FRIDAY
JULY 18, 2014
SUMMER SIGNINGS Kyle Cumiskey is among the local pro hockey players with new NHL contracts A26
your life
A B B O T S F O R D
your community.
twitter.com/abbynews facebook.com/myabbynews
abbynews.com m
Online all the time. In print Wednesday & Friday.
Potential for Canada’s worst natural disaster
Strategy pledged to avert Fraser flood crisis posed by rising river levels ARSON CONFIRMED
Jeff NAGEL and Alex BUTLER Black Press
The spectre of diking being overwhelmed by rising river levels due to climate change has spurred a coalition of local and senior governments and other interests to craft a co-ordinated strategy to safeguard the Lower Mainland from a catastrophic flood. The Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy aims to pull together an action plan with costs within two years to begin the process of raising dikes and improving other flood defences in the years ahead. Allan Asaph, executive director of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, was at the announcement by Fraser Basin Council (FBC) on Tuesday, along with other chambers in the region. FBC released a report outlining the necessity of such a plan because of the economic impact of a flood on the Lower Fraser River – with 300,000 residents and $50 billion in development at risk, potentially making it Canada’s worst natural disaster. It’s unclear how the billions of dollars in needed work will be raised but advocates hope a regional approach will prove more logical than leaving individual municipalities to work in isolation on flood planning and lobbying for grants. The FBC initiative will focus on the risk of Fraser River flooding and coastal flooding from winter storm Continued on A7
TEST DRIVE LOOP
Access Ac cce cess s tto ss o ru rrural, ra al, l c city ity y or frree ffreeway eewa ee e ay AN A AND D th the h LO LOOP LOOP! OP! OP
A7 Blaze at Maan Farms was deliberately set, say police
VYING FOR RE-ELECTION A4 Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman confirms he will run in the fall civic election Q
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A8
Q
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A22
Q Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A9
85¢ An aerial photo taken during high water levels in 2007 illustrates how, if the Fraser River were to top its dikes, could impact File photo about 300,000 people and $50 billion of development in the region, as estimated by the Fraser Basin Council.
SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE HERE S UMMER H OLID DAYS A RE H ERE Now great TEST DRIVE your next new orr No ow iiss a g re eat ttime im me to oT EST TD RIV VE y our n ext ne ew o ussed d vehicle vehiicle e iin n tthe he ssafest afe estt & co onve enien nt en nviiro onm ment. used convenient environment. HIGHWAY EXIT NORTH LEHMAN H HIG IG HWA HW W Y #1 # 1 - EX E XIT I T 83 IT 3 NOR N OR TH T H MT. T LE T. L E HMA M A N RD. R D. |
1-888-288-6592 118 888 8 28828 88-6 65 5 92 2
ABBOTSFORD A AB B BOT B BOTSFO SFO O RD RD
www.fvautomall.com w ww w fv w. f au a to t ma m all l .c c om com
ON THE SPOT OT INSURANCE
604-856-3099