B.C. Views Green MLA on coal controversy. p6
Pitt residents peeved about new park. p3
THE NEws
Arts&life striking a balance, new e-book, album. p17
www.mapleridgenews.com wednesday, July 24, 2013 · serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · Delivery: 604-466-6397
Cup riot charges sought against Ridge hockey fighter Daniel scott Amesbury, 22, faces eight counts By Michael Hall, staff reporter
A former junior hockey player from Maple Ridge is the latest person charged in connection with the 2010 Stanley Cup riot. Crown laid charges last Wednesday Amesbury against Daniel Scott Amesbury, born Nov. 17, 1990. He’s the 14th suspect to be charged out of 15 identified by police in the brutal swarming attack on Good Samaritan Robert Mackay, who tried to keep looters from breaking into The Bay during the riot.
Colleen Flanagan/the news
Lift off
see Riot, p9
David Taylor launches his son Sean, 9, out of the water Tuesday at Whonnock Lake while his stepdaughter, Mailea Walsh, 12, watches.
A new prescription for pot Company makes pitch under federal regulations by Ne i l Co r b e t t staff reporter
files
The security requirements are comparable to what’s expected at a financial institution.
The District of Maple Ridge doesn’t yet have a medical marijuana grow-op bylaw, but it’s already hearing from an applicant who wants to set up a large-scale shop. John Moonen, a lobbyist for a company called Agrima Botanicals, was at council’s committee of the
whole on Monday. Agrima is based in New Westminster, but already has a comparatively small-scale medicinal marijuana operation on farmland in Maple Ridge, growing for a limited number of patients under the current Health Canada system. The federal Health Ministry announced in January that it will phase out individual licences, which allow medical marijuana users to grow pot in their own homes. Instead, all medical pot will be grown and distributed by highly regulated and secure commercial
Index
Golden Eagle Golf Club 21770 Ladner Rd, Pitt Meadows 604-460-1111 ext. 303 goldeneaglegolfclub.com
A Perfect Afternoon
$56.50* per weekday player $67.50* per weekend & holiday includes
Golf, Burger, Fries & a Cold Beer *plus applicable taxes & gratuities
Perfect for 12 to 36 players
Opinion Letters Looking Back health&wellness Arts&life sports Classifieds
operators. The present system has been problematic, in that neither municipalities nor police even know where the legal grow-ops are, and local officials have claimed the loosely regulated operations are targets for criminal grow rips, and are fire hazards. The new system will come into effect in April 2014, and Moonen said Agrima wants to hit the ground running with a new licence under the incoming regulatory regime. Moonen has not heard that there will be limits on the number of li-
cences, but, in his opinion, Ottawa is making the new requirements so stringent that few operators will have the financial wherewithal and expertise to meet them. For example, the new grow ops must have zero pollen or odour emissions. He said Agrima has a three-tiered air purification system with charcoal filtering to meet this requirement. Moonen added the security requirements are comparable to what would be expected at a financial institution or “diamond cutting operation.” see Bylaw, p5
westcoastautogroup.com
6 7 12 16 17 19 25
LOCATED AT THE NORTH END OF THE GOLDEN EARS BRIDGE
WEST COAST
TOYOTA
19950 Lougheed Hwy., Pitt Meadows Toll Free
1-866-910-1579
WEST COAST 20000 Lougheed, Pitt Meadows Toll Free
1-866-334-2119
WEST COAST
WEST COAST
now open
FORD LINCOLN
NISSAN
WEST COAST KIA
20370 Lougheed Hwy., Maple Ridge Toll Free
1-866-772-1929
19625 Lougheed Hwy., Pitt Meadows Toll Free
1-866-208-8820
19950 Lougheed Hwy., Pitt Meadows Toll Free
1-866-334-8581