4 - Weekly Record, June 4, 1986
Scene from the Ridge

by Nancy Perkins

Since the Downtown Merchants Association stepped
before Council with their brief on the budget, there have
been heated comments from both sides.

As well, | have received harsh criticism for my approach
to what | perceived the situation to be.

| have had lengthy discussions with both sides. From
this, | can see there were tactical errors and grave
misuiderstandings on both sides.

Along with what I'll call the “basic budget,” the working
budget was given to the merchants. | am told that it was
given in the spirit of helpfulness. :

The first misunderstanding and communication break-
down came when the merchants belatedly found out that
“to date” meant expenditures only to November 4, 1985.
Thus the percentage increases they had calculated were
off base and incorrect.

Numerous errors were found in the detailed breakdown
budget, a tactical error on the part of the municipality.
After having an extensive interview with Marilyn Mclver, |
found out that she was aware of these errors, which were
apparently typing errors.

There were lines which had been omitted while typing
the budget, which made figures and totals incorrect. As
well, there were many other typing errors in the figure
columns, causing incorrect totals. The fect that Mclver had
only taken on the post of Treasurer a week earlier did not
help the situation.

It is unfortunate that the merchants had not been
pre-warned about the typing errors. If they had been
aware of this problem, perhaps they would have been
more kind in their brief. ae

Yes, strong words were used in the accompanying letter
to the brief, words that Mayor Caisley and Council feel
were not necessary.

A brief was prepared by the municipality in answer to
the merchants’ brief. In it, errors were pointed out that
they, the merchants, had made---the most pointed being
the tax rate comparison.

The brief also broke down the various areas of concern
regarding’ capital expenditures, Rec Centre expansion,
and other items. The Council hopes, if nothing else, this
will help clarify some of the stands taken by council.

Regardless, there will still remain some areas of distinct
disagreement between them on several of these issues.

In retrospect, both have been proven incorrect on

.arious points. Perhaps if the doors of communication had
been better used, the conflict would not have happened.
But somehow | doubt that, for the merchants were angry.
Some felt they were caught between a rock and a hard
place.
__ Mayor and Council said the merchants’ comments were
harsh, and unprofessional. Some of the merchants did not
agree with the brief's harsh approach, some did. | think
the bottom line was that the merchants wanted to be
recognized, to be heard, and | think they accomplished
that end.

Regardless of who was right and who was wrong in the
method and manner, it is time to put the matter to rest.

From this whole exercise, it is hoped that everyone has
gained a better understanding of each other's views.

It must be remembered that the merchants and
businessmen do pay a good portion of the tax shot. The
merchants do have a difficult situation at best. Over
assessment of the building values, which is not the
municipality's jurisdiction, is: probably at the forefront of
the problem.

Secondly, the town’s designers added extra cost with-

their ostentatious frills, such as fancy lamp posts and
pillars. A poorly laid out business district, from a retailer's
point of view, has not helped either.

However, this trend seems to continue as_ the
municipality continues to demand expensive landscaping
and frills to maintain our “Picture Perfect Town.”

if the municipality is to gain a good and varied tax base,
they must continually work towards deviating these and
other problems.

The very fact that these problems still exist says a great
deal.

It must be the primary concern of the municipality. to do
whatever is possible to bring down costs, be they tax or
otherwise, so the business sector can be competitive with
neighboring communities.

Likewise, the merchants must always engage in good
and sound business tactics to best serve the customers.

Tactical and other errors have been made on both sides.
But the time has come to take off the gloves and engage in
meaningful discussion and most importantly, meaningful
listening. = ee

ION

1
ace

+1BUS STOP

Some thoughts on “Evangelism”

by Rev. Al Un-rau

When a mainline church like the United Church of
Canada at its Alberta-‘Conference and its local entity, St.
Paul’s, go beyond the talking about Evangelism—and
move into the actual “‘praxis’’ of the matter—it may be
time to reflect on the matter a bit.

The reflections are as follows:

It may be that the national Sec’y on on Evangelism in
the United Church may be correct in suggesting that the
word ‘‘evangelization”’ is a much more helpful concept to
denote what the sharing of the Christian is all about.

I do feel that the word “‘evangelization’’ goes a lot
further in conveying that the ‘‘sharing of the faith’’ is
much more a process than a “‘thing’’ that is done at
specific periods of time.

There a simple little paradigm that is becoming a real
challenge to followers of Jesus of Nazareth before they

‘charge forward in what we used to call ‘‘evangelism’’:

Being the Christian Story;

Doing the Christian Story;

Telling the Christian Story.

The point of this three-fold outline is that, as a
Christian, I do not effectively share the Gospel of Christ
until I have done my homework in Being and Doing the
Christian Story. 5

Time is relative. In some cases, this may take a life
time to do, in other cases I may be able to do the
Being/Doing aspect of the process in a moment of time.
If] have done my task in the Being and Doing matter, my
sharing of the good news of Christ will have impact and
effect.

The Summer Youth Ministry is, by intent, committed
to engage in the process of ‘‘evangelization’’ that will
take seriously the Being and Doing of the Christian Story

Publisher Randy Hill —
Managing editor Nancy Perkins

Contributing reporter Steve Simmons

Address: The Weekly Record [604] 242-4789

_ Box 1508 Tumbler Ridge, B.C. VOC 2W0
The Weekly Record is published weekly. at Suite 215,
Chetwynd Centre, 5021-49th Avenue Chetwynd, B.C. and is

printed in Grande Prairie, Alberta.
Subscription rates are $15 per year for Tumbler Ridge area
residents. Subscription rates for those residing in Canada
outside the local area are $21 per year. U.S. subscriptions
are $30 per year.

Advertising should be brought to the Weekly Record office
Suite 101-230 Main St., Tumbler Ridge, B.C. _

The deadline for ads is 5:00 p.m. Thursday for the following
Wednesday edition. Se Ce ees oY

for the record

”

before it will verbalize the Story of Jesus of Nazareth.

Perhaps the greatest single challenge for the Christial
person in the process of trying to share the Christian i
that he/she is willing to listen to the pathos and depth 0
suffering and alienation that exists in the human spiril
today. It is only as we are willing to listen with this sort d_

depth and intention that we will earn a “‘right”’ to be

heard, about the answer we have experienced in al
encounter with the Living Christ, who we know to be the
answer to the devastation and despair that has afflicted
the human spirit so completely in our day. 4

I would welcome response to these thoughts on eithe
“evangelism’’ and/or ‘‘evangelization.”’

For the record ©

The birth of a local newspaper is always an | |
exciting, and sometimes historic, event. Some only |
last a few issues and others over a hundred years,
like the Ashcroft Journal, one of B.C.’s oldest
newspapers.

This newspaper is being brought to you by
popular demand. Overwhelming grass-roots sup- |
port and positive comments were given, both by
the town people and business community of
Tumbler Ridge; the readers and the advertisers.
You asked for it:..you got it.

Much of the credit for this first edition must go to
Tumbler Ridge’s own Nancy Perkins, with her |
personal ability to create havoc. Thought-provok-
ing Opinions and interesting questions about her
town were somehow put together for the readers.
This tenacity is what has made Nancy so popular,
along with some difficult and timely hours of plain
hard work.

So, for those readers. who enjoy a_ local
community paper with social events, news and a
local opinion or two, that’s what this newspaper is
all about. The odd poem will be thrown in for good
measure, and the Tumbler Ridge Scene will always
take precedence over other worldly events.

In future issues, this page will be open for
readers who wish to express their opinions. We
hope you enjoy it.

ae Randy Hill