FORMER NWSS PRINCIPAL DIES
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LATEST B.C. BUDGET OFFERS LITTLE
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COAL NOW 35% OF PORT TRAFFIC
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WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 26 2014 www.newwestnewsleader.com
Health officer says he should have a say on health impacts of a proposed coal port. See Page A3
Mother says charges not enough Chris Bryan NewsLeader
MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
New Westminster City Hall and other civic facilities like Queen’s Park Arena and the Queensborough Community Centre are now part of the Safe Harbour program which ensures a welcoming and inclusive environment for all visitors. Karen Pollard, the city’s manager of human resources, and John Stark, the social planner, are responsible for its implementation.
Safe Harbours, all across New West Mario Bartel
photo@newwestnewsleader.com
The irony that he was able to affix a Safe Harbour decal on the front doors of New West’s city hall the same week the Rainbow Flag flew from the flagpole in front isn’t lost on John Stark. The flag has long been a symbol of acceptance and tolerance for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered community. The Safe Harbour decal means city facilities are open to all, regardless of ethnicity, faith,
language, sexual orientation or cultural and language barriers. abilities. The two-hour sessions included “It’s about role playing, being inclusive,” enacting scenarios said Stark, New and crafting Westminster’s appropriate John Stark, social planner director of social It gives them an understand- responses. ing of how not to draw conplanning. “It gives them an clusions and to be respectful. understanding of To qualify to be a Safe Harbour, how not to draw a national program encouraging conclusions and to be respectful,” respect for all, more than 200 city said Stark. employees received special training. City facilities whose staff Staff learned to understand participated in the workshops now stereotypes and how to bridge display the Safe Harbour decal.
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They include city hall, Queensborough and Centennial community centres, Canada Games Pool, Queen’s Park arena and arenex, Moody Park arena, Century House and the Youth Centre. The 15 workshops were taught in November and December by Karen Pollard, the city’s manager of human resources. Support was also provided by agencies such as Burnaby Family Life and Burnaby Neighbourhood House. Please see CITY HAS ‘LANGUAGE BANK’, A3
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The mother of a young woman who died after being struck while walking in the intersection of Sixth and Sixth last year expressed shock after learning the man charged will only face traffic infractions. “Do I feel these charges are strong enough?” said Margaret Snowball, in an email from her home in Perth, Australia. “Most definitely not. Gemma was killed while using a signalled crosswalk by a driver making an illegal turn from what I have been told. To say that I am extremely disappointed in the charges would be an understatement.” Gemma Snowball, 25, was heading home from work at the Royal City Centre Safeway on March 11, 2013 when she was hit by a vehicle as she was walking across the intersection at about 10:30 p.m. She was taken to Royal Columbian Hospital but died two days later, with her family donating her organs for transplant. Snowball was on an extended work holiday in Canada when she died. Please see ‘IT’S ON OUR MIND EVERY DAY’, A3