The Chilliwack
Progress Thursday
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Local preservationists make history in more ways than
Flights of fancy with UFV’s Little Mermaid.
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Veteran feels betrayed by the country he served Katie Bartel The Progress Ed Canuel doesn’t know how he’s going to pay his next heating bill, or make his next mortgage payment. Some days, he doesn’t even know where he’ll find the money for food. The Afghanistan war veteran never once imagined he’d be where he is today. Nearly homeless. He thought the army would have his back, he thought the government would take care of him, he thought he’d be given the tools to successfully transition from military life to civilian life when the time came. Instead, he’s been turned on nearly every step of the way. He’s not the only one. When the New Veterans Charter was enacted in 2006, the disability pension that provided disabled veterans with a monthly pension payable for life was eliminated. Now, injured veterans receive a one-time, lump-sum pay out of their contributions. Despite changes, there remains a growing chorus of complaints about the new charger, According to Guy Parent, Canada’s veterans ombudsman, that system has left some of the country’s most severely injured and disabled veterans in dire straits. A report released last month by Parent’s office, found that more than half of the veterans assessed as “totally and permanently incapacitated” can’t find work and are not awarded impairment benefits. As well, the benefits that are supposed to help veterans transition from a military to civilian career were classified inadequate. Canuel gave 14 years of his life to the army, employed both in the naval reserves and as a cook in the regular forces. He served a sixmonth tour in Afghanistan, worked on war ships, and took on various contracts, including the Vancouver Olympics. But in 2003, Canuel suffered a back injury while on active duty on a naval ship in the Persian Gulf. He’d been carrying an 80-pound box of rations up a ladder as the ship was battling a storm outside. The ship rolled, Canuel held on, and his back popped. “I thought I was strong enough to hold on,” he said. Four vertebrae in the mid-back region shifted, leaving Canuel with a permanent kink. He now has early stages of arthritis and chronic thoracic pain. Continued: CHANGES/ p15
After 14 years of military service, Ed Canuel is facing a new battle. He is fighting for a disability pension and skills retraining, and like many Canadian vets, a change to the New Veterans Charter. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Chances gets its liquor primary licence Jennifer Feinberg The Progress There could be dancing at The Well in Chilliwack Chances before you know it. About a year after the community gaming facility opened, approval for a liquor primary licence and rezoning text amendment for Chances Chilliwack sailed through city hall, as council voted unanimously in favour. In fact, not one member of the public had a word to say against the licence or rezoning applications. It means Chances patrons will now be able to order an alcohol-
ic beverage while playing slots or bingo, in the dining room, as well as in the meeting rooms on the second floor, and the zoning is being adjusted in the OCP to allow for the licensing changes. The vote followed hearings where business people, members of the public, charity representatives, local musicians and the applicant rose to the microphone to offer support for the rezoning and liquor primary licence. “We were just thrilled by the community support,” said Chuck Keeling of Great Canadian Gaming, after the hearing.
What were they expecting from the evening? “After what happened in February, we didn’t want to take anything for granted.” An application from Chilliwack Gaming Ltd./The Well that came forward in February for a permanent change to their licence to add an “entertainment endorsement” failed — again — to get approval from council. But this time there were more than 30 letters in support. Several members and a representative from the Knight Road Legacy Association, the charities who once owned Chilliwack Bingo, were publicly supportive
Continued: CHANCES/ p11
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at the hearing. “The better they do, the better we do,” said one speaker from St. John Ambulance, acknowledging that Knight Road members will be business partners with the community gaming centre operation, which will issue trailing payments based on facility future performance levels. “This is a great opportunity for Chilliwack to open up this facility and allow them to work to their fullest extent and present fantastic entertainment,” said Mike Evans of Go Audio. The LP also means patrons can interact with performers or
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