Tuesday August 27, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 69)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
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S O U T H
S U R R E Y
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Summer in Serbia: An invitation from a former student took Peninsula school teacher Audrey Painter on a wild – and sometimes harrowing – adventure through Eastern Europe. i see page 11
Targeting mobility devices for regulation cited as discriminatory
Cities eye licensing wheelchair users Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
File photo
Motorized scooters targeted.
Regulating the use of motorized scooters and wheelchairs will do more harm than good, says a White Rock woman who relies on one of the vehicles for day-to-day activities. “I think it’s discriminatory,” said Leslie Konkin, of a proposal to be debated at next month’s Union of B.C. Municipalities convention. Put forth by Sidney council, the resolution urges the province to regulate the use of motorized mobility aids – including wheelchairs and
scooters – and require training, testing and licensing of operators. Konkin, 57, serves as an accessibility consultant on White Rock’s advisory design panel. She said that if adopted, such regulations will only make life more challenging for people like herself – it will not solve any problems. While Sidney council’s resolution argues that seniors drive the appliances too fast on sidewalks without any regulation, Konkin said the majority of users – as with motorists – “are doing a good job of using them safely,” and that
education and simple common sense amongst operators and pedestrians alike will go much farther to address any problems. “I don’t think rules and regulations and mandates and licensing is going to solve anything,” she said, encouraging the issue be left where it now stands, between patients and their healthcare providers. Living with multiple sclerosis and not able to walk more than a step or two unaided, Konkin has relied on a medi-scooter for about 15 years. i see page 4
Airlifted from U.S. border
Wine bottle mishap sends senior to hospital Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
An 88-year-old man was airlifted to hospital Thursday afternoon, after impaling himself on broken glass when he fell onto a wine bottle at the West Coast Duty Free store in South Surrey. Store manager John Tompkins said the senior – a resident of Gabriola Island – was cut in the chest when a bottle “exploded” underneath him after he somehow slipped or tripped while shopping at the 111 ❝(He) just landed 176 St. shop, located right on the bottle by the Pacific and it just kind of Highway border exploded and the crossing. “Nobody from our glass was all in staff actually saw his side.❞ what happened,” Tompkins told John Tompkins Peace Arch News shortly after the incident. “I think he just slipped, tripped… simple little tripping accident, but he had a bottle of alcohol in his hand and he landed on the bottle and the bottle smashed. (He) just landed right on the bottle and it just kind of exploded and the glass was all in his side. i see page 4
rd in the Watch for the Crosswo ition! Ed Thursday August 30th
Royal assembly
Boaz Joseph photos
Sitting on the shoulders of dad Troy, five-year-old Annika Van Vliet (above) talks with magician Doktor Strange at the fourth annual Princess Party held Aug. 24 at the Star of the Sea Hall Community Centre. The event attracted 165 children – including 10 boys, for the first-ever addition of princes – and exceeded last year’s record, raising more than $13,000. The funds will go towards the White Rock Firefighters Charity Association, which aims to build an all-abilities park on White Rock’s waterfront.
BORDER GOLD CORP.