~CHIS WEEK AND .NEXT Our Centennial Crisis By RAY ARGYLE Three years remain be- fore Canada will mark its eentennial of Confedera- : tion, Assum- ing that this nation is able to hold together that long, little has been accom- plished to date to fit- tingly mark our 100th year. Despite formation of the Canadian Centennial Com- ” mission under the able ad- ministration of John Fisher, and the birth of a host of lesser committees, neither Ottawa nor the provinces have yet Jrawn up any con- crete plans for the 1987 celebrations. The most publicized proj- ect thus far is the World's * Fair to be held in’ Mont- real. The Fair is designed - as the glittering. crown jewel to a galaxy of Caria- dian baubles which would glisten’:around the world. But the Fair's planners are already counting on run- ning at least $50 million in the hole. One of the reasons that our Centennial plans are so © slow in’ getting off the . ground: is that the general commissioner, Mr Fisher is laboring in the unenviable position of being a Con- servative appointee now an- swerable to a Liberal Gov- ernment. While Mr. Fisher —universally admired and respected as “Mr. Canada” for: bis earnest « life-long ofa: Ci SHIP THAT STANDS. This ig “Fllp,” a U.S. navy ship which is able to stand upright. In a vertleal position, the ship makes hetter observations of underwater life and wave movements possible—TINS Photo - THE HOME TEAM consciousness—is a natural choice for the job, the hard realities of political. life bave not made his task any easier. “What can the average €anadian community do te make a lasting and mean- jngful contribution to Cen- « tennial '677 Every Canadian eity and town should nav tannch 9 gyo-pronged drive aimed at ig this eountry’s century of Confederatiox. One aspect of the drive would be to plan, finanee and erect permanent strue- tures of community value, © such as new town halls fa- eerporating- Ubraries and auditoriums, new parks, or new. recreational centres, The other aspect of this great national crusade should be to remake the face of every community through general civic im- . provement and beautifica- tion campaigns, Such cam- paigns would require both municipal and private par- ticipation, by as many householders and business- men as possible in each community. A variety of plans should be considered. One of the most appealing of civic re- development plans — and most economical — would involve closing _ several blocks of a main business street ‘to motor traffic and turning it into a pedestrian shopping mall,’ with provi- sion for ample off: street parking nearby. A practical and low- eost plan for- general bevatification of the busi- ness community . is . the “Norwich Plan,” so named after the city-in England which first developed it, The Norwich: Plan. is: be- ing promoted*~'in this country by the Community Planning Association of Canada and has already been put into effect in Oakville, Ont., and other centres. This plan provides for a co-ordinated face-lifting of downtown business prem- ises, with the average cost per merchant: usually not running over a few. hun- dred dollars. It’s time now to put pressure on locai council to see that at least one major bullding project, plus a general civic im- provement plan, is under- taken immediately: for Centennial '67. Sert. “Somehow I just don't think you'll make a defenseman, i Let Late Sleepers. lia By BILL SMILEY ‘Thére -are some people in life whom I just natural- ly admire, Among these are Gui g enerous, beautiful women who are modest, old men who don't = give a dang, Bill Smiley. shy. Another species I always felt I should admire was the Early Riser. “Surely,” I thought, “there is some- thing clean and fine and wholesome in a man who gets up early, winter or summer, and faces life with a decent taste in his moet and a good appe- e, For years, accustomed to waking. with sheer horror, * shrinking from the moment of truth, and finally swing- ing my bad leg to the floor with, both hands, groaning as I lurched to the bath- room, I felt inferior in the Presence of the Early Riser. Now, when it’s too late to do much about it, except publicly admit that’ I have always secretly hated the Early Riser, I learn that he’s a big phony, that. it’s all a matter of metabolism, that my own species, the Late Starter, Is just as nor- mal, wholesome and decent. Tt not more so, bless us. ‘Some people, they tell me, are at their lowest ebb in the morning. They can scarcely climb out of the sack, and don't get warmed up until noon. By midnight, there's no holding them, . and at.3 a.m. they are just getting into their stride. anese are the, Late Starters. In the opposite metabolic mess are those who can’t _,- sleep in the a.m: They bustle about, gargl- e ing, rattling pots, and gen- erally being sickening. They've done a full day’s work by noon. By 6 p.m. they're getting a bit gray around tho gills, After din- ner, they drowse over. the paper, yawn until the tears spurt ;from_ their , eyes’ in rivuleta, and totter off. to bed at-10, full of hot, milk and virtue, ‘ ‘ No’ marriage is quite as grotesque as one between an Early Riser and a Late Starter. Sad part of it is that. ft doesn’t’ show up until it’s too late, because when people: are’ courting, they're keen, Thus, before the cere- mony, the Carly Riser, desperate to win his girl, will fight off sléep until well past: midnight, even though his eyes get starry, his grin a bit fixed, And girl, who normally shuns the sun until it is over the yardarm, drags herself out of the pad, with @ supreme effort. to meet ER. for 'nch. But when they've had a couple of years of that holy old wediuck, it’s a horse of a different hue. He woucn't trade the arms of Morpheus for those of Elizaneth ‘Taylor. She snaris that he’s get- ‘ting old, wails, “You don’t love. me-any more!”, when he starts to faae right after the dishes are done. It’s ‘just as bud when the — roles are reversed. After using everything but dyna- mite to get him out of the . pit and off. to work,’ she resorts to, “(.ome’ on, Prince Charming. Let's seea’ little of that gay vivacity' we saw at 2 a.m., when’ you were dancing witb all the women atthe ° PB . Let's“near a little of ‘that brilliant’ conversa- tion you were promoting sat. three, when everybody with “any manners ‘' had gone home. “sv ‘our hosts could goto bed.” So ‘he gaily. and viva clously feels his way to the bathroom, and. when he finds. it, converses. . bril- Mantly with. the Thing which . faces -oim in™ the mirror... Thus: “Uggghhh!” It’s not. metabolic.’ It’s diabolic. OUR TOWN — By McClelland Canadian social worker Doris Chirk | invites you to wilte her about your problem. She answers [otters of general interest. in this cofumn but can’t undertake personal repfies. DEAR DORIS — My re- stricted dict prohibits eggs, milk, cheese, starches, fats. I can have beef, fresh fruits, salad greens, prin- clpally. Not too hard to follow at home, where I do the cooking. But how do I handle din- ner at restaurants, club luncheons or friends’ homes, without making a big fuss? Relatives insist that (a) a little cheating won't hurt, (b) the caloric restrictions are pure non- sense, {c) “she can diet when she is at home, and when she is here she can very well eat what T have prepared.” It is considered the height of bad form to take your own food with you when you go out. The thought of my doing it horrifies my hus- band and his relatives. So that’s out. ALLERGY AUNTIB DEAR AUNTIE—It’s not out. [It's in, You have achieved a dlet to stay well on, Now you need sufficient sense‘ of your own worth to follow through. People don't want to see you for what you'eat of’ their food,’ but because they enjoy your personality. Husband and. family should egg you on; giving moral support: to. the’ ex- cook. Add’a light touch with good-natured . laughter. at your singular dilemma. x kk DEAR DORIS—i am 17 and haven't as yet had/a date. The problem: is that all the boys around heré expect too‘ much’ of you. They-think they can pet and Petiat bran Ss else” late.“ on” ae 1 belleve that. a date ‘should be one of conversa- tion (things that are of im- terest to. either date) and ‘an _oceasional ©. goodnight kiss, Maybe. I’ve read toe many stories about ‘this. My friends are snubbing me because of my not peing “nicer to boys’. Wha should I do? UNCERTAIN DEAR. UNCERTAIN — Have you been declaring far and wide your intention of keeping your distance when you do get that first date? Your idea is fine, but there are gentler ways of And . you should never’ sound like a prude. * * * DEAR DORIS—I received an invitation to. a shower for a girl ‘getting married hortly. Her’: mother and wasn’t supposed to give her daughter a shower. * At the bottom of the card it. sald ‘Cash’ and J know she said: she had lots- of linens, etc, so wanted money. What do ‘you’ think of this? 1 :had» worked" a palr of: pillow'-cases ‘with * erocheted Jace on them. DILEMMA DILEMMA — No duet relative should give a shower.: Whether cash is ac- ceptable depends on circum- stances; in some European: influenced’ communities it's ~just the thing. Ibs: your privilege to de- cide what you take, Put a your ‘ friend,’ It’s my~ “bet she'll dave itt Curling In Castlegar By AILEEN OGLOW - Castlegar Now is a good time to cut a fow branches of pussy willows, forsythias or apple twigs. Put them in a far of fresh water and leave them near a window. Then watch the twigs bloom! i a ig PSPSERRESENRESERENRE - if By H i : ; r) E i I ie ae iy as RE REBEPSESREE Rene fl Nl Ee a ERIE) BE DE Or id onan at moe ° Bs {o.|