User-pay one option for school band program savings
Tia Abell, Staff Reporter
User-pay band classes could become a reality in Richmond.
The fee-for-service idea is one of several options under consideration by Jim Martens, Richmond School District assistant superintendent, and other members of the Strengthening Music Education Advisory Committee in the face of massive district budget cuts.
"We could save $350,000 by moving to a user-pay program," he said. "But obviously there are difficulties and challenges in moving this way."
User-pay fees could run $250 to $300 per student. The most successful example of a user-pay system is in North Vancouver, where parents became involved after the district stopped funding band. The program grew from 1,500 students participating to more than 1,800.
A user-pay system in Delta, however, flopped.
Martens noted it was difficult to know at this stage what the impact of such a system would be on students and their families, or on band classes at the secondary school level. The district has about 1,300 Grade 6 and 1,100 Grade 7 band students.
"Many secondary school teachers are concerned about band classes disappearing at the elementary level, that it may not be an option (for students) to choose band in secondary school because they don't have band experience."
Other options to save some band costs or the entire amount centre on requiring schools to organize band classes in more economical ways. For example, band could be taught as relief blocks while students' classroom teachers take their contractual preparation periods.
But a district-wide user-pay system would mean no relief teachers are displaced and fees would cover all band teachers and resources.
The other option is to discontinue band classes at the elementary school level.
"I'd like to strengthen every part of the arts in the district," Martens said. "I know we are trying to save money for the next budget process. These are some ideas we can look at, some options where we can save money and the challenges if we go that way."
Trustee Patricia Whittaker said she was concerned parents who already paid for their children to take lessons outside of school would be unwilling to pay again for band class.
"Money is tight for many families and I could see the band program dying."
Students tell trustees to not move school
Tia Abell, Staff Reporter
Four students pleaded with school trustees Monday to keep the District Incentive Program as it is.
The school is one of five district programs and schools under consideration for relocation or closure in the district's quest to save the $5 million needed to balance the next budget in April.
"After only three months at Incentive, I've come to the conclusion the Incentive program is one of the best decisions of my life," said Thomas Kolb, a Grade 8 Incentive student.
Grade 9 Incentive student Erin Pedersen said the key to Incentive's success is its small size and independent location.
"It's a place where you can thrive and grow, where you can make strong friendships and bonds with each other and the teachers." She also pointed to "an absence of negative influences, like peer pressure and bullying," as further advantages of the program and its location.
Adeline Wong, Grade 10 at Incentive, said the multi-grade educational activities were great for learning, while Gareth Hopkins, also Grade 10, said the school's small size meant everyone worked cooperatively.
"We do not have a gym; we have mountains, rivers and lakes. We don't have a theatre but we put on shows. We don't have a computer lab, yet it gets doneÉthe small size and lack of facilities is imperative to the success of the program."
Trustee Andy Hobbs said he was impressed with the students' presentation.
"You're all very articulate, obviously a reflection of your program."
Relocation of Incentive to a nearby secondary school, possibly the soon-to-be-opened MacNeilland closure of the small four-room facility by Shell Road and Steveston Highwaycould save the district from $50,000 to $100,000 in reduced operational costs, said district secretary-treasurer Ken Morris.
Moving the program, however, would be detrimental to its effectiveness, said Elaine Pedersen, mother of Erin.
"MacNeill is a large facility. It's not designed for mini-schools."
School closure process defended
Tia Abell, Staff Reporter
Parents crying foul in regards to Richmond School District's school closure procedures got an indirect response from Chris Kelly, the district's superintendent of schools, Monday.
"Regarding the notion of a flawed, inadequate and dated procedure, we took (the policy) for a legal review," Kelly said in a memorandum to school trustees. "Their advice is that this process complies with the general duty the board owes to parents and the community."
The superintendent also addressed concerns brought forward in a brief by parent representatives participating in the 904-R Committeea committee to consider schools for possible closure.
As reported in The Richmond Review Dec. 7-8, parent representatives, including Olwen Walker, decried the process as ineffective and said it should be thrown out.
The brief claimed the screening criteria for choosing schools for possible closure applied to many schools, not just those under consideration. The brief also questioned whether some ulterior motives exist in the targeting of four specific schools.
"We recommended they stop the process and rewrite it," Walker said. "But we don't feel we're being taken seriously."
At issue are the Incentive Program, plus Kilgour, Garratt Annex, Sidaway and Rideau Park elementary schools. The district estimates it could save more than $750,000 towards the $5 million it now needs to cut from its budget if it closes these schools and relocates the programs.
Kelly said these schools are considered for closure because compared to other schools, they had small current and projected enrolments and space is available in nearby schools.
He said staff also considered that at the schools in question, the quality of educational programs offered students would not be obviously compromised by their receiving similar programs at neighboring sites, and that calculable financial savings could be realized through their closure.
"For these reasons these four sites were chosen. They were not prejudicially singled out, and do not represent anyone's wish list. Whether or not other or more schools might have been identified may be subject to debate."
Kelly said the district has no basic wish to close schools or move programs.
"That's not the business we're in."
Regarding the assertion that the district has not completed any deep analysis of what will be done with properties if schools are closed, the superintendent said any such analysis is premature.
Kelly said the district is not in argument with parents who questioned the school closures procedure, instead commending them for their dedication to their neighborhood school.
"Our sole purpose in making this proposal is to reduce the district's operating costs in the face of severe provincial funding limitations that prevail on our school district."
The school board is expected to form its own response to the parents' brief, within the next two months.
"School closures are always a difficult time for a community," school board chair Annie McKitrick said. "These issues really impact on people in the district."
School closure meetings scheduled
The first of a series of public meetings regarding possible school closures or program relocations is scheduled for Jan. 21, 7 p.m., at Blundell Elementary School. The topic: the possible closure of Garratt Elementary.
The next meeting is Jan. 22 at Rideau Park at 7 p.m., then Jan. 28 at Kilgour Elementary regarding the possible relocation of the Montessori program and subsequent closure of Kilgour. A meeting at Sidaway is next on Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. regarding relocation of the District Incentive Program.
Trustees are expected to make their decisions in late March or early April 2003.
"I'd like to encourage everyone to come to the public meetings in January to participate," Richmond school board chair Annie McKitrick said.
Firehall part of 2003 capital plan
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
A new firehall in Hamilton and an interim library in East Richmond are two projects included in the City of Richmond's $38.5-million capital plan for 2003.
The proposed spending plan would be a 20 per cent increase over 2002 ($32 million)due largely to a boom in development across the city, said development applications manager Joe Erceg. And better yet, there will be only a marginal impact on property taxes.
"The main reason the capital is increasing is we've actually collected a lot more in development cost charges than in previous years," Erceg said. "It's money we already have in the door."
The money will be spent not only on buildings, but also roads, sewers and other capital projects.
City staff have recommended the bulk of the additional spending would be used for the replacement of Hamilton firehall ($3.2 million), a renovation of Brighouse library and the creation of an interim branch in East Richmond ($1.1 million).
Projects not being recommended for the 2003 capital plan are an expansion to the Minoru Place Seniors Centre ($4.5 million), and the restoration of and housing for the Steveston Interurban tram ($150,000 and $716,000 respectively).
Council will review the draft capital plan at general purposes committee Monday.
Bringing the hills alive
Vincci Li, Theatre Review
As a girl who scans the TV listings each year for The Sound of Music, I was doubtful the Gateway's live show could measure up to the classic movie.
How do you go about filling the shoes of Julie Andrews, with her Mary Poppins-esque magic? How do you revive a musical that has won six Tony Awards?
But after watching the show, I have to admit this feat was pulled off in style at Gateway Theatre.
The musical opens with a choir of nuns debating the troublesome Maria inside the dim Nonnberg Abbey. We first meet the free-spirited (for an aspiring nun) Maria as she sits outdoors instead of attending a church service. In the role of Maria, Barbara Tomasic's solo atop the hills of Austria is a real treat for the audience and a strong opening for the character.
In attempting to "solve a problem like Maria," the Mother Abbess arranges to have her work as a temporary governess for the von Trapp children.
The roles of the von Trapp children were well cast. From the feisty "I'm-too-old-to-need-a-governess" Liesl (Ashlie Atkinson) to Gretl (Sophia Little) who cannot sing with a sore finger, all of the members have voices like angels.
Watching the show, we get a reason to chuckle in every scene. Little Gretl induces a number of coos and aws from the crowd, as does the ever-honest Brigitta (Angela Ongaro-Fatiaki). The spotlight moves quickly over Marta (Charlotte Fisher), Louisa (Anna Theodosakis) and Friedrich (Greg Pember), and perhaps misses out on the monstrous talent of Patrick Beauchesne as Kurt. In the glimpses of his singing that we are allowed, Beauchesne's crisp voice cuts through the stage like a boy's choir group. As Liesl, Ashlie Atkinson's vocals shine in her duet with Tomasic in "Lonely Goatherd," yodels and all.
With such strong singers in the cast, the balance of power was lost somewhat by actor Keith Martin Gordey as Captain von Trapp. His mild voice clashed with his role as a stern Captain.
As Maria bonds with the children, we are introduced to the cherry-toppers of the showCaptain von Trapp's fiancŽe Elsa Schraeder (Nicole Braber) and his right-hand-man Max Detweiler (Mitchell Mackay).
Mackay, who serves as the comic relief, describes his character perfectly when he says "You can't hate me, I'm too loveable!"
Maria's source of reason at the Abbey, Mother Abbess (Grace Fatkin), also has some wonderful performances. Her soprano is outstanding, and all the while she has the air of a fairy godmothereven as she and Maria belt out "My Favorite Things" at the top of their lungs.
But the true gem of this production of the Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers classic is Nicole Braber. While keeping up with the elegance of the character, Braber's Elsa Schraeder is more likeable than the movie version. With her poised air and warm voice, Braber charms her way into the hearts of the audience.
It is a delight to watch Maria teach the children how to sing but some of the best scenes are those between Braber and Mackay. This playful duo complement one another like peanut butter and jam.
Kudos to set designer Phillip Tidd, stage manager Barry Burns and assistant Jen Jones, for devising clever set changes. Instead of trying to hide the change behind curtains, the play brings in von Trapp family servants to carry the pieces away in style (and to the beat of the music). Choreographer Suzanne Ouellette also adds a nice touch to the show with simple dance numbers and a ballerina in the cast here and there.
From the excellent cast on the stage to the well-conducted orchestra beneath, the production is a passion-driven success. This musical also marks the debut for director David Adams and music director Allan Stilesbut you would never know it watching Gateway's largest ever cast of 52 as they bring the hills alive.
The show runs until Jan. 5. Gateway Theatre is located at 6500 Gilbert Rd. For ticket information, call 604-270-1812.
Richmond man wins a millionBut retirement isn't in the cards for Tim Parker
Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter
Richmond's Tim Parker is a million dollars richer, but he says the windfall won't send him into early retirement.
The 50-year-old elevator technician with ThyssenKrupp Elevator in Vancouver learned of his good fortune last week, having won the jackpot in the BC/49 draw of Dec. 11. He bought the ticket at a Safeway on West Broadway.
Parker has lived his whole life in Richmond, having attended Garden City Elementary, R.C. Palmer junior secondary and Richmond High.
Although Parker has three older brothers, he stopped short of saying they'll have something special under their Christmas trees this year.
"I remember getting punished by them quite a bit when I was little,"
Parker, who is single and has no children, plans to buy a new car and is considering a vacation some time in the new year.
Toys give joy to Nicaraguan orphans
Tia Abell, Staff Reporter
Marlene David plans to make smiles appear on young faces she'll never see.
For the past six months she's collected hundreds of used stuffed toys for children living in an orphanage in Nicaragua. The Steveston resident bought some of the toys herself from second-hand stores, others were given to her from like-minded donors.
Like one of Santa's elves, David then washes and repairs the toys and adds finishing touches with colorful ribbons or buttons.
"They're coming out of my walls now," she laughs. "I fix up every one and they're like new, because people don't play so much with them here. We have so much and in third world countries they have so little."
Local philanthropist and dentist Dr. John Hutchinson will take the toys to an orphanage located near Nicaragua's capital city, Managua, on Dec. 20.
He and his wife, daughter and dental hygienist will stay in the orphanage and offer basic dental care or any other assistance they can to the institution's 95 children.
It's the fourth trip to a Central American country this year for the dentist and his team, after two trips to Guatemala and one to Mexico.
"Dentistry is the excuse," Hutchinson says. "But it's more to hug the kids, to show them someone cares about them."
He has many caring patients in his office who donate toys and clothing in near-new condition.
And that's where David's knack with a needle and thread comes in.
"(David) has been such a god-send. She'll take the toys home and add an eye and wash them if neededthey look brand new when she's done. She's really helped us a lot."
David, who recently retired from her job at Richmond City Hall, says the volunteer work has brought great joy into her life.
"Dr. Hutchinson said the kids' eyes get so big and wide when they see the toys, they're so excited they can choose what they want," she says.
"Prior to this I didn't know what to do with myself. I needed a purpose. It's really nice to do something for somebody else rather than for yourself."
School spirit, Christmas spirit
Don Fennell, Staff Reporter
Steveston Secondary students have dug deep into their wallets and hearts to give to those less fortunate this Christmas season.
Led by Grade 12 students Carly Sakai and Millie Lou, the Packers with Pride Richmond Food Bank Committee has donated more than 2,000 food items and books, 40 hand-designed fleece scarves, 60 Christmas stockings filled with knick-knacks and $1,800 to the Richmond Food Bank.
"I think it's important students in high school especially realize people in the community aren't as well off (at this time of the year)," Lou said. "We need to bring awareness to the public."
Added Sakai: "This year we got a lot more support. Not only did we collect more cans but got a lot more of everything and the teachers also were really enthusiastic about having the students participate in the project."
Steveston vice-principal Wendy Lim said she's continually impressed by the students' willingness to give.
"We started a formal partnership with the Richmond Food Bank three years ago with Feeding the Body and Mind," Lim said.
The Feeding the Body and Mind Drive was the brain child of then grad chair Elaine Lau, who collected about 300 books and 400 cans of food the first year.
"We've just kind of grown with that tradition," Lim said, noting Steveston has the smallest student population (850) of any of the 10 high schools in the district.
The fleece scarves and Christmas stockings were all made by the 30 students enrolled in Steveston's textiles class taught by Stephanie Christie who spearheaded this community service project.
Meanwhile, Sakai, Lou, Abby Syong and Iris Lo led a campaign which saw $369 worth of scented candles sold with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.
Light display drawing crowds
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
Looking a break from the malls?
Richmond Nature Park's fourth annual Christmas display is having one of its most popular years yet, said co-ordinator Kris Bauder. Nature Comes to Light, which includes 150,000 twinkling lights and nature displays with colourful animals, drew crowds of more than 700 people each night on a recent weekend.
"These are very good numbers," Bauder said. "Especially when you consider how small our parking lot is." The display is open until 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. until Dec. 29.
The nature house is open and visitors can often hear choirs, drink hot chocolate and see Santa Claus, who will be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights this weekend. Families can get a picture taken with Santa, who sits on a big driftwood chair.
"It's an alternative to the mall, basically," Bauder said. "It's a little more low-key."
Nature Comes to Light is created through a partnership with the Kinsmen Club of Richmond, the Richmond Firefighters Society, the City of Richmond and the Richmond Nature Park Society.
The park is at 11851 Westminster Hwy.
Fishing for customersTuna exporter reverses roles, looks for clients' needs first
Philip Raphael, Staff Reporter
A Richmond firm has turned around the old saying about the futility of carrying coal to Newcastle by successfully exporting sushi-grade tuna to the Japanese cities of Osaka and Tokyo.
In a marked role reversal, Kayama Enterprises Ltd. has been able to meet the lofty standards in the Japanese sashimi (raw fish) market by providing albacore tuna that trades heavily on its Canadian heritage.
"Canada is seen as a very clean, natural and environmentally responsible country," said Rei Miyamoto, Kayama's marketing manager. "And that's why we market it very clearly as Canadian-caught tuna."
But convincing Japanese buyers to accept the white flesh of the albacore as opposed to the red flesh of the much more expensive blue fin variety required a unique marketing plan that turned regular thinking upside down.
With a number of large Japanese customers already accounting for 70 per cent of the firm's exports, the company's marketing plan has been a success. It recently netted a 2002 B.C. Exports Awards win in the marketing innovation category.
"We turned things around to look at it from the perspective of the client, what they were looking, and what their demands were for the product," explained Doug Yokoyama, president of Kayama Enterprises.
Four years ago, Yokoyama joined forces with partner Daniel Leung to get the company started.
"We went to Japan to see what the consumer wanted and then worked backwards from there rather than start by being a supplier with a product line and then go looking for customers," Yokoyama said.
That way, Kayama was able to tailor their seafood lines and packaging to the exact specifications of Japanese buyers.
"Japanese people are very picky about the quality of their raw fish," Miyamoto said.
She said the sell job on the albacore also used the fact that the Canadian-caught fish have a high natural oil content, sought after for its flavour, and high concentrations of Omega 3 oils that are said to be healthy nutrients that can fend off degenerative diseases. Plus, it is up to 10 times less expensive than high grade blue fin tuna, all which made the Canadian alternative affordable for the average buyer, even though it was imported from across the Pacific.
So, with Japanese buyers convinced to accept white flesh albacore, and consumers happy with a cheaper, and healthy Canadian alternative, the next hurdle for Kayama to overcome was at home on the local fishing grounds.
To ensure the quality standards, Yokoyama had to set about convincing local fishermen to adjust their methods of catching and landing the albacore that swims in the waters from California to the B.C. coast.
First off, to preserve the flesh the tuna had to be unloaded and "spiked" in the right manner.
"Tuna are a very volatile fish," Yokoyama said. "So, we had to get the fishermen to `spike,' pretty much stun them, so they didn't flap around too much."
They then got the fishermen to cut the tuna's throat in the right place so as to not damage the fish's heart.
"If you cut in the wrong area, and the heart is affected, the blood won't drain out of the fish properly," Yokoyama said, adding these changes were a challenge to implement. "You're talking about fishermen who have been in the business 20 to 30 years, and now you're getting them to do things in a much different way. It's a different mindset for them. But they adjusted because they know the benefits of developing a market in the long-run."
Once the tuna is brought to shore it ends up in the firm's processing plants where it is packaged and the bulk frozen for shipment to Japan by refrigerated ship containers.
Now that the tuna market has been established, Kayama Enterprises is looking at some other lesser fished species to export to Japan and California. While Yokoyama was reluctant to say just what species the firm was considering, he did say B.C. octopus is one that could be on its way across the Pacific.
Markets further afield are also being courted.
"We see China as the biggest potential market overall, then Korea, and other parts of South East Asia," Yokoyama said, adding the recent export award will definitely help open doors to few more foreign clients.
"It was a real honour to get the award, especially since we are such a small, and young company. It will lend a real sense of credibility to our operations."
Business Notes
Kayama Enterprises Ltd.
2130 - 12811 Rowan Place
Tel: 604-207-9668
No. of employees: 95 (at peak)
Web site: www.kayama-canada.com
Retired officer honoured for 1981 rescue
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
Retired RCMP Cpl. Robert Tether received a Queen's Golden Jubilee medal Thursday at RCMP headquarters for the rescue of two fishermen off Richmond 21 years ago.
According to The Richmond Review's Sept. 30, 1981 account at the time, Frank Michelanko, Rod Larden and their black Labrador dog were returning from their last fishing trip of the season "when suddenly, out of the darkness, loomed a freighter."
It was about 3:45 a.m. on Sept. 26, 1981.
Their 15-metre trawler named ironically enough, Respond, was overturned by the collision with the Malaysian lumber carrier Rimba Meranti. All three, dog included, were trapped in the engine room.
Tether and Cpl. Tim Kain of the RCMP dive team were called to the scene by a passing pleasure boat, arriving by hovercraft shortly after the distress call. It was near Sand Heads about three kilometres from the airport.
The men trapped beneath the hull had diesel fuel all around them.
As only one diver could fit inside the boat, Tether dived alone.
"Tether went to the trapped men with an `octopus rig'two air regulators rigged to one scuba tank. The men were told how to use the equipment and were then guided out," the article said.
Both fishermen were treated briefly in hospital before being released.
According to the article, the dog was found 14 hours later, happy and wagging her tail.
In 1987, Tether was awarded the Cross of Valour for his actions, and Kain was awarded the Medal of Bravery.
The Cross of Valour is one of the highest awards for bravery. Established in 1972, it has only been given to 19 people.
In total, 631 RCMP and 34 public service employees from across the province will receive the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal.
Town of many tonguesEnglish now the first language of less than half of city's population
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
English is now the mother tongue of less than 50 per cent of the population of Richmond.
Between the 1996 and 2001 Census, English dropped from 52 per cent to 44 per cent of the city's population, according to figures released by Statistics Canada Tuesday.
"I think we've all known that, we didn't have to wait for the census," said Annie McKitrick, chair of the Richmond school board and a member of the city's intercultural advisory committee.
Besides the cross-pollination of ideas and culture, McKitrick said the diverse backgrounds of Richmond's residents can also be an advantage economically.
"People with language skills and experience in other countries are well suited for the global economy," McKitrick said.
"Mother tongue" is defined as the first language a person learned at home in childhood and still understood at the time of the census.
Between 1996 and 2001, Richmond's population grew 10 per cent to 163,395. During that same period, the number of Chinese speakers rose from 29 to 35 per cent, the fastest growth of any community in the region.
In second place was Burnaby, where native Chinese speakers increased from 18 to 22 per cent of the population. Across the region, English was still the top at 61 per cent, followed by Chinese (15.2 per cent), Punjabi (4.7), Tagalog (1.9), German (1.7) and Korean (1.3).
Balwant Sanghera, executive director of the Richmond Multicultural Concerns Society, said he was impressed and pleased to see the growth in the Indo-Canadian community over the last census. When he came to Canada in 1966, there were no facilities in the community for people of his background, he said.
"Today we have really flourishing Punjabi markets in Vancouver, Surrey, Abbotsford and even a new one starting around No. 5 and Cambie," he said,
Henry Beh of the Richmond Chinese Community Society said when he moved to Richmond from Malaysia 28 years ago, there were only about two Chinese restaurants. Now Richmond has a flourishing centre of commerce for the needs of the Chinese community at the north end of No. 3 Road, such as Aberdeen Centre and Parker Place.
And as the Chinese, Indo-Canadian, Filipino and other ethnic communities grow, so too does the overall health of the individual communities.
"I think the (Punjabi) community has reached a point where it's quite resourceful," Sanghera said.
The community is also dealing with the problems that become more pronounced as the community grows, he added, pointing to the growing problem of gang-related murders. But the community also has the resources to address the problem, he said.
McKitrick said there are also challenges posed by the decline in English-as-a-first-language. School boards need the money to ensure we can all speak English well enough to communicate, learn and thrive.
But at the same time, the mother tongue needs to be respected because it's important to one's self-identity and cognitive development, she said.
As diversity grows in Richmond, it has become an attraction in itself, said Beh.
"There's a lot of attraction to get people from Delta, Surrey and even Vancouver," Beh said.
Mayor Malcolm Brodie agreed.
"We've always treated diversity as a strength and not a character flaw or a weakness," he said.
Though English could soon become a minority languagein terms of mother tonguein future years, there's little chance Richmond will give it up as the language where all cultures come together.
"I'd like to see English kept at the forefront," Sanghera said. "It's the most common language, of course."
Lacemaker a world champMaureen Tweedly's work impressed the judges in Spain
Tia Abell, Staff Reporter
Handmade lace is an art with a history of espionage and smuggling with poodles.
Poodles?
"The poodles' bodies were shaven and the lace was stored under false coats," says local lacemaker Maureen Tweedly with a smile. "They're smart and can be trained. It's because lace was more valued than jewels or gold."
Tweedly's own designs would surely inspire a few smugglers.
A gracious woman with silver hair and an infectious enthusiasm for all things lace, she recently returned from Javea, Spain, after winning first place in the Third International Lace Event there in early November.
The competition is a big deal in the world of lace. Sanctioned by Princess Christina of Spain, it attracted 57 entrants from 15 difference countries in the flower exhibit. Local politicians were attentive as well, as at least 200 dignitaries attended the event, Tweedly says.
Her entry, "Thistle Trinitas," was the unanimous favourite. Made from fine enameled wire and beads, Tweedly invented new techniques to create three-dimensionality as well as subtle shading with the wire. The piece took about 200 hours to complete and is currently on display in Spain.
Wire lace has a long and illustrious history but most lacemakers today work with fine cotton or silk threads. Tweedly thought her work may not be readily accepted by judges for this reason.
"But I think it intrigued the judges," she says. "In the time of Elizabeth I, a lot of lace was made in silver or gold wire. When this lace was no longer fashionable, it was all melted down. We've lost all that history. It's a tragedy for lacemakers."
Tweedly first fell in love with the delicate art in 1966 when she first encountered bobbin lace on Vancouver Island. She studied lace for three years, then lost her teacher when she moved to the Lower Mainland. Years passed without any further pursuit of the art, until a couple of years ago when she met her current teacher, Lenka Suchanek of the Silverpin Studio in Vancouver.
"I'm a born-again lacemaker," Tweedly laughs.
It's not hard to believe after viewing the several incredibly complicated looking projects she's working on, at once, in her cosy sitting room.
"When you're busy with children you don't have the time to spend. But making lace has opened up a whole new world of friends for me."
She makes bobbin lace, woven from threads wound around wooden or metal peg-like bobbins, usually weighted with beads. One of these will often also have an old shoe button, for luck. Threads are pinned to a pattern guide on a firm pillow.
The process is painstakingly slow. In one example, a fine beaded heart lace trim for Tweedly's future daughter-in-law's wedding gown takes her about one hour to weave three inches of inch-wide lace. This project used about 40 bobbinsa modest amount.
"I have been doing lace since I was a child through knitting and crocheting. But this is my everyday hobby of the past few years, I love the click of the bobbins as they move back and forth."
She notes engineers are often attracted to the art because of the "unders" and "overs" that resemble the 1 and 0 of programming.
"It's like having a beautiful, huge puzzle that someone has given you for Christmas, and it's very rewarding to see the results when you've finished."
Tweedly is already planning for the next competition, the 2004 Lace Guild Exhibition in Coventry, England.
Times have changes since a country's lace making secrets jealously guarded. Tweedly regularly logs on to the World Wide Weba suitable place for artists with a spider as a symbolto share techniques and inspiration with lacemakers from around the world. Along with six other women, she's also started a local lacemaking group, the Richmond Area Lacemakers.
"Lacemakers are a passionate lot and like to try different types of lace. It's a way of continuing the art without losing it."
Anyone interested in lacemaking or the Richmond Area Lacemakers can contact Tweedly at mtweedly@hotmail.com.
Ex-MP to pay a visitTom Siddon to help kick-start membership drive
Philip Raphael, Staff Reporter
Local Progressive Conservatives are hoping that a blast form Richmond's political past will ignite new interest in their party when former Tory MP, and city councillor Tom Siddon addresses a gathering of local Tories Wednesday.
Siddon, who now lives in the Penticton area of the South Okanagan and does some consulting work for an asphalt firm, is scheduled to make an appearance before party faithful at a 7:30 p.m. reception at the Executive Airport Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre Dec. 18.
Siddon was first elected as an MP in 1978 and won re-election five consecutive times. He served in a variety of portfolios as a cabinet ministerScience and Technology, Fisheries and Oceans, Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and National Defenceand was a senior MP for B.C. in the Brian Mulroney government.
Siddon said the first step in reviving the local PC party is for the Conservatives to elect a strong national leader at its leadership conference next June where he plans to support Peter McKay, MP for the riding of Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough in Nova Scotia.
"During the lean years, the Richmond riding association was pretty much defunct," Siddon said. "Now there are people who are keen on reviving it.
"And I have been a member of the Progressive Conservatives for a good long while, and anything I can do I will lend my hand to," he added, quickly stopping short of making a commitment to get involved as a candidate again.
"I would have trouble from my wife if I did that," he quipped. "Fifteen years of flying back and forth from Richmond to Ottawa through numerous time zones, while it never lessened my enthusiasm for politics, it takes its toll."
Kanman Wong, president of the Richmond Progressive Conservative Riding Association said Siddon's return marks the start of a membership drive that seeks to rebuild the local organization that has failed to put a successful candidate forward since Siddon lost to former Liberal MP Raymond Chan in the 1993 federal election.
"Tom and I have spoken many times about him coming back to help us out, and he has always been open to return and talk with his former constituents that he said he owes a great deal to for their support."
Scholarship to honour Const. Jimmy Ng
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
The parents of the late Richmond RCMP Const. Jimmy Ng have donated more than $3,000 to Matthew McNair Secondary to create a scholarship in their son's name.
Dr. Chris and Therese Ng lost their son Sept. 15 when his police cruiser was side-swiped by an alleged street racer.
The Ngs plan to continue to contribute to the scholarship fund each year and establish it a a permanent legacy for their son, who was a McNair graduate.
"Jimmy was a hero in our community," said school trustee Chak Au.
"From the stories we've heard, he inspired and encouraged so many people. I think this is a way to keep him alive in the minds of everyone."
McNair principal Greg Ponsart said the scholarship will be awarded each year to a Grade 12 student who excels both in academics and community involvement. The Ngs will sit on the scholarship committee and help select the successful applicant, he said.
Richmond Mandarin Lions Club also donated $1,000 to the scholarship fund.
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