits there are some severely learning disabled pupils who need long-term placement in a special class. Asked if it would be perferable to continue with expanded SLD classes rather than attempting to wean these children into a regular classroom, Hill replied, “I guess we'll have to see how it goes.” “If we're running into a time-frame later in the fall and we find we're having to put kids back (into SLD classes) I would agree with that.” But Hill also agreed with Wayling that the Individual Progress Class isn't being singled out and ignored. “The cutbacks have affected the whole system, and in my opinion, affeeted the system rather uniformly,” he said Meanwhile, Osachoff and other parents who have children in the severely learning disabled class or would like them referred there are anxiously awaiting to see what happens this fall. Osachoff says all she wants is’ an education for her son so he “ean find a normal life and is able to cope with*being independent.” “These are the last children anywhere that should be cut back on,” she added. “They have so very little, anyway.” $250; Patty MacKinnon, $250; Gil. $200. District Hospital: Amy MacKinnon, Miller-Tait, $300; Castlegar Savings Credit Union Bursaries: Chris Post- bert Jardim, $100; Angelina Popoff, $100; Michelle Ratke, $100. Beta Sigma Phi Bursary: Annemarie Gruden, $200; Columbia Beverage Award: Connie Susut, $200; Cas: tlegar Hospital Medical Staff Bur saries: Jodie Lippa, $200; Doug Pereverzoff, $200; Eastern Star Minto Chapter 79 Bursary: Judy Russell, $200; Castlegar Dentists Bursary: Peter Karcol, F.A. Haywood Memorial Bursary: Angelina Popoff, $100; Union of Youth of USCC: Liana Cheveldave, $150; Bob Kanigan, $150; Doug Pereverzoff, $150. Robson Women’s Institute Home Ec Award: Debbie Hart, $150; Ladies Auxiliary Tarrys Fire Department Bursary: Tracey Postnikoff, $200; Kiwanis Club Scholarship: Stan Hadikin, $300; Ladies Auxiliary Castlegar and Robson Women's Institute Bur- sary: Shelley Bayoff, $150; Arrow Lakes Tug Boat Society Bursary: Neil Bermel, $200; Castlegar Royal Canadian Mounted Police Scholar: tlegar and District Hospital Award: Ken Romney, $350; Kootenay Sav. ings Credit Union Bursaries: Vic: toria Armstrong, $200; Lisa Singh, $200; Dan Zibin, $200; Phil Malekow Memorial Award: Stan Hadikin, $100; Doug Perverzoff, $50. United Steelworkers of America Local 480: Peter Karcol, $300 scholarship; Laura Adams, $100 bursary; CKQR Award: Alison Penman, $200; San Martino Award: Gord Sandrin, $200; Castlegar Aux iliary Police Force Bursary: Rachel Mokonen, $100; Pulp and Paper. workers of Canada Local No. 1 Liana Cheveldave, $300; Logan nikoff, $250; Lisa Singh, $250; Connie Susut, $250; Castlegar Sel- kirk Lady Lions Bursary: Shelley Bayoff, $200. United Steelworkers of America. Local 9705 Bursary: Laura Adams, $300; Westar Timber-Celgar Bur- saries: Gayle Wigen, $300; Bob Kanigan, $300; Woodland Park Housing Co-operative Bursary: Angelina Popoff, $300; Cominco Award: Lynn Ball, $500; Castlegar Selkirk Lions Club Bursary: Connie Elasoff, $400; Teachers’ Credit Union Scholarship: Tanya rs, pee ya Roger Canada Safeway Limited Bur. sary: “Karen Wilson, $300; Prin cipal’s Award: Selena Strelaeff, $150; Herb Pitts Memorial Bursary: Kim Thors, $200; Fishwick Award: Brad Mair, $50; Selkirk College Award: Matthew Jones, $500. continued from front poge West Kootenay Power,” public lands.” and their effects. has indicated that if it can’t PESTICIDE Baby sprayed by Highways, B.C. Hydro and Wallace said. “In fact, we feel that given alterna tives, chemicals should not be in use on Wallace listed the seven chemicals “There has also been no known research to date involving the mixing of these chemicals in the environment,” she said. “This is particularly of concern since they will be aerially spraying both Roundup and 2,4-D.” Wallace said the forestry ministry roundup it will spray something else. “As many of us have moved here to be away from and have our children onmental allergies is on the rapid in crease.” Anthony Arnold of Riondel then out lined alternative methods of controlling weeds and brush on public lands, calling the use of pesticides a “sledge hammer” approach. However, director Marv Henkner of Area C (rural Creston) countered that he needs to use chemicals to get rid of knapweek. Henkner displayed a two-metre long knapweed plant and pointed to the plant's metre-long root. He said there is no other way to get rid of the plant except with chemicals. “T've gotta use chemicals,” he said. But Wallace responded that there are biological controls — such as the use of a fly — which have been is unacceptable.” chemicals as possible, we feel that this She added that not only has the cancer rate tripled since the 1950s, “but the rate of children’s and envir ped to control knap Director Iris Bakken of Area G sug gested the board look into hiring students or welfare recipients to con trol noxious weeds instead of using chemicals” mixup Wednesday's Street Talk town for the June 17 town hall meeting at Kinnaird Hall because her daughter gave birth. In fact, it is her daughter-in-law’s baby. Police file ee Castlegar RCMP are in vestigating two incidents of vandalism which occurred Thursday night. “Grad 85" was spray painted on the walls of Valley Vista elementary school and on Central Food Mart. -_ + 6 An impaired driver was apprehended Thursday, say police. ~ Sea ERI Ek BRIEFLY FOOD BANK PROBLEM VANCOUVER (CP) — Every time a British Columbian donates a can or writes a cheque to one of the province's 31 food banks, “you are letting the — off the hook,” says the Rt. Rev. Robert mith. The moderator of the United Chureh of Canada was ing at the first p on food banks, this weekend at the University of B.C. By feeding the increasing numbers of hungry British Columbians, food banks are “prolonging the agony” and allowing themselves to be co-opted into “the B.C. spirit,” Smith said. “And the nature of the B. afford it, it's yours. If not, pirit is that if you can 's your fault. POST OFFICE SALE LONDON (AP) — The British government is considering a move to sell off the state-owned network of 1,500 main post offices and 21,000 counters run by End of 12 year road for grads Editor's note: Following is the valedictorian address 's Stanley dary School Well, here we are after 12 long but interesting years — graduation day at last! The end of the past and the beginning of the future of our lives. Many of us started our 12-year journey together. Others have joined us along the way. ‘The last 12 years have been important to us not only academically, but also as a period of learning about people and how they co-exist. The making of friendships that will last a lifetime is, after all, the most important part of any education. When we look back on all the crazy wild times we had, we often wonder how we had any time for learning, but obviously — we did. I know that some of our parents had sub-post offices, the Daily Mail Details of the plan drafted by Norman Tebbit, trade and industry secretary, have yet to be settled, but the proposal will be put to a cabinet meeting called to determine long-term strategy, the paper said. The Daily Mail, which supports the governing Conservative party, said the Tebbit plan will leave the state-owned post office running the mail delivery business and acting as a wholesale supplier of stamps and material to private retailers for sale to the public. NAKED MAN JUMPED VATICAN CITY (REUTER) — A man stripped naked and threw himself from the papal altar in St. Peter's basilica to the erypt below, breaking an arm and a leg, police said Saturday. They said Italian Antonio Grippo, 37, fought off two attendants who tried to stop him jumping off the altar, which stands above St. Peter's tomb, watched by a crowd of visiting pilgrims yesterday evening. Grippo fell nearly four metres into the erypt and was taken to hospital where he vold staff: “I wanted to fly,” police said. ROYAL BASH WINDSOR, ENGLAND (AP) — More than 600 guests at Windsor Castle danced the midsummer night away and drank champagne at a belated 21st birthday party for Prince Edward and three of his royal cousins. The party was thrown by Queen Elizabeth for her youngest son, Lady Helen Windsor, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, and James Ogilvy. It was attended by a glittering array of royalty, aristocrats and socialities. Prince Charles, his wife Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince Andrew were among those present. TURNER ARRESTED PASADENA, CALIF. (AP) — Rhythm and blues musician Ike Turner and two other men were arrested after an undercover officier was allegedly offered cocaine, police said. The former husband and musical partner of singer Tina Turner is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail for investigation of conspiracy to sell cocaine, police Sgt. Ray Bolton said. Police confiscated four grams of cocaine when they arrested Turner, 53, of Baldwin Hills, Calif., and the others Friday, Bolton said. He said the tial investigation had focused on one of the other two men. BOMB BLASTS KATMANDU (REUTER) — King Birendra of Nepal promised Saturday to track down those responsible for bomb blasts which killed seven Nepalese in the Himalayan state in three days. “My government is making every effort to track down the culprits who must be condemned by all those who love peace,” the king said in a statement responding ‘to a message of sympathy from Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The attacks which began Wednesday were the first organized wave bombings in the Hindu kingdom, lying betwéen Tibet and India on the southern slopes of Mount Everest RUSSIAN VIDEOS MOSCOW (RUETER) — More than 250 domestic. produced cassettes now are on sale as the video revolution catches on in the Soviet Union, the govern ment daily Izvestia reported Saturday. Cassettes being produced by a Moscow factory include pop concerts, movie favorites and educational programs. The factory hopes to almost double its output by the end of the year, Izvestia said. The Soviet Union's first video library opened recently in Voronezh, a provincial city 500 kilometres south of Moscow. CANCER LINK MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Drinking five or more cups of coffee a day appears to increase a person's chances of developing lung cancer, according to a researcher who says his study is the first to target coffee alone. “This is the first time that coffee has been implicated by itself,” as a factor in lung cancer, says Dr. Leonard Schuman, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota. He said the study also found that the effects of coffee, drinking and smoking may magnify each other. Smoking alone increases the risk of cancer tenfold, Schuman said. But men who smoked a pack or more a day and drank five or more cups of coffee had a rate of lung cancer 40 times higher than men who neither smoked nor drank coffee. The study didn’t ask people to distinguish between regular and decaffinated coffee, which may be examined when the results are researched further. and ch from time to time, and now they can sigh in unison with great relief that we are all here tonight. Tonight is one of the most important nights of our lives because it will mean that we will all be going our separate ways into the real world — a world of change, and uncertainty — but also one of opportunity. We must, as in the words of our school motto “coupe diem” — seize that opportunity! I feel that the Grade Class of ‘85 has shown great enthusiasm and insight. With these qualities, I believe we will make many positive contributions to what appears to bea ey doldrum future. faced an jie future much fess the cee ore tase now — and they have brought us from the horse and buggy era to the space age. We also have the added problems of world hunger, and the fear of a nuclear holocaust to overcome. As young men and women we must hope and work for a better world for all people. These thoughts of changing life and opportunity bring to mind some lines from a very special song — and I would like to read them to you now — “Yes, there are two paths you can go by. But in the long run — there's still time to change the road you're on.” Now, we would like to thank our parents for their and ing, and their many kind actions, such as — rides to school on late mornings. Making lunches, and most of all — allowances! No, seriously, we sincerely thank you — we could have never made it without you! We would like to also thank all our teachers, not only for our academic guidance, but for their friendship as well. I would like to say a special thank you to Mr. Carter — for being a real friend — not a dictator as we used to tease him about. To Mr. Balahura and Mr. Orr who have been the best rugby coaches anyone could ever have had and also to the newest addition to our staff Mr. Twist, an exchange teacher from Australia. We all know how you hated driving the bus on our rugby trips — sorry for taking advantage of you, but truly sometimes we are allowed Thanks also to our devoted principal, Mr. L.C. Farrell for making this school a special place for us — and congratulations, Mr. Farrell on your new appointment as Director of Instruction. And finally — we would like to thank Ms. Bonowicz without whose, planning, hard work and perseverence — none of these festivities would have been possible. I would also like to say a few short words about our Rotary Exchange Program — which has brought about a special learning experience, not only for the exchange students but for the hosting students as well. We hope that this program will continue and expand in future years. In closing, I would like to thank my fellow grads for giving me the honor of being their valedictorian. I know we will look back at the last 12 years as some of the happiest of our lives — just as our parents have been telling us all along! Even though some days didn't seem that great at the time. I hope that you all achieve your personal goals and dreams. remains the same.” Happy grad — and always remember, Thank you and goodnight. “the song PIANO PERFORMANCE . . . Melanie Smithers perfor- med in the Evening by the. Mogalight and. Goorbye Old Paint during a concert held Wednesday at Kin- ngird Elementary Sci " ~ NEC study By CasNews Staff A $21,000 study is underway to determine whether Castlegar’s National Exhibition Centre should be improved, added on to, or even rebuilt and relocated. The study will include a survey of about 200 visitors to the NEC, as well as interviews with representatives from a cross-section of the community, says Gail Lord, a professional museum planner from Ontario. “I think that will be very useful information to the city in general because it'll give a lot of information about tourists period,” said Lord last week. “I don't think a study like that has been done (here) for years.” “One area we're very impressed with in the West Kootenay region is the strength of artistic activity. That's ing that is very impressive, and that the NEC always Busy summer for chamber By CasNews Staff The Castlegar Chamber of Commerce is keeping busy this summer. The chamber is reissuing the city map, which has re- cently been revamped and updated, chamber secretary Ann Stasila told the organ ization’s monthly meeting Thursday. Express A total of 5,000 copies have been printed for this year. The maps are expected to be out within two weeks. The chamber is also pub- lishing a brochure on the an- nual SunFest celebration to be held July 19-21. SunFest "85 will feature activities ranging from golf and base- ball tournaments, a queen pageant and grand parade, to the popular Canadian jia- tional frog jumping cham- KAMLOOPS — Winning numbers drawn in the June 19 Pacific Express Lottery: For $100,000: 301736 For $50,000: 032224 For $10,000: 252901 The Lotto West Jackpot of $174,458.60 was shared by two winners. The eight numbe = .rawn were: 1, 10, 18, 27, , 34, 44 and 46. The bonus number was 2. Two winners of the five correct plus bonus number category won $4,918.30, 60 winners of the five correct category win $655.70 each, 1,820 winners of the four cor- rect category win $63 each and 24,173 winners of the three correct category win $5 si each The chamber is also put- ting together a tors’ guide to Castlegar. Marilyn Strong told the Castlegar News the eight-page brochure will con tain information on what to do in Castlegar, special at tractions, as well as fun and free things to do. It will also contain a map of the city and suggestions for half-day and full-day trips. Chamber president Paul Moroso said the next lunch eon meeting will be in Sep- tember. The chamber is hop- ing to have Municipal Affairs minister Bill Ritchie speak on the program, “New Dimen sions.” Ritchie's attendance should be confirmed within the next month. GAIL LORD . . . museum planner has played an important role in. So we're looking at how that role can be enhanced.” The decision as to whether an extension should be built depends in part on how many of the museum's 3,000 artifacts now in storage should be on permanent display, and whether there are collections in the community that will be coming to the NEC in the next decade or so, said Lord. Renovations to make better use of the space in the museum are likely, put not before the study determines if it's worth fixing up the 10-year-old building “If we had to rebuild it, then it might be relocated,” said Lord. “I can't comment on any of those things at this’ point, we're at-a very initial stage in jhe study Added museum director Lucille Doucette: “I think every museum wants to have a bigger, better building that's more cost efficient. But (an extension) is not the biggest priority I have. “It’s using the space we have better. I think we can doa lot more things with the NEC than we're doing right now.” Doucette says one of her inffrests for the museum is underway establishing a data bank of local artists — ave a studio; things like that.” As for the location of the NEC, Doucette and Lord will be looking to the results of the visitor's survey to determine whether it's suitable. “whether they “In some ways it is, in some ways it isn't,” said Doucette. She says on one hand, it's easily accessible being next to a major highway. “But it is isolated,” says Doucette, “and that makes it tough for some of the local citizens.” “The study will be completed this summer, but apart from a possible upgrading of facilities, no construction will take place in the near future. “This is long-term planning,” says Doucette. As well, construction depends on private and public funding, which will be delved into following the study. Funding for the study comes from the provincial and federal governments, a community support fund and the NEC itself. Lord and her husband, also a museum planner, have previously completed planning studies for two other Nation! Exhibition Centres — one in Prince Edward Island and the other in New Brunswick. Other studies they've done include one for the National Postal Museum in Ottawa, and museums in Prince Rupert and Whitehorse. “Basically an exhibition centre can play — and (here) I think it's already playing — an important role in the community,” said Lord. “It can also play an important role in tourism; getting people to stay in the area.” Money available for,tourism By CasNews Staff About $240,000 is available to the Kootenay private sec- tor to develop tourism mar keting and promotion strat egies for the West Kootenay. The funding is part of a regional marketing plan sub mitted by the Kootenay Country Tourist Association which was recently approved in its entirety by the Min istry of Tourism, says Roy Shields, regional co-ordinator for the association. “It is an excellent oppor. tunity for communities as well as individual properties to participate in a regional marketing plan to pro:aote our area,” said Shields in a prepared releae Membership in the Koot enay Country Tourist Asso ciation is the only qualifying factor to be eligible for the funds. Membership now ex ceeds 200, says Shields. The tourist association re cently participated in a summer-tourist tabloid pub- lished by the “Spokesman Review with a 350,000 copy distribution. Out of 80 pages, the West Kootenay took up 28 full pages “and already our tour ist-orientated facilities are experiencing an increase in American tourists visiting their properties,” said Shields. “The number of written inquiries and phone calls is tremendous and in gonjunc tion with our co-op funding for our summer activities, I am looking forward to a sub- stantial increase in tourism revenue for the West Koot enay.;