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Page 12, Whltby FrovPresa, Weclnesday, Januasy 19, 1994 Bourassasees no solution to conflict between C roatians, Serbians By arkReesor Peace negotiations are unlikeiy te bring an end te the fighting in what was once Yuîçoàîavia, according to Canadian citzenship judge Water Bourassa. Bourassa toid a Rotary Club of Whtby Sunrise meeting recentjy there' s uch a deep-rooted hatred between the sides that "I don't think there will ever be a solu- tion... "These people settied there in the sixth century and they have been fighting for 1,400 years.» Bourassa grrew up in Croatia snd recailed-how the hatred for the other side ie passed from generation te generatian. «I was raised in a very strict, maternai, family. My grand- mother was the boss --gandpa went te work but she ran t he home sud the famiiy. "Every night after dinner we bowed our heads and prayed the Hoiy Rosary. At the conclusion, we'd invake the bleesing on everybody from Ato Z -- and then she would conclude the prayers by saying, «except Serbs.' The hatred lie so engraîned, it stays with-peapie even after they leave the reion, eays Bourassa, a local resident. "There's a tremen dous, conflict in the Serbian sud Croatian -'om- munities in Hamilton, Windsor, even in Oshawa. The cammuni- ties, rather than workinît within the mosaic of Canada, 'reniain ver Ztongly identified as a roatia comniunity (or) Serbian community... "As a citzenship court judge, 1 have certain personai opinions on the multiculturalism; which r'm not able ta share. Canada is a great: international qýountry. We alioN* the people te ýme t this country of refuge, but we also allowm them, unfortunately, te bring their baggage along.n Bourassa eaye that le illustra- ted by an experience which hap- pen dte him soon after he came taCanada in 1957 to attend McMaster University in Hfamil- ten. He shared a room with a Serb who had lived in Canada since he was two years old, and the roommate invited Bourassa te spend hristinas wit hie farnily, an affer he gratefuliy accepted. The next day the roonirate returned ta the university "with big tears running down hie cheeks and he said, 'When 1 euggested that te my mother, m mother said no Croatian will ever break bread at my table." Nqot only do expatriates keep alive the hatred, says Bourassa, they send money and weapons bacl te the region to fuirther fuel the confIict. CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP judge Walter Bourassa points to a map of the eiglit republios which make ýUp the former Yugoslavia. Bourassa was born in Croatia and spoke at a recent Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise meeting about the hislory of the currerit confliot dividing the region. Photp by Mark Reeao. Wioy Free Pres Grant to cover cosct of Gordon Cottage upgradt"ng Gardon Street Children's Cottage at 700 Gardon St., 'Whitby wiii receive a $9,320 grant for upgrades ta the playground and infant room. The grant was announced by Durhamn Centre MPP Drununond White. "It le. particulariy gratifying ta see the resuits of aur dollars on this, the yaungest sectar of aur society," said White. Theft at 100F office A camcorder, battery and char- g, with a total estimated value ofe $800, were stelen after a break-in Jan. 8 or 9 at the Independent Order of Forresters. Police say the cuiprits broke inte the 1600 Champlain Avenue office sometinie between 5 p.m. on Jan. 8 sud 4 p.m. the next day. Nothing else was taken in the break-in. Study looks at best mîx of hospital The Durham 1Region Acute Care Study, -sponsored by Durham Region District Hth Council (DHC), ie examining hospitai-based services in the region to doterniine the beet >rgan.ztion and mix of services tht ets the needs of Durham tei ets into the future, and a,4 ie consistent with the moet efetive and eflicient use of heaWh care resources. TÇhe first phase of the study bas Ilaoked at the current health cari needs of peaple in Durham, andi projected how the needs of pe ale rnay change over the next nhe next phase of the study will1 invoive the deveiopment of a system of hoepitalbbased services which best meets the projected needs of Durham residents. The study le currently in the first phase -- information je being collected to identify health care needs of Durham residents. Based an preliminary data, the study bas found that there is a continued rôie for each of the six hospitals in Durhamn Region. A discussion paper wiil be peare d describing a preferred mdlfor Durham's hospitai eystem. In February and March, meetings wlll be heid witin communities across the region to get the advice of residente and their responses te the model before final recommendations are forwarded te the Minister of Health. For more information, contact Lrnda Hessey, executive director Ttaadistrict heaith council, at 433-4262.