The record, 24 octobre 1996, jeudi 24 octobre 1996

THURSDAY October 24, 1996 WEATHER, Page 2 50 cents The Voice of the Eastern Townships since 1837 Townships’ talk tame compared to Montrealers Quebec has David Price.French face.’ By Maurice Crossfield SHERBROOKE - When the two solitudes come together on radio in the Townships, the resulting conversation centres more around cooperation than conflict.Wednesday morning CHLT radio gathered members of the English and French-speaking communities at Pizzeria Demers to discuss the language issue.Hosted by Jacques Lavoie and Alain Campagna, the live phone-in show looked at the longstanding harmony between anglophones and francopho- nes.The show was followed by a province-wide bilingual phone-in show by Télémédia English and French stations which was marked by commentaries and opinions from radical separatists and federalists.Hosted by Avril Benoit, Gilles Proulx and Tommy Schnurmacher, the radio waves were filled with shouting matches from both sides of the linguistic fence.But closer to home things were a little different.With much of the discussion centered on the issue of bilingual signs at the Centre Universitaire de Santé de l’Estrie, most callers supported bilingual hospital signs.“Quebec has a French face and we have no problem with that,” said Lennoxville mayor David Price.He said that while many Townships anglos are bilingual, many members of the older generation never had to learn French.He said it’s a matter of respect.One caller told a story of his hospital stay in which nurses could not translate a dinner menu for an English roommate.He said such occur- rences aren’t fair for patients or nurses, who often have other duties to perform.Regional health board member Mike Rochette responded that the changes taking place in area hospitals aren’t without their problems.He said people must work together to turn ideas into practical solutions.“The challenge is to find a way to make it work in everyday life,” Rochette said.The subject of pictograms also came up during the dis- See TALK: page 3 Palliative care group helps deal with terminal illness ¦ “I called a couple of times, and she called a couple of times too,” he said.Poirier adds that volunteers are trained to be good listeners and to be discreet.“Don’t forget when you go into a home, you enter people’s privacy,” he said.“It’s almost like confession.They insist on that.You’re going to meet people who say things that you can’t take outside the home.” Rose des Vents co-ordinator Anne-Marie Poirier said volunteers can often listen to things which patients find hard to share with their families.“When you're confronted with death, it’s not easy, and sometimes it’s easier to talk about death with a stranger than with their families,” she said.Volunteers receive compulsory training in palliative care, to help people deal with the mourning process as well as how to be a good listener.Edwards says Frank Poirier was a friend she could lean on in times of trouble.“I don’t know how many times you mopped up my tears,” she tells him as they shared a cup of .coffee and a chat with the Record.See CARE: page 2 By Rita Legault LENNOXVILLE - Marjorie Edwards first heard about palliative care services at La Rose des Vents in a small article in the Record.“I clipped it and tucked it away in an address book never thinking I would have any reason to need it,” she said.“You never think about those things.” But a few months later when her husband Ted Bennett was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, she and her mate soon found themselves in need of such help.“By the time the cancer was discovered it had metastasized,” Edwards said.The prognosis was not good and the next two years of caring for her husband was tougher than Edwards could have imagined.“Everything happened so suddenly,” Edwards said, adding that the subject of La Rose des Vents came up again after her husband became paralyzed and they opted for home care.La Rose de Vents is a nonprofit volunteer organization which provides home care and other assistance to cancer victims and their families in the Sherbrooke area.At first, Edwards dealt ¦ x Rose des Vents volunteer Frank Record recently mostly with private home care covered by insurance.But those funds were quickly depleted and she had to turn to the local CLSC for help.But Edwards found that private and public care was not very personal.And, she adds, home care workers were not always available when they were needed.“When someone is paralyzed you can’t leave them home alone, so all the hours have to mm .i—ii«n> Poirier and Marjorie Edwards shared a coffee and a chat with the PHOTO: RITA LEGAULT be covered,” she explained.Family help was hard to come by with children spread out in three different provinces, Edwards added.“It’s the Quebec situation.They aren’t here.” Nursing care from the CLSC only covered so many hours and they had to be back to the office by 4, she said, and even with help from other personal and private resources, there were still many hours to cover.“This is where La Rose des Vents was a good pinch hitter,” Edwards said.Volunteer Frank Poirier said people like him provide help and moral support to both dying patients and their families.“The role of the helper is to help both, and even after,” he said, adding that he and Edwards kept in touch after her husband died.c )Y$0N 6 AR HSTROWG USI 614 RIC 3d Cars J I Craig St.IHMOND 826-3501 I m, New Cars l/hh 265 Principale St.Il W RICHMOND 826-3721 Air Condition Power windows Power door locks 1 Power seats 1 AM/FM cassette Special *16,900 Eighty Eight Oldsmobile only 38,000 km *382 for a 2 year lease SMARTLEASE The RECORD - Thursday, October 24, 1996 - 2 More referendum charges laid By Jack Branswell QUEBEC (CP) - Quebec’s chief returning officer laid five more charges Wednesday over the giant federalist rally held in Montreal three days before last fall’s referendum.Two individuals and one company from outside Quebec were among those served notice they had violated the province’s referendum law, Pierre-F.Cote’s office said Wednesday.Celso Boscariol of Vancouver, George Furey of St.John’s, Nfld., and Conquest Tours of Downsview, Ont., are accused of breaking the law by leasing buses and planes to bring Canadians to the rally without the cost showing up in the No committee’s financial report.The law requires Yes and No sides in a referednum to detail all the money they spent on their campaign.Postal workers unions in Montreal and Quebec City were also notified they had violated the law by spending over $1,200 to prepare and send a letter.Cote’s office did not say what the letter was about.This brings to 18 the number of individuals or groups charged in connection with the rally.Several of the earlier accused have not entered pleas and are contesting the legality of the referendum law.If found guilty, individuals face minimum fines of $100 and companies or groups $1,000.In a related matter, the English-rights group Alliance Quebec is calling for a full judicial inquiry into electoral fraud during the referendum.The group is also threatening to go to court if Cote doesn’t grant it access to 86,000 rejected ballots from the vote last Oct.30.CARE: Dropping GST on some books could backfire OTTAWA (CP) Scrapping the GST on some books won’t be enough to make the public forget about a promise by the Liberals to replace the hated goods and service tax.“People are going to be pretty cynical about the whole thing,” Reform finance critic Monty Solberg said Wednesday.“They were forced into it by public pressure.It’s not meeting the entire promise." MP John Nunziata, who was thrown out of the Liberal caucus earlier this year for his stance against the GST, said the government didn’t go far enough.“There’s a lot of concern about the impact the whole issue will have in the next election,” said Nunziata, who voted against his government’s budget because it didn’t scrap the tax.“I hope they will go the extra distance and announce a plan that will see the eventual abolishing of the GST.” Having a friend like Frank Poirier was helpful to Marjorie Edwards.Continued from page one As well as being hard on her emotionally, caring for her husband took a physical toll on Edwards who suffers from arthritis and osteoporosis.But one thing that Edwards did not have to face, was a language barrier when dealing with La Rose des Vents.Frank Poirier said its easier for people to deal with volunteers in their own language.“It puts them at ease right away,” the fluently bilingual volunteer said, adding that people are more relaxed when they don’t have to search for their words to be understood.Edwards agrees.“I can make my needs known in French, but it was easier for Ted in English,” she said.Despite the fact that the volunteer group is celebrating its 10th anniversary, Edwards said La Rose des Vents is not well know in the English community.Inside Ann Landers .14 Behind the News.7 Births and Deaths .11 Classified.12 Comics.15 Crossword .14 Editorial.6 Entertainment.9 Farm and Business .8 Living.10 Sports .16 The Townships .3-4-5 “I was so thankful for the services at La Rose des Vents, I spread the word as much as I could and people said ‘What?What is La Rose des Vents?” But the volunteer group is trying to change that as it attempts to expand its services.Co-ordinator Anne Marie Poirier said La Rose des Vents is trying to expand services, and it would like to find more bilingual volunteers.The expansion is due in large part to a very generous donation which has upped their minimal budget for the upcoming year.About one third of the community group’s $75,000 annual budget comes from the provincial health care ministry which benefits greatly from the health care services provided by groups like La Rose des Vents.The rest of the budget comes from fundraising activities and private donations, many WEATHER Expect intermitent rain this morning, clearing this afternoon.The high will be around 12.Winds will be from the southwest at 15-30 km-h.The clouds will still be around Friday when there will be a 30 per cent chance of showers.Friday’s high will be about 11 with a low near 4.of which are donations in lieu of flowers following the deaths of those who have profited from the services of volunteers.Poirier said the group is also trying to diversify services with a support group of cancer patients being added to visits from volunteers and a transport and companion services for medical appointments.Among the services now being offered are' free home visits from volunteer massage therapists.Poirier said the group needs about 50 active volunteers to fulfil requests for services.And, she adds, there is a need for bilingual helpers to serve a growing number of English users.She said most of the volunteers are women, many are retired and some have dealt with the death of a loved one from cancer.Some are unemployed people looking for an outlet for their energy while others are nursing and psychology students getting some real life job experience.She said that although they are dealing with the dying, most volunteers don’t find it difficult.They find it rewarding to bring some happiness or support to people in need.All have generous personalities and are at ease with the sick and dying.“Rarely do volunteers come and tell me Anne-Marie, it’s too hard dealing with dying people,” she said.“Death is part of the natural cycle of life.We are ephemeral,” she adds.“That doesn’t mean there are no dramatic moments.There are some.But there are also very rewarding and even happy moments.” For more details about services at La Rose des Vents, for information abut contribution or legacies, or to volunteer call Anne-Marie Poirier at 823-9996.7 YOU SPRINKLE THESE SEEPS ANP WATER THEM, ANP OUT COMES ALL THIS FUR! LOOK! ISN'T THIS THE CUTEST THING?IT'S A CHIA PET.TTi mm, ilii Record a division of Quebecor Communications Inc.2850 Delorme, Sherbrooke, Que.J1K 1A1 819-569-9511 819-569-9525 Fax: 819-569-3945 Member ABC, CARD, CDNA, NMB, QCNA Randy Kinnear, Publisher.819-569-9511 Susan C.Mastine, Community Rel.819-569-9511 Charles Bury, Exec.Editor .819-569-6345 Sharon McCully, Editor.819-569-6345 Dwane Wilkin, Chief Correspondent .819-569-6345 Alain Tétreault, Adv.Dir.819-569-9525 Richard Lessard, Prod.Mgr .819-569-9931 Departments Accounting.819-569-9511 Advertising.819-569-9525 Circulation .819-569-9528 Editorial .819-569-6345 Knowlton office .514-242-1188 Home & Mail subscriptions SSI ESI TOTAL Canada: 1 year 104.00 7.28 7.23 $118.51 6 months 52.00 3.64 3.62 $59.26 3 months 26.00 1.82 1.81 $29.63 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services available on request.Back copies of The Record ordered one week after publication are available at $1.00 per copy.Established February 9, 1897, incorporating the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) and the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879).The Record is published daily Monday to Friday by The Record Division, Quebecor Communications Inc.Offices and plant located at 2850 Delorme Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1K 1A1.Canadian Publications Mail Service Product Agreement No.0479675. The RECORD - Thursday, October 24, 1996 - 3 Townships Bigger project scraped because of opposition Plan B for Brigham garage BRIGHAM (MC) Following opposition of a plan to build a municipal garage, Brigham town council is now looking at a scaled-down version to house its road repair and excavation equipment.Bidding for the contract to build a garage as an annex to the town hall closed Monday.Several contractors submitted proposals to build the garage, that is expected to cost between $50,000 and $60,000.A decision on which of the seven or eight competing contractors will be awarded the contract is expected within the next few days.Construction of the garage is expected to be completed before winter sets in.The new plan is greatly reduced from the town’s original proposal, which would have seen a more extensive garage built elsewhere in the municipality.That garage would have cost taxpayers in Brigham over $300,000, and would have included a more elaborate structure.In addition, the town would have had to purchase the land on TALK:- Continued from page 1 cussion.But when Town-shippers Association's Mar-issa Tessier showed one of the proposed pictograms to Mouvement estrienne pour le français president Jacques Poisson, he could not identify it.He replied that all anglos would need to do is learn a dozen or so French words and the whole problem would be solved.Also taking the hard line was Confederation of National Trade Unions regional president Janvier Cliche.He maintained the CSN line that Quebec must maintain its French face in order to survive.But by the end of the show he did express some willingness to reach a compromise on the hospital signs issue.Also on the panel was Record executive editor Charles Bury.He told listeners he thinks the good relationship between anglophones and francophones will continue, but will doubtlessly face some trying moments.Following the broadcast ,Tessier said she was encouraged by what she heard.“I think it went well,” she said.“The message we got from a lot of people is that the English and French live in harmony and will continue to do so.” Tessier said the problem hasn’t been with individual Townshippers, but with the “narrow mindedness of the Brigham mayor André Leroux.which to build the new garage.However, opposition to the bylaw which would have allowed Brigham to borrow the money for the project prompted the town council to scrap the plan.“We got two clear messages from the population,” said Brigham mayor André Leroux.“First, they don’t want any new debts, and second they want the garage built here in town.” Leroux said the municipality decided that the next best Janvier Cliche took hard line.Office de la langue française.” As for just how the CUSE signs issue will be dealt with, Tessier isn’t willing to make any predictions.“It will depend on the political will to solve the problem,” she said.“There are arrangements that can be made, but whether or not they will be used, I don’t know.” CHLT program director Claire Francoeur said relations between the two language groups are similar to that of a married couple.Sometimes they have to talk about their problems with each other.“We have to identify where the problem is coming from,” Francoeur said.‘This was a chance to make everybody sit down and discuss the issues.” Francoeur said the main question is one of respect for each others needs, not a question of winning or losing.thing was to build the garage as an annex to the town hall.With the reduced cost, the town won’t have to borrow money for the new garage, he said.Instead the cost will be absorbed as a normal part of the municipality’s annual budget.“We made an analysis of all the situations, and we decided to do this along with renovations to the front of the town hall,” Leroux said.Leroux said the front of the town hall is in need of repairs, including the replacement of several windows.Much of the renovation work will take place next spring, he said.The mayor said the new garage is necessary so that the town can take better care of its trucks, tractors and other equipment.“We have to be sensible enough to know that we can’t use that machinery without any garage,” he said.“We have invested a few hundred thousand dollars in the machinery so it has to be used properly.” “We have to ask ourselves why did the issue of the CUSE explode?” she said.“We will respect the law, but will the law respect the needs of the people?If we don’t do that we will lose the harmony we have.” Sébastien Coté of the Champlain Students Association said he found the experience interesting.He said that the idea that the French language is threatened is outdated.“I think the people who called in were more in favor of what we in Lennoxville have been saying,” he said.“We don’t want to fight anymore, we have our services in French.” But Coté said he thinks the good relationship between the two linguistic groups has suffered since the Parti Québécois returned to power.He said anglophones deserve something after losing the Sherbrooke Hospital.Price summed up the debate as being “a very typical Townshippers response.No one got terribly excited.” He said bilingual signs at the CUSE would go a long way towards making life easier for anglophones.“The CUSE is a big, big building.You need signs to find your way around,” he said.“Let’s make the change over from the Sherbrooke Hospital to the CUSE a little easier.” In Brief Business symposium at Bishop’s LENNOXVILLE - The 10th annual Partners in Business Symposium will be held Oct.25 at Bishop’s University.This year’s theme is Training: A Competitive Tool in Industry.Speakers will present various views on Canadian and Quebec training issues, the roles of external consultants and academia, as well as service and manufacturing perspectives.The six speakers hail from diverse backgrounds: J.P.Souque from the Conference Board of Canada; Michael Saikali from the SQDM; Yvonne Keane from Watson Wyatt Consulting Co.; Jack Duffy, a professor of human resources at Dalhousie University; Peter Tucker, the senior vice-president of human resources at the Royal Bank of Canada and Norman Lecours, the vice-president of Domtar’s Windsor plant.The sessions begin at 1:45 p.m.Limited seating is still available at Bandeen Hall.A few tickets also remain for the dinner-symposium at Hovey Manor in North Hatley.Gazette business columnist James Ferrabee will be the guest speaker.Tickets are $150.for the symposium and dinner.For more information on the sessions or dinner-symposium, contact Lissa McRae at (819) 822-9600 ext.2373.“ Volunteers patrolling streets on Halloween SHERBROOKE - Halloween is lurking just around the corner and the City of Sherbrooke has planned a number of activities to ensure that everyone has a scary, but safe evening.Police officers will be going door-to-door Oct.31 between 3:30 p.m.and 9 p.m.Volunteers from various organizations, including Canada Post, Secur Ltd., and the local ambulance service, will be patrolling Sherbrooke streets in easily identifiable cars.Citizens involved in Neighborhood Watch programs and students in police studies will also keep a watchful eye during Halloween.If you are interested in patrolling the streets you can contact your local police station.Officers will give you a small poster with the logo “Parents-Secours” to put in your car.Children have been told they can seek the help of people who have this logo in their cars.For more information, call the City of Sherbrooke at (819) 821-5564.Sherbrooke’s great pumpkin contest SHERBROOKE - The City of Sherbrooke is holding its great pumpkin contest until Oct.25.People are invited to bring their most prized pumpkins or squash to the municipal greenhouses at 1350 Portland Blvd.The pumpkins will be featured during the 42nd annual flower exhibit which begins Saturday, Oct.26 at the greenhouses.The pumpkins and squash can be decorated with paint, color crayons, construction paper, etc.However, they cannot be sculpted or have holes in them, ensuring that the pumpkins and squash don’t rot.Three winners will be awarded according to originality.Prizes include the book L’Estrie et ses trésors and different promotional gifts.For more information, call the City of Sherbrooke at 821-5564.Good Luck! Haunted house in Fleurimont FLEURIMONT - Looking for a few thrills and chills before Halloween night?The Haunted House at 250 Corbeil St.in Fleurimont has opened its doors to the public once again.It runs until Oct.27.For the 10th year in a row, Gérard Boutin is welcoming visitors into his home to celebrate Halloween.He and his family decorate the entire house with skeletons, ghosts, cemeteries - all the crucial ingredients for a fright fest.The Boutins also distribute candies and other goodies to visiting children.Last year, they gave away over 9,000 bags of candy.During their visit, people will be asked to make a small donation to the Fondation du Centre Universitaire de Santé de l’Estrie.All proceeds go to the foundation to improve social services.For more information, call the foundation at 563-5555.Military on the move in Milby SHERBROOKE - The 714th communications squadron of National Defence will be holding exercises in Ascot from Oct.25 to 27.During the day and night, army vehicles will be driven around the Milby-area on Route 147 going towards Compton.Please note that no arms will be fired during the exercises.For more info, call the Town of Ascot at 563-3993. Townships 4 - The RECORD - Thursday, October 24, 1996 Experience Canada matches talent with opportunity Diana Frost is participant in 10-month Experience Canada project.I #***•*«,, By Paul Cherry SHERBROOKE “Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match.” That could be the tune for a new federal government program aimed at linking out-of-work students to a job in their chosen field.Experience Canada, a program established after last year’s referendum, links job seekers, between the ages of 18 and 29, with a job and host families in provinces other than their own.People who qualify for the program need to have graduated with at least a high school leaving certificate and have been out of school for at least a year.Experience Canada tries satisfactorily match an employee to an employer.Diana Frost, a native of Sherbrooke, is currently participating in the 10-month program and said the selection process is very thorough.To qualify for a job session a person has to go through a process that makes Experience Canada sound like a computer dating service.Applicants answer a number of questions which are then fed into a computer database.To qualify for a job the applicant must be projected as someone who will fit in well with a prospective company.Experience Canada expects to have more than 500 Canadians enrolled in the work program within a year.Frost said only five people have qualified so far because the matches have to be with- in a high percentage range.“Getting anything off the ground is tough,” said Melanie Myers, human resources supervisor for International Pipe Line (IPL), the company Frost is working for until February.“I think companies in Alberta are going to look at what IPL has done and they will follow us.” Human Resources Canada has committed $8.4 million to the program through March 1998.IPL became involved in the program through its affiliation with the Council for Canada, a collection of business and labor leaders who promote Canadian unity.Frost graduated from the Université de Sherbrooke with a chemical engineering degree in 1994.She also attended Champlain College in Lennoxville.She unsuccessfully tried to find an environmental engineering job in Quebec.“All the jobs I wanted to work in required previous experience in the field,” said Frost.“Now I’m getting that experience.” She is getting that experience while working for the Edmonton- based company.IPL maintains a Canada-wide pipeline that provides Alberta-produced fuel to major customers.For example, fuel used to power airplanes at Mirabel Airport is pumped through the pipeline all the way from Alberta.Frost is currently working on a project that is studying whether the fuel-flow going from Sarnia, Ont.to Montreal can be reversed when necessary.She has also helped do studies on databases the company is compiling on ground-water tables located near the pipeline.Experience Canada takes the individual looking for a job through a four-step process.Frost said before arriving in Alberta, she was flown to Ottawa and given a crash course on adapting to a new workplace.She was advised on leadership skills, group development and given a variety of personality tests.The second step in the program is the actual employment which Frost is going through now.After completing six months of work Frost will return to Ottawa for courses on how to job search in the '90s.As a final step, Experience Canada advises each participant as they try to find a job in their chosen field.The tough match-making process seems to have worked in Frost’s case.She said she is enjoying the work part of the project.Myers said Frost has been working well with the company and has gained a lot of on the job experience.For its part, IPL is paying Frost $8500 for her six-month assignment.Experience Canada asks participants to get involved in their new community by volunteering time to worthy causes in their host province.Since she has been in Alberta, Frost has spent time helping with a local school’s free-lunch program and helped to hand out refreshments at a Terry Fox run.The host family and participants, like Frost, are encouraged to talk about and compare their provinces.Frost said her host family is well-read and aware of the political situation in Quebec.Frost said that even during the course of a normal work day the question of national unity often comes up.“I’ve been trying to convince some people I’ve met so far that Quebecers don’t hate English-speaking people from the rest of Canada.” Frost said for the most part Albertans are open-minded about Quebec’s problems and she is aware of differences between the two provinces.“I have noticed that people out here like to participate more,” she said.“They like to get involved in charity work.That is something I always tried to do when I was in school in Quebec.” Both Myers and Frost said there are differences to be found between every province in Canada.“We have another person who is involved in the program who is from Ontario and he says he was surprised at the difference between people from his province and Albertans,” said Myers Frost gives Experience Canada’s initial attempt at finding work for young Canadians two thumbs up.“I really think more Quebecers should give this program a shot .And people from outside of Quebec should try doing the same in the province.” Canadian LENNOXVILLE — The Eastern Townships Research Centre will launch Number 9 of the Journal of Eastern Townships Studies, a special commemorative issue on the late poet Ralph Gustafson.This event will take place on Friday, October 25 at 5:30 p.m.at the Old Library in the McGreer Building at Bishop’s University in Lennoxville.The poet’s widow, Betty Gustafson, and Professor Wendy Robbins, guest editor of this special issue, will be present at the event.There will be readings from Gustafson’s work and refreshments will follow.Gustafson, a Townships native who resided in North Hatley for the last thirty years of his life, was distinguished with numerous high honors, including the Governor General’s Award for poetry (Fire on Stone, 1974), membership in the Order of poet Ralph Gustafson commemorated Canada, and several honorary degrees.Gustafson was known chiefly for his remarkable body of poetry, with its strong social conscience and distinctly Canadian feeling for place and landscape expressed in finely wrought, disciplined verse; but he was also an essayist, a fiction writer and an important anthologist of writing by other Canadians.Throughout his life, he was a tireless advocate and worker for Canadian culture.The special issue pays tribute to many facets of Gustafson’s life as a writer, introduces readers to him as a person, and includes several fine photos of him taken at various time in his life.Among the contents of the issue are an interview by guest editor Wendy Robbins (University of New Brunswick) with the poet’s widow, Betty Gustafson and three chapters of Gustafson’s unpublished Townships novel, No Music for the Nightingale, with an introduction by Philip Lanthier (Champlain College).The issue also presents fresh assessments of Gustafson’s work through a comparative analysis by Patricia Godbout (Université de Sherbrooke), of his poetry and that of fellow Townshipper George Elliot Clarke (Duke University, North Carolina), of his poetic odyssey, which culminated in the hallmark work rooted in the landscape of his native region.Recollections, poems and reflections about Gustafson from fellow poets, colleagues, friends and admirers will also be included.For information, call Rina Kampeas, coordinator of the Eastern Townships Research Centre, at (819) 822-9600, ext.2647.Works of poet Ralph Gustafson remembered. The RECORD - Thursday, October 24, 1996 - 5 Townships PQ Boucher says he has solution to signs dispute By Rita Legault SHERBROOKE - As Townshippers head to Quebec City to deposit a petition in the National Assembly calling for bilingual signs at the Centre Universitaire de Santé de l’Estrie, PQ regional delegate Claude Boucher has promised a solution to the brewing controversy.But full scale bilingualism is out of the question, he warns.Boucher said last night his party is working on a compromise which will please the English community and not break the law.The Johnson MNA said the solution will be made public in mid-November, before the deadline for the hospital to take down the signs which contravene Quebec’s Charter of the French language.Last spring the CUSE inherited the legal obligation to offer acute care services to the English-speaking community aftèr the closing of the Sherbrooke Hospital.After consultation with the English community, the hospital and regional health boards agreed to post bilingual signs to ensure adequate access to Police on SHERBROOKE - The Sherbrooke Police are looking for two men in connection with an attempted armed robbery that took place Tuesday.The two men, both in their 20s, approached a woman who was walking near 55 King St.West at about 2:15 p.m., one of the men asked her for a light, and then asked in English, “Any money on you?” The woman then turned to look at the second suspect and was immediately punched in the nose.One of the men then pulled on the strap of the woman’s handbag in an attempt to steal it, but the victim hung on.Finally, the second suspect stuck his hands in his pants pockets to pretend he had a services for the anglophone community.However, the new signs have been declared illegal by the Office de la langue française, and anglophones have asked the government to step in and do something to keep the signs.The English community argues that aging anglophones need the signs in order to have full and complete access to the hospital and its services, and wants the government to use powers to ensure the signs remain or are replaced with something adequate.Boucher said the solution will not be pictograms, as was suggested by Health Minister Jean.That idea was soundly rejected by Townshippers Association, especially after receiving copies of bewildering signs being used unsuccessfully elsewhere in the province.“I don’t like pictograms,” Boucher said.‘That is not the way we will be able to resolve this issue.” Boucher said the solution will probably be to translate some French words on signs.However, he warns, he is in weapon.He then yelled, “Don’t move nothing.” The two suspects then fled towards the parking lot of the Roger Labonté men’s clothing store.A police release described the first suspect as a white male who speaks English and French.He is about five-foot-five and weighs about 200 pounds.He had sandy-colored hair and four earrings and may have a tattoo on his ear lobe.At the time of the bungled robbery he was wearing combat boots and army pants.The second suspect is taller but lighter, weighing in at about 155 pounds and is about six-foot-tall.He is French-speaking and about 20 to 22 years old.He has a Boucher said the solution will probably be to translate some French words on signs.no way suggesting making the hospital bilingual.“The law allows for the translation of some French words in some circumstances,” he said, adding that the law makes exceptions in cases of safety and the proper functioning of institutions.He said, for example, “urgence” could be translated by the English word emergency in parenthesis underneath the French.That, he said, would conform to the law and meet the demands of the English community.goatee and earrings in both nostrils.He has brown hair “If it’s true that we can use a translation, why don’t we do that?” he said, adding that if that’s what anglophones need to find their way around the hospital more easily that its the right thing to do.Boucher said his early hardline reaction to the bilingual signs controversy arose from his fear that official sanctioning of bilingual signs at the CUSE would be used to spread bilingualism throughout the province.That, he said, would be completely unacceptable.However, Boucher said his party is open to softening its position in order to serve the needs of anglophone Townshippers who have just lost their English hospital.Boucher, who discreetly distanced himself from remarks made by his PQ colleague Guy Chevrette who compared English-speaking Township-per to extremists like Howard Galganov, said he was raised with anglophone neighbors and friends and believes the party must act to maintain social peace in the Townships.He said he also regrets sentiments in the English community that they were tre.At the time of the robbery he was wearing a black betrayed by threats that services would not be fully accessible after promises made when the Sherbrooke Hospital closed.Boucher said all of the controversy could have been avoided if the CUSE had sought advise from the Office de la langue française before posting bilingual signs.And, he said, hospital manager Normand Simoneau was warned to seek such advice from the Office before going ahead with the plan to post bilingual signs.The PQ will get a chance to extend an olive branch to English Townshipper this afternoon when St.François MNA Monique Gagnon-Tremblay presents a so-called ‘illegal petition’ signed by some 12,000 English and French-speaking Townshippers demanding bilingual signs at the CUSE.Boucher said he will encourage his party to accept the petition even though some have argued it is does not meet official requirements which say it must state on every page that it is for presentation in the National Assembly.If anyone has any information about this incident, they that is shaved close at the sweater, khaki army pants can contact the Sherbrooke sides and longer in the cen- and combat boots.Police at 821-5544.VV)|| ¦ ' - .Football fan, Fontainbleau fishing fanatic, and regular at the Touchdown Club, George Pariseau won an expensive Polaris all-terrain vehicle (ATV) at last Saturday’s football game at Bishop’s.It is the familiar off-road vehicle seen on paths beside roads and highways in all seasons.Pariseau has been heard complaining that his new buggy is not equipped with a windshield wiper.The single passenger sports vehicle closely resembles a four-wheeled motorcycle.The lucky winner apparently broke the news to his wife by announcing he had won a convertable.There was also a lucky winner of a handsome canoe provided by La Boutique Le Huard.The winning ticket # 3209 has yet to appear, and another number will have to be drawn after half-time at next Saturday’s game against Ixtval if a winner doesn’t come forward.Former Gaiter and Polaris company representative Larry Ghio presented the ATV to Pariseau, in the company of Rod Gilpin who helped organize the contest among people who bought All Sports Passes at the Bishop’s Pro Shop.photo: perry beaton lookout for two men in attempted heist Monastery vigil tonight SHERBROOKE - The Eastern Townships women’s foundation is planning a vigil outside the Franciscan Monastery in Lennoxville tonight to show community support for saving the building.The 75-year-old religious institution was the scene of a salvage sale Wednesday and is expected to be torn down next week.The foundation, which would like to see the monastery turned into a women’s shelter or used for some other community project to help the needy, has been scrambling around to get a petition going to stop the demolition.Foundation president Pamela Stuart-Mills said the only tool they have to stop the demolition at this point is pubic action - “so bring a candle, bring your family, bring your friends,” she said.In the meantime, some groups have come forward showing an interest in finding a new vocation of the financially troubled monastery. Editorial 6 - The RECORD - Thursday, October 24, 1996 Lucien’s last stand The premier of Newfoundland laid a lobster trap and the premier of Quebec slithered right into it.Swallowed it hook, line and sinker, he did.I still can’t believe it.Known as “Captain Canada” after his swashbuckling high-seas hijinks in protection of Canada’s turbot fishery, Premier Brian Tobin, with the help of Jean Chrétien, has a bigger catch in his net this time: Lucien Bouchard and all his separatist following.The groundwork for this plan was laid back in 1969, when Joey Smallwood signed a hydroelectric deal with Quebec.In exchange for financing the building of the Churchill Falls hydro dam in Labrador, Quebec was given a sweetheart deal.They would be allowed to buy power at a low fixed price until the year 2041.Since then, power prices have soared, and Newfoundland has watched Quebec get rich selling Newfie power to the United States at a 900 percent markup.This is the only thing keeping Hydro Quebec in the black; this year alone it will make $750 million on the deal.Recently, Brian Tobin has asked to renegotiate the contract in Newfoundland’s favor.But Lucien Bouchard says a deal is a deal, and the Supreme Court of Canada backs him up.Without suspecting he’s being set up, Bouchard shamelessly invoked the Constitution of Canada last week in his stand against Newfoundland.“I’m in favor of the rule of the law,” he says without a hint of irony.“Ottawa would have to intervene (on Quebec’s behalf),” he said.This is the same Lucien Bouchard who has vowed to ignore that same Supreme Court when it rules on the legality of Quebec separation, claiming that Quebec is not subject to the Canadian Constitution.But Chrétien and Tobin have their Snidely Whiplash/Dudley Do-Right routine down pat.Right on cue, Jean steps up and says, “Don’t worry Lucien, the Canadian Constitution and the rule of Canadian law will defend you.” Smiles at camera.Set up like a bowling pin.What are the separatists going to do when Canadian law says their plans for a unilateral separation from Canada are illegal?But that Bouchard’s a slippery devil, and he’ll try somehow to wriggle out of the trap he unsuspectingly walked into.That’s if he’s still around a year from now when the Supreme Court ruling on separation is handed down.Bouchard was not well-received at Parti-Quebecois riding association meetings in Montreal last weekend.Party hard-liners are calling for a complete ban on any English on signs.They also want to ban immigrants from attending English CEGEPs and force even small businesses to operate in French.Worst of all, the hard-liners voted to declare Quebec sovereign immediately after a “Yes” vote, without even attempting to negotiate a new deal with Canada.To his credit, Bouchard is standing firm against them.He refuses to reinvoke the notwithstanding clause to protect the proposed new harsher sign law from being struck down by the Courts.Bouchard’s party leaders support him in his moderate stand.The PQ brass would prefer to put language issues and referendum plans aside for a few years, but the rank and file members are more militant.Latest count says the hard-liners control one-third of the votes as the party prepares for a convention next month.The Young Turks of the PQ seem to forget that it is not they, but their leader, who rallied widespread support for sovereignty in the last referendum.If Bouchard is pushed aside as party leader, their fortunes fall like a stone.Between the attack of Captain Canada and the mutinous threats of his own party upstarts, Bouchard must be feeling like General Custer — attacked from all sides.This is bad news for Bouchard, and what’s bad for Bouchard is good for Canada.RICHARD WILLIS Editor of the Pontiac Equity / 995-96 /A/ YEAfZ