Images Image from the 13th annual Surrey Pride Festival page 34
Feeling g blue? Get or b erries ready ffor berries page 4
Thursday July 12, 2, 2012 Serving Surrey urrey and North Delta www.surreyleader.com
New school group formed to examine homophobia
Surrey-Tynehead MLA joins growing list of B.C. Liberals not running in next provincial election
Dave Hayer won’t run for re-election
Surrey School District policies will be reviewed by Sheila Reynolds
by Rick Kupchuk
A GROUP assigned to review anti-
ADD DAVE HAYER to the list of B.C. Liberals who won’t be seek-
ing re-election next year. Hayer’s Surrey-Tynehead constituency office released a press release Monday afternoon, confirming the MLA will not seek a fourth term in the B.C. legislature. “It has been a great 11 years, and it has been an honour to represent the residents of Surrey-Tynehead as well as other areas of the City of Surrey throughout that time and during the many achievements we brought here,� said Hayer in the release. “I entered provincial politics to accomplish a number of things that I believed were needed in my constituency, in Surrey and in the Province of British Columbia. I have achieved virtually all those goals.� Dave Hayer Hayer cited a new Port Mann Bridge, expansion of Surrey Memorial Hospital, the new Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre, the new Surrey campus of Simon Fraser University, upgrading of Kwantlen Polytechnic University to a full university, and the construction of new schools as accomplishments during his time as an MLA. Hayer is one of a number of members of the governing Liberal party not running in Christy Clark the May 14, 2013 provincial election. Liberal MLAs Kash Heed (VancouverFraserview), Harry Bloy (Burnaby-Lougheed) and Kevin Krueger (Kamloops-South Thompson) have announced their intentions last month to not seek re-election, and cabinet members George Abbott (Education Minister) and Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Kevin Falcon (finance minister) remain undecided. See HAYER / Page 3
Softball celebration
ROB NEWELL / BLACK PRESS
Misato Kawano scores Japan’s second run during Monday night’s ďŹ nal game in the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. Japan repeated as champions, defeating the United States 9-6. In the bronze-medal contest earlier Monday, Canada lost 7-0 to Australia. For the full story, see page A29.
Editorial 6 Letters 7 Sports 29 Arts 34 ClassiďŹ eds 40
homophobia policies for Surrey schools will hold its first meeting tonight (July 12). The working group was struck following a request to the board of education last month that the Surrey School District establish a standalone anti-homophobia policy. Proponents say a targeted policy is necessary because of the prevalence of bullying based on sexual orientation and the fact it’s been linked to increased teen suicide rates. Presenters at the June 21 public school board meet- Mike McKay ing, including two Surrey high school students, pointed to the homophobic slurs and behaviour that pervades schools, and the damage it causes students and staff. The working group will consist of parents, students, teachers and other school district staff and will initially be led by Supt. Mike McKay. There are no trustees in the group. The board of education voted at a meeting June 21 to convene the group in order to review policy in light the issues brought forward by speakers at the meeting.
See GROUP / Page 4
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