Farewell, Bob

$75,000\NEWS A11

City administrator Bob Hallsor
retires with a package worth |

Breaking the cycle

A conference on mental health wil
have useful information for
everyone\COMMUNITY B1

Good for you

Badminton is the perfect sport for
adults who want to improve |
fitness level\SPORTS B5

WEDNESDAY
OCTOBER 7, 1998

ONE THIRD of British. Columbians
have yet to make up their minds about
the Nisga’a treaty and 13 per cent have

“never heard of it, indicates an opinion

poll conducted the latter part of August
And 28 per cent of those surveyed sup-
port the treaty while 24 per cent are op-
posed.
The survey of 504 peaple was con-
ducted by the polling company Mark

-Trend between Aug. 21 and Aug. 26,
three weeks after the treaty was initialed |

in New Aiyansh. It is considered ac-
curate within a 4.4 per cent range 19
times out of 20,

The poll also found that two-thirds of
British Columbians feel they weren’t

adequately consulted about the treaty.

When broken down into regions, the
poll found almost the same level of sup-
port (between 28 and 30 per cent) among
people living on the lower mainland or
Greater Victoria, in the Fraser Valley
and the Okanagan and in the rest of B.C,

But opposition to the treaty is more
evident among people living outside of
the lower mainland or Greater Victoria.

In fact, only 19 per cent of those on the
lower mainland or Greater Victoria are
in opposition compared to 30 per cent
for those living elsewhere.

Fewer people living outside of the
major metropolitan areas say they don’t
have an opinion on the treaty.

Somewhat surprisingly, 13 per cent of
those living outside of the lower main-

TERRACE -

TANDARD =

North more leery about treaty

land, Greater Victoria or the Fraser Val-
ley and the Okanagan, where land claims
have had a higher profile, have never
heard of tiie treaty. That’s the same as
the provincial average.

Although a majority of those surveyed
feel they weren’t adequately consulted
about the Nisga’a treaty, only 46 per cent
feel there should be a referendum.

Of the remainder, 36 per cent don’t
want a referendum, five per cent are un-
decided and 13 per cent.aren’t aware of
ihe treaty.

There is higher support for a
referendum at 52 per cent among those
living outside of the lower mainland,
Greater Victoria, the Fraser Valley and
the Okanagan,

Those who support the treaty do so be-
cause it is time land claims have to be
dealt with, believe it is fair or that na-
tives have been mistreated,

Those who oppose feel everyone
should have equal rights, the treaty is too
expensive or that natives get enough or
too many benefits already.

Support for the treaty is highest among
those who support the NDP provincially
and lowest among those who support the
B.C. Reforn party,

Provincial Liberals support the treaty
by 28 per cent and oppose it by 25 per
cent

Mark Trend vice president Mary
Bacica wasn’t surprised there is a higher
level of awareness of the Nisga’a treaty
among people living outside major

settled areas,

*‘Phey’re closer to it. It’s more in their
backyard,”’ she said. ‘I think you'd get
much different results if, fet’s say, the
Musqueam had a treaty.”

Bacica also said the poll results
Tepresent good news of sorts for the
NDP government because of the number

of people who don’t have an opinion on’

the treaty or who have never heard of it.

“it is not certainly another nail in their,
coffin as is the case with the economy

right now,’’ she said.

Yet Bacica warned that an opinion poll

is just a snapshot in time and that public
opinion can swing widely,

“IE the treaty starts to get wide media
coverage in the next while, anything can
happen,”? she said.

Abuse victims |
get money,
counselling

_ By ALEX HAMILTON
SEXUALLY ABUSED residential school victims are un-
dergoing counselling in ferrace paid for by the setilement
of their lawsuit against the federal government and The
Salvation Army,

The 14 Nisga’a men were sexually abused in the 1960s
while attending the Canyon City Indian Day School in

- Caynon City in the Nass Valley.

Tt was operated by the government of Canada and (he
Salvation Army and the men settled their civil claims suit
last May after five months of mediation.

“‘Both Canada and the Salvation Army accepted a share
ae of the responsibility,’’ said Earl Phillips, the lawyer who
Rea a represented The Salvation Army,

i i “Both parties worked to cooperate together to deal with
ae eal as at the claims to make sure the men were not harmed further
Bae reid are Re eS Eres vase aes mee J eshig APACE in the process,”’ he said.

: : eet ie fl The outcome of the suit is unusual in that both the feder- |
al government and a church admitted guilt and responsibil-,
ity, says David Schulze, an associate with the law firm of
Hutchins Soroka and Grant which represented the men. '

‘‘In several other cases churches have denied all respon-
sibility, ’ Schulze said. ‘‘But this (suit) did settle. The
government and the (Salvation Army) church took respon-
sibility and talked about what to do.’

The plaintiffs were sexually abused when they were chil-

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Kalum Street dren by William Gareth Douglas, at the time a Salvation

Amy captain in Canyon City, now called Gitwinksihikw.

Douglas was convicted in 1988 on 12 criminal charges of
. p . | f sexual assault and spent six years in prison. ,
. Schulze said the mediated settlement is only the second

ming pool. They include a 250-seat drama theatre, double gym-
nasium, climbing wall, squash courts, meeting rooms and more. See
page A5 for more details on the project.

one of its kind to deal with a claim arising out of native
school abuse in B.C. The first mediated settlement, con-
cemed two other survivors of assaults by Douglas at anoth- !

IT’S BIG: Conceptual drawings unveiled for. the proposed multiplex
cali for a second sheet of ice on the north sida of the existing arena,
and other components sandwiched in between the arena and swim-

$11.5m multiplex unveiled

Finances, tax hit
must be spelled

out, locals say
SHOW ME the money.

That was the initial reaction of
many local citizens at an open
house Thursday where the con-
ceptual design for a proposed
$11.5 million multiplex was un-
Veiled. ;

While many people said they
were impressed and even dazzled
by the design in terms of look and
function, most want to know how
much their property taxes would
rise before supporting the project.

“7 have mixed feelings,” said
Barb Harvey. ‘‘As much as I'd like
to see it happen, it’s a lot of money.

I’m not sure our economy can af ,
_ ford an expansion of this kind right

now.”

Rock climber Garnet Watson said
he strongly supports the climbing
wall included in the plans, but says
he and most others he knows will
want to know the individual tax hit.

“I'd like to see them present the
cosis fully,’? Watson said. ‘‘It’s
probably going to come down to
dollars — lke most things.’’

“T like it, I think i's a good:

idea,’ added. local lawyer John

Bandstra, “I think the finances
have to be studied further.’’

Accountant Don Dunster said the
process this time has been as repre-
sentative as anything could be.

But he said the resulting size and
price lag is alarming.

*T think we have to be very care-
ful of the cost at this time,’? he
said, citing global economic un-
certainty and forest industry dif-
ficullies.

“7 think it bas to be done in
phases.”’

Many others were strongly sup-
portive of the look and design of
the facility as outlined.

“T have four kids and I know I’m

going to use the facility a lot,”’ said ©

Leanne Derow. ‘‘I think it looks
really nice and functional.”

Others had specific concerns.

Bruce Martindale said it seems
like a huge;project that will eat into
the green pace at the top of the
arena hill.

He said smaller project could
have been built much more cheaply
elsewhere.

‘Why aren’t we trying ta build a
relationship with Thorbhill and
build something there?’’ he asked,

He also queried the inclusion of.a
licensed lounge.

“My taxpaying dollars are going .
to compete against bars in this.

town???

Dunster also said the idea of al-
cohol sales runs counter to the fit-
ness aspect of the facility atid could
raise safety concerns of children
using the facility cncountering
drunk patrons.

Patrick McIntyre wondered
whether inclusion of exercise
equipment and gyms in the mew
multiplex might amount to duptica-

tion of facilities already available

in town,

‘We need a second sheet of ice,’"’
he said. ‘‘I think we dropped the .

ball in the first campaign.”

m@ For more detalls on the
proposed multiplex, its com-
ponents and costs, turn to
page AS,

Those spearheading the process -

say it’s too soon to quantify the
estimated cost in terms of property
tax effects. ,

That's because there are a series
of unknown factors — chiefly
whether money will fow in from

several other sources reducing the |
taxpayer’s bill,. Contributious from ©
Terrace Little Theatre to support a’

drama theatre component. fund

raising by the Rick and Paul King
Foundation, and government grants
arc just some of the possibilities
raised,

“We haven’t even cracked the
book on ihe financial side of this,’’
said advisory design commiitee
member Brian Downic,

Consultant David Hewko, of
Johnston Sport Architecture, said
his firm is finishing its involvement
in the conceptual design phase, but
says the next step will clearly have
to be resolving outstanding issues

Hewko said his sense of what a
majority of locals would consider
affordable is a properly 1ax increuse
of around $100 per year for the
average homeowucr. Much beyond
that, he said, and the project would

be ontside the “comfort zone’? for

most people and would = risk
referendum defeat. ;

He says he thinks the project
could come in substantially below
the $100 level. _

He said possible inclusion of a li-
censed lounge or other. retail tenant
space doesn’t mean the city would
be -competing with
businesses.

Those ideas Were included in the
design, Hewko said, because: focal
citizens indicated in previous sur-
veys. that those services showld be
concentrated in the sanie site.

existing

er school located at Canyon City,

The fina] out-of-court settlement gave cach of the mena
lump sum of money that they are free to spend as they
wish, though part of the amount was meant to pay for Cu-
ture counselling and care,

Almost all of the men puoled together some of their
moncy for counselling sessions in Terrace,

The men and their families receive counselling services
two days each month from a Vancouver psychologist and a
Vancouver psychologist/psychiatrist. The issues addressed
in counselling are post-traumatic stress disorder, depres-
sion and marital problems.

Peter Grant, senior counsel at Hutchins Soroka and Grant
in Vancouver, negotiated the settlements. He’s also the
lead connsel in the suit against the federal government and
the United Church over abuse at the Port Albernl residen-
tial school.

Depot holdup suspects
being held in custody

FOUR TERRACE males remain in custody today for allegedly
taking more than $2,000 from the K&M Mushroom depot on
Lakelse Avenue last weekend, ;

Two adult males and two minors have been charged with rob-
bery, assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm and
will reappear in a Terrace courtroom on Oct. 16. ,
_Police believe the group hid in bushes outside the depot ~ their
faces covered by balaclavas. RCMP say two of the suspects were

~ armed with knives and one waved a nine millimetre replica pellet
gun.

Duting the heist one assailant allegedly stood on a table and
stabbed mushroom depot worker Alan Lindstrom, RCMP Const.
Mare Landry said, Lindstrom suffered.a one-inch slice in his

ack, bone :

_ So far, RCMP say they have recovered one third of the nissing
casit. ‘One adult male was released on bail and will also reappear
_ in court Oct, 16. oe Ses
_ The RCMP investigation is still ongoing,