Thumbs Up - To Saanich council and staff, for quick action when the chance arose to buy part of the McMorran's Beach House property on Cordova Bay to increase public access to the beautiful beach. The $869,000 price brings a prize park that will enrich the community for generations.

Thumbs Down -To Labour Minister Murray Coell, for appointing Chris Trumpy -- until earlier this year a senior provincial deputy minister -- to conduct an industrial inquiry commission into paramedic services and collective bargaining. Trumpy is highly respected and qualified. But he is also closely tied to those who manage the service. A commissioner without those encumbrances would have been more sensible.

Thumbs Up - To Ken Wu, for more than a decade of astute and effective environmental work as the campaign director of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee's Victoria branch. Wu was knowledgeable, media savvy and politically smart enough to win converts from all sides for wilderness protection.

Thumbs Up - To the Prince George Airport Authority, which is billing the airport as an ideal spot for big planes to refuel. Last week, the little airport near the centre of the province welcomed its first Boeing 747 jumbo jet, which stopped in Prince George for a fill-up on its way from Shanghai, China, to Caracas, Venezuela. We trust the pilots received Air Miles points along with the fuel.