A2 Terrace Review — None of these groups except the White Cane club were involved with the promoter of the event, and none of them are involved with the local White Cane Club. But even the latter, according to Stan Bradshaw of the Canadian Council for the Blind, was "duped". The problem now for the community, though, is who has credibility? Given one bad experi- ence, which tickets or services are the public still willing to buy? According to people on the front line, the sequence of events went ‘something like this. Terrace resi- dent John MacDonald showed up the R.E.M. Lee Theatre wanting to book a variety show on behalf of the Terrace Chapter of the White Cane Club. With MacDonald was a member of the club, but theatre manager Tom Walker was still suspicious. MacDonald said he represented Pro Tel Productions of Kamloops, and Walker said he knew this wasn’t true. _ Bill Phillips of Pro Tel Produc- tions told the Terrace Review that — MacDonald did work for him, on a part time basis until seven months ago, but hasn’t worked for Pro Tel since then. Still, Phillips is now discovering that MacDonald — has in recent weeks run up at least © one bill in his company’s name.. Because Walker was suspicious, he told MacDonald he would need © a business licence. MacDonald went to the city as a representative of the White Cane Club, according | to licensing inspector Paul Gipps. Under city guidelines MacDonald didn’t need a licence. Gipps says he was convinced MacDonald was representing a local charity : and: was only taking enough of the proceeds to cover his expenses. Around the same time, says Gipps, MacDonald applied for | another business licence on his own behalf — he wanted to starta local courier service — and the licence was granted. That licence, however, due to bylaw infractions unrelated to the White Cane event, was cancelled on Nov. 28. As far as the White Cane event is con- cerned, says Gipps, it is unlikely in the future that anyone without an established record who wants to _ charge in advance for-goods to be delivered sometime in the future will get a business licence without a wait of several days. The time delay will allow for some serious checking with organizations such as the RCMP. The fact that MacDonald didn’t require a business licence having been established, Walker had no reason to refuse MacDonald’s request for a theatre booking. He was still suspicious, though, and charged MacDonald a $250 deposit; something, he says, he has never. done with a local service group before. With the booking made, telephone solicitation began and the show, it seemed, was on. _ Similar scenarios took place in — Kitimat and Prince Rupert. In Kitimat, the Child Development _ Centre was the local charity and in Prince Rupert it was the Commun- ity Enrichment Society. Kitimat, like ‘Terrace, saw the show cancelled; the Prince Rupert group became suspicious and eventually Wednesday, December 19, 1990 Ripped off — booked the show themselves; a variety show did take place in that community last Sunday. None of the sponsors of the scheduled event in-any of the three Cities are talking about their recent experience with MacDonald, but there is one. message from a num- ber of other sources ‘that is very clear, Only the Kitimat CDC and Terrace White Cane Club were directly involved with MacDonald, and those two groups could use a litle sympathy. As far as our local group is con- cemed, Bradshaw puts it this way. A White Cane Club in our com- munity is needed; it is an impor- tant and much-needed self-support and consumers group that offers the visually impaired in our com- munity strength, companionship and recreation. Unfortunately, our local group, being new, failed to continued from page Al “) into MacDonald's activities of late follow the rules. The Canadian Council for the Blind should have been contacted for approval of a local fund raising campaign, but they were not. Bradshaw says he heard of the event after the fact and once telephone solicitation had met yun he could only offer warn- and hope: the: ‘Project. would collapse. it didn’t” "They were duped," says Brad- shaw, buf adds, "They're not. the only group in history that’s been hurt, and they're not going to be the last. So it’s not a disgrace... It’s just mighty embarrassing." . With this, Bradshaw says he hopes the local White Cane Club con- tinues to grow, and of one thing he is certain — if they do, they will certainly be much wiser. RCMP Corporal Slade of the Commercial Crime Division in Prince Rupert says an investigation 7 .. is underway but it may be some . time before any charges ate laid. First, it must be established that this was a planned effort to defraud the public, and that may take a "reasonable length of time". Slade says MacDonald was arrested in Prince Rupert and charged with theft,. but later released. This was for activilies related; but not directly, to the Prince. Rupert event. This may sound confusing, but an RCMP investigation is ongoing and at the present time police in the three communities ate pooling their evidence. Seniors seek bus shelter, sidewalk at Terraceview The Seniors Advisory Commis- sion to Terrace city council would like to sce a bus shelter and a proper sidewalk on the east side of North Sparks. If everything goes well they may get their wish. The bus stop there is used primarily by residents of Terracevicw Lodge and students. City council has decided to con- sider sidewalk construction from Stand out from the crowd. Be informed. _ Subscribe to your local local newspaper 4535 Greig Avenue, Terrace, B.C. V8G 1M7 O) Cheque Address Postal Code Phone Seniors in Terrace and District $30. 00 Seniors outside of Terrace and District $33.00 Subscription Order Form O 1 year — $39.00 C] Money Order Please send a subscription to: Name (3 Master Card Card No. Halliwell to the top of Skeenaview Drive in preliminary budget deliberations and has recom- mended that the Seniors Advisory Commission approach the Rotary club with a request for a bus shel- ter as a community service project. The Public Works Department is currently doing some cost esti- mates on the sidewalk construc- tion. é L] Visa Expiry Date Out of Canada $100.00 Mail or bring this form to: Terrace Review 4535 Greig Avenue, Terrace, B.C. V8G 1M7