Thursday March 14, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 22)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Role model: Despite contracting meningitis as a child, resulting in the amputation of his legs and one hand, Shayne Smith – who spoke to students at Sullivan Heights Secondary – refuses to let his disability limit him. › see page A15
White Rock city hall
Four victims on Colebrook since January
Councillors seek raise
More bodies found
Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Surrey’s mayor is considering closed circuit TV cameras (CCTV) and lighting on an isolated stretch of road where four bodies have been found since late January. On Wednesday at 2 a.m., police found two bodies on a stretch of Colebrook Road near 125A Street. The body of a man was found by a patrolling officer, then a search turned up the body of a female. The identities of the victims have not been determined, but Sgt. Jennifer Pound with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says foul play is suspected. The discovery comes after the body of 26-year-old Jaskaran Singh Sandhu was found in the area on Jan. 28. That murder was gangrelated, police say. On Feb. 24, the charred remains of 29-year-old Amritpal Saran of Delta were found. He was known to police, but investigators don’t believe the killing was gang-related. Pound said the most recent bodies will have to be identified before it’s determined if there’s a connection. It has not been made public where any of the victims were killed. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said Wednesday the body count on Colebrook is unacceptable. “It’s absolutely unbelievable,” Watts said. “There’s obviously people that feel that stretch of isolated road is a place to dump a body.” › see page A4
Evan Seal photo
Police on the scene Wednesday.
Evan Seal photo
Gordon and Virginia Bylo discuss fallout of treating those with mental illness in our legal system.
Parents speak out
‘Systemic failures’ Kevin Diakiw
A Black Press
South Surrey businessman is worried about his adult son, who – suffering from schizophrenia – has fallen into drug addiction and has been repeatedly thrown in jail. In fact, over the last four years, 30-year-old Brian Bylo has been to jail 30 times. He is not alone. It’s estimated one in three people in Canadian jails suffer from mental illness. Twenty per cent “self-medicate” with alcohol or illicit drugs.
Those with mental illness often end up on the streets, behind bars or in hospital ERs. Increasingly, front-line emergency responders are thrown into the roles of social workers and counsellors, as the mentally ill fall through large gaps in the system. Service providers in Surrey say they are inundated with people in desperate need of support. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said the combination of mental illness and addiction is the city’s most important challenge. › see page A10
HARD to HELP A Black Press special series examines the shattering effects of mental illness
The policy outlining how pay for White Rock’s civic politicians is determined needs a rethink, council members agree. And at least one councillor is calling for a formula that boosts the salary, replacing a 2007 policy on remuneration and expenses that sets councillor wages at “40 per cent of the estimated average White Rock earnings for the current year.” “Forty per cent implies we only do 40 per cent of the work,” Coun. Helen Fathers told Peace Arch News Monday, after discussing Policy 106 at a meeting of the governance and legislation committee. For 2012 – the latest figures available – it translated to $26,240 for councillors and $59,040 for the Helen Fathers mayor, which is based on 90 per cent of the average wage. “When I tell people what we get and the amount of work that we do, (the reaction is) astonishment,” Fathers said, estimating she puts 40 to 60 hours a week into her role. She asked her peers their Larry Robinson thoughts on increasing the percentage to 60. Mayor Wayne Baldwin balked at the suggestion. “I think that’s too high,” he said. “Forty per cent is probably consistent with other municipalities… pretty much par for the course.” Baldwin suggested the Louise Hutchinson committee ask staff to look into how other similar-sized municipalities pay their councils and compare the figures with White Rock’s to ensure consistency – a move the committee supported unanimously. Coun. Larry Robinson noted the current formula does not work with White Rock’s demographics. “Forty per cent of a demographic that’s 30 per cent retired means there’s not going to be much of an incentive to run for council,” Robinson said. › see page A4
Independent & Assisted Living for Seniors Seal of Approval
visit us on the web: real estate • strata management www.hughmckinnon.com commercial management house rentals 604-531-1909
Largest Suites in Town 15366 - 17th Ave. White Rock 604-531-1160
15340 - 17th Ave. White Rock 604-531-7470
www.unicarehomes.com