SINTY-FOURTH YEAR, No. 23 Foster Children Develop And Grow By Jim Rodgers The most gratifying aspeet of raising handicapped foster children for Central Saanich residents John and Sheila Reynolds is watehing them grow and develop. “We got Jeremy at three weeks old and the doctors said | he wouldn't live four mon- ' ths,"’ Mrs. Reynolds said, yet he will be celebrating his fourth birthday with a swim this August. “*He’s now walking on his own and swims during his daily workouts at Pearkes Clinic,” she said. The parents developmental ac- complishment rouses = an exuberant atmosphere around the home. ‘Things like sitting up or self-feeding are major accomplishments for a han- dicapped child,’’ Mr. Reynolds | explained, “The biggest achievement for Jeremy so far was his first word,’ Mr. Reynolds con- tinued. say every “It's nice to move along with children who have two strikes against them from the beginning and every — little progression is a major. step forward for a handicapped child,” he said, “The excitement comes because we never know the limitations of the child or how far he will progress and every new achievement is a sur- prise." he said. The Reynolds say they like to sce handicapped children have the opportunity to make something of their lives and find raising handicapped children more rewarding than normal children. ‘“‘The difference with handicapped children is more lime involved in caring for them yet the rewards more than compensate,’? Mrs. Reynolds said. The couple have five grown daughters of their own, three of whom are now married while taking 20 other foster children into their home in the past eight years. Mr. Reynolds said he would sometimes arrive home late at night after cruises with the navy and see lights burning in the whole house. ‘‘I’d figure when seeing the lights while Continued on Page 2 Foster Parent Night June 15 For Inquiries A Foster Information Night will be held on June 15 at the Junction Centre Building in Victoria to acquaint families with what is involved in caring for a handicapped foster child. Although many families in the area are already caring for foster children, there is a continued need for foster parents due to many factors, including the vast number of children who come under the responsibility of the department of human resources. Mentally retarded and/or physically handicapped children are especially in need of care and attention from ay foster family who is able to devote the time and evergy to their particular needs. Right now there are 10,167 children in British Columbia who are separated from their “natural parents, many of them in the custody of human resources because of the parent's inability to provide neevessary care for the child, There is a three week course’ availabe. to help foster parent applicants understand — the children who will be placed with them, The course covers the trauma of separation, the development of children and the partnership of the parents of the foster children, the foster family and the social worker, all working together in the best interests of the child, Foster) parents are) warm, loving, accepting people, with the capacity to give much and expeet little in return. Foster families enrich their family life by helping a child fulfill his needs, The aim of foster homes is to provide good substitute parenting by meeting the physical, emotional and social needs of the children placed in the home and by providing an atmosphere within the home conducive to the child’s growth, Foster information nights are held regularly to provide information that families need to decide whether fostering is for them, The department of human resources is hoping that potential foster parents will attend the Foster Information Night on handicapped children on Tuesday, June 15, at 7:30 pm. in the lounge of the Junction Centre Building, 1627 Fort Street. For more information phone R.A.P.S. (Resources and Placement Seetion) at 598- S121, Sidney Moving Firm By Donna Vallieres An essential part of the commercial tran- sportation industry is the freight, moving and storage business, Located in Sidney is the terminal warehouse of one of these thriving enterprises, Sidney Freight and Sidney Movers and Storage on Mills X Road has grown and expanded in the past 12 years from a two-truck operation to a fleet of 45 trucks and 23 semi-trailers, Norman Jackson and his wife Marge are the owners of the company and responsible for raising Sidney Freight from its humble origins to the booming business it has become today. “It's gone so far beyond any expectations,” Jackson said, ‘we can hardly believe it.’ Sidney Freight, purchased in 1964 from Shade Brothers, was just’ the beginning of the conglomeration that was to Nourish under the hard work of the Jacksons. They have John and Sheila Reynolds like to have famil Mark seem to enjoy it too. y around and foster children Jeremy (right) and Park Initiated By Volunteers Need Donations To Complete Work Mellissa Park Citizen’s Association needs an im- mediate inflow of cash to complete a worthwhile project started three years ago. Association chairman Bob Jackson says the $3 left in the Mellissa Park account will not stretch to finanee planned improvements to the local park. “We need more equipment because most of the time there are so many kids in the park, many are left-standing around with nothing to do,’? Jackson explained. Mellissa is the busiest park in Sidney according to a town groundskeeper who cuts the lawns and the initiative for the community park came from the. 22 neighbourhood residents who are part of the association, —* “Once we have the park completed the town will continue to maintain the grounds and provide garbage containers,’ Jackson — said, while our present drive is to get enough funds to complete the park, “We are trying to get people interested in donating money or materials,’’ Jackson continued, ‘fand our association can always supply enough labor although we are searching for a volunteer with horseshoe pitch building experience,” Funds to begin construction on the park, which occupies the blocked off road allowance of Mellissa Road, were ob- tained through donations and araffle, Jackson said. “We formed the committee because no preen areas or parks are available to the residents of the area,’ he continued and we decided to Just get up and build a park ourselves, The businesses and governments of Sidney have helped us fantastically with donations; moral support and maintenance, he said. To date volunteer workers have installed swings, a slide, monkey bars, a merry-go- round, a sandbox and have fenced the area, he said, plus a few more items of playground equipment we have yet to obtain make up the children’s stage of the park. The second stage, with picnic tables, horseshoe pitches and trees are for the mothers who bring their children to the park and adults generally. “We would like to get a log frame and tire apparatus for. the kids and the town of Sidney has-promised to cut up La COUNCIL COMMENDED Long may you reign! That was how members of Central Saanich council .were hailed in a letter read Monday night from, | municipal ratepayers association president Fred Clarke. Council was commended in the letter for recently with- drawing from the Tri- Municipal Recreation Centre. Written on behalf of the ratepayers’ executive, the letter also complimented council on its decision to hold a public survey {to determine what recreation facility was most desirable and then oa referendum, The letter thanked) mayor and aldermen Hill, Lazarz and MacFarlane for attending a public information meeting held May 11 at which the centre was discussed, “Their composure and patience in dealing with the very hostile questions and threats is to be highly com- mended, wrote Clarke, local | the logs for us,’* he said. “We've had a few vandal incidents,’’ Jackson con- tinued, but the biggest problem to date is the garbage which is constantly dumped on the park’ grounds. “We're not sure who leaves the mess but a lot of old newspapers and garbage have to ‘be cleaned up and burned each week,’’ he said, NATURE PARK ACQUIRED North Saanich council voted Monday night to acquire two acres on Wain Road on the condition that the land be kept entirely in its natural state. The property will cost $42,000 with the down payment being made by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, a Toronto-based organization which provides funding ‘for the acquisition of parklands. The District. Improvement Committee is planning fund raising activities to cover their share of the purchase. $32,000 will have to be raised by the municipality and the other $10,000 will probably come from the Conservancy. Council voted to accept the proposal from the Con- servancy, with Ald. George Cumston and Ald. George Westwood opposing the motion, The municipality will receive litle of the land when it is free of debts, but stilt’ will be limited in the use of the property, Under the agreement with the Nature Conservancy, the property must remain as a nature preserve for educational, scientific and itesthetic purposes, Fences and foot trails are allawed, but only if they do nol impair the essential natural character of the park. Expanding Operation In Many since acquired a number of smaller companies including Salt Spring Freight, Sidney Movers, Fernwood Movers just recently, and the original Saanich Freight, | The Sidney warehouse remains the hub of activity as the freight distributor, ‘The large storage — facilities, measuring about 20,000 square feet, house commercial and private merchandise and furniture, For several years, the company was restricted to freight hauling between Sidney and Victoria, but in 1973, the Jacksons were granted their Vancouver license. “That's when the whole thing took of f,"* said Jackson, “The vast volume of freight originates in Vancouver,’ The company is now able to haul the Vancouver-Sidney- Victoria route, a lucrative transport, The pick-up service begins at the Vancouver terminal where the semi-trailers are loaded with the freight and then cross the strait either on the B.C. Ferries. or commonly, on barges, The household moving aspect of the business is licensed to operate throughout | B.C. and as far east as Quebec, _ Tt was in 1968 that the six- acre location of the Mills X Road warehouse ‘was pur- chased, ‘with an eye toward the future" The Jacksons eredit the Town of Sidney and local merchants as well as the supportive community in the facilitation of the Sidney terminal, The proximity to the ferries, the relatively low cost of the land and the possibility of future expansion make this an ideal site for the freight and storage business, Born and raised ona farm in Saskatchewan, Jackson has been in the trucking business Semen ISLAND FURNITURE MART -w. 9842 - 3RD ST. SIDNEY, B.C. EASY TERMS 656-3724 FREE DELIVERY trolling by-laws ESTABLISHED 1912 BUTLER BROTHERS aces 2046 KEATING X ROAD 652-1121 1S CENTS North Saanich Proposes Well Drilling By-law ‘PETITIONERS WANT BARGAINING LEVERAGE North Saanich council passed a motion to have solicitors draft a proposed by-law requiring developers to obtain licenses before drilling water wells. A special meeting of council at 6:30 p.m. June 14 will consider the proposal which was passed at The proposal is the result of efforts by 27 petitioners who along with vociferous sup- porters packed = council chambers to inform coun- cillors of their objections to a development taking place on nine acres across from Holy Trinity Church at the junction of Mills Cross and West Saanich Roads. Mayor Paul Grieve ex- plained to the delegation that council had no control over the development as the project involves a series of building permits for established lots and is nota fresh development. “The 18 lots were laid out before North Saanich con- came into effect and the developers can legally go ahead and build as long as an adequate water supply is guaranteed,’”’ Grieve said. If the proposed drilling by- law is legal, council will have de facto zoning control, he continued, as a refusal of a drilling permit will result in no building permits being issued. Nothing will take place in the short term as the Mayor has ‘suspended all building” permits for the lots in question until the end of June. “We can’t hold up the building permits forever and if council isn’t going to act then the administrative move has no basis,’ he said. Spokesman for the petitioners, Joseph Lott, said the rural character of the municipality should be maintained for the enjoyment of all area residents. “Everyone should have the opportunity to take a country drive and enjoy the rustic scenery of this area,"’ he said. The petitioners expressed concern that wells drilled to supply water needs of the proposed development might tap existing resident’s supplies, Mr. Lott also pointed out that Patricia Bay is the only large beach on the peninsula which is easily accessible, “We are looking into the future and feel council should do all in its power to acquire any adjacent property — to support this facility,’’ Lott continued, Another point raised by the petitioning group was the Directions for many years, motivated by ‘ta love of trucks and satisfaction in the work."”” He owned small businesses in Saskatchewan and Trail but after a serious accident, he and his wife moved to Vie- toria, In 1955 he took over a Victoria cartage company, transporting freight within the city, Back then, Mrs. Jackson was the dispatcher and Jackson drove the truck, Although there are problems inherent in the freight venture, such as labour costs, ferry costs and truck maintenance, Continued on Page 2 council’s regular meeting Monday night. potential traffic congestion caused by’ outflow from. the proposed development onto an already crowded West Saanich Road. The petitioners say the Sangster farm is one of the oldest in North Saanich and the development would ruin the historic field. They also expressed concern Tor loss of agricultural land resulting from the proposed development and that it would destroy the rural nature of the municipality which is an assault on the rights of residents who choose to live in North Saanich because of this rural atmosphere. — Mayor Grieve said that although zoning and septic tank regulations are out of the district’s control, in this case the proposed well drilling by- law will be a negotiating tool in dealing with developers. The'development, according to ‘S.J. Barton of Sav-Mor Builders Centre Ltd., would call for tO deluxe residential units cach situated on a half acre parcel, The houses would sell. for more than $80,000, said Barton in an interview Tuesday. The development would also include a potential four more houses on what is now 18 very small lots, averaging roughly one eighth of an acre in size.. “ft have no plans for. development of these lots at this time,’’ explained Barton, who added that if the water situation in Sidney does not change he will go ahead with consolidation of the lots, in perhaps three years time, and construction of only four housas, ~ Barton emphasized that he will not touch any of the oak trees “on the © property if possible and at present he does “not anticipate’? he will have to in order to locate the houses* on the land. Island Cub Campout . Is Nice And Dirty . A. fleet of boats and volunteers travelled to Sidney Island last weekend and along with them went 61 Sidney boys’ — all members of the First Tsartlip Haida, Thunderbird and Nootka cub packs. The occasion was the annual three-day cub camp and, according to cub leader John Hall, it is an event unrivalled for the youngsters. No dreary camp-food lines the tables for these lucky cubs who feast on roast beef, salads, soups and = fresh vegetables at dinner time and bacon, eggs and flap jacks at day break, said Hall, And preparations for the weekend camp-out are made well in advance so fun can start as soon as the first cub leaps from the beached boat's bow, The 61 boys, ranging in age from cight to 10 years old, were ferried 16 Sidney Island by RCMP patrol boat and four other private vessels, reported Hall, and arrived at) dinner time Friday night, Food supplies, tents and other gear were brought earlier in the day by volunteer Don Dobie. Camp was pitched at the ree Movers, take time from demanding business, _boys by a mere three points, kson, proud owners of Sidney Freight a north end of Sidney Island, bordering the marine park, through the courtesy of the island’s owner Jack Todd. Life was made more pleasant through the loan of Todd’s double garage (used as the cook-house) and two cars used to transport gear from the beach, said Hall, Weekend activities included a tent decorating competition, an cight mile hike up to the Todd farm and back — a three hour effort sweetened by a hot- dog roast on the beach — a compass’ competition, and a sing-song round the camp fire. After breakfast Sunday the encampment began to resemble an army training unit as cub troops joined boys from St. Michaels University School of Victoria to contest. their skills on an obstacle course, -articipants wriggled under a fish net, over rope bridges, climbed ropes, crawled across a scramble net and skidded down a 25-foot bank, The Sidney cubs were ‘nice and dirty" by this time, said Hall with a smile, adding that the packs lost to St, Michaels’ rd their busy schedule Operating a June Selection of Values : Amazing Sleeper Chair - quick, comfortable, easy to operate, 7 pe. 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