Festival du Bois Check out some of the highlights of Coquitlam’s annual French festival: page A18
THE FRIDAY
CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2012
TRI-CITY NEWS
SD43 cuts a worry
A four-day school week?
Field hockey and hoops
SEE FACE TO FACE, PAGE A11
SEE SPORTS, PAGE A38
INSIDE
Books Plus/A20 Things-to-do Guide/A19 Tri-City Spotlight/A25 Community Calendar/A26
Unsportsmanlike conduct Port Moody posts reminder about sportsmanship to those at games By Janis Warren THE TRI-CITY NEWS
By Diane Strandberg THE TRI-CITY NEWS
see ‘CAREFUL’, page A7
www.tricitynews.com
CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2012
Staff unions say SD43 may not meet its targets Principals, teachers and support staff are raising concerns about cuts to School District 43 spending, saying they could affect professional development, school maintenance, technology and the lucrative international education program. For the second board meeting in a row, Coquitlam Teachers’ Association (CTA) and CUPE representatives expressed fears that SD43 is taking money from schools instead of hacking finance, human resources and other administrative budgets. Th e C o q u i t l a m Principals’ and Vi c e - P r i n c i p a l s ’ Association (CPVPA), meanwhile, is calling on the district to reinstate principal positions in money-making programs such as Coquitlam Open Learning and international education. “We would like to see that income-generation potential maximized,” said CPVPA president Rob Foot.
MARCH 1, 2013
JANIS WARREN/THE TRI-CITY NEWS
The city of Port Moody posted this sign at its rec complex on Wednesday after a local resident suggested it, having seen a similar sign in another city. The sign has proven popular among Facebook users.
A code of conduct sign posted on Wednesday at the Port Moody recreation complex has struck a nerve with rink users. And the city is netting positive comments about the plain and humorous wording that’s directed mostly at hockey parents and spectators. The “Spectator Code of Conduct”sign reads: “Please remember: 1. These are kids. 2. This is a game. 3. Parents should cheer for everyone. 4. The referees are human. 5.You and your child do not play for the Canucks.” A photo of the sign was posted Wednesday evening on The Tri-City News’ Facebook page and has drawn an unprecedented number of “likes,” comments and shares. As of The News’ print deadline yesterday, the picture had received more than 26,000 views in about 20 hours. Among the online chatter: “Fantastic and so true. I love my city, Port Moody.” “Sad that it has to be said but, yes, the time has come that these rules must be posted clearly and offenders be tossed out on their rear end.” “Signs like this are
IN QUOTES
“Signs like this are posted all over Canada. Good to see Moody jump on the bandwagon. Arenas just need to figure out how to remove and ban problem adults.” – comment on The Tri-City News’ Facebook page posted all over Canada. Good to see Moody jump on the bandwagon. Arenas just need to figure out how to remove and ban problem adults (1%) that are constant problems.” The comments come the same week a B.C. hockey coach was sentenced to 15 days in jail and a year of probation after he was caught on video tripping a 13-yearold player following a game. Po r t M o o dy c i t y spokesperson Leslyn Johnson said the idea for the sign came from a member of the community who had seen it in another city. “He sent it to Mayor [Mike] Clay, who liked the idea and thought we should do something similar in Port Moody,”she said. see ‘IT WAS TIME’, page A9