MASSEY THEATRE PLANS PROCEEDING
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IT’S TIME TO SCRAP CANADA POST
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NEW EATERY OPENS DOWNTOWN
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WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 22 2014 www.newwestnewsleader.com
Jean Lamoureux says a bullying situation involving his grandson was effectively dealt with by the principal at John Robson. See Page A3
Province won’t take over SD40 Parents ask trustees to resign, look at Burnaby amalgamation Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
Dan Marks shows off the QR code that allows supporters of The Last Door Recovery Society to donate directly to its Bitcoin wallet. Matt Kalenuik, at addictions counsellor at Last Door, was a driving force to the society becoming the first charity in British Columbia to accept Bitcoins as payment.
Last Door first to embrace bitcoins Mario Bartel
photo@newwestnewsleader.com
The Last Door Recovery Society is opening a new door for supporters to donate to the New Westminster addiction treatment centre. Last Door is the first charity in British Columbia to accept bitcoins, a digital currency that is gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional money. Since establishing its bitcoin wallet in December, Last Door has received two donations in the currency. Clients can also use
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bitcoins to pay for services. in the grassroots movement of It’s all about reducing barriers bitcoin.” and making it simpler for Bitcoin was developed as open supporters to make source software contributions to in 2009 and was Last Door, said first used for a Matt Kalenuik, financial transaction Matt Kalenuik, counsellor We’ve tended to be an addictions a year later. It’s innovative in many things. counsellor and become popular We were the first proponent behind as an alternate non-smoking addictions the move to accept currency because treatment centre, the first bitcoins. it can circumvent to offer couples therapy. “There’s a inflation, control by particular culture governments and that is big into bitcoin,” said international sanctions. Kalenuik. “They want to participate It’s also speculative. As there are
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only a finite number of bitcoins available, they can increase in value as they gain popularity. Currently a single bitcoin is valued at more than $800. A year ago one was worth just $13. Some experts say a bitcoin could eventually be worth $100,000, comparing them to Internet domain names that can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars if they contain a common or easily recognized word. Bitcoin has also become a tool for money laundering in some circles, an irony that’s not lost on Kalenuik.
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The Ministry of Education won’t be stepping in to take over the New Westminster board of education despite a call for the resignations of the district’s trustees by a parent group. New Westminster secondary’s parent advisory council has called for the school district’s trustees to resign and for the provincial government to take over. They also want discussions to begin to see if it’s feasible to amalgamate with the Burnaby school district, and for the district to produce a projected budget for 2014-15, naming what programs and electives will be cut so parents can plan for next year. But in a statement to the NewsLeader on Monday, the ministry backed the board. “The ministry supports the efforts being made by the New Westminster board of education to manage resources, eliminate the deficit and minimize any impacts on students, staff and parents,” said a spokesman. Please see TRUSTEES, A3