LIFESTYLES Older women back in school City approves $6000 Allows you to OWN & OPERATE EGISTERED your own business. Calf or write... JOHN MADSEN, CA President The Songs o} Christmas sw. Castlégar News 197 Columbia Avenue PHOTOS WITH HALIFAX (CP) — Dealing with a sea of young, shining faces on a university campus wasn't easy for Roberta Way-Clark when she decided to resume her education at age 60. “I was literally terrified,” Way-Clark says, recalling her decision six years ago to attend Mount St. Vincent University after her husband died. “I went shaking to the continuing education director and said, ‘My God, what am I doing here.’ ” ut in addition to her initial anxiety at attending classes at St. Vincent, over- looking Halifax harbor, she had an enthusiasm for learn- ing. ‘This year, Way-Clark re- ceived her master of arts from Dalhousie University in Halifax. The title of her thesis was Older Women En- tering University: Over- stressed and Underserved. Adult women across Can- ada are going back to uni- versity in increasing num- bers — in the arts, sciences and professions. Some need new skills, some want new challenges after raising a family and others are just plain bored. WILL INCREASE ‘The part-time enrolment of mature adults — those over ge 23 — in post-secondary institutions across Canada will increase 40 per cent to 330,000 by the end of the century, a Dalhousie study indicates. Iris Harwood, a part-time aerobics teacher in the Hali- fax area, has started her first year in a bachelor of science program after 22 years out of school. The mother of two wants to become a nurse. Every day, after making breakfast, she catches a bus to Dalhousie where she stud- ies physiology, anatomy, psychology, sociology and chemistry. Then it's back home to family chores. . Being.a nurse will mean SANTA “something to do with myself when the kids start to leave home,” Harwood, 39, says when asked about her ex- hausting schedule. TAKE ITS TOLL Whatever the reason for returning, the strain of jug- gling studies and a part-time job — and sometimes facing the skepticism of family members — can take its toll. “There is a definite resis- tance from husbands who often feel neglected or in- timidated,” says Joyce Con- rad, 36, a former adult stu- dent who now teaches off- campus courses. “In fact, it put the finishing touches on my marriage, which was perhaps already shaky. “But I couldn't help coming back to find out what made this whole world tick. Part of my brain wasn't being used.” Despite the difficulties, enrolment by mature stu- dents in Maritime post-sec- ondary institutions has in- creased 61 per cent to more than 19,000 in the last six years. They include 10,400 part-time students, of w! two-thirds are women. Total full-time enrolment of all ages last year was 40,000. BRIDGE THE GAP “We're left with the res- idual mentality of the 1960s, where universities are thought of as youth orient- ed,” says Katherine Bindon, academic vice-president for Mount St. Vincent. “Now we're bridging the gap to an older society.” Mount St. Vincent con- centrates on women's edu- cation. Half of the 4,000 stu- dents are enrolled part time and a third of its courses are at night, when most adults can attend. But at Dalhousie, one of the largest universities in the Maritimes, less than one per cent of its budget goes toward continuing education. OOOO OD ais Santa will be at Chahko Mika Mall Dec. 7-11, Dec. 14-18 — 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 & 19 — 11 a.m. Dec. 21, 22 and 23 — 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 24 — 12:00-3:00 p.m. Late Night Christmas Hrs. 8:30 p.m. 00 p.m. Christmas is Magic at Chahko Mika Mall! CORA. of MLAILIL WE'VE GOT IT ALL FOR YOU!! OPEN TO9 P.M. THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS a CASTLEGAR BEAVERS . . . Castlegar 2nd Bea Colony holds Investment ceremony. Front row is newly invested Beavers. (left to right) Leaders: Dean Carter, Barry Weeks, Back row: Clifford Waldie, Murio Duarte, Lauchlin lankola, Kevin DIVORCE CASE COULD OPEN PANDORA'S BOX TORONTO (CP) — A recent ruling that the estranged wife of a dentist is entitled.to benefits from his professional degree has suspended settlements in other marital breakups, family law specialists say. Other parting spouses are waiting to see what happens when the case of Victor and Victoria Caratun is finally settled on appeal, though they may take up to two years. In September, Madam Justice Mabel Van Camp awarded $30,000 to Mrs. Caratun, 41, because she contributed to her 38-year-old husband’s degree by helping him leave his native Romania. She also raised their child while he upgraded his skills and established a practice. “If a licence to practise dentistry has value, all sorts of things are opened — like plumbers’ certificates, teachers’ certificates,” said Toronto family lawyer Phil Epstein. Carlson, Ryan Carter, Andrew Weeks, Travis Hen- ne. Front row Jeffrey Crsi: Palmer, Richard Jelly, Jam loshauwa Street. Alex Condy, Noel King, Pauk Okarte, juuge awarded $80,000 under the legal doctrine of “con- structive trust,” meaning Mrs. Caratun was entitled to it because of her contribution. She was also given monthly support payments. UNDER APPEAL Caratun is appealing the case. Meanwhile, Mrs. Caratun will cross-appeal, arguing she should have received 50 per cent, of the $220,000. “I think it is driving practitioners nuts right now because they really do not know how seriously they should take this decision,” said a family lawyer who asked not to be identified. “Logically, is there any distinction between a dentist's training and the training of a history teacher?” Many lawyers say the decision reintroduces an element of uncertainty to the division of assets, which Ontario's Family Law Act was meant to erase. “It is a Pandora's box that has been opened,” Epstein said, adding that “one is never sure when you open a Pandora‘s box how it will get closed.” Many litigants are redrafting their claims, he said. ‘The first decision in the area of licences was handed down 18 months ago when a court accepted a woman's contribution to the education of her husband, a doctor. But since the woman's lawyer had already agreed the degree was not family property, the judge awarded “We have to tell our clients: ‘Look, there is another case out there that could add a few hundred thousand dollars to the pot,” he said. The value of Caratui licence was pegged at about $220,000. But rather than splitting its value equally, the MAKES MILLIONS School teaches flirting TORONTO (CP) — Is that certain someone you've got your eye on clearing her throat, or perhaps flicking lint from his jacket? It could be a sign they're returning your interest, in structor Orli Kohn tells a group of about 20 men and women who are diligently taking notes. The students, mostly men, have paid $25 each to learn How To Find a Lover. During the three-hour ses sion at a downtown hotel, they are given tips on what to wear — “women don’t like any traces of dirt or grease” — and taught to spot those subtle body movements that just might reveal romantic interest. Strategies for meeting people are discussed during the class, including staking our frozen-food sections at supermarkets or checking obituaries in order to take casseroles to strangers whose spouses have died. The course, and others like COME AND HEAR ALL ABOUT IT ON Sunday, December 13 At 7:00 p.m. THE PENTECOSTAL NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY 602 - 7th Street, Castlegar SPECIAL RELEASE FOR CHRISTMAS “GOOD NEWS!” It's Our Christmas Program for Everyone! ©MCMLXXXVII Leon Shaffer Goinick Adv., Inc. support payments. The next decision was a case in Hamilton which recognized degrees as family property without market value. Then came Van Camp's decision. it, have been called the Mc- Donald's’ of education. They're offered by the Learning Annex, a company that serves up short, prac- tical courses to thousands of adults in Toronto every month, at rock-bottom rates — and a tax receipt on re- quest. MAKES MILLIONS Learning was never like is the motto of the U.S. based firm, which set up in Canada in 1986 and is gross- ing $9 million in the 1987 fiseal year at its 16 locations across North America. Courses range from the unusual to routine: Exploring Past Lives, How to Begin and Continue a Conversation, How to Meet the Right Mate, Understanding Computers, Basic Knitting. The U.S. schools are one step ahead, with courses on cross-dressing, cheating on your spouse and what to do when your psychiatrist is away on holiday. Director Linda Reed said the Toronto courses attract mainly professionals in their 308, about 70 per cent of them women. ‘They include her parking lot attendant, who is learning to be a private investigator, and corporate vice-presi- dents. “I think it's definitely just the beginning of the iceberg for this type of industry,” Reed said in an interview at her office. “It’s geared to real- concerns, rather than 7 demic concerns that you're going to find in an accredited institution.” On the lookout for the elusive opening line that will send the object of your af- fections' swooning at your feet? Instructor Lilian Zack's series on how to begin and continue a conversation might be just the thing. Her pupils, who includes a second-year university stu- dent and a nurse, solemnly take notes as she lists suc- cessful conversation openers. “Do you like parties?” is a line suggested for social gatherings. Women praised VICTORIA (CP) — Women are excellent risk takers, have a high degree of com- mon sense and are more creative in business than men, a showcase of business- women has been told. “Running a business is a real challenge and it has been a great deal of fun,” says Susan Callin, owner of a gift shop in the Victoria suburb of Oak Bay. “I think women have more common sense than men and are more creative. Most have had to run a home, be a wife and a mother — that’s not easy, but it is great training for running a business. It taught me patience, under- standing .. . how to talk to people.” THANK YOU To all Our Wondertul friends and families, for our House Warming Party PETER & PAM Pulpit & Pew A new version of Twas the Night before Christmas tells of the difficulty of wrapping the toy robot because all the guns and swords kept stick- ing through the paper. Dad finally got it wrapped, “though a ray gun stuck through,” and the poem con- cludes with this tender though by dad about his sleeping boy and his special Christmas present: The robot's the right gift to give our sleeper to remind him of Jesus. It's called “The Peace- poem makes its point rather well, I think. When toys that play at destroying and killing be- come the right Christmas gift for children, something’s wrong, isn't it? Now, I know many people say war toys are harmless; that if we didn’t give them plastic guns they'd do, “Bang, you're dead” with sticks; that kids are full of energy and letting it out in pretend vio- lence is a good release; that they know the difference be- tween real violence and let's pretend. But somehow, I'm more convinced by the other side of the argument that says giving our children toys of violence subtly brainwashes them over a period of time to accept violence as a suitable response to world problems. Here are three convincing (to me) reasons against war toys I found in a recent 1. Such toys do not convey the degree of danger posed to all mankind if it forsakes negotiation and resorts to violence. 2. The toys make war seem exciting and fun. 8. Many of the toys equate survival with attacking, win- ning, and being dominant. In actuality, survival may well depend upon compassion, give-and-take, and co-opera- tion. If the above reasons don’t convince you, at least con- sider how toys that make children play together — like balls and board games — or toys that teach new things — like bikes and books — are probably more fun for the kids than toys that make winners and losers and as well probably end up getting broken sooner than balls and books. I think those who buy toys for children ‘should think twice before buying a war toy. And certainly, at the birth- day of the Prince of Peace, something else would surely be more fitting. Council donates to fund recegtly to donate $50 to the Jeff McKelvey Scholarship Fund. McKelvey, a longtime employee of the Union of B.C. Municipalities in Vancouver, passed away last month. ALCON PAINTING & DECORATING 2649 FOURTH A CASTLEGAR & vIn 2s! EWS CASTUGAR AC. vin ae CASTLEGAR 0 peas 3007 AVENUE 365 3563 Gary Fleming Dianna Kootnikoft ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE 366-8210 ew - BUICK SKYHAWK CHOOSE FROM SIX 1 SPECIAL TIME... (from left) Paulo Furey, Jennifer Ford, Anita Brey, Karin Hawkins and Crista Bentley act out Christmas scene during Canadian Girls in Training vesper service last week at the Castlegar United Church. Service also included candlelight procession and caroliny ETIREMENT 10th St., 966-7232 “rouremee 36-3368 SHOP EARLY For Your Christmas Tree EVERYDAY 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (While Stocks Lost.) 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