express on line – www.expressnews.ca August 14, 2002 EXPRESS Page 3 Japanese Mayor  and youth honour Take your new West Kootenay BetterBook to each month’s participating business. Nelson WWII pilot Register your number to win $5000! If no number matches $1000 will be given away. ($500 cash & $500 gift certificates) Enter at: AM Ford, July/August • Pete's TV, September by Charles Jeanes With a Japanese Mayor and some young Japanese in • Glacier Honda, October • Nelson Toyota, November • Gerick Sports, December attendance, a ceremony August 6 at the Royal Canadian • Home Goods Furniture, Jan 2003 Legion (Branch 51) in Nelson was held to honour Lt. Robert Hampton “Hammy” Gray, a Canadian pilot from Nelson who died in a bombing raid at Onagawa Wan, soft rock ... LESS talk rl BetterBook Simply a better PhoneBook Japan. Gray, the last Canadian to die in World War Two, won the Victoria Cross posthumously for his role in leading the attack on ships in the Onagawa bay August 9, 1945, the same day as the second American atomic bomb was dropped at Nagasaki. Gray’s sister, Phyllis Gautschi, was present at the Legion and met the present Mayor of Onagawa, Nobutaka Azumi, who was born the year Gray was killed in action. Speaking through an interpreter, Azumi told an audience at Branch 51 hall about the annual ceremony now held in Onagawa to mark the end of the war, and to honour Gray at SUMMER SATURDAY SALE EVERY SATURDAY in AUGUST – 9am-3 pm the memorial in his name, erected there in 1985 by the Royal Canadian Legion. The Mayor of Onagawa admitted the feelings about the war are difficult for Japanese. Chicken Souvlaki Rib Eye Steak 12 x 7 oz Chicken Breast Boneless/Skinless “I was born in 1945. People feared war then but also 3 kg, Back by popular demand 4 kg box $ 4600 there are other feelings, a conflict of feelings, about our $ $ 46 50 2900 enemies. We are against war now. Everybody feels that way now, of course. But, there were 150 Japanese killed then [on the day of Gray’s bombing raid],” Azumi said. “Every year Box now we have a memorial service. People from the Canadian Embassy come. Some people from the Japanese side, old Bring this ad and receive a Featured Items on Sale soldiers, have some sentiments that are still left over from August 17 & 24 only 2.3 kg block of medium cheddar for only $21.00 the war. Those people were a little bit reluctant to attend, because of those sentiments. They will come too in time to QUALITY pay respects to Lieutenant Gray.” Come in and 79 Government Rd, Nelson, BC check out ALL Azumi noted that exchange visits between Nelson and Onagawa help to promote international understanding and our Warehouse 352-7241 peace. “We have been having exchange visits between PRODUCE LTD. Specials! Open to the Public Mon. - Fri. 8am - 4 pm Onagawa and Nelson for seven years now. We bring young people to visit. This is one of the ways we try to promote + friendship and promote peace. At the same time, some peo- ple of the generation who participated in the war might have hurt feelings. We would like to alleviate those feelings by physically exchanging visits. So Canada can understand Japan and Japan can understand Canada,” Azumi said. “We are committed now to peace and never to repeat the mis- Bringing change to light. takes of that war.” As one door closes, others open. Our customer service offices have closed. Our toll-free number 310-WIRE (310-9473), makes getting in touch with us easier than ever. RDCK Meeting Highlights – July 27 Resolutions passed: • that directors Dawson, Munro, and Smienk meet with the Minister of Community Services for the purpose of dis- cussing the proposed Nelson boundary expansion, and representatives of the City of Nelson be invited to attend the meeting. • Staff be directed to prepare Terms of Reference for hiring a consultant to guide RDCK as it receives requests from community water systems to become services of the Regional District. • all water and sewer systems that have asked to become RDCK services be advised RDCK is not prepared to consider their requests until an acquisitions strategy is adopted. • RDCK enter into a contract with N. A. Skermer to carry out an overview commentary on Perry Ridge hazard map- ping by RDCK planners and building inspectors, for $5,200. Simply call our friendly customer service representatives toll-free at 310-WIRE (310-9473) with questions about: Power outages, bill inquiries, electrical Program Grants in aid, Areas E and F: emergencies, new connections, meter readings, or any other questions you may have. • Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament, $1200. Pay your bills by pre-authorized payment, at your bank, at one of our drop-box locations, or by mail (cheque or money order only) to: • Nelson Tramway Society, and History Theatre Project, Aquila Networks Canada Ltd., P.O. Box 2570, Station M, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 5H4. $500 each. 310-WIRE — It’s part of our commitment to making sure we’re there for you, when you need us. These grants were the total sums granted by directors of Area E and F to the named projects. Columbia Basin Trust initiatives funding in Area E and www.aquilanetworks.ca Nelson: Formerly UtiliCorp Networks Canada • Balfour Golf Course, $20,000. • Nelson and District Riding Club, $12,150. • City of Nelson playing fields, $19,916. • Nelson District Community Resources Society, and Nelson Rowing Club, $10,000 each. Release of Funds (selected) for financial grant services of the RDCK: • contract for emergency communications, 9-1-1, $716,251. Grants in lieu (selected) from BC Hydro, in Area H and D: • Slocan Lake Golf Course, $5,000.