The Chilliwack Progress from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada • Page 1

detoall merchants bosk ireflnoveono'Sooin pDao "I think you have done a tremendous job and I just hoie that the plans keep moving ahead." That comment by businessman Bill Clark summed up the attitudes of 17 other merchants in attendance when members of the Chilliwack Retail Merchants' Association re-affirmed support of the proposed downtown rejuvenation program. At a meeting held Tuesday morning, merchants in attendance unanimously approved a motion calling for the association's further support of city council and the Advisory Planning Commission in efforts to "make Chilliwack a more attractive place to shop." Ross Belsher, chairman of the association, told members, "in the past year we have had nothing but co-operation from city council and I anticipate the same support next year. However, I believe We should re-affirm our position and let the council know that we support the basic program which has been proposed." Norm Williams, chairman of the reactivated Advis for Young Street and Victoria Avenue; and other improvements in the form of additional traffic signs and identifications, renovations to store fronts, sidewalk canopies and renovations of rear access to businesses. Concerning the planned arcade for the old post office property. Mr Williams said, "it would be the salvation for businesses in that end of the city." Discussion turned to the subject of a 45 cent assessment on each foot of frontage for businesses in the core area.

Mr. Williams said the assessment will help pay for the drawing up of a general improvement scheme and also demonstrates to city council that the merchants do support the rejuvenation program. Assessment notices have been sent out for about 6,000 feet of frontage space. Mr. Williams, Tom Gieg and Rod Cooper all indicated that merchants they have talked to support the concept.

Both Mr. Williams and Mr. Cooper said that they have not had any refusals concerning the assessment from local businesses in a position to pay. Mr. Gieg said ory Planning Commission, reviewed the proposed improvements for IU7J and pointed out "it is really up to us (the merchants) to carry the ball.

We have come up with the feeling that as far as this is concerned, there is no Santa Claus. However we can accomplish a lot if we work together." Will delay new shopping centre Downtown rejuvenation would, he said, help delay the arrival of a new shopping centre until the population of the area grows to the point where "there could be proper support" of the core area and a new shopping centre. Proposed implementation schedule for 1971 sets out the following priorities: provision of surface parking on property bordering on Young Street and Victoria Avenue; initial work on a proposedparkade for the corner of Main Street and Princess Avenue; possible starting of a "test mall" on Mill Street between Victoria Avenue and Wellington Avenue; provision of an arcade to link Yale Road East shopping area with the planned parking area that in the two areas which he is covering he has had only two refusals and indicated "I would say the support is about 90 per cent." Possibly plebiscite in 1971 Mr. Belsher pointed out that because of the cost of some of the proposals, the city will probably have to go to a plebiscite sometime in 1971. Alderman Vic Padgham pointed out that the city has an option on some property and that time is running out.

"Council really wants to know if you (merchants) support the proposals." Conversation turned to the matter of who would benefit by downtown rejuvenation and the and Mr. Cooper said, "if someone parks in the parkade there is a reasonably good chance he will eventually come into my store but. if he parks in Southgate, I have no chance at all of getting his business." Meeting closed with approval of a motion proposed by Mr. Clark and seconded by Mrs. J.

J. King. 38 PAGES EIGHTIETH YEAR, NO. 38 THE CHILLIWACK PROGRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1970 Unmrnn ille ro tnrntmn More money for centennial museum? jam Kiernan offers ray of hope for museum site purchase 1 WW At Hon. W.

K. Kiernan, MLA for Chilliwack and minister for Chilliwack and minister of recreation and conservation, yesterday offered a ray of hope that the government might help with the acquisition of the Acton Kilby store, grounds and museum at Harrison Mills as an historic site. During on the spot discussions with civic officials and representatives of interested groups, he ruled out the Attention drinkers! 15c PER COPY possibility of his department buvine the DroDertv and de- buying the property and de veloping it. He also dampened hopes that the British Columbia Historic Sites Restoration Committee, which has developed Barkerville, Fort Steele, and now Fort St. James would undertake the project.

But at the prompting of Dewdney MLA George Mus-sallem, he said he would be added "we are pleased with the way people have deported themselves." On the less positive side, however, he noted that so far during the Christmas season, 60 people have died in traffic accidents across Canada. Chilliwack stands to gain a possible $3,200 more for its Centennial '71 museum project than was originally calculated, as a result of some sharp pencil woik by the project sub committee. Ellesmere Hugh, chairman of the sub committee, said Tuesday that he has received word from Victoria that the provincial Centennial '71 committee has accepted a Chilliwack proposal that population figures be adjusted upwards. He said that the initial application was accompanied by a city township population computation of 28,751. That calculation was based en 1966 census figures and had not allowed for approximately two per cent population growth which the area has experienced, said Mr.

Hugh. In the letter from Victoria L. J. Wallace, provincial centennial chairman told Mr. Hugh that a new population calculation of an even 30,000 will be allowed.

Mr. Hugh said that the extra provincial and federal prepared to offer support at cabinet level if an application were made to the provincial secretary for a $20,000 "once-in-a-lifetime" grant. If the store could be preserved for historical purposes, Mr. Kilby is reportedly ready to sell it, along with his museum collection and more than four acres of land at the site, for around Mr. Mussallem suggested that the remaining $10,000 could be raised in the local area through local councils, chambers of commerce and the regional district.

"It would be of untold value," said Mr. Mussallem "and with Ken Kiernan's support, we can't miss." Part of the Kilby store was built in 1904 and part in 1906. At one time it was a hotel. Nearby was the landing point for river streamers crossing over from Chilliwack. The area was on the original route through to the Cariboo gold fields before the Fraser Canyon Road was built.

Watch those 'doubles' warns RCMP officer Community worker Mrs. Conboy dies is 10 years the provincial government has increased the number of jobs by more than double the rate of the population increase. MLA for the Chilliwack riding, Hon. Kenneth Kiernan, told The Progress: "As I THE WEATHER H. M.

Eddie Sons Nursery, Vedder Canal money which could be available is contingent on township and city putting approximately $400 each more into the project. Total amount available under the old calculation was $74,753, noted Mr. Hugh. He added that with the new figure, senior and municipal governments would contribute a total of $78,000. Concluded the project chair-, man, "When we mentioned the idea of the availability of funds if the councils and the provincial committee approved, both mayors appeared amenable to bringing the matter before their councils." Review 1970 Special feature i this week's issue of The Progress can be found on pages 1.

3 and 4 of section B. The feature deals with a detailed review of 1970. First seven months of the year are reviewed this week and the final five months will be reviewed in the next issue. of Women Mrs. Conboy helped the local council in a study leading to a resolution on laws for women.

This was endorsed by the Provincial Council of Women and was presented on their behalf to the British Columbia cabinet by Mrs. Conboy. The result was a change in the law giving the wife rights in the home property. This was a step forward and brought women's rights in British Columbia to those given by the laws of the other provinces. Mrs.

Conboy was born on June 8, 1896, in North Dakota. Rev. R. W. Bray officiated at the funeral service Monday in Chilliwack United Church assisted by Rev.

Weldon Holland. Henderson's Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Cremation followed. Honorary pallbearers were Murray Smith, William Nickel, Murdoch Maclachlan, Eric Brolin, Johan Erickson and Henry Pickering. Mrs.

Conboy is survived by her husband Melvin; one sister. Mrs. W. R. (Myrtle) Thomas, Vancouver; six brothers, Floyd Young, Kinley, Saskatchewan; Elmer Young, Edmonton; Howard and Frank Young, Perdue, Saskatchewan; Milton Young.

Nipa-win, Saskatchewan; Walter Young, Sunset House, 'KING FISHERMAN' WALT ENGLE and his eight-year-old son Bobby display the prizes he won in the 34th annual Vedder River Steelhead Derby. Walt won the title with a 38l2 inch steelhead which weighed just over 21 pounds. Cash and merchandise won by the Kingfisherman was in excess of $100. Bennett announces start on Trans-Canada widening Two "doubles" of rye consumed within an hour by a 175 pound man is virtually certain to make that man liable to heavv fine and license suspension if he gets behind the wheel cf a car. That warning came Tuesday from an RCMP spokesman who told The Progress "although we want everyene to enjoy themselves to the full during the festive season, we must remind the public of the tragedies which result from over-indulgence." Spokesman noted that a person who has reached the .08 alcohol level in liquor consumption will take six hours to completely clear his system.

He noted that both city and township police will have extra roadblocks out over New Year's Eve and day. In addition there will be extra men on traffic detail, he said. "There is not the slightest doubt that the compulsory breath laws (introduced iut before Christmas in 1969) have reduced the amount cf driving under the influence bv people in the Chilliwack area," said the spokesman. He Watch, rings stolen One watch and 24 rings, valued at a total of $780 were taken in a "smash and grab" theft from Wellington Jewellers, 5 Wellington Avenue at about midnight Tuesday. Police said the theft is still under investigation.

Incident occurred when a window in the store was smashed and the valuables taken from the display area. Meanwhile, city police also reported an overnight break-in at Fischer's Drug Store, 139 Main Street. No further details on the incident were available at press time. Barrister and solicitor and former solicitor for the City of Chilliwack, Mrs. Iva Zella Young Conboy, 9475 Windsor Street, died December 23 in Chilliwack General Hospital following a lengthy illness.

A resident of the area for 26 years Mrs. Conboy took an active role in the community. She was a member and past president of Chilliwack Soroptimist Club, member of sessions of Chilliwack United Church, Chilliwack Council of Women, Chilliwack and District Chamber of Commerce, Law Society of British Columbia and a former Liberal candidate for the British Columbia legislature. As the laws convener during 1946-1947 for the Council MRS. I.

Z. CONBOY Norman Studios photo. understand the situation, the contract is for some of the areas that are capable of being widened without disrupting the flow through of traffic. It is not all-inclusive from Bridal Falls to Hope." He added that in his discussions with engineers, they have emphasized the need for re-routing traffic over the future Haig Highway while certain sections of the Trans-Canada are widened. "They said there was no way that, in rock bluff areas, we could keep traffic moving while the highway is being rebuilt you would have to take the alternate route." Work on the present Haig Highway contract is expected to be finished by the end of 1971.

Mr. Kiernan said some land purchase and engineering remain to be done on the Trans-Canada route between Bridal Falls and Hope. Unexpectedly early start on the widening of the Trans-Canada Highway between Bridal Falls and Hope was promised in an announcement last week by Premier W. A. C.

Bennett. It is one of two highway projects to receive top priority in a provincial government move to ease unemployment. Department of Highways spokesman confirmed yesterday that a contract to widen a 4.97 mile section between Jones Creek and Hunter Creek is expected to be called sometime in January. Provincial government, he raid, would be carrying out these projects along with many others, in highways, schools, hospitals and Pacific Great Eastern railway construction. While agreeing that unemployment is "quite bad." he commented that in the past Max.

Min. Prec. Wednesday 31 28 .07 (7.5" snow) Thursday 32 31 tr. Friday 37 24 Saturday 36 31 .35 1.9" snow) Sunday 41 35 .02 Monday 41 35 .47 Tuesday 46 32 1.32 (4" snow) Total precipitation in inches 2.23 FOR MR. AND MRS.

GARRY OSADCHUK of Airport Road, Chilliwack, the best Christmas present they could have received is the infant son Mrs. Osadchuk is cuddling in her arms. Jason William weighed eight pounds, four ounces when he was born at 11:55 a.m. on Christmas Day in Chilliwack General Hospital. Second baby born on December 25 was a daughter to Mr.

and Mrs. Donald Harnish at 10:52 p.m. On Boxing Day five babies arrived at the hospital..