The Chilliwack
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BC Ballet brings dance to Chilliwack.
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Autism review caught up in procedural wrangling Katie Bartel The Progress Emotions ran high at a Chilliwack school board meeting over a last-minute motion to engage in a review of special education services delivered in schools. School trustee Heather Maahs requested the motion be added to the agenda at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting, but was denied when trustees Louise Piper, Barry Neufeld, Walt Krahn and Doug McKay voted against it. For more than a month parents of children with autism have publicly been expressing concerns over how their children are treated and educated in the school system. They’ve described a system that segregates autistic children, and has a rotating door of education assistants – with some lacking sufficient training. Maahs’ motion was the result of those claims. However, those who voted against the motion argued the move came too late to be added to the agenda Those late additions were the motive for another motion passed later in the evening that now requires trustees to submit motions in writing with rationale prior to the agenda being developed so that all trustees, staff and public have advance notice of what’s to be discussed before a meeting. Board chair Louise Piper said she’s been faced with repeated last-minute motions to be added to agendas late the night before the agenda is put together. “Time and time again, we are getting emails close to midnight the night before from trustees requesting motions be added to the agenda,” said Piper, who sought the advice of a registered parliamentarian before including the motion in the agenda. Continued: AUTISM/ p12
Sam Waddington speaks during Monday night's Friends of the Chilliwack Paramount meeting at the old arts centre. Nearly 100 people attended. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Paramount meeting draws a crowd Jennifer Feinberg The Progress Friends of the Chilliwack Paramount are feeling decidedly optimistic. About 90 people showed up at the old arts centre Monday night to kick around ideas and offer input about saving the old Paramount Theatre building. Seniors, business owners, youth and other interested residents got an update on what the group has been up to since the demolition of the Paramount was delayed by three months with a vote by city council. “We are optimistic,” said one of
the organizers, Sam Waddington, after the meeting. “There’s been some great interest expressed from all sectors of the community, and we’re gaining momentum. “Many of the people who came out to the meeting asked us what they could do to help.” Offers have poured in to assess the building, donate electrical expertise, or create artistic renderings, among other services, since the group came together to stop demolition of the downtown landmark. “The Paramount tugs on a heartstring for many in Chilliwack,” he said. “With that
kind of community support behind us, we’re going to channel that into our vision and go forward with consolidated plans.” They have come to understand the effort to save it cannot be accomplished with raw emotion alone. They’ll need about $300,000 just to open the doors, not to mention ongoing operating funds for whatever entity is created. A structural engineer is being sought, along with efforts to get more information about the extent of underground contamination next door from the Ewert building. “We need to go through the
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motions and come up with a workable business model,” he said. One of the main ideas is to establish some type of theatre facility, possibly to show art films. Ultimately it’s going to come down to financial partnerships, said Waddington. A steering group of five has been working on it. They’ll be actively seeking sponsorships, and advocates at different levels, and considering a not-for-profit model, possibly run by volunteers. “We don’t view this as a shortterm thing,” he said. Continued: PARAMONT/ p4
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