Special Features - DeltaLeader_11_November2013

Geese flock back ❙ B5 Arctic snow geese return to Delta

Delta tourism board ❙ B6 Partnership aims to put Delta on the map

NOVEMBER ∙ 2013

Help Red Nose ❙ B7

Volunteers needed for Christmas program

❙ CONNECTING THE NORTH WITH THE SOUTH

Building is just within Reach ❙ Adrian MacNair

REPORTER

South Delta Leader

❙ Borrowed time: ND library turns 30 The George Mackie Library in North Delta celebrates 30 years this Saturday. See B4

Reach Child and Youth Development Society has reached the quarter-way milestone in their quest to raise $4 million to build a new centre in the heart of Ladner that would service at-risk children and their families.

The non-profit organization received a $60,000 boost from the Port Gala that took place in June, the first of a three-year $180,000 commitment to that has pushed their fundraising efforts in the “Building for Children Together” project to $1 million.

They’re giving us a lot of support in terms of advice and guidance on this as well,” said Reach communications director Cathy Nidoski about Port Metro Vancouver’s commitment. “It’s something that is helping us.”

The Port Gala sponsors include Port Metro Vancouver, Westshore Terminals (who have also committed $100,000 in addition to the campaign), Fraser Surrey Docks, Global Container Terminals, CP World and Western Stevedoring.

“What we’re looking at now is towards reaching our next goal of $2 million by approaching companies in the community to partner with us in the project,” said Nidoski.

The Building for Children Together project is a partnership between the Corporation of Delta, Reach Society and the Ladner Tsawwassen Kinsmen Club. Delta has provided the land, which is valued in excess of $1 million, leaving Reach will raise the funds for construction.

The new building will be a 2-storey structure of approximately 20,000 square feet, located at 5050 47th Ave., replacing the current Ladner Kinsmen House. ❙ Continued on P.3

Our Big Bold Vision is coming alive!

We are making it happen via INQUIRY. What is INQUIRY? Find out and discover what your school is doing. Visit www.deltalearns.ca/inquiry You can also connect with us:

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november 2013 the delta leader

Delta Community Update NOVEMBER 2013 Submit your Heritage Award Nominations!

Delta is currently seeking nominations for the Heritage Award of Merit and Friends of Heritage Awards.

If you know an individual or group who has made a worthwhile contribution towards conserving a valuable part of Delta's history or in generating awareness of our heritage, consider nominating them! The nomination deadline for the 2014 Heritage Awards is Friday, November 15, 2013.

Recipients of Delta’s heritage awards will be announced during Heritage Week in February 2014.

Remembrance Day On November 11th, please take time to remember those men and women in active service and veterans of past wars for their dedication and strength in fighting to protect our rights and freedoms.

To honour those who have served, Remembrance Day ceremonies will be held at: • The Cenotaph in Ladner Memorial Park (parade commences at 10:15 am at the Legion; ceremony at 10:45 am); and • The Social Heart Plaza in North Delta (10:40 am)

North Delta Harvest and Christmas Markets Enjoy a celebration of the seasons at the Harvest and Christmas markets at Sunbury Hall! These seasonal markets will feature more than 40 local artisans, farmers, bakers & chefs with fresh foods, gourmet food trucks, hand-crafted gifts, live music, face painting and entertainment for all ages.

Visit delta.ca/events for more information

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B3 Delta Leader November 2013

THE DELTA LEADER NOVEMBER 2013

❙ B3

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Halloween is a fun, and spooky, time of yearisfor kids.

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❙ Myles McKie, left, at the Port Gala on June 5 with Reach Foundation Chair Barbara Wallick, Reach Communications Director Cathy Nidoski, and Reach Executive Director Renie D’Aquila. McKie, a young man with autism, spoke to the gala crowd and talked about what is like living with autism, and how Reach has made a difference in his life and the life of his family. Submitted photo

It is situated along bus and walking routes enabling accessibility and independence for families, and children and youth with special needs.

Reach began its fundraising efforts in 2010. Although it was originally estimated to be a four year campaign, Nidoski says 2017 is more realistic goal now.

“If it happens before then, great, we’ll be very pleased about that,” she said. “But we have to sort of consider the fact that it’s tough right now with the economy.”

The new centre provides a new home base for helping at-risk children, including therapy and counseling rooms, youth program areas, specialized lending libraries and an inclusive preschool with an accessible community playground.

There will be an expanded space for

municipal, business and community use, a club meeting space for the Kinsmen Club, as well as room for other organizations in the community partnering in the goal of supporting children and youth with special needs.

“The idea of building in the centre of Ladner has been going on for quite some time with Reach and it was sort of the right timing to start this campaign in the community,” said Nidoski. “There’s been a lot going on with development in the community.”

Reach wants to secure most of the money before beginning construction but once they get started the construction time is estimated to take just one year.

Reach Child and Youth Development Society is a non-profit organization that has been providing services to children and their families since

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

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.

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You are invited to a Night in Paris

celebrating the Hats Off to Excellence Awards Gala Join us for a fundraiser and awards gala evening filled with entertainment, champagne and a fabulous dinner as we celebrate excellence in our community.

! ooh La La Friday, November 15 6 - 10pm, Delta Town & Country Inn Moulin Rouge Bonjour!

Event Sponsor: Port Metro Vancouver Award Sponsors: Kwantlen Polytechnic University Delta Cable | Ladner Business Association Rotary Clubs of Delta| Delta Optimist Envision Financial | Delta Lands Group

Includes Dinner and Live Auction

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www.deltachamber.ca or phone 604 946 4232

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november 2013 the delta leader

November 2013 Delta Leader B4

Borrowed time: A library’s anniversary North Delta’s George Mackie Library celebrates 30 years this Saturday ❙ Boaz Joseph

REPORTER

Surrey North Delta Leader

Balvir Bahia is like a book that the George Mackie Library borrowed and hasn’t returned in nearly 35 years.

And like any book, it started on Page 1 – specifically when she was hired as a page, way back in 1979.

Bahia has a story to tell – at a time when North Delta’s library is celebrating 30 years at its present location (it had opened in 1972 a few blocks to the east at the building now shared by Watershed Artworks and the North Delta Potters Guild).

Bahia has been around long enough to recall chatting with Betty, the then-elderly widow of the Delta alderman and library namesake who, through fundraising, paved the way for the library before he passed away in 1971.

“I called her Mrs. Mackie,” says Bahia, now the operations manager for Delta Libraries.

“I wasn’t so presumptuous.”

Bahia “discovered” the public library when she was a student at Richardson Elementary.

Having caught the book bug in Grade 5, she found a never-ending smorgasbord of go tomaterial our website reading to savor. ❙ Delta Libraries operations manager Balvir Bahi was hired as a page at the George Mackie Library and “For me itclick wason a big deal. It was my enterin 1979 when she was 16 years old. Boaz Joseph photo tainment,” she says.

The atmosphere was also intimidating at times for an 11- or 12-year-old with seemingly more enthusiasm for books than those eBooks and other media have been part of Babytimes, Parent Child Mother Goose, and in charge.

She describes the tut-tutting, eagle-eyed the library’s technological evolution over more.

And there are plans in the works for the fu“old” librarians who made sure she kept her the decades.

Library manager Gillian McLeod says the ture: Media streaming (akin to Netflix, once hands off some books (such as holds or ones branch has been both at the front of and DVDs become truly obsolete), lounge areas recently returned).

Her curiosity only increased. go to our website(intentionally) slightly behind the technolo- for telecommuters, possibly even video and/ One day, at the age of 15, she noticed some and click on gy – allowing, for example, people today to or sound editing studios for digital-world girls her age touching some of the hands-off borrow DVDs at a time when video stores artists.

Still, the books beckon. books. They were sorting them. And being are largely gone.

Regardless of the technological changes, Today, responsible for the library’s circulapaid for it.

In went an application, and soon after McLeod believes books are here to say for a tion, Bahia can’t walk through an aisle withlong while, noting there’s a 1.9-million float- out straightening a shelf or spotting a spine came an interview.

To Bahia’s relief, it was not with one of ing book collection shared with 25 other out of place.

“It’s ingrained,” she says. “When you do the intimidating book nannies at the front Fraser Valley Regional Library branches.

The George Mackie Library today is more shelving for four hours a day, you learn.” counter, but kindly Lolly Heath, North Delthan its collections, however.

• The George Mackie Library (8440 112 St.) ta’s first librarian.

There’s an array of equipment, services is holding its 30th anniversary party on Sat“Why do you want to be a page?” she was and programs, including computers, eB- urday (Oct. 26) from 3-4:30 p.m. The library asked.

“I really love books” was the simple answer. ooks, reading clubs, crafts, poetry nights in is also holding a one-day amnesty for all Bahia has seen the enormous changes Punjabi and Urdu, digital magazines, digi- overdue borrowed materials on Oct. 26. For tal audio books, ESL conversation circles, more information, visit www.fvrl.bc.ca or call throughout the years.

LPs, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs, writers’ series, teen pizza and games nights, 604-594-8155.

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B5 Delta Leader November 2013

the delta leader november 2013

❙ B5

the south delta leader’s 6th annual

project

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In support of International Women’s day

• Save The DaTe

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Encouraging and nurturing business partnership, collaboration and community involvement.

2

❙ Flocks of migratory snow geese descended on their winter feeding grounds here in Delta this month. The birds annually travel 5,000 km from Wrangel Island in Alaska. Adrian MacNair photo

Snow geese flock back into Delta Tens of thousands of the birds are expected to be seen over the next two months ❙ Adrian MacNair

reporter

South Delta Leader

Nothing quite says autumn in Delta like the throngs of snow geese flying by the thousands, their incessant honking like an aerial traffic jam overhead.

Renowned for their white bodies, black-tipped wings, pink bill and distinct call, snow geese arrived en masse in the Lower Mainland last weekend, looking for forage foods after their long journey south from the Arctic’s Wrangel Island.

Wrangel Island is located in the Arctic Ocean astride the 180th meridian, between the Chukchi Sea and East Siberian Sea. The birds fly approximately 5,000 kilometres along the Pacific Flyway to the Lower Mainland, with most settling in the Fraser-Skagit river estuaries over winter.

Dr. Jasper Lament, CEO of The Nature Trust of British Columbia, says the best place to see the birds is generally on Westham Island in the Fraser River Estuary, especially from the Reifel Bird Sanctuary.

“In this case, the snow geese are particularly drawn to the

farmland which provides excellent winter forage for migratory birds,” he said. “If you don’t have plans this weekend, it’s worth a trip and something all the family will enjoy.”

Each year, snow geese fly from the Arctic to B.C. in the thousands, and can be viewed in Richmond and Delta from today to mid-December. Last year, the mid-winter count of snow geese flocks in the Fraser River and Skagit River was 70,000, according to Lament.

Foraging on crops used to pit farmers against geese in the past, but each year the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust works with local farmers to establish “lure crops” that the birds can feast on over the winter.

After the summer crop harvest, farmers prepare their fields and sow a variety of different cover crops, such as barley, clover, and winter wheat. Establishing a thick field of cover cropped vegetation protects agricultural soil from heavy winter rains, as well as providing feed for waterfowl.

According to program coordinator Christine Terpsma, seeding a cover crop can also provide an alternate feeding area for overwintering birds, who oftentimes can damage local hay fields by overgrazing.

“Delta farmers have worked incredibly hard this year to harvest the last of their crops, while

sowing nearly 3,000 acres of high quality cover crops for the upcoming winter season,” she said.

“We will be monitoring fields over the winter to assess the degree to which waterfowl are using these sources of feed.”

One group that welcomes the birds each year are hunters, who celebrated the official opening of the season last Saturday on Thanksgiving weekend. Each hunter has a quota limit of 10 snow geese each day, according to Delta-Ladner Rod and Gun Club member Mark McDonald, who has been hunting the birds in Ladner since he was a boy.

Popular locations for hunting snow geese include Brunswick Point and Westham Island, although securing a permit for the latter is difficult, according to McDonald.

“I would say the numbers are up this year,” he said, but added there isn’t an accurate count because Russia withdrew their biologist from Wrangel Island.

McDonald said conservationists estimate Delta has enough forage to support roughly 50,000 to 60,000 birds. But hunters provide a form of population control for those excess numbers of geese that would otherwise be unable to find forage. And most hunters eat the geese they shoot, so there’s little waste.

“I had snow goose stir fry for thanksgiving dinner,” he said.

Friday, March 07 2014 at the Harris Barn

For sponsorship opportunities & tickets call Chrissie Bowker, publisher@southdeltaleader.com 604 948 3640

There are over 3,000 children and youth in Delta with special needs.

Together we can put help within reach of all of them.

“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.”

Helen Keller With your donation to Reach Child and Youth Development Society, you can help us build a community-based centre in Ladner that will help so many more children with special needs like autism, Down syndrome and F.A.S.D., and help build a stronger community for all Delta families.

DONATE TODAY with a single, monthly or 20/20 Vision donation at www.reachdevelopment.org/campaign/ OR call 604-946-6622 ext. 0 OR in-person at Reach at #3 3800 72nd Street Ladner.

Learn more about Reach and connect to our social media at www.reachdevelopment.org

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november 2013 the delta leader

November 2013 Delta Leader B6

New tourism board to put Delta on the map Partnership aims to let travellers know about the many local tourist hot spots here in Delta ❙ Robert Mangelsdorf

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The newly formed Delta Tourism board is hoping to put Delta on the map and help businesses go tolocal our website take advantage and clickofonthe untapped stream of tourist dollars passing through the community.

As the gateway to Metro Vancouver by land and sea, thousands of travellers pass through Delta every day. Tourism Delta chair Kristin Bishop says the new organization hopes to encourage travellers to get off the highway and explore the many sights Delta has to offer.

“We have all these visitors bypassing us, and we want to bring them into the community,” says Bishop. “We have three communities and each has great places to visit.”

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In addition to the many local ecological attractions - such as the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Centennial Beach, and Burns Bog - Delta is also home to tourist destinations such as Splashdown Park waterslides, the Delta Museum and Archives, and Delta Force Paintball. go to our website Meanwhile, the quaint click onVillage shops and of Ladner and the many roadside farms that dot the quiet country roads draw visitors from across the region.

For Bishop, her favourite stop in Delta is the Boundary Bay dike trail, a popular haunt for birdwatchers, cyclists, and nature lovers.

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tions with travellers who might not otherwise leave the highway is a top priority for Tourism Delta, says Bishop.

“Better signage is one thing we are looking at,” she says. A tourist map of the municipality identifying local attractions and businesses is also in the works.

More than 30 stakeholders are taking part in Tourism Delta, including the Corporation of Delta, Tsawwassen First Nation, the provincial government, as well as the Ladner Business Association and Tsawwassen Business Improvement Association, who are contributing funds to our project.

Tourism Delta will be partnering with the Delta

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...to winRob great prizes go to our website Newell photo Chamber click of Commerce, on AvenueCOnTESTS near Highway 99. up an website to provide “We want to act as a and who will be providing Bishop said Tourism potential holiday-mak- hub within our commu❙ Coast Tsawwassen Inn director of sales and marketing Kristin Bishop is the new chair of Tourism Delta.

in-kind support, and will continue to operate the visitor’s centre on 60th

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ers with everything they need to know about planning a stay locally.

nity,” she says. “We have a lot of great assets and we want to share them.”

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Customer Appreciation Day and Food Bank Drive

Join us @ The ThrifT shops Free coffee and bring a donation for the food bank.

saTurday, ocTober 26 10a.m. - 3 p.m.

4830 delTa sTreeT, ladner Together with your contribution, the Delta Hospital Auxiliary is proud to support our local food bank that aids in nourishing a healthy community.

Cash donations also accepted and greatly appreciated.

Delta Hospital Auxiliary 604-946-1121 LOCAL 783212

www.deltahospitalauxiliary.org

B7 Delta Leader November 2013

the delta leader november 2013

❙ B7

Volunteers needed for annual Operation Red Nose campaign ❙ Staff writer Delta Leader

Volunteers are needed for 12th Annual Operation Red Nose Campaign serving the communities of Delta and Richmond One of the surest signs of the change of seasons, Operation Red Nose is putting out the annual call for volunteers. Operation Red Nose campaign has become a vital safe driving service during the holiday season.

Since 2002, Delta Gymnastics Society has been the local host of the award winning national program that strives to keep the roads safe while at the same time supports amateur youth sport in the community.

“On any given year, we need over 400 volunteers to provide nine nights of safe driving. This year, we estimate we need another 50 volunteers to keep up with the demand,” said Carlene Lewall, Operation Red Nose Coordinator. “We want to encourage our community to help us keep our roads and families safe by supporting this program. Invite your spouse, co-workers or friends to come one night and drive people to and

from your community. It is a fun and rewarding experience as you are actively helping to keep the roads safe during the busy holiday season; then you can go out and have fun and call Operation Red Nose – it goes both ways.”

Volunteers have to be 19 years and over and are needed to fill many positions.

Areas include dispatch office, greeters, drivers and navigators. All volunteers are required to complete a criminal record check prior to participating in the program at no cost to the volunteer. All volunteers receive an orientation prior to their shift.

This year Operation Red Nose, in partnership with ICBC, Richmond RCMP, Delta Police and many local sponsors, will service the communities of Delta and Richmond on Nov 29, 30, Dec 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 212 and 31st (New Year’s Eve) between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. All sponsorship and donations received to the campaign will be directed to the Delta Sports Development Centre, helping the

❙ Operation Red Nose volunteer John Holmes is one of hundreds of South Deltans who donate their time to provide rides home for holiday revellers. Contributed photo youth of our community.

“Last year we had 409 volunteers helping us provide 667 safe rides home and driving over 21,000 kilometers over the course of

nine nights,” added Lewall.

“Volunteers are the basic ingredient for this excellent program to function.

The added benefit is that through this service we

benefit both the communities in which we live and we contribute toward amateur sports to benefit youth.”

To get involved call Delta Gymnastics a call at 604-

943-0460 or email orn@operationrednosedelta.com Volunteer applications are also available on the web on the ORN Delta website www.operationrednosedelta.com.

Make your homepage southdeltaleader.com and always stay in the know.

november 2013 the delta leader

I MOUSTACHE YOU A QUESTION.

Photo Adina Shore

DO YOU GROW YOUR MO FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER?

KEEP THE FUNDS YOU RAISE

IN YOUR COMMUNITY. Register as an individual or team and fundraise through the month of November with a personalized webpage.

REGISTER TODAY ☞ s d l . d h f o u n d a t i o n . c a

Guest speaker, Dr. Ken Poon, Delta Hospital Keynote speaker, Dennis Hull, NHL Legend Live Auction, Ian Paton, Delta Council

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2013 11:30a.m. – 2:30p.m.

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Emcee, John McKeachie, Broadcaster

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The South Delta Leader is also hosting a men’s health fundraiser in support of Delta Hospital Foundation.

Join us for this playful event in support of a serious cause.

S P E A K E R S

B8 ❙

Book your table today. $795 per table or $95pp. Limited tickets available.

Call 604.948.3640 or Chrissie Bowker, publisher@southdeltaleader.com

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