Dinner among friends ❙ P3
North Delta church brings together community with monthly meal
Every whittle detail ❙ P4
North Delta carver Barry Parker has a wood quality of life Delta has launched Facebook, Twitter & YouTube
JUNE ∙ 2013
❙ CONNECTING THE NORTH WITH THE SOUTHCorpofDelta_2x2_DL1223.indd
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Unique challenges for local firefighters Firefighters in Delta face some of the most hazardous terrains and unstoppable fires in the Lower Mainland. One of the most dangerously flammable areas in the Lower Mainland is Burns Bog. Between 1994 and 1996 there were five major fires in Burns Bog, many of which lasted for weeks. One fire in 1996 covered Metro Vancouver in smoke and ash for two days straight. According to Fire Chief Dan Copeland, bog fires burn both above and below ground, making them very dangerous and unpredictable.
❙ See story, P.9
Ex-chiefs recall history of DFD Former fire chiefs Walter Husband and John Tapio were born and raised in the Delta area, so when they were asked to join the volunteer fire department in the 1950s, they both jumped at the chance to help their community. ❙ See story, P.10
Delta Firefighters give back
❙ Delta Fire celebrates 50 years
The communities of Ladner, Tsawwassen, and North Delta have changed over the past half century, and so has the Delta Fire Department. See B5
The Delta Board of Education and Delta School District wish all of our students and staff a wonderful summer. The 2012/13 school year has been one exemplified by innovative teaching and student success. A glimpse into this incredible teaching and learning is captured in the school district’s blog 180daysoflearning.com. If you have not been following it throughout the school year, it will make a great summer read. Innovation as a means of enabling all learners to succeed and to be fully prepared for their futures is the underpinning of the Delta School District’s Bold Vision. We are starting to see this Vision come alive! While the summer may be a break from school for most of our students and staff, it continues to be a time of learning. Education takes place in all parts of the community in many different ways. On behalf of the Delta Board of Education and the Delta School District, we hope you enjoy a summer filled with fun and exciting learning. — Dianne Turner, Superintendent, Delta School District — Laura Dixon, Chair, Delta Board of Education
Delta firefighters give back to their community every day of their working life. But their concern for their community extends far beyond the job. The Delta Firefighters’ Charitable Society was created in 1994 by members of the fire department who wanted to raise and distribute funds for charities in Delta and across the country. ❙ See story, P.11
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JUNE 2013 the delta leader
Delta Community Update JUNE 2013 Update Delta Community JUNE 2013 Firehall Farmers Market Come to the Firehall Centre for the Arts in North Delta on June 30th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for the first Firehall Market ever Firehall Farmers Farmers Market! The market features farm fresh produce, artisans, crafts, food trucks, entertainment, and musicians Thethe market continues throughout – be am suretoto2:00 check so Come to the Firehall Centre. for Arts in North Delta on Junethe 30thsummer from 10:00 pm delta.ca for the first you missFarmers out! Market! The market features farm fresh produce, artisans, crafts, food trucks, everdon’t Firehall entertainment, and musicians. The market continues throughout the summer – be sure to check delta.ca so you don’t miss out!
Canada Day Celebrations
Delta will be alive throughout the day on July 1st with Canada Day celebrations. Canada Day Celebrations Enjoy the festivities in Ladner at Delta Museum at 9:00 am and Kirkland House at noon, in Tsawwassen at Diefenbaker Park at 10:00 am, and evening events in Delta will be alive throughout the day on July 1st with Canada Day celebrations. North Delta at Chalmers Park beginning at 6:00 pm and ending with fireworks at Enjoy the festivities in Ladner at Delta Museum at 9:00 am and Kirkland House at dark. noon, in Tsawwassen at Diefenbaker Park at 10:00 am, and evening events in North Delta at Chalmers Park beginning at 6:00 pm and ending with fireworks at dark.
Tour de Delta The 13th annual Tour de Delta runs July 5, 6, and 7. This exciting event features Tour de Delta criterium races in North Delta’s Social Heart on July 5 and Ladner Village on July 6. This year’s highlight is the White Spot Delta Road Race on July 7, which The 13th annual Tour de Delta runs July 5, 6, and 7. This exciting event features promises to be even more exciting than previous years now that it is sanctioned criterium races in North Delta’s Social Heart on July 5 and Ladner Village on July by Union Cycliste International (UCI), the only such race in Western Canada. 6. This year’s highlight is the White Spot Delta Road Race on July 7, which promises to be even more exciting than previous years now that it is sanctioned by Union Cycliste International (UCI), the only such race in Western Canada.
Boundary Bay Airshow On July 27, visit Boundary Bay Airport for the always popular Boundary Bay Boundary Bay Airshow Airshow. This free family event features exciting aerial acts, displays of vintage and modern aircraft, prize draws, food vendors, and children’s activities! Gates open at On July 27, visit Boundary Bay Airport for the always popular Boundary Bay 11:00 am and the Airshow starts at 1:00 pm. Airshow. This free family event features exciting aerial acts, displays of vintage and modern aircraft, prize draws, food vendors, and children’s activities! Gates open at 11:00 am and the Airshow starts at 1:00 pm.
Visit delta.ca/events for more information on these and other events.
Visit delta.ca/events for more information on these and other events.
June 2013 Delta Leader the delta leader JUNE 2013 ❙
Cooking
Safety
Cooking brings family and friends together, provides an outlet for creativity and can be relaxing. But did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries? By following a few safety tips you can prevent these fires.
B3 B3
We’re making lives better™ Companionship Errands & Outings
Cooking and Kids Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
•
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! The leading cause of
fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
•
! Most cooking fires in the
Bath or shower assistance Personal Care Post-Surgical Care Nursing Care And more!
home involve the stovetop.
❙ Volunteers Alma Dulona (left) and Betty Boyd measure some of the 12.5 cups of sugar needed for their butter mochi recipe – dessert for some 100 guests at Crossroads United Church’s free monthly Community Dinner. Boaz Joseph photo Your Source for SAFETY Information
Dinner among friends at North Delta church
save the date
“It’s a served meal, not a buffet line,” says Hodgins, the Community Dinners program coordinator who daylights as a teacher with the Delta School District. A few numbers for the logistically inclined: The prep involves 36 pounds of chicken, 12 cabbages, 38 green onions, 40 cups of bean sprouts, and 12.5 cups of sugar for the dessert. The vision for the Community Dinners program began as Crossroads evolved from an amalgamation of Royal Heights United Church and St. John’s Strawberry Hill United Church a few years ago. “As part of that (amalgamation) process, we did a visioning process about what we’re called to do in our community,” explains Hodgins. “A big thing people identified was energy and a feeling… a call... to serve the wider neighbourhood. “Food is definitely a part of it, but it’s the tip of the iceberg. The big thing we’re trying to do is create a space where everyone that comes feels welcome and comfortable.” And they have come: Lower-income families with children, seniors and recent immigrants. The first meals served about 45 guests in early 2012, and the numbers have grown to a steady 100 or so. Crossroads Community Church is located at 7655 120 St. Community dinners take place the fourth Saturday of each month. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Remaining dinners in 2013 will be held on July 27, Aug. 24, Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 23 and Dec. 28. For more information, call 778-5931043 or visit www.crossroads-united-church.ca
july
04 2013
celebrating together BENEFITTING REGISTER TODAy
REGISTER TODAY! includes cart, lunch and dinner Thursday, July 4, Beach Grove Golf Club Shot gun start 1:15, registration from 12 noon EVENT SPONSOR
MEDIA SPONSOR
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Volunteers Minda Dobres and Alma Dulona don’t yet know what they’re making as they gather ingredients from a storage room and fridge in the kitchen of Crossroads United Church. The pair, part of a team which will grow throughout this Saturday afternoon, begins with dessert. The pile on their wheel cart grows: Evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, coconut milk, vanilla extract and an exotic-looking box of Mochiko-brand sweet rice flour. “I’ve never made one of these crazy recipes before,” says Jason Hodgins as he hands out sheets to the first volunteers of the day. They learn the dessert is a Hawaiian treat called butter mochi, which will be the finishing touch of a threecourse meal offered for the needy at the North Delta church – a monthly event for more than a year now. Hodgins, tinkering with the church’s new gas stoves provided by the congregation, the Scottsdale Lions and the North Delta Rotary Club, says the 100 meals are put together and served by team of 30 to 40 rotating volunteers, who help with food purchase, advanced prep, chopping, cooking, greeting, serving and cleaning up. Dobres, a church member for three years and self-described doorkeeper for the Sunday School, says it’s the first time she and her niece Dulona have volunteered with the dinner program. There’s lots of work ahead of them. Today, it’ll be chicken teriyaki on a bed of cabbage and carrots, with bean sprouts, and a salad – with optional tofu for vegetarians.
www.deltafire.ca
604.595.1680
reporter
North Delta-Surrey Leader
www.nfpa.org/education
Call for a FREE caring consult
❙ Boaz Joseph
NFPA Public Education Division • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169
B4 Leader June leader 2013 B4 ❙ Delta JUNE 2013 the delta
Come and join us for 2 free meetings and experience Scouting first hand!
❙ Barry Parker moved back to North Delta from Princeton in April, and is putting together a shop in his backyard so he can get back to wood carving. He’s photographed here with a cooper’s hawk at the Watershed Artworks Whole Lotta Art market. Boaz Joseph photo
Every whittle detail ❙ Boaz Joseph
reporter
Surrey North Delta Leader
There was serious karma surrounding this particular casino table – petty crime, bad luck, and finally a sense of redemption. Barry Parker, putting together a display for a wood carving competition, suddenly needed a cigarette. Coming from a non-smoking family, he and wife Joanne conspired to sneak into a pub to steal a discarded cigarette butt just to see what it looked like up close. The reason: Detail, part of a master plan to carve out a win with wood-only carvings of everyday items. The results were so realistic, that on the day of the event in Seattle, two events chipped away at his chances. First, someone tried to swipe the realistic-looking wooden cigarettes. Then the judges disqualified the entry because they thought the wine bottle was made of plastic. But the man walked away with a best-in-show ribbon. Parker is not an easy man to pin down – not only from the fact that
the long-time-ago North Deltan is back after decades in Steveston, New Westminster and Princeton, but because he doesn’t focus on a particular genre of carving. “It all depends on how I feel,” says the 70-year-old. Back “home” since the end of April, he’s building a 350-squarefoot backyard shed for carving, and his house is already a museum dedicated to a 30-year hobby. Parker and his wife are happy to talk like curators. He’s got aboriginal totems from his recent native art phase, a pair of non-matching boots that were a request from Joanne, a series of wooden “pictures” of labouring 19th-century Chinese peasants (the idea came from a book), a sprung hobby horse small enough for a child’s hands, a sprung hobby horse big enough to hold a 225-pound man, a detailed hooded merganser, a walking stick resembling the neck of a sandhill crane, and a realistic cooper’s hawk with glass eyes that came from Denmark – like most of his birds. Feathered creatures have always
behind the scenes Editorial Robert Mangelsdorf South Delta Leader, Editor 604-948-3640 ext. 122 editor@southdeltaleader.com Paula Carlson Surrey North Delta Leader,Editor 604-575-5337 pcarlson@surreyleader.com Adrian MacNair South Delta Leader, Reporter 604-948-3640 ext. 126 reporter@southdeltaleader.com Publishers Chrissie Bowker South Delta Leader 604 948-3640 ext. 123 publisher@southdeltaleader.com
Jim Mihaly Surrey North Delta Leader 604-575-5347 publisher@surreyleader.com Sales Jane Ilott South Delta Leader, Advertising Consultant 604-948-3640 ext. 127 jane@southdeltaleader.com Jenelle Julien South Delta Leader Advertising Consultant 604-948-3640 ext.121 jenelle@southdeltaleader.com Creative Services Sarah Kelloway South Delta Leader ads@southdeltaleader.com
Circulation Kristene Murray South Delta Leader 604-948-3640 ext. 125 circulation2@southdeltaleader.com Marilou Pasion Surrey North Delta Leader 604-575-5312 ext. 312 circmanager@surreyleader.com
been part of the picture, ever since his first attempt at carving an abortive wooden decoy of a female mallard, where he learned that poorly measured proportions made for distorted birds. He must still often draw and measure things properly, but admits “I can see something in a block of wood right away without much trouble.” His tools are sharp enough to shave with. His three favourite working materials are bass wood ( from the U.S. Deep South, just slightly heavier than balsa), pine and red cedar. On occasion, he’ll goes on a hikes in search of his canvas, finding the odd treasure in the woods or abandoned industrial buildings. Some years ago, he picked up what were said to be 100-year-old grape vine roots that were sold from the back of a truck on the side of the road. Parker, a former pressman, is now semi-retired. He’s not averse to the idea of a part-time job, but is content to keep busy whittling away. Not set up online yet, Barry Parker can be reached at 604-679-4340.
Copyright and property rights subsist in all display advertising and other material appearing in the South Delta Leader and Surrey North Delta Leader. If, in the Publisher's opinion, an error is made that materially affects the value of the ad to the advertiser, a corrected advertisement will be inserted upon demand without further charge. Make good insertions are not granted on minor errors which do not lessen the value of the advertisement. Notice of error is required before second insertion. Opinions expressed in columns and letters to the Editor are not necessarily shared by the Publisher. The South Delta Leader and Surrey North Delta Leader are members of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www. bcpresscouncil.org.
Register today. For meeting times and locations contact the following: Ladner: Grant Edwards Group Commissioner, 1st Kirkland gmedwards@telus.net 604-946-5189
Register tod
Tsawwassen: Brian Martin Group Commissioner, For camp dates 3rd Boundary Bay and more informatio bcmarti@live.com www.fraservalley.scouts.ca 778-238-2997
or contact: North Delta: Ladia MacPherson OR Barney Dohm 604.583.4323 (evenings) berdohm@telus.net Lmacp@telus.net 604.594.9900
Jim Bryc 604.534 jsbryce@
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It st
June 2013 Delta Leader the delta leader JUNE 2013 ❙
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Delta Fire Department celebrates 50 years The communities of Ladner, Tsawwassen, and North Delta have changed over the past half century, and so too has the Delta Fire Department ❙ Clayton Andres
contributor
South Delta Leader
O
ver a hundred years ago, Ladner was just a small fishing village settled on the banks of the Fraser River. The river not only provided the town with rich waters for fishing, but fertile soil for farming as well. By the turn of the century, Ladner had expanded to a thriving agricultural town with a small wharf for farmers ship their goods to Victoria and Va n c o u v e r . The waterfront became a commercial hub and the population quickly grew to over 800 people. As the population grew, so did the risk of fires. The farmers and fishermen fought fires by bucket brigade, using water gathered from the nearby wells and drainage ditches. The brigades weren’t fast enough and as a result,
many homes and barns burned down before the water was even collected. The first water hydrants in the area were employed by the Ladner municipality in 1911. Local residents concerned for the town’s safety contributed their own money to purchase a fire hose and several 40 gallon chemical extinguishers. However, it wasn’t until four years later that the first Fire Brigade was assembled by brave volunteers from the local community. The first volunteer firefighters met in a municipal barn at the north end of Elliot Street. They used a crude alarm system set up by the B.C. Telephone Company, with a large fire bell placed on top of the United Church so the alarm could be heard
❙ Delta Firefighters’ Association president Brad Wilson (on left) and Delta fire chief Dan Copeland celebrate Delta Fire and Emergency Services’ 50th anniversary this month at the Harris Barn in Ladner. Adrian MacNair photo all the way across town. Although the men in the brigade were willing and able, they still didn’t have the manpower or resources to keep
up with the ever-growing population. It wasn’t until 1929, when a fire along the riverfront burned down half of Ladner’s Chinatown, that
the municipality decided it needed an official fire department to combat the increasing fire risks. The local government passed the Delta
Fire Bylaw and the fledgling fire department, led by Cecil Lambert and Chief of Police S.C. Fenton, was born.
❙ Continued on P.6
Delta Fire & Emergency Services Celebrates Our 50th Anniversary Delta Fire & Emergency Services would like to thank the community for its support over the last 50 years of career fire fighting in Delta. We look forward to the next 50 years of providing timely and professional services to this community staying true to our vision to remain a dynamic fire service, always responsive to community needs, delivered by well trained personnel with broad roles and skills.
www.deltafire.ca
B6 Leader June leader 2013 B6 ❙ Delta JUNE 2013 the delta
❙ One of Delta’s first firetrucks, this 1959 GMC was stationed at the volunteer Fire Hall No. 4 in East Delta for three decades before it was mothballed and stored in a number of barns for years. It was recently donated back to the Fire Department in April by local farmer Ivan Peterson for use in the 50th Anniversary celebrations. Peterson came by the fire truck, which has only 14,000 miles (22,500 km) on it, during an auction 21 years ago for $450. Adrian MacNair photo ❙ From P.5
The fire department received its first major upgrades during the First World War, when the Canadian Air Raid Patrol took control of the fire hall, bringing in modern equipment and communication technology. After the war ended, the municipality was able to purchase the leftover equipment in addition to a Ford Chassis which was converted into the town’s first firetruck. By 1948, Beach Grove, then populated by several small residential areas and a few gravel roads, was given a grant to build a small fire hall and purchase their own firetruck. Since most of employment was only available outside the town, there were no men around to occupy the fire hall during the daytime. Thankfully, six Beach Grove women selflessly volunteered to cover the day shifts of the firemen while they went off at work every day. Shortly after, North Delta had its own fire hall built by community volunteers on 120 Street, with local resident Joe Love purchasing a used firetruck from Vancouver with money from his own pocket. Over the next few decades, the completion of the George Massey Tunnel and the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal brought in massive population and economic growth to the Lower Mainland. “After the tunnel was built,” says former Fire Chief Walter Husband. “Everything exploded.”
Most of the gravel roads were paved over and a shopping centre popped up in Tsawwassen. The economic boom allowed the fire department to buy a chicken barn on the Butler Property for the fourth fire hall. The East Delta hall was the first to be built by professional builders in-
stead of volunteers. Gordon Huff was chief there from 1960 to 1988, the longest serving volunteer fire chief in Delta. Eventually, the municipality was able to afford to hire several full-time career firemen in 1963, when the modern fire department was founded. ❙ Continued on P.7
Congratulations Delta Fire on 50 years of professional service!
5381 Ladner Trunk Road | Delta BC | Deltacable.com
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Make your homepage southdeltaleader.com and always stay in the know.
June 2013 Delta Leader THE DELTA LEADER JUNE 2013 ❙ ❙ From P.6
The first four paid staff members of the fire department included Husband and his fellow firemen Kenneth Campbell, L.A. Davidson, and John Tapio, with Cliff Cory serving as the fire coordinator. The career firefighters worked alongside the volunteers, although there was some confusion over who was officially in charge. John Tapio, who later became fire chief, noted that all the paid firefighters were over 30 years old, but still had to take orders from the younger volunteers while on the job. The confusion was finally ended when Cory was promoted to be the first paid fire chief over all the fire halls in Delta. The career firefighters had no official working agreement, however. Wanting to become unionized, the four firefighters joined the Richmond Local 1286 in 1964, not having the minimum seven members to form their own union. “It was a great thing to join with [Richmond], but we had to build ourselves up,” says Tapio. Four years later, the Delta fire department had enough employees to form the Local 1763. By 1973, the population in Delta had grown so much that the fire halls were needed to be kept open 24 hours a day. However, the firefighters were not given a two-platoon system to keep up with the demands of the full-day schedule and a year later the fire department sued the municipality. Although they were successful, the Delta department joined Richmond, Coquitlam, and North Vancouver for a two-day strike one year later. The strike led to the creation of the Provincial Services Act, which made it so fire departments and other essential services in B.C. had to keep running basic duties while in labour dispute. “There’s been a lot of changes over the years, thousands of them,” says Tapio. One of the biggest changes he remembers was the completion of the Alex Fraser Bridge in 1986, giving the fire department easy access to Annacis Island. Since Annacis was virtually unreachable from Delta, firefighting duties on the island had to be contracted out to the City of New Westminster for around
❙ The Delta Firefighters’ Association, IAFF Local 1763, was founded in 1968, five years after the modern fire department was founded. Adrian MacNair photo
$1 million a year. “The bridge made it much simpler to get over there,” says Tapio, noting how much money was saved after it was finished. And the changes kept on coming. “In my ca-
reer, our equipment has evolved dramatically,” says Delta Firefighters Association President Brad Wilson. Firefighters in Delta now carry self-contained breathing apparatuses and drive trucks equipped with
state-of-the-art communications systems. Delta firefighters can also access key information on persons and locations while already en route to emergencies using Project Fires. ❙ Continued on P.8
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Delta Fire & Emergency Services
Mayor Lois E. Jackson and Delta Council congratulate Delta Fire & Emergency Services for 50 years of service to Delta. Every day you fulfill your mission by protecting life, property, and the environment. Thank you for your invaluable work, we are grateful for your dedication to protecting Delta!
Front row: Cllr Jeannie Kanakos, Mayor Lois E. Jackson, Cllr Sylvia Bishop. Back row: Cllrs Ian Paton, Scott Hamilton, Robert Campbell, Bruce McDonald.
The Corporation of Delta 4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent Delta BC V4K 3E2 (604) 946-4141 www.delta.ca
THANK YOU
for the 50 years of service.
www.guillevinsafety.com
B8 Leader June leader 2013 B8 ❙ Delta JUNE 2013 the delta ❙ From P.7
Since the fire department is called in for hazardous material emergencies on an almost regular basis, firefighters must carry special hazmat equipment, which Wilson notes is “second to none.” With the designated hazmat hall built in Tilbury and plans for another hall near the Boundar y Bay airport and 80 street overpass, Delta Fire and Emergency Services is still expanding to keep fighting fires in North Delta, Ladner, and Tsawwassen. Only a few years ago, Delta opened up a centralized office for training in special scenarios in the old fire hall in east Delta. Fire Hall No. 4 was the last fully volunteer-run fire hall in Delta and closed down in 2010 due to a lack of available firefighters. Wilson welcomes the new training centre, seeing it as necessary “to keep up with all the diverse training the is required for our members to hone their skills in preparation for the next call.” Even though the closing of this hall marked the end of the volunteer firefighters in Delta, the fire department, just like Delta itself, didn’t show any signs of slowing down. On June 14, the Delta Fire and Emergency Services celebrated their 50th anniversary with a event at the Kirkland House. The event honoured fire department staff past and present who have provided firefighting, safety, and medical service to residents of the Lower Mainland. Present at the anniversary celebration were some of the Delta Fire Departments most senior members, including Tapio and Husband. Mayor Lois Jackson, MLA Vicki Huntington, and Councillor Scott Hamilton were also in attendance.
The Delta fire department has been fueled by some of the most dedicated men and women in the area, and every firefighter in Delta has at least one favourite memory of working in Delta. For Wilson, it was delivering a baby girl while on duty in 2001. For Chief Dan Copeland, it’s impossible to decide. “What can I say? This is the best career in the world. You know the quote about when you find a job you love, you never have to work another day in your life. It’s cliche but it’s so true in this case. I take great pride in serving others and that’s what we as firefighters do best.”
❙ Clockwise from left: A Delta firefighter puts out a blaze at the Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall in 2009; Delta’s Team Westshore firefighting combat challenge team during spring training; Delta’s Junior Firefighters program gives kids a chance to play.
the south delta leader’s 6th annual
project
bloom •
Save The DaTe
•
Encouraging and nurturing business partnership, collaboration and community involvement.
2
Friday, March 07 2014 at the Harris Barn
For sponsorship opportunities & tickets call Chrissie Bowker, publisher@southdeltaleader.com 604 948 3640
This is your opportunity to recognize them!
who do you know that makes a difference to delta?
In support of International Women’s day
Hats Off to Excellence Gala Awards
> VOluNTEEr Of THE YEAr AwArD > riSiNG STAr AwArD > BuSiNESS Of THE YEAr AwArD > EmplOYEE ExTrAOrDiNAirE AwArD > SpECiAl EVENTS & TOuriSm AwArD > CiTizEN Of THE YEAr AwArD
Deadline for Nominations is July 12, 2013 Submit your nomination online
www.deltachamber.ca/delta_events /hats-off-gala or contact administration 604 946 4232
All finalists will attend as our guests at the November Gala 6201 60th Avenue Delta, British Columbia V4K 4E2 phone: 604 946 4232 fax: 604 946 5285 email: admin@deltachamber.ca Visit us online: www.deltachamber.ca
June 2013 Delta Leader the delta leader JUNE 2013 ❙
Battling Burns Bog ❙ Clayton Andres
contributor
South Delta Leader
Firefighters in Delta face some of the most hazardous terrains and unstoppable fires in the Lower Mainland. In 1999, a State of Emergency was declared in Delta when the Shake and Shingle Landfill in Tilbury erupted in flames. The landfill owner attempted to put out the flames alone, but only accelerated the spread of the flames Nearly 230,000 cubic meters of disposed construction material caught fire and continued burning rapidly for the next weeks, covering Vancouver in a thick haze. At its strongest point, the landfill fire covered over a hectare of land and burned 20 meters deep. This fire was particularly dangerous as it was located nearby a natural gas line and a high voltage power line. The Delta firefighters closed off a 200 meter burn zone and removed and doused larger parts of the burning material to slow down the spread of the flames. The fire cost over $4 million and took 6 months to extinguish. But one of the most dangerously flammable areas in the Lower Mainland is Burns Bog. Between 1994 and 1996 there were 5 major fires in Burns Bog, many of which lasted for weeks. One fire in 1996 covered Metro
The British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Association wishes to congratulate the Delta Fire Fighters’ Local 1763 on 50 years of proudly serving their community.
❙ Burns Bog has provided some unique challenges to firefighters over the years. File photo Vancouver in smoke and ash for 2 days straight. According to Fire Chief Dan Copeland, Bog fires burn both above and below ground, making them very dangerous and unpredictable. “You can be putting out one part of the fire and have flames creeping up behind you out of the ground,” says Copeland. The wind plays a significant role as it can rapidly accelerate the spread of the flames at a moment’s notice. The topography of the bog is also a factor, as firefighters have to continually watch that they don’t fall into sinkholes. It wasn’t until the Bog was declared an ecological reserve in 2004 that the Delta fire department was
A deserved salute… Westshore Terminals congratulates the men and women of the Delta Fire Department on your milestone 50th anniversary. We know we can count on you for a highly professional job. Westshore has been long-term supporters of the firefighter team in its efforts to educate children in fire safety. We are also proud of Team Westshore Terminals as they continue to excel and hone their personal skills to be the best in the international global firefighter combat challenge series. And that’s what we try to be in our sphere – Canada’s premier coal export facility – by giving the best possible service in an environmentally responsible manner. www.westshore.com
Proud to support Delta Firefighters
able to get the help it needed to fight the bog fires from the Provincial government. When another bog fire erupted in 2005, the fire department partnered with BC Forestry Fire Services, using top of line water bombers and the world’s largest air tankers to douse the flames. According to Copeland, one of the reasons the Bog keeps catching fire is because the old peat harvesters dug deep channels which lowered the water table and allowed nonlocal vegetation to enter in, providing more dried fodder for the flames. Only recently have people started to dam up the channels again to help the water table rise back to its normal levels.
www.bcpffa.org www.burnfund.org
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B10 Leader June leader 2013 B10 ❙ Delta JUNE 2013 the delta
Fire chiefs recall history of department ❙ Clayton Andres
contributor
South Delta Leader
Former fire chiefs Walter Husband and John Tapio were born and raised in the Delta area, so when they were asked to join the volunteer fire department in the 1950s, they both jumped at the chance to help their community. Tapio was a commercial fisherman when he was asked to join the volunteer force in 1959, while Husband had a successful construction business. Husband joined in 1953, and like Tapio, had to work to put bread on the table in between fighting fires. While Husband’s job as a construction worker came in handy for helping to build additional fire halls in Delta, Tapio was often too busy fishing to attend regular training practices. After the ferry terminal and the George Massey tunnel were completed, Husband’s building company benefited immensely from the sudden population and the industry boom. But he and Tapio left
their work behind when they were offered full-time paid positions in the fire department. Husband and Tapio performed the same duties they had when they were volunteers, although it was very different working as paid firefighters alongside the other volunteers . “Now I won’t go into it, but there were a few wrinkles starting out,” says Husband. “But it went smooth in a way. We had our problems but it all turned out OK.” Tapio had it a bit easier in North Delta. “We had a good hall,” says Tapio, “and we were born there, so they accepted us. The guys were pretty dedicated to the work, but it was a transition no question.” At first, the career fighters were called ‘custodians.’ Husband suspects that the reason they were called that was so the municipality didn’t have to pay them full fireman’s wages. Since there was no official working agreement for the career firefighters, wages
❙ Former Delta fire chiefs Walter Husband (on left) and John Tapio. Adrian MacNair photo
were as low as $320 a month. “All we had was a set of coveralls and a broom,” Tapio says. “Our wages,” says Husband, “let’s just say they weren’t the tops.” In 1964, the Delta firefighters decided they needed better bargaining rights and joined the Richmond Local 1286, since they didn’t have enough staff to form their own Local. Four years lat-
er, the Delta Local 1763 was created and Tapio served as both Vice President and President on the Local executive, helping gain parity wages for officers in Greater Vancouver, Richmond, and Delta. In a few short years, Husband was given the role of assistant chief over the whole department, however he still had to provide his own vehicle.
“I drove a half-ton truck which had a fire radio they put in it for me,” says Husband. When Dougal Morrison became mayor, he was shocked to find out the heads of the fire department were driving their own cars. When Fire Chief Cliff Cory retired in 1969, Husband was asked to take his place until a full-time replacement could be found.
“I was told I was going to be a ‘standstill fire chief,’” says Husband, “and I was told to carry on as it was before.” He only served as fire chief for 8 months, but returned to his regular firefighting duties after stepping down. Tapio was later promoted to Assistant Fire Chief in 1977 and then Fire Chief the very next year. “I was commanded to be Fire Chief and away it went,” says Tapio. “It was bigger surprise for all the men at the fire hall than it was to me.” Tapio has given much of himself to fighting fires all over Delta and Burns Bog, but he still feels that the honours belong to the unsung heroes of the fire department. Speaking of former volunteer Fire Chief Gordon Huff, “He was a great help. Volunteers like him supported us right through.” “The Fire Service is much more than any one person,” Tapio shares. “[We] all work together to accomplish the task at hand it’s this team effort where everything counts.” Husband retired in 1985, while Tapio retired from his role as Chief in 1991, both providing over 30 years of service to the Delta fire department.
Thank you to the Delta Fire Department for keeping our community safe.
Chrissie Bowker, Publisher
Jane Ilott, Sales
Jenelle Julien, Sales
Kristene Murray, Circulation Manager
Katie Engelland District Advisor
Sarah Kelloway, Creative Services
Adrian McNair Reporter
Robert Mangelsdorf Editor
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Delta Ringette Association
Learn to skate, be part of a team and just have fun!
REGISTER NOW FOR FALL RINGETTE • • • •
Ages 5 to 50, all skating levels welcome Non-contact sport Lots of fun and fast play You could participate in BC or Canada Winter Games
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• Delta is home to many BC Winter Games and Canadian Champions • Registration information and forms on our website, or register in person on Tuesday, August 20 from 1 to 4 pm at Tilbury Ice, 7187 Vantage Way
EMAIL US: REGISTRAR@DELTARINGETTE.CA
June 2013 Delta Leader the delta leader JUNE 2013 ❙
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Delta firefighters give back ❙ Clayton Andres
contributor
South Delta Leader
Delta firefighters give back to their community every day of their working life. But their concern for their community extends far beyond the job. The Delta Firefighters Charitable Society was created in 1994 by members of the fire department who wanted to raise and distribute funds for charities in Delta and across the country. The DFCS puts on events in Delta to fundraise for charities and causes chosen by the firefighters themselves. Delta Firefighters Association President Brad Wilson says the firefighters choose charities that are near and dear to them and personally help raise funds for “charities and programs within our community and our province.” Just this year, the fire department will allow firefighters to donate out of their own pockets through a voluntary payroll deduction. According to Wilson, 93 per cent of the department’s members voluntarily signed up for the initiative, guaranteeing a
whopping $30,000 donation annually. Some of the charities supported by the Delta fire department are Muscular Dystrophy Canada, B.C. Professional Firefighter’s Burn Fund, Delta Hospital Foundation, B.C. Guide Dogs, and many other development and children’s programs. The fire department’s annual Muscular Dystrophy Boot Drive continues to be a huge success. Local firefighters were recently recognized for donating more money to the cause than any other fire department in the province for several years straight. Just this year, Delta Firefighters Association members committed $100,000 toward the first B.C. Firefighters Association Burn Building. The building will be located on Main Street in Vancouver and will provide free housing for the families of burn victims, cancer patients, and others with serious illnesses. “I am very proud of what we do in our community,” says Wilson. For more information on the Delta Firefighters Charitable Society, go to www.deltafirefighters.com/charitable-society
Congratulations
❙ (Above) The Delta Firefighters’ Charitable Society helped raise $30,000 towards the purchase of a wheelchair-accessible van for firefighter Mike Bjarnason’s wife, Jennifer Rumley, after she was paralyzed last year. Now Rumley says she can get back to being a mom again, and drive her three-year-old son Cameron and five-yearold daughter Kaitlyn instead of having to rely on others. (Left) The Delta Firefighters’ Charitable Society has been a longtime supporter of B.C. Alberta Guide Dog Services, and named one of the newest recruits, Delta. Adrian MacNair photo
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JUNE 2013 the delta leader
Delta Hospital Auxiliary
PRESENTS Your Brigade in Blue at Delta Hospital Become a Friends of Seniors Volunteer at Mountain View Manor: We are now accepting volunteer applications from High School students aged 14 plus. The Friends of Seniors program promotes friendship and understanding between youth and older adults. Successful candidates will be trained and thoughtfully matched to visit with seniors once a week between October and May.
Upon arrival to the hospital, the volunteers in Blue are there to greet you, and provide support during your hospital visit. You will also find them in emergency, acute care and performing daily one-on-one interactions with patients in residential care.
Volunteering is a great way to explore potential career paths, meet new friends and gain new skills. If you are interested in this unique volunteer opportunity please email julie.dahl@fraserhealth.ca or call 604-535-4500 ext 757477 for more information.
Ladner days Market Sun ! d have arrive
Vo l
un te e
r!
Ladner Market Sundays are a perfect time to come and learn more about us and the work we do. The Auxiliary Thrift shop will also be open every market Sunday and will feature our Treasure Tent with a different kind of “treasure” featured each market.
Proceeds to benefit patient care & comforts at our Delta Hospital.
Proud collabo rators with ot her volu nteer organiz ations contrib u healthc ting to are in o ur commu nity.
Evergreen Garden Club Executive donation to the Auxiliary. The funds came from the Club’s plant sale which was held in May and will be used to purchase shade trees and planter for the outside of Mountain View Manor.
Do you have some spare time? Are you recently retired and looking to meet and socialize with new acquaintances? Becoming a volunteer might be a perfect opportunity for you. We have openings! Choose to donate you time in one of our seven units: Lifeline, Thrift Shop, Gift Shop, Hospital Unit, Ways and Means, Auxiliary Office and Café.
Delta Hospital Auxiliary
5800 Mountain View Blvd. Delta, B.C.
604-946-1121 LOCAL 783212
www.deltahospitalauxiliary.org
A tax receipt will be issued for every cash donation to the Delta Hospital Auxiliary. Registered charity number 13952-5596 RR001