410 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TERRACE STANDARD Business Review City dumps tourism bill THE CITY is forcing the io- cal business communily to take charge of tourism promotion. In a move reminiscent of federal-style downloading, the city has told the Cham- ber of Commerce it was going to gel out of tourism promotion but would extead moncy to the chamber to provide the service for a few years. The city wants to grad- ually cut its $40,000 tourism budget to nothing and let the Chamber find a way to do the work itself — likely by setting up a two-per-cent hotel/motel room tax to fi- nance it. And if the Chamber didn’t want to do it, the city would enlertain proposals from olher local groups. It all met a frosty recep- tion from Chamber officials when they met council’s Kerr called the cily initiative “off-base’’ and said the tourism function promotes the city as a whole — not just the special interests of individual:small businesses. She said some city in- volvement is needed. “T really have a problem wilh the city pulling out to- tally,’ Kerr said. But city economic devel- opment officer Ken Veld- man said the city’s budget is limited, and it makes sense to turn the operation over to the people most closely in- volved. “"We belicve the ones who are going ta do it most ef- {fectively are those who benefit and work in the in- dustry every day,”’ Veldman said, **You’re not going ta see the city’s gencral revenue fund advertise Skcena Cel- Julose’s lumber in Japan.”’ Chamber reps and city councillors did eventually agree in principle to the idea economic development commitlee on Friday. Chamber president Barb Out & About Mall manager geis artsy AFTER SIX years as manager of the Skeena Mall, Lynda Lafleur is leaving to buy Northern Lights Studio, A close friend of owners Matt and Kay Ehses, Lafleur will lease the gift shop in an arrangement that will make them almost family. “‘Matt gave me away at my wedding,”’ says Lafleur, who was the first bride to walk across the jade path in the gar- dens. Mait Ehses says he and Kay aren’t going anywhere, They will continuc to live there and own all the land and buildings, but the sale of the business will give them more time to concentrate on the gardens, he said. ‘You can only do so much,’” says Matt Ehses. ‘'We necd more time to spend in the garden. We're going to make. jt even bigger,’’ He says he plans to do more jade-cutting and sculpting. ‘Lafleur continues to run the mall until May 24, She takes over the gift shop July 1, Maestro magic EUROPEAN TOURISTS visiting at a store here this sum- mer won't need to use cash, credit cards or write cheques lo make purchases at one local store. They'll be able instead to use Maestro, an international Master Card version of Canada’s Interac Point of Sale debit payment system, at Kermode Trading. That slore, and its sister operation in Prince Rupert, are part of a test of the Maestro system in the northwest by Northern Savings Credit Union. Credit union official Robert Stromdahl is predicting Canadians will be using their Interac cards in Europe and beyond by late spring. Maestro is also being tested in Edmonton. The credit union made a bid for Maestro here because a lot of people already usc debit cards and because the number of Euro- pean tourists visiting grows yearly. Wanna buy a biz? GOT HALF a million to drop on a business or some hot commercial property? Just under $400,000 will get you the soon-to-be-vacaled Emerson Medical Clinic building downtown. Or if il’s cars you’re into, Kalum Kabs’ 17 taxis, 19 licences, business, building and property can be had for $599,000. Other businesses up for grabs now include: The Reel Inu for $450,000; Gim's Restaurant for $750,000; Pacific Regeneration Technologies’ 37.5 acres, buildings and land for $975,000; North Coast Health and Fitness’ busi- ness for $150,000; and B & G Grocery on Kalum for $55,000 (lease building), New phone service here CONSULTANTS with Glentel demonstrated their mobile satellite phone service last Thursday at Tolsee’s new building on Keith Ave. The universal wireless communication devices allow a user to remain in touch even in the most remote corners of the continent. The mobile satellite service is now available in Terrace. Envy of Kitimat TERRACE’s trouble in finding new land to meet the continued demand for commercial developments seems to be the envy of Kilimat. Kilimat councillors noted the Standard’s coverage of the commercial land crunch in Terrace, and responded with the idea of hitling up big potential developers on locating in Kitimat instead, “If we were to again make these companies aware of the cheap cost, we may be able to do something to get thom here,”’ councillor Ray Brady said. Port numbers decline TOTAL CARGO handled through the Port of Prince Rupert dropped sixteen per cent from 1994 to 1995, By year’s end, 11.2 million tonnes was shipped through the port, down from 13.4 miilion in 1994, Port CEO Don Krusel attributed the drop to lower ship- ments of grain in part due to the elimination of the Crow rate, and a decline in coal and coke shipments from the ex- ceptionally high levels seen in '94, : The Fairview Terminal did see strong increases. in lum- ber and pulp tonnages. : Barb Kerr of the Chamber taking on the project and the city con- tinuing to contribute money for five years. It’s likely the plan will also mean the city pursuing the two-per-cent hotel room lax. Most of the Chamber reps there agreed the room tax was the most sensible and easy way to raise moncy for lourism promotion, noting the money mostly comes from outside the com- munity. Based on last year’s room revenue, the tax would have taised about $60,000, Add that to the $40,000 city budget for tourism promo- tion and the Chamber would have a sizable amount of cash for the project, However the room tax idea is not embraced by lo- cal hotel operators, and the Chamber’s Glen Saunders said some of them want other options considered. Saunders said transferring the tourism component to the Chamber would work well because both would be in the same location at the Tourist Infocentre on the highway. “Tv’s very accessible, very central and high-exposure,”’ Saunders said of the loca- tion, ““We’ve got the people in place, we’ve got the loca- tion. We're in a good posi- tion to really work it,’” It would also allow the chamber to carry out tousism information work all year long, instead of just | at peak season, Ric FO Canada. aul King This Foundation is committed to financially supporting community recreation projects and programs including the addition of a Second Sheet of ice, For information call 635-6948 or write to Rick and Paul King Foundation, P.O. Box 203, Terrace, BC, V8G 4A65. The Rick and Paul King foundation is a registered non- profit society and is registered as a charity with Revenue ATION * Winter bed and FR are a ht ee breakfast special fais Se BE includes free g ; Sia aie tac 4 continental break- ) roma fast for 2, re ER + Friendly home- é : FIRST + CLASS * FOR * LESS. | Stay for $62° and breakfast is free. PAWS i away-from-hame. ¢ Stay'n Save Motor Stay’n t Jj. Inns convenientiy located in four of BC's most Save. | r popular destinations. * Beautyrest™ mattresses, free sports and movie channels, family restaurants, free local r calls & mare. * Coupon must be presented upon check in. CETTE Vieloria Kamlacps | Kewlona | Vancouver Airport 1-800-663-0298 Fax Ling (604) 273-9522 *Single/Oouble par night basis, Valld Fri., Sat., and Sunday only to March 31, 1996, At lhe Vancouver Airpant anly rata is | $67. Subject to availability at any location. Taxes axtra. ee ee es ee ee es es ee a year. registration. student September 6, Uplands Elementary School KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION Tuesday, February 27, 1996 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In preparation for the 1996-97 school year Uplands Elementary School is seeking the cooperation of parents in registering their kindergarten child on Tuesday, February 27, 1996, Early registration is requested in order ta provide the school time te plan for the coming Please nole that the Minisiry of Education rules state that full day kindergarten will be offered to children who have been identified as having special needs, or who are of First Nations Ancestry or who have significant difficulties speaking or understanding English. Requests for full day instruction should be made at the time of To be eligible for entry ta school in September, 1996, students must be five years af age on or before December 31, 1996. A birth certificate and proof of immunization will be required at time of registration. Uplands Elementary School Student Accommodation PUBLIC MEETING When: Monday, March 4, 1996 at 7:00 p.m. Where: Uplands School's Gym Why: The objective of the meeting is to review and make recommendations to the Board of School Trustees regarding accommodation Christensen, Board Vice Chair, will chair the meeting. effective Stewart 1996, Mr. pare Ke FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY Entertainment Satellite LTD, a Prince George based company, involved in the sales and service of computers, audio video & home theatre equipment and software is offering a franchise opportunity, ideally suited for a Terrace, BC entrepreneur. The successful applicant will be interested in developing a Terrace store location which will serve the entire area. Those interested should call or fax us at the numbers listed below. NEID ENTERPRISES & ARCTIC CAT bring you CAT PRIDE RIDE'96 2 _ Sunday, February 25 : bin on Sterling Mountain FREE Hot Dogs & Pop Cat Pride Ritle Hats! “DEMO ARCTIC CATS TO TEST RIDE Enter your name in draws for various prizes. COME OUT AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT. EVERYONE WELCOME! ARCTIC CAT’ World Class Snowmobiles» NEID ENTERPRISES LTD. Recreational Sales and Services 4921 Keith Ave., Terrace, B.C. SALES: GREG DELARONDE & TIM LINK Phone 635-3478 Fax 635-5050 i Ee ee ee ee ee ee . February 23, 24, 25 at the Skeena