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best available copy ihhn tribune february 17 1988 c3 marriages are born in ballooners heaven by bruce stapley in 1783 a hot air balloon took to the skies in paris france mans firstever aviation ex perience more than 200 years later the sport of kings as ballooning came to be known is much more advanced very popular and a great way to propose to your fiancee we are always being approached by people who want their engagement to take place in a balloon says hugh wallis who together with wife flora macdonald operate cameron balloons in stouffville in addition to taking their awe struck customers on more than 500 balloon rides since going into business fulltime in 1985 flora and hugh distribute bal loons acting as representatives for the british based cameron balloon firm cameron balloons will build balloons in any shape says flora referring to a brochure which features hot air models in the shape of gas pumps spark plugs paint cans and even blue jeans floras own favorite- is formed like a pumpkin nothing compares the sensation provided by climbing into the big wicker basket and lifting skyward just doesnt compare to any other experience says hugh the response is always one of wow he explains weve never had anyone disappointed some are nervous at first but they always get over it quickly hugh adds the oneness with nature is extremely peace ful and calming its the one form of flying where youre able to reach out and touch the air flight paths are always prearranged being determined by wind direction starting points are either stouffville mt albert new market or the uxbridge area flights last from between an hour and an hourandahalf covering a distance of five to 20 miles depending on wind speed if weather conditions arent favorable the flight is resche duled each one unique every flight has something unique something different says hugh there are so many different routes different topography sometimes well see deer hawks ponds and rivers we once flew over an eagles nest which made the mother more than a little excited hugh con tinued as for the claim balloonists disturb farm animals hugh is quick to point out his people go to great lengths to insure anim als or farmers are not upset they use special noiseless bur ners when going over animal areas it is very important to show respect for farmers and lives tock flora insists weve never encountered any prob lems with farmers hugh and flora claim to en joy their customers as much as the customers enjoy the balloon rides different reasons every passenger we have flown has been an absolute de light hugh says and they all have different reasons for want ing to try it flora refers to the little old lady who had promised herself she would take a balloon ride be fore she died people give balloon rides to friends or relatives for birthday presents anniversary presents or just for surprises for a spouse hugh even took a couple up into the sky to get married last august there was a minister onboard he says and not only was i the pilot but i was the second witness and i actually ended up signing as such other requests included a man from ballantrae who flew with his girlfriend over the mans house where he had spel led out the words marry me kate in the snow with logs and then there was the man who had his entire street watch him take off why do it what compels people to want to experience lifting gently sky ward in a wicker basket hooked up to a synthetic fabric envelope with propane powered steel bur ners usually someone else told them about it or they saw it on television hugh says theyre from all walks of life sometimes theyve been think ing about trying it for months and for others its totally spur of the moment the champagne flights as they are called can carry up to 10 people upon landing usually in an open field the chase truck collects the balloon and the passengers and heads back to the starting point where champagne is actually served beside hugh and flora cameron balloons also employs the services of another fulltime pilot and has several parttime employees participate in the olympic bal loon festival in calgary pas sengers will fly over the city in balloons from all over canada as for huj h wallis and flora macdonald theyve come to cherish the day they encoun tered each other ballooning in 1981 landing in the same field in sandford the resulting partnership in both marriage and business has proved to be an uplifting ex perience off to calgary hugh will be taking two bal- cameron balloon owners flora macdonald and hugh wallace met when loons to calgary alberta to they landed balloons in the same field its been uplifting ever since i have your say al v w v is it fair to expect grade 8 students to choose high school subjects and subject levels at so early an age natalie wood gpj5 grade a j0gxs summitview ps yes i think its fair we should be able to choose our own subjects and subject levels we can obtain help from par parents and from out teachers in the decisionmaking process thoy can assist us in deciding our futures leslie penny v grade 8 vjii summitview ps yes we can decide now because most of imsp already know our own abilities and what we can achieve wero well aware of what weress taking tmstratton i grades orchard farar ps i think its a good idea if the decisions left too late you dont have i v enough time to prepare yourself for a job or for university its good to have your parents help when making the decision stacey woolford grade 8 orchard park ps yes its a good idea it gives us more time to decide what we will do with our future preparing early gives us an opportunity to speak with our parents they can help us decide