YEAR IN REVIEW | The second part in a series looking back at the headlines of 2013 [A10]
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Sunday, December 29, 2013 P R O U D L Y
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Crowds flock to Silver Star
end of January,” said Haight. “The ski-in, ski-out service Christmas holidays are well is a big factor for them.” underway, but the best is yet to Similar to the Lower come at Silver Star Mountain Mainland, there isn’t a lot of Resort. snow in Washington Up until Dec. 25, State and skiers from about 3,000 people there are heading to the a day had been at Star. the resort, but that is And there is plenty expected to swell to to do even if you don’t 5,000 or more peoski. ple a day over the Proving popular coming week. are careening down Anne Haight “We’re ramping Tube Town, skating on up to New Year’s Eve Brewer’s Pond, snow and beyond,” said shoeing and soaking Anne Haight, director of sales up the atmosphere in the viland marketing. lage. “We’re on par with where we Huge crowds are anticipated were at this time last year.” at Silver Star Wednesday for the While many of the skiers annual New Year’s Eve extravaand snowboarders are from ganza. the Okanagan, many are com“This is a great time for faming from Vancouver, largely ilies,” said Haight, adding that because coastal resorts are lack- public safety during the event is ing snow. paramount. “We’re 100 per cent open,” The torchlight parade and said Haight of Silver Star’s 116 fireworks display begin at 8 runs and a snow base of 123 p.m. centimetres. More than 100 skiers will “The conditions are fantas- make their way down Milky tic.” Way and the face of Silver There is also an internation- Star, converging in the village TIM FITZGERALD/MORNING STAR al feel to the resort. for the fireworks display. “Our Australian friends start Accommodations for New Eight-year-old Grace Nyce, of Kelowna, can hardly contain her excitement as she makes her way down Tube Town Adventure Park at Silver Star Mountain Resort Friday. arriving between now and the Year’s Eve are fully booked. RICHARD ROLKE
Morning Star Staff
Law society votes to disbar Vernon lawyer Morning Star Staff
The Law Society of B.C. has ordered Vernon lawyer William Mastop be disbarred. Mastop pleaded guilty in December 2012, in B.C. Supreme Court, to participating in or contributing to the activity of a group police called The Greeks, a known criminal organization, for the William Mastop purpose of enhancing the ability of the organization to facilitate or commit an indictable offence. Independent of the criminal proceedings, the law society
conducted its own assessment of Mastop’s conduct and ultimately the society’s board of governors (Benchers) relied on Law Society rule 4-40 to conclude the matter using a summary process. The society’s rule 4-40 is only used in exceptional circumstances. It forgoes the need for a citation and citation hearing, allowing the Benchers to summarily suspend or disbar a lawyer who has been convicted of an offence that was proceeded with by way of indictment. In its decision, the panel noted: “We think it is important to apply a sanction that will be effective in deterring other lawyers who will need to resist requests from clients for ille-
gal assistance. In order to maintain public confidence in the legal profession, there should be no possibility of doubt that the law society takes such conduct with the utmost seriousness, and the profession needs to know that as well.” Mastop was originally sentenced to one year in prison but that was extended to two-and-a-half years in November, after the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled the trial judge erred by focusing on the lack of evidence of direct consequences stemming from Mastop’s actions, rather than focusing on his intention and the “egregious nature of his actions.” After being charged with the offence in 2009, Mastop was released on bail with one of the conditions being that he not practice law, which he has not done since.
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