Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 7

The Edmonton Journal, Saturday, August 10 ,1996 A7 Letters EDITOR: John Brown, 429-5220; fax 498-5677 KBimdluke as keeps gdldlein) tocadh) City's original festival a beloved community party and important tourist draw IT JOHN BRACEGIRDLE ciations that also benefit financially from the festival include A Centre for Women, Beta Sigma Phi, Canadian First Aid School, Community Police Radio Network, Delta Gamma, Edmonton Fire Fighters Burn Treatment Society, ITC, Phi Gamma Delta and The Support Network. The Edmonton Klondike Days Association board and committees work year round to analyze, change and adapt to the changing market of the "90s, while remembering that many enjoy and even demand some of the traditional. I would not want to be the one to tell the seniors of our city and the young families who dress "Klondike" every year that it's time to mothball these traditions. Edmonton Klondike Days Association also recognizes, through its Edmonton Pride program, those citizens who through their efforts continue the sense of community and entrepreneurial spirit and bring positive attention to our city. Honorees this year included Francis Winspear, the students of Vernon Barford Junior High School, Daphne Kuhne and Don Sprague and the Organizing Committee of the World Figure Skating Championships among others.

Our organization is an integral part of this city and we will not pack up our tents and go away! Edmonton continues to become world renowned for the events it hosts including Klondike Days. It's time for you to catch the positive spirit that Edmontonians and visitors feel instead of writing negatively about our event in your well-read newspaper. John Bracegirdle is president of the Edmonton Klondike Days support Edmonton Klondike Days Association events with financial sponsorships and donations in kind. We even enjoy the sponsorship of The Edmonton Journal More businesses and shopping malls are getting involved in Klondike Days by booking entertainment or hosting pancake breakfasts. Named the Number One tourism event in Canada (the Atlanta Olympics was the Number One event in the United States) by the American Bus Association which brings in thousands of American tourists and their dollars, the Edmonton Klondike Days festival presents events on the streets of Edmonton how does this compare with Vancouver's Pacific National Exhibition, Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition or the Calgary Stampede? Is the appeal of the Calgary Stampede's event limited to rodeo and chuck-wagon fans; and the curious? Does it promise something for everyone? Klondike events often criticized such as the bathtub races, greased pole climb and beard growing contest continue year after year because people enjoy the light-heartedness.

This year, these events had more competitors than ever. Speaking of world class sporting events, I'd invite you to spend a day at the King of the Klondike this is a relentless test of endurance and to fail to mention it at the heart of this festival is to belittle the contestants who draw upon the last ounce of strength they have at the end of the day to compete in the last of a series of 11 difficult events. Did you check out this year's Klondike Kate? Edmonton recording artist Kennedy Jenson did us File photo Promenade fell in love with our city. This "motherlode" still exists today as Edmonton continues to welcome the world. In The Journal July 31, in an article entitled "Hotels hit the jackpot," Klondike Days, with an economic impact of $60 million is listed as one of the top 10 events! Yes, some might think that the theme is tired but I would suggest that so is the annual criticism of a 10-day long free-admission event that has been a beloved community party and important tourist attractions for over 30 years.

Edmonton Klondike Days Association produces Edmonton's original festival and employs over 100 local people and utilizes over 700 volunteers annually. This doesn't even take into account the over 30 professional and amateur entertainment groups contracted each year. Asso Hospital lacking basic equipment Recently, I accompanied a friend to the University Hospital where she had an appointment for a CT scan. Her appointment was for 3 o'clock and her name was called at 6:30. The length of the wait is not the story.

During the three-and-one-half hour wait, we heard a message repeated over the intercom three times. A plea was going out from the emergency department asking any unit that might have an extra infusion pump to send it to emergency as soon as possible. An acquaintance, who is a registered nurse, later explained to me Edmonton You have stated "Clearly, Klondike Days' day has passed." call at Sourdough Saloon," editorial. Aug. 2.) I can't help but wonder which events produced by the Edmonton Klondike Days Association you attended during the 1996 festival.

What's in a name? At each of the 61 events, there were a number of Edmontonians and tourists alike dressed either in Klondike traditional or casual attire. Not all Edmontonians want to "doff the frillies" for the entire 10 days. One needs only to attend GUEST COLUMN such events as the parade. Dress Klondike Tea Party, Sunday Promenade, the Mayor's Luncheon and the Uncles At Large's Cheechako Breakfast to see a kaleidoscope of period dress and people enjoying themselves. You even see the "virtually non-existent" Klondike spirit at the less publicized events like the seniors touring shows that bring Klondike Days to those who can 't get out as easily as some of us.

The success of this civic festival is not dependent upon how many dress the dress or decorate but indeed on how many Edmontonians and tourists enjoy themselves. Grants from the City of Edmonton totaled $140,000 in 1996. The Edmonton Klondike Days Association budget was $1.2 million. This contradicts the comments that "Business support is limited to finger-paintings of Klondike Mike on plate glass windows." Edmonton businesses strongly Ludicrous to rule out spanking As a parent of a grown-up child and an eight and five-year-old, I was wondering whether Joan Durant, the professor at the University of Manitoba, simply theorizes or actually has parenting experience smack, thwack sounds of spanking fade," Journal, Aug. 3).

To suggest that children never need a spanking or that spanking is harmful is ludicrous. I feared my Dad's spanking enough that I wouldn't even dare to touch drugs, even though they were around in school. As a parent of extremely well behaved kids everybody who has ever come in contact with my kids comments on their fine behavior I would like to add my expert opinion to the subject. My children are not really my children, they belong to God. God gave us the privilege to raise our kids.

It is my wife's and my responsibility to raise God fearing, law-abiding citizens. God gave us the authority to teach our kids right from wrong, as well as he holds us to account if we fail to do the job. My kids know that we have the duty to teach right from wrong to them. I also have God's authority to correct their misbehavior. That correction includes spanking on the behind.

I always tell them after that I really don't enjoy spanking them, but that I am responsible to God for having well behaved kids. The nice thing about it, it is over in a few minutes and all is forgotten. In fact if parents have control of their children, spanking is so rare it should not be an issue. The real issue is are the kids controlling the parents or do the par- Dutch band welcomed Celebrating the liberation of Sneek, The Netherlands, in April last year, together with some 30 or 40 of our liberators belonging to the Canadian Perth Regiment, the vice-president of Advendo met Joe Koop-mans from Edmonton (born in Sneek), who also attended that meeting. When Koopmans heard that the Advendo Marching Showband intended to visit the Calgary Stampede in July, he invited the band to come to Edmonton as well.

This resulted in a visit of Advendo with the Dutch Canadian Club in Edmonton from July 12-14. This visit was a great success. Due to Koopmans' efforts (and those of the Dutch-Canadian Club) the 63 Dutchmen were housed with members of the club. On July 13 the band gave two short concerts in the impressive West Edmonton Mall. The band also gave performances on the square in front of the Dutch Canadian Club.

Thank you Edmonton, Dutch Canadian Club and Joe Koopmans. Coen Dijkstra Manager Advendo Marching Showband Sneek, The Netherlands Lies' statement retracted Franchuk family at this year's Sunday proud by smoothly blending the old with the new. Sir Winston Churchill Square was crowded with people as she "jammed" with The Joes and The Howlers. Her jazz offerings were touching as they filled the evening air in downtown Edmonton and as she sang Ma Rinky Dinky Do" for the children on Monday Morning Magic, I'm sure no one was bored by her Klondike attire. Klondike Kate is also booked year round for corporate functions, conventions and civic events.

In 1890, Edmonton merchants welcomed prospectors from around the globe and became the prime suppliers for the overland route to the Klondike. Initially attracted by the gold, some of the Victorian entrepreneurs discovered another "motherlode" and or challenge your authority when swift corrective action is needed; at that time the time for reasoning is over. E.A. Preisinger St. Albert Transit System.

While each rider would pay a lesser and more reasonable fare, a substantial increase in overall ridership would actually expand ETS coffers. ETS would be enabled to maintain or increase their service, reduce air pollution and road maintenance costs while providing low and middle income taxpayers with an adequate public transport system. Estelle V. Masur Edmonton TOLPYOU? Y0UTHRE6 EMAILS ABOUT IT UHATT EVEN that an infusion pump is a device which permits a patient to receive medications such as pain killers and antibiotics intravenously. She added that given today's state of affairs, any unit fortunate enough to have a spare infusion pump would guard it carefully because it could be needed at any time.

Is the province really in such des perate financial difficulty that it cannot provide basic hospital supplies? Who is accountable for providing hospital staffs with the tools to do their jobs? L.M. Thibeault Edmonton The debate on the issue will undoubtedly be ongoing. I respect the right of Jones to his opinions, as I trust he respects my rights to my opinions. It was improper of me to attribute malicious motives to Jones and the Western Canadian Wilderness Committee in my letter which was intended to highlight certain factual aspects of the debate from my perspective. I also wish to express that the words used by me in the letter for which I am apologizing were solely of my own writing and were not reflective of the position of the Alberta Fish Game Association towards Jones and the committee.

Andy von Busse Edmonton Guest columns are welcome Do you have something to Is there an issue you want to address, an experience you want to relate? The Journal welcomes Guest Column submissions. Columns can address any topic, and should be approximately 700 words. Please send submissions to Guest Column, Box 2421, Edmonton, AB T5J2S6; fax 498-5677; or e-mail (ASCII-text only) to. lettersthejournal.southam.ca. Height rule changed? With reference to the account of the latest graduating class of fire: fighters (Journal, July 20), it was interesting to note the comment "Some short, some tall etc." When my son attempted to become a firefighter in the early 1990s he was told that at 6'3" he exceeded the maximum height standards.

It was explained that for reasons of efficiency in handling equipment and for safety it was deemed desirable that there should not be too great a disparity between minimum and maximum heights. Seemed reasonable at the time but now that regulation doesn't appear to pertain. I wonder why. J.D. Hanna Edmonton ents control the kids? Teaching discipline does not mean you should exasperate your children.

Allow your children to make mistakes, break dishes, or spill milk. It is when they wilfully disobey I am writing in response to a letter I originally wrote to you and which was published July 13 under the heading "Poaching not major cause of grizzly population concern." I referred to the Western Canadian Wilderness Committee and its executive Gray Jones as spreading "lies, deceit and misinformation" regarding the grizzly bear population issue. I unreservedly retract that statement and wish to apologize to the Western Canadian Wilderness Committee and Jones for the use of these terms. They were inappropriate and I should not have used them. Jones and I obviously have a difference of opinion on certain aspects of the grizzly bear issue.

Tank soldier called I am responding to the Aug. 1 letter from Major Jack Burns, in which he explained that the gun on the military tank in the Klondike Days Parade was actually in a "salute," rather than threatening position. I was watching the parade in front of Eaton Centre. Burns might be surprised to know that the person manning the gun in the tank swiveled the gun towards the crowd and called out "Fire!" This was likely his idea of a joke, but no one in the crowd around me laughed. Irresponsible, inappropriate and shameful are three words to describe this episode words that are increasingly being used in other news stories about the actions of our military personnel.

Judy Hutchinson St. Albert BY GARRY TRUDEAU BETTER. lose These A Lower fares, more ETS riders As an Edmonton senior who is almost solely dependent on Edmonton Transit for travel within the city I am much concerned about the future of the bus service. However, I see a glimmer of hope after reading in The Journal July 5 of the success that WestJet Airlines is enjoying after reducing fares and offering better service. Their rider-ship has almost doubled and their profits increased.

Surely there is a lesson to be learned here. Greater ridership and decreased fares would work for the Edmonton Doonesbury ue HAP one. NO. YOUNE-VBR AC' BUT YOUOOUIPVB WLPMB. UJHATHAP-P5N5PT00UR VIRTUAL RELATIONSHIP? ARcALONB, THAT SO UN- 1 5- 11.