THURSDAY
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
APRIL 18, 2013
BEST NEWSPAPER of the YEAR 2012
Familiar characters abound as MEI Middle School presents the musical tale of Alice in Wonderland Jr. A34
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Dix looking for Abby win Sets sights on Abbotsford West as a riding the NDP can take Kevin MILLS Abbotsford News
Adrian Dix was in Abbotsford Wednesday morning to unveil more of his party’s platform and to support his local candidates. A crowd of suppporters cheered outside Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, as the BC NDP leader told them his party represents the Fraser Valley. While Abbotsford has long been a Liberal stronghold, Dix said he has spent a lot of time in the Valley and
DIX
believes the NDP will “succeed in constituencies that they have never won before.” “Vancouver Point Grey, Premier Clark’s riding, Abbotsford West – the finance minister’s riding (MLA Mike de Jong) – these are ridings that I’m running to win,” said Dix. He’s not looking at past results, but rather said the party is taking a more “expansive view” and is running to win everywhere. During Wednesday’s visit, Dix unveiled the next plank in the party’s
platform, which includes building a sustainable economy and creating new jobs. The NDP plans to create a $100-million, needs-based non-repayable student grant program to help students and increase the number of skilled workers in B.C. Dix called B.C.’s skills shortage a “major impediment.” The NDP also announced a oneyear freeze on BC Ferries rates until an audit can be performed. For more, visit abbynews.com.
DOG PARK UPGRADE A7 Community members
raising funds for improvements to Gladwin Road off-leash area
A ‘run to remember’
Phil Klaassen, a Run for Water board member, said they organized What Dan Stefanson remembers the event to join in “the outpouring of support from the running combest from his experience at last munity around the world. year’s Boston Marathon were the “We felt this was a way we could spectators that cheered on runcome together … to say we’re not ners every step of the way. afraid to gather.” Following Monday’s bombing at On Monday at 2:50 p.m. Eastern the Boston Marathon finish line, time, a pair of explosions rocked which killed three people and in- the finish line area during the jured about 170 more, Stefanson 117th Boston Marathon. Three is devastated. people were killed, and more than “It makes me cry every 170 were wounded. time I think about it.” Four runners from The executive direcO Abbotsford – including Ryan E D tor of Tourism Abbotsford, VINLINE Prachnau, the 2012 Run for m Stefanson spoke to about aObbynews.co Water men’s marathon win60 runners of all ages who ner – were race participants showed up at Mill Lake in Boston. All are safe. Park for a “run to remember” on “I think we are all in shock,” said Tuesday evening. Wearing his Michelle Watrin, director of media marathon shirt, he recalled his relations for the Run for Water. experience in Boston last year, “Many of us have run for years and the runners paused for a mo- and now run with our kids, and it ment of silence in honour of those felt like it was taken away from us affected by the bombing, before (on Monday). It has always been beginning a trek around the lake. an innocent and treasured world The event was spearheaded by to us.” the Run for Water Society, which Run for Water’s Abbotsford event stages annual races in Abbotsford is on May 26, and organizers are and Calgary to raise money for working with local police, fire and clean water development in medical personnel and others to Ethiopia. ensure safety.
LIBRARY PROPOSAL
Alex BUTLER
Abbotsford News
A5 Downtown business
association has a plan for Centennial Library
SKIPPING INTO HALL
A39 Rope skipping coach Deirdre DeGagné is being honoured by the Abbotsford Sports Hall of Fame ■ ■
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RICK MACDONALD Contributor
About 60 members of the local running community turned out Tuesday night in honour of those impacted by the Boston Marathon bombings.
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THOUGHT OF THE DAY
If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.