Tales from trapline Terrace's Otto Lindstrom has worked his trapline for seven decades\ COMMUNITY B1 Making waves Reform of how B.C. Ferries runs will also drive up northern fares by up to 22 per cent\NEWS A10 a ahead even though » they have no coach\SPORTS B6 $1,00 pLus.7¢.GST.. {51,10 plus 8¢ GST outside of the Terrace p area) 15°'NO: 33... santa divided into two parts THE NORTH POLE Governing Au- thority (NPGA) has announced the most comprehensive overhaul of its wholly-owned Santa Claus corporation that has ever been attempted. Effective Jan. 1, the Santa Claus operation will be divided into two se- parate entities - Santa Ltd., which wiil be responsible for generating gifts, and Claus Lid., which will be responsible for theiz delivery. “This should not be regarded as a privatization of Santa Claus,” said a key NPGA official who asked to re- main anonymous. “Rather, we see this as a much- needed change to safeguard the Santa Claus operation. As you may know, Santa Claus is in need of significant money we don’t have.” “What we're proposing is a partner- ship between us and private compa- nies. At the end of the day, our interest is in keeping the essential elements of Santa Claus intact yet allowing the private sector to play a role.” ' “For too long Santa Claus has been operating at an unsustainable level and we can no longer support it as such.” : The official was quick to cement ihe idea that the North Pole gift and delivery concept will remain an over- all public corporation. “You'll see that in legislation we'll introduce. We call it the Claus clause, if you will.” Internal documents obtained reveal sector to feed into both of the new en- tities with the idea that there will be significant savings in providing toys and in delivering them. But the documents also make it quite clear there will be no new mon- ies going to the new entities. Rather, the plan is to allow the private sector to make al] new investments. Those documents also indicate the NPGA has for some time felt the Santa Claus operation has needed a shake up. Officials feel the elves in Santa’s Workshop and the reindeer making the deliveries have enjoyed pay and bene- fits beyond that which can be sus- tained. “We have to end this culture of en- new Santa Ltd..and the new Claus Ltd. can only operate with a renewed spirit of co-operation from all those involved.” For their part, workshop elves and the reindeer deliverers are not happy with the prospect of the change. Edward Elf, speaking on behalf of Santa’s Workshop workers, said their jobs. and toy construction standards are at risk. “This is our r workshop and these are our toys. We can’t let other toys come into something which is under our jur- isdiction,” he said, Much the’ same sentiment came from the reindeer. Rudy Reindeer, a shop steward with the delivery force, said, “We understand the need to cut for pay reductions and a plan to deli- ver the toys 30 per cent faster.” “But we can’t have a delivery force out there that doesn’t know what to do. It would endanger.the commitment: we have with the boys and girls. Besides, we'd have to change the words to our song.” There’s been slow progress in the atlempts to negotiate new contracts, The elves have so far agreed in Principle to the idea of reduced wages but are holding firm on keeping their allowances for the purchase of their curly-toed work boots. The reindeer say they can deliver faster although success hinges on the the new instrument landing system at the Terrace airport. And they object to titlement,” said the documents. “The having to pay the new security tax, that the plan is to allow the private costs, and we have tabled proposals City plans new zone Rules to create ‘Old Terrace’ _By JEFF NAGEL “OLD TERRACE” is to be the theme of a new down- town tourism zone the city plans to establish as part of its strategy to welcome cruise ship tourists, The new zone — if it is approved — would extend from the railway tracks north along Kalum St. as far as the old provincial police building and Scotia- _ bank locations just north of Lakelse & Ave. ; Buildings that go up or are redeve- loped in the three-block zone would have to have a distinctive heritage look, with materials and design used prior to 1950. . The changes are to start with the. relocation next year of the former [ George Little house from its Hall St. home to the end of Kalum St, where it is to be renovated to become Ter- race’s new railway station and museum. ° Passengers from cruise ships docking in Prince Rupert would take the train here and disembark through the new train station into a revitalized pedestrian-friendly down- Continued Page A2 Merry Christmas You'll find Christmas greetings and stories throughout this holiday edition of the Terrace Standard. On page A3 you'll find the winners of our Christmas lights contest. On pages AI1-AI6 you'll find stories from prominent local residents who are spending this Christmas overseas. And in keeping with that long distance theme, we've ° opened up our web site — www.terracestandard.com — for Christmas greetings from online readers near and far, Readers as distant as the Maritimes and China have sent greetings by email to people back home. You'll find some of those greetings printed on page AS, But as more continue to come in — the email address is newsroom@terracestandard.com — we will post them to the Christmas Greetings section of the web site. capital spending transfusions but it’s Trawin g In the spirit THE SPARKLE in Benjamin Kalis’, 4, eye proves the spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Terrace. The tyke was tickled by the sight of this two-foot balloon creation made by local baf- loon artist Mitch Adams. The rubber Rudolph can be fitted to sit around @ toddler's waist or stand alone on its four wobbly feet. Adams has been twisting balloons for two years and In: the summer months he is a familiar face at the Terrace. Fer: mers Market, SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN PHOTO Vice-regal visit cheers sailors Son of local family