The $1,300 mistake was made by the city.

Boo to the mayor and the rest of council who voted down the refund. Their twisted logic? When the city's well paid consultants and employees make a mistake that costs the city money, the city doesn't complain. So why should homeowners complain when the mistake costs them money?

This has happened before and will happen again. It shows just what's wrong with City Hall. (1/17/97)

Edwin Alfred Baker died last March. The community centre named in his memory is not only a celebration of his life, it is also representative of much that is good in Yellowknife.

Baker was a Second World War veteran and no stranger to extreme danger, having earned a citation from Field Marshall Montgomery for his role in disarming mines in Europe after hostilities ceased.

He was a member of the Canadian Tunnelling Company which enlarged Gibraltor's defences. Following the war, he worked in mines here in Yellowknife.

Baker's aplomb also shone forth as Legion president, a role which navy veteran Jack Adderly recalls.

Adderly said he never saw Baker get upset and if he was angry he never showed it, just kept things going at the Legion without ruling with an iron fist.

Baker didn't keep a tight fist on his money either, contributing $100,000 to launch the seniors community centre.

While he was known to turn off his hearing aid to avoid the speeches at official functions, he still listened to the needs of his fellow Yellowknifers.

But there is more to this story. The Baker Centre represents the public spirit in Yellowknife. Of $650,000 going into the construction, only one-sixth came from city coffers. The rest came from the people and Baker.

A group of citizens who call themselves YACCS -- Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors -- were a driving force behind raising the funds and were instrumental in stirring up community spirit.

The opening of the Baker Centre is a good time to reflect upon the goodness in Yellowknife. It's alive and well. (1/17/97)

When people list wide open spaces as one of Yellowknife's attractions, they're not talking about vacant commercial real estate.

The business community should pay attention; empty real estate, like flat consumer spending, is an indicator of a stagnant economy. BHP isn't going to need 120,000 square feet of office space.

It's time to get real about Yellowknife's prospects for the immediate future. (1/17/97)