The Times from Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada • 2

i i A3. TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 7. 1993 NANA MO TIMES. Harcourt brings hope but no money for McGirr prpjecf A Tf Premier Mike Harcourt wasn't handing out any money Friday when he visited Nanaimo.

But he did offer hope to the McGirr Sports Society by giving them the first application form for BC 21 Community Project funding. The society wants to build a multi-use sports facility to house four ball diamonds, three soccer fields, change rooms and a concession stand. That's the kind of project the $20 million BC 21 government program is aimed at, Harcourt said Friday in Nanaimo. The program will be available to local governments and non-profit organizations planning to build or renovate sports facilities and cultural facilities or public safety projects such a volunteer firefighter halls, Harcourt said at the Nanaimo launch to the program. The monies will be spread fairly across the whole province so all communities share in the benefits, he said.

The Community Projects program is part of the larger BC 21 Building Our Future Initiative aimed at expanding the province's economy for the 21st century. Kocher calling it quits Ti" sh. Nanaimo school board chairman Randi Kocher won't be running for re-election. And she's not planning to run for Nanaimo councillor or mayor either. "I'm going to take a rest," says Kocher, who has served on the school board five years.

After serving as board chairman for two years, Kocher says she thinks the next few years will bring new issues including possible boundary changes and movement to regional boards. "I don't believe the current relationships are working will in the province," she says. "I think we'll have to find a new way of doing business." While the board has faced financial and labor problems in the last couple of years, Kocher says on the whole she's found her five years in office "rewarding and enriching." ON A CLEAR DAY rhe students at Brechin elementary can Young and her classmate Matthew West are among some 250 almost see all the way to Ml. Benson thanks to a summer of kids looking forward to more modernized classrooms and facili- massive renovations giving the school some of the biggest and ties at the brand new wing at Townsife and Millstone, most numerous windows in the district. Grade 7 sfuaent Lisa rimpfiotobyDanaTy Back to books afr new look Brechin Pollution samples show Harmac making strides, says manager 'There's nothing in Nanaimo like it," Lochr sighs, noting a keyboard at the front door allows staff to control entry to and from the building, heating, lighting and ventilation.

The centralized system really reflects the new cohesiveness of the school, she says, which is designed to create better communication and co-ordination between a formerly sprawled set of buildings. Other improvements include an expanded office, a larger library with adjoining computer room and wheelchair accessibility throughout the school. Principal Arlene Scorer assures parents the summer-long project will be ready for repossession by students this week, as staff have busied themselves re-establishing teaching and administrative quarters over the past few weeks. For teachers like Lochr, the only drawback of the new school might be the long wail for its arrival. But Young tells a different story: "I think we got ripped off 'cos we only get to spend a year here." forward to using the new multipurpose room, adjacent to the office.

The extra space, which includes a full kitchen, can be used for things like after-school day care, she points but But for the older kids involved in student council and extracurricular activities, the room will be an ideal place to plan and hold meetings for students and staff. Just about everything is pipes in teacher Bonnie Lochr, enthusiastically. A six-year mainstay for the kindergarten class, Lochr says she can hardly wait to try out the new spacious classrooms. From a teacher's eye view, one of the best features is an expanded staff room, with private phone and separate nursing station. And she is particularly looking forward to at least one big, bright window in every classroom.

But the piece de resistance for Lochr a feature she makes sure West and Young direct visitors to is a "state of the art" security system. "We used to have to go to 'away games because the gyms were too Young says apologetically. "Now it'll be really good for the basketball team." She and West, both entering grade 7 next year, make a quick bee-line to the new gym as guides in a pre-arranged school tour. While Young notes he played basketball last year. West hopes to join basketball and volleyball now that the improved gym is in place.

"The floor has got springs underneath. So it bends a little bit," West explains. And that's good news for avid fans of Swedish dodge ball, like West. So is the fact the gym includes a dual set of spacious, private change rooms for the girls and guys considered a luxury from former years of donning learn uniforms in cramped washrooms. Both West and Young exclaim loudly as they show off the labyrinth of gym facilities.

Along with the new sport centre and plans to expand the outdoor field by spring Young is looking By DANA TYE The classroom of the future awaits just down the street for students of Brechin elementary. As teachers, principals and pupils return to crack the books at the corner of Townsite and Millstone streets today, they're bound to be daydreaming from a few more windows than usual. And newcomers may feel an extra spark of pride when they get a glimpse of the fresh-painted, modern shell replacing one of the district's oldest schools. First built in 1927, one half of the old Brechin school was torn down this July to make way for a new wing, while the rest received a heavy work over. The result? Open and airy digs that look more like a health spa than an educational institution.

For longtime students like Lisa Young, 12, and Matthew West, 13, the best part of S3.6 million worth of renovations and reconstruction is a brand new, gym. nouncement comes when Harmac is completing $125 million in effluent quality improvement projects. "Most he says, "Harmac started up an oxygen bleaching system in August and is currently in the final start up phases of a new secondary treatment facility." "Harmac now meets the tougher provincial government standards scheduled to come into effect at the end of 1995." Some of the projects include chlorine replacement, oxygen bleaching, water use reduction, improved stock washing, hydrogen peroxide systems, and biological treatment of effluent. Harmac general manager Roger Killin says MacMUlan Bloedel's efforts to reduce its impact on surrounding waters is demonstrated in major reductions of dioxin and furan levels in 1993 crab samples. And he's convinced the trend to expanded closures due to expanding areas of sampling will be reversed if dioxin and furan levels continue to dwindle.

Recently the Department of Fisheries and Oceans extended existing commercial crab fishery closures around Harmac by closing added areas to the south. One new closure extends, from Reynolds Point to and including' Kulleet Bay. Killin says it is ironic the an- HOME OF: 'stencils, faux finishing 'PRODUCTS, MELAMINE PAINT. FATHA K. TAYLOR 'WALL COVERINGS, BLOCKING QuTTQ AND PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, I (COUNSELLORHYPNOTHERAPisf) BASS DRUMS GUITAR 1 LEARN HOW TO Member Canadian Hypnosis Association FACILITATING PHYSICAL, MENTAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH ROCK! MINI COURSES, PRIVATE MSTRUCDON mm 1 754-6684 I SALES, SERVICE, REPAIRS 1722 BOWEN ROAD MUSIC STORE I hav dealt affectively with a wide variety of problem Including: Depression, Addiction (substance abuse smoking, drugs, drinking), Gambling, Weight Lose, Phobias, Anxiety, Stress, Confidence, Self Worth Esteem, Teeth Grinding (T.M.J.), Relationships Insomnia, Chronic Spinal Pain, Adult Childhood Physical, MentalEmotional Sexual Abuse, Chronic Headaches, Breathing Disorders Many Other Problems.

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