a Wednesday, November 25, 1992 AroundT OWN Wednesday, November 25, 1992 923 remains ister’s desk Waste plan in final stages @ RDCK will decide fate of Ootischenia landfill site at December gathering Scott David Harrison EDITOR The Regional District of Central Kootenay is taking out the trash. The RDCK Solid Waste Management Com- mittee is two weeks away from deciding the fate of several area landfill sites. And, with it, the future of the Ootischenia dump. “The board is going to have to make a deci- sion as to what Stage 2 will involve and work towards its implementation in Stage 3,” RDCK tischenia. The draft report calls for the immediate clo- : 6) ~ sure of 11 landfill sites, to be replaced by trans- fer stations and container haul systems, The draft report states that the three-dump plan makes economic sense, costing some $1.988 million a year. That compares to the an- nual cost of $2.46 million to operate Ootische- nia as the lone dump. The RDCK is struggling to come up with a waste plan in order to meet new government requirements. The province has issued strict new guidelines, demanding that all B.C. mu- nicipalities and districts reduce solid waste by 30 per cent by 1995 and 50 per cent by 2000. Scott David Harrison EDITOR Bylaw 923 remains in limbo. The Regional District of Central Kootenay had hoped to pass the controversial Unsightly Premises Bylaw this Sat- urday, but Victoria has yet to comply. The bylaw which forces Area H residents to remove stockpiled cars, building mate- rials and other items deemed unsightly received third read- ing on July 18 and has sat in Victoria awaiting the approval of Municipal Affairs Minister Robin Blencoe. “As far as we know, it’s sitting on the minister’s desk,” RD- Our person for Our People Corinne Jackson 365-7266 Castlegar man overcomes 16-year battle with drugs and alcohol “He'd be away almost a week,” she recalls. MEETING OF MINDS necessary to him getting better. Corinne Jackson “How can I understand? I’ve never had Assistant Administrator Barry Baldigara said. Stage 2 of the RDCK Solid Waste Manage- ment Plan could see Ootischenia become the lone landfill site in the region. That plan is one of five outlined in the first draft of the Stage 2 report tabled on May 20. The option the draft report recommends, however, would see Ootischenia become one of four landfill sites in the district, joined by Salmo, Creston and Nakusp. The four sites would later be scaled back to three, with the elimination of the Salmo dump in favor of Oo- Municipalities or districts that do not comply with the new laws are subject to fines. Baldigara said the December meeting would put the wheels in motion, allowing the RDCK to implement its waste plan. “Once we have it adopted, we'll put the plan in place,” he said. “All we’re waiting for is the fi- nal approval.” The meeting will feature final reports from the Solid Waste Management Committee and technical and public advisory boards. CK administrator Reid Henderson said. RDCK chair George Cady has become increasingly frus- trated with the delays at Blencoe’s end. “If he wants to review every bylaw that passes through this office, he may as well run the district,” Cady said in a Nov. 11 interview. A ministry spokesperson said Blencoe’s signature is con- tingent on a further review of the bylaw. The Charlottetown Agreement — One Month Later Canada survives constitutional fallou Scott David Harrison EDITOR Jim Gouk is a man in wait- ing. One month after the demise of the Charlottetown Agreement, the Reform Party candidate for Koote- nay West- Revelstoke says he’s waiting for the sky to fall. He says the Yes supporters predicted nothing but doom and gloom for Canada, but that hasn’t happened. Instead, the rejection of the Charlottetown Accord on Oct. 26 by 54 per cent of Canadians and six provinces proves that he was right all along — the constitutional deal was flawed from the very start. “I believe that Canadians made the right decision,” he said, reflecting on the defeat of the accord. “And they made that decision on what was brought forward to them by the leaders of this country. It’s clear that the leaders are out of touch with ordinary Cana- dians.” One month ago, the Char- lottetown Agreement was overwhelmingly rejected by West Kootenay voters: Of 36,600 voters who flocked to the polls, 25,795 of them cast ballots against the constitu- tional agreement. That vote eee a7 cent rejection of the pack- i that was supposed to unite Canada forever. The overall rejection vote for B.C., mean- while, was slightly lower, sit- ting at 68 per cent. Jim Gouk Gouk said the referendum vote was an expensive exercise in democracy — costing feder- al and provincial governments $260 million, compared to the $800,000 spent by the Reform Party — but he added that it was an exercise that proved useful. “Sure it was expensive and you and I will be paying for that, but when you think about the alternative, it was useful,” he said. “If we didn’t have this referendum, the gov- ernment would have gone ahead with this flawed docu- ment.” Gouk said the government is now doing what the Reform Party suggested all along — putting constitutional talks on the back burner to concentrate on Canada’s economic recov- ery. “What difference does it re- ally make if we get a constitu- tion and we get everyone to agree, but we have a country that is bankrupt, because that is what is happening. “The federal government is spending $87 million a day more than it is taking in,” Gouk said. “I find that ap- P " Gouk said Canada’s deficit sat at $425 billion in 1991. He said the deficit has grown an additional $35 billion in 1992. “This is serious and it’s nice to see the government finally addressing it as such,” he said. “Some people have a real problem understanding just what this means,” he said. “It means this: every man woman and child in Canada — baby or not — has inherited adebt of $15,700. That’s today and who knows about tomor- row. “No matter what you say about it, I call that scary.” Policing in British Columbia Policing affects us all Are you concerned about safety in your community and the quality of policing? Do you have ideas about how policing could be improved? Commission of Inquiry examines policing The Provincial Government has appointed The Honour- able Wallace T. Oppal, a Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, to examine policing in the Province. We need to hear from you The Commission needs to hear your views and concerns about policing. You can participate by written submission or by speaking at one of our community hearings. For scheduling purposes, please pre-arrange with the Com- mission your preference for day or evening time for oral presentation. The Commission will visit the 12 municipali- ties which have municipal police forces as follows: oar f Victoria Victoria Conference Centre . 8 Central Saanich Central Saanich Cultural Centre . 9 Vancouver Hotel Vancouver 10 Delta To be Announced . 6 Vancouver (East) Italian Cultural Centre aa Port Moody Kyle Recreation Centre . 18 Matsqui Clearbrook Community Centre . 19 Vancouver Hotel Vancouver . 21 Nelson Heritage Inn . 25 Victoria Victoria Conference Centre . 26 Oak Bay Oak Bay Beach Hotel . 27 Esquimalt Gorge Vale Golf Club . 28 Saanich Braefoot Athletic Centre . New Westminster Royal Towers Hotel Feb. 10 West Vancouver To be Announced Community hearings in other locations throughout the Province will take place between February and April 1993. Plan to get involved. Take this opportunity to voice your concerns and ideas, and hear the views of others. Please send me more information about: (1 Issues being studied (]C ings schedul (C Guidelines for making submissions Name: Address: Postal Code: Telephone: Fax: Mail or fax to: Policing in British Columbia Commission of Inquiry Room 155, 800 Hornby Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6Z 2C5 Tel: (604) 775-1452 Fax: (604) 660-9032 The Castlegar Multicultural Society will be meeting to discuss citizenship classes and the Spring Festival. The meeting is scheduled for Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. at Woodland Park School. For more information call 365-3126. PERFECT PRELUDE The Preludes — a rhythm and blues band coming out of Selkirk College’s Professional Music program— is set to perform Nov. 26 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. While the band plays, the college’s Christmas tree decorating contest will be underway. The public is invited to come listen and enjoy. PHOTO _ EXHIBIT _ Nelson artist, Fred Rosenberg’s portrait show “All We Ever Wanted” can now be viewed at the National Exhibition Centre until Dec. 24. The exhibit comprises photos from the studio, the home and the streets. Rosenberg studied photojournalism in San Jose and has had showings as far away as Australia’s Institute of Modern Art. NEWS REPORTER It all started innocently. At 15, Edgar Kazakoff started smoking cigarettes with some friends. The sixteen years that followed were a rollercoaster ride through hell as he experimented with drugs and alcohol. “Mostly all my friends used to do drugs, or drinking,” Edgar recalls. It wasn’t until Edgar passed out while driving under the Brilliant Bridge, totalled his car and went to the hospital that he was willing to get help. “Dr. Jon (Van Vliet) was in the hospital at the time when I . — came in. “Dr. Jon came right out and said I had a problem. “I was told I had a ‘shitty attitude,” he 8 oe ays. “I thought ‘Oh, that’s putting it mildly,” his mother, Katie remembers. Two years and some four months later after his first Narcotics Anonymous meeting, Edgar remains clean. July 17, 1990 isa day Edgar is determined not to forget. “That was my first day I walked into the program. My clean time starts from there,” he says proudly. “That reminds me if I ever went back to my drugs and my alcohol, that’s where I could be back at.” Katie and her husband tried to help Edgar themselves, but it was too difficult’ for them to handle on their own. Katie remembers sleepless nights, calling the police to see if there had been any accidents reported, or contacting the hospital to see if there had been any admissions. “T was just out with friends, I just lost track of time,’ he’d say. “It was very hard because he was so abusive.” “I was scared to admit I had a problem becaise I thought people would laugh,” — Edgar Kazakoff According to Katie, Edgar’s involvement in Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous was absolutely re 2 - Edgar Kazakoff is enjoying life to the fullest now, including the time he spends with Max. a hangover,” she says. “A regular person doesn’t understand what they’re going through and how to help,” Katie says. Joining a program, run by recovered abusers, provided Edgar with the support he needed — and the support the family needed. “It was a turning point for the whole family. Not just for Ed,” Katie says. Since joining NA and AA, Edgar says his “whole life has changed. “T don’t get as hyper, I don’t get as mad. “It’s a lot better than what it was like,” he says. Edgar still remembers how difficult it was to go to those first meetings. “I was scared to admit I had a problem because I thought people would laugh,” he explains. As well, walking into a room and discussing his problem among people he didn’t know was hard at first. According to Edgar, however, he hasn’t had as many friends until now. “I have more friends now than I had when I was drinking and doing drugs.” Looking back at where a few of his old buddies are now, Edgar says “some still have the problem, some are cleaned up, some are in the program and some are dead.” Edgar says the choice for him is an easy one. “You only have one choice — stay clean, or die.” eee Anyone interested in contacting Alcoholics Anonymous can call their 24-hour hotline at 365- 3663.Narcotics Anonymous can be ; reached by calling News photo by Corinne Jackson’ Diane at 365-8039, or Harry at 365-3926.