by Michael Kelly
TERRACE — A pro-
posal to re-open the rac-

quetball courts at North--

west Community College
(NWCC) has stalled over
a question of union
seniority.

Brock Waldron, a for-
mer employee of the Ter-
race and District Rac-
quetball Association,
met with NWCC bursar
Geoff Harris and British
Columbia Government
Employees Union
(BCGEV) representative
Dave McKinnon on Dec.
31 to discuss taking over
operation of the facility.

McKinnon is suggest-
ing seasonal operation of
the courts, limited hours,
continuation of the
BCGEU collective agree-
ment and a repayment
schedule for the $17,000
attachment on the facili-

ty which was awarded to

the BCGEU by the
Labor Relations Board
in August of 1985.

In. an interview on
Jan. 4, Waldron stated

‘16 Terrace Review — Wednesday, Jan. 8, 1986

Racquetball remains in |

that he agreed in princi-

ple with McKinnon’s |

suggestions put forward
including repayment of
the debt.

However, he said that
no agreement had been
reached because the
BCGEU refused to guar-
antee that Waldron will
be able to work at the
courts if he takes over
the operation.

Waldron worked at
the racquetball courts as
non-union staff for the
Terrace and District Rac-
quetball Association.

The association oper-
ated the courts for a
period prior to Aug. 26,
1985, when the Labor
Relations Board award-
ed $17,000 in damages
and back wages to the
BCGEU under the terms
of the original collective
agreement with the col-
lege.

When the courts
closed, the union was
granted successor rights,
and anyone who re-
opens the facility must

also assume the debt at-
tached to it.

Waldron said that he
was told by McKinnon at
the meeting that he is
fifth on the BCGEU
seniority list. Waldron
indicated puzziement on

this count, stating, ‘‘l -

don’t pay dues, I
shouldn’t be a member
of the union. I don’t
understand how I can
have seniority.

‘‘When I asked Dave
(McKinnon),”” he con-
tinued, “if I could con-
tact the people ahead of
me on the list regarding
whether or not they were
interested in the job, he

told me that if I did (con-

tact them) I would legal-
ly become successor and
have to assume the debt.

‘“‘?m willing to open
the racquetball courts
tomorrow if I know the
others on the list aren’t
interested in the job, but
I’d be foolish to commit
myself to a $17,000 debt
without knowing for

sure if I’d be able to
work there.”

In response to Wal-
dron’s comments,
McKinnon stated,
‘‘Rither he takes it over

-or he doesn’t. Once he

picks up the key and
opens the lock, he’s:the
successor. The law does
the rest.”

Geoff Harris; NWCC
bursar, indicated that the
college is simply in the
position of lessor for the
courts,

He suggested that the
lease terms are nego-
tiable.

‘‘We are prepared to
reach any accommoda-
tion agreeable to
everyone involved, pro-
vided there is a bit of
revenue for the college.
We would be delighted’
to have the facility re-
opened,”’ he said.

McKinnon’s proposal
adds further to an
already confused issue
by leveling a series of
personal accusations at

New housing displayed

by Michael Kelly

Completion of the
latest phase in housing
improvement on the
Kulspai Reserve in
Thornhill was marked by
a recent open house on
the reserve.

Five families in the
Kitselas band were to
move into new homes be-
fore Christmas.

Kitselas Band manager
Jack Beck pointed out
that although the reserve
provides building lots for
band members, the in-
dividual families occupy-
ing the homes are
responsible for paying
the costs of building.

Funding for mort-
gages was made available

by the Canadian Mort-
gage and Housing Cor-
poration through its
Social Housing Plan.

Beck reflected that the
project had not been free
of difficulties, referring
in part to defects in the
contracted architectural
plans.

Some of the design
problems did noi become
apparent until well into
construction, -requiring
costly on-site improvisa-.
tions to bring the struc-
tures into line with
CMHC standards.

Two weeks of severe
cold in November caused
additional complica-
tions. Beck commented
that some of the con-

“Enterprise incubators”

“The concept is ex-
cellent,’? said Terrace
Economic Advisory
Commission (TEAC)
chairman Bob Park of a
proposal presented by
Alderman Bob Jackman.

Jackman attended a
Prince George confer-
ence where the idea of
“‘enterprise incubators”
was discussed. He, in
turn, presented it to

TEAC.

An ‘“‘incubator’’ is
part shopping mall, part
co-op and part con-
sultative service for
beginning businessmen.

In it, businesses are
given a very low rent and
share a central pool of
such services as photo-
copying, bookkeeping,
buying and marketing.

Park said it would

enable many people who

now operate businesses
out of their basements to
expand faster and in a
more controlled manner.

He said it was not a
government project, but
rather one the private
sector would have to
start.

Jackman said he
already has a list of
about 30 types of
businesses the concept
could suit including a
recording studio, a safe-
ty supply store and
ethnic food catering.

He also visualized a
couple of highschool
computer wizards estab-
lishing an overall data
base for Terrace in the
incubator.

He added a core group
could also act as con-
sultants to the businesses
trying to get started.

struction hands acquired
a certain expertise at

. “pouring concrete with a

torch.”

The featured exhibit in
the open-house tour was
the house built for Reg
Bennet and his family.

Bennet, a quadriplegic
for the past seven years,
is confined to a specially-
designed wheelchair
which he controls by
movements of his head
and neck,

The house is designed
to accommodate his re-
quirements and_incor-
porates wide hallways,
spacious living areas and
access to the outside
through broad sliding-

discussed

One representative of
the Chamber of Com-
merce is already in-
terested, said Jackman,
but the concept conflicts
with some government
funding programs for
small businesses already
in place.

“Tt might fly asa free
enterprise arrange-
ment,’’ he said.

Both Park and Jack-
man said those interested
in the project could con-
tact TEAC, which would
in turn be in contact with
people who could offer
further assistance.

Jackman said he has
aiso put forth a motion
to council to place more
emphasis on commerical
development and not re-
ly exculsively on tourism
in its development think-
ing.

glass doors in three of
the rooms.

Concrete ramps and
pathways will be poured
around the perimeter of
the house in the spring.

“If we’d known about
it, we could have install-
ed breath-activated swit-
ches for opening the
doors and answering the
telephone,’”’ Beck said,
‘*but we didn’t find out
about them until it was
too late to include them
in the structure. We
made some mistakes...
we're still learning.”’

The general contractor

roject was | |
for the projec CUUUUUUUUCUEEDECUOUSG BURGE CSOGHONNOTOQRUNOTDIQUEG

Lakeridge Contracting
of Kelowna, B.C.
Company proprietor
Bill Logan stated that
approximately 60 per-
cent of the sub-trade
work was awarded to
local contractors and
more than half of the
materials were purchased
in the Terrace area,
Beck indicated that the
Kelowna firm had come
in $25 per square foot

lower than any other.

valid bid on the tendered
contract.

Plywood and kiln-
dried spruce framing
lumber were purchased
from Okanagan com-
panies for the same
reason.

Future projects for the
Kitselas Band include the
restoration of historic
sites in the Kitselas Can-
yon, near the confluence
of Kleanza Creek and the
Skeena River, and the
launching of a salmonid
enhancement program.

Both works are slated
to begin in 1986.

Dr. “Val George, presi-
dent of the NWCC
board.

George replied to these
allegations in an inter-
view on Jan. 4.

“T’ve no idea what
he’s talking about — the
information is complete-
ly incorrect,’? George
said. “‘The initial interest
in racquet sports was ex-
pressed by the students.
The original five-year
plan at the college called
for a full gymnasium.
However, when it be-
came obvious that fun-

imbo

consulted and one of the
sports they opted for was
racquetball,

‘*As for the communi-
ty recreation plan, it was
apparent from the begin-

hing that a racquetball

court was not in the
works. The facility was
approved by the whole
college community and I
had very little involve-
ment in it.’

In the mean time,
racquetball equipment
gathers dust in closets all
over Terrace, and a
$100,000 sports facility

ding would not allow for stands locked’ and
that, the students were unusable.
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