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LangleyAdvance
| Thursday, December 13, 2012 |
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Chamber of commerce
Good Citizen of 2012 is music lover What’s online LangleyAdvance
News
Gangster beaten
A reputed gangster can’t be tried after being brutally attacked in prison. A man charged with taking part in a violent robbery of a Langley jewelry store is now accused of severely beating another prisoner. Leonard Joseph Cardinal has been charged with aggravated assault. Gangster Jesse Margison is so brain-damaged, he is unfit to stand trial for kidnapping. • More online
TWU’s Christmas in the City was Nov. 21.
Community
TWU exceeds goal
A Nov. 21 event exceeded its half a million dollar goal, raising $639,855 for scholarships and programs for Trinity Western University. TWU used the occasion to honour Fort LangleyAldergrove MLA Rich Coleman and Langley MLA Mary Polak, at its 50th anniversary fundraiser, Christmas in the City. • More online
News
Victim lacks ID
The RCMP are not releasing any information about a man found in a burned-out vehicle near Hope until the victim has been positively identified. The family of Dan Rikkinen of Langley was told earlier this week that his truck had been found. The 59-year-old grandfather had not been seen since Nov. 22. • More online
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Susan Magnusson was honoured for her work to bring music to the Langleys.
Susan Magnusson was pleasantly surprised by being named H.D. Stafford Good Citizen of the Year.
Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance
by Matthew Claxton mclaxton@langleyadvance.com
A woman who has brought musical education to Langley for almost 40 years was surprised Tuesday with a major community service award. Susan Magnusson was named the H.D. Stafford Good Citizen of the Year at the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas dinner. A startled looking Magnusson was called up to the stage to accept the honour, given annually to someone who gives of their own time and energy to make Langley a better place. Magnusson joined several previous winners on stage, including Dale Ball, Sylvia Anderson, Tim Lounsbury, Marlene Grinnell, Jim McGregor, and David Esworthy. “This is truly a great honour to join this prestigious group of good citizens,” Magnusson said. She was lucky enough to turn a passion for music into a career, and through that to meet people and make a difference, she said. Magnusson first moved to Langley in the early 1970s. She said she read in the Langley Advance about an open house at the Langley Community Music School, and as the holder of a music degree, she was interested
and pleasantly surprised. When one of the LCMS founders had to take medical leave not long after, Magnusson joined the school, teaching in the evenings while keeping her full-time job in Vancouver by day. After a while, she quit her old job to devote herself full-time to work at the school. In 2001 she became the principal when it moved into its new facility on 207th Street. Over the years she has built up an impressive list of achievements, from having a student
perform at Carnegie Hall, to her work with numerous local boards, committees, and community groups. Chamber president Angie Quaale listed some of the projects that Magnusson has been a part of: co-director of ceremonies for the 2010 BC Summer Games, service on the board of Tourism Langley, a founding member of the Langley Jazz Festival, involvement with Langley Literacy, and a director of OnStage Langley. Magnusson said she and the
music school have done well because of the support of the community for music and the arts. Art is sometimes considered a non-essential in modern life, Magnusson said. “But in my opinion, it makes a healthy community,” she said. She’s hoping to continue adding programs and bursaries at the music school to provide more education, for both children and adults. “There’s never a dull moment,” Magnusson said.
Driving
Fatal crash remains under investigation A senior was killed and two others seriously hurt in a three-car crash in Aldergrove. by Matthew Claxton mclaxton@langleyadvance.com
An 87-year-old man was killed in a threecar crash Monday evening in Aldergrove. Cpl. Holly Marks said the incident began with a car heading north on 264th Street, and waiting to turn left onto Roberson Crescent. Just before 5 p.m., as the first driver was waiting, a second car, a Chevrolet commercial van, slowed down
behind the car waiting to make the turn. The next car, a Nissan Rogue, didn’t slow down and tried to swerve to avoid the van. The Nissan driver failed, and slammed into the back of the van, said Marks. The Nissan then veered into the southbound lane and crashed head on into a Toyota Tacoma. “It is believed the 87-year-old male driver of the Rogue die instantly,” said Marks. He was not wearing a seatbelt. His spouse was taken to hospital with serious, life threatening injuries, Marks said. The 44-year-old woman driving the southbound Tacoma also suffered serious injuries, but it is believed that she will survive, Marks said.
The two men in the work van were not injured. The northbound vehicle waiting to turn, which was the only one not hit at the scene, did not stay at the corner after the crash. The exact cause of the crash has not been determined, but police do not believe alcohol was a factor, Marks said. The police will be doing mechanical inspections of all the cars involved. Volunteers with RCMP Client Support and Victim Services are able to help victims, family, and witnesses of the crash. Anyone who saw the collision and has not spoken to the police can call the RCMP at 604-532-3200.