Radio Haney

Food fight headed for

Maple Ridge? p6 Vandals targeting Burger King? p13
Gardening

THE NEWS
www.mapleridgenews.com Friday, September 3, 2010 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · 50¢
What would we
do without
Alliums?
p25

Some volunteers
now have to be
fingerprinted
If birthday matches that of
sex offender, another
check required
by Ph i l M e lnych uk
staff reporter

The largest soccer group in Maple

Ridge is scrambling to react to RCMP
rules that require fingerprinting of
any volunteers who happen to have
birth dates that match those of par-
doned sexual offenders.
But so far, none of the 190 teams in
the Golden Ears United Soccer Club
have had to cancel the upcoming sea-
son, says their league vice-president,
Kim Reading.
“Our season starts in September.
Some of these coaches, it’s going to
take them four months to get their
criminal record checks done and our
season’s half done. So we’re having to
make changes.
“If they are returning coaches and
they passed the criminal record check
every single year, we are giving a little
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
bit of a benefit of the doubt.”
Getting connected Usually, every team has at least
two volunteer parents who’ve passed
Tony Phan of Maple Ridge participates in a fundraising event at the Greg Moore Youth Centre Tuesday evening to send Maple Ridge residents Jen Baillie and criminal record checks.
Mirae Campbell to Rwanda with the organization called Developing World Connections. See Volunteers, p14

Pitt Meadows wants casino Kindergarten

expands,
Council interested in Coun. John Becker asked the
city to send a letter to the prov-
years.
A represen-
til transportation routes to Pitt
Meadows improved or the Pitt enrolment shrinks
gaming facility with ince on Tuesday expressing its
interest in a gaming complex
tative from the
B.C. Lottery
River and Golden Ears bridges
were built. Black Press legislative
convention centre and requesting that a feasibility Co r p o r at i o n Becker is eyeing the North reporter Tom Fletcher
study be done. even spoke Lougheed commercial strip as
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s
Council supported him. to council six a site for the casino-convention sat down with Education
“It’s not necessarily a singular years ago dur- centre.
staff reporter
vision of council that there be ing its annual Smart!Centres, whose tenants Minister Margaret
a Las Vegas North here in Pitt retreat. include Walmart and Home De- MacDiarmid to discuss
Pitt Meadows council wants a Meadows, but certainly the eco- At that time, pot, owns a large chunk of land
casino and convention centre in nomic benefits to the community council told Becker stretching from Harris Road to the beginning of the
the city, perhaps built on an un- are very significant,” said Beck- the corpora- Meadows Gardens Golf Course 2010-11 school year. Read
used swath of commercial land er, adding that the city has been tion it was along the highway and wants to
along Lougheed Highway origi- “on record” as being receptive interested in a casino. But the build a mall on the site. an edited transcript, p39
nally slated for a mall. to a gaming facility for several province reserved comment un- See Casino, p3

Index
Opinion 6
Radio Haney 6
Parenting 21
Acts of Faith 23
Home&gardening 25
Community Calendar 41
Scoreboard 46
Walmart is going to Port Coquitlam
Casino from front
Walmart, however, will not be the mall’s
anchor tenant as originally expected, as
the retail giant is set to open across the Pitt
River in Port Coquitlam.
As a result, Becker said, the city needs to
have a clear understanding of what its op-
tions are now.
“The shopping centre thing may not be
viable,” he added, noting the casino could
help pay for a much-needed overpass at
Lougheed Hwy. and Harris Road, as well as
provide high-paying jobs.
“The jobs in there are certainly better
than the standard retail service sector. Bet-
ter than Walmart.”
Becker said Pitt Meadows isn’t interested
in a “gaming centre”, a facility proposed
to replace the Haney Bingo Plex in Maple
Ridge that would house bingo, dining as
well as electronic table and slot machine
games.
“We are thinking on a somewhat grander
scale,” he said. “It will come with issues.
Some people are just philosophically op-
posed to the whole notion of gaming, but I
am not one of them.”
Mayor Don MacLean supports the casino
plan, especially if it includes a hotel and
convention centre that could hold between
300 and 500 people.
“I don’t think it would be a very good use
of land unless we could combine it with a
convention centre,” MacLean said.
The idea is also drawing praise from the
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Chamber of
Commerce, which has been calling for a
conference centre in the area to siphon off
some of the business from Vancouver. Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
The chamber has been working on a plan Coun. John Becker stands by property where a casino could go, off Harris Road on north side of Lougheed Highway.
that looks at the vision, management and
economic impact of such a project. Williams. to go around,” Daykin said. But Great Canadian Gaming has no plans
“Our data shows it’s needed,” said cham- “I would prefer to see smaller, local busi- “What are the chances of success that to build in Pitt Meadows and is committed
ber president Jeremy Bekar. nesses going in rather than a casino and close to Boulevard [casino]?” to Maple Ridge, spokesman Howard Blank
“We need one on the north side of the convention centre,” she added. Great Canadian owns that casino in Co- said Thursday.
river with easy access. We have the airport, “There is already a casino in Coquitlam quitlam on United Boulevard. “Our gaming centre is being built in Ma-
which is an easy in-out for conventions and and one in Langley. I don’t know why we Daykin, though, said it’s possible Great ple Ridge.”
meetings.” would want this kind of thing in our com- Canadian could change its mind and pull It’s up to BCLC to determine where casino
The whole idea, though, is contingent on munity. It will bring all kinds of other prob- out of the downtown Maple Ridge location licences are issued, he said.
the North Lougheed Connector, a yet-to-be lems along with it.” in favour of a casino in Pitt Meadows. The B.C. Lottery Corporations said its role
road through farmland for which approval Pitt Meadows’ interest in a casino sur- “They have been upfront and open with us is to assess the gaming marketplace and
has been languishing with the Agricultural prised Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin, as around this whole process,” he said. develop gaming facilities based on market-
Land Commission since last year. the district is waiting for Great Canadian “I’d be incredibly disappointed if they place demand. At this time, it has no plans
Environmentalists don’t like the city’s Gaming Corp. to start its new gaming cen- made that change. to develop a casino in the City of Pitt Mead-
plan for a casino paving over green space. tre on 227th Street and Lougheed Highway. Coun. Craig Speirs had similar thoughts. ows. There are currently 17 casinos and 15
The charm of Pitt Meadows is that it That project is supposed to be built by 2013 “I don’t see them getting a licence, quite community gaming centres in B.C.
hasn’t bought into big city life, said Pitt Pol- and is to replace the Haney Bingo Plex. frankly. North side of Lougheed – I think
der Preservation Society president Diana “There are only so many casino licences that’s goofy.” – with files from Phil Melnychuk

An unofficial “District of Pitt Meadows” page that uses communications,” she added.

Pitt City to get on Facebook population.

the city’s crest is already on Facebook and the city is now
trying to get the creator to take it down.
If you don’t have a presence on social media, someone
will create one for you, says Jones, who had to deal with
Most city councillors, including Pitt Meadows Mayor Don
MacLean, already have personal Facebook pages to keep
in touch with friends and family.
MacLean says the city’s page will allow for immediate
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s a fake Twitter account for the city created last year. feedback from its residents.
“One of the commitments of council is to engage citizens
staff reporter
and Facebook and other social media have become tools To make sure there aren’t any online gaffes, Pitt Mead- “I support anything that would give the opportunity for
in the communication package for local government to ows also created a social media policy which guides staff the public to have more contact with us,” he added.
The City of Pitt Meadows has decided it will grace connect,” said city director of human resources and com- and council on just what information or comments to “Communications should be a two-way street and we
Facebook. munications Lorna Jones. post. believe that social media seems to be effective. It’s so
Council directed staff Tuesday to create a page on the “We have been kind of cautious and slow out of the Jones said the Facebook page will complement the city’s over-effective you want to shut it down sometimes.”
website, but it won’t be live until late fall or the end gates.” web page and include information on road closures, Although he’s on Facebook, MacLean says he won’t be
of the year, as the city cautiously navigates the online Pitt Meadows has been watching what other municipali- garbage policy, bylaws and events. tweeting just yet.
phenomena that draws more than 540 million unique ties are doing, namely Port Coquitlam, a city which has “We realize that social media is a way that people “I still haven’t figured out why they don’t call the people
visitors per month or 35.2 percent of the Internet more than 2,000 followers on its Facebook page. communicate and we certainly want to be part of that on Twitter – Twits.”
Walmart is going to Port Coquitlam
Casino from front
Walmart, however, will not be the mall’s
anchor tenant as originally expected, as
the retail giant is set to open across the Pitt
River in Port Coquitlam.
As a result, Becker said, the city needs to
have a clear understanding of what its op-
tions are now.
“The shopping centre thing may not be
viable,” he added, noting the casino could
help pay for a much-needed overpass at
Lougheed Hwy. and Harris Road, as well as
provide high-paying jobs.
“The jobs in there are certainly better
than the standard retail service sector. Bet-
ter than Walmart.”
Becker said Pitt Meadows isn’t interested
in a “gaming centre”, a facility proposed
to replace the Haney Bingo Plex in Maple
Ridge that would house bingo, dining as
well as electronic table and slot machine
games.
“We are thinking on a somewhat grander
scale,” he said. “It will come with issues.
Some people are just philosophically op-
posed to the whole notion of gaming, but I
am not one of them.”
Mayor Don MacLean supports the casino
plan, especially if it includes a hotel and
convention centre that could hold between
300 and 500 people.
“I don’t think it would be a very good use
of land unless we could combine it with a
convention centre,” MacLean said.
The idea is also drawing praise from the
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Chamber of
Commerce, which has been calling for a
conference centre in the area to siphon off
some of the business from Vancouver. Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
The chamber has been working on a plan Coun. John Becker stands by property where a casino could go, off Harris Road on north side of Lougheed Highway.
that looks at the vision, management and
economic impact of such a project. Williams. to go around,” Daykin said. in favour of a casino in Pitt Meadows.
“Our data shows it’s needed,” said cham- “I would prefer to see smaller, local busi- “What are the chances of success that “They have been upfront and open with us
ber president Jeremy Bekar. nesses going in rather than a casino and close to Boulevard [casino]?” around this whole process,” he said.
“We need one on the north side of the convention centre,” she added. Great Canadian owns that casino in Co- “I’d be incredibly disappointed if they
river with easy access. We have the airport, “There is already a casino in Coquitlam quitlam on United Boulevard. made that change.
which is an easy in-out for conventions and and one in Langley. I don’t know why we Coun. Craig Speirs had similar thoughts. The company has already put down a
meetings.” would want this kind of thing in our com- “It would water down the market. Can’t $2.1-million deposit with the district to ex-
The whole idea, though, is contingent on munity. It will bring all kinds of other prob- blame them for trying though,” he said of tend 227th Street to Lougheed Highway,
the North Lougheed Connector, a yet-to-be lems along with it.” Great Canadian. part of the agreement for building on that
road through farmland for which approval Pitt Meadows’ interest in a casino sur- “It seems to me they’re invested in Maple location. If it decided to change locations, it
has been languishing with the Agricultural prised Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin, as Ridge and I don’t see that changing. would lose that deposit.
Land Commission since last year. the district is waiting for Great Canadian “I don’t see them getting a licence, quite Daykin, though, agreed Maple Ridge and
Environmentalists don’t like the city’s Gaming Corp. to start its new gaming cen- frankly. North side of Lougheed – I think Pitt Meadows need a convention centre of
plan for a casino paving over green space. tre on 227th Street and Lougheed Highway. that’s goofy.” some kind, although he’d like to see that in
The charm of Pitt Meadows is that it That project is supposed to be built by 2013 Daykin, though, said it’s possible Great Maple Ridge. “But the area does need one.”
hasn’t bought into big city life, said Pitt Pol- and is to replace the Haney Bingo Plex. Canadian could change its mind and pull
der Preservation Society president Diana “There are only so many casino licences out of the downtown Maple Ridge location – with files from Phil Melnychuk

An unofficial “District of Pitt Meadows” page that uses communications,” she added.

Pitt City to get on Facebook population.

the city’s crest is already on Facebook and the city is now
trying to get the creator to take it down.
If you don’t have a presence on social media, someone
will create one for you, says Jones, who had to deal with
Most city councillors, including Pitt Meadows Mayor Don
MacLean, already have personal Facebook pages to keep
in touch with friends and family.
MacLean says the city’s page will allow for immediate
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s a fake Twitter account for the city created last year. feedback from its residents.
“One of the commitments of council is to engage citizens
staff reporter
and Facebook and other social media have become tools To make sure there aren’t any online gaffes, Pitt Mead- “I support anything that would give the opportunity for
in the communication package for local government to ows also created a social media policy which guides staff the public to have more contact with us,” he added.
The City of Pitt Meadows has decided it will grace connect,” said city director of human resources and com- and council on just what information or comments to “Communications should be a two-way street and we
Facebook. munications Lorna Jones. post. believe that social media seems to be effective. It’s so
Council directed staff Tuesday to create a page on the “We have been kind of cautious and slow out of the Jones said the Facebook page will complement the city’s over-effective you want to shut it down sometimes.”
website, but it won’t be live until late fall or the end gates.” web page and include information on road closures, Although he’s on Facebook, MacLean says he won’t be
of the year, as the city cautiously navigates the online Pitt Meadows has been watching what other municipali- garbage policy, bylaws and events. tweeting just yet.
phenomena that draws more than 540 million unique ties are doing, namely Port Coquitlam, a city which has “We realize that social media is a way that people “I still haven’t figured out why they don’t call the people
visitors per month or 35.2 percent of the Internet more than 2,000 followers on its Facebook page. communicate and we certainly want to be part of that on Twitter – Twits.”
No Facebook page for
Ridge, but tweets
for Albion flats
by Ph i l M e lnych uk
staff reporter

Unlike its smaller city to the west, Maple Ridge

doesn’t have Facebook page, though it is work-
ing on a Twitter account for feedback on Albion
flats.
While Pitt Meadows city said it is creating a Fa-
cebook page, Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin
said the district’s website is already busy.
“Our website gets such huge usage, in the
thousands and thousands of hits,” he said.
Actually, that’s about 50,000 to 60,000 hits in a
month, he added.
“It’s huge hits.”
While it doesn’t have a Facebook page, the dis-
trict is creating a Twitter account dedicated to
the Albion flats public consultation process so
people can exchange views about what they’d
like to see in the area.
Background reports on Albion flats will also be
posted on the district’s website to provide more
information to the public.
For the last year or so, Pitt Meadows also has
had video archives of all council meetings on its
website, a feature that Maple Ridge has yet to
add.
But that will happen within months, Daykin
said.
Daykin said so many people check out the dis-
trict’s website, he sometimes wonders what they
find so interesting there.
The district’s Albion flats consultation process
will involve public meetings and a brainstorm-
ing session involving key interest groups.
Some of the groups expected to be part of the
session, called a charette, include the recreation
department, Albion Community Association, the
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Agricultural Associ-
ation, Golden Ears Winter Club, the Downtown
Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association
and Kanaka Education and Environmental Part-
nership Society.
The goal is to have a concept plan written by
December, ready for council review and possible
referral to the Agricultural Land Commission.
The majority of Albion flats land, at Lougheed
Highway and 105th Avenue, lies within the Ag-
ricultural Land Reserve and would require the
commission’s consent before development takes
place.
New, improved Pitt arena taking shape
by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f dated, as will the ice- The parks and leisure city’s cancellation of
staff reporter making equipment. services department is the lease, while the city
And the ever-leaking currently searching for counter-sued.
roof? That will be fixed, an operator to take over In 2009, a mediated
It may not look pretty too. the day-to-day opera- settlement was reached,
now, but big changes Making the renova- tions of the rink. which saw the City of
are in store for Pitt tions all the more diffi- “We are evaluating Pitt Meadows pay Citi-
Meadows Arena. cult is the fact that the proposals,” said Swift. zen’s Bank $1.35 million.
Work has begun in arena will be open and “We’re looking for [an The city has already
earnest on a $6.1 million operating throughout agreement] that’s finan- spent more than $150,000
facelift to the three-rink the entire process. cially sustainable ... and on a new Zamboni and
complex, one that will Bleachers in the Gold provide community ac- roof repairs.
see a completely reno- and Blue Rinks have cess.” Construction updates
vated interior, complete already been removed, The arena was built will be posted regularly
with new concession, and with the facility’s in 1992 under a partner- on the City of Pitt Mead-
office, and skate shop, natural gas disconnect- ship with CDI Enter- ows’ website.
as well as washroom ed, there will be no heat- prises, which built and
and dressing room up- ing through the winter. initially ran the facility,
grades. “We are trying to leasing the land from
Power outage
The new rink will minimize the impact, the city for $1 dollar a forces arena
hardly be recognizable, but there will be disrup- year.
says Kelly Swift, gen- tions,” said Swift. After CDI went into
patrons out in rain
eral manager for Maple Arena users will also receivership in the late Hundreds of parents
Ridge Pitt Meadows have to deal with brief 1990s, the Ridge Mead- and hockey players
Parks and Leisure Ser- rink closures to accom- ows Arena Society, a were forced out into the
vices. modate some of the non-profit group, took rain Tuesday afternoon
“In a few weeks, we’ll work that is being done, over the facility and its after the power went
really be able to see it while portables will be mortgage. out at the Pitt Meadows
take shape,” she said. brought in to temporar- In 2007, however, Arena during the Ridge
“Long term, we’re going ily house the arena’s the City of Pitt Mead- Meadows Minor Hockey
to have a good future dressing rooms while ows cancelled its lease Association’s rep team
for this facility in Pitt sewer work is being agreement with the try-outs.
Meadows.” done. Much of the park- society and effectively The outage occurred
Much of the work be- ing lot adjacent to the took over operation of just before 3 p.m. after
ing performed, however, arena will be used for the rink, hiring man- contractors hired by
won’t be apparent. The construction purposes. agement firm Canadian Maple Ridge-Pitt Mead-
piles the facility sits on The work should be Recreation Excellence ows Parks and Leisure
need to be upgraded to completed by March or to run the rink on an in- Services cut down a tree
provide better protec- April of next year, said terim basis. that fell across power
tion from earthquakes. Swift. Citizen’s Bank, which lines behind the arena,
Like much of lower Pitt A new, renovated con- backed the society, said facility coordinator
Meadows, the land the cession will be located sued the city for more Deb Tucker.
arena sits on is made up downstairs. The future than $2 million in dam-
See Power, p8
of unstable river sand. of the upstairs viewing ages resulting from the
The arena’s heating area will be determined
and air conditioning by the arena’s new long-
system will also be up- term private operator.
THE NEWS/opinion Published and printed by Black Press at 22328 – 119th Avenue, Maple Ridge, B.C., V2X 2Z3

News Views

Roll the dice

Pitt Meadows isn’t getting a Walmart, so now
council wants a casino. One with a hotel and
convention centre on the north side of Lougheed
Highway, close to the Golden Ears Bridge inter-
change.
Once again the little city is trying to outdo its
bigger neighbour, the District of Maple Ridge,
which is still waiting for its new expanding gam-
ing facility. It likely won’t open until 2013.
Meanwhile, Pitt Meadows council is writing to
the province, expressing interest in having a ca-
sino and convention centre built in the city and
requesting a feasibility study be done for it.
While some might not see how such a facility
fits the character of Pitt Meadows, consider how
much it has changed in the past 25 years.
Back then fields line both sides of Lougheed
Highway. New subdivisions sprouted up, as did
the container yard, then one mall, then another.
The West Coast Express came to town, then bus-
es. Now there are high-rises on Harris Road, not
to mention two new bridges.
Pitt Meadows is officially a city and it wants to
continue growing its tax base.
Coun. John Becker has suggested revenue from
a casino and convention centre could help build
a much-desired overpass on Harris Road.
One would improve access to a new business
park in south Bonson, where a waterfront vil-
lage and park have replaced an old mill.
We don’t know if the B.C. Lottery Corporation
would grant the city a gaming license, consider-
ing casinos nearby in Langley and Coquitlam,
and given Maple Ridge’s plans for gaming on a
Food fight headed for Maple Ridge
I
smaller scale. s it safe to make than Walmart anyhow, some people say. up from the boardroom table at a meeting
But if there is private interest in constructing a this outrageous But, hang on a moment. There is another with his colleagues in Florida, or wherever
casino and convention centre in Pitt Meadows, at statement: There game afoot of which we should be aware. these people meet, and say, hey what we do
the foot of the Golden Ears Bridge, then that at are a lot of loonie Some of us probably are. know about Maple Ridge?
least should be explored. stores and thrift outlets Maple Ridge already has a Walmart. It is It is probably time they found out. The
– The News in downtown Maple called Zellers. stakes are high for Walmart, high for
Ridge. And Zellers, we hear, has made a sea Zellers, and above all, high for the Albion
Tell us what you think @ www.mapleridgenews.com Well, there just are, change in its retail strategy that now floodplain north of the Lougheed Highway.
aren’t there? And includes expanding its offerings to fresh Not the least, the stakes are high for this
there is nothing wrong produce and groceries. community.

THE NEWSServing Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows since 1978

with that.
Maple Ridge is the
‘go to’ place when
it comes to getting
Radio Haney
Claus Andrup
Walmart Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart
and even, weirdly, Canadian Tire have been
testing this new marketing ploy for some
time. And a dastardly scheme it is, too.
Consider this. Safeway left Haney Place
Mall years ago. Extra Foods, unless I am
mistaken, will not again do business in
Maple Ridge. Our ever-growing elderly
stuff cheap. You can These retail giants want to become food population in the downtown core needs
Jim Coulter, publisher
[email protected] buy a home here for magnates. J. Pattison step aside. to be better served. They know and have
Michael Hall, editor less than almost anywhere in the Lower The Globe & Mail, Friday, Aug. 27, grown up with Zellers for decades.
[email protected] Mainland. Lots are inexpensive. Labour is reported in its business pages that Zellers Hopefully, this town is in the sights of
Carly Ferguson, advertising, creative services manager inexpensive. We are told by the district that in no less than five stores in Winnipeg is of- this discount retailer when it comes to
[email protected]
Kathy Blore, circulation manager business taxes and residential taxes are fering ’shelves of fresh peaches, pineapples presenting its customers with a fresh look
[email protected] lower than average. A hobby farm awaits and peppers as it begins a campaign to take and a new approach. In an era where fresh
you in Whonnock for less than a million on Walmart Canada Corp. and Loblaw Cos. produce – locally grown if possible – is
Editorial bucks. In a manner of speaking, we live in a Ltd., joining a growing number of retailers nudging processed food off the shelves,
Reporters: Phil Melnychuk, Monisha Martins,
Robert Mangelsdorf fiscal nirvana. Cheap ‘R Us. that are bulking up on groceries to steal the potential for adding a large fresh food
Photographer: Colleen Flanagan You name it and we have it, and at a de- away customers.’ outlet in the downtown is high; right now.
cent discount. With a penchant for renam- In time – of course, I think the time is now If Zellers fails to see this opportunity in
Advertising ing things, why not then rename Maple – it would be a happy moment if a bright Maple Ridge, Walmart is poised to fill the
Sales representatives: Karen Derosia, Glenda Dressler, Rina Varley,
Michelle Baniulis Ridge, Value Village? OK, so we already spark in the Zellers corporate development gap.
Ad control: Mel Onodi have one of those and may run smack into a department noticed a place called Maple As to the future of the Albion, all bets
Creative services: Kristine Pierlot, Cary Blackburn copyright infringement. Ridge on the long company register of are off. Council and the mayor, for the mo-
Annette WaterBeek, Chris Hussey In common with our cousins across the stores. It may notice that the population, ment, have elected to remove themselves
Classified: Vicki Milne
continent, we love to buy stuff, lots of stuff, for a variety reasons is headed swiftly to from the public and community delibera-
22328 – 119th Avenue, at any price that ends in .99 – 99 is an appar- that magic 100,000 number so often bandied tions.
Maple Ridge, B.C., ent clue that we are getting a deal. We fall about by statisticians. Could it have finally dawned on our poli-
V2X 2Z3 for it every day. The number at which point a whole new ticians that it pays to listen to the voter?
Office: 604-467-1122
Fax: 604-463-4741 Given the above, it comes as no wonder world unfolds for any municipality when it I’m not holding my breath.
Delivery: 604-466-6397 that Smart!Centres continues to rub its comes to attitudes and demographics and
Website: www.mapleridgenews.com corporate hands over the possibility of economic development. Developers and Claus Andrup is a former member at large
Email: [email protected] providing a safe and profitable harbour for investors will be miraculously awakened to of the Maple Ridge Community Heritage
The News is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self- its biggest and best buddy, Walmart, on opportunities starting to emerge from the Commission, the Maple Ridge Economic
regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The coun- what is arguably land worthy of agriculture long asleep burg of a Value Village, wher- Advisory Commission, and former Presi-
cil considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member
newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input or some similarly less-toxic endeavour, like ever it may be from Tofino to Toronto. dent of the Maple Ridge Historical Society.
from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the sports fields or a college. Well, less toxic That same bright spark might even look He has lived in Maple Ridge since 1994.
editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or
story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written

Q
concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201
Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or
go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.
uestion Are you now feeling more optimistic about the This week’s question:
CCAB audited circulation: (as of September 2009):
Wednesday - 30,221; Friday – 30,197.
of the future of Fraser River sockeye? Is Pitt Meadows a good location for a casino and
week: Yes: 30% – No: 70% convention centre?
@ Online poll: cast your vote at www.mapleridgenews.com, or e-mail your vote and comments to [email protected]
THE NEWS/opinion Published and printed by Black Press at 22328 – 119th Avenue, Maple Ridge, B.C., V2X 2Z3

News Views

Roll the dice

Pitt Meadows isn’t getting a Walmart, so now
council wants a casino. One with a hotel and
convention centre on the north side of Lougheed
Highway, close to the Golden Ears Bridge inter-
change.
Once again the little city is trying to outdo its
bigger neighbour, the District of Maple Ridge,
which is still waiting for its new expanding gam-
ing facility. It likely won’t open until 2013.
Meanwhile, Pitt Meadows council is writing to
the province, expressing interest in having a ca-
sino and convention centre built in the city and
requesting a feasibility study be done for it.
While some might not see how such a facility
fits the character of Pitt Meadows, consider how
much it has changed in the past 25 years.
Back then fields line both sides of Lougheed
Highway. New subdivisions sprouted up, as did
the container yard, then one mall, then another.
The West Coast Express came to town, then bus-
es. Now there are high-rises on Harris Road, not
to mention two new bridges.
Pitt Meadows is officially a city and it wants to
continuing growing its tax base.
Coun. John Becker has suggested revenue from
a casino and convention centre could help build
a much-desired overpass on Harris Road.
One would improve access to a new business
park in south Bonson, where a waterfront vil-
lage and park have replaced an old mill.
We don’t know if the B.C. Lottery Corporation
would grant the city a gaming license, consider-
ing casinos nearby in Langley and Coquitlam,
and given Maple Ridge’s plans for gaming on a
Food fight headed for Maple Ridge
I
smaller scale. s it safe to make than Walmart anyhow, some people say. up from the boardroom table at a meeting
But if there is private interest in constructing a this outrageous But, hang on a moment. There is another with his colleagues in Florida, or wherever
casino and convention centre in Pitt Meadows, at statement: There game afoot of which we should be aware. these people meet, and say, hey what we do
the foot of the Golden Ears Bridge, then that at are a lot of loonie Some of us probably are. know about Maple Ridge?
least should be explored. stores and thrift outlets Maple Ridge already has a Walmart. It is It is probably time they found out. The
– The News in downtown Maple called Zellers. stakes are high for Walmart, high for
Ridge. And Zellers, we hear, has made a sea Zellers, and above all, high for the Albion
Tell us what you think @ www.mapleridgenews.com Well, there just are, change in its retail strategy that now floodplain north of the Lougheed Highway.
aren’t there? And includes expanding its offerings to fresh Not the least, the stakes are high for this
there is nothing wrong produce and groceries. community.

THE NEWSServing Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows since 1978

with that.
Maple Ridge is the
‘go to’ place when
it comes to getting
Radio Haney
Claus Andrup
Walmart Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart
and even, weirdly, Canadian Tire have been
testing this new marketing ploy for some
time. And a dastardly scheme it is, too.
Consider this. Safeway left Haney Place
Mall years ago. Extra Foods, unless I am
mistaken, will not again do business in
Maple Ridge. Our ever-growing elderly
stuff cheap. You can These retail giants want to become food population in the downtown core needs
Jim Coulter, publisher
[email protected] buy a home here for magnates. J. Pattison step aside. to be better served. They know and have
Michael Hall, editor less than almost anywhere in the Lower The Globe & Mail, Friday, Aug. 27, grown up with Zellers for decades.
[email protected] Mainland. Lots are inexpensive. Labour is reported in its business pages that Zellers Hopefully, this town is in the sights of
Carly Ferguson, advertising, creative services manager inexpensive. We are told by the district that in no less than five stores in Winnipeg is of- this discount retailer when it comes to
[email protected]
Kathy Blore, circulation manager business taxes and residential taxes are fering ’shelves of fresh peaches, pineapples presenting its customers with a fresh look
[email protected] lower than average. A hobby farm awaits and peppers as it begins a campaign to take and a new approach. In an era where fresh
you in Whonnock for less than a million on Walmart Canada Corp. and Loblaw Cos. produce – locally grown if possible – is
Editorial bucks. In a manner of speaking, we live in a Ltd., joining a growing number of retailers nudging processed food off the shelves,
Reporters: Phil Melnychuk, Monisha Martins,
Robert Mangelsdorf fiscal nirvana. Cheap ‘R Us. that are bulking up on groceries to steal the potential for adding a large fresh food
Photographer: Colleen Flanagan You name it and we have it, and at a de- away customers.’ outlet in the downtown is high; right now.
cent discount. With a penchant for renam- In time – of course, I think the time is now If Zellers fails to see this opportunity in
Advertising ing things, why not then rename Maple – it would be a happy moment if a bright Maple Ridge, Walmart is poised to fill the
Sales representatives: Karen Derosia, Glenda Dressler, Rina Varley,
Michelle Baniulis Ridge, Value Village? OK, so we already spark in the Zellers corporate development gap.
Ad control: Mel Onodi have one of those and may run smack into a department noticed a place called Maple As to the future of the Albion, all bets
Creative services: Kristine Pierlot, Cary Blackburn copyright infringement. Ridge on the long company register of are off. Council and the mayor, for the mo-
Annette WaterBeek, Chris Hussey In common with our cousins across the stores. It may notice that the population, ment, have elected to remove themselves
Classified: Vicki Milne
continent, we love to buy stuff, lots of stuff, for a variety reasons is headed swiftly to from the public and community delibera-
22328 – 119th Avenue, at any price that ends in .99 – 99 is an appar- that magic 100,000 number so often bandied tions.
Maple Ridge, B.C., ent clue that we are getting a deal. We fall about by statisticians. Could it have finally dawned on our poli-
V2X 2Z3 for it every day. The number at which point a whole new ticians that it pays to listen to the voter?
Office: 604-467-1122
Fax: 604-463-4741 Given the above, it comes as no wonder world unfolds for any municipality when it I’m not holding my breath.
Delivery: 604-466-6397 that Smart!Centres continues to rub its comes to attitudes and demographics and
Website: www.mapleridgenews.com corporate hands over the possibility of economic development. Developers and Claus Andrup is a former member at large
Email: [email protected] providing a safe and profitable harbour for investors will be miraculously awakened to of the Maple Ridge Community Heritage
The News is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self- its biggest and best buddy, Walmart, on opportunities starting to emerge from the Commission, the Maple Ridge Economic
regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The coun- what is arguably land worthy of agriculture long asleep burg of a Value Village, wher- Advisory Commission, and former Presi-
cil considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member
newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input or some similarly less-toxic endeavour, like ever it may be from Tofino to Toronto. dent of the Maple Ridge Historical Society.
from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the sports fields or a college. Well, less toxic That same bright spark might even look He has lived in Maple Ridge since 1994.
editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or
story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written

Q
concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201
Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or
go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.
uestion Are you now feeling more optimistic about the This week’s question:
CCAB audited circulation: (as of September 2009):
Wednesday - 30,221; Friday – 30,197.
of the future of Fraser River sockeye? Is Pitt Meadows a good location for a casino and
week: Yes: 30% – No: 70% convention centre?
@ Online poll: cast your vote at www.mapleridgenews.com, or e-mail your vote and comments to [email protected]
THE NEWS/letters
Canadian generosity
has run out
EDITOR, THE NEWS:
I must apologize for my previous remarks about the
recent Tamil refugees. Having just read Ezra Levant’s
article in the Toronto Sun (Aug. 22), I have become more
enlightened to the facts of Tamil Refugees in Canada.
A QMI investigation has confirmed that 71 per cent of
all the Tamil refugees currently living in Canada have ac-
tually returned to Sri Lanka for a vacation. This certainly
does not seem to be a place to be feared, to me.
Can you imagine Jews living in Canada in the Second
World War vacationing in Berlin?
Also, Canada Immigration has conducted a survey of
50 Tamils who have agreed to sponsor new refugees and It may not look
found that 31 of them are actual refugees themselves, like it, but the
and of those 31 – 22 have returned to this nation (that has Golden Ears
persecuted them and threatened them and there families Bridge is car-
with death), for vacations.
rying a lot of
vehicles.

“A QMI investigation has confirmed that 71 THE NEWS/files

per cent of all the Tamil refugees currently

living in Canada have actually returned to
Sri Lanka for a vacation.” TLink bridge numbers close
EDITOR, THE NEWS: The second thing was Harry Bains some time between crossings to get
If it were up to me, given this new information, I would Re: Golden Ears close to paying its doubting TransLink’s stats without a good average, but they’re still small
ask our people in the Canadian Embassy in Sri Lanka to way (The News, Aug. 27). any stats of his own. This is especial- enough to show month-to-month vari-
look up these “vacationers” when they arrive back home I read the article by Andrew Bucholtz ly troubling because the raw data is ations.
in Sri Lanka and give them a letter. It would be a demand and had to point out a couple things. available to everyone who receives a The time between June 28 and July
for payment of costs associated with processing them as The first thing I noticed was the monthly Quickpass statement. 24 had 799,800 crossings (26,300 per
refugees, revoking that status, as well as Canadian citi- statement that if 398,000 cars cross Each crossing is given a “transac- day), close enough to TransLink’s ac-
zenship and seizure and sale of any Canadian assets in the bridge in July, that would add “an- tion number,” which is nothing more tual count of 796,000 (25,700 per day)
lieu of payment. other $398,000 from the $1 monthly fee than a crossing count since the bridge for July.
For all these “bogus refugees,” our Canadian generos- for transponder rental” to the month’s opened. It also agrees with TransLink’s num-
ity has run out. revenue. Mr. Bains would have crossed the bers for its first month of operation
MIKE BOILEAU This would only be correct if every bridge on July 1, then again on July 30, and for April 2010.
MAPLE RIDGE transponder-carrying car was unique. he would’ve known exactly how many Mr. Bains needs to find a better
Even the most die-hard supporter cars crossed between those two dates. method of measuring car volumes.
would have to disagree with that as- So I did just that. I’ve gathered my Just because a route is not congested
sumption. crossing data since the bridge’s open- doesn’t mean it’s not carrying a lot of
Carbon Tax unchallenged A commuter crossing the bridge
twice a day for 20 days in the month
would count as 40 “vehicles,” but
ing and the data speaks for itself. In a
nutshell, it supports TransLink’s num-
bers.
vehicles.
Maybe he should consider trusting
the numbers for a change.
EDITOR, THE NEWS: would only contribute $1 to the rental The three-crossing averages are the STEVE CURRIE
While all the writers to your page get on their high fees. most accurate ones since they allow SURREY
horses over the HST, a tax that you don’t have to pay if
you really don’t want to buy some things, the Carbon Tax
again shoves up the cost of fuel.
On a quick trip into Alberta, where we paid as low as
86 cents a litre, and return home to $1.17, I find the HST
decriers are wasting their indignant breaths.
If you are going to complain, get after something that is
To refer to them as refugees is an insult
really important. EDITOR, THE NEWS: millions of true refugees who that kind of money? countries will be turned off of
I haven’t heard anyone say they don’t like the HST, Re: A later apology can be have been living in abject The human traffickers have allowing refugees into their
they just don’t like the method of implementation. avoided (Radio Haney, Aug. poverty in UN sanctioned been paid over $20 million countries.
As that issue receives all the attention, a real issue goes 20). camps waiting, for years in to allow the Sri Lankan’s to Is this the kind of citizens
unchallenged. I must say that Claus An- some cases, to be relocated to jump the queue, to bypass the we want?
LORNE RIDING drup’s article was way over better lives. system that ensures equity Is this the process we want
MAPLE RIDGE the top. To compare what What makes the passen- and that the most deserving to encourage?
happened to the First Nations gers of the MV Sun Sea more get dealt with first. I say no.
in the past or the Japanese deserving than the thou- They are thumbing their Put the captain and crew in
citizens of the Lower Main- sands of people displaced in noses at our legal system, to jail for 20 years and send back
[email protected] land during the war with the
so-called refugees from Sri
the Sudan, Darfur, Haiti, and
now Pakistan, to name just of
our compassion and to the
world’s accepted refugee
all but the most deserving.
Send a clear message to
Looking like a fool Lanka is complete nonsense few? process. those low-lifes who would
and misses the whole prob- Canada accepts tens of They have the money to make a profit from the hor-
From: funny bone, posted on www.mapleridgenews.com. lem with the present situa- thousands of these refugees cheat the system and appar- rors being experienced
Re: Pitt city to get on Facebook (www.mapleridgenews.com, Sept. 1). tion. annually through the proper ently some people believe around the world, that our
lol.... about 3-4 years late. way to keep on top of social networking. and Using his biased, one-sided, process. that this deserves our bless- compassion will not be taken
never point out your ignorance to it by calling Twitter users “twits”, make unexplained comparisons of The people who have ar- ing. advantaged of.
you look foolish to the millions who use it everyday. “genocide” to suggest the less rived here aboard the MV Sorry, I don’t. Canada will not allow them
than compassionate nature of Sun Sea have apparently paid If they succeed, the gates to profit from the suffering of
Canadians now or in the past $50,000 each to human smug- will be opened for those who the disadvantaged.
is beyond contemptuous. glers to reach our shores; for don’t care about process and On the other hand, open the
Letters welcome Although the Sri Lankan’s those who have come as fami- only care about themselves; gates, let them all in.
Letters to the editor should be exclusive to The News
have come from a dreadful lies, more than $200,000. people who can afford to pay What kind of country will
and address topics of interest to residents of Maple situation, what they have How many Canadian fami- whatever it takes to get here, we have to pass onto our chil-
Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Include full name and address, done, if successful, has seri- lies have this amount of cash and there will be tens of thou- dren and what kind of apol-
as well as daytime phone number for verification. Keep ous, worldwide consequenc- available to them? sands of people to deal with, ogy do you think they will be
letters to 500 words or less. Letters may be edited for es. Fifty thousand dollars in Sri not five hundred. demanding?
length and clarity. To even refer to them as Lanka is like a million to us. The real refugee will be GRAHAM MOWATT
@ E-mail letters to [email protected]. refugees is an insult to the Where do real refugees get left alone with nothing and MAPLE RIDGE
City looks to take over waterfront lease
worked together to cre- party, with a 60-day no- residents of Sawyer’s
Also workingto fix ate the riverfront park, tice. Landing,” said city di-
Bonson wharf with two viewing plat-
forms that overlook the
The lease will cost
the city $776 per year,
rector of finance Dean
Rear.
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s Fraser River. plus HST, for the first “It was a challenging
staff reporter City director of legis- three years, with rent situation to deal with.
lative services Laurie reviews set for every There were leases in-
Darcus said if the city three years. volved with the port
The City of Pitt Mead- doesn’t take over the In the meantime, the authority and envi-
ows is ready to take lease, the port authority city is working to fix ronmental consider-
over the lease of prime could give to anybody. the wharf at foot of ations.”
waterfront land at Saw- “We are looking to Bonson Road that was The city has yet to
yer’s Landing. take it over so we can destroyed in an arson get a firm estimate of
The lease agreement keep it a park and some- fire a year ago. how much it will cost
with the Vancouver day maybe even have a An engineering com- to replace the wharf,
Fraser Port Authority dock down there,” she pany has been selected but Rear said it could
is currently held by Mo- added. to oversee the rebuild be anywhere between
saic Homes, which built The port authority is and tenders are expect- $150,000 to $250,000,
the waterfront commu- offering a 20-year lease ed to go out this month. with the insurance
nity. with options to cancel “We do really appreci- company footing most
Mosaic and the city at anytime, by either ate the patience of the of the bill.

‘Outage had nothing to do with work on arena’

Power from p5 ter the lights and power went off cluding Josh Wahl, a Pitt Mead-
The crew was thinning trees as inside the arena. Many waited ows resident whose son is in-
part of work to build a trail con- in their cars until the power was volved in the atom rep tryouts.
necting the new artificial turf restored by B.C. Hydro workers “We got the power back on for
field at Pitt Meadows secondary just before 6:30 p.m. good at 6:30 p.m. after multiple is-
to the athletic fields adjacent to Four workers from B.C. Hydro sues due to the tree on the line,”
the arena. attended the scene, and shut Wahl said, “then we continued
“The tree caused a short cir- off power to the area to safely to work through the night due
cuit and that blew out fuses remove the tree and repair the to the heavy rain,” and the prob-
and sparked a Hydro pole on power line, which carried 25,000 lems it caused during the day.
Bonson Road,” said Pitt Mead- volts of electricity, according to Close to 5,000 households were
ows Fire Chief Don Jolley. “The B.C. Hydro spokesperson Dag without power as a result of the
outage had nothing to do with Sharman. accident, with the blackout area
the construction going on at the Some Hydro line crew mem- stretching from Ford Road to
arena.” bers, following a busy day, 216th Street in Maple Ridge,
Players and parents were es- rushed from Coquitlam to fix south of Old Dewdney Trunk
corted outside by arena staff af- the problem in Pitt Meadows, in- Road.
South Haney starts looking to future include addictions, pov-
erty and the intended
use of vacant lots, ab-
sentee land owners, se-
by Phi l M elnyc h u k on homelessness, will dine, neighbourhood dine said. niors and renters.
staff reporter shepherd the process development coordina- She noted the histori- A similar consulta-
over the next year as co- tor with the District of cal nature of the com- tion process under the
ordinator. Maple Ridge. munity – Haney House Building Community
Maple Ridge has se- The main goal of the A steering committee is on 224th Street – gives Solutions program, was
lected who will be the $25,000 project, will be is expected to be formed it lots of potential. It’s used in several areas
point person for the to bring together resi- by year-end. one that’s also changing in 2003 and resulted in
South Haney Change dents of the area south The whole process will with new condo resi- such things as walking
Project. of Lougheed Highway take about a year with dences proposed, one of school buses and the
Michelle Ninow, who in the downtown, cre- a final report ready by which is in the former Haney Farmers’ Mar-
has a master’s degree ate a vision, then a plan next summer. location of Northumber- ket.
in community planning that will set out how to “We really believe this land Court. Ninow will get $15,000
and who worked on realize that vision, said will be a very successful Issues previously iden- of the $25,000, for the 10
the regional committee Christine DiGiamberar- project,” DiGiamberar- tified by residents there hour-a-week position.
 Schools prepare for return of students
District expecting Hammond (not Mon- absence of Riverside from out of district. house full-day kin-
tessori), Harry Hooge, and Mount Crescent “That’s music to our dergarten students,
enrolment decline Highland Park, Maple elementary schools, ears, because that instead of semi-per-
Ridge Elementary, both of which were means we’re doing manent modular units,
by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f Webster’s Corner and closed at the end of the something right” she and secretary trea-
staff reporter Whonnock. school year in June as said. “Whenever you surer Wayne Jefferson
All-day kindergar- a cost-savings mea- get kids from out of said the move should
ten will expand to all sure resulting from district, that’s a bo- weigh in the district’s
Students dread it, elementary schools in declining enrollment. nus.” favour.
and parents can’t wait the district in 2011/12 Province-wide, However, a new
for it, but it’s here school year. 544,223 estimated full- school would likely
again, and the Maple Laurie Meston, the time students are ex- Ministry mum on cost $12-14 million.
Ridge Pitt Meadows district’s director of pected to attend pub- That means the prov-
School District is instruction, said the lic schools in 2010/11,
new Albion school ince would still have to
ready. new kindergarten a decrease of about B.C. education min- come up with at least
Tuesday is the first curriculum is both 60,000 students since ister Margaret Mac- $9 million more to fund
day back at school for play-based and proj- 2000-01. Diarmid would not the school.
elementary and sec- ect-based, and will In School District No. reveal if a new elemen- “I’m confident they
ondary students in encourage children to 42, enrollment is ex- tary school was in the will see that we’ve
the district, and the work collaboratively, pected to drop by 250 works for east Maple brought something to
2010/11 school year to share and commu- students from close Ridge, but senior staff the table,” said Jef-
promises to be one of nicate. to 16,000 last school at School District No. ferson. “This school is
changes. “It fits with the min- year. 42 remain optimistic much-needed, so we
Most notably, the istry’s goal of giving Jefferson said an- capital funding will be are proceeding with
district will be rolling children 21st century ecdotal reports from approved. optimism.”
out the provincially- skills,” said Meston. some schools indicate MacDiarmid, speak- The district already
mandated all-day kin- “There’s a bit of ap- an increase in stu- ing on a media con- has a site in mind for
dergarten program at prehension [about in- dents. However, the ference call Tuesday the new school, on
13 elementary schools: troducing a new cur- final number won’t be morning, wouldn’t 104th Avenue, east of
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Blue Mountain, Davie riculum], but overall known until the butts comment specifically 240th Street, which it
Jones, Edith McDer- the teachers are ex- are in the seats. on the likelihood of acquired more than
Joanna Williams puts up the “Shape of the Day” for her
mott, Eric Langton cited,” said Meston. “We are hopeful School District No. 42 two years ago.
Grade 1/2 split class at Edith McDermott Elementary (English program receiving capital fund-
Another major we can see less of a The new school, if
Wednesday afternoon as she prepares for the upcoming only), Fairview, Glen- change for School Dis- decrease,” he said. ing for a new school built, would be roughly
school year. wood, Golden Ear, trict No. 42 will be the “Students are money, on 104th Avenue, but one kilometre from the
so that effects budget mentioned the minis- already overcrowded
and planning.” try would be releasing Albion Elementary
Superintendent Jan its capital plan shortly. School, and would add
Unwin said some sec- The district saved much needed capac-
ondary schools have the province close to ity if the Albion neigh-
reported increased $3 million by using its bourhood is further
numbers of students existing portables to developed.
Vandals break three BK windows
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s
staff reporter

The owners of a Burg-

er King franchise in Ma-
ple Ridge are growing
increasingly frustrated
by vandals whose most
recent blitz targeted
three windows of their
restaurant.
The fast-food chain
on Lougheed Highway,
off 203rd Street, had its
large glass windows
pummelled with a
baseball bat overnight
Wednesday.
Irene Smith, one of
the owners, said the Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
damage is the latest in Maple Ridge Burger King owner Irene Smith (right) and 20 year-employee Lynn Speer
a string of incidents, sit behind one of three broken windows.
ranging from graffiti
to broken windows and patrols, to no avail. Since 2006, the police It doesn’t matter how
doors. At $750 a pop, the win- database shows only small the crime,” said
Last week, someone dows are a big dent in nine files involving Lench.
smashed the restau- their budget. mischief, four of which “Otherwise we have
rant’s menu board. “It’s a big loss,” said were reported in 2009. no way of tracking it. We
“Nothing’s being done Smith. “It’s affecting In the past year, Insp. may not solve that par-
for us,” said Smith, our income.” Derren Lench said, ticular complaint but all
who has complained to But Ridge Meadows there have been no com- of a sudden, it identifies
both the Ridge Mead- RCMP wonder if Burger plaints from the busi- where crime is happen-
ows RCMP and Maple King is reporting all in- ness, until Wednesday. ing in an area.”
Ridge’s mayor. cidents, even those that “”If you are a victim • Ridge Meadows
She claims she has are seemingly petty, to of crime, you have to let RCMP can be contacted
requested more police police. your police force know. at 604-463-6251.

Man struck by truck on Lougheed Hwy. dies

A man struck by a truck traveling east vived until Saturday. does not appear that
pickup truck Friday in around 9:10 p.m. At the time of the speed is an issue,” he
Maple Ridge has died RCMP Insp. Derren crash, the Lougheed added.
from his injuries. Lench said the 38-year- Highway was dimly lit. Investigators are now
Riccy Charles MacKay old was taken by B.C. Lench said traffic at the asking any witnesses
was crossing Lougheed Ambulance’s helicop- time was moderate. to come forward.
Highway between 216th ter to Royal Columbian “The driver of the • Call RCMP at
and 218th streets when Hospital in New West- pickup truck had not 604-463-6251 if you have
he was hit by a Nissan minster, where he sur- been drinking, and it any information.
 nior or youth programs

‘Another check and balance’ in Maple Ridge and Pitt

Meadows.
Kathryn Baird, recre-
Volunteers from front good, he added. to go do a basic criminal ation coordinator, special
So if one has to stand The policy requires record check. events and volunteers,
aside while awaiting the anybody who volunteers The association has with the District of Maple
fingerprinting clearance, with kids, seniors or the about 190 teams and Ridge, said no volunteers
the other can take over, handicapped to have more than 2,000 players have yet been told they
Reading explained. their date of births com- from five to 17. need to be fingerprinted.
New volunteer screen- pared with those on the The policy change, “We haven’t had any
ing rules introduced in sexual offenders data- though, hasn’t reached yet come forward yet.”
July now require volun- base. By checking prints, the Ridge Meadows Mi- Discussion of new
teers whose birth dates police can rule out vol- nor Hockey Association, rules, though, will be at
match those of pardoned unteers who’ve changed which has about 1,000 the top of the list when
sexual offenders to get a their name, to escape kids playing hockey, su- municipal volunteer
further check – finger- detection. pervised by about 300 coordinators meet in
printing. Some volunteers take coaches and managers. Burnaby this month.
That requires the the request for finger- “I haven’t heard about Baird said the general
coach or volunteer to go printing personally, said any of this,” said Glen approach will be to try
to the Ridge Meadows Reading. Mund, president of the to increase lead time in
detachment to get their But police have told her association. screening volunteers to
fingerprints taken. The to pass on the messages The group requires all allow for the fingerprint-
marks are then sent to to the coaches that it’s coaches and managers ing process.
Ottawa for manual com- nothing personal. to have a criminal record “We will support the
parison of a fingerprint “Please make sure they check every two years new system,” and work
data base. know that we’re not tar- and to take abuse pre- with the RCMP, Baird
If no match is found, geting them,” she said. vention course. said.
a volunteer can be Lench said if the prints Mund said he would She added standard
cleared within a month. don’t match, they’re de- have expected to hear criminal record checks
If a match is found, the stroyed in Ottawa. He from Hockey Canada are now an accepted part
process could take four said later that so far 58 about any changes. of volunteer screening
months. sets of prints have been “I like the idea. It makes and required of everyone,
Volunteers with recog- sent in from the detach- sense,” he said. in addition to ongoing su-
nized groups have the $25 ment. It’s another check and pervision of volunteers.
processing fee waived by So far, five coaches balance to make sure People appreciate that
the RCMP. Golden Ears United Soc- kids are protected, Mund because it makes a safe
Ridge Meadows Insp. cer have been told to sub- added. work place. “That’s part
Darren Lench explained mit their prints. While So far, no coaches have of having a safe volun-
the change to Maple other parents step into been come forward to teer program.”
Ridge council Monday. help with the teams, “It’s say they have to be fin- “Our goal is to make
“It is a change in pro- hard on us,” Reading gerprinted. sure our programs are
cess. I know there’s some said. The new rules, though, safe.”
frustration out there She said any adult so far, are not affecting The Volunteer Centre
about what this is all helping out with a team the people managing the operated out of commu-
about,” he said. – managers, coaches, as- 1,200 volunteers who help nity services will also
But it is for the greater sistant coaches – all have run the swimming, se- discuss the issue.
One arrested in Ridge growop bust
A Maple Ridge man on scene by passerbys employee of the store Insp. Derren Lench
was arrested by police and officers with the saw a man leaving the said the man’s partner
Thursday during a raid Integrated Gang Task store at Meadowtown in crime struck the em-
on a suspected marijua- Force who saw the ac- Centre on Lougheed ployee and both man-
na grow operation. cident, which took place Highway, with a stereo aged to run out of the
Ridge Meadows RCMP at Meadowvale Mall in his arms. store.
entered the house on around 2:30 a.m. He was seen riding a They were last seen
Rothsay Street just after When RCMP arrived, bicycle east through the fleeing south through
8 a.m. after obtaining a the woman showed back of the mall park- the parking lot, toward
search warrant for theft signs of being impaired ing lot. He is described Lougheed Highway.
of electricity. by alcohol and was tak- as a man in his 30s, who The suspects are de-
Officers found 320 en to Coquitlam RCMP weighed around 180 scribed as white men
plants in varying stages Detachment, where pounds. He was wearing who were clean shaven.
of growth inside. samples of her breath a baseball hat. The man who assault-
The 47-year-old man were analysed at more ed the employee was
was held in custody for a than twice the legal 5-8, weighed 140 pounds,
hearing before a justice limit.
Employee attacked was bald and had two
of peace. The 19-year-old was A employee at a Shop- tattoos. He was wearing
later released from cus- per’s Drug Mart in Ma- a black, sleeveless T-
tody, but will have face ple Ridge was assaulted shirt and dark jeans.
Drunk driver charges in Port Coquit- by two thieves on Mon- His partner is six feet
A young Maple Ridge lam Provincial Court. day during a robbery. tall, weighed 185 pounds
woman is facing charg- Ridge Meadows RCMP and also had tattoos. He
es of impaired driving said the men entered the was wearing a white
after she hit a concrete Stolen stereo store’s West Gate Cen- tank top, dark pants and
curb in a mall early Ridge Meadows RCMP tre location at 9:40 p.m a black hat.
Thursday. are looking for a man and attempted to steal a • Anyone with any in-
Ridge Meadows RCMP who stole a portable debit card machine. formation is asked to call
said the impact set off stereo from the Real An employee caught RCMP at 604-463-6251.
airbags inside the 2000 Canadian Superstore on them in the act and To remain anonymous
Volkswagen Beetle. Wednesday. managed to apprehend call CrimeStoppers at
The driver was kept Just after 10 a.m., an one of the men. 1-800-222-8477.
 Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS

A-mazing
Paige Sallstrom, 22 months old, pets a goat at the Meadows Maze petting zoo Wednesday afternoon.
Sockeye run now up to 34 million
by J eff Nagel which sparked a federal in- of the watershed continues
Black Press quiry that soon gets under- to climb.
way. Another 12-hour opening
“I’ve never seen anything for Fraser River gillnetters
Fishery managers have like it,” said Glen Browning, was announced for Thurs-
again upped their count of a former commercial fisher- day.
the Fraser River sockeye man. Fish processors continue
run, this time to 34 million. He was angling for sockeye to struggle to keep up.
Tuesday’s increase of an on the Fraser near Agassiz “We’re right at the break-
estimated four million addi- Monday evening with five ing point,” said Mike Denike
tional salmon was the third other friends. of Sundance Seafood Ltd.
revision of the count in a “We caught 12 fish in “Everything’s full. All the
week by the Pacific Salmon about two hours,” he said. totes are being used. The
Commission. “You could feel them going ice houses are pumping out
The stunning run is now by your legs.” the ice as fast as they can.
three times what had been The record return – the It’s tense.”
projected in advance and largest since 1913 – was up- One fisherman he works
more than 20 times as many graded because the number with caught 5,000 sockeye
fish as returned in the last of late-running sockeye des- in a single 24-hour opening,
two catastrophic years, tined for Shuswap Lake area Denike said.
Minister briefed on HST before election
by Tom Fletcher
Black Press

VICTORIA – A brief-
ing document was
written for Finance
Minister Colin Hansen
exactly two months be-
fore the 2009 B.C. elec-
tion to prepare him for
questions on Ontario’s
decision to sign on to
the harmonized sales
tax.
That briefing note
and other government
documents obtained
under freedom of infor-
mation legislation de-
tail what would emerge
a few months later as
B.C.’s own HST: an
exemption for lower
priced new homes and Tom Fletcher/Black Press
low-income earners, Finance Minister Colin Hansen responds to questions at his legislature office Wednesday.
and a 12 per cent com-
bined sales tax rate ing paper on a plane to islative session. And C.D. Howe Institute
that could make it “rev- Ottawa for a finance quite frankly if it is that says imposing the
enue neutral” to the ministers’ conference. something we had been HST could reduce eco-
province. “To be honest, I don’t contemplating, I would nomic output and em-
Hansen said in an in- have any recollection have paid a lot more at- ployment for five years
terview Wednesday he of it,” Hansen said. “I tention to that briefing or more before showing
doesn’t remember get- know that it would have note than I did.” improvement.
ting the briefing paper come to my desk about That briefing note, Hansen said that
from an assistant dep- March 24. I would have and another prepared study was based on pre-
uty finance minister. taken a cursory look for Premier Gordon vious provincial deals
Hansen reiterated that at it, but in the context Campbell in January for the HST, without
the sweetened terms of where we were at 2009, warns of the shift the transition funding
of Ontario’s HST deal right then, which was in tax burden from or the flexibility to low-
only became clear to basically the eve of the businesses to individu- er the rate and adjust it
him in late May, when election, and we were als. B.C. officials also after two years.
he read a similar brief- at the end of the leg- cited a report from the See HST, p20
HST was
not on
‘our radar’
HST from p19
NDP leader Carole
James said Campbell
and Hansen repeatedly
told the public the HST
was “not on our radar”
before the election, but
the documents show
ongoing interest at the
staff level as Ontario
moved ahead in early
2009.
“It’s ridiculous, it’s
worse than ‘the dog
ate my homework’,”
James said. “He didn’t
read his documents, he
wasn’t paying attention
to them, he wasn’t thor-
ough about looking at
the documents on the
HST?”
James added that
Hansen and Campbell
were asked repeatedly
in the legislature if there
were staff discussions
or briefing notes on the
HST before the election,
and they replied that
there were none.
Hansen said he and
Campbell met with
deputy finance minister
Graham Whitmarsh on
May 14, two days after
the election, and it was
then they were told pro-
vincial revenues were
down an additional $1.5
billion.
Told to review options
for meeting the pre-
election budget targets,
ministry staff came
back with proposed tax
hikes, spending cuts
and the federal offer to
pay $1.6 billion in tran-
sition funds for adopt-
ing the HST, Hansen
said.
Goodbyes are always difficult
T
here are shedding of tears as school begins.
things that For the moment, let me ignore the
happen in fact that the teachers are shedding
late August and the biggest tears (tears of joy, I’m
early September sure) and focus on the moms and
that are as pre- dads of the world. I’ve been around
dictable as the schools and my wife for a long time,
sun rising and so I’ve learned a little bit about
setting. weeping and wailing.
While many My initiation came on the first
of them include morning that our eldest son went to
‘stuff,’ like new preschool for a half day. I thought
shoes, jeans, Parenting my wife would be delighted,
tops, paper, Graham Hookey especially since she still had two
binders, pencils younger siblings perched on her
and maybe a new hips.
cell phone skin, there’s one that’s No such luck.
a little more fluid – the inevitable See Hookey, p22
 difficult.

Our instinct is to hold on It passes, of course, as parents

learn to trust the teacher and kids
return home excited about what
Hookey from p21 way to get it there. they’re doing and anxious to go
She cried all morning and just Despite several moments this back the next day.
about squeezed the innards out of summer when she commented We accept the new routines as
him with a hug when he got out that she was looking forward to part of the process of growing up
on parole at 11:30. them being gone, the reality of and growing separate, something
If that set the stage, you can packing them up created a whole we know is the right thing for our
imagine the waterworks of three new set of clingy emotions. children, even if it seems prema-
little ones going to preschool, then I could generalize and say that ture at each stage we experience
kindergarten, then high school, this kind of response is a motherly it.
then university. thing, but I’ve seen enough dads In our case, I’m pretty sure
I’m surprised she hasn’t de- complaining about the dust in the that we have just spent our last
hydrated completely and blown air on the first day of school to lengthy time together as a family
away with the wind. There can’t know that leaving our children in and, perhaps, the next goodbye
be any water left in her. the care of others is not sim- will be a little drier as a result.
But wait, after a summer of ple. There is an incredibly strong I’m not laying any bets on that,
having all three 20-somethings instinct to hold our children close just the same.
home between school sessions, and protect them, and while it I’ve noticed the older I get, the
the time came for them to depart wanes a bit when they begin to dustier the air is, the more prone I
last week, and sure enough, the perspire at age 12, it’s never too am to eye irritation.
floodgates opened and there was far from the surface.
enough water available to irrigate Goodbyes, even for a few hours Graham Hookey is an educator
most of the Sahara, if there was a of preschool, seem ridiculously and writer ([email protected]).
There is one thing that does last
W
e live in a Nor should we take our relationships for
world where granted. People make vows: “for better, for
few things worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness,
last. and in health; till death do us part.”
The summer didn’t But it doesn’t always work that way.
last. It is Labour Day Family and friends in South Africa
weekend already. reminisce about the World Cup, the excite-
School starts in a few ment of the games, and the unexpected,
days. month-long calm in the storm of crime. But
Maybe you are just as the afterglow didn’t last long. Barely two
frustrated as I am about months later, the country is facing strikes
all the things you buy of teachers and civil servants, and crime
that just don’t last. Acts of Faith rates are spiking again. One of them puts
Sometimes we are Gerard Booy it this way: “The guests went home and
painfully reminded we’ve put the fancy tea cups away.”
of our fragile nature Steadfastness has become a strange
and that we shouldn’t take our health for concept in our time.
granted. See Acts, p38
THE NEWS/home&gardening
What would we do without Alliums?
I
magine a world
without onions.
If you’re like me,
the first thing that
comes to mind are the
culinary implications
– no fresh-chopped
onions to go with the
horseradish mustard
on the hotdog, no gar-
lic Naan to dip in the
curry, no French onion
soup, no garlic cheese Gardening
bread, no purple onion Mike Lascelle
in the Greek salad, no
chives and sour cream
on the baked potato.
Come to think of it, I don’t really want
to imagine a world without onions.
That being said, Alliums are so much
more than just ingredients for cooking.
In fact, the majority of them are beauti-
ful ornamental plants worthy of any
garden.
They come in sizes (five to 150 cm tall)
to suit any landscape, and the genus
offers an impressive colour range that
includes blue, hot pink, mauve, yellow,
purple and white. Mike Lascelle photos
The only problem with Alliums is that (From left) Allium christophii; Allium moly; Allium ‘Globemaster.’
you guys can never figure out when to
buy them because the ornamentals are
rarely offered as started plants. Now is the time to seek them out and ates light shade and also naturalizes Zone 6.
for the next month and a half, fresh ship- well. Zone 3. • Allium sphaerocephalon – the Drum-
ments of different species and cultivars • Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ – one of the stick Allium bears reddish-brown Q-Tip
will be arriving weekly at your local best perennial Alliums with spherical shaped blooms in July, on 60-cm-tall
nursery. umbels of deep violet averaging eight cm stems. This is one of the best species for
“The only problem with Alliums So whether you are looking for bulbs wide. The seedheads persist well into the naturalizing. Zone 4.
is that you guys can never figure that naturalize, cut flowers that last for- winter and look great with a frost. Zone • Allium karataviense – broad grayish-
ever in the vase, or blooms that mature 4. green foliage sets off spherical pale pink
out when to buy them because the into perfect spherical seedheads for dry • Allium neapolitanum (syn. cowanii) (almost appearing white) flowers which
ornamentals are rarely offered as arranging – there’s an Allium out there – pure white umbels set this Allium get about 8 cm wide. Zone 5.
for you. species apart, but the leaves often wither As a general rule, Alliums should be
started plants.” To get you started, here’s the who’s before flowering. The fresh flowers are grown in a part to full sun exposure in
who of the Top 10 ornamental onions: great for floral arrangements and it also well-drained soil.
• Allium oreophilum (syn. ostrowski- naturalizes well. Zone 6. If you are planning to naturalize the
anum) – early summer blooms of bright • Allium caeruleum (syn. azureum) bulbs, be sure to add some bone meal
Instead, most are available as fall bulbs, rose pink on 5-15cm tall stems. Great for – early summer blooms of bright blue to the bottom of the planting hole and
along with the crocus, daffodils and naturalizing. Zone 4. spherical umbels are borne on 60-cm-tall always allow the leaves to yellow before
tulips – but due to their summer bloom- • Allium christophii (syn. albopilosum) stems. The foliage also dies back before removing them.
ing season, few of us seem to associate – the 20-cm-wide, pinkish-purple blooms flowering. Zone 4. The only other quirk you need to know
them with the aforementioned spring- have a metallic sheen and much resemble • Allium giganteum – this is the ‘Big about ornamental onions is that some
flowering bulbs. an exploding fireworks display. The flow- Onion’ with 10-cm-wide, lilac-pink blooms people get skin rashes when they handle
So I’m giving you fair warning now. erheads also work well in dried arrange- on stems that often reach 1.5 metres tall. the bulbs, so wear gloves when planting,
Next June (possibly late May) and July, ments. Zone 5. Zone 6. just in case.
when you see those beautiful onion- • Allium moly – with a common name of • Allium ‘Globemaster’ – the large,
leaved flowers blooming their hearts out, Golden Garlic, it’s not surprising that it perfectly spherical deep purple flowers Mike Lascelle is a local nursery
don’t go looking for them at your local bears bright yellow blooms on relatively usually get 15-20cm wide. It looks best manager and gardening author
garden centre. short (15 cm) stems. This species toler- when planted in groups of five or more. ([email protected]).
His love
is durable
and dependable
Acts from p23
We struggle to keep our promises. Friend-
ships form and wane. Love is conditional, quite
often driven by selfish motives. We are consum-
ers of food, services, and fuel; in our relation-
ships and in our faith, as well.
Is there such a thing as steadfast love?
Not if we look at it from our side. But when
you read the Scriptures, you see time and again
how God’s people rely on God’s faithfulness.
Hesed (the Hebrew term that we translate
steadfast love, unfailing love, or loving kind-
ness) is one of the main characteristics of God.
Jeremiah sits among the ruins of Jerusalem,
witnessing the destruction of the city. While he
remembers the bitter affliction of his people,
he also recalls this: “The steadfast love of the
LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to
an end; they are new every morning; great is
your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-24).
A servant of the Lord is afflicted by what
people say to him. Their words hurt and leave
deep wounds on his soul. People are making fun
of him. They ridicule his faith, scoff at his devo-
tion, and taunt him mercilessly. He prays: “May
your steadfast love come to me, your salvation
according to your promise” (Psalm 119:41).
Steadfast love describes the nature of God
that prompts God to commit himself to his
people and to keep his promises. God’s being
is essentially self-giving love. It is a compas-
sionate love in which God suffers with and for
his creatures out of love for them. God’s people
experience this is countless acts of mercy, heal-
ing, and salvation.
This love has a story, written in the lives of
God’s people through the ages. But the main
character is Jesus Christ, who pitched his tent
among us (John 1:14) and “journeyed into the
far country of human brokenness and misery”
(Daniel Migliore).
In Christ, God entered into vulnerable interac-
tion with the world.
His love is durable and dependable. It is stead-
fast. It shapes our lives with truth, mercy, kind-
ness, forgiveness, peace, patience, gentleness,
faithfulness, self-control, joy, and love.
That is why Christians pray and worship. That
is why Christians, after all these years, con-
tinue to study their Bibles. That is why you find
so many of them serving the poor and needy in
our community.

Gerard Booy is pastor at

Haney Presbyterian Church.
Kindergarten expands, enrolment shrinks ing thousands of grievances about class size tronically. he believes the expansion will be just astro-
Black Press legislative reporter Tom and special needs support? TF: B.C.’s Auditor nomical.
Fletcher sat down with Education MM: My understanding is that they are. General says you should Students are choosing to graduate earlier,
One of the disappointing things about that is extend this to school or they’re choosing to work full-time while
Minister Margaret MacDiarmid that it ties up superintendents and principals district banking and in- they go to high school. We also have in Oka-
in many, many grievances, and of course fi- vestments, so cash isn’t nagan-Similkameen, an English literature
to discuss the beginning of the nancial resources, and I would obviously sitting in bank accounts. class where the teacher is in one school and
2010-11 school year. Following is an rather have those principals and superinten-
dents working with the teachers to help our
Are you following up on
that?
some of the students are in another school
about an hour down the road.
edited transcript: education system get better. MM: Absolutely. In TF: Enrolment province-wide is estimated
TF: Are these grievances forcing change in fact just this past July to be down by about 6,000 this year. Is that
TF: There’s a lot of interest in the full-day class size or composition? we had already begun to Macdiarmid the expected decline?
kindergarten program starting this year. Is MM: Thinking of the arbitration award do a ‘just-in-time’ flow of MM: Yes. We’ll know the actual number
it more popular than you expected? last year, there was a very small number of funds. Previously money by the end of September, so we’re expect-
MM: It’s very popular. We’ve had incred- classes that were found to be in violation of for things like payroll was going earlier than ing about 544,000 students in classrooms
ibly positive feedback from parents, teach- class size and composition [rules]. In most it needed to. starting next week. And Surrey continues to
ers are very excited, principals are excited. of the cases it was a technicality ... some- TF: Everyone imagines a future where exceed expectations in terms of growth. It’s
I think people are aware that full-day play- thing like there were two teachers teaching there’s a teacher on a TV screen and every- astonishing.
based learning can enrich their kids’ experi- a class, and one wasn’t consulted with and one in the province is taking classes, to take TF: Are facilities keeping up with that?
ence, for a better start for school, so they’re the other one was. Overall, the legislation is an extreme example. Can amalgamation MM: We are behind in Surrey. We’re do-
more likely to graduate from high school and being followed. come to the classroom? ing better over time. Back in 1998 there were
go on to university or college. TF: A pilot program for combining school 363 portables in Surrey. We now have pro-
TF: Is demand exceeding supply? administrative functions such as payroll, va- jected about 232, so it’s better. We’re build-
MM: I’ve heard it’s oversubscribed gener- cation and substitute teacher scheduling gets ing new space for full-day kindergartens.
ally around the province. We’re offering it underway this year in Kamloops-Thompson,
“Learning online has expanded, I We’re working on that but we have not kept
to about 21,000 students this year, and next Surrey, Vancouver and North Vancouver. Is think it’s about tripled in the last up with growth in Surrey. They’ve got about
year it will be available for all students. One that proceeding according to plan? 9,000 more students today than they did 10
of the things we have to do is develop some MM: Yes. There are a lot of things that have
couple of years. We have more than years ago. There’s growth elsewhere, but no-
new space, and that will happen over the to be worked through and that’s why we’re 70,000 students who are taking at where is it like that.
course of this year. starting with those four districts, but we’re TF: Has Vancouver sorted out its budget
TF: Is the half-day option for kindergarten absolutely committed to it where it makes
least one course online.” issues?
still available? sense. We’re not going to be doing 60 of the MM: Vancouver certainly submitted a bal-
MM: The half-day option is still available same things in different places. We’re going Margaret Macdiarmid, education minsiter anced budget. They are embarking on con-
this year. Next year the plan is to only offer to try to streamline that. sultation with the public about school clo-
full-day kindergarten. We have heard from TF: That involves buying new computer sures. They’ve got a list of about 12 schools
a few parents some uneasiness about that, systems? MM: In fact it already has. Learning online that they say they’re considering closing. I
and even for this year, some parents are MM: No question. We’re aiming to have has expanded, I think it’s about tripled in expect there will probably be a small num-
wondering if their child’s ready for a full day. a common payroll system, common busi- the last couple of years. We have more than ber of schools closed, because they’ve got at
So we’ve asked parents to consult with their ness functions. Government did this and 70,000 students who are taking at least one least two schools that are 60-70 per cent emp-
teacher, and there will be some flexibility al- it certainly accrued considerable savings. course online. When you look at the rural ty, and it’s very expensive to maintain those
lowed. [Payroll] can be anywhere because it gets and remote areas, I spoke with a teacher in schools. Other districts have made very dif-
TF: Is the B.C. Teacher’s Federation still fil- deposited in people’s bank accounts elec- Fort St. John who is involved with this, and ferent decisions than Vancouver.
 Community Calendar

C
ommunity Calendar lists and adult categories, prizes in Street, at 10 a.m. Cost is $10. ent info night at 7 p.m. at the
events in Maple Ridge and each. Judging on the grassy Newly retired teachers can Golden Ears Winter Club. Come
Pitt Meadows. Notices are knoll at 1 p.m. Take in a floral attend for free. Please RSVP out and meet the coaches, get
free to local non-profit groups demonstration by Verde Flower to Don Sears at 604 464-3886 important club information,
courtesy of The News. Drop off and Plant Design at 1:30 p.m. or [email protected]. and learn about the benefits of
details to 22328 119 Ave., fax Osprey Village is at the south • Maple Ridge Choral our new team coaching model.
to 604-463-4741 or e-mail end of Bonson Road in Pitt Society begins a new season For more info visit www.
events@mapleridgenews. Meadows. www.haneyfarmer- of song. Registration is 6 to MapleRidgeSkating.com.
com at least a week before the smarket.org 7 p.m. at Haney Presbyterian • Garibaldi Art Club has its
event. Include a contact name Church, 11858 216th Street, first meeting of its artist year
and number. (No submissions Tuesday, Sept. 7 Maple Ridge, with a practice on at 7 p.m. at the Craft Studio
by phone.) Listings appear as • Join the retired teachers to follow from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the ACT. All artists welcome,
space permits. For guaranteed of School District No. 42 All voices welcome. Contact beginner to professional for
publication, ask our classified who will be celebrating the Dennis at 604-465-8038 or a discussion on upcoming
department at 604-467-1122 first day of school at the Hell Jerry at 604-463-0760 for more workshops and the Members’
about non-profit rates. With The Bell buffet breakfast information. Fall Show in November. For
at the Maple Ridge Seniors’ • The Maple Ridge more information, visit www.
Saturday, Sept. 4 Activity Centre, 12150 224th Skating Club is hosting a par- garibaldiartclub.com
• Do you have Maple
Ridge’s Tallest Sunflower?
Or one with the biggest
head? Bring it to the Haney
Farmers’ Market at 10:30 a.m.
Two categories, two prizes.
Children and adult divisions.
Garibaldi Art Club has painting
demonstrations all morning.
Rob Kroeker, Graham and Carly
entertain. Memorial Peace Park
in downtown Maple Ridge on
224th Street from 9 a.m. to 2
p.m. www.haneyfarmersmarket.
org

Sunday, Sept. 5
• There is a sunflower con-
test at the Osprey Village
Farmers Market. Do you have
the tallest sunflower plant in
Pitt Meadows, or the one with
the biggest head? Children
 Section coordinator:

THE NEWS/sports
Robert Mangelsdorf
604-467-1122 ext. 216
[email protected]

SRT Titans
suit up for
first season
Coach Tom Levesque and principal Mike Keenan
hope to build football culture at Samuel Robertson
by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f
staff reporter

The Titans of Samuel versity of Massachusetts

Robertson Technical Sec- Dartmouth Corsairs of
ondary School hit the field the NCAA’s third division,
for their inaugural high playing fullback and line-
school football season this backer.
year, in what the school In addition to Levesque,
hopes will be the first of coaches Steve Halfnights
many for the fledgling pro- and James White are also
gram. teachers at the school.
The school will field just “For us, to make this pro-
one team this gram work, we had
season, a ju- to have teachers in-
nior varsity volved,” said Keenan.
squad, just “Community coaches
as Pitt Meadows have a role to play, Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
secondary did but there needs to Josh Penner tries to get by Conner Henry during a Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary School Titans football practise Tuesday
four years be school involvement, afternoon.
ago in their and teach-
inaugural ers have
year. a commit- Levesque. “We rely heav- ment,” said Keenan. “It The Titans will have their tons of experience and
“We were ment to the ily on the great work they would not be possible with- work cut out for them in a some with none at all, so
t h i n k i n g school.” do to prepare these guys.” out the financial support of competitive AA junior var- it’s a matter of getting ev-
about having a That said, Levesque said he tries to parents.” sity Eastern Conference eryone on the same page
football team here when the program has built a schedule practices so they The program costs close that features perennial and finding out who fits
we were still building the strong connection with don’t interfere with the where.”
school, but there were oth- the Meadow Ridge Knights Knights’ commitments. The priorities for the
er priorities, obviously,” community football pro- “We want them playing program this season, says
said SRT principal Mike gram, who play some of for both,” he said. “But we “We want to be here years from now, so this Levesque, are player devel-
Keenan. “It’s pretty amaz- their games at the school. don’t want to burn them opment, player retention,
ing to see it finally come Assistant coach Mark out.”
year is about laying that foundation.” and growing the football
together.” Ogloff comes from the Keenan said he sees the culture at the school.
At the helm of the pro- Knights’ organization, and program expanding to in- Tom Levesque, “At the end of the year,
gram team is head coach in exchange for using the clude a senior team in the SRT Titans head coach if we don’t have a great
Tom Levesque, a special Knights’ field equipment, program’s third year, and record, but the kids are
education teacher at the the Titans allow them use hopefully add a Grade 8 having fun and come back
school with a long history of their change room and team by year five. to $20,000 per year to run, powerhouses like Mission next season, then that’s a
in football. storage facilities. He would like to expand all of which comes from and Langley, not to men- successful season for me,”
Levesque grew up out- “From day one we knew the program sooner, but parent fundraising, and tion cross-town rivals, the said Levesque. “We want
side of Boston, and was the this wasn’t going to work football is an expensive fees. Pitt Meadows Marauders. to be here years from now,
captain of his high school without a positive relation- sport. “There are no tax dollars “We have a lot of catching so this year is about laying
football team, before go- ship with the community “A football program is going towards the team,” up to do,” said Levesque. that foundation.”
ing on to play for the Uni- football program,” said a huge financial commit- said Keenan. “We have some kids with See SRT, p45
 Sports

Takahara scores gold at nationals

by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f Quebec in the semi-final and 5-4 Team B.C. was able to mitigate
staff reporter nail-biter over Ontario in the the damage, however, catching
final. a fly-out and ground out after
When it mattered most, Taka- having let three runs score.
Outfielder Sheridan Takahara hara delivered, said Bodnar- Pitcher Faythe Lou of Surrey
of Maple Ridge took home a gold chuk. retired the final batter to send
medal for her efforts as part of She went 3-for-4 at the plate, B.C. home as the champions.
Team B.C. at the 2010 Bantam with three RBIs against Que- Takahara, like most of the
Girls’ Canadian Championships bec, contributing a number of girls at the tournament, plays
in Richmond last weekend. clutch catches on defense. In for a boys’ team, because there
The team was coached by the final against Ontario, she is no girls’ baseball league in
Greg Bodnarchuk of the Ridge went 2-for-3. B.C.
Meadows Minor Baseball As- “She was instrumental in “Most girls play softball at this
sociation, who Takahara was those wins,” said Bodnarchuk. level,” said Bodnarchuk. “It’s
instrumental was key to the “She’s the kind of player that a big difference [for pitchers]
team’s success. would run through a fence after having to throw from 60 feet.”
“She’s quite a player,” he said. a ball.” Takahara played for the Ridge
“She made a number of great Team B.C. was up 5-1 going Meadows Royals bantam single-
catches in centre field that took into the final inning against A team last season
away doubles.” Ontario and looked to have a “These teams are very skilled,”
Team B.C. went undefeated lock on the championship when said Bodnarchuk. “They could
at the tournament, posting a the B.C. pitcher threw three beat some boys teams their age,
perfect 4-0 record in the round straight walks to load the bases that’s for sure.”
robin, followed by a 7-2 win over with zero outs. [email protected]

SRT Titans home debut Sept. 22

SRT from p44 Matt Chichka, Colton ray, Tyrel Ogloff, Josh Watkins, Brody Watts,
The Titans make Davies, Chris Draper, Penner, Nico Roy, Josh Wiggins, and
their home debut Marc Dupperron, Tan- Matt Tremblay, Kyle Kylar Wright.
Wednesday, Septem- ner Hartley, Noah
ber 22, at 3 p.m. on the Hayes, Kyle Heiling,
school’s artificial turf Conner Henry, An-
field, which has been drew Hernandez, Jor-
repainted for Ameri- dan Howe, Andy Kim,
can football rules. Brock Lowen, Mitch
Members of 2010 ju- McDole, Donovan
nior varsity Titans McNee, Cody Moffat,
are Kurt Blaine, Nik Mike Moore, Robert
Buac, Kyle Cameron, Munnich, Austin Mur-

Get your sports results in

THE NEWS
[email protected]
THE NEWS/scoreboard
Baseball
Lower Mainland Baseball Association
Final standings
Bob Bunnett Division
Teams GP W L T Pts F A
Maple Ridge Js 15 14 1 0 28 103 43
Coquitlam Cardinals 14 10 3 1 21 88 47
Vancouver Mounties 15 9 6 0 18 113 78
Burnaby Yankees 15 8 6 1 17 104 95
South Delta Padres 16 8 8 0 16 64 64
Richmond Athletics 15 7 8 0 14 109 100
New Westminster Red Sox 14 4 10 0 8 44 68
Burnaby Brewers 15 3 12 0 6 44 123
Tri City Indians 15 1 14 0 2 27 102

Bill Mathers Division

Teams GP W L T Pts F A
Delta Dodgers 14 11 2 1 23 117 40
Aldergrove Giants 16 10 5 1 21 99 91
Delta Tigers 15 10 5 0 20 87 62
Langley Knights 16 10 6 0 20 79 59
Langley Expos 14 7 7 0 14 82 68
Newton Royals 16 7 8 1 15 100 95
Chilliwack Cubs 15 6 8 1 13 90 100
Ridge Meadows Twins 15 5 8 2 12 99 95
North Delta Fighting Irish 15 1 14 0 2 25 144

Golf
Flora Aasen Memorial
11th Annual Alzheimer’s Pro-am
Aug. 23, 2010
Pitt Meadows Golf Club

Pos Name Score

1 Dave Zibrik 65
2 Doug Morgan 66
T3 Bryn Parry 67
T3 Kyle German 67 Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
T5 John Aasen 68
T5 Clark MacPherson 68 Puck rustlin’
T7 Dan Swanson 69
T7 Kendal Yonemoto 69 Jakob Mainhout (left) and Kenny Conroy go for the puck during the second game of the Ridge Meadows Minor Hockey Association’s atom rep tryouts
T9 Dave Bolton 70 Sunday at Pitt Meadows Arena.
T9 Mark Strong 70
T9 Phil Jonas 70
T12 Lance Antanenko 71 Sports Calendar
T12 Mike Haraguchi 71
T12 John Shin 71 • The Ridge Meadows Flames junior B hockey non profit group of seniors ages 55 and up who play a.m. at the Pitt Meadows Heritage Hall, Harris Road
T12 Scott Minni 71 club face the Grandview Steelers in their home daily at the Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre. and Lougheed Highway. Walks take place in various
T16 Jay Balloch 72 opener for the PIJHL regular season Friday, Sept. 10 at Contact Collin at 604-465-2391. areas on both sides of the Fraser River. For more
T16 Fraser Mulholland 72 Planet Ice in Maple Ridge. Game time is 7:30 p.m. • Westview Secondary School is holding a information call 604-463-8874.
T16 Greg McClure 72 • The Maple Ridge Skating Club is hosting a dinner for potential sports volunteers at 6:30 p.m. • Golden Ears United Soccer Club women’s teams
T16 Roy Abbenbroek 72 parent info night Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Golden on Wednesday, Sept. 15The school is looking for are now accepting players for the fall season. There
T16 Jeff Dagg 72 Ears Winter Club. Come out and meet the coaches, dedicated parents and volunteers to help expand the is space in Divisions 1, 3, and 4, as well as the 30-plus
get important club information, and learn about the school’s sports programs this coming school year. No Division. Division 1 is best suited to former gold and
Get your sports results in benefits of our new team coaching model. For more experience necessary. Call 604-465-7468 for more Metro players. Ages 17 and up. Season runs from
info please visit our website www.mapleridgeskat- information, or email [email protected]. September to March, with registration underway. For
THE NEWS ing.com.
• The Pitt Meadows Senior Snooker Club is a
• Happy Wanderers singles walking group for
people aged 45 and up meets every Saturday at 9:15
more information please contact Susan Carr at 604-
467-8447 or via email at [email protected].
[email protected]