CASTLEGAR NEWS REVIEW. March 24. 1985 2795 Highway Drive, in Glenmerry Trail There's Always Something New For You Our Welcome Additions DAN ASHMAN President & Manager We proudly ) invite you tohelp yf VS celebrate the arrival of new and exciting 10,000 pound baby stores. Not stores for or about babies, but happy additions to our growing family. When we say There’s Always Something New For You, we mean it! Introducing: LK INTERIORS WOOL WAGON (The Wool Wagon is Opening Soon!) Ga Waneta plaza Highway 3, Trail, B.C. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT . . . Kootenay Boundary Regional Economic Development officer Marten Cominco grant the key It has never been a secret that the fortunes of the Kootenays are inextricably linked with the fortunes of Cominco Ltd. No truer is this tenet today when we are all waiting with great expec tation for a federal govern- ment decision on whether Cominco should receive a grant of $60 million to enable construction of a $300 million lead smelter. Modernization of the lead operations will ensure that Cominco's hugh metallurgical complex will remain firmly based in the Kootenays. Cominco at Trail, and Pope and Talbot Limited in the Boundary Country provide the economic base for the Kootenay Boundary Regional District. Modernization prop- osals for both companies will create some employment op- portunities during construc- tion, but perhaps more im portantly, these projects will protect the existing employ ment base. In addition to these major industries, there are indus- tries such as Atco Lumber in Fruitvale, West Kootenay Power and Light Co. in Trail, and Pacific Enercon, Canpar and Boundary Industries in Grand Forks which are an in tegral part of the local econ omy. It is expected that 1985 should be more prosperous. With the B.C. economy ex pected to show some modest real growth and the Koot enay Boundary Region ex. pected to contribute to this growth, the effects should be felt in the service sector. Commercial travel should in crease to the area, especially if the modernization projects are initiated. Retail spending should also increase. Kruysse: “All in all 1985 should be a better year in the Kootenay Boundary Region.” With more effort in tour. ism promotion than ever be- fore, the increase in tourism could have a significant effect on the local economy. A fed- eral-provincial tourism indus- try sub-agreement is being formulated which could pro- vide incentives for further development of our tourism attractions. During 1984 the Economic within the community. With the provincial gov ernment becoming more ag. gressive in attracting foreign investment to British Colum bia it is time to work more closely with the Province of British Columbia to ensure that foreign investors are aware of the Kootenays. Moreover, some industries and industry associations are Develop focussed its attention on three areas: tourism and commercial development; support existing industry; and improving the invest ment climate through down town revitalization projects. The economic development strategy for 1985 and 1986 should return some attention to industrial investment. However, we are all aware, the majority of investment can be expected to come from ig more aggressive in seeking out new markets for our products. This area should also receive some at tention in a community's economic development strat egy. All in all, 1985 should be a better year in the Kootenay Boundary Region than was 1984. Economie expansion will be assured, however, if the federal government pro vides Cominco Ltd. with the assistance it requested. RAY DeROSA MARLENE KALESNIKOFF Now providing complete baking in Castlegar at 1458 Columbia Ave. We have selt-service as well as a full service of the most complete products in the entire area. BETTY OSACHOFF Open: Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 1458 Columbia Ave., Castlegar 365-2226 WAYNE BERGER Serving Castlegar area since 1947! line of bakery CASTLEGAR NEWS REVIEW, March 24, 1985 = * NEW ADDITION . . A YEAR OF CHANGE AT THE NEC The past y at the Na tional Exhibition Centre has been one of change. Perhaps the most impor. tant change at the Centre was the employment of a second ‘full-time staff mem ber. Stephen Ford, of Oasis, has a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta. He had been teaching in School District No. 11 for the past four years. His position of assistant director entails a number of duties, the most important being the main tenance and development of educational and public pro gramming. The board of directors of the NEC developed and ap proved a series of policies for the Centre which include: A statement of purpose (for both the NEC and the Castlegar and District Mu seum); a building rental policy; a collections manage- ment policy and a conserva tion policy Given these policies, the NEC not only clearly defined its purpose and position, but guaranteed that it will be administered in the best in terests of the public. Affectionately dubbed “The Great Canadian Money Hunt,” the NEC this year made great strides in secur. ing its economic future Feeling pressure from both federal and provincial levels to substantially increase both local and self-generated in come, the NEC brought this dilemma to the forefront this past fiscal year. In short, provincial funding rose by six per cent; muni cipal funding rose 10 per cent; total self generated in. come rose 31 per cent and re. tail sales rose an impressive 57 per cent One of the campaigns un dertaken to increase this income was the “corporate” and “non-profit” member ships. Targeted to small bus iness, organizations and pat rons, this campaign succeed ed in bringing a brand funding source to the N The NEC was very tunate in obtaining 75 per cent funding from National Museums Upgrading and Equipment Assistance Pro. gram, to conduct a feasibility study The balance of funding was obtained from the Cultural Services Branch of the Min istry of the Provincial Secre tary and Government Ser vices (10 per cent); CJAT Community Support Account (five per cent); and the NEC budget (10 per cent). The total cost of the feasibility study is $21,375. Consultants Barry Lord and Gail Dexter Lord of On tario have accepted the con tract in association with Architect Henry Hawthorne and structural engineer C.Y Loh, both of Vancouver This feasibility study set to begin May 1 will examine the critical areas of facility needs; collections needs; clar ifieation of the museum/NEC relationship; market; pro gramming: structural and fi nancial needs The NEC is guardian of the Castlegar and District Mu cenm collection. While, for many years the collection was displayed for one month during the summer and when exhibition schedules forced the galleries to remain empty too long, this past year saw a change in attitude and direc tion. “Operation Conservation” officially began June 4 with a Canada Works Summer Stu: dent Grant. Three university students were employed to complete condition reports (a description of the physical deterioration and/or integ rity of an artifact); perform basic level conservation tech niques and completely re- organize the physical storage area. The NEC also provided work opportunities for two of the country’s youth groups. Four rotations of Katimavik participants worked with the collection and as well pro- vided relief in reception duties, memberships, con: struction and maintenance. The NEC was also host for the first time to Canada World Youth participants. In an exchange program between Canada and India, the students employed at the NEC helped develop an edu. cational kit on local history and a slide presentation on early forms of transporta: tion. Work accomplished by all the volunteer _ participants was such as would either not have been done at all or would have been done at a snail's pace. For this, the NEC is truly appreciative. 1985-1985 was a busy year in terms of additions and deletions to the equipment and appearance of the NEC. Inappropriate and inade- quate lighting was replaced over the course of the year and not far behind this small (but costly) beginning, came a flood of improvements. Shortly thereafter, came office equipment and main. tenance equipment and ser. vices that enable the NEC to function more efficiently From there, as has been mentioned previously, the NEC completely re-organized the storage facilities. Gone are the charming, rustic backdrops and replacing them are sturdy, functional metal shelving units. “Project Space” another Canada Works project began on Feb. 4. This project which renovated and developed of. fice space Was sorely needed. The age-old problem of in. sufficient and inadequate work areas was intensified when the Centre expanded its full-time staff. However, the problem has been at least temporarily resolved. The former mechanical room now serves as the dir. ector's office, and the former office has been renovated as an expanded sales. area and the office of the new assistant director In addition to a productive year for change, the NEC continued two excellent trad itions. It continued to offer quality exhibits and pro gramming to the public for the price of a donation and they continued to be a re. gional resource to artists, other museums and galleries, and the public . Stephen Ford of Oasis has been hired as assistant director of the National Exhibition Centre, the NEC's second tull-time statf member. MORE SPACE .. . “Project rp in Feb. 4 and involves renovating and developing “sorely ni office space for the Centre. CHART YOUR COURSE FOR CONES FOV S MARINE Growing with the West Kootenay LUO Since 1954. On beautiful Kootenay Lake 42 miles north of Nelson CSSS SSE ETERS JONES BOYS MARINE “Western Canada's Largest Inland Marina’ SEARAYS — STARCRAFT — SUN RUNNER MALIBU — MERCURY & OMC ENGINES WATER FRONT MOTEL — MARINA SERVICE BOAT RENTALS — PARTS & SERVICE CUSTOM MADE BOAT TOPS WS 38S225822888555 ‘| OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK ALL YEAR ROUND TO SERVE YOU BEST! —s__ SSSTTNNMCSSECETEKEERS S 6 SSS Visit Beautitul WOODBURY RESORT L and enjoy AX Pub and Restaurant Open Daily Caretully hand prepared food and per sonal service 1s not a thing of the past Ha.m.-I1 p.m 353-7716 This ts a reality of dining at JB's Doss ss SS SS SSS SSS SSS SSS SS SR SSS a Seere ore A wave COME AND ENJOY WOODBURY RESORT & MARINA and CONES BOYS MARINE P.O. Box 700, Kaslo, B.C. VOG 1M0 Ph. 353-7777 or 353-2341