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Chilliwack shows the love to targeted business owners
■ M ONDAY M ORNING C RASH
Cash Mob draws 1,500 Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
The Cash Mob Chilliwack event on Friday at two Indian restaurants in Chilliwack exceeded everyone’s expectations. Hundreds of people showed solid support all day long by dining or ordering take-out from either the Bay Leaf or Shandhar Hut restaurants in Chilliwack, to cool the sting of racist messages sent to owners last week. “It boggled my mind when we got the final numbers in. We had no idea it would be that successful,” said Scott McVetty, one of the Cash Mob Chilliwack organizers. Restaurant owners told him they more than doubled totals of their best day to date. “We are extending our thanks to the community,” McVetty said. “It was a lot of hard work and it turned out to be a great day.” Cash Mob organizers wanted to send the message that the anonymous racist does not represent the community of Chilliwack. “Actions speak louder than words, and Chilliwack was loud and clear on this night,” said McVetty. “Chilliwack, you’ve truly outdone yourself,” said Dale Johnson, Cash Mob Chilliwack organizer. “That number is simply amazing and way beyond anything we could have hoped for.” The Atti family from Shandhar Hut expressed their feelings about the support on their Facebook page. “There aren’t any words to express the amount of gratitude we have for those supporting us Continued: SUPPORT/ p21
Paramedics and emergency personnel tend to a woman after the car she was driving flipped on its roof on Luckakuck Way just east of Heritage Park on Monday morning. The woman was the only person in the vehicle and no other cars were involved. She was taken to hospital with unknown injuries. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Chlorine tap turned on – permanently Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
When health officials made Chilliwack turn on its emergency chlorination system last week it was only “until further notice.” On Thursday, it became permanent. Fraser Health has told the City of Chilliwack that if it wants to retain its permit to supply water to residents it must chlorinate its water – permanently. The move will add an additional three per cent to the average water bill, the city said.
“Council is extremely disappointed to hear this news, but we have no option but to comply with the Fraser Health Authority mandate,” said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. She thanked the “thousands” of residents who made their voices heard and fought for Chilliwack’s water, and said although they had their challenges with the water file, they hope to work with FHA to fight Metro’s incineration plans. But some won’t be happy. “I know this news will initially be difficult for many to accept,” said Gaetz. A total of 4,470 people signed
the online petition at www.chilliwackwater.com. The preliminary investigation by the city did not find a cause of the E.coli in Greendale last week. Fraser Health has issued formal notice under the Drinking Water Protection Act that as of March 7, a secondary disinfectant is required to be injected into Chilliwack’s drinking water system, effective immediately. Dr. Paul Van Buynder, Chief Medical Health Officer and VicePresident Public Health for Fraser Health said there was no other option.
“Over the years, Chilliwack’s water system has been compromised on many occasions resulting in fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria entering the distribution system,” Van Buynder said in a statement released Thursday. “After a review of the relevant data and conversations with public works staff at the City of Chilliwack, it is my assessment that ongoing secondary disinfection of the water supply system with chlorine or an equivalent compound is necessary to ensure a safe drinking water supply.” Continued: WATER/ p7
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