SIXTY-THIRD YEAR, No. 44 PENINSULA RECREATION CENTRE... SOME FACTS @ All councils agreed in principle last year to the concept of a tri-municipal recreation centre. ® The peninsula recreation commission is ‘ not a small special interest group, but includes representatives of all councils, the school board and Indian bands and three representatives from the public at large. @® A comprehensive survey of peninsula recreation needs and desires was done by the commission. Its results are known to all’ councils and formed the basis of the plan proposed by consulting architects hired by the commission. @ All councils agreed in principle to a 50 percent assessment - 50 percent population cost sharing formula for initial complex costs (planning, etc.) and for ongoing recreation programs. This formula was included in the bylaw establishing the peninsula recreation commission. @ The proposed “complex site on East Saanich Road cost North Saanich nothing. It is parkland received by the municipality as part of a development contract with Dean Park Estates. North Saanich council in fact approved a motion earlier this year agreeing to make the land available for ' development of a recreation facility. @ A steering committee composed of two members from each council has recom- mended reduction of the original estimated complex cost by 50 percent and the recreation commission has concurred with this recommendation. ®@ The recreation survey carried. out by the commission indicated strongly tht the two most wanted facilities are a swimming pool and skating rink — both for general public use and competition. not designed specifically for ’@ Consulting architects are now preparing a modified plan that will fit the amount of money the steering committee feels should . be spent. FOR SATELLITE CHANNEL A square nautical mile of the bottom of Satellite Channel has been declared a marine reserve by the provincial government _ this week. As a benthic reserve, the area, at the: west end of. the channel opposite Deep Cove, will be off limits to activities which would change the ocean floor, from scuba hunting to kelp farming. The purpose of the prohibition, according to Lands, Forest and Water Resources Minister Bob Williams, is to safeguard the area for biological research. Dr. Derek Ellis of the University of Victoria has been promoting the idea of crealing areserve in- the Satellite) Channel area for some time. Ellis is a professor of marine biology, and one of his graduate students told the Review Ellis has been doing research in’ the Satellite Channel area for about ten yoars, Collecting is done in the area by otter trawl and grab techniques, for both research and teaching purposes. The student, Kathleen Conlin, said biologists were anxious to have the area protected as a safeguard against any damage which could occur in the future, rather than in response to any heavy use or pollution now, She deseribed the area as particularly suitable for research beeause it is now so free of pollution, Local senba charter operators welcomed — the move, Allan MeRae of Rim- Pac Divers in Sidney, and Jim -Earl, an independent boat operator, both operate charter trips for scuba divers into the area. They said most of the divers are morc interested in just looking at marine life, or Continued on Page 2 4 Serving Central Saanich, North Saanich, the Town of Sidney, and the Gulf Islands Wednesday, October 29, 1975 Editorial BUTLER [—) BROTHERS 2046 KEATING X ROAD 652-1121 SSTABLISHED 1912 GIVE THEM A RING One has to feel a little sorry for the penin- sula’s new recreation director and the ar- chitects hired to design our proposed new recreation complex. After all, they’re new to this area — and are probably used to working in communities where the need for such facilities is keenly felt and solidly supported. Unlike people who’ve lived here for some time, they must be surprised by the ever- growing cacophony of petty bickering and self-serving diatribe that peninsula politicians seem to constantly use when ‘cooperating’ ’ with each other: cooperation that consists largely of getting the best deal for themselves, at their neighbours’ expense. While this may not be deserved by all peninsula politicians all the time, we firmly believe that any failure to carry the present recreation proposal to the voters — in a reasonable form — will be a failure that must be shared by them all. From a beginning that seemed alniost too good to many experienced pundits, who won- dered early when the cheerful spirit of three way cooperation would start to fray, the tri- municipal recreation scheme seems today to be in grave danger of ending up on the same ash-heap occupied by its predecessors. In Central Saanich the debate — and diversion — centres on the height of diving boards; in Sidney it’s whether or not town taxpayers can save four or five dollars a year; and in North Saanich, as usual, the smiling forces are getting ready to drop monetary bombs that will allow them to tell their rate- payers they’ve won again. What most of them seem to have forgotten is the simple objective of the whole exercise: construction of badly needed recreation facilities for more than 15,000 peninsula ~ residents. . We could go over once more the arguments tht the peninsula is the largest community. left in the province without such facilities. We could also advance statistics on all the small towns throughout the land — with far smaller populations — that have somehow found the funds to give their children a place to play.. And we could again try to get across to our elected officials the benefits our community could derive from such a complex. But we hardly think there’s much point. They’ve become so involved in nit-picking, such considerations have long been lost in the shuffle. Some will never understand that the size of diving board is something that can easily be solved when the final plans are drawn — and that that can’t be done until the architects know how large the centre is to be. Some will Sidney | NO CONTEST IN NORTH SAANICH North Saanich voters will get a day off November 15: only the incumbents have filed for office in the peninsula's most. rural municipality, And even that wasn't sure until late Monday morning when a last minute, successful at- tempt was made to encourage participation by one alderman who intended to retire. Mayor Paul Grieve, Ald. John Lapham, Wilf Price and Igric Sherwood and School Trustee Rubymay Parrott have all been cleeted by ae- clamation, The lack of contest came as ‘a surprise to at least: two in- both ontheir aldermen -- year left cumbent with one terms, Long-time North Saanich alderman, regional director and finanee expert George Cumpston summed it up in four words: “Nobody gives a damn!" He deseribed the absence of candidates as a “disgusting lack of interest and knowledge on the part of the electorate on what's going on. It doesn't just. be actions of the present council, Cumpston admitted — it possible, but added, ‘They | the may ignorance ... encourage council very | decided to contest the election, much,” but said it might have been Asked if residents might } because council matters have satisfied with the past year or so,” was lack of an be happy through | however, of our shrinking because — it Ald. /Ald. “gone fairly smoothly in the Westwood said he regretted election, could have provided a format for financial position,” Ald, George Westwood — elected for the first time last year -- said he could only conelude — that district residents were “either satisfied with business as carried out by the present council, or apathetic.” He said he was) surprised that no one bul incumbents “discussion in terms of what people stand for,” FOURTEEN IN SIDNEY In the other two peninsula elections however, there is no shortage of candidates. Sidney has a total of 14 hopefuls, secking, cleetion to four posts — including that of mayor, Continued on Page 2 REVIEW WILL ACCEPT UNITED WAY DONATIONS Because of the current postal workers! strike, Sidney and North Saanich residents who wish to donate to the United Way and who were not home when thely canvasser called, may Jeave thelr seated envelopes or cash donations with Mrs, Esther Berry at the Sidney Review offies, 9825 Third Street, Area organizer AVG. Dage reports that the campaign which continues und November 8 ts going well and initial results are very peadity ings. never understand that cooperation is a give and take thing — a time when someone might have to pay a little more to make the whole thing work. And some will never understand either that building a community recreation centre has more to it than simply making the best deal. As we said, we fear the long awaited recreation complex is fast being fiddled away, but we don’t think that has to happen. Too many peninsula voters, we believe, want some form of centre — or at least the chance to vote on one. The only question is how to force our councils to give us that choice. One way, we think, is for every interested resident to contact his mayor and aldermen and insist that the whole discussion get back on the rails. Central Saanich’s George MacFarlane might be told, for instance, that any diving board will do — as long as there’s a swimming pool beneath it. Sidney’s Stan Dear might be: advised that we’re willing to pay for the privilege of having a skating rink — and a few extra dollars aren’t going to make us change our mind. And the Ebenezer Scrooges of North Saanich might have brought to their attention that the site cost them nothing, and there is no hue and cry in the community. that they turna fast profit on a bit of free land. If you should wish to contact any of your elected representatives at home these are the numbers to call: : SIDNEY Mayor Stan Dear: 656-3346 Ald. Chris Andersen: 656-4217 Ald. Hugh Hollingworth: 656-3151 ' Ald. Wilkie Gardner: 656-2715 Ald. Peter Malcolm: 656-4203 Ald. Stan Uren: 656-1838 NORTH SAANICH Mayor Paul Grieve:. 656-1162 Ald. George Cumpston: 656-3716 ‘John Lapham: 656-4247 Wilf Price: 656-2141 Eric Sherwood: 656-4117 Peter Tredgett: 656-3866 George Westwood: 656-4771 Ald. Ald. Ald. CENTRAL SAANICH Mayor Jean Butler: 652:1444 Ald. Dave Hill: 652-2657 Ald. Ray Lamont: 652-2546 Ald. Percy Lazarz: 652-1426 Ald. George MacFarlane: 652-3111 Ald. Don MacLaurin: 652-1062 Ald. Earle Tabor: 652-3417 ” MINOR INJURIES TO THREE PERSONS were the result of this three car accident at the corner of Beacon and the highway late Saturday afternoon, The driver of one car has been charged with failing to stop for a red light, He collided with a second car IF YOU HAVE TO DO WASHING! WE CAN HELP EASY TERMS 656-3724 ISLAND FURNITURE MART rn. Before You Go Anywhere Else - See Us First 9842 - 3rd ST. SIDNEY YOUR STORE FOR REAL SAVINGS FREE DELIVERY 656-3032 15 CENTS ‘SIDNEY DOESN'T LIKE RECREATION SHARING FORMULA ‘Time To Stop Concessions’ — Dear WON'T PAY FOR LAND EITHER Another monkey wrench was dropped into the penin- sula_ recreation complex works Monday evening — when Sidney council began to question the cost sharing formula recommended: by a tri-council steering com- mittee. The town council also refused to accept a second recommendation of the committee: that the size of the proposed centre be cut in half. The motions introduced Monday were similar to those considered ‘by Central and North Saanich a week ago, when both those councils agreed to a reduction in the size of the project, and Central Saanich approved the cost sharing formula. North Saanich had remained: the only council expected to oppose the 50 - 50 financing scheme, but for different reasons than those advanced in Sidney. Mayor Stan Dear led op- position to the financing formula, obviously surprising some aldermen, then swaying their opinions with a list of potential costs. Advocating a cost structure divided strictly according to assessment, Dear said it was “time for Sidney to stop making concession.s”’ The 50 percent assessment, 50 percent population formula ha. been used on shared services on the peninsula for years, he said, including the former joint operations of the Sidney and North Saanich Volunteer Fire Department. Dear handed members of council a’ list of figures, prepared by Clerk’ Geoff Logan, which showed the various percentages payable by the three municipalities under the three different possibilities: based on population, based on | assessment, and based on a combination of the two. Working these combinations through to the final cost to an individual taxpayer, based on a $375,000 per ycar total recreation cost, Dear’s figures indicated that sharing based on assessment alone would result in a nearly even cost to a peninsula homcowncr, regardless of which district he lived in. Rased on the 50 - 50 formula, a Sidney taxpayer would end up paying more than 10 per- cent more than the Central Saanich taxpayer and nearly 27 percent more than a similar taxpayer in North Saanich. (Specifically, Dear’s figures showed costs per year of $67 in Sidney, $61 in Central Saanich and $53 in North Saanich — for a homeowner whose residence has an assessed value of $10,000 — when the 50 - 50 formula is used. The mayor got instant support from Ald. Chris An- dersen, who told council that continuing to support the assessment/ population formula would be “selling our taxpayers right down the garden path.” Sharing on an assessment basis only would be “paying on the ability to pay,’ An- dersen said, and would be the fairest way to split costs. Challenged by Ald. Wilkie. “Gardner, who -wahted to continue support of the 50 - 50 _ Continued on Page 2° ALL-CANDIDATES’ MEETING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS An all-candidates’ meeting will be held Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. in the Senior Citizens’ Centre, 10030 Resthaven Drive. All senior citizens of the area are welcome. DF TTT nT ay TILSTLLESHTN ELLA ‘AUNT driven hy Mrs, Ie. Howe of Sidney which skidded into the side of a third car stopped at the light. Mrs, Howe, her passenger Mrs. Donald and Erika Moilanen were all taken to hospital with minor injuries and later released, 0 = WRN