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FRIDAYAUGUST 30
CRASH: Two die in fiery accident north of Quesnel
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Joey Arrance
PUNJABI GAMES
killed in Coquitlam Diane Standberg Black Press
Teresa MALLAM/Free Press It takes strength, determination, and a lot of skill to compete in kabaddi as the contestants show during the Punjabi Games at Masich Place Stadium on the weekend.
Parking parked for now Delynda Pilon newsroom@pgfreepress.com Though a special committee of the whole meeting elicited a lot more information on both the mechanics of pay parking in the city should the proposed contract with APARC get the go-ahead, and downtown groups who shared advice and concerns on the issue, no recommendation were forwarded to council. Instead everyone will have to wait for the Sept. 23 council meeting to find out if the city will stay on the same course, accept the proposal and return to pay parking. APARC delved into the technical aspects of the system, explaining several details surrounding the system they represent, the convenience it offers users and the efficiency it provides cities. “People in B.C. are really getting used to the pay by plate systems,” Luke Kiefte, executive vice-president, said. He said the system often starts downtown, then expands. Depending on the needs of the city, it can be used to enforce off-street parking as well. Pay stations are visually pleasing and a user can purchase parking time at any station, not necessarily the closest. They can use many means to pay, from credit card to smart card, and even online with a smart phone. This app allows the user to purchase time, or perhaps more time over their
phone with an alarm reminding them five Improvement Association president, said minutes before they expire that more time he was impressed with what he heard, is needed. that APARC was the Cadillac of parking Rather than requiring a ticket, the system systems, however he asked if his car has a uses licence plate recognition technology flat tire, does that mean he should replace it and all the vehicles an owner has can be with a Cadillac? remembered in the same portfolio, so parkHolmes was spokesperson for one of ing time can cover all of them. the three delegations that presented at the Kiefte said the system allows for the most meeting. efficient accurate enforcement as well. Robert Hillhouse with Majestic manage“Data protection is ment was first. He the same as what is said it is important used by major banks to define exactly in Canada,” he said. what is wrong with The system the current system calibrates to the downtown then fix municipality using it. it, so privacy rules Hillhouse began will adhere to the by thanking councity specs. All credit cil for all it’s done card usage is PCI, the to improve the industry standard, compliant. downtown area from increased policing After further questioning on privacy to beautification projects like the hanging issues, city manager Beth James said the flower baskets. The combination of what’s city hasn’t developed an operational process been done has made a difference, he said, yet, but it would be designed to adhere to expressing the concern that changing parkthe provincial standard and best business ing regulations might be detrimental to the practices. positive change happening downtown. Enforcement through plate recognition “I’m still concerned there is slightly more and a program tracking enforcement ofof an increase in hassle for downtown shopficers will ensure efficiency. pers,” he said. Since this system is in use in many muHillhouse introduced a few solutions to nicipalities from Alaska and south, weather downtown parking issues. At least one of issues are unlikely to come up. them, changing to angle parking on several Rod Holmes, Downtown Business CONTINUED ON PAGE A3
If your car gets a flat tire do you replace it with a Cadillac?
A man with known gang ties has been identified as the victim of Tuesday’s shooting in Coquitlam. Sgt. Jennifer Pound of the integrated homicide investigation team said Joey Lamont Arrance was the 34-year-old victim in the killing. His ties to gangs are well known but IHIT won’t say what gangs he belonged to. It is not yet known whether he was a Coquitlam resident. Arrance is well-known in Prince George. In 2011, police described him as a highranking member of the Game Tight Soldiers. Maillardville residents woke up to find themselves behind police lines Wednesday morning after the Tuesday night shooting that police believe was targeted. For several hours Wednesday, police cordoned off Brunette Avenue between Laval Street and Laurentian Crescent on Schoolhouse Street to investigate a homicide that took place at about 11 p.m. Arrance was shot while parked in his car on Marathon Court in Coquitlam. He drove from the scene, but his vehicle came to rest on a curb at Casey Street, after knocking over a bus stop.
Breastfeeding a ‘basic human right’ DeLynda Pilon newsroom@pgfreepress.com Neither Pine Centre Mall nor any other establishment requires a breastfeeding policy, any more than a store needs a policy saying it welcomes African-Americans to shop within its doors. Tammy Kozoris with the Le Leche League Prince George said she likes to use the example as a comparison. Though perhaps a bit shocking, it drives home the point she wants to make. “It is your basic human right to feed your baby anytime, anywhere,” Kozoris said. When residents found out a woman was asked to leave the Pine for Play area of the mall and breastfeed in the washroom, furor
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