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ALDERGROVE Your Hometown Community Newspaper for over 55 Years
| Thursday, June 5, 2014
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Minor Baseball Tourney a Solid Hit!
Page 11: ‘Jumpstart’ gets kids in the game 4-H Youths ‘Rally’ Down on the Farm
PAGE 13
Students walk out in strike protest By MONIQUE TAMMINGA Aldergrove Star
HARRY HUNT PHOTO
Local 4-H club members Cassi Sauder and Elizabeth Froe had their hands full of young piglets at the Langley District 4-H Rally held Saturday, May 31 at Aldor Acres farm in Glen Valley.
Students at the majority of Langley middle and high schools were expected to walk out of class on Wednesday morning ( June 4) at 9 a.m., as part of a B.C.wide student protest of the ongoing teacher/government labour dispute. “Students are showing the teachers that their protest is effecting us students, our grades, exams and extra curricular activities,” said one Aldergrove student. “We are not trying to take sides. We just want them all to know that our education is being messed with,” said Hailey, a Grade 8 student at Betty Gilbert. “Our grades matter, the end of the year is really important for exams,” she said. Already 10,000 students across B.C. have said they will join the walk out on a Facebook page started by a student who feels they are being “caught in the middle” like “parents who are divorc-
ing.” Students also walked out in 2012, when they were the casualties of the teacher/ government contract dispute then. The student walkout is being sparked by a Grade 12 student from Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary in Cloverdale. Victoria Barker said she is frustrated by how students are being caught in the middle of the dispute, and said Grade 12 students are in a particularly challenging situation, with final exams looming and many planning to go on to post-secondary studies in September. She said students from across the province have been in touch, and many walkouts are planned. Wednesday is the only day teachers aren’t on strike this week across the province. Teachers in Langley took to the streets instead of the classrooms on Monday, in the second round of rotating strikes. As the school year comes closer to an end, there
appears no resolution is in sight. The government is locking out high school teachers on June 25 and 26 and all teachers on June 27, the last day of school. Langley school trustees had to change venues, but their board of education meeting went ahead Monday evening. The board meeting was to take place at Township hall at 7 p.m. The venue change was to address the teachers’ strike action that day. Already, the original meeting that was scheduled for May 27 was cancelled when the B.C. Teachers Federation announced Langley schools would be behind picket lines that day. The board has yet to say anything about the teachers’ dispute. Meanwhile, parents and students are scrambling to know what events and exams will be impacted by the ongoing dispute. There appears to be no SEE: Page 3
Fundraiser for victims of Langley barn fire By DAN FERGUSON Aldergrove Star
A Langley family has lost everything as a result of the Sunday ( June 1) fire that killed 17 horses, most of them standardbred racers. Bill and Laurie Davis were described as a “prominent horse racing family” in Langley with over 35 years of experience by Tanis Pearson. “They are leaders in the racing industry and pioneers in their exceptional horsemanship,” said Pearson,
a family friend who is acting as spokesperson for the Davises. “They’re such a phenomenal family. They’re a household name.” In addition to the loss of the 17 horses, including a miniature pony, the fire destroyed about $100,000 worth of gear, Pearson said. “This is such a huge tragedy.” A trust fund has been set up to help the family rebuild. Donations can be made to “The Davis Family Trust” at any Aldergrove Credit Union.
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Money or E-transfers can be sent to billdavisfamilytrust@gmail.com with the password being mornasbigboy. A pub night fundraiser is planned for June 18 at the Town Hall pub in Langley at 19640 64 Avenue. Tickets can be purchased at A & T Equestrian in Cloverdale at 4615 190 St., or contact 604-723-7250 to make arrangements to have them dropped off. The organizers are also searching for prizes and sponsors for the event.
Pearson said donated equipment for harness racing, such as buckets, halters, stall gates, fly masks, sprays, grooming kits, any of the items necessary for horse ownership, can be dropped at A & T Equestrian. She said offers of assistance have been coming in from across the country. “The family is very humbled and appreciative of the generosity and This photo released by the Davis family the outreach from the community,” shows the pony that died in the June 1 Pearson said. “It is overwhelming fire nuzzling one of its larger stablemates. and amazing.”
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