The Chilliwack
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Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • T U E S D AY, M A R C H 5 , 2 0 1 3
Chlorine stays on ‘until further notice’ Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
The emergency chlorination system, activated last week in the wake of a report of E.coli on the valley floor in Chillliwack, is going to stay in operation in definitely. Resampling tests of the water on Thursday came back clear, “with zero E.coli detected.” “Today’s clear test results do not mean the prior test was incorrect,” says Glen MacPherson, Chilliwack’s director of public works. “At this time we don’t know what caused the original test result to be positive, but we will continue investigating to determine a cause.” Once city officials were notified of a positive result, crews retested the water and activated the city’s standby chlorination system. They flushed the lines and asked Greendale residents to flush the chorine through their lines. “As a precautionary measure, Greendale residents were advised to boil their drinking water,” he said. Chlorine reached Greendale within a few hours, a community on the western edge of Chilliwack which is on the valley floor. Since the drinking water distribution system is interconnected, the entire system therefore had to be chlorinated. “We are reassured by the test results today, but we certainly look forward to finding out the results of the investigation,” said Mayor Gaetz. “This is the first time we have had to activate standby chlorination, but our staff was well prepared and responded immediately. We will work cooperatively with the Fraser Health Authority and ensure our drinking water is safe.” The Boil Water Advisory for Greendale was lifted February 28. Continued: WATER/ p5
Former CSS students turned out in droves Saturday to the mass reunion, like Bruce Abbey, (above right). JENNIFER FEINBERG/ PROGRESS
Big turnout for Hello, Goodbye reunion Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
More than 100 millimetres of rain in Chilliwack couldn’t dampen the excitement of CSS alumni on their way to the mass reunion. The Hello, Goodbye event at Chilliwack secondary school drew a whopping 5,000 people over the weekend. All the socials and parties were sold-out and more than 4,500 former students, staff and teachers wandered down memory lane in the old CSS building on Saturday. “Everything went off without a hitch, and the
synergy was incredible,” said organizer Trevor McDonald. Lyle and Catherine Collie, CSS class of 1972 and 1973 respectively, were poring over the annuals and photos in the 1970s kiosk in the gym to find people they knew.
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“The best part is seeing all the people,” said Catherine Collie. They’ve been married 39 years after going on a blind date while they were still in high school. Lots of good feedback came back to the organizing team about the Then
and Now bus tours offered by Chilliwack Museum director Ron Denman. “Everybody raved about the bus tours,” McDonald said. Opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. on Saturday saw speeches from a range of dignitaries, and they kicked off the live music performances in the gym. The school was filled with alumni greeting old friends, and checking out the photographs and memorabilia. McDonald credited the hard work of the organizing team, which he called “a dream team.” “It took an unbelievable amount of work and dedi-
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cation to this project,” he said. “We knew it was wellplanned and the numbers were there in registration, but you never really know until you open the door.” People showed up in droves, even in the relentless downpour. “Everything went so beautifully,” he said. “I was like a proud papa. They showed up with smiles on their faces, even in the pouring rain.” Anyone with photos of the event they wish to share can send them to csshellogoodbye@gmail. com jfeinberg@theprogress.com Twitter.com/chwkjourno