Page 4 February 1985 Cassiar Courier ospital — appenings What kind of Children’s Christmas Party was this! Our local ambulance crew is upgrading their first aid requirements in accordance with pre- requisites set by the Provincial Ambulance Ser- vice of B.C. Five of the crew just completed the Emergency Medical Assistant Course 1 and passed the practical part of the course. Al Davies apparently was dropped on the stretcher when participating as a patient during the ex- amination— but,no,he didn’t need an ambulance, At the end of January, the remaining crew members will begin the Industrial First Aid Course and eventually take the EMAI1 course. So you can be sure of excellent care in the future with the upgraded skills of the Cassiar Ambulance crew. The month of January brings changes to the pharmacy. Now, to be consistent with the B.C. Pharmacies Act, we are issuing Official Pharmacare Receipts with each prescription drug dispensed. These receipts may be ac- cumulated and sent for re-imbursement through Pharmacare for the coming year. Please « direct. any inquiries to the Administrator. The hospital is functioning smoothly with our Administrator away in the sun and surf of Hawaii. There seems to be a problem of de- ciding who takes charge. Juanita thinks she’s the boss, but no one seems to be listening to fier. We appreciate her help with the busy days we’ve had lately, but just remember who’s -the boss when the boss gets back. ERE ‘ ris! BORN TO: Chris Litke and Gord Kamiah, a son,Joel Adam, 8 Ibs. 3% oz. at l:43 am. on December 25, 1984 in the Whitehorse General Hospital. This was the only baby born in the Yukon on Christmas Day. Sandy and: Pat Hickman, a son, Bradford James Hickman, 8 lbs. 9 oz. on January 10, 1985 at Sur- rey Memorial Hospital. CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY S Representatives of the Canadian Cancer Society will be ® visiting Cassiar on February 28 and March 1. In ad-¢ g dition to meeting with various groups within the com- : munity , they will be holding a 1% hour seminar on ® diet and cancer prevention. Watch for the posters to announce the date, time and place. Volunteers are needed to start a chapter of the Can- § ® adian Cancer Society in Cassiar. If you are interested, S please make arrangements to attend the seminar orf § contact Sandy Crawford at 778-7435, local 214. LIONS CLUB NEWS by Dave Brocklebank First, | apologize for not having a submission for the past two months — A belated Merry Christmas to every- one — and a relevant at any time of the year — Happy New Year. We, in the Lions, have had a very busy time in the past few months and with everything added together, in- cluding work, makes for no spare time to add pen to pa- per. Since our last report we have had a C.N.I.B. drive. Thank you to all area residents — we can no longer say ' just Cassiarites as the outlying residents have given with as large a heart — we have collectively given more than last year. While on the subject of C.N.1I.B., the Lions Club de- cided to sponsor Oktoberfest with all proceeds going to the C.N.I.B. There was a possibility we could make a pro- fit for this worthwhile cause but through bad weather and unforeseen circumstances, which included a lack of public support, just because dates had to be altered — we raised (still to be totalled) very few dollars and as yet, may again have subsidized entertainment in Cassiar. We would definitely have had to use money from our own pockets to provide entertainment except for the efforts and contributions of items, etc., from such as Pam Reid, Keith Taylor, Yukon Freight Lines, all the Bavarian waitresses (future recognition guaranteed), the non-Lion > workers, Brinco, Community Club, Cassiar Secondary School, Student Society, the Cookery and those that did attend. Thank you! Several other functions took place in the past few months, as well. The Lions Bonspiel was successful and there will be another one in February. Hopefully there will be teams from our District — Alaska and Yukon — attending, in- cluding selected representation locally. Many thanks to the Curling Club. Halloween in the Playground — Dracula being frozen was not as active as he should have been. Blood doesn’t flow so easy, but Jason not having any blood left was active — ask the younger kids! Remembrance Day - The solemn occasion was brought more home to roost by John Cavanagh’s guitar at the reception after the ceremony. The Christmas tree was put in place and lit. The pur- pose of the tree was and has been to raise funds for minor sports in Cassiar. The Christmas Stocking Raffle raised a good sum of money for the U.N.N. children’s Christmas party. Thank you, everyone. : LIONS BASKETBALL UNDERWAY AGAIN BY Merv Prier The Cassiar Lions Basketball League is well into its second season with 23 boys and girls, aged 9 to 14, play- ing in a three-team league. League organizers are especially happy to see several players from last spring’s mini-ball now playing with the older players. One of the keys to success in basketball.is to start young, so the nine year . olds playing now will have a real advantage next year. So don’t get discouraged, even if baskets are hard to come by this year — we're very happy with your progress. The league will continue with regular play until mid- February, when the three teams will be made into two. The final game for the two “All-star” teams and the awards presentation will happen at the Snowridge gym at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 18. All parents and inter- ested persons are invited to attend. : } 1S THERE ANYONE INTERESTED IN A FLYING SHOPPING TRIP FROM CASSIAR TO JUNEAU, : ALASKA? "WE ARE CHARTERING A 27 PASSENGER.DC3 TO FLY FROM CASSIAR TO JUNEAU ON APRIL -24 AND RETURN APRIL 28 (WEATHER PERMIT— TING). IF WEATHER IS AGAINST US WE WILL. . DEPART FROM DEASE LAKE — BUS TRANS— PORTATION PROVIDED. RETURN AIR FARE — APPROXIMATELY $300 DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE TRAVEL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PRICE BUT A LIST OF HOTELS AND MOTELS WILL BE AVAILABLE CONTACT DAVE BROCKLEBANK AT 778-7340 ‘OR TIM WALTERS AT--778-7792 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. CASSIAR LIONS CLUB} GUIDING by Margaret Voss Seventy-five years of Guiding will be celebrat- ed throughout Canada this year but, unfortunate- ly, not in Cassiar. | will no longer be able to lead the Cassiar Brownie Pack. The Brownie term of September — December 1984 lacked my full: at- tention and participation for various reasons. Sev- eral meetings were cancelled and often only one leader was present (making it very difficult to work with 18 girls at different levels in the Brown- ie program). | feel that | am unable to fulfil my commitment as Brownie Leader and, therefore, until the difficult task of finding a new leader is complete, there will be no more Brownies. | have often tried to make the public aware. that new leaders are needed to ensure continu- ation of the Brownie program. | realize that there are many other activities in the Cassiar area and that taking on a group, as well as working and having a social life, can become a lot. | will retain my position as District Commis- sioner, so that | will be in contact with the Girl Guides of Canada Association. | would like to thank the Lioness Club, the Lions Club, Cassiar Fire Department, Glen Whit- tington and Brinco Mining, who have all contrib- uted so much support in the past. There are many others who should be on the list too, but | feel that the parents deserve the most credit for their constant encouragement, patience and understand- ing. | offer orchids to those of you who volun- teer to work with youth groups. You are to be commended. | hope Cassiar will see a new Brown- ie Pack in September. a A eq Plarmigan “© Playhouse COMING EVENTS FEBRUARY 17 ~~ “Cassiar Secondary School Auction” on WSTV Club members will be working with students on preparation of spoof advertisements for local businesses. : Good fun for a good cause. Be sure to tune in to channel 8. MARCH 24 » | | “Live Puppet Theatre’”-An exciting and in- novative production guaranteed to delight both young and old; to be performed on the night of » the Shmoo Daze Spaghetti Dinner. APRIL 26 “Pinner Theatre” An evening of gourmet dining enhanced by the performance of a new, locally written and produced play, as well as other en- tertainments designed to provide a very pleasing evening for all. AUDITIONS Call for dancers. February 9, 2p.m.Cassiar Upper Leisure Room - Anyone interested in dancing in an uptempo jazz/soft-shoe num- ber for the “Dinner Theatre”’, please come and try out. Choreographer: Catherine Lanteigne Call for singers. February 23, 2p.m. Anglican Church Hall. Anyone interested in singing in a Broadway musical tribute please come and try out. Directors: L. Lanteigne and S. Best For information on either audition © call: Sheilagh Best 778-7688 Joan Cass 778-7277 Next meetings for the Ptarmigan Players: Sunday, February 10, 7:30p.m. in the Library. Sunday, March 10, 7:30p.m. in the Library. New members welcome... pe Mate TS oe — A a 4 Cassiar This is the third in an on-going series of interviews with local people who have made unique contributions to Cassiar Country. Walter Comper Artist/Archivist rom the ASBESTOS SHEET, September 23, 1958: BIRTHS: Sept. 8 to Mr. and Mrs. Vittorio Comper, Walter Frank Augustin, 6 lbs. 4 oz. Hometown boy Walter Comper is an accomplished artist, actor, playwright, community organizer and part- time Mine Dry Clerk for Brinco Mining Ltd. He is also the self-appointed curator of the Cassiar “museum” currently housed in his studio on Drybrough Street. Every society needs its historians to retain the stories, myths and artifacts that record the progress of its cul- tural heritage. This is Walter’s place in Cassiar. As part of the indigenous generation, the first to be born and raised here, Walter has a unique perspective on events that few others can share. His detailed collection of Cassiar memor-. abelia is displayed intimately through his art to provide a mirror by which we can truly understand the diversity and richness of our town. 28 years of articulate observation together with four years study in Fine Arts and Theatre at the University of Victoria have served to blend his natural insights and strong technical ability with a wide variety of mediums into a distinctive style which is all his own, yet definitively, Cassiar. He is known to many for his work as president of the el exer ~ $e oe Reproduced from a painting by Walter Comper, entitled, ““ CASSIAR STILL LIFE ” a position he has held for the past three years. by Joan Cass Curling Club members are also familiar with his contrib- utions to the annual Bonspiels. Every year his Theme interpretations, Club decor (usually considered virtual “transformations”) and program designs have ‘helped to make the event exciting and memorable. It is a fact that Walter’s ideas enhance our lives everyday though we may be largely unaware of it. He has designed the logos for the Cassiar hats and souvenir spoons that are sold in the Retail Store, and has also been responsible for several club crests, the commemorative plate, cup and bell for the Catholic Church and endless reams of posters and other advertisements for various clubs and events over the years. 3 Recently he was asked to create a coin celebratin the 20th anniversary of the Lions Club of Cassiar and the 30th anniversary of Cassiar Resources. His work is highly respected by those who know it. Brinco has often commissioned him for industrial projects including several videos. One of these is now used as part of the Indoctrination Program. Other Brinco commissions have been signs, promotional material and logos used both locally and abroad, the design for the “Mine Rescue Team” crests, and the illustrations for the Mill Training Manual. Walter also drew up plans for the Cafeteria wall which now separates the tables and chairs from the _ kitchen area and creates a more relaxed mood for dining. During the short life of the Arts and Crafts Centre Walter was active in trying to promote art within the community. Response was generally poor and the Centre eventually closed but he persisted and has now become recognized as our resident artistic advisor, consulting on almost every major project requiring aesthetic exper- tise. Not long ago Walter was commissioned by the C.C.C. to paint a mural for the lounge. It will be a large work for which he plans to use a truly Cassiar theme - mining and mountains. The canvass is already being stretched, taking up most of the living space in his house, and he hopes to have it completed sometime this spring. It will be the first local public commission exhjbiting his work on its own merit. Other current projects involve a new series of paint- ings called “Doorways”, inspired by a trip to Italy. He became fascinated by. the careful attention given to door- ways by craftsmen over the centuries and has decided to devote his energies to exploring the plays of light, shadow, texture, color and emotion revealed through them. Cassiar Courier February 1985 Page 5 Another project, perhaps his most ambitious to date, is an ongoing series in various mediums (mime, dance, painting, sculpture, theatre and _historical pag- eantry) entitled “The White Hat Tribe”. It is a three act play tracing the history of a fictitious group inhabiting the northern mountains for which Walter has painstak- ingly created an entire history and culture loosely based on asbestos mining at Cassiar. It promises to be interesting both from a theatre and an historical point of view. Much of Walter’s personal ‘‘museum” will be featured in this piece. Items like Cassiar’s original Barber Chair, old Asbestos Sheets dating back to the 50’s and even the Edmonton Journal’s announcement of a find at Cassiar dated 1951, would make a wonderful collection for permanent display following this production. PREFACE TO A THREE ACT PLAY WHITEHAT: A member of the ruling family of a tribe of people in Northern Canada. They have existed for years in a northwest corner of British} Columbia called Cassiar Country — a magnificent mountain domain that sweeps across the northern reaches of B.C. from the Dease River in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. They make their home high in the mountain with the “white plume”, which they worship. : A race that is dwindling in numbers, they still struggle on, extracting the valued cloth-rock from the wooly hill. The cloth-rock is called the “wonder mineral’ and is coveted throughout the known world for its fire resistant properties. Not much is known about the Whitehat Tribe, but artifacts like these masks have been found. It is believed that this type of mask was used in complicated martini and olive rituals. The masks were constructed from bone, usually bones of birds used in other rituals, and decorated with precious and semi-precious stones. ! CASSIAR ARCHIVES, 1981 walter comper Walter’s reputation is growing steadily. Raymond Johnson of Victoria chose Walter’s graphics to illus- trate his first volume of poetry called “Breathless Night- mare” which was published in 1984. Walter Comper is definitely well on his way to establishing himself as an independent and self-sufficient artist. We look forward to his 6th local Art Show in May of this year to see the effect of his “Doorways” and other inspirations arising from his Christmas vacation in Mexico. Beautiful Zwiesel Crystal i Net AN A '\y Available at the Town Administration Office DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF MAINTAINING A “TOLL FREE” TELEPHONE SERVICE THE “TOLL FREE” LINE WILL BE DISCONTINUED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 31, 1985. WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS AND WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU BY MAIL OR ON A NON TOLL FREE BASIS. THE NUMBER TO CALL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR LOW PRICES ON TOP QUALITY MERCHANDISE IS: (604) 787-1142