October 26, 2012 by Black Press Media Group

NO NAMING RIGHTS FOR CIVIC CENTRE

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WHAT TO DO WHEN THE BUNS FLY

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PLATINUM AWARD NOMINEES NAMED

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FRIDAY

OCTOBER 26 2012 www.newwestnewsleader.com

Brent Pierce of New Westminster and his Royal City Curling Club team captured the Valley First Crown of Curling on the weekend. See Page A25

New name, location for Sprott Shaw Moves to be near SkyTrain Grant Granger

ggranger@newwestnewsleader

GRANT GRANGER/NEWSLEADER

The crosswalk between Tim Hortons and Starbucks on Sixth Street is busy through much of the day.

Light idea at coffee crosswalk shelved City decides to postpone putting traffic signal at Sixth and Belmont Grant Granger

ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com

Although the city has set aside money for a traffic light to replace New Westminster’s coffee crosswalk it will stay the way it is for now. The city’s 2012 capital works program includes installation of a light to replace a heavily used pedestrian crosswalk that spans Sixth Street at Belmont with a Tim Hortons at one end and a Starbucks

mere steps away at the other side. When Bart Slotman of Uptown Property Group, which runs the Westminster Centre Mall that houses Starbucks, saw the light on the city’s capital works program website map, he contacted the city because he doesn’t believe a change is needed. Slotman said although it’s a busy crosswalk, it’s unlikely a traffic light would improve public safety. With signals already at Fifth and Sixth avenues, and cars going in and out of parking stalls along Sixth Street, traffic already goes at a slow

pace and drivers have no problem stopping when pedestrians enter the crosswalk. “Our gut feeling is just adding a light is not going to make it safer. The intersection works quite well. The presence of a crosswalk actually slows cars down,” said Slotman. “Is it a reality, or is it a perception that it is a safety issue? My gut feeling is it’s a perception not a reality. I can’t remember the last time there was an accident there…Our concern is that if you start to add another light, it’s undoubtedly going to add to the vehicular congestion in the area.”

fresh fish daily

Slotman said a light might discourage walkers while the mall would like to see the street friendlier to pedestrians. He pointed out any traffic bottleneck on Sixth Street is more a product of the light at Sixth and Sixth because frequently drivers are forced to wait for pedestrians to clear that intersection’s crosswalks before turning right. Jerry Behl of the city’s transportation department said the plans for the new traffic light have been put on hold because the crosswalk appears to be effective.

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Sprott Shaw has a new name, a new look and a new location in New Westminster. The private career college officially opened its new, bigger digs on the fourth floor of old land titles building at 88 Sixth St., near Royal Avenue on Wednesday. It’s 9,000 square feet, which is 2,000 more than at its old location on Eighth Avenue at 12th Street, which was highly visible to drivers on those streets but difficult to access for students without a vehicle. The new campus is a short walk from both the New Westminster and Columbia SkyTrain stations. “About a year ago we decided the location wasn’t optimal on Eighth Avenue because it wasn’t close to the SkyTrain stations. So that was a big factor in moving closer, probably the biggest,” said Sharon Stapleton, director of the New Westminster campus. Please see NEW, A3

A2 NewsLeader Friday, October 26, 2012

CENTURY HOUSE INSPIRATION DAY Saturday, November 17 10:30 am - 1:30 pm

CITYPAGE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS The City of New Westminster is calling for volunteers to serve on the following Advisory Bodies of Council for 2013: Group: • Advisory Planning Commission • ActBiPed (Formerly known as Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee) • Arts and Culture Grant Committee • Arts Commission • Community Grant Committee • Community Heritage Commission • Community and Social Issues Committee • Downtown New Westminster Parking Commission • Economic Development Advisory Committee • Emergency Advisory Committee • Environment Advisory Committee • Family Court Committee • Heritage Grant Program Committee • Multiculturalism Advisory Committee • Neighbourhood Traffic Advisory Committee • New Westminster Design Panel • Parks and Recreation Committee • Public Art Advisory Committee • Railway Community Advisory Panel • Remembrance Day Committee

Join us for a FUN day of being inspired. The day will include the following: • Keynote speaker Dr. Davidcus Wong • Laughter Zone 101 Comedians • Laughter Yoga • Inspirational Quotes • Refreshments and door prizes

UPCOMING

COUNCIL MEETINGS Monday, October 29 No Council Meeting Please note that council meetings are now video streamed online. Committee meeting schedules can be found on our website.

Come out and spend the morning being inspired! Tickets are $5 and available at Century House, 620 Eighth Street, New Westminster. For more information, please call 604-519-1066.

READ WITH US BOOK CLUB The New Westminster Public Library’s Read With Us Book Club is reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel just in time for the November release of the new movie. Read the book first and join in the lively discussion on Tuesday, November 20 at 7:00 pm. Then if you’re curious, go see if the movie lives up to the book. The Read With Us Book club is held in the New Westminster Public Library. As space is limited, please pre-register. Copies of the book can be borrowed from the Library. For more information and to register, call 604-527-4667.

NOTICE OF INTENT RE: LIQUOR CONTROL AND LICENSING ACT APPLICATION FOR A NEW LIQUOR PRIMARY LICENCE An application for a liquor primary licence has been received by the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch from The City of New Westminster for the New Westminster Multi-Use Civic Facility. The proposed location for this licence is 777 Columbia Street in New Westminster. Proposed licensed hours are 12 Noon to 12 Midnight, Sunday to Thursday and 12 Noon to 1 AM, Friday and Saturday. Maximum person capacity will be 830 persons on Level One, 420 persons on Level Three and 395 persons on Level Four.

• Seniors Advisory Committee

Residents and owners of businesses located within a 0.5 mile (0.8 km) radius of the proposed site may comment on this proposal by:

• Special Services and Access Committee

1) Writing to:

• Youth Advisory Committee (Student from the Community at Large) This volunteer opportunity allows citizens to contribute their expertise, experience and ideas in relation to important community issues. Committees are created by Mayor and Council to consider information concerning specific issues which would otherwise absorb the time and attention of Council. By fulfilling this role, committees enable Council to perform its legislative function more effectively and efficiently. A committee must therefore operate in accordance with the specific mandate and terms of reference or bylaw approved by Council. The Local Government Act provides that all proceedings of a committee are subject to the approval of Council (except if certain powers are delegated by bylaw). If you wish to be considered for appointment, please submit your application with a brief personal resume of your background (even if you have done so in the past). We encourage you to apply online or download an application form at www.newwestcity.ca. Applicants may submit their hard copy applications by: Drop-off or Mail: Committee Clerk Legislative Services Department, City Hall 511 Royal Avenue New Westminster BC V3L 1M9 Fax: 604 527 4594 Email: committees@newwestcity.ca For further information, please contact the Legislative Services Department at 604 527 4523 or by email at committees@newwestcity.ca. Applications must be received by the Legislative Services Department no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 9, 2012.

THE GENERAL MANAGER C/O Senior Licensing Analyst LIQUOR CONTROL AND LICENSING BRANCH PO BOX 9292 Victoria, BC V8W 9J8 2) Email to: lclb.lclb@gov.bc.ca PETITIONS AND FORM LETTERS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED To ensure the consideration of your views, your comments, name and address must be received on or before November 26, 2012. Please note that your comments may be made available to the applicant or local government officials where disclosure is necessary to administer the licensing process.

IMMIGRATION AND SPONSORSHIP Newcomers can improve their knowledge of Canadian immigration and family sponsoring procedures for spouse, parents, family members, and adoption at a presentation at the New Westminster Public Library. It will be held from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012. The presentation will be conducted in English, with translation available in French, English, Chichewa, Nyanja, Lingala, and Swahili. The Library is located at 716 6th Avenue and is wheelchair accessible. For more information and to register: phone SUCCESS at 604-430-1899 ext. 110. The classes are co-sponsored by New Westminster Public Library and SUCCESS.

511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, B.C. V3L 1H9 | Ph. 604.521.3711 | Fx. 604.521.3895 | www.newwestcity.ca

Friday, October 26, 2012 NewsLeader A3

Infocus

OPINION page 6 | LETTERS page 7 | SPORTS page 25

Caution urged on subdivisions

City to look at accident stats ⫸

from FRONT PAGE

Grant Granger

In addition, he admitted it Although developers have asked for design could be difficult guidelines on subdividing large single-family lots in to accomplish New Westminster one councillor doesn’t believe it is coordinating the necessary. three signals to City staff have drafted a work plan to implement keep traffic flowing the guidelines, including running a trial study in three on Sixth Street neighbourhoods. But Coun. Chuck Puchmayr thinks while at the same the city might be better off keeping things the way they time improving are, dealing with subdivisions on a case-by-case basis. public safety at the “I have a lot of concerns with it, one being if you intersection. bring a policy that deals with developing those lots, “You don’t want you’re just going to bring in the developers to develop to have the situation those lots,” said Puchmayr. “I have no problem with where you’ve got all the way we’re dealing with it now … Having a policy is these traffic signals almost too inviting.” and have the drivers A staff report proposed a trial study in the West try to beat those End, Sapperton and Brow of the Hill neighbourhoods signals and speed up. be done to work out the kinks before the guidelines But at the same time are instituted throughout the rest of the mainland you don’t want so neighbourhoods. There would also be public many people crossing consultation before adopting the guidelines. that the drivers can’t The report said about half the 300 eligible lots are move,” said Behl. in Queen’s Park, though there are few requests to He added the city subdivide. Puchmayr said having the guidelines could will be asking New pave the way for some large heritage properties in that Westminster police to area to be subdivided turning, for example, a $1.5 pull accident stats for million property into one worth $5 million. In addition, that intersection to the final result could be homes that don’t fit the historic see if there’s a need to character of the area. improve safety at the Coun. Jaimie McEvoy said the guidelines could make crosswalk. it economical for heritage home properties to be torn “It’s been on our down for subdivision. mind for awhile. We “We don’t want to put the city up for small lot haven’t felt the need division, we don’t think that would be appropriate,” said to do it, although McEvoy. there’s a lot of He said council is looking for a policy that would pedestrians there. strengthen heritage protection and to also tie into the It’s operating OK at transportation network to ensure the lots have easy the moment. What access to transit to justify adding more residential units. we want to do is The report said there is an appetite for subdivision make sure it keeps AlwAys u p tooperating in New Westminster. Since 1978, the city has approved safely,” 60% o ff seArs o subdivision for 56 single detached lots including 18 in Behl said. Pr ic es the West End, 17 in Sapperton and eight in Brow of the He estimated the OUTLET in eff to Wedne STORE Hill. city had budgeted un les s oth WOMEN’S to sale priced me erwis gether ® LONG rchand In the end, council sent the proposal back staff tW $150,000 to $200,000 cOAtto with FAuX Fur cO EED chrIStM LL Ar A S A wa r to provide stronger language for heritage requirements for s $209.99 EAthe rLYproject. At SEAr rIVES and to investigate where the policies would in$the SAVE uP tO S OutLEt NOwork 99 W ONLY 70% OFF OrIGINAL EA. study’s trial neighbourhoods. ASSOrtMENt PrIcES ON A LArGE WOMEN’S NE OF Or VA ®

ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com

PICKING THE PERFECT PUMPKIN MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER

Picking through the pumpkin patch can wear a little guy like Johnathan Pickett, 3, out as he takes a break at the seventh annual pumpkin patch put on by realtor Derrick Thornhill at Queen’s Park on Saturday. About 1000 pumpkins of all sizes were laid out in the grass near the picnic shelter with proceeds going to Monarch Place. The event also included pumpkin carving, a costume contest, grab bags and the chance to guess the weight of a giant pumpkin.

New lab for LPN training continued from FRONT PAGE

It’s the first of the college’s outlets to incorporate the company’s new branding, which includes dropping “community” from its name, creation of a new logo and switching colours from black and red to blue, black and purple. New West will be the first to be decked out in those tones. “This is a complete new build out. Everything is brand new, all the furniture, all our labs have been updated and changed. It’s a brand new campus,” said Stapleton.

In her opinion, the biggest wow factor in the new digs is the training lab for licensed practical nurses. It simulates a hospital ward complete with beds, patients lists, oxygen and mannequins specifically made for students so they can practise doing injections, installing catheters and other nursing procedures. The lab also has a teaching area with stateof-the-art visual equipment so the students know all the details of the anatomy they’re dealing with when doing those procedures. The early education

program will be a combined lab and classroom so the students can learn how to do things like make healthy snacks for the kids, do creative arts and storytelling. “We’re proud of how that works and is functional for teaching the students,” said Stapleton. Sprott Shaw’s New West campus offers 10 to 15 programs with around 20 teaching staff, mostly part-time, and 130 students with the capability of accommodating more than 200.

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A4 NewsLeader Friday, October 26, 2012

Consultant will review school district’s books

IN ER N T B E G RD ! I W TS 3 TH N R E O M BE RK MA OVEM ICE A N TW W O N

Grant Granger

ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com

New Westminster school district is going ahead with hiring a consultant to figure out why it has a $2.8 million deficit for 2011-12, and develop a plan to erase the shortfall to present to the Ministry of Education. In an announcement at Tuesday’s board of education meeting, chair James Janzen released a statement saying the consultant would also make recommendations on improving the district’s financial management. The ministry had given the district until the end of the month to develop a business plan to eliminate the deficit. The board won’t meet again before the deadline. Tuesday’s in-camera decision was accompanied by a statement that also outlined previously announced restrictions on overtime and hiring, and senior administration review. Trustee Casey Cook said the district and board will need time to work out the details of a recovery plan.

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“Retiring a deficit of that magnitude you’re looking at a three- to five-year process. That’s what we have to present to the ministry, and we’ll see where we go with it,” said Cook, who welcomed the decision to hire a consultant. “I’m in favour of third-party oversight on the issue. It’s a direction we had to go, and I’m hoping it’s a process that at the conclusion will make several recommendations in terms of process and organizational structure.” The deficit is the third the district has experienced in the last 11 years, and the consultant will also be the third it has hired. “It’s the will of the board to hire a consultant. I hear the concerns of the community that we have hired consultants in the past, and they don’t know which we followed and which we didn’t. I hope this occasion is different,” said trustee MaryAnn Mortensen, who is in her first year on the board. District parent advisory council president Rob Peregoodoff said parents

were expecting more from the board Tuesday. He said the consultant’s hiring increases the expectation of disclosure and transparency, and noted no timeline came with the board’s action. “That was quite disappointing,” said Peregoodoff. “What that means is many stakeholders are going to be spending time monitoring the situation instead of the job at hand which is pursuing excellence in education. The longer this cloud hangs over us the worse it gets. However, they do need to make sure they get it right, because there is no next time. This is the next time.” He is also disappointed with the silence from the ministry. “We assume they are monitoring the situation. Unfortunately I have heard nothing at all from the ministry about this, and that’s disconcerting. Parents and media should not be the only ones monitoring the situation,” said Peregoodoff. twitter.com/lonegrangerbnw

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Friday, October 26, 2012 NewsLeader A5

No naming rights for civic centre City to explore corporate sponsorship opportunities for inside the facility Grant Granger

ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com

While city council is willing to develop sponsorship deals in the new civic centre, it’s hands-off the name. A city staff report came to council Monday looking for direction on what types of corporate sponsorship to pursue. They gave the go-ahead to go after many types inside the building but nixed the idea of selling naming rights to the facility. Before the meeting, Coun. Jonathan Coté said the facility is too important to the city, and it is too tied to the identity of the city to have a corporate connection. “It would take away from the brand, and from what the facility is all about which is about being the cultural hub,” said Coté. Parks, recreation and culture director Dean Gibson, who wrote the report, said exploring

corporate sponsorship for the civic centre is a topic his department has been kicking around lately after a recent workshop. “In all the range of things we’ve been discussing about the civic centre even when the idea was conceived many, many years ago, one of the themes that was discussed was revenue generation beyond our traditional means to recoup some of the expenses,” said Gibson. “Do we want to go down a path to explore this notion of sponsorship? And if we do, we’ve got some work to do with it.” There are other, more modest means of corporate sponsorship besides the naming rights the city could pursue aggressively, said Gibson. What’s unknown is how residents feel about commercialism in the public domain. Surveys done by the city in the past show residents are generally supportive, while those who are opposed to the concept are “very opposed,” said Coté. “There is still a significant sector of the

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population that has strong feelings about it.” Gibson said sponsorship is a very different animal than it was just 15 or 20 years ago. It’s not just a sign board filled with business ads on a wall in a hockey rink. He said the civic centre is a test case that could help establish best practices for sponsorships at other facilities in the city, or for future projects like redevelopment of the Canada Games Pool.

Company named top employer New Westminster-based Westminster Savings has been named one of Canada’s top 50 employers in a survey done by Aon Hewitt, a global human resources consulting firm. It was the first time the company has reached the ranking from a survey conducted of employees across Canada. “It is a tribute to our team of more than 400 passionate and dedicated employees,” said the credit union’s president and CEO Barry Forbes in a press release.

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A6 NewsLeader Friday, October 26, 2012

OPINION NEWSLEADER’S VIEW:

PUBLISHED & PRINTED BY BLACK PRESS LTD. at 7438 Fraser Park Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5J 5B9

ADRIAN RAESIDE:

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

Let’s talk about it A memo from the B.C. Ministry of Education to all 60 school districts last week advises teachers not to show the video in which Amanda Todd tells her tragic tale, flash card by flash card. The video has been viewed close to 20 million times on YouTube already. Memorial pages on Facebook have garnered sympathies from Russia to Texas, while other teens have posted their own videos to Youtube in reaction to the suffering and harassment Amanda faced and which led to her suicide. Ministry of Education antibullying staff fear that footage of Amanda’s video could trigger other vulnerable teens to commit suicide. Amanda’s mother, Carol Todd, however, wants the video to be used to help others who may be suffering as her 15-year-old daughter did. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation says the ministry’s request ignores the reality that many kids have seen the video and need or want to talk about it. And so they should. Rather than restrict the video from classrooms, why not show the video at lunch in the library or cafeteria or gymnasium of high schools, at least, and host a discussion afterwards. Send home a permission form to parents. Make available staff and resources at the viewing for students who might have questions afterwards or want to seek help. For the ministry to suggest that the video doesn’t help address bullying issues is rather simplistic, because the video touches other important topics, as well, such as online safety and social media responsibility. Would the ministry rather a troubled teen watch the video at home, alone? Amanda made the video because she felt that way, so others wouldn’t also. The discussion has already begun. Let it continue. —Black Press

NEW WESTMINSTER

LAST WEEK: Will cuts to BC Ferries runs cause undue hardship for those living on less-travelled routes?

35 YES 65 NO %

THIS WEEK: Should athletes be held up as heroes? Vote at www.newwestnewsleader.com

What to do when the buns fly Recently, our regional president approached me with a request to address a gathering of our sales personnel, and perhaps share some “indelible impressions” from my years as a journalist and community newspaper editor. Indeed, there are more than a few of those tucked in the corners of my cranial dust bin. One immediately came to mind … the day I arrived at work to find a bullet hole in my window. Now, I don’t know if it was meant to send a message to me for some editorial transgression, real or imagined, or whether it was just a stray round, but it did leave an indelible impression. On the other hand, it was in Surrey. Just another day at the office… On a similar, but less dangerous note, is one of my favourite tales involving a certain mayor, who went on to become an MLA. He was a chief suspect in the Bun-gate Incident, as related by a reporter hailing from Portugal Cove, Newfoundland.

Andrew Holota This young scribe wrote to me, among others, to complain about the nefarious behaviour of our august head of civic state, and/or aided and abetted by a member of the Fraser Valley Regional District. It seems the complainant, a Mr. Jones, was doing his due diligence behind a notebook and camera at a function of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention, held in that particular year, as you might guess, Newfoundland. Mr. Jones claimed he was merely doing his job, taking pictures of Premier Clyde Wells during his speech at the Saint John’s Memorial Stadium. Several FCM delegates apparently were of the opinion that Mr. Jones had overstayed his

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LE DER

media welcome in front of the podium, and was blocking their view of Wells. Suddenly ... whack! The reporter said he was struck in the back by a dinner bun. Mr. Jones asserted that the mayor of my community at the time was among the more aggressive of those heckling him to move, along with a representative of our regional district. One of them was the culprit, he insisted. Both men vehemently denied responsibility for launching the bread bomb. After considering the information as presented, I considered the scenario rather suspicious. For starters, it was alleged that the bun was thrown to make Mr. Jones cease and desist his photographic distractions. Now, why would two veteran politicians be that eager to see the premier of Newfoundland? Perhaps instead, the bun was not targeted at the reporter, but was meant for Clyde!

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Now that would be more believable, and quite acceptable political behaviour. And if so, the reporter ought to have been proud to take one for his province. In a subsequent conversation with our accused mayor, I assured him we would not be pursuing a story on the unsubstantiated matter. Nevertheless, I told him I was rather disappointed in the reporter’s response. Had he been a member of my staff, I would have fully expected him to return fire. And in case such an incident might occur in our own community, I warned the good mayor that I was issuing each of my journalists with three kaiser rolls, and orders to engage if their persons were threatened or targeted by incoming baked goods. Local politicians should consider themselves duly advised. Andrew Holota is editor of the Abbotsford News.

Jean Hincks

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Editor

Creative Services Supervisor

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The NewsLeader is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written 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

COMMENT

Friday, October 26, 2012 NewsLeader A7

EMAIL letters@newwestnewsleader.com

Schools, staff strong despite dysfunctional board For better or for worse, the New Westminster School District operates ... “as directed by the board.” Currently, the most pressing issue facing the board is a sizeable surprise deficit and yet discussion is now starting to focus on the hiring of a communications expert. To be clear, I fully support a complete restructuring of school district “communication.” It’s a laudable objective, but make no mistake, to make it happen will require a comprehensive shift away from current practices, and that depends entirely on “political will” because information is empowering. My only concern is that the board’s attention will focus more on the new hire than on the $2.8M deficit. Ideally, I would like to see what could be achieved if district finances, governance and communications were all in good order. At this point, I can’t help but look back to about 12 years ago (May 2000) when the New Westminster school district was reported to be in a deficit

situation, “the first one ever”; my son’s special education assistant was issued a layoff notice and it was the first time I’d heard the now-common mantra about the “underfunding of education.” The following November, I ran and was elected to the board. Having been a parent for 22 years, and an elected trustee for 12, I can tell you that the underfunding of education is historic to all provincial governments but ultimately, the responsibility for the district’s finance problems lies with the Board of Education. The board of seven trustees acts as a single entity (majority rule) and the decisions that trustees make at the board table determine how the Ministry of Education dollars are spent at the local level; this, in turn, determines whether a balanced budget is achieved, or not. Some trustees have come and gone, but right now, Michael Ewen, James Janzen and myself are the veterans on the board and can fully attest to the fact that for a long time, the consequences

of financial and governance struggles have persisted with little relief for staff and students. That said, it is equally as important to note that there have also always been many incredibly positive things happening in the district. Through the years, board challenges have ranged from trustee-collegiality-andeffectiveness to the asbestos crisis; to grade configurations for the middle school model; to governance mismanagement (the Royal City Education Foundation and SD40 Business Company), and deficit-recovery processes; not to mention the many issues hampering the construction and replacement of schools, etc.—and these adversities have been significant. To state the obvious, if the new board priority is to achieve positive press, simply put, the best way to generate “good news” is to stop generating “bad news.” Typically, in the past, the board response to its various problematic issues has always been to hire consultants

to provide direction and recommendations for resolution of those problems. Currently, as reported, yes, there are ongoing discussions about hiring yet another consultant to address the current deficit. In my experience, the most effective district intervention was conducted by the Auditor General’s office solely because with the A-G there is an expectation of compliance that doesn’t exist with hired private consultants. The district’s current deficit status would be best served by another A-G intervention. The reality is that every choice made at the board table has had corresponding consequences at the local level, consequences that have affected staff and students, and by extension, families alike. We all are all too familiar with print, radio and television media coverage of frustrated parents and demoralized staff and yet thankfully, the poor physical condition of our schools, the rounds of cuts to staff and supplies, etc. hasn’t adversely impacted our student

achievement stats. Personally, I think that speaks volumes for the quality and dedication of our New Westminster school district staff ... teachers, SEAs, support staff, ... the whole lot, but I worry about how much longer these good people can continue to “carry” a dysfunctional board. Perhaps at this juncture, we will be able to start to turn this district’s problems around. Lisa Graham School trustee

TWO LANES BETTER Re: Rat running rankles residents (NewsLeader, Oct. 24) No one turns left onto Eighth Avenue off 20th Street. How about having two lanes access the bridge? It is very long overdue. Dale Trach

We want your view! email: letters@ newwestnewsleader.com twitter: @newwestnews facebook: facebook.com/ newwestnews

A8 NewsLeader Friday, October 26, 2012

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EFry ‘rapid-rush’ process fed frustration Council approves rezoning despite residents’ loud objections at hearing

change the Official Community Plan for the properties from single-family to institutional to allow it to apply for rezoning. McIntosh was the only councillor to vote against the rezoning Monday. McIntosh said there were steps missed along the way. Residents have objected to the city not requiring EFry to present the proposal to the local residents association or submit the plans to the city’s advisory planning commission. “By facilitating a rapid-rush process it just fed into the (neighbourhood’s) frustration,” said McIntosh on Wednesday. McIntosh said the neighbourhood’s message that approving the application would signal an erosion of their single family neighbourhood was loud and clear, but council didn’t hear it. She was particularly concerned about a parking

consultant’s report that justified the new building providing only 20 parking spaces. “His numbers started getting more confusing,” said Grant Granger McIntosh. ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com She pointed out there was no Coun. Betty McIntosh says consideration given to providing the city is going too fast in space for visitors to the office dealing with the Elizabeth Fry portion of the facility, EFry Society’s proposal to add a program users and volunteers in second building to its Sapperton an area where parking is a huge facility. problem with Royal Columbian Following a public hearing Hospital across the street. Monday, council approved third “His numbers were even reading of EFry’s application seeming to change when he to rezone two properties on came up a second time (on Sherbrooke Street across the Monday),” said McIntosh. “I back lane from its familiar blue told him, ‘I’m not an expert, but building on East Columbia I don’t believe your report.’ ” Street. The society wants Coun. Bill Harper said to construct a three-storey parking was the most building that would include compelling reason to have office space and 10 units of concern about the project non-market housing for women because it’s already an area and children. where parking is at a premium. Earlier this year, council But he was persuaded by the approved EFry’s application to consultant’s report because the nature of the clientele and the income levels of the women who will live there likely makes owning a car unaffordable. “They’re not going to have vehicles,” said Harper. “I accepted that report, and the neighbourhood didn’t … There’s a lot of angst in the neighbourhood about council’s approach to this, and I don’t know where it’s coming from to lead them to believe it.” Prevent the flu this year. Book an in-store Harper said the flu shot with your PriceSmart Foods pharmacist. building facing Kelly Street is where the Also, you may qualify to get the flu shot new housing will be and it will have a for free. Ask your pharmacist for details. residential appearance that will blend in. He dismissed concern that the rezoning is the first step in a slippery Thurs. Nov. 1st - 2pm - 6pm slope to commercial or institutional rezoning of #102 - 3433 North Road that side of Sherbrooke. 604-415-9992 He said that type of development is more Sat. Nov. 3rd - 11am - 5pm appropriate on the other side of the hospital. 7501 Market Crossing Harper said council 604-433-6314 has already proved it will protect the neighbourhood with its decisions on TransLink’s United Boulevard Extension proposal. He noted EFry still has to work out many technical details with the city before the rezoning application can be given fourth and final reading.

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On Nov. 6, Tomson Highway, one of Canada’s foremost and most influential aboriginal playwrights and authors, takes to the stage—he’s also an accomplished pianist, songwriter and lecturer—for an evening of live music, readings, songs and talk on Canadian and aboriginal literature as well as on the role of the arts in Canadian society and aboriginal communities. The event is free. Highway’s also visiting Douglas to meet with students in music, creative writing and In 1994, Tomson Highway was made a member of the Order of Canada, and in 2000, he was named by Maclean’s magazine as one Tamara Letkeman theatre, of the 100 most important people in Canadian history with the latter group putting on Highway’s most well-known • Tomson Highway appears Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m., play, the award-winning The Rez Sisters (Nov. at the Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre, 9-17), the story of seven women on a native Douglas College, 700 Royal Ave. To reserve seats, reservation, each wrestling with personal demons, contact Nassi Soofi, soofin@douglascollege.ca. who dream of attending “The Biggest Bingo in The Rez Sisters runs Nov. 9-17 and Dangerous the World.” Corner runs Nov. 2-10. Tickets ($8-$12) are If you like a bit of intrigue in your theatre, come see Dangerous Corner (Nov. 2-10), a play by available through the Massey Theatre, 604-5215050. J.B. Priestley that shows how a chance remark at a dinner party can have devastating consequences Tamara Letkeman is a writer/media for the guests—but only if the remark is actually specialist with the marketing made in the first place. Much more than a and communications office at Douglas College. parlour-room drama, Dangerous Corner will have you thinking long after the curtain goes down.

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A12 NewsLeader Friday, October 26, 2012

BBB warns of invoice scams

New Port Mann Bridge to open Dec. 3: Union Bus drivers say they’ve been notified of opening

The new bridge is to restore transit service to the corridor, which hasn’t seen a Coast Mountain bus in decades due to Jeff Nagel congestion. jnagel@blackpress TransLink kept the planned The new Port Mann Port Mann bus service in the Bridge may officially open latest version of its 2013 plan with eight lanes on Dec. 3, in September, even though although transportation mayors have vowed to rescind ministry officials won’t a $30-million property tax confirm the date circulated hike and press the province by the bus drivers’ union. to replace it with a different Canadian Auto Workers source. local 111 president Don “It is TransLink’s intention MacLeod said the union to have this service in place was notified drivers will Artist reNderiNg for when the bridge opens, but Te transportation ministry says it will announce the official opening date of we do not have an opening be required to run the new the new Port Mann Bridge soon. Highway 1 Rapid Bus date yet,” spokesperson service, which is promised The remaining two of 10 lanes would Debbie Parhar said. “We are to be in place on opening day of the new open about a year later because of getting prepared but there have been no bridge. subsequent work to dismantle the old assignments or driver sign up yet.” “My understanding is the first bridge and its approaches. The planned Rapid Bus service will Monday in December,” he said. The bridge will be free for the first be scaled back from what was originally A ministry spokesman said the bridge week it’s open before half-price tolls of envisioned due to declining TransLink official opening date will be announced $1.50 per standard vehicle kick in. revenue. in the coming weeks, giving drivers The discount from regular $3 tolls The buses were to run over the new enough notice of the traffic pattern ends March 1 for drivers who don’t bridge every 10 minutes all day – now change and the date tolling will start. register with the Treo electronic tolling they’ll only run every 10 minutes in the There have been no difficulties with system by then. morning and afternoon peaks and be cut construction and work remains on Those who do register lock in the to every 30 minutes at off-peak times. schedule for an eight-lane opening discount for one year and those who sign And it will only go from Langley to sometime in December as planned, the up before December also get a credit for Braid Station, not to Lougheed Station spokesman said. 20 free crossings. as previously planned.

Know who you’re paying. That’s the advice from the Better Business Bureau which is warning small businesses of invoice scams that try to extract payment for services that have never been provided. “Businesses often have staff who are parttime or handle multiple roles, a vulnerability that bogus invoicing schemes try to exploit,” said Danielle Primrose, the president and CEO of the BBB for the Lower Mainland, in a release. These “pretender schemes,” as the BBB calls them, often reference services as if they were a previous supplier or vendor. To avoid getting trapped in such a scheme, the BBB advises: • Train your staff. Advise employees who aren’t authorized to order supplies and services to refer sales people to those who are authorized. • Get sales pitches in writing. • Document purchases by issuing purchase orders to the supplier, including a number and authorized signature. The handling of all invoices should be centralized. • Keep a list of regular vendors. • If you receive bills for services or supplies you didn’t order, don’t pay. Under Canadian law it is illegal to bill for services that haven’t been provided, or to ask you to return unordered merchandise. Send a letter to the company to notify them that you’re keeping their product as a gift unless they agree to cover the cost of returning it. newsroom@newwestnewsleader.com

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OUTST NDING The Lower Mainland Green Team removed invasive plants (English ivy and English holly) at Deer Lake Park around the heron rookery last weekend. Sixteen volunteers contributed 48 hours of labour to make the park a better place.

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Nichola Smith (centre), widow of esophageal cancer victim Gary Smith, presents Dr. Kenneth Atkinson, head of Gastroenterology at Royal Columbian Hospital, and Kandi Kozler of RCH Foundation, with a cheque for $11, 924, raised from the third annual Gary’s Walk event. The funds will help RCH purchase a gastroscope, a thin, flexible fibre-optic instrument that is passed through the mouth and allows the doctor to see whether there is any damage to the lining of the esophagus or stomach.

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Students at Douglas College who are single parents in need are getting help paying for their education, thanks to a bursary that was created by the New Westminster Community Development Society. The society, a registered charity promoting individual growth, community development and economic progress, was dissolved in 2010. A recent recipient was New West resident Roberta Greschuk (centre), shown with Scott McAlpine and Patricia Genereaux, New News (blk press) formerWestminster director of the society. Run Date Oct. 27 3 (4.3125) col x 71

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This centrally located family home is a true character home featuring a bedroom plus den on the main floor with a full bath, gas f/p, cove ceilings, fir & oak hardwood floors throughout. Newer maple cabinets in the kitchen & updated stainless steel appliances. Downstairs is a 900 sf basement suite previously rented for $1,000/month w/new carpets & kitchen cabinets, countertops & applcs. The huge backyard feats a new Eon decking porch ($30,000) salt water above ground pool and 13 x 18 covered bbq lounge area decorated w/Ledgestone is perfect for entertaining. LOT: 59’4 X 148’5

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Renovated 3 level, 6 bdrm, 3 bath, 2268 sf, 1948 character home on a huge 66’ x 140.5 view lot on a quiet Westend street close to schools, parks, shipping & Skytrain. This bright & spacious home features 2 bdrms main, 2 bdrms & 1 full bath up + 1 bdrm (for owner) + 1 bdrm registered suite down. This immaculate home features hdwd floors, wood burning f/p, updated kitchens & baths, updated plumbing, wiring & newer roof, new drain tiles, storm windows, re-furbished suite with new carpets, newer 2 level back deck & more.

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843 5th Street $798,000 Beautifully reno’d & landscaped 2647 sf, 5 bdrms, 2.5 baths, character home on large 50’ x 132’ lot on quiet street close to schools, parks, shopping & transit. Home features 1495 sf on the main with 3 bdrms, 1.5 baths, huge LR w/ wood burning f/p & French doors to private fenced yard, new kitchen w/Quartz counters, SS applcs, tile floors & laundry room/mud room w/front loading Washer/dryer. Bsmt is fully fin’d with a 2 bdrm suite w/new flooring, paint & light fixtures + separate laundry currently used by owners. Elec, plumbing, updated drain tile, paint, dbl windows througout, newer hdwd floors & crown moldings on main, newer paint in/out, new baseboards, casings etc.

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418 1st Street $959,900 Welcome to 418 1st street, a beautiful 1936 character home situated in beautiful Queens Park. This spacious 3240 sf, 4 bdrm, 2 1/2 bath character home has much to offer w/ over 2000 sf on the main floor featuring a spacious LR/DR, bright & spacious updated kitch, 3 bdrms (spacious mstr with bonus sitting area), family rm, 1 1/2 baths, gleaming hrdwd flrs, beautiful arched wndws, gas f/p, H/W radiant heat & lovely French doors to private backyard & so much more! Large 66’ x 132’ lot with 23’ x 19’ double garage + 23’ x 16’ finished workshop. Bsmt has a bdrm, 3 pce bath, exercise area & lots of storage.

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#26 72 Jamieson Crt $585,000 Big, bright & beautiful, 2660 sf, 3 level, 3 bdrm + den, 4 bath end unit townhome with awesome river view in a great complex close to parks, shopping, recreation & transit. This immaculate townhome features newer carpets & kitchen appliances, 2 gas f/p’s, security system, built-in vac, newer HW tank, HW heating, 3 decks & patio/grass yard area & double garage. Complex is well maintained & managed with newer roofs, exterior paint & garage doors. Pets ok. 19+ complex.

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A14 NewsLeader Friday, October 26, 2012

Nominees named for Platinum Awards The New Westminster Chamber of Commerce has announced nominees for the Platinum Awards to be held Nov. 15. The Platinum Awards celebrate business and community excellence in New Westminster. They recognize businesses and individuals whose achievements and contributions to the community distinguish them from their peers. In the past, the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce has presented two separate event evenings recognizing this excellence in our community. These events in the past were known as COBE (Celebration of Business Excellence) and Citizen of The Year/Bernie Legge Cultural Award. This year, a task force of chamber volunteers has assembled to deliver one gala celebration in New Westminster. “We are thrilled with the response to the Platinum Awards,” said chamber president Andrew Hopkins. “Our nominees have expressed their appreciation in how we are acknowledging their excellence and contributions in our business community.”

The 2012 nominees are: NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION OVER $1M IN REVENUE

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Sponsored by BC Business Magazine Renee Bucciarelli Katherine Freund- Hainsworth Angie Au Hemphill The awards will be handed out at a special evening at La Perla Ballroom at River Market on Nov. 15. For information and tickets, visit www.newwestchamber.com, or call 604-521-7781.

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Friday, October 26, 2012 NewsLeader A15

Protesters denounce pipeline expansion Tom Fletcher

tfletcher@blackpress.ca

VICTORIA – More than 2,000 protesters gathered on the B.C. legislature lawn Monday, some promising to provoke arrests as well as criticizing proposed heavy oil pipelines from Alberta to the B.C. coast. Organizers offered training in civil disobedience techniques to the more than 1,000 people who signed up for the protest, under the banner of Defend Our Coast. Sponsored by Greenpeace and the Council of Canadians, the coalition includes unions, aboriginal leaders and environmental organizations. Victoria Police were out in force to back up legislature security, who locked the buildings down and turned away visitors for the day. The protest focused on two proposed projects, Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline from northern Alberta to Kitimat and the pending application by Kinder Morgan to twin its oil pipeline that has been carrying Alberta oil to Burnaby and Washington state for more than 60 years. Among the speakers was David Coles, president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union. He said his union is “diametrically

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Communication, Energy and Paperworkers president David Coles speaks to crowd at the B.C. legislature Monday.

opposed” to pipeline expansion, despite the fact it represents employees at the Chevron refinery in Burnaby that is supplied by the Trans Mountain oil pipeline from Alberta. The new proposals are “job killers” because more diluted bitumen from the Alberta oil sands will be shipped out raw, either from Burnaby or Kitimat, Coles said. Protesters ringed the crowd with sections of black banner described as being the length of an oil tanker, and staked it to the legislature lawn. That is technically a violation of legislature rules, which are aimed at preventing people from setting up tents and other structures on the lawn. Art Sterritt, executive director

of the Coastal First Nations group on B.C.’s North Coast, said the protest is designed to show Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Christy Clark that people are prepared to “stand in front of the bulldozers” to stop the projects. Other speakers included federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May and B.C. Teachers’ Federation president Susan Lambert. Maude Barlow, national chair of the Council of Canadians, called for opposition to gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas exports from norhern B.C. as well. Supporters of the oil sands protest include SFU professor Mark Jaccard and former UN ambassador Stephen Lewis.

School District No. 40 (New Westminster)

Upcoming Parent Informational Meetings Would you like to find out about Montessori and/or Early French Immersion Programs for young children? Parents of children from newborn to 4 years old are invited to the following informational meetings. These meetings are intended for parents who do not already have a child in the program. All District Programs of Choice are in demand, so early application increases your child’s chance of successful entry. You can apply at 1001 Columbia Street, with a copy of your child’s original birth certificate (and its translation, if necessary).

EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION - Thursday, November 1, 2012, 6:00-7:00 PM Library, Herbert Spencer Elementary (605 Second Street)

Are you thinking about Early French Immersion for your child? This informational meeting for parents will discuss the benefits of Early French Immersion for your child. It will explain the application process. Staff will be on hand to answer questions about the program.

MONTESSORI - Tuesday, November 20, 2012, 6:00-7:00 PM Library, Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary (1714 Eighth Avenue)

Are you thinking about the Montessori program for your child? This meeting will discuss the benefits of the program for your child. The meeting will explain how the specialized materials are used, and why are all classes combined grades as part of the Montessori philosophy. It will explain the application process. Staff will be on hand to answer questions about the program.

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A16 NewsLeader Friday, October 26, 2012

Asian languages most prevalent after English

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Philipine-based Tagalog is Canada’s fastest-growing language and is now spoken by three per cent of Metro Vancouver’s population, while the next top languages here are Korean (two per cent), Farsi, Spanish, German and Hindi (1.1 per cent.) Just 58 per cent of Metro Vancouver residents speak only English at home, down from 65.2 per cent in 2001. Increasingly, Metro residents are speaking both English and their mother tongue at home – that mixed use was reported by 24 per cent, up from 17.8 per cent a decade earlier. Slightly more residents reported being unable to converse in the dominant official language. Nearly 130,000 residents, or 5.7 per cent of the Metro population, indicated they could not speak English, up from five per cent in 2006. More than seven per cent said they were officially bilingual, speaking both English and French, while just 0.1 per cent said French was their only

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Almost a third of Metro Vancouverites speak a language other than English most often at home, according to newly released census data. The results from the 2011 count highlight the region’s growing cultural and linguistic diversity as a result of steady immigration from Asia. The single most prevalent immigrant language in the region is Punjabi – accounting for nearly 147,000 speakers or 6.4 per cent of Metro Vancouver’s population of just under 2.3 million. But Chinese languages make up much more if clumped together. The census counted 133,000 Cantonese speakers (5.8 per cent), 92,000 Mandarin speakers (four per cent) and another 115,000 non-specifed Chinese speakers (five per cent) in Metro.

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official language. Surrey is home to 94,000 South Asians who list Punjabi as their mother tongue – they make up 20 per cent of the city’s population and two-thirds of the Punjabi speakers in Metro Vancouver. Half of Metro’s 23,000 Hindi speakers also live in Surrey. Richmond is home to 23 per cent of Metro’s 330,000 residents who grew up speaking Chinese languages. In Abbotsford-Mission, 69 per cent list English as their mother tongue and 79 per cent generally speak English only at home. The census also counted 28,000 in Abbotsford-Mission whose mother tongue is Punjabi – 16.7 per cent of the population – while German was second at 6,500 or 3.9 per cent. Dutch, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese were next most common, at one per cent or less.

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Friday, October 26, 2012 NewsLeader A17

Transit fare evasion losses doubled over last decade $14.5m lost to cheats ‘distraction’ from TransLink’s big picture Jeff Nagel

jnagel@blackpress.ca

Bus drivers pushed their fare-not-paid buttons 2.5 million times last year to record passengers who boarded without paying the full transit fare. While that amounts to barely one per cent of the 230 million bus trips in the region in 2011, the real number is believed to be higher because some drivers, frustrated by lax enforcement, have given up pushing the button. “They’ve done it diligently and nothing’s happened,” said Don MacLeod, president of the union representing bus drivers. He estimates the lost fares add up to at least $5 million a year from buses alone. The recent provincial

audit of TransLink found fare evasion across the entire system rose 120 per cent from an estimated $6.6 million in losses in 2001 to $14.5 million last year. That’s less dramatic than it sounds – factor in a 21 per cent increase in ridership and a 65 per cent fare price increase since 2001 and losses should account for more than $13 million by now if the same proportion of riders cheat. MacLeod said the problem is most prevalent on Vancouver routes. Drivers are told not to risk a beating by arguing with fare cheats or delaying other passengers but 165 drivers a year are still assaulted each year, often due to fare payment disputes. MacLeod said Transit Police have stepped up patrols on buses and are committing to do more yet, particularly after

SkyTrain fare gates and smart cards are introduced next year. TransLink has also been given new collection tools to enforce payment of fare evasion fines using ICBC and bill collectors. It claims early signs of progress, with markedly fewer people caught without the correct fare in September fare checks. The government audit gave no clear prescription to combat fare evasion, predicting SkyTrain fare gates will “dramatically reduce” the problem, allowing TransLink to thin the ranks of Transit Police, who cost $27 million a year. That was the last of 27 recommendations that focused on making transit more efficient to cut costs, even if it means cutting service frequency on some routes. The report listed five likely factors behind the increase in fare

evasion: - The 11 per cent fare increase in 2010 made transit less affordable to some people. - Expansion of the U-Pass program, making it more profitable to make and sell illegal counterfeits. - Increased ridership due to the Canada Line’s launch. - Media reports that fare evasion goes unpunished. - More chronic fare evaders due to the economic downturn. Coast Mountain Bus Co. spokesman Derek Zabel estimated fare evasion runs at 4.5 to six per cent overall and accounts for $6.2 million in lost fare box revenue on buses. The Toronto Transit Commission estimates fare evasion at about two per cent, or $20 million a year. Talk of TransLink collecting new taxes or road tolls to expand the transit system has fueled a backlash on talk radio and letters to

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the editor, with many people insisting fare evasion be fixed first. Some observers say the issue is being used to derail a serious discussion of how to pay for improved transit. “The agenda is don’t give TransLink any more money,” said SFU City Program director Gordon Price. Transit advocate and former Vancouver Coun. Peter Ladner said fare evasion should be fought, but it shouldn’t overshadow the big picture of providing adequate service as Metro Vancouver’s population climbs. “To think we shouldn’t go ahead with transit improvements until we fix that – it’s a distraction,” Ladner said. “It’s not a reason to walk way from the funding discussion.”

Turnstiles won’t stop all cheating The provincial audit counts on a big drop in fare evasion once TransLink activates its $171-million system of fare gates and Compass smart cards. But officials say some cheating will still continue. As with other jurisdictions, dishonest passengers will find ways crawl under or over the paddle-style gates or go through two at a time. Transit Police plan continued fare checks within fare-paid zones to catch those cheats. But the audit also warns other transit authorities that have introduced smart card payment have run into significant levels of fraud. “It is similar to credit care fraud and will exist regardless of the security features in place,” the audit said, adding Transit Police will need to develop more sophisticated investigative techniques to pursue smart card fraudsters. TransLink officials expect smart cards will reduce much existing fraud, such as the counterfeiting of monthly passes and U-Passes. The net savings from the gates and cards project is estimated at $22 million over 15 years. Part of that is through less fare evasion, but also reduced ticket printing costs, faster bus loading and increased ridership due to an improved perception of safety. twitter.com/jeffnagel

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A18 NewsLeader Friday, October 26, 2012

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