| OPINION

WEDNESD

October 28, 1992

wily The Ga sth dar Sun ZS

THE CASTLEGAR SUN CATHERINE ROSS

ied editorial comment

Housing for Castlegar's seniors has reached a critical point

Canada has a dirty little secret.

_In the last 24 ths the federal gov has

itrarily cut its fi ial c i to social housing by 50 per cent.

This cut affects all of us, but the people hardest hit are low income families, and seniors.

There may still be some people in the general population who feel this cut does not apply to them, but what one has to consider is that these housing shortages need to be dealt with NOW in order for

ng to be ble to the b who will be cosmieg onlin eivear taps ic thn tant Cackcsior 10,

In Nelson, within the last two years, there have been 59 government housing units built. Nelson rec- ognized a serious need within their community, they addressed that need, and they worked progressively towards attaining their goal of affordable housing available to low income groups and seniors.

In larger populated areas such as Nanaimo, or Victoria the need for senior housing is starting to be addressed. The cost of construction is considerably lower in these areas compared to rural areas such as

We need to get together and formulate a plan to get our housing needs met. Our voices need to be heard

The needs of seniors are very difficult to slot into a box. They come from all incomes, and energy lev- els, and have a wide range of abilities.

In the Castlegar area, seniors are in competition for housing with students, construction workers, and the general public.

They don’t pollute, sell drugs, or create riots, and best of all.they aren’t saving their pennies for old age...they’re spending it.

The average family home is a three bedroom with approximately 1,800 to 2,000 square feet.

When individuals are raising their families, this size home is adequate. However, the need to main- tain such a home diminishes as a person ages, and their dream home can become a financial and physi- cal burden.

Most senior citizen housing is only 480 square feet, which is considered sufficient by most seniors.

In the Castlegar area the only appropriate and affordable housing geared specifically to seniors is Rota Villa, or Rosewood Manor.

The need is clearly evident, yet it seems to fall on a backburner. Castlegar City Council should make the effort to ensure this bumer is not shut off.

By Don Addis

WZ The ee sth jaar Sun 7S 1S POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT AND A

MEMBER OF THE STERLING NEWS SERVICE November 28, 1990

Published by The Castlegar Sun Weekly on Wednesdays 485 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C. VIN 1G8

Just when

Not a Senior, eh?

Everyone wants to delay being known as a senior. Time has a way of taking care of the situation! You first realize you are getting older when muscles do not respond, react or rejuvenate as they once did. At this point, all the indul- gences of your younger life come back to haunt you. Your parents told you this would happen, but you didn’t believe them, right? Suddenly you find yourself saying the same things they said to you, to your own children, and wonder at why we grow so soon old and so late smart. Such are the vagaries and complexities of life. The term “senior” can apply at any age, which is why we have so much dif- ficulty defining it

So, you do not consider yourself a “senior” Eh? Right? You notice that there is a house-to-house sur- vey underway at present which seeks information on “Adult /Senior’ Housing” but this does not apply to you, does it? After all, YOU are not a senior! Time enough to worry about housing adults and seniors later. Such has been the thinking of Canadians, that, with the exception of a few notable organizations and agencies, it has been left to seniors to worry

Mistrust of

STEVE WEATHERBE

Sterling News Services

What went wrong? Opponents of the Charlottetown Accord put the stress on the content of the accord being unacceptable, but even the Yes forces agreed that the average voter was protesting more than actual agreement, more than the constitutional process, and expressing a disaffection with poli- tics and politicians in general.

David Mitchell, the Liberal MLA who broke with his own cau- cus and leader to support the con- stitutional accord, said before the results were known that people across Canada and the U.S. were saying no to referendums whenev- er they are given the chance. “If a government asks the voter for any- thing, the answer is always ‘no,’” said Mr. Mitchell.

Atan-Warnke another Liberat MLA and a strong opponent of the accord, sees the result as an expres- sion of “a lack of confidence in our leadership.” Warnke, a political scientist, told SNS last night that the public wanted far more public involvement than the government Provided through public hearings and various commissions. In the end the decision was made by Political leaders bargaining in secret

David MacPhee, a co-director of B.C.'s Yes campaign, said that the No side won with an appeal to “an ideal Canada” based on equality and faimess. These values, he said were endorsed by most Canadians, and the Yes campaign never suc- ceeded in persuading the voter to

you think you don't qualify....

about their own housing. That is why, when you are forced by ill health, the death of a spouse, or other misfortune, to make a deci- sion on alternate adult housing, the housing that you may prefer does not exist! One then suddenly

compact living accommodations,

but you may discover it does not

exist where you would like to live.

Unless you have been clever with

your investments, you will- also be to the 1

of your budget, as time moves on

becomes very interested in “adult” housing, when it may already be too late to be of benefit to you

} When you are about forty, you most. probably would have parents in their sixties, and grandparents in their eighties. If you have suffered ill health or any misfortunes, you will be made aware of the lack of suitable housing for them. You may well think about how this may affect you, should you have similar experiences. When you are sixty, your parents may be frail and elderly. Similarly, you will likely have become tired of the routines of maintaining and caring for a large “family” type home. You may look for comfortable, more

and property values increase Contrary to the popular myth, houses do NOT increase in value. It is the land upon which they rest that has, historically, increased in value. Older homes, which have never been renovated or up-dated, may actually be liabilities to that part of the market who cannot rec- ognize potential. Those who DO recognize potential are called “developers” which has become a nasty word, when, in fact, develop- ers are simply business people who can psychologically handle more than the usual amount of risk. If we are kind, we _ call the “entrepreneurs’. The cost/benefit of size is also a myth. It is NOT necessarily a given that you can sell a large home, but a smaller home for far less, invest the differ- ence and live on income from the capital investment. Certainly not at Present low interest rates. The rea- son that some units can be offered for less are mostly concerned with in volume p to

the developer. Or, in co-operative housing, where the eventual pur- chasers forego a profit. The cost of building an ever-increasing. Con- trary to another myth, most devel- opers earn relatively little when you consider the capital investment required and the high risk involved. If you bought your pre- sent home, say, twenty-five years ago, unless you have spent a con- siderable sum up-dating it along the way, you will be fortunate to purchase a smaller home or unit, from the small stock presently available in the West Kootenays, for its selling price. You may even have to “make up” the difference Those are the realities of the hous- ing market today, which will con- tinue tomorrow and for the foreseeable future.

So, where does this leave you? If you are forty, you should be investigating the “adult” housing situation now, and making sure that we. build, now, not just what our Present adults want and need, but what YOU will want and need in the future. What can you do? You can start by completing the “Adult/Seniors’ Housing Survey” form when a volunteer calls on you. It is the season to think adult and “senior” housing.

elites blamed for referendum defeat

compare the deal to “the Canadian reality, not this ideal.”

Agreed University of Victoria Political Scientist Norman Ruff: “the mood is that everyone should be treated equally.” He related how he explained to one person who was irate that Quebec was to be allowed its own civil code that it had always had it. “It didn’t matter what the history was, neil felt Quebec shouldn’t get it,” . Ruff said that “the political elites badly

WY

miscalculated” the public’s skepti- .

cism, and underestimated people's need to see the legal text and “be involved in the discussion,” rather than to be given just a yes or no option. In B.C., he noted, the New Democratic government also. seri- ously misread how seriously con- stitutional matters would be viewed by the voter. Whereas Lib- eral leader Gordon Wilson appeared to have “almost a consti- tutuonal fetish,” the NDP had no

one “who went to bed with the Constitution under his pillow.” This was reflected in the aftermath of the original agreement, which saw Premier Mike Harcourt go on holi- day and Constitutional Affairs Minister Moe Sihota take himself out of the debate with a trip to London. Back in B.C., the deal was being soundly trashed by nearly all commentators for leaving B. Cc badly underrepresented in the House of Commons.

Wednesday, October 28, 1992

The Castlegar Sun

Letters to the Editor

Community should help protect seniors' interests

we dames like to thank the following for their suppor of our recent successful Open Forum on Adult/Senior's Housing which was held at the Castlegar Recre- ation Complex Tuesday, October 20, 1992. Although there were many happenings that evening, many residents gave up the third game of the World Series to attend.

We are most appreciative for having the very informative pre- sentation of Chris Fairbank, Prin- cipal, Fairbanks Architects, Nelson, and Judy Gayton, Devel- pment Administrator, The Links Housing Co-operative, Nelson.

also appreciate the contribu- of Jim Laktin, The Investors

Group; Ron Smithers, Lindmar Estates; ier Semenoff, Birch Grove Place C

for television coverage, P, Medge for the use of the community

and Members of the Seniors’ Housing Advisory Board.

We thank the following donors: Castlegar Foods, Canada Safeway, Super Valu and IGA Foods Ltd. for their kind dona- tions of gift certificates and Tulips Floral Company for the gorgeous dozen red roses. These items were awarded as door prizes for participants in the Open Forum.

We thank Peter Zaytsoff of Pete's TV for the use of a large screen television and cordless microphone, Bill Maund for the use of the VCR, Nels Green for video taping, Community 10 TV

Rlave things really changed at city hall?

Dear Editor:

The following is a letter writ- ten to Mayor Audrey Moore on Jpnly 5 with a postscript added on September 5.

I mentioned this letter to Mrs. Moore at the Kiwanis Duck Race at Pass Creek Park on August 2 and she said it had been referred to staff.

As of this date (Octaber 20) there has been no ack

pedestrian arrives at the light and presses the pedestrian but- ton, the light changes to allow vehicular traffic but NOT pedes- trian traffic. (The pedestrian but- ton has to be pushed some little time in advance of a light change.)

This results in people crossing with the green light without bene- fit of the pedestrian signal. As

ment of this letter other than my brief conversation with Mrs. Moore on August 2.

Have the problems reported on in the Price Waterhouse Report really been resolved when a letter written over three months ago still hasn't been answered?

Sat., Sept. 5, 1992: Hear from you soon, Audrey? Many instances seen as described below including Nelson and Mrs. Latta about a week ago.

July 5, 1992

Dear Audrey,

This letter is in regard to the traffic light at the corner of Columbia Ave. and Third Street, and is a letter I’ ve been intending to write for some time.

As you are possibly aware, if the light is in the countdown Stages to changing and if a

Ministry's arrogance is very disturbing

Dear Editor:

Please grant me space to support the Glade residents.

I am writing this letter in support of the Glade Commu- nity Watershed Committee in its determination to prevent logging in their watershed, Glade Creek.

T am disturbed and shocked by the arrogant statement of ‘the Forest Service that “the decision to log or not is not up for discussion”.

The logging, scouring and flooding that have taken place in our precious water sheds has proved clearly that this decision is clearly flawed.

Many residents have been arrested and jailed for daring to protest their opposition to this arrogant stand of Govern- ments of whatever political persuasion.

Arrise ye thirsty drinkers of clean water! You have nothing to lose by your thirst!

Pat Romaine Castlegar

well, it means (as it did yesterday afternoon) that people push the pedestrian but- ton, ste the light change to green (but not the pedestrian light illu- minating) and they then wait, meaning the “miss” an opportu- nity to cross and have to wait while traffic goes against them before it again gives them the opportunity of crossing.

My belief is that pedestrian traffic is heavy enough that the pedestrian light should be set to illuminate whenever the green traffic light first goes on.

I'd appreciate the city’s thoughts after you've had a chance to look into this

Cordially, Burt Campbell Castlegar

Do children have less right to safety?

Dear Editor:

In the October 21, 1992 edi- tion of the West Kootenay Shop- Net there was a warning concerning cougar sightings in the Rosemont Park area.

We would like to point out that cougars have recently been sighted in the Castleview Care Centre area, in High Meadows, near Southridge and in other areas close to homes, children and dogs, right here in Castlegar. Any wild predator should be destroyed or removed from all urban areas. Since when do your children or our family pets have less right to safety, and the free use of their front and back yards, than wild animals?

We would like to see some- thing done about these cougars quickly, before there is a tragedy.

Louis Mucha Castlegar

More letters page 11A

CELGAR PULP COMPANY PUBLIC NOTICE

On or about Monday, October 12, 1992 and for a period of up to 4 weeks, the Pulp Mill will be commencing to clean new steam lines associated with the Modernization Project. This process involves the intermittent blowing of high pressure steam through various lines to remove foreign materials such as dirt, tust slag, welding rods, etc.

Excessive noise can be generated by this process the steam is exhausted into the atmosphere. We willl limit the times of these blows to between 4p.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays and the length of any single blow should not exceed 20 minutes. We request the indulgence of the Robson residents and any others who may be affected by these disturbances. Everything possible will be done to minimize the effect on the public.

Thank you.

CELGAR PULP COMPANY Supporting

Complex and public address system, and a special thank you to all the volunteers who supplied refreshments and their assistance at the Open Forum.

We trust the community will respond favourably to the Adult/Seniors’ Housing Survey, Presently being conducted throughout Castlegar and sur- rounding area until November 15, So that we may continue to serve the needs of seniors in our area.

Castlegar and District Senior Citizens Action Committee Elsie Miller, Chair

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