Page 4 Cassiar Courier May 1989

CASSIAR —
HOSPITAL

BOARD
REPORT

submitted by Leslie Swann

Many people approach the hospital staff with
questions about asbestos and asbestos related illnesses.
I hope that the following information will answer some of
those questions and alleviate some of your fears.

There are three lung ailments which can be linked
to asbestos fibers. These ailments range from minor to
extremely severe. The most severe ailment is mesothe-
lioma, which is a malignant tumor of the lung covering.
This ailment can also affect the heart and abdomen.
“ess severe is cancer of the lung. Smokers are more pre-
aisposed to cancer caused by asbestos and people working
with it are-strongly advised not to smoke. Finally we
come to asbestosis which is a form of lung disease called
pneumoconiosis. This disease causes fibrosis or scarring
in the lungs and can be minor or extensive. All three ail-
ments are caused by inhaling asbestos fibers.

The Cassiar Mine produces white asbestos fiber
(chrysotile) which happens t. be a very safe fiber. The
most dangerous asbestos fiber is blue (crocidolite). This
fiber is only found in Africa and Australia and cannot be
found in Canada except by import. Canada has now ban-
ned the import of this fiber. It is actually the impurities
in asbestos that cause lung disease and white asbestos
has relatively few impurities.

With environmental monitoring the chances of
getting asbestos related lung disease is virtually nil espec-
ially in a non-smoker. Cassiar Mining Corporation’s
environmental controls are very high. The townsite is
monitored regularly and the tailings pile is monitored and
watered to keep the dust down. The mine has also been
seeding the tailings pile. Employees physically handling
asbestos are required to wear respirators.

Asbestosis examinations are performed by the:
doctor at the hospital every week. Each exam includes
six different tests. The first test is lung function which
involves blowing into a tube attached to a computer-
ized machine. The machine measures the strength of your
expiration. You are required to continue to test until two
matching results are acquired.

The second test is a chest x-ray. The chest x-ray is
usually done once every two years and is sent to the
Workers Compensation Board for examination. Occasion-
~ ally W.C.B. requires a second x-ray but this is usually be-
cause the first is either too light or too dark. If any
abnormality is found, the person is sent to the Respir-’
atory Unit at the University of B.C. in Vancouver for’

further testing.

Advance Notice

CASSIAR HOSPITAL SOCIETY
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
JUNE 15, 1989

In order to vote at the Annual General Meeting,
you must have been a member in good standing for
at least one month prior to the meeting date.

: An annual membership in the Hospital Society

costs $1.00, payable to:

K. Dycher, Administrator

Cassiar Hospital

ease anne

E. Studd, President
Cassiar Hospital Society

5 “aa se = Sy er es 3 = ? . c ; re
ES EE eT I OTR ERS A TE EE Tees, rows an ere

The third test is an audiology exam. With this
exam you must be absent from noise for a minimum of
sixteen hours. “he test takes approximately fifteen to
twenty minutes and deteis......s whether you have suffered
a loss of hearing since your last exam. The results of this
test are sent to the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petro-
leum Resources in Vancouver.

The fourth, fifth and sixth tests are very standard.
They include an eye examination, urinalysis and full
physical. Should any abnormality arise, then further test-
ing is conducted.

The cost of an asbestosis exam is over $100 and
for those mine employees who think that their exam is
free, it’s not. Cassiar Mining pays the doctor for all the
exams on their employees.

The doctor will perform asbestosis exams on non-
company residents but you will have to book ahead and it
will cost you the full examination fee.

There has been an ongoing study of asbestosis
at the University of B. C. for more than five years. All
accidental deaths in asbestos-producing areas of B. C. are
sent to U.B.C. An autopsy is done and the asbestos fibers

-in the lungs are measured.

You will be relieved to know that since the mine
opened in the early fifties, there is only one partial case of
asbestosis reported. Most detected cases of asbestosis are
in people who worked with the fiber before the current
controls were put into effect.

I would like to thank the hospital and Cassiar
Mining for their assistance with my research for this

article.

' Our Lady
+ Lourdes Mi

=e

Fr. Joseph Leverge

SCHEDULE
Saturday Mass 7:00 p.m
11:00 a.m

Sunday “lass

ALL SAINTS

ANGLICAN
COMMUNITY CHURCH

’ SERVICES

ist, 3rd and 5th Sundays _ HOLY EUCHARIST
2nd and 4th Sundays MORNING WORSHIP
THRIFT SHOP 2nd and 4th Wednesdays - 7 to 8 p.m.

COUGAR"
JAG" AFS
JuG'340

——

ear oy.
ae

RIDE THE PRIDE"

WILDCAT" 650
EL TIGRE EXT"

SUPER JAG’
DARREN 'S

AUTHORIZED ARCTCO” ARCTIC CAT” DEALER

~

CASSIAR

CURLING
CLUB

submitted by Bill Pratt

Cassiar Curling Club season has come to an end
with our wind-up banquet which was held on April 29.

Prizes were awarded for all the regular league
game draws and bonspiel winners. We also presented
special awards for service. The awards and winners are
as follows:

Frank Nitti Service Award to Ciril Habjan. This
is awarded annually to the curling club member who
contributes most - their time to the running of and
participation in club activities. Ciril spent many long
hours this year and in the past to ensure curlers had
good ice.

Guido DeCecco Award to Shelley Cosnett.
This service award is given out annually, in memory of
Guido, to the social member who actively works to
make the club and season a success.

Ralf Voss Sportsmanship Award to Helen Jos-
eph. This award is in memory of Ralf and is awarded
annually to a curling individual who best demonstrates
sportsmanship and participation in the game of curling
on and off the ice and promotes the game of curling
in Cassiar.

The most improved male and female curler
awards go to first year curlers who work all year to
improve their game. The winners were Karren Campbell
‘and Gord Lawley..

Skip Behind the Glass Awards go to the male and
female curler who talk up a good game as a spectator
behind the glass, but have trouble living up to their
preaching when they get on the ice. This year’s recipi-
ents are Helen Billingsley and Kinky Anderson.

The curling club executive would like to give
special thanks to hard working volunteers like Shelley
Cosnett who gave hours of her time helping out on the
snack bar, the bar and organizing socials when needed.
Ciril Habjan, who helped John Colak make and main-
tain the ice and ice plant this year and in seasons past.
Walter Comper for his continued work in decorating our
club each year for our annual bonspiel. These people
gave endless hours of their time helping the executive
make this past curling season a success.
our season starts again

Remember, curlers,

in October. Enjoy your summer!

PANTH ER"

KITTY CAT"

CATS

Arctica Ing-. i9'

a

‘(NORTHERN
LIGHTS
COLLEGE

by Allan Studd

OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday 9 a.m.-Noon
1:30-4 p.m.
Monday, Wednesday
Thursday

Here it is May already and
our academic year is just about
over. Most of our programs have
been completed or are nearing
completion. We will close our
doors’ for summer on June
15th.

the

We are looking at afew
computer oriented programs in the
month of May “if there is the
interest. These will include:

WORDPERFECT, a very powerful
Word Processor with instructor
Greg Stark.

SETTING UP YOUR HOME
COMPUTER - a chance for you to
sort out your own special
computer problems at home with
our expert. This is strictly a
personal tutorial. We have
allowed three hours’ for each
session at a cost of $34.00.

Please check our bulletin
boards or the WSTV rollover’ for
more information for times and
dates.

We have just completed the
third concert in the Stikine
Concert Series with a performance
by Leo Aquino on the accordion.

1:230-9230 p.m

The PTARMIGAN PLAYERS in conjunction with
the LIONS CLUB present:

A Speakeasy Dinner Theatre
Saturday May 6th
at the Rec Centre

$25.00 per person

For tickets or more information, please call Helen
Billingsley (778-7283) or Norma Ray (778-7243).

These concerts were quite
successful and came off with only
minor glitches. Now that the
idea has been planted we are
confident that support will grow.
We are working on next years
series and have had offers of

support from School District #87
and Watson Lake. This is
encouraging and we hope to put
together a fine program for
1989/90.

Our 1989/90 University and
College Calendars are arriving
and are on display in our
Counselling Centre. These can be
looked at during our office
hours.

If we can be of any help to
you in your continuing education
needs, please do not fail to
contact us at the Learning Centre
or at 778-7878.

by Tom O'Connor

In last month's issue of the
Courier, readers encountered some

incorrect and untimely
speculations about the operation
and. management of the college

both in Cassiar, and throughout
the region.

Decisions concerning admin-
istrative contracts, programmer
positions, hours for college ex-
tension programming and alloca-
tions of funding are all matters
for college board direction and
ought not to have been speculated
on in the Courier last month.

“Northern Lights
managed by a board
resident Mrs

College is
with local
Lee coran
Stikine Campus
seven communities

representing the
serves

which

or phone Norm.Cosnett

Cassiar Courier May 1989 Page 5
from Atlin to Iskut. My role as
campus administrator is to
implement policies adopted by the
board in cooperation with our
regional office in Dawson Creek.
Minutes of board meetings are
posted in the Cassiar Learning
Centre.

AS management and program
decisions are taken by our board,
I will ‘report on them in the
Courier. Any questions and
suggestions regarding any aspects
of college service are welcome in
my office (771-5500, Dease Lake),
or by mail: Box 128, Cassiar..

If You Want to Drink,

That’s Your Business.

If you Want to Stop,
THAT’S OURS!

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

Sunday - Open Meeting
Wednesday - Closed Meeting

8:00 p.m. 3

CATHOLIC
CHURCH RASFAAFNIT

Phone 778-7479

Annual

Mother’s Day Brunch

Sunday, May 14
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
at the Curling Club

Flowers for the Ladies!

Sponsored by the Cassiar Lions Club

MOTHER OF THE YEAR

This special Mother is chosen
for her volunteer activities with
Cassiar young people.

Send your nominations by
Friday, May 12 to:

Cassiar Lions Club

Box 490

7820 a 7H: Seapets