Page 2 Wednesday, October 27, 1976 An expensive dinner By GEORGE MANNING It was my middle brother Donald’s idea. Our father and his three sons had never hunted together — although at one time or another, we’d all spent varying amounts of time in search of the elusive bird. Father could claim more than 50 years of experience, Donald had fired a gun once or twice, baby brother Peter and I were ranged somewhere in between. We’d meet in Leader, Saskatchewan, Donald decided — and in the series of comic letters that passed back and forth through September, he promised good hunting excellent food and adequate refreshment. It’s to his credit that he delivered onthe latter two. All of us can trace our origins to the icebox that’s the Prairies, but we’d left more than 10 years ago. Except in summer, [’d_ wisely never returned.. But Donald and Peter had permanently. One to Brandon, Manitoba, the other to Medicine Hat. Leader, they claimed, was sort of central to us all (neither is particularly good at determining direction or distance). We had reservations in the Leader Hotel — right in the middle of beautiful downtown Leader — 60 rooms at $7 and $8 a night, each with a sink. Two bathtubs serve the 50 grimy hunters who can be found there at any one time from late September to mid- October. It brought back memories. (It’s amazing how much you can forget if you try hard enough.) Fifteen and 20 years ago I used to frequent such places regularly in the fall, and the look and the smell brought instant recall. And I’d forgotten, too, the flat and the dust and the bitter, biting cold. It was only minus 5 Celsius, the locals said, practically still summer. But at 6 a.m., standing on the bald prairie contemplating a _ grey clay goose pit ( a sort of torture hole in the ground, designed so your back hurts, your knees are driven into sharp clay clods and your feet freeze), I remembered: clearly why I’d left my ancestral home and journeyed west. We settled in. We settled in three mornings in a row, each colder than the last. And we watched the great Canada geese rising off a hugh slough two miles away. There were sets of pits in every direction, hunters heads could be seen in the murky dawn peering up from among their decoys. And we watched the geese climbing into the cold grey sky. And climbing, and climbing. They swung low over hunters in the next field; one fell, then another. They climbed higher and swung in our direction. THE REVIEW. ~ AMATEUR GOOSE HUNTERS tried almost any technique to allay the birds’ suspicion, including pretending they were just. out for an afternoon drive. All morning for three mornings they flew over us — in bunches of three or a dozen, flocks numbering in the hundreds and the occasional flight of 1,000 or more. Their cackling, when my head was down — hardly breathing for fear they’d swing away — sounded right on top of my neck. But a quick glance as they departed showed only small specks with. flapping wings, far beyond the range our guns could reach. Somehow it didn’t matter. I hadn’t fired a shot in anger in nearly a dozen years, and I wasn’t sure I could, or would. The company was good, I had ample opportunity to talk about the flowers © still blooming in my garden — and the cold helped me decide once and for all that Langford’s a fine place to winter, rain and all. It wasn’t a complete bust, however. We did get one bird. It was a small Hungarian partridge, and it became a community effort. Father saw it, Peter shot it, Donald claimed he’d shot it first and I got to retrieve it. Graciously, we agreed Donald could take it home. After all, the trip was his idea. He was the first one to decide we could have a good time, and fill our larders for the winter at the same time. On the planehome | added it up. Sometime this winter, Donald and his wife will grace their table with $2 worth of vegetables, a $4 bottle of wine — and a $750 partridge. ANOTHER READER REMINDER Subscribe now to the Sidney Review. Subscription fee is $6 _ ber year, $5 for pensioners. Will Curling Rink Be Included In Rec Centre? The possibility that a curling rink may be included in the proposed recreation complex was discussed at North Saanich council Monday. A letter from Central Saanich Mayor Jean Butler prompted council members to question ‘exactly what the status of the facility will be and how much money it will ‘cost the taxpayers. Mayor Paul Grieve felt council should go for ‘‘the biggest centre under three councils.’’ The letter from Butler informed North Saanich of a resolution passed by Central Saanich council earlier this _ month _ that stated council_ 4 Tht te eh LE po Pa fa TS gt CEE ae eee would take ‘‘positive steps’’ to participate in the cost sharing of North Saanich and Sidney recreational facility as approved by the’ two municipalities in last month’s referendum. Central Saanich will hold a similar referendum to rejoin the other municipalities on a tri-municipal basis on November 20. , The letter stated the Central Saanich referendum would include only conditions for a swimming pool and an ice rink and made no mention of a curling rink. . “The question is, do you’ want them to change it,” Grieve said, ‘‘I think curling -has to be. added to get the Central Saanich referendum passed.”’ The mayor said if you took the cost of the scaled-down _ version of the centre which is approximately $1.3 million, added the cost of acurling rink to it and divided it by three, the debt would be no. greater than it would be if North Saanich and Sidney build a swimming pool and skating rink. CURLING RINK “It’s premature to go for the curling rink at this time,’’ Ald. Eric Sherwood said. He felt municipal ratepayers wanted the pool and skating tink, as indicated by a survey last year, and that should be the main concern right now. Ald. George Westwood agreed. ‘““We’ve got a moral obligation to go along with an ice rink and a swimming pool and that’s all,’ he said, ‘‘we can’t change horses in mid- stream,”’ Central Saanich also agreed to off-site service. costs, under the same formula as agreed to by Sidney and North Saanich. Off-site costs were estimated at $49,000 for each municipality earlier this year, but Grieve said there was no way of knowing if these estimates would be valid by the time work is completed. The letter from Central Saanich was asking’ for a break down of these costs for the purpose of _Preparing. a newsletter for municipal residents’ prior to the referendum. : OFF-SITE WORK However, subsequent costs for improvements to off-site work were not agreed to by Central Saanich and would be the responsibility of North Saanich, since the facility is located within its boundaries. Councillors wanted a more Security. Income. And flexibility. No wonder they’re Canada’s most popular For over 30 years Canada Savings Bonds have been the most popular investment in Canada. iterally millions of Canadians have Flexibility. investment. ‘ch veritatis Winget ns garemibaavanatrtaibenntonievt niet ibe fy hyo mined bz Mesto Neate ana re ane atch gle in eA tea tt Two Kinds. | Saanich. ‘‘open-ended agreement’’ to ensure safety of access to the centre. Council decided to wait until they could meet with Sidney council to discuss the feeling of both municipalities before taking any action on the letter. Grieve stated he felt strongly about the curling rink being included in the complex if Central Saanich is to join the northern peninsula effort. “We have to get all the municipalities on one track,’’ che said, and without” the addition of a curling rink, the Teferendum will fail in Central 4TH ANNUAL HOBBY SHOW TO BE HELD The 4th Annual Hobby Show, sponsored by the North & South Saanich Agricultural Society, will be held in the Agricultural Grounds at Saanichton, Saturday, November 6th and Sunday, November 7th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The best of last year’s hobbyists will be back, along with 17 new ones. There will also be a Puppet Show to entertain the children. There will be ceramics, painting, weaving and spinning, leatherwork, dried fruit, sand casting and much more. Expert carvers will demonstrate the art as will the makers of stained glass, violins, fine jewellery etc. For the first time, - the Pioneer Society and the Artifacts Museums will be open during the show. Please support your local crafts, you will enjoy it. Along with the hobbyists, JOBS SECURE. FOR WATER BOARD EMPLOYEES Employees of water districts will be hired by the municipalities when responsibilities for water distribution are transfered. In a letter from MLA Hugh Curtis, North Saanich council learned that workers in Deep Cove waterworks District who will be rehired by the municipality on January 1. Curtis was replying to what he called ‘‘apprehension on the part of those concerned’’ when he stated the municipality must hire all full or part-time employees of the water district without loss of renumeration or seniority. Ald. George. Westwood, chairman of the water committee, told council meetings with Deep Cove District administration were going well. When news happens in your home or on your block, call the Review news department. A community newspaper depends in part on its readers to be its eyes and ears. there will also be a sale of | elephants”’. Christmas gifts and Refreshments — will decorations and ‘‘white | available both days. make a beautiful gift What better Christmas gift than to share your province with your friends? ‘Beautiful British Columbia’ will say “hello” four times a year—each issue filled with beautiful full colour pictures and articles about your own British Columbia. ORDER NOW! A one year subscription (4 issues) is a modest $3.00. Order now so we'll have time to announce your gifts to the recipients before Christmas. Gift subscriptions start with the 1976 Winter Issue. SPECIAL BONUS Each gift subscription recipient will receive free a 1977 ‘Beautiful British Columbia’ scenic Calendar diary, containing 13 colour pictures of B.C. If you're not already receiving ‘Beautiful British Columbia’ magazine yourself—subscribe now. .. you'll find its a most enjoyable way to get to know your own province better. be THE REVIEW P.O. BOX 2070, SIDNEY, B.C, New Renewal Please send ‘‘Beautiful B.C.”’ to the following: rs See ewer ae eer ere e cern ero sraserseasnnvee OOOH eee ee mmm e ma meee rere ener rr eeaereneeereesesecor thy ad aaa | | My cheque/money order at the rate of $3.00 per | subscription is enclosed. Dn a et ne nee es ee ce ce se ss eee mee ones seer THE \ | WHOLE PENINSULA I They're flexible, because you A. Fully registered bonds, These used Canada Savings Bonds as a way to build a solid financial base, can buy Canada Savings Bonds in various denominations, for cash or bonds are registered as to both principal and interest, The interest They're simple, straightforward and easy to understand, They're A great way to save. } , Here's why the purchase limi has been Ney B, Coupon bonds. 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They are available in denominations of $500, $1,000 and $5,000, Sate ‘i teat d's 4 fis Ege pp t peat re Wits Mia ME ft vi, eye ‘i Average Annual Interest to Maturity Name: Address Bay is The word is out... There’s going to be a new shopping area in Brentwood Bay. We're already working at the corner of W. Saanich Rd. & Wallace Drive. But our shopping centre doesn’t have a name and that’s where you can help. NAME THE CENTRE & WIN *300° It’s Easy ... It's Fun Just print the name you choose on the form below and mail it to SHOPPING CENTRE CONTEST c/o SIDNEY REVIEW BOX 2070 SIDNEY, B.C. Contest closes November, 15th, Winner's name will be annonneed in the Nove eee eee My choice for the name of the new shopping centre in Brentwood nn Incligible to compete in this contest: Employees & Dependents of: Tideline Construction Ltd.; BR, Jaundrew & Associates, mber 24 issue of the Review. Phone: eeeeenensemeeeme nee Trafalgar Developments Lid. —=—