The Hope
Standard
Choppers look to secure a place in the playoffs this Saturday 15
Office: 604.869.2421
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
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PROVINCIAL GRANTS AWARDED Boston Bar and Hope receive funding for recreation upgrades
2 LOCAL JOBS PLAN UNVEILED Minister Pat Bell meets with council to discuss priorities
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NEW CHILD CARE CENTRE OPENS Program runs in Silver Creek Elementary School classroom
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INSIDE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Community . . . . . 12 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Classifieds . . . . . . 17 $
1.10 (HST INCL.)
Fighting fire
KERRIE-ANN SCHOENIT / THE STANDARD
A house at 15570 Peters Rd. was completely destroyed in a fire on Sunday night. Billowing smoke over Highway 1 could be seen for several hours as firefighters from Hope, Popkum and Agassiz worked to extinguish the blaze. Four firefighters and two engines from the Silver Creek hall responded to the call at about 4:30 p.m. The exact cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but officials say it started near a wood stove in basement. Donations for the family can be dropped off at Hope Community Services on Wallace Street between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Adrian Dix tours downtown Hope Economy, health care and skills training priorities for NDP leader Kerrie-Ann Schoenit Hope Standard
Adrian Dix is eager to give voters in Chilliwack-Hope a representative in the legislature. The NDP leader visited local senior care homes on Sunday with byelection candidate Gwen O’Mahony and stopped into businesses along Wallace Street before
meeting with party supporters and canvassers at PapAndreas Greek Taverna for dinner. “Clearly the Liberal party is reluctant to call the bylection for their own partisan reasons, but in the meantime the people who are actually living in the communities are getting less than all the other communities. I don’t think that’s fair,” said Dix.” There’s no reason why
the byelection shouldn’t be called. I think we have to look at whether giving the government this long to fill these vacancies is a good thing for the public interest, and I don’t think that is the case.” Dix criticized the Liberals for recent funding announcements in the riding, noting support for the community should be available every day and not just when the party
needs votes. “I guess what they’re saying is having the seat vacant is better for the community than having an MLA,” he said. “It’s good when things happen and the community deserves support for its activities, but I think people are justly concerned that they’re only paying attention now because the Liberal party is conContinued on 3
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